Thump, thump, thump~
Just as Shichen was pondering his next moves, a sudden knocking sound came from outside the door.
Nangong Nayue wouldn't knock on the door, and in all the time he had been living here, only one person had ever visited.
Shichen first glanced at himself, decided he didn't need to change clothes, and then got up to open the door.
"Clothes make the man" is for those who aren't good-looking enough; for good-looking people, clothes actually benefit from them.
On a good-looking person, any clothes will become fashionable.
Perhaps some people don't quite understand, so imagine a certain big shot simply wearing a T-shirt, breeches, and flip-flops.
Even if everyone around him is in suits and ties, he still doesn't lose out to anyone.
One's inherent qualities are more important.
Upon reaching the door, Shichen didn't even look through the peephole to check the situation outside, and just opened the door directly.
As expected, standing at the door was a lively young girl with black hair casually draped over her shoulders, not wearing unfashionable black-rimmed glasses, and still dressed in her student uniform.
The uniform of Saikai Academy was indeed good; not only was it good-looking, but the material was also silky smooth and very cool.
"Asagi… and Kojou and Motoki, Nagisa-chan? Why are you all here?"
The person who came was naturally Aiba Asagi, but behind her stood the conspicuously gray-haired Akatsuki Kojou, the spiky-haired Yaze Motoki, and the young-faced Akatsuki Nagisa with a bright smile.
"Teacher, we came to play with you." Yaze Motoki waved his hand.
"Play with me?" Shichen looked at Aiba Asagi in confusion.
"Uhm…" Aiba Asagi seemed a bit embarrassed, stammering in response, "It was Motoki who suggested we come play with Teacher Shi."
"What's the big deal~" Yaze Motoki grinned mischievously, though it was unclear what he was grinning about.
Aiba Asagi glared at him fiercely.
"Mm-hmm! It's livelier with more people." Akatsuki Nagisa nodded in agreement.
"Teacher, are you free?" Akatsuki Kojou asked tiredly.
"I am free, but aren't you hot?"
"Teacher, we're used to it already." Yaze Motoki said.
"Children are so lucky, not afraid of heat or cold." Shichen sighed enviously.
"Teacher, you're not that old." Akatsuki Kojou retorted.
"Exactly, Teacher Shi is so young and handsome!" Akatsuki Nagisa chimed in.
Her words made both Aiba Asagi and Akatsuki Kojou look at her involuntarily.
"What's wrong? I'm stating a fact." Akatsuki Nagisa looked at the two innocently.
"...Teacher Shi, well, since you're afraid of the heat, then don't come out, let's go." Akatsuki Kojou pushed Akatsuki Nagisa, ready to leave.
"Wait... Kojou, what are you doing?"
"Nothing, just don't disturb Teacher Shi."
"Hahaha, Kojou, you still say you're not a siscon, you're already jealous." Yaze Motoki teased.
"I am not!" Akatsuki Kojou denied loudly, his face red.
"Teacher Shi, do you want to come along?" Aiba Asagi quietly looked up at Shichen, asking expectantly.
"Oh, alright." Shichen scratched his head, sighing as he agreed.
Aiba Asagi visibly smiled.
"Wait for me, I'll change my clothes."
"Teacher, why are you changing clothes? We're not doing anything, just going shopping." Yaze Motoki said impatiently.
"You thought of me even for shopping... I have to change clothes, these are for wearing at home."
"It's fine, Teacher, it doesn't make much difference what you wear."
"You're overthinking it, I'm not dressing up, but rather I don't want to run out of clothes to wear at home... You guys come in and sit for a bit, no need to take off your shoes."
"We won't go in..."
"Kojou, you wait outside, we're going in." Yaze Motoki interrupted Akatsuki Kojou, stepping into the room first.
Aiba Asagi and Akatsuki Nagisa also followed into the room.
Akatsuki Kojou gritted his teeth on the spot, but still reluctantly followed them into the room.
"Oh—Teacher Shi's house is so big." Akatsuki Nagisa exclaimed in surprise as she looked around the living room.
"It's alright, you guys sit down first, I'll go back to my room to change."
Shichen walked towards his room, and Aiba Asagi's gaze followed him, watching him enter the room.
"That's Teacher Shi's room..."
"!"
Yaze Motoki's voice suddenly came from beside her, and Aiba Asagi glared at him, embarrassed and annoyed.
"What do you want to say?"
"Nothing." Yaze Motoki grinned.
"Don't say anything more, understand?"
"Yes, yes, yes, but I really didn't expect it, you actually like older men…"
"I told you not to say anything more! Are you looking for death?!" Aiba Asagi's face flushed with shame and indignation.
"Oh dear~ How scary." Yaze Motoki happily moved away from Aiba Asagi.
