'Who knows how many true feelings you speak under the guise of a joke?'
However, she still sharply extracted two key pieces of information.
First, the pink-haired vixen in front of her was just a newly arrived transfer student and not very close to Kaito.
Second, this pink-haired vixen indeed harbored improper thoughts toward Kaito.
As a girl, Soyo understood clearly in her heart.
Phrases like "offering myself", even as a joke, most girls would only say that to someone they like.
"Anyway, Kaito-kun helped me a lot on the train, but before I could repay him, he left first," Anon briefly explained how the two met, then said with a face full of gratitude, "I thought I had missed the chance but even I didn't expect to end up in the same class as him."
"Hey hey, Soyo-san, don't you also think we're fated to meet like this?"
'Is this a provocation? Or a declaration of war?'
'Just a mere transfer student who happened to be placed in Kaito-kun's class, and she's already arrogantly claiming my destiny'
Soyo casually twirled a strand of brown hair near her ear around her fingertip and skillfully skipped over the topic, "I see, no wonder. I hadn't heard of your existence before."
With this simple sentence, she subtly implied "I know most of the people around Kaito-kun, which shows our closeness," while also indirectly pointing out "You're just a newcomer," fully revealing her sense of superiority.
The smile on Anon's delicate face stiffened slightly.
'This Soyo-san seems a bit hard to deal with.'
But she had no intention of backing down. Acting like she didn't catch on at all, she openly said, "That's fine, hearing now isn't too late~"
"By the way, Soyo-san, the uniform you're wearing could it be from that famous elite girls' school? That's amazing~"
'So what if I just transferred?'
'Maybe you did know him first, but attending Tsukinomori is your biggest weakness.'
'Do you understand how much value there is in being front-and-back desk mates in the same class? (tactical lean-back)'
'After all, as students, apart from sleeping at home, the most time is spent at school.'
'Lifting my head, I see Kaito-kun's back. I can chat anytime, eat lunch together. What can mere Soyo-san compete with?'
Now Soyo's expression turned grim.
This was indeed her biggest weakness.
Not being in the same school meant she couldn't keep up with Kaito's latest whereabouts or emotional state.
It also prevented her from dealing in time with outside cats trying to steal the fish.
Like this time, if Kaito hadn't brought Chihaya Anon along for coffee, she wouldn't have even known this girl existed, she might have been blindsided one day and never realized it.
But even though she knew this was her weakness, Nagasaki Soyo didn't have a good solution.
'After all, I can't just transfer schools, right?'
Even if she wanted to, her mother wouldn't necessarily approve. Tsukinomori far surpassed Shuka in both teaching quality and prestige.
'Wait a minute, maybe there is another way'
Soyo thought to herself, 'My mother's company recently seems to be collaborating with a firm that sells miniature recording devices and GPS trackers?'
'If I can have such things, and secretly placed them on Kaito-kun, won't I be able to instantly know everything happening around him?'
'No no no no! That is already a crime, isn't it?', Soyo quickly shook her head, trying to drive out that dangerous thought.
Although she was very tempted by this method, thinking it through revealed that the risk was just too high.
In Japan, there's a complete criminal code, and punishments for invading privacy are extremely strict. Even peeping can be punished with up to five years in prison, not to mention installing bugging devices and mini GPS trackers.
Besides, paper can't wrap fire.
If it remained undiscovered, fine but if Kaito found out, even if he didn't call the police, all the goodwill she had built up would be reset to zero, right?
She might even be labeled a "voyeur freak" with no chance of recovery.
After seriously thinking it through, Soyo gave up on that idea. She didn't even bother exchanging barbs with the pink-haired vixen in front of her anymore and gave a slightly apologetic smile to Kaito, "Excuse me, I need to go to the restroom."
'Hmph, backing off just like that?'
'Soyo-san, small fry~ small fry~'
Seeing her perfect strike land a critical hit, Anon smiled like a little fox who had just stolen a fish, even baring her sharp canines.
Although Kaito didn't catch the verbal sparring in the air, he still keenly sensed that something seemed off between Anon and Soyo.
