In the open-air theater, just past ten o'clock, a performance of the famous work "Gone with the Wind" was underway — the same story Houtarou had read in the library.
"And now, as Scarlett looked sadly back, she realized that Melanie had always been there beside her with a sword in her hand, unobtrusive as her own shadow, loving her, fighting for her with blind passionate loyalty, fighting Yankees, fire, hunger, poverty, public opinion and even her beloved blood kin.
Scarlett felt her courage and self-confidence ooze from her as she realized that the sword which had flashed between her and the world was sheathed forever."
The actors had reached the tragic scene where the female supporting character dies.
Houtarou made his way to a corner of the theater.
Though the ship was in vacation mode and students were free to enjoy themselves during these three days without worrying about exams, fewer than ten people occupied the audience seats.
In one corner sat a girl with short golden hair. This was Kikyō, angel-like with beautiful wine-red eyes, watching the play intently.
In "Gone with the Wind", the story follows Scarlett, the female protagonist, and Melanie, a supporting character. Scarlett was distinctive and strong-willed, prone to putting on airs and being tsundere, while Melanie was purely innocent and naive.
Scarlett had fallen in love with Melanie's husband and repeatedly tried to steal him away. Yet Melanie, completely unaware, treated Scarlett as a dear friend. Only upon Melanie's death did Scarlett realize how important she had been to her.
Though the circumstances differed, Houtarou saw parallels between this relationship and that of Kikyō and Suzune.
"What do you think of this script?"
"Not interested." Kikyō said, "Besides, I think Scarlett is crazy — such a strong personality, yet she falls for Melanie's weak husband."
"Oh. Is that so."
But in the future, you'll be like this. You'll even want to wear Suzune's panties.
"By the way." Houtarou said, "You're quite popular lately. My classmates saw you getting confessed to."
Kikyō: "...I refused."
She was the little angel, cute and adorable, with a saint-like demeanor, easily gaining others' favor, especially innocent boys.
Dating and romance weren't what she wanted though. She preferred being friends with everyone, believing that dating would only reduce her number of friends.
"I've heard that student relationships rarely work out — the success rate is only about 10-30%. When I think about how it's not even half, it's hard to make up my mind." She said, "Nothing is more wasteful than romance during student years."
I see.
Then she and Suzune were aligned on this. Both thought they didn't want to fall in love during high school.
As Houtarou was thinking this, Kikyō suddenly turned around.
"Shall we hold hands?" She said.
Hmm?
Though she often gave cute little rewards during their interactions, actively asking to hold hands was a first.
"Did something happen yesterday?" Houtarou asked sharply.
"Don't be mean..." Kikyō said, "I'm a girl too — even though I always reject others, I'm still a bit curious about holding hands with a boyfriend."
Oh.
Since he needed her to provide him with experience points, occasionally indulging her wasn't a problem for Houtarou.
However, he watched as Kikyō held his left hand with both her soft hands.
It reminded him of last night. Suzune had held his hand the same way.
So… your actions are just like Scarlett's, aren't they?
Trying to steal Melanie's man.
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And so, the three days of leisure time passed in an instant.
After returning to school, Houtarou teleported home to pick up his cat that he had left at a friend's house.
His school life was about to begin again.
⍟⍟⍟⍟⍟⍟⍟⍟⍟⍟
July 1st. At Advanced Nurturing High School.
As usual, the homeroom teacher would announce two things: the updated Class Points after each month's exams, and the rules for that month's special examination.
Of course...
『180,100 Points have been credited to your account!』
『Sender - XF10001』
At 7 o'clock, the school's transfer arrived right on time.
Houtarou looked at his account.
『Houtarou Oreki』
『Student ID: 1008610010』
『Class: First Year, Class A』
『Personal Account: ¤ 38,854,500 Pts』
As always, an absurdly high number of points.
"Good morning, Oreki-kun…"
While heading to the classroom, phone in hand, and sitting down at his desk, Houtarou heard an extremely cute girl's greeting from his right.
This was his seat neighbor — a girl with silver hair.
She was strikingly beautiful. Her remarkably fair skin and jewel-like eyes complemented her cute features and silky silver hair that seemed to invite touch.
She was perhaps the cutest girl Houtarou had ever seen.
Though she was in his class, she appeared quite petite. She wasn't very tall and needed a cane to move about slowly.
This was Arisu.
After the island exam and cruise vacation ended, everyone reunited with this little princess who had remained at school.
Houtarou had informed everyone that it was Arisu who, while staying behind, had deduced the pattern of the VIP exam. Thanks to this, everyone had earned points and maintained Class A's position.
Despite not participating in either the island exam or VIP exam, she had earned everyone's respect.
The class factions were now closely matched again — a single student's defection could shift the balance in a day.
"Morning." Houtarou responded briefly before laying his head on his desk, apparently not having slept well the previous night.
Arisu withdrew her gaze and took out her phone to contact Masumi directly.
Masumi: "..."
She noticed a message on her phone.
Why did they need to communicate by phone when sitting so close to each other?
Still, she read Arisu's message carefully, knowing who her master was now that they were back at school.
| Arisu Sakayanagi |
| The exam this time was completed brilliantly. |
| However, Kamuro-san. It seems Oreki has become more resistant to advances from cute girls. |
| Did something happen? |
"..." Masumi stared at the message.
That's quite an unsettling thing to say.
Are you just upset because Houtarou responded normally to your cute greeting?
But another message arrived from Arisu.
| Arisu Sakayanagi |
| Could it be because during the exam, he was constantly surrounded and given attention by girls? |
| For example, Kamuro-san, you've been doing favors for Oreki-kun, right? |
Oh. Was she suggesting that Houtarou's resistance to girls had increased because of the experience points Masumi had provided?
Yes, Masumi knew very well that she was a girl too. But...
| Arisu Sakayanagi |
| In other words, could it be because of Kamuro-san? |
Another message arrived immediately.
| Arisu Sakayanagi |
| It seems lending you to him was a mistake. I never imagined Kamuro-san would end up falling for Oreki-kun. |
Falling for him? She had only experienced misery!
Besides, the thought of Arisu considering her a love rival was terrifying.
Masumi: "..."
And so, unable to resist, she reported everything about Houtarou's popularity.
"Everyone's here."
At this moment, a man in a suit entered the classroom. This was Class A's homeroom teacher, Tomonari Mashima.
"First of all, starting today, Class C has become Class D." He announced.
This confirmed that the class rankings were indeed fluid.
Houtarou's Class A: 1,801 points
Honami's Class B: 970 points
Suzune's Class C: 780 points
Kakeru's Class D: 440 points
Kakeru's class had indeed dropped from Class C, and that morning, Class A students had noticed their classroom location hadn't changed.
Only the sign had changed — from Class C to Class D.
"Next…" Tomonari wrote this month's special exam on the blackboard.
All-School Sports Festival.
⍟⍟⍟
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