"Motoki, what's scary?" Akatsuki Kojou asked in confusion.
"Nothing."
"How inexplicable."
Shichen quickly changed into a simple outfit, then went out to play with Akatsuki Kojou and the others.
The group had no specific destination; it was purely childish whim, not wanting to stay home during the holidays.
As for inviting Shichen, it was entirely Yaze Motoki's mischievous prank, meant to tease Aiba Asagi.
But it just so happened that Aiba Asagi and Akatsuki Nagisa didn't mind inviting Shichen along.
No destination? Then create one! When out to play, girls get the most excited.
"Kojou, let's go buy swimsuits!" Akatsuki Nagisa enthusiastically suggested.
"What?! Swimsuits?!" Akatsuki Kojou cried out in surprise.
"Why are you shouting so loudly?"
"No... Nagisa, why do you want to buy a swimsuit?" Akatsuki Kojou asked nervously.
"What else? Isn't summer coming? It's normal to buy a swimsuit, right?"
"But don't you already have a swimsuit?"
"What kind of swimsuit is a school swimsuit?!"
"Uhm... What kind of swimsuit are you planning to buy?"
"I don't know either, we'll see when we get there... Asagi-neechan, do you want to buy a swimsuit?"
"Swimsuit..." Aiba Asagi couldn't help but glance at Shichen out of the corner of her eye.
"Why are you looking at me? I don't mind, you guys can go if you want, and the mall has air conditioning." Shichen noticed Aiba Asagi's gaze and replied with a smile.
"Oh dear~ Teacher Shi really doesn't understand anything." Yaze Motoki shook his head and sighed.
"Shut up!" Aiba Asagi glared at him irritably.
"Yes, yes."
"Since that's the case, let's go!" Akatsuki Nagisa pulled Akatsuki Kojou and led the way towards the mall.
Shichen and the others followed closely behind.
The mall wasn't far; they arrived in less than ten minutes, but everyone was already sweating.
Fortunately, the central air conditioning inside the mall was very powerful. As soon as Shichen and the others entered, they felt the coolness and instantly felt refreshed.
Indeed, air conditioning is the greatest invention in human history.
Because it was Golden Week, the mall was a bit crowded and noisy.
But as soon as Shichen and his group arrived, it suddenly quieted down. Needless to say, everyone's attention was drawn to Shichen.
"Oh dear~ Teacher really is charming. I wonder how fierce the competition will be in the future." Yaze Motoki said teasingly, with his hands clasped behind his head, clearly implying something.
Aiba Asagi ignored him, but she did start to worry about this issue in her heart.
And she was still so young now, she had no chance at all.
"What competition? Where do you, a little brat, get so much to say?" Shichen gave him a tap on the head.
"Waaah, Teacher is bullying me!"
"That's for your nonsense. Let's go, let's head straight to the swimsuit store. Nagisa-chan, you lead the way."
"Alrighty!"
The swimsuit store was on the third floor, and it was a women's swimsuit store, meaning Shichen and the others couldn't go in with them.
Akatsuki Nagisa and Aiba Asagi had no choice but to go in together to buy swimsuits.
Shichen and the other three waited outside, but Akatsuki Kojou seemed a bit restless.
The women passing by were dressed too coolly, with long legs and deep cleavage, which was too stimulating for a young boy.
Shichen remembered that Akatsuki Kojou had already become the blood familiar of the base body at this time, with one of his ribs replaced. He was a little worried that this guy would suddenly get a nosebleed.
Fortunately, Yaze Motoki kept teasing him, distracting him.
Akatsuki Nagisa and Aiba Asagi didn't stay inside for too long; they soon came out, each carrying a small tote bag.
"Nagisa, why so fast?" Akatsuki Kojou asked.
"Hmph hmph~ I just didn't want to keep you guys waiting too long~" Akatsuki Nagisa put her hands on her hips.
"Teacher Shi, we've finished buying." Aiba Asagi came up to Shichen and said softly.
"Is that so? Then let's go." Shichen nodded with a smile.
"Mm…" Aiba Asagi hesitated, wanting to speak, but she held back the urge to show him her swimsuit.
Shichen and the others were not in a hurry to leave the mall; instead, they continued to browse. This place was quite large and very well-equipped, with everything imaginable.
At the entrance of an ice cream shop, Shichen was eating ice cream and looking at the trendy hair salon across the way, which reminded him of something.
"Teacher Shi, what are you looking at?" Aiba Asagi bought her ice cream and walked over to him.
"Asagi, have you ever thought about dyeing your hair?"
"Dyeing my hair?"
"Yes, I think you'd look even cuter with blonde hair."
"Even… even cuter!?" Aiba Asagi panicked.