Chapter 569

Akita Sana closed her eyes slightly, her hands cupping her cheeks, which were flushed with a faint red from excitement.

Her little head swayed gently from side to side like a lazy cat, a smile she couldn't suppress lingering on her lips, and she was completely immersed in a warm, lingering sense of happiness.

Kondo Miki turned her face, her gaze lingering for a few seconds on her friend's side profile, which was filled with joy.

Since returning from the hallway, she noticed that Sana was happier now than at any other time in the past few days.

She was silent for a moment, her slender fingers gently twirling the ends of her golden hair, and finally spoke.

"Sana, what did you and Xia Xia Xia Mujun talk about when you went out just now?"

Asagiri Kazuya, who had long since frozen into a stone statue, finally managed to recover his breathing function, pricking up his ears nervously, his eyes glued to Akita Sana.

Akita Sana opened her eyes with a smile, her eyelashes curving into two crescents.

"Xia Xia Xia Mujun just… returned the money to me."

Yamaguchi Hakuta was stunned.

"Returned money?"

"When did he owe you money?"

Akita Sana blinked, her small canine tooth appearing and disappearing.

"That time I went to Miki's house for dinner, and it just so happened that Xia Xia Xia Mujun came over too."

"He really liked a magazine that Mr. Kondo collected and wanted to buy it for his own collection."

"Mr. Kondo said that the magazine was very precious now, and if he wanted to buy it, he would have to part with it, asking for 100,000 yen."

"Xia Xia Xia Mujun was short on cash at the time, so I… secretly helped him buy it and gave it to him as a gift."

"But he always felt it was too expensive and felt bad about it, so he said he would definitely pay me back after winning the shogi tournament."

"Yeah, that's it."

Kondo Miki was stunned.

Her memory suddenly flashed back to that evening—Natsume Chikage had indeed said in the living room that he was willing to spend 100,000 yen to buy that magazine.

At the time, she only thought he was bragging.

After all, he was already overwhelmed just trying to cover his rent and his sister's living expenses back then.

But now… relying on the prize money from the shogi tournament, he had actually scraped together that amount.

Although the process was a bit convoluted, the magazine was bought by Sana from her father and then gifted to him.

Logically speaking, he could have completely accepted this gesture with peace of mind without having to pay anything back.

After all, Sana had already given it to him.

But Xia Xia Xia Mujun… actually returned the 100,000 yen to Sana?

Does this mean… he finally fulfilled the promise she had dismissed as bragging back then?

After hearing this, Asagiri Kazuya felt as if something had been ruthlessly crushed in his chest.

Sana had never accepted a single one of the birthday gifts he had carefully selected.

And yet, this Sana, who was so indifferent to him, had actually taken the initiative to buy a 100,000 yen gift for Natsume Chikage?!

Yamaguchi Hakuta wore a look of relief, as if to say, "I told you so."

"Kazuya, you heard it, right? Both Kondo-san and I said that Xia Xia Xia Mujun isn't that kind of person."

Asagiri Kazuya remained silent for a long time.

According to Akita Akita Shanai, Xia Xia Muchun could actually accept this gift with peace of mind.

For Akita Akita Shanai, 100,000 yen was just the cost of a few big meals.

But for the current Xia Xia Muchun, this was simply a massive expense.

Even so, Xia Xia Muchun still returned the money.

This character… really couldn't be faulted.

He lowered his gaze, his voice a bit dry.

“…Mm, I was overthinking just now.”

Akita Akita Akita Shanai blinked blankly.

“Overthinking what?”

“What were you guys talking about just now?”

Yamaguchi Hakuta still tended to matchmake his friend and Akita Akita Shanai, so he laughed it off.

“Nothing, just chatting.”

He suddenly had an idea, his tone becoming meaningful.

“But come to think of it—Xia Xia Xia Mujun still insisted on returning the money to you after you gave such a precious gift.”

“Could this mean… he doesn't want to owe you a favor?”

“Could it be that he wants to clear things up and draw a line?”

He gave Asagiri Kazuya a wink while speaking.

Asagiri Kazuya immediately understood and hurriedly chimed in.

“I also think… it’s not impossible.”

“Look, real friends usually give gifts to each other, with give and take.”

“Returning money directly… it just feels a bit distant.”

