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[Game] Chapter 7: Call Me Senpai
🕑 Added 2024-11-02 12:18:10 +0000 UTCKasumigaoka Utaha didn’t expect Ichin to notice this issue on just the first day. Her lips twitched slightly, and she muttered softly, “It’s just that, back when I first started high school last year, I snapped at a few guys who tried to hit on me. Maybe... what I said was a bit harsh.”
Just maybe, a bit harsh.
Ichin hadn’t seen this side of her before—Kasumigaoka Utaha trying to save face and not outright admit it, which was quite unexpected. But thinking back to his interactions with her over the past month, it’s true she never came off as blunt or unfiltered.
Well, she’s my neighbor after all, so it’s normal to be polite.
Nodding, Ichin said, “Getting approached like that must’ve been annoying. But in a classroom setting like this, don’t you feel out of place?”
“At first, a little. But I got used to it,” Utaha replied, covering her mouth as she yawned. “Most of the time during class, I’m asleep anyway, so I don’t really notice how others look at me.”
With that, she slumped over her desk without another word.
She had stayed up late again last night and barely managed to get a few hours of sleep. If it weren’t for today being the first day of the new semester and wanting to show some respect to their homeroom teacher, Hiratsuka Shizuka, Kasumigaoka Utaha would’ve probably been sleeping since the first period.
Seeing her fall asleep so quickly left Ichin speechless. He didn’t disturb her. Instead, he took out his phone, put on his earphones, and jotted down some game ideas in his notebook while listening to music.
During the afternoon classes, Kasumigaoka Utaha spent most of her time with her head on the desk, sleeping. On the other hand, Ichin was focused on his game development tasks. Hiratsuka had already talked with the other teachers, so they didn't interfere and decided to wait and see how Ichin performed in the upcoming exams.
The afternoon classes soon came to an end, and it was time for the after-school club activities. Today, being the first day of the new semester, all the school clubs were actively recruiting new members starting from lunchtime.
In his previous life, Ichin had seen many such club activities in anime, but he had little interest in joining. His time would be better spent developing his game. Right now, all he could think about was finishing Slay the Spire as soon as possible.
After packing his bag and getting ready to leave, Ichin noticed that Kasumigaoka Utaha was still asleep at her desk. He glanced around at the students who were leaving the classroom one after another and decided to hold back from leaving just yet.
Once everyone else had left, Ichin got up and approached Utaha. He gently tapped her shoulder.
“Kasumigaoka, wake up. School’s over,” he said softly.
Under his gentle nudge, Kasumigaoka Utaha mumbled a few incoherent words and slowly straightened up, looking dazedly around the room until she finally came to her senses.
“Oh, school’s over?”
Turning to face him, Ichin smiled at her disheveled bangs and the bright red mark on her forehead. “Yeah, it’s already over. If you’re tired, you should head home and get some rest. Also, your forehead…”
He gestured toward her forehead with his finger.
Utaha raised her hand and noticed her own disheveled state. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she raised an eyebrow and said to Ichin, “I didn’t expect you to have a hobby of enjoying girls’ embarrassing moments, Ichin-kun.”
“Not at all,” Ichin responded with a calm smile. “I was just kindly letting you know.” He then grabbed his backpack. “Since you’re awake now, I’ll head home. I still need to buy groceries and cook. See you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow.”
After Ichin left the classroom, Utaha realized that she was now the only one left. “So, was he trying to keep me from oversleeping?” she murmured with a smile, brushing her bangs back. “Compared to the other boys, he’s not bad at all.”
---
The next morning.
After finishing breakfast, Ichin yawned as he left his house. He had been up late drawing cards for his game and lost track of time, working until two in the morning. As a result, he overslept a little and even skipped his morning run.
Riding his bike to school, Ichin hurried, as he disliked being late. However, just as he was nearing the school, he saw Kasumigaoka Utaha standing face-to-face with a blonde girl.
Curious, Ichin slowly came to a stop and approached them, just in time to hear Kasumigaoka say, “I’m a second-year, and you’re a first-year. So from now on, when you greet me, make sure to add ‘Senpai.’ Got it, Eriri-chan?”
Eriri?
Ichin glanced at the blonde twin-tailed girl opposite Kasumigaoka. She did indeed look exactly like the character he remembered from the anime in his past life. A true golden-haired tsundere.
“Ugh!” Eriri glared furiously at Kasumigaoka, but then noticed Ichin watching them from the side of the road. She immediately puffed up and snapped, “What are you looking at?!”
“Hm?” Kasumigaoka turned her head and, upon seeing Ichin, greeted him with a smile. “Good morning, Ichin-kun.”
“Good morning,” Ichin replied. He looked at Eriri and asked, “Is she a friend of yours?”
“As if!” Eriri retorted loudly before turning on her heel and running off.
Watching her retreat, Kasumigaoka chuckled. “I didn’t expect you to be so talented, Ichin-kun. Just a few words, and you’ve already driven away such a cute girl.”
“Don’t pin this on me. I’m not taking the blame,” Ichin said with a shrug. “I just happened to see you and stopped by. So, what’s the story here?”
Kasumigaoka carefully chose her words. “Hmm… she’s someone I happened to meet before. Her personality is so much like a little puppy that I can’t resist teasing her. And that’s what you saw just now. I never thought she’d end up at Toyogasaki too. Looks like school life won’t be boring.”
“A puppy, huh? That’s quite an interesting description,” Ichin remarked with a laugh. “Anyway, we should get to school. We’ll be late if we don’t hurry. Want to go together?”
“Sure.”
Kasumigaoka didn’t mind Ichin’s company. Being around him wasn’t tiring, and he had even brought over some homemade snacks a few times. As neighbors, they got along quite well.
Soon after, as they entered the school gates, some students noticed the sharp-tongued Kasumigaoka Utaha, who had shot down several guys last year, walking side-by-side with a boy, chatting and laughing.
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