What does “I’m so glad I can continue to be partners with Kanzaki-kun” even mean…?
Xiao Chun Miura’s face turned a mix of green and purple, her expression shifting several times within a few seconds.
She had thought something serious had happened—only to realize this Teacher was gossiping about her and Kanzaki Sou.
“Sakura-sensei, the reason I said I was glad is because…”
Xiao Chun Miura took a deep breath, then spoke slowly with a hint of resignation.
“I want to participate in Sports Day… Since I can still retain my status as a Library Committee Member, I can use the Library Committee’s quota to sign up.”
“Mm?”
Sakura-sensei clearly hadn’t expected Xiao Chun Miura to say such things.
“Ah—… Is that so?”
After pondering for a few seconds, Sakura-sensei finally let out a relaxed sound as if having a sudden realization.
“So you wanted to participate in Sports Day.”
—Otherwise, what else, you gossiping Teacher!
Xiao Chun Miura kept a peaceful smile on her face, but could only hide her fierce complaints in her heart.
It’s one thing for Students; at this age, girls gathering together inevitably gossip about all sorts of “juicy” school news.
Xiao Chun Miura never expected that Teachers would be like this too.
As she was thinking, Sakura-sensei took out an envelope from the drawer in front of her, as if it had been prepared in advance, and handed it to Xiao Chun Miura.
“This is your salary for this month’s work. It’s not much, but you deserve it.”
“…Ah, okay.”
Xiao Chun Miura accepted the thin envelope.
“Kanzaki-kun’s share, I’ve already asked the Class Leader of Class 1 to pass it to him. He seems to have been called by the Student Council for a meeting today and didn’t come by.”
“Such a busy person.”
“Haha… Well, that’s Kanzaki-kun for you.”
Xiao Chun Miura replied casually.
She knew that the reason Kanzaki Sou wasn’t here was probably more than just a Student Council meeting.
The Correction System truly existed, and it seemed to be firmly guiding Kanzaki Sou away from the library.
For her, the current situation was already a significant advantage and benefit… If, because of this correction, the plan she had for Sports Day also failed—
Then Xiao Chun Miura would really be at a loss.
Fortunately, in the end, it was just Sakura-sensei using “a student complaint leading to a talk with the higher-ups” as a reason to physically move Kanzaki Sou away from the library—yet still retained their status as Committee Members.
This was something she couldn’t help but feel grateful for.
“Speaking of Sports Day, I always thought Xiao Chun-san wasn’t the type to enjoy such activities.”
Out of nowhere, Sakura-sensei spoke up.
“Eh? Mm—yes… is that so?”
Unable to refute, Xiao Chun Miura could only go along with Sakura-sensei’s words.
“After all, you usually prefer reading…”
“Right? It feels like Xiao Chun-san isn’t the athletic type—”
At this, Sakura-sensei looked at Xiao Chun Miura’s face thoughtfully, then sized her up from head to toe.
That examining gaze seemed to want to say something, filling Xiao Chun Miura with a sense of dread.
—And immediately came true.
“Mm… So, the reason you want to join Sports Day is to create opportunities to spend time with Kanzaki-kun, right? Since you’re not in the same Class—”
“If you want to make an effort during such a crucial event, why not try signing up for a fun event using your Library Committee Member status?”
“—Well, good luck, Xiao Chun-san.”
Xiao Chun Miura’s eyes widened.
Sakura-sensei showed a big smile in front of her.
—No.
Am I really that easy to read?!
Or rather, this is just a wild guess!
But why is it almost completely correct?!
Xiao Chun Miura couldn’t remember what mood she had when she finally escaped from the library.
She only knew that as she left, the wind from outside swept across her face, helping her calm down.
If she hadn’t been clutching that envelope tightly, Xiao Chun Miura might have forgotten what she had just experienced in the library.
Losing the stable platform of working with Kanzaki Sou every day was undoubtedly a huge blow.
But at the same time, she had protected the crucial “Library Committee Member” identity.
This kept the most important Sports Day, and the possibility for action, within reach.
However, all her future actions would need to be more precise and proactive.
She couldn’t rely on chance encounters or coincidences anymore.
Xiao Chun Miura took a deep breath.
She had to send Kanzaki Sou the team invitation for the Borrowed Item Relay before Kondo Haruka completely locked him down.
She pulled out her phone.
On the LIME chat interface, the “SS” avatar quietly rested there.
[Kanzaki-kun, if you have any questions about the midterm exams, like I told you before, just message me on LIME.]
At their last parting, Kanzaki Sou’s words echoed in her ears again.
…Messaging is fine too.
She had to take the initiative.
For the rest of the afternoon, Xiao Chun Miura was restless.
She sat in the Class (5) classroom, her gaze seemingly fixed on the blackboard, but her thoughts had already drifted far away.
Her pen unconsciously scribbled on her notebook, drawing keywords like “Borrowed Item Relay,” “Sports Day,” and “Kanzaki Sou.”
The anxiety from losing the library “base” was far stronger than she had imagined.
She felt like an agent used to a Safehouse, suddenly told it was compromised and needing to relocate immediately.
Though she still held the “Committee Member” trump card, without stable cover, all her actions would be exposed to Kondo Haruka’s radar.
She had to race against time.
She had to quickly finalize the team-up for the “Borrowed Item Relay.”
When the end-of-class bell rang, Xiao Chun Miura was almost the first to rush out of the classroom.
She didn’t greet Yui Hori and the others, but headed straight toward Class 1.
However, she was still a step too late.
When she reached the back door of the Class 1 classroom, panting, there was no one inside.
Only a few duty Students were cleaning.
“Um… Excuse me, Kanzaki-kun…”
“Kanzaki-kun? He just left with Kondo-san.”
A girl wiping the blackboard turned to look at her, her tone calm.
“It seems… they went to the Tennis Club?”
Xiao Chun Miura’s heart sank bit by bit.
She walked out of the school building in a daze, the setting sun stretching her shadow long.
Tennis Club?
As expected…
Was she still too late?
The System Correction Force—or rather, the inertia of the “plot”—was far stronger than she had imagined.
In the end, Kanzaki Sou was still drawn onto Kondo Haruka’s path.
Unwilling to give up, she ran to the wire fence outside the tennis courts.
From a distance, she could hear the crisp sound of rackets hitting balls and the excited cheers of girls.
On the court under the setting sun, two figures were locked in an intense match.
One was Kondo Haruka, dressed in sportswear with a high ponytail.
And her opponent…
Xiao Chun Miura’s breath caught.
It was a boy, also in sportswear, with a poised stance and standard, sharp swings.
—Kanzaki Sou.
His tousled hair was damp with sweat, clinging to his forehead, his face focused and serious in a way unique to sports.
Every swing of his racket triggered screams from the female club members on the sidelines.
“Kanzaki-kun is so cool!”
“Kondo-senpai’s opponent is him? That’s too strong!”
On the other end of the court, Kondo Haruka wore a bright, unrestrained smile Xiao Chun Miura had never seen before.
It was the exhilaration of meeting a worthy opponent, but also the pride of “this is my home ground, and I call the shots.”
She and Kanzaki Sou exchanged volleys, their coordination so natural it seemed they were born to stand together.
Xiao Chun Miura silently stood outside the wire fence, feeling like an outsider.
Between her and them, there was a barrier she could never cross—and a world…
…she could never step into.
She clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palm.
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