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"Alright, you can step down now."
Hiroshi casually walked off the stage, but as he did, Shizuka Hiratsuka, watching from the audience, clearly saw him wave to Sawamura Eriri. It wasn't that Shizuka wanted to meddle, but Hiroshi's behavior was just too bold for her to ignore.
The principal, still on stage, continued, "Now, let's move on to the main part of the freshman assembly. Next, I'd like to invite the student who ranked first in the entrance exams to come up and give a speech."
As soon as the principal said this, Hiroshi, who was halfway down the aisle, spun around and headed back to the stage. The principal shot him a look, reluctantly stepping aside. Hiroshi caught the principal's sour expression, like he'd just tasted something bitter and the disbelief in the audience's eyes. He couldn't help but want to laugh. But his professionalism kicked in, and he composed himself for the speech.
The students below weren't listening to a word he said. They were too busy processing the fact that the guy who had just been up there apologizing was now the top-ranked student in their year. The stark contrast left everyone feeling a bit uneasy.
...
The assembly dragged on until lunchtime. As soon as it ended, Shizuka Hiratsuka dragged Hiroshi to her office. Trying to make a good first impression, she unclenched her fists and spoke in a patient, earnest tone.
"Why didn't you stick to the script I gave you?"
"Teacher, was there something wrong with my apology?"
Wrong? It was all for show anyway, so what did it matter?
Truth be told, even after just a few days, Shizuka had to admit she was impressed by Hiroshi. Setting aside the fact that he'd taken on five guys single-handedly, his decision to call the police afterward showed more decisiveness than most people his age. If he hadn't reported it, the school would've swept it under the rug. After all, it was a new semester, and no one wanted bad press. But Hiroshi had called the cops, and when they showed up, the principal had gone pale, his beer belly practically deflating on the spot.
After the investigation, it was clear: Hiroshi had acted in self-defense, while the other five were guilty of assault. Sure, illegal stuff happens every day, but once the police are involved, it's a different story. The school had no choice but to expel the five immediately and make Hiroshi go through the motions of a public apology.
Shizuka sighed, looking at the boy in front of her, and lit a cigarette without thinking.
"Don't just call the cops every time you get into a fight. If something happens, come to me. The school cares a lot about its reputation."
"Yes, yes, I'll listen to you, Teacher."
Shizuka glanced at the bag in Hiroshi's hand, flicked some ash, and changed the subject. Hiroshi pulled out a lunch box from the bag. "This is lunch for Eriri."
"Eriri? The one you waved to when you left the stage?"
"You saw that, huh?"
"It was obvious. Anyone could see it."
"I'm not here to stop you from dating or anything, but seriously, no more fighting and calling the police. If there's an issue, come to me."
Since it was early in the semester, Shizuka was being unusually lenient.
"Got it."
Hiroshi's cheerful "Got it!" made Shizuka nod in relief. If only she knew that he'd already beaten up nearly everyone who'd crossed him at school, she might not have been so reassured.
…..
Back in the present, Shizuka eyed Rikka Takanashi's lunch box, and suddenly, it clicked. 'Wait, isn't that the same lunch box Hiroshi had in his bag after the assembly?' Realizing this, Shizuka was taken aback. She knew how devoted Hiroshi had been to Eriri. She'd even asked Hachiman Hikigaya and others about it privately and learned that Hiroshi had been like this for two whole years.
'But now, what was going on?' Shizuka had considered giving him some friendly advice to move on, but it seemed unnecessary now. With Rikka there, Shizuka didn't show her surprise. Instead, she subtly kicked Hiroshi under the table and pointed at the lunch box.
Caught off guard, Hiroshi nearly yelped. If it weren't for his mental fortitude, he might have. He turned to Shizuka with a puzzled look, but when he saw where she was pointing, his confusion faded.
"It's fine, Teacher. It's just part of an agreement."
Hiroshi waved it off casually. But his nonchalant tone made Shizuka frown slightly. If it weren't for his bright, sunny smile, she might've thought he'd gone off the deep end after chasing a girl for so long without success.