He shook his head and looked at the green-haired girl sitting across from him, who remained silent the whole time, just watching quietly, and couldn't help but sigh.
'As expected, Mutsumi-chan is still the most well-behaved.'
[T/N: It is like a chess game between Nakamura Hikaru, Vishwanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen]
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Chapter 114: Alliance
In the empty restroom, only the sound of running water from the faucet echoed.
The clear, cold water droplets traced across the girl's ivory-white, delicate face, dampening the brown hair that hung beside her ears, and calming the chaotic thoughts in Nagasaki Soyo's mind.
Chihaya Anon's words had indeed struck a sore spot, but they also served as an early wake-up call.
The revolution had yet to succeed; it was not the time to be complacent.
As for now...
She took out her phone, opened a contact from the list, and sent a message.
"Your taro boba milk tea and matcha parfait are still being prepared, please wait a moment. These are complimentary snacks newly offered by the shop. If you don't mind, feel free to try them out~ We welcome all kinds of suggestions for improvement~"
Perhaps because she felt quite embarrassed about having shamelessly taken advantage of Kaito earlier, Miss Ririko, the staff member, quickly returned with a large plate of snacks and placed them on the table, nicely calling it a "taste test."
'Is this the kind of treatment handsome guys get?', Beside her, Anon looked at the table, now filled to the brim with snacks, and smiled wryly, "I understand how you feel, but giving away so many freebies all at once if the manager finds out, she'll be really angry, right?"
If it got serious, being fired on the spot wouldn't be impossible.
"It's fine~", Ririko replied with a smile, "Because I'm the manager."
Anon: "..."
Well, that settles it.
Watching the staff member, no, the manager, leave again, Anon could no longer hold back the burning desire in her heart to complain.
'I'm clearly also a stunningly beautiful girl, right? Why do I never get this kind of treatment when eating out?'
It wasn't narcissism. Whether it was her dream-like pink long hair, her slim and tall figure, or her flawless features, the girl named "Chihaya Anon" before them was an elite beauty who could not be faulted from any angle.
No, if one insisted, she wasn't without flaws?
For example, flat.
But that wasn't important. What mattered was: you are beautiful, but not beautiful enough.
How could a firefly's glow compare to the moon shining in the sky?
However, if this kind of thing was said aloud, it would definitely make Chihaya angry, so Mutsumi thought about it and chose to stay silent.
The girl with light green long hair continued holding her cup, sipping her mango juice in small gulps, looking obedient and sweet.
It was at that moment that her phone lit up.
After seeing the name of the sender, Mutsumi was slightly taken aback.
[Soyo: Can you come to the restroom for a moment?]
[Soyo: There's something I want to talk to you about.]
A short while later.
A "Cleaning in Progress" sign was hung at the restroom door.
Wakaba Mutsumi walked in, looked at the brown-haired girl standing in front of the sink with her back facing her, and hesitated a little.
"Soyo what's the matter?"
"Mutsumi," Nagasaki Soyo didn't turn around, only stared at her reflection in the mirror, her tone like sleep-talking, "The person you like it's Kaito-kun, right?"
Wakaba Mutsumi didn't answer. After a brief silence, she gently nodded, "...Yeah."
Now that things had come to this, there was no point in hiding it. Even if she changed her words, Soyo wouldn't believe her.
"But I also really like him," The brown-haired girl's tone turned a bit colder, "And I liked him before you did."
It was a simple deduction.
Mutsumi's changes happened during Golden Week break. In other words, her acquaintance with Kaito also began during that time.
Counting all the days, it couldn't have been more than half a month.
On this path, she was the one who started first.
'So, Mutsumi.'
'You won't make a choice that disappoints me, right?'
This time, Wakaba Mutsumi was silent for even longer. After a long while, she finally spoke in a low voice, "There's no such thing as who came first or later in this kind of thing."
'If it really has to be judged by timing then, actually, Sakiko-chan was the earliest, wasn't she?'
"I don't have the intention of competing with you."
Whether it was Sakiko-chan or Soyo.
No matter who ended up being the victor, she actually didn't mind.
She just wanted a tiny place to belong beside the sun in her heart. Even if she did nothing, that alone would be enough.