Akita Akita Akita Shanai puffed out her cheeks like a hamster protecting its food.

“What are you guys thinking!”

“Xia Xia Xia Mujun isn't that kind of person! He just thinks the gift is too precious and doesn't want me to lose out.”

“He wouldn't… he wouldn't want to draw a line with me!”

Kondo Miki didn't participate in this argument.

She knew in her heart that because of Senior Tsukishima, she currently leaned more toward Akita Akita Shanai and Xia Xia Muchun.

But Asagiri Kazuya was a classmate after all, and taking sides directly wasn't very good.

She shifted the topic calmly.

“By the way, what are your plans for the evening?”

“After my off-campus performance, I plan to go directly to cram school.”

The topic was lightly brought over, and several people chatted about their evening itineraries.

But Asagiri Kazuya’s thoughts had already drifted far away.

He quietly clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.

—This can’t go on.

—If I don't take the initiative, Akita Akita Shanai-chan will really be snatched away.

—As long as I am diligent enough and sincere enough, she will definitely change her mind!

He cheered himself up in his heart.

Asagiri Kazuya raised a smile he considered the brightest.

“Akita Akita Shanai, Kondo-san, Hakuta—do you want to go out and play together tonight?”

Yamaguchi Hakuta nodded first.

“I have no problem.”

“What about you two?”

Akita Akita Akita Shanai shook her head while muttering.

“Not going. Monthly exams are coming up, I’m going to cram school with Miki.”

Asagiri Kazuya’s smile stiffened for a moment, then he forced a laugh.

“Ah, that’s right… my grades really need some cramming too, so I’ll go to cram school too.”

He turned to look at Yamaguchi Hakuta.

“What about you, Hakuta?”

Yamaguchi Hakuta shrugged indifferently.

“Sure.”

Kondo Miki was still that faint, distant expression.

“…Then it’s settled.”

Xia Xia Muchun pushed open the back door of Class A, carrying the boxed iron back to his seat.

Saionji Nanase immediately leaned over, her eyes sparkling.

“Xia Xia Xia Mujun, did you just go to the home economics room to exchange the iron?”

Xia Xia Muchun sat down, reached out and patted the packaging box beside his leg, his lips curling slightly.

“Mm, I exchanged it.”

Saionji Nanase’s eyes brightened even more, like a child who had gotten candy.

“Can I see it?”

Xia Xia Muchun nodded.

“Of course.”

He opened the lid, took out the old iron with slight wear on the edges, and handed it to her.

Saionji Nanase carefully took it with both hands, as if holding a fragile treasure, and leaned in to look closely.

“Speaking of which, I never thought an iron could become a collectible…”

She raised her head, her eyes curved.

“Xia Xia Xia Mujun’s collection direction seems even more special than mine.”

Xia Xia Muchun smiled.

“Liking something like this, there’s no reason to speak of. I saw it, and I wanted it.”

Saionji Nanase’s eyes lit up, incredibly happy.

“I understand, I understand!”

Yukimura Suzune listened silently, her gaze falling on the literature book she had spread out, not reading a single word.

An indescribable emotion surged in her heart.

—The world is so big, there are so many people with collection habits.

—Why are these two, why are they right by my side, and sitting so close…

The lunch break bell had rung for a long time, and the teaching building was immersed in the lazy light and shadow of the afternoon.

Fujiwara Aoi slipped into Class A as usual with her lunch box, occupying a fixed position beside Xia Xia Muchun’s seat.

The four people’s lunch boxes had just bottomed out, and they were tidying up their tableware and chatting.

Yasui Yasui Yasui Liangdou and Araki Jueai walked in one after another, walking toward Xia Xia Muchun’s direction with a clear goal.

“Yo, Xia Xia Xia Mujun.”

Yasui Yasui Yasui Liangdou raised his hand and greeted him familiarly.

“Xia Xia Xia Mujun—”

Araki Jueai followed behind him, her smile carrying a hint of teasing.

“The pitching this morning was super cool.”

Xia Xia Muchun turned his head at the sound, blinking slightly in surprise.

“Senior Yasui? Senior Araki? Why are you guys here?”

Yasui Yasui Yasui Liangdou grinned, his tone carrying a bit of helplessness.

“It’s all because of that guy, Nomura-sensei.”