#74 Beginning of the fun time

"Anyway, what was that? I mean the thing with Hoshinomiya-sensei..." Kei couldn't hold her curiosity back and asked me with a slightly insecure expression.

"Huh? You mean "that"? Don't listen to her nonsense, she was just trying to tease us." I said with an indifferent tone and blank expression.

"I see...But isn't that a bit inappropriate for the teacher to talk like that?" Her expression eased up when she noticed my indifference towards that matter.

"Who knows, it's a bit weird because we have holidays so they don't have to behave as the teachers should but this is a different school so it's pretty hard to tell if it's inappropriate from her position. They have to act as our teachers in case of an emergency during our holidays but normally they can behave like regular people. Of course, the words she said were inappropriate in itself, heh, but that's not the main thing here, right? I am afraid that there is no right answer to your question." I explained while thinking thoughtfully about it myself.

"I see...it's definitely hard to tell because this school is totally different from the others. They must have their own rules for these kinds of things. Well...what she said...is that your opinion too?" She frowned and asked me with a serious expression.

"Ha? What do you mean?" I asked with a confused expression.

"About Hoshinomiya-sensei's chest...Do you really think she has a small chest?" I had no idea if she was serious about her question or if she was just teasing me.

"Eh, are you actually forcing me to speak about Hoshinomiya-sensei's chest?" I mumbled with a dumbfounded expression while giving her a weird look.

"Well...you don't have to answer." She was nervously playing with her hair while averting her eyes.

"Whatever, it's not some kind of secret or something like that. You want to know what I really think, right? My opinion is that Hoshinomiya-sensei's chest is above average from what I have seen in my life, that's all." I said with a tired and slightly annoyed expression. I had no idea why she was interested in my opinion about this matter but I didn't care either.

"But...*sigh*, then what about Chabashira-sensei? I can't imagine someone cold as her forcing you to help her apply the sunscreen." Although she was slightly dissatisfied with my answer, she quickly changed her question with a curious expression.

"She...we should stop talking about such things for now. We are already near the first section and students are starting to show up, it would be bad if they heard us talking about this." I frowned when I saw not a few people around us so I chose to avoid talking about such things.

...

"Hey Hirata-kun, I am back and I also brought Walker-kun back with me." Kei left my side and approached Hirata to inform him and also to avoid looking too suspicious by being too close to me. There are only a few people who actually know that we are friends but there is no need to act too friendly before everyone.

Although she didn't say that loudly, she still attracted attention from our classmates. Well...more like I attracted that attention. Although I didn't want to get too much attention from others, the attention is not always the bad thing. It's pretty convenient to redirect people's attention to something you excel at, which in my case is athletics and things including the physical ability. People tend to be narrow-minded and only see what's before them and even most of the people who are slightly suspicious of those who might be hiding their abilities will turn to be narrow-minded once you show them something you excel at. Doing this might let them think of me as a meathead.

In my case, I was slightly hiding my capabilities including my physical ability but I was slowly showing them to others and now that people will think that I have also undergone the training in the kendo, most of them will think 'Ah, that's what he was hiding!'. Well, unfortunately not everyone is so stupid to get fooled by this because I wasn't trying too hard to hide my capabilities but a few people won't matter.

"Walker-kun, my friend, what happened to you? How come you have such gruesome scars on your back?" While everyone wanted to know the reason, no one had guts to ask so straightforwardly, except for Ike who asked me without any remorse.

When everyone heard his words they all looked at him with eyes that seemed to say: 'I don't know if he is simply an idiot or if he doesn't realize how rude it is'

"Hehe, Ike-kun, that's a pretty rude question. We shouldn't make Walker-kun uncomfortable!" To my surprise, the one who spoke out in my defense was Kushida with her big friendly smile however that wasn't the only thing that was big on her that attracted our male classmates' gazes.

"It's fine, I have resolved myself to tell everyone before coming to this pool event with everyone." I waved my hand in denial with a smile. I wasn't playing it like I completely didn't care about it but I wasn't too defensive about it either.

Immediately after I said that sentence, everyone looked at me curiously, expecting me to say more.

"Well, let me start with..."

I simply and shortly explained to them how I have gotten those scars. I said the same thing to them as to Ichinose, of course, there were a lot of questions including the question of why I am not the part of the Kendo club. I just made up the excuse on the spot. I am actually thinking about trying the Kendo, considering my faster reflexes and much better sight thanks to my eyes, it would be pretty easy, the only thing that discourages me, are the rules. I am not entirely sure what are the teachings of modern kendo but I guess it's something about being a good person, I can hardly imagine some delinquents being allowed to practice it. I will look more carefully into this matter and also talk with Sae-chan about tournaments rewards. I could use additional points, after all, there are many ways how to spend them. I have also heard that you can advance to a higher class with sufficient points so it wouldn't be weird if you could buy off your expulsion if needed.