Soyo's previously cold gaze softened slightly upon hearing that.
She understood this friend of hers well. Though she occasionally said words that could kill, and often turned a situation that still had room for recovery into a total mess, but Mutsumi rarely lied.
If she said she didn't want to compete, then she really didn't want to compete.
Though she couldn't label her as "harmless" just yet, at least for now, she could treat her as a neutral party and let down her guard a little.
The brown-haired girl let out a small sigh, then suddenly said:
"Mutsumi, how about teaming up with me?"
The appearance of Chihaya Anon had made her realize deeply just how many rivals were around.
Although Soyo was confident in herself and didn't think that cotton-candy-pink ditz could pose any threat, 'After all, she seems dumb as a brick, and surely Kaito-kun won't go for that type? Right?'
'But better safe than sorry.'
If she could draw Mutsumi over to her side, she would undoubtedly have a much easier time.
First team up with Mutsumi, punch the sneaky cat, kick the foxy vixen, and firmly secure the closest spot beside Kaito.
As for how to deal with Mutsumi once everything was settled...
Honestly, even Soyo herself hadn't figured it out.
'Just cut her off?'
'This cucumber, I don't need it anymore.'
'That feels a bit too cruel.'
'Then share with her?'
'I don't want to.'
After all, a boyfriend isn't a chocolate stick, or a hot dog sausage, something you can split in half. Half for you, half for me, and everyone's happy.
Kaito was just one person, and he couldn't be in two places at once.
'Even Kaito-kun only has 24 hours in a day. If you took up some of his time, that meant less for me.'
'Moreover it's said that boys only have so much energy in "that" aspect.'
Although the health class at Tsukinomori didn't go into much detail, maybe because it was a girls' school, boys around their age were rare, and everyone had a bit too much bottled-up curiosity.
During breaks, the girls always liked to gather and talk about topics that made faces blush and hearts race.
Soyo had picked up quite a bit of knowledge from their chats.
Like, a normal boy being able to last thirty minutes was already considered impressive.
Soyo had never done that kind of thing, but thirty minutes somehow, it just sounded really short.
After all, even a regular high school class lasted forty-five minutes.
That's not very long to begin with, if she had to share half of it with Mutsumi, wouldn't that be even less?
Although Soyo cared more about spiritual connection than physical interaction, if meat was on the table, she wasn't going to willingly eat just vegetables.
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Chapter 115: Just Passing by, Raana
"Cooperate?", Wakaba Mutsumi tilted her head, as if she didn't understand what she meant.
Soyo still kept a shallow smile, patiently explaining, "Just the literal meaning. Now that we have an external enemy, internal strife is extremely unwise."
"Mutsumi, I've always treated you as a friend, you know?"
"In that case, cooperating with me should be easier than fighting alone, right?"
The brown-haired girl also tried to list a few benefits of cooperation.
For example, sharing information with each other, and at critical moments, they could assist each other in attacks. When facing homewreckers and vixens, they could join forces and drive the enemies away together as sisters.
But Wakaba Mutsumi only considered for a few seconds, then decisively shook her head, "Sorry, Soyo, I can't agree to that."
"Why?", Nagasaki Soyo couldn't help but frown, "This clearly is a win-win situation, right?"
Mutsumi is very beautiful. Even Soyo had to admit that.
But she also had a fatal flaw: she didn't know how to interact with others.
She had very few friends, and in the past, when Taki was around, it was only the band members.
After Taki was gone, only Sakiko and herself remained.
Now that Sakiko was missing, in the whole school, Mutsumi could only talk to someone when she was with her.
Such a girl who had pitifully few friends, completely inexperienced in pursuing boys, was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper.
Although Soyo also had no experience in this area, she was very confident in her theoretical knowledge. After all, all those emotional posts weren't read in vain.
If Mutsumi was willing to cooperate with her, Soyo's theoretical knowledge could just fill in that blank space.
And she herself could rely on Mutsumi's existence to divert some of the attention, and together they could drive out all the homewreckers without leaving a single one.
In such a win-win situation, Nagasaki Soyo really couldn't understand why the other party would refuse.
