CHAPTER 10 - Juvenile January (1)

[JEALOUSY]

In the latter bit of the class' civil war, Karma raised his hand to surrender as he was grappled upon by Nagisa on the ground. With this, the Blue Team – save Korosensei – rejoiced while the opposing team – kill Korosensei – yielded to their loss and at the same time felt relieved that the outcome was one that everyone had competed for with everything they got.

Despite their disagreement earlier, the previously divided class with dissenting views was once again united as they traded flattery and admirations of the other's display of strength during the fight. As Korosensei told his two fellow teachers, a conflict could also be a way of bringing people closer together.

Both Chiba and Okajima approached Kanzaki and praised her for the stunt she had pulled when she attacked them from behind. Chiba was wholly impressed at her for hitting his back multiple times as Okajima adored her grace-like beauty by her side.

Hayami was watching the three interact from a distance when Hara, Isogai, Maehara, Itona, and Yada gathered around her. The first three were the ones that she had taken down earlier before Yada snuck a shot on her. Including Takebayashi, Hayami has four kills in total.

"You are so amazing, Hayami! No wonder Karma put you in the defense for the red team," Maehara said loudly.

Isogai nodded. "Yeah. You really held your ground there very well until Yada-san targeted you," he stated as his gaze darted to the brunette in a ponytail.

"I'm sure that was just a lucky shot," Yada said sheepishly.

Giving her a stern look, Hayami told her, "No way that was a fluke. You knew that I'd be focused on taking down Isogai, so you went beyond my field of vision before taking that shot."

Yada's cheeks became flushed at her statement, making her proud of her small achievement of landing a hit on the girls' top marksman.

As the five engross themselves in the details of their fight, emerald orbs once again turned back to the raven-haired sniper chatting happily with Kanzaki, who looked pleased as punch. Her hand climbed to her chest where she felt a sting.

This did not go unnoticed by Class 3-E's motherly figure, Hara Sumire. She elbowed the brunette beside her and her eyes pointed to Hayami's strained expression staring at Chiba and Kanzaki.

Yada met Hara's gaze as impish smiles crossed their faces. They moved closer towards Hayami, bordering her on both sides.

"If you're jealous, why don't you go over there?" Hara told Hayami while feigning callousness.

The orange-haired sniper glanced at the two girls consecutively. "What are you talking about?" she asked impassively as she refrained herself from stealing a glimpse at him and her.

Hara sneaked a look at their two classmates who were now talking alone – Okajima nowhere to be seen. "I know that you have been looking at them for a while. From what I can see, there's a good chance that Chiba-san will start to fall for Kanzaki. Am I right, Yada?" She shifted a glance towards Yada, who was now turning queasy, thinking that the pudgy food-lover might be going too far at this.

When Hara had given her a reassuring wink, Yada said feebly, "Yeah."

"You're spouting nonsense." Hayami folded her arms. "Why would I get jealous?" she said before walking away.

Having seen Hayami's gesture, after mingling with her for this long, Yada knew then that Hara was spot-on on her speculations – that Hayami was jealous of Kanzaki at the thought of Chiba being attracted to the black-haired beauty.

***

"Hayami, let's go down together."

After they had been dismissed, Chiba immediately went to Hayami's seat, hoping to spend some time with her today since he did not have the chance to from the class battle earlier.

Odd enough, it took more than a second for her to respond. When she did, she bobbed her head with Hara and Yada rubbernecking from their seats.

Then, with discreet reluctance, she followed him out of the room. She has yet to make sense of her bothersome feelings, and now she would be spending time with the one who was maybe the cause.

Not being able to withhold herself anymore, she spoke up in the middle of their walk in the forest. "Kanzaki was outstanding today. She must have taken you by surprise."

"Yeah." A smile hovered on his lips. "You were pretty amazing too for having four kills."

"Not only Kanzaki is attractive, but she is also good in academics and battle strategies," Hayami stated further.

Her uncharacteristic exaltation of their classmate has made Chiba more aware that something was off about her at the moment. As he pondered about the reason, he said, "You are pretty and have good grades too. You're also capable in a battlefield with your mobile sniping and close-range combat."

"Still, Kanzaki is refined with a pleasing personality. You must want a girl like her."

The words that had just slipped out her mouth halted him in his tracks. He swerved his body towards her when it had hit upon him why she was behaving strangely.

"Are you jealous?" he blurted.

Her legs became steady. Eyes on him, she batted an eyelid and, then, asked in a soft tone, "Am I?"

The look on her features gave away the answer. That would explain the chill he had felt a while ago when he was with Kanzaki, and why Hara and Yada had been giving him odd glances.

Before moving ahead, he said, "I'm with you now, aren't I?" to put her at ease that no matter how beautiful or amazing any girl was, he would still pick her.

And she believed that.