"Well, since everyone is here we can already go and play." After everyone calmed down, hearing my explanation, Kushida happily exclaimed with her fist held high. She looked like she was posing for some modeling and it wasn't the bad pose, judging by the gazes she was receiving.

"Hehe, Kikyo-chan is really cute!" Ike blurted out with a lewd expression on his face.

"Pervert" "Pervert" "Pervert" "Pervert" I couldn't even count how many times I heard someone mutter this world.

"Haha, thank you Ike-kun." Kushida thanked him with an embarrassed expression which only strengthened his belief that she is the cutest girl.

"Ugh" I couldn't take this awkward atmosphere any longer and I unknowingly released a quiet disgusted grunt from my mouth.

"I feel the same way" I heard someone answer to my disgusted grunt from my right side so I turned my head to look who it is.

"Even you are here, Horikita-san? I thought that the participation wasn't necessary. Considering your nature, I would have thought that you hate these kinds of events." I said while watching our class dispersing into smaller groups and going their own way.

What caught my attention was the sight where Ichinose met up with Kushida and they decided to take a lead. Of course, most of the boys immediately lined up behind them, ogling their swaying asses.

*Slap* I couldn't take it anymore and I face slapped myself.

Can't you at least act more discreetly? It's totally plain to see what you are doing...no wonder other girls don't like you.

I thought while observing the disgusted faces of the other girls from our class who were watching the same thing.

"Disgusting" I heard Horikita said aloud but they were too far away to hear her anyway. But she was looking at me almost the same way as on them.

What the heck? What have I ever done? Maybe she is just a natural men-hater...

"As for your curiosity why I am here" She looked away from me and started talking again.

I would say that curious is a too strong word to describe my feelings but whatever.

"I don't think it's bad to participate in such events from time to time." She simply said but I knew that she wouldn't bother coming here for no reason.

Why would she come here? No... more like what or who made her come here. When it comes to 'who' the only person that came into my mind was Ayanokoji. He would be the only one capable of forcing her to come here but even considering their relationship I doubt she would come here without any benefit or...

"You were blackmailed to come here, right?" I asked with a smile while watching other students playing around in the pool.

"?! What? How? Did he..?!" She looked quite surprised by my question so I knew that my guess was right. And she even looked a bit alarmed while throwing a hostile glare towards Ayanokoji's direction but he didn't seem to notice anything.

"Don't worry, it was just a wild guess, he didn't tell me anything, neither I know what he used to force you." I said with a nonchalant expression.

"Hmph!" She snorted and looked pretty dissatisfied for being fooled by me.

"How did you even make such a guess anyway?" After she calmed down a bit, she asked me while giving me a suspicious look.

Hearing her question, I just shrugged my shoulders with spread arms and oblivious smile on my face.

"He is the only one who has a strong relationship with you, but I would never think that he would be able to make you come here, without any benefits, that is or without forcing you." Plus he is quite close to the 3 idiots group so maybe he is helping them with their peeping plan, there is also Sudo who seems to like you and perhaps he wouldn't come here without you being here, therefore Ayanokoji's task was to invite you.

I wanted to say the whole thing but I stopped myself from saying too much. If she knew what their plan was it would be a fiasco and the entire Class D would perhaps fall apart. But considering her intelligence she wouldn't say this information to the others but I won't take any chances.

"Is that really everything?" She asked me doubtfully.

"*Yawn*...sure it is. As I said it was a wild guess but you yourself confirmed it." I hold my hand in front of my mouth not to act rudely but even then it seemed that my actions upset her.

"You sure take it easy. Being able to make such a wild guess and acting all nonchalant. Maybe it would be good if you could use your intelligence during the exams." She said with an upset expression.

"That is something else, I would have to study for the exams. That's not a very enjoyable activity." I answered with an amused expression.

"You...How can you act so indifferent, don't you despise looks the people are giving us, students from Class D? How we are treated unfairly? Most of the people are looking down on us. You, me and a few other people should belong to the higher classes.

"From when was the life fair to anyone? You also shouldn't divide people into groups based on their capabilities listed in the papers." I said and started to slowly walk away from her.

"But..." She wanted to say more but she stopped herself while looking downwards at her feet.

I also remembered that I didn't answer one of her questions so I stopped and turned around to face her.

"I almost forgot...As for your question if I don't despise the looks I am receiving from the others." She looked up at me with a confused expression.

I tilted my head slightly to the right and an extremely arrogant smile formed on my face.

"Why should I care about others? I don't know them, I don't care for them, I can't help but treat them as passing breeze, that is as long as they do not invade my private space." I told her and waited for a while if she wanted to say anything else but she seemed to be absent-minded from my words so I just turned around and left.

Well, the next station is Ayanokoji. He must know about those guys' plan and where is their meeting place.

I have decided on my next course of action and went towards Ayanokoji who was standing in the secluded area together with Sakura.