Chapter 227: Confident Tomie

"No need!"

Tomie waved her hand dismissively, her tone indifferent.

"This is completely normal, isn't it?"

"???"

Normal?

Shizuka was stunned. She blinked at Tomie, wondering if there was something wrong with her ears or if something was seriously wrong with this girl in front of her.

How could being attacked by a classmate be considered "normal"?

Before Shizuka could voice her thoughts, Tomie spoke again, her voice brimming with confidence.

"With my beauty, it's only natural that people are jealous of me and want to hurt me. They're just inferior and ugly!"

"…"

Her sheer confidence left everyone speechless.

Shizuka wanted to retort, but as her eyes lingered on Tomie's stunning face, she found herself hesitating.

After all, Tomie was exceptionally beautiful.

For a moment, a strange feeling of jealousy flickered in Shizuka's chest, but she quickly shook her head, snapping herself out of it.

What's wrong with me today? Why would I suddenly feel jealous of a student's appearance?

"Alright, enough!" Tomie interrupted impatiently, waving her hand as though brushing Hiratsuka off.

"I didn't come here for you!"

"…"

The audacity!

Shizuka's brow twitched, but before she could respond, Yukino, who had been quietly observing the interaction, stepped forward.

"Hiratsuka-sensei," Yukino called softly.

Seeing her confused expression, Yukino leaned in and whispered into Shizuka's ear, explaining what she knew about Tomie.

"…"

Shizuka fell silent.

Her casual attitude shifted as her expression gradually turned incredulous.

So this Kawakami Tomie isn't even human?

Suddenly, all the bizarre rumors floating around the school began to make sense.

---

Tomie, oblivious to what Yukino had said, felt a flicker of discomfort under Shizuka's sharp gaze.

But she quickly brushed it off. It wasn't worth her time.

She turned her attention to Ryuji, the person she was supposedly here to meet.

"Are you Ryuji?"

She sauntered over, her eyes scanning him from head to toe with an air of judgment. Slowly, a satisfied smile crept onto her face.

At the same time, Ryuji studied Tomie.

He had to admit, her reputation wasn't exaggerated. She was truly beautiful, her mole under her eye adding an alluring charm.

But her beauty wasn't her most terrifying feature.

What made Kawakami Tomie truly dangerous was her subtle charm, the way she could gradually alter a person's mind, drawing them in without them even realizing it.

It wasn't an overwhelming infatuation but a slow, creeping obsession.

And that was what made her power so frightening.

---

"Not bad!"

Tomie's self-satisfied voice broke Ryuji's thoughts.

She gave him a small nod, clearly impressed.

"Do you want to pursue me?"

"Why do you say that?" Ryuji replied, raising an eyebrow. His tone was calm but laced with curiosity.

He didn't confirm or deny it, instead watching Tomie with a faint smile, as though he were amused by her.

The girls in the room remained silent, exchanging subtle glances but making no move to interrupt.

After all, none of them were worried about Tomie affecting Ryuji.

"Isn't it obvious?" Tomie said, crossing her arms and tilting her head in that annoyingly smug way.

"You went through all this trouble to get me here, didn't you? It's clear that you're interested in me. Fine, I'll allow it."

Her expression didn't falter, nor did she hesitate.

She openly agreed, as though she were granting Ryuji the highest honor.

"You're barely worthy of me, but I suppose I can accept it."

Tomie's words drew mixed reactions from the room.

She wasn't in love with Ryuji, of course. Tomie didn't love anyone.

Her agreement was purely self-serving.

Ryuji's reputation in the school was unmatched, and if she claimed him as her own, it would elevate her status to new heights.

That was the real reason behind her so-called "approval."

If someone more influential than Ryuji appeared in the future, she wouldn't hesitate to discard him.

That was just who Tomie was—a selfish, heartless opportunist.

---

"Hahaha!"

Ryuji's sudden laughter caught everyone off guard.

Rather than getting angry, he seemed genuinely amused.

Tomie frowned slightly, confused by his reaction.

"Don't get too excited," she said, her tone haughty.

She placed her hands on her hips, scanning the room with a look of disdain.

"But if I'm going to agree to this, there's a condition."

"Oh?" Ryuji tilted his head, his interest piqued.

He wasn't in a rush to deal with Tomie. For now, he was content to play along and see what she had to say.

"What's the condition?"

Tomie's lips curled into a smirk as she declared, "Get rid of all these women."

"Huh?"

Ryuji raised an eyebrow in surprise, though a small part of him had expected this.

"Since I'm here, there's no need for anyone else. I'm more than enough! In fact, I'm better than all of them combined!"

Her voice was full of arrogance, her tone leaving no room for argument.

The other girls exchanged glances, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and barely contained laughter.

Tomie, of course, didn't notice.

She was too caught up in her own delusions, convinced that she was superior to everyone else in the room.

For a moment, silence hung heavy in the air.

And then…

"Pfft!"

One of the girls couldn't hold it in anymore.

"Hahaha!"

Soon, the entire room was filled with laughter.

"I can't—this is too much!"

"Is she serious?"

The anger or indignation Tomie might have expected never came.

Instead, the sound of laughter echoed around her, mocking her in a way she couldn't quite comprehend.

"…"

Tomie's confident smile faltered slightly as she looked around the room, confused by their reaction.

"What's so funny?"

But no one answered her directly.

And to Tomie's ears, their amusement was louder than any insult.