Chapter 568

Kondo Miki suddenly spotted Natsume Chikage, and looking at that incredibly handsome face, she couldn't help but purse her red lips slightly, silent for a moment.

Thinking about it, she still reached out and touched her arm gently.

"Sana."

"At the door."

Akita Sana turned her head along her gaze.

Then, she froze.

In the light at the door, Natsume Chikage was standing there.

The next second.

Akita Sana’s face seemed to be lit up by something.

Those brows and eyes that were already full of smiles now unfolded even more brilliantly.

She almost bounced up from her seat.

"Natsume-kun—!"

She didn't even finish the words she was saying to Asagiri Kazuya, just left him behind and ran toward the door.

Asagiri Kazuya, who had been smiling obsequiously, froze in place.

The hand he had reached out still maintained the gesture from the conversation just now, hanging in mid-air, neither retracting nor putting down.

Clearly just now... Akita Sana had rarely shown him a smile.

Clearly just now... they were still talking well.

But now, Natsume Chikage only appeared for a moment.

The time that smile stayed on Akita Sana’s face exceeded his own efforts for don't know how long.

Asagiri Kazuya lowered his arm, his eyes dim.

He didn't understand.

Where exactly he was worse than Natsume Chikage.

In terms of looks—he was only a little bit worse than Natsume-kun.

In terms of sports—Natsume Chikage was indeed good at baseball, but he wasn't bad at basketball either, being one of the school team’s main players.

In terms of background—Natsume Chikage was down-and-out now, while his family was still so rich, completely well-matched with Sana-chan.

Then why?

Why was it Natsume Chikage?

Yamaguchi Hirota on the side watched his friend silently, without making a sound.

He was somewhat fortunate.

Fortunate that the one he secretly loved was Kondo Miki.

Kondo Miki was not the type of person who would be moved by looks like Akita Sana.

And, Akita Sana liking Natsume Chikage was already an open secret.

As her best friend, Kondo Miki could never have that kind of thought about Natsume Chikage.

Thinking about it this way, he was very safe.

It’s just—

He looked at Asagiri Kazuya’s slumped shoulders and sighed in his heart.

Kazuya, this guy, his love life is really bumpy.

But fortunately.

Natsume Chikage was surrounded by so many excellent girls, Akita Sana’s confused personality, probably... probably didn't have a chance, right?

Asagiri Kazuya suddenly stood up.

Yamaguchi Hirota was startled.

"Why did you stand up? Where are you going?"

Asagiri Kazuya looked at the two figures about to leave at the door, his tone somewhat urgent.

"I... I want to go see what they are going to do."

"What if Natsume-kun does something strange to Akita-san?"

Kondo Miki heard this, finally withdrew her gaze from the door, glanced at him lightly, somewhat speechless.

She didn't believe Natsume Chikage was excellent in other aspects.

But in terms of character, she had never questioned it.

"What are you thinking."

"With Natsume-kun’s situation, if he wanted to do something strange to a girl, he wouldn't need to wait until now, nor would he need to pick Sana to start with."

"There are as many girls who are willing as you want."

Asagiri Kazuya opened his mouth.

Then, he sat back in his seat like a deflated ball.

"…Also."

He lowered his head.

"Senior Tsukishima, such an excellent person, he rejected her."

"There are so many girls in school chasing him, and he rejected them all, saying he wanted to work to make money to support his sister..."

He smiled bitterly.

"Sorry, let you see a joke."

Yamaguchi Hirota patted his shoulder, looking righteous.

"Kazuya, be strong."

"Just now Natsume-kun didn't say it, he was just returning things to Sana-chan."

"The two of them definitely have nothing."

"And look, the one most familiar with Natsume-kun in school is Kondo-san, she said so, so you can rest assured."

Asagiri Kazuya smiled:

"That’s true."

In the corner of the corridor.

Akita Sana leaned against the wall, looking up slightly.

There was a bright light in her eyes, and her smile revealed that sharp little tiger tooth.

"Natsume-kun—"

Her tail of words rose, carrying excitement.

"What do you want to find me for?"

Natsume Chikage took a stack of banknotes from his wallet.

10,000 denomination, ten bills.

He handed it to her.

"This is the 100,000 yen I owed you before."

"I said last time that I would pay you back after the match ended."

"I forgot when you came yesterday, and just remembered it now."

"Here you go."

Akita Sana looked at the stack of money and blinked.

Then, the smile on her face froze for an instant.

Immediately, that lively and cute face was full of panic.

She waved her hands repeatedly, as if driving away something terrible.

"Wait—wait!"

Her speaking speed quickened.

"You don't need to be in such a hurry to pay me back!"

"Didn't you just move into a new house, and still have to support Ruri-chan..."

"Isn't this just the time when you need money?"

"How about... how about later?"

"Sure—how about a bit later, after your next shogi tournament ends?"

Natsume Chikage shook his head and gave a light smile.

"No need."

"I’ve calculated it; my finances are actually quite stable lately."

"I’ll get my wages from the coffee shop next month, too."

"I can easily make it until then, and I’ll even have some left over."

"Just take it."

Akita Sana still shook her head, waving her hands even more vigorously.

No, no, no—

If I take the money back, what excuse will I have to stay with Xia Xia Xia Mujun in the future?

Thinking of this, she became even more determined.

Natsume Chikage looked at her as if she were facing a formidable enemy, feeling somewhat helpless.

He didn't speak again.

He simply reached out and grasped the wrist she was still waving in mid-air.

Very lightly.

His fingertips rested against the back of her fair hand.

Then, he placed the stack of money firmly into her palm.

"No need to decline."

"This was your money to begin with."

Akita Sana stopped speaking.

She didn't even remember how she had stopped waving her hand.

She only felt the warm sensation on her wrist, like a small brand.

Her cheeks flushed red at a speed visible to the naked eye.

It started from her earlobes, spread to her cheeks, and then to her neck.

She even forgot how to regulate her breathing.

She lowered her head, very shyly, and stammered:

"…Mm."

"Since you’ve said so… then, then I’ll accept it…"

Natsume Chikage let go and smiled.

"Right, class is about to start, I’m heading back."

He turned and left.

His footsteps gradually faded around the corner.

Akita Sana remained standing where she was.

She looked down at her palm.

The warmth of his fingertips still lingered there.

She slowly pressed her hand against her heart.

—Xia Xia Xia Mujun took the initiative to hold my hand.

—He really doesn't hate me!

—Sana-chan, big, vic, tory!!

She pressed her lips together tightly, but couldn't suppress the corners of her mouth from curling upward wildly.

Then, she turned and practically floated back to the entrance of Class B.

Her low twin-tails bounced behind her head.

Her steps were as light as if she were walking on clouds.

She walked into the classroom.

Her cheeks still carried a lingering flush, and her eyes were filled with a sparkling smile.

She sat back in her seat, cupping her face with both hands, wondering what she was thinking about, as the corners of her lips curled up again.

Asagiri Kazuya watched her.

He watched her smiling face full of spring, watched her bouncy and light steps, and watched her demeanor as if she were immersed in some lingering happiness.

Slowly, he turned to stone.

No way…

Didn't you two just swear that nothing happened when you went out?

Then, looking at Akita Sana right now…

No matter how you look at it, it doesn't seem like "nothing happened," right?