Chie Hoshinomiya's fingers, which held Ren's personal file, were turning white. She desperately wanted to rip the paper up.
Is this something a person would do? What were those interviewers thinking?!
She didn't know that Ren had never been interviewed. He had been cheerfully forced into the school by Katsuragi Retsu.
Even the file in her hand, except for the class slot, was filled out by Ren himself as a personal joke.
Just then, Souma Mashima, who had just finished teaching Class A, walked into the office. His sharp eyes instantly caught Hoshinomiya's red face.
He asked, confused, "Hoshinomiya-sensei, why is your face so red? Do you need me to turn on the air conditioning?"
Mashima, wearing a black formal suit, reached for the remote control. His heart was full of questions; the weather was quite nice today.
"Go away," Hoshinomiya said, annoyed. As long-time colleagues, they didn't waste time on pleasantries.
"By the way, Mashima. How does your class feel?" Hoshinomiya started asking about the situation in Class A. She wasn't worried that Mashima would give her false information.
Mashima was too honest. If he chose to answer, it would be the truth, so she had nothing to lose.
Mashima sat back down, rubbing his forehead. "There's one promising student, an honest and good kid. But unfortunately..."
"Unfortunately?" Hoshinomiya prompted.
Mashima hesitated, then finished his thought. "The daughter of Chairman Sakayanagi is also in Class A, and she's currently challenging that promising student."
This wasn't confidential information; anyone could find it out. There was no need to hide it from Hoshinomiya.
"And what about your class, Hoshinomiya-sensei?"
"My class? We have a promising student, too. She's a helpful kid, and the entire class supports her."
Hoshinomiya showed a look of pity for Mashima, whose Class A was being ruined by an inside connection. She shared some information about her own class.
However, Hoshinomiya was not as honest as Mashima. She hid Ren's existence and only mentioned Honami Ichinose, the public leader of Class B.
"Is that so? That's good," Mashima said. He sounded envious of Hoshinomiya.
Hoshinomiya, having successfully shown off, covered her mouth and laughed lightly. "Oh, no, no. Mashima-sensei, you manage Class A. If any class is good, it's yours."
On the small road leading to the school library, warm sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting golden spots on the ground.
Ren, having taken Mochi from his villa, was teasing the little clingy cat in his arms.
Hiyori Shiina was standing in front of a bookshelf full of mystery novels, looking frustrated. She stood on her tiptoes, reaching for a book she had been looking for, but she couldn't touch it.
A shadow fell over her from behind. A hand reached over the girl's shoulder and easily took the book she had been trying to grab.
Was I interrupted? Shiina thought. She was naturally calm and didn't want to cause trouble, so she was about to leave. Then, she saw the hand offer the book to her.
"Oh?" Her small annoyance instantly vanished. She looked up at the owner of this hand, Ren.
A head of black hair fell behind him like a waterfall. He held a pure white Ragdoll cat in his arms. He looked like a noble from a fantasy novel, standing behind her and watching her.
"Thank you," Shiina said, taking the book Ren offered.
"You're welcome."
Ren took a mystery book from the shelf next to the one he had grabbed for her. He ignored the girl and went to find a quiet seat.
Seeing that the student who helped her also chose a mystery novel, Shiina's eyes lit up, and she felt a small thrill.
Just as Ren was about to open the book that had caught his interest, he suddenly heard a slightly shy voice next to him.
He turned to see the same girl who couldn't reach the book earlier.
Shiina was standing there, looking at Ren. She parted her lips and whispered, "Excuse me, may I sit next to you?"
Ren was surprised for a moment, but quickly recovered. "Go ahead."
Seats in the library were public property, so Ren was a little confused by her request. But since she asked so politely, he wouldn't refuse.
Mochi, sitting on Ren's lap, was not a calm cat. She poked her head over the edge of the table with her front paws. She stared at Shiina, this pretty biped, with shiny eyes.
Ren read the book quickly, skimming the contents. When he finished the part he was interested in, he closed the book and closed his eyes to think.
Shiina, noticing this out of the corner of her eye, was curious. She didn't understand what Ren was doing. Is he resting because he's overworked?
The playful Mochi took advantage of Ren closing his eyes. She jumped onto the table and lay on the book, shaking her fluffy tail.
"So cute!" Shiina had no defense against such a cute cat. Her attention moved from Ren to Mochi.
Shiina impulsively reached out her hands to hug Mochi, but just as she was about to touch her, Mochi swept her hand away with her tail.
"Hm?" Ren opened his eyes, confused, looking at Shiina. What's going on? Is she a cat thief?
Shiina, realizing her mistake, looked embarrassed. She murmured, "Sorry... it's just... she's so cute..."
What kind of bad person likes cats?
Ren understood the situation and didn't say much. He picked Mochi up from the book and placed her between them. He then opened his book again.
Shiina, who was sharp, noticed that the page Ren opened was different from the page he had closed. She was curious but didn't say anything.
She tried to play with Mochi again, trying to be braver.
"Mochi." Ren's voice suddenly broke the silence.
"Huh? Me? That's not my name." Shiina was confused. Is he insulting me?
Ren glanced at the confused girl next to him. "Mochi, that's her name."
It was clear whose name he meant. Ren ignored Shiina, closed his eyes, and started thinking again.
Shiina realized her mistake and called softly to the cute cat, "Mochi~"
Mochi turned her head toward Shiina when she heard the call. But when the girl tried to touch her, Mochi swiped her with her tail again.
Shiina was a little sad and was about to give up. Then she noticed that at some point... on her desk... a cat treat stick had appeared.
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