"Kid, are you sure you're okay?"
Shizuka pulled a pack of cigarettes from her pocket and slowly took one out. She was genuinely concerned about his mental state. Yesterday's Hiroshi and today's were like night and day.
Hiroshi waved her off again. "I'm fine. Don't you know me by now?"
As he spoke, he reached over and plucked the cigarette from her lips.
"With others around, maybe hold off on that."
Still smiling, he tucked the cigarette behind her ear. Then, gently, he brushed a stray hair from her face.
"You should cut back on these things..."
"You little..."
Shizuka's cheeks flushed at his bold move. She took the cigarette from her ear and slipped it back into the pack. Strangely, his audacity didn't anger her. Even she couldn't explain why. They'd only known each other for a month, but to Shizuka, Hiroshi felt more like a friend than just a student.
Meanwhile, Rikka paused mid-bite, her eyes gleaming with an odd light.
'The Hero can get along so well with the Destructive Iron Fist!'
'As expected of the Hero! He easily accomplishes what the Evil King's True Eye cannot!'
'But, the Evil King's True Eye will always be the strongest!'
Rikka thought to herself, though she didn't show it, just kept eating.
Hiroshi watched Rikka's spoon moving nonstop and suddenly remembered something. He walked over to her and playfully tugged at her ahoge. Rikka, sensitive about her "cute point," immediately reacted, dropping her spoon.
"Wait, Hero! What are you doing?! You can't pull my ahoge! It's the source of the Evil King's True Eye's power!"
"Relax, I'm not messing with it. Just giving you a little reminder."
With that, Hiroshi let go of her ahoge and lifted the top layer of her lunch box, revealing the compartment below. But the sight of what lay beneath made Rikka shudder, her ahoge standing straight up!
"This, this is?"
"Impure substance?! How could this be in the Hero's energy supply?"
Indeed, at the bottom of the lunch box were several small tomatoes, their glossy red skins looking incredibly appetizing. It was clear that whoever picked them had gone to great lengths to select the best ones.
"This is an extra boost from the Hero. Make sure to eat them all~"
"All of them?!"
Rikka stared at the six or so tomatoes. Eating even one was a challenge for the Evil King's True Eye, let alone all of them. She took a deep breath, eyeing the shiny tomatoes.
"It's just some impure substance. The Evil King's True Eye will purify it..."
With that resolve, she decided to plead with Hiroshi.
"Hero..."
Rikka put on her cutest face, tugging gently at his sleeve, looking pitiful.
Hiroshi sighed, already expecting this. He hadn't really planned to make her eat them all, just wanted to tease her a bit. Wait, "eat them all" sounds a little suggestive... Pushing the thought aside, he took half of the tomatoes from her lunch box, popped one into his mouth, and tossed the other two to Shizuka.
Shizuka, known for her "Destructive Iron Fist," caught them easily. She examined them in her palm. It was hard to believe these were just ordinary tomatoes; they looked premium. If they weren't specially sourced...
She glanced at Hiroshi. This was the second time in a month she couldn't figure him out. The first time was when she couldn't understand why someone with his looks and talents would act so devoted to one person. The second was now.
To Shizuka, Hiroshi was the type who gave his all in everything he did. Studying, sports, even something as small as a lunch box. But while studying and sports were for himself, the lunch box was different. It was a small gesture, but it carried a boy's immense effort and passion. And yet, he could shift that effort and passion from one person to another so effortlessly. It was like instantly adapting to a friend's gaming setup or playlist.
From his conversation with Rikka, it was clear he'd made the lunch himself. Now, the only thing puzzling Shizuka was whether Eriri had received a lunch from him today. If she had, then Rikka's lunch could be explained in many ways. But if not, Shizuka couldn't fathom the possibility. Could someone really just pick up another person's habits so seamlessly?
Her curiosity burned, but she knew now wasn't the time to ask, not with Rikka there. She'd wait until they were alone. Shizuka looked at the two tomatoes again, hesitated, then popped one into her mouth.
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