COTE : Backed By Black Technology System

Watching Kanda Shuichi acting all playful by himself, Sakayanagi Arisu felt very annoyed.

"Kanda, you're so good with words. I bet you're not very popular with girls, right?"

"Really? I get along pretty well with Shiina from C-Class, and I'm actually going out with two girls today," Kanda Shuichi responded, stating facts as though he hadn't heard the sarcasm in Sakayanagi's voice.

"Oh? Kanda, you actually managed to ask two girls out? Are you just bragging?" Sakayanagi Arisu put on a surprised expression. "Wait, the two girls you're talking about aren't me and Masumi, are they?"

"No, no. Masumi and I already have plans," Kanda Shuichi said, looking at Sakayanagi as though she was saying something stupid.

"Better get going. The people I'm waiting for will be here soon, and then you'll be embarrassed."

Kanda Shuichi didn't bother with her anymore and sat down on a nearby sofa to wait.

There were still about ten minutes left before the agreed-upon time of nine o'clock, so Kanda Shuichi decided to pass the time by looking at his phone.

Talking to someone like Sakayanagi for too long felt like it would give him a brain aneurysm.

Seeing this, Sakayanagi Arisu sat down on the other side of the sofa, while Kamuro stood beside the sofa, watching the elevator.

"No, I'd also like to see the girl who's going to date Kanda. If I can, I'd suggest she go see an eye doctor."

Facing the sharp-tongued, white-haired loli, Kanda Shuichi realized she was trying to humiliate him earlier.

Kanda Shuichi glanced at her and continued looking at his phone, checking the school forum while occasionally glancing at the elevator to see if the person he was waiting for had arrived.

After about five or six minutes, the elevator door opened again, and the person he had been waiting for finally stepped out: Kushida Kikyo and Sakura Airi.

"My people have arrived. Aren't you leaving yet?"

"So it's Kushida," Kanda Shuichi said.

It was clear that Kushida Kikyo's reputation had already spread across all of the first-year students, even Sakayanagi knew of her. There was something in her voice when she said it that felt a little too meaningful.

Looks like you've noticed something's off about Kushida, but you don't think I know her true nature, do you? You don't think I've been fooled by her, do you?

Of course, he couldn't say this out loud, or their little angel Kushida would explode on the spot.

"Sorry for the wait, Kanda," Kushida greeted him as soon as she arrived, then looked at the other two. "Good morning, Sakayanagi and Kamuro."

"Good morning, Kushida. Are you two going on a date?"

'Damn it, are you trying to embarrass me in public?'

'Sakayanagi Arisu, you little troublemaker! You don't live up to that cute name of yours at all!'

'Well, fine. Teaming up with Ryuen to handle Class A will be even easier now.'

When Kushida heard Sakayanagi's words, she immediately understood the situation and quickly waved her hands.

"No, we're just going to the shopping district together. Sakura's camera broke because of me, so Kanda and I are accompanying her to get it fixed."

Sakura, whose name had been mentioned, shyly hid behind Kushida, too nervous even to say hello.

"Sakura, are you seriously this shy? At a time like this, shouldn't you at least say hi and join the conversation?"

Kanda Shuichi had no idea that from the moment Sakura saw Sakayanagi, she sensed trouble. Sakayanagi seemed much more unsettling than either Kanda Shuichi or Kushida Kikyo, which was why Sakura hid immediately. 

Meanwhile, the girl with the purple hair who hadn't spoken at all somehow helped her feel a bit more at ease.

"So, Kanda is just a little tag-along, huh?"

Sakayanagi squinted, a pleasant smile appearing on her face.

"No, no, no, I was the one who insisted Kanda come along with us," Kushida said, making sure not to agree with Sakayanagi's teasing tone.

'You think I can't tell you're mocking me? What happened to all that inspirational talk from the other day?'

'Spit it out right now!'

"I'm heading back," Kanda Shuichi suddenly said, and the atmosphere grew quiet. Even Kushida felt like her plan had backfired. Sakura, standing nearby, looked a bit worried, which confused Kanda Shuichi.

But Sakayanagi quickly got an idea.

"Oh my, Kanda, are you embarrassed after being exposed and want to run away?" Sakayanagi Arisu covered her mouth gently. 

"Looks like I went too far. Should I apologize?"

"Apologize! Get on your knees right now!" Of course, Kanda Shuichi couldn't say that aloud. She was a cute girl, after all. He couldn't make her kneel in public.

So he thought, 

'Just wait. Don't let me catch you slipping up one day!'

After what Sakayanagi said, Kanda Shuichi couldn't just leave—that would be even more humiliating.

"Alright, if we're done with small talk, let's go. I'm pretty slow, you know." Kanda gave Sakayanagi a sideways glance, understanding what she was getting at without saying anything.

But somehow, this annoyed Sakayanagi even more than if he had just responded. Her amusement from teasing Kanda Shuichi vanished.

Kushida noticed the slight shift in the mood and quickly turned to Sakura.

"Let's go, Sakura."

Sakura, feeling like the helpless rabbit among wolves, could only nod.

What? Kamuro? She's just like a husky, trying to look like a wolf occasionally.

...

The school only had one electronics store, a monopoly, but even so, Kanda Shuichi doubted they made much profit. Most businesses at the school seemed to be like that.

Kanda Shuichi had been here before—he'd picked up a laptop worth 200,000 private points, which was still sitting in his dorm room.

Now that he thought about it, he'd been too focused on arguing with Sakayanagi back in the lobby and hadn't really paid attention to his two companions today.

Kushida's outfit needs no mention—a blue dress with a thin green jacket and a red handbag hanging from her right shoulder, giving off a city-woman vibe.

This was the first time Kanda Shuichi had seen Sakura's casual clothes. Her outfit was mainly white, with red sleeves on her T-shirt, and a pair of blue capris.

Most noticeably, her bag was slung across her shoulder, with the strap running over her chest, which drew even more attention to her figure.

No wonder Kushida chose a different bag style—I get it, Kushida. 

Kanda Shuichi glanced at Kushida, which left her confused.

"What's wrong, Kanda?"

"No, nothing." 

He raised his right hand, placed it on his left shoulder, and traced a diagonal line down to his right hip.

Kushida didn't understand at first, but remembering his gaze earlier, she glanced back at Sakura, who was slightly behind them. The moment she looked back, her face darkened, and if it wasn't for the setting, she might have swung her bag at Kanda Shuichi.

At least Kanda Shuichi knows when to keep his mouth shut.

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