Under the large tree in the school courtyard—one of the most romantic places on campus.
Single students brimming with hormones would arrange to confess to their crushes here; young couples would meet beneath the tree to enjoy their time together after school; and literature students would come alone to appreciate the changing scenery through all four seasons.
In such a picturesque place, the scene beneath this particular tree was especially eye-catching.
One boy and seven girls crowded together under a single tree. How unusual.
"Why are you guys here, too?"
As the only boy in this odd group, Ren casually claimed the large tree for himself, leaning against its trunk and speaking lazily.
Ichinose, Airi, Kikyo Kushida, and his little shadow, Suzune Horikita, who had actively followed him—made four girls already.
Unexpectedly, they ran into Hiyori Shiina on the way. Hiyori, who hadn't spent time with Ren in a long while, also joined the group.
Just as Ren found a perfect spot in the courtyard, Arisu Sakayanagi showed up with Masumi Kamuro.
After greeting Ren without any awkwardness, Arisu perfectly integrated herself into the group of girls around him.
Masumi Kamuro, acting as Arisu's sidekick, touched her head and smiled awkwardly at Ren, then hurried in as well.
Ren was truly left at a loss for words.
"My, my, does Katsuragi-kun not welcome Kamuro~ and me?"
"If that's really the case, then I'll leave right now~."
After greeting the five girls warmly, Arisu looked at Ren and spoke with deliberately sad eyes.
Damn loli, take me with you...
Masumi Kamuro, who was chatting with Kikyo Kushida, heard Arisu's "innocent act" and grumbled inwardly.
Arisu Sakayanagi was only pretending to be sad, but Masumi Kamuro really was.
Every girl present had an ice cream—except for Kamuro. This unfairness made her resent Arisu a little.
The ice creams Ren bought were only enough for his group, yet Arisu insisted on bringing Kamuro along to crash the party.
The last ice cream—meant for Ren—was taken by Arisu. Kamuro could only grit her teeth and accept it.
"Kamuro, say ah~."
Arisu handed Kamuro the ice cream, even though she had already taken a bite out of it. Kamuro accepted it and took a bite herself, almost without thinking.
So cold... but so delicious.
"Is it good?"
Holding the ice cream out, Arisu looked at Kamuro with smiling eyes.
"It's... It's alright."
"Then want another bite~."
"O... okay."
Arisu Sakayanagi and Masumi Kamuro began to interact.
When Arisu dodged his attempt to chase her off, Ren turned his gaze to the bookish girl who had joined them and was quietly licking her mint-flavored ice cream.
"Katsuragi-san, Ryuen-san ordered me to come. He told me to use a romantic trap on you~."
Seeing Ren looking at her, Hiyori Shiina spoke shocking words.
"Shiina-san, does this count as the so-called 'Master's Task' in illustrated novels?"
Hearing Hiyori speak this way, Ren chewed on a blade of grass.
Ren was surprised that the gentle Hiyori could say something so bold.
"No, Shiina's master is only Shiina herself."
"Ryuen-san asked me to pay close attention to any Class A students who suddenly show up around Katsuragi-san, to see if he can confirm whether the student with the special identity is among them."
Hiyori shook her head. After making it clear this wasn't a "Master's Task," she openly exposed Ryuen Kakeru's plan.
In Hiyori's opinion, Ryuen still underestimated Ren. Rather than hiding things while staying by his side, it was better to be direct.
Class A students weren't fools; there's no way they'd let something that ridiculous happen. Everyone knew Ichinose and the others were all in Class A.
If they really needed Ren's help or advice, couldn't they just have Ichinose and the others go find him?
If someone personally came to discuss countermeasures with Ren, Hiyori would suspect it was bait deliberately set by Class A.
The idea that Ichinose and the others would still be around while Hiyori exposed Ryuen's plan to betray Class A, leading to the failure of their cooperation, was even more far-fetched.
The moment Ryuen confirmed that Class A's special identity was the Fox, the cooperative relationship between the two classes was already broken.
Ryuen just happened to mention a special identity that clashed with the one held by the other class—a one-in-four chance. He could only blame bad luck.
After Hiyori stated her purpose for finding Ren, Ichinose, Arisu, Horikita, and the other girls all looked at Hiyori in unison.
trap?
Ichinose, Airi, and Kikyo Kushida—Ren's three girlfriends—were more concerned about Hiyori's first sentence.
Is Class C going to make a move on Class A first?
Arisu Sakayanagi, Masumi Kamuro, and Suzune Horikita focused on the movement of Class C exposed by Hiyori.
"Is that so... No problem. Shiina-san is welcome to come and use a romantic trap on me anytime."
Spitting out the blade of grass in his mouth, Ren nodded with an understanding look.
Some things become easy to handle once they are laid out in the open.
If one insists on hiding things when interacting with others, it's fine if not discovered, but once even a slight bit of truth is found, the distance between the two people will grow further and further apart.
"Then thank you, Katsuragi-san."
Receiving Ren's nod, Hiyori walked to the other side of the large tree, leaned her back against it as well, and began to flip through the detective book she brought.
Ryuen's plan had no effect, but that didn't mean Hiyori would refuse to go through with it.
She really hadn't read books in the same place as Ren for a long time.
Catching the faint scent of sandalwood from Ren, Hiyori, sitting nearby, gradually became absorbed in her book.
"Horikita-san, what business do you have following my boyfriend all the time?"
Kikyo Kushida, having finished chatting with Kamuro, hugged Ren's arm and asked Suzune Horikita with a confused look, though deep malice hid in her eyes.
Kushida had always disliked Horikita, a classmate from her old junior high who might know about her dark past.
Horikita's presence at school always made Kushida feel like her secrets were at risk.
This feeling was very uncomfortable.
After she started dating Ren and heard him say he wouldn't dig into her past, Kushida's dislike for Horikita grew even stronger.
Kushida couldn't allow herself to have any flaws exposed in front of Ren, nor anyone around who might reveal them. Now, the more Kushida looked at Horikita, the more of an eyesore she became.
Why won't this damn woman just go away already?
Sensing Kushida's emotional turmoil, Ren rubbed her head affectionately and whispered, "Class D is your territory; I won't add more sisters for you."
"Bastard, was that what I meant?"
Kushida pushed away his hand and rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Then you mean you want another sister?"
"Bastard, die."
From an angle others couldn't see, Kushida punched Ren lightly on the chest.
"Nothing much. Just in case."
Horikita kept up her usual persona in class and spoke indifferently.
She followed Ren to prevent anyone in their class from betraying them. With students from all three other classes present, it was best if only she knew about it.
No one knew if the hidden student, seeing that things wouldn't work with Ren, would go find other classes.
What Horikita needed to do now was,
Stall the hider's steps and find them as early as possible.
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