Chapter 71

Saionji Nanase’s attention was successfully diverted, and she said happily:

“That’s great!”

“What club do you plan to visit?”

Fujiwara Aoi was long accustomed to Saionji Nanase’s tendency to be easily distracted, and answered neither coldly nor warmly:

“Just look around, we’ll see when we find a suitable one.”

“If it doesn’t work out, I’ll just join the Going-Home Club.”

Natsume Chikage knew that the Going-Home Club was actually just a club without any actual activities.

In essence, it was just hanging a name, and one could do whatever they wanted afterward.

However, because there were no activities, naturally, one could not apply for club funding from the student council.

Of course, Natsume Chikage himself did not intend to join the Going-Home Club.

If possible, he still wanted to find a club he was interested in.

Saionji Nanase clapped her hands happily:

“Then it’s settled; the three of us will go find a club after school.”

“Ah, no, it’s four people!”

Fujiwara Aoi raised her eyebrows:

“Who else?”

Saionji Nanase smiled:

“Fujiwara Aoi from Class D.”

“She is Xia Xia Xia Mujun’s colleague at the coffee shop; hearing that we were looking for a club, she said she wanted to come and visit as well.”

“This was already agreed upon before, right, Xia Xia Xia Mujun?”

Natsume Chikage nodded slightly:

“Yes.”

Fujiwara Aoi frowned unhappily, clearly not liking that more people were joining.

But since she had already agreed, it wouldn't be good to go back on her word now.

Anyway, they would just be wandering around then, so she would just consider it getting familiar with the school environment.

“Suit yourself.” Fujiwara Aoi snorted coldly and turned her head to continue reading the literature book on the desk.

Saionji Nanase got a positive reply and happily took out her phone, preparing to send a message to Fujiwara Aoi right now to meet her after school.

Natsume Chikage didn't say much more either, took out his phone, and started typing as usual.

Just at this moment, the news about Natsume Chikage asking for leave to participate in the Shogi tournament had already reached Class B next door.

After Akita Sana learned the news, she ran to Kondo Miki for the first time and said excitedly:

“Miki~ hey, do you know? Xia Xia Xia Mujun has returned to school!”

Kondo Miki said faintly:

“So what if he’s back? What’s the big deal.”

Akita Sana said excitedly:

“It turns out he wasn't playing games at home when he asked for leave yesterday—do you know what he went to do yesterday?”

Kondo Miki was silent for a moment and asked softly:

“...What did he go do?”

“Xia Xia Xia Mujun asked for leave yesterday, it turns out he went to participate in a Shogi tournament!”

“I really didn't expect it; I even kept thinking like you said, that he was really playing games at home.”

Akita Sana said while excitedly taking out her phone, her fingertips tapping lightly on a dynamic interface on Twitter.

The screen clearly displayed several photos of Natsume Chikage focused on playing Shogi.

Speaking of this, she sighed slightly, her tone carrying a trace of regret, as if she still hoped more that Natsume Chikage had really gone to play games.

But when she saw the side profile of Natsume Chikage thinking seriously in someone else’s screenshot, she couldn't help but giggle, feeling that his handsome appearance while playing Shogi didn't seem bad either.

Kondo Miki frowned tightly: “I remember Natsume Chikage’s father clearly saying before that he didn't understand Shogi at all, how could he possibly go to participate in a tournament!”

“It’s true, why would I lie to you?” Akita Sana put the phone directly in front of Kondo Miki.

Kondo Miki took the phone, and the moment her gaze landed on the screen, she was stunned.

She immediately used her slender fingers to swipe the screen quickly, carefully checking every update and the comments below.

【Wow, who is this handsome guy? Does anyone know him?】

【I want to know all the personal information of this male chess player now, immediately, right away!】

【A boy who can play Shogi and is handsome is completely my type!】

【What a young, cute boy, his hands are white and long, ~hehe~ hehehehe!】

【Hahaha, this handsome guy played the little girl opposite him until she cried.】

【Little girls, that’s how it is, and the tournament requires a 20,000 yen registration fee, so she must be heartbroken.】

【However, this boy is really lucky, meeting a little girl as an opponent in the first round; isn't this something even I could win?】

【Indeed!】

【Shut up, you guys, I think you are just jealous of my Big Brother, so you are smearing his strength. In my opinion, my Big Brother is very amazing!】

【Big Brother? Shogi is also playing the fan circle game, right?】

After browsing for a while, Kondo Miki fell into a brief silence.

She clearly didn't expect that Natsume Chikage really hadn't been holed up at home playing games when he asked for leave, but had gone to participate in a Shogi tournament.

But what was the point of this?

Natsume Chikage’s father used to like playing Shogi very much; she knew this.

After all, her mother also loved Shogi.

Those two were even in the same Shogi club when they were in high school.

Kondo Miki had heard Natsume Chikage’s father say that neither of his two children liked playing Shogi.

Natsume Chikage had no talent, and although Natsume Ruri had talent, she had no interest in Shogi.

If Natsume Ruri were allowed to participate in the tournament, perhaps there would be something to see.

But letting the untalented Natsume Chikage participate, isn't this just a waste of money?

You have to know that the Natsume family’s economic situation is not good now, and they are still squandering like this; she really didn't know what they were thinking.

It can only be said that the ignorant are fearless.

Seeing the consecutive win prize money system set up by the tournament, and fantasizing about making money by relying on this, it’s just too naive...

Kondo Miki shook her head repeatedly.

However, his luck was indeed good, meeting a little girl and winning the tournament.

This way, he could at least recover half of the registration fee.

But luck always has a time when it runs out.

Combining all the above, Kondo Miki did not look favorably on Natsume Chikage at all, even feeling that he would be defeated in the second round.

However, he didn't hole up at home playing games this time, but participated in a formal activity like a Shogi tournament.

This point did make her change her view of him slightly, but that was all.

Thinking of him wasting money on such a meaningless thing still made her feel that he was short-sighted and completely didn't know how to be frugal.

You have to know that he still has a younger sister to raise at home; in a situation that is already impoverished, he should have been increasing income and reducing expenditure.

Instead of relying on luck to participate in a tournament and trying his luck.

How is this any different from those people who want to get rich by buying lottery tickets?

“Give it back to you.” Kondo Miki handed the phone back to Akita Sana.

Akita Sana took the phone with a giggle: “How is it, I didn't lie to you, right?”

“So what if you didn't.” Kondo Miki said with an indifferent face.

“What do you mean by 'so what'? Isn't Xia Xia Xia Mujun handsome when he plays Shogi?” Akita Sana opened her eyes wide, looking puzzled.

“What’s the use of being handsome? This is a Shogi tournament, a place where strength is king.” Kondo Miki’s proud face was full of speechlessness.

“How do you know his strength isn't good? In my opinion, Xia Xia Xia Mujun might be able to win!”

Akita Sana analyzed it logically,