Unlike the slacking Ho Fei-yu, Kokoro Aono beside him was listening intently to the speech on stage.
Starting today, high school officially began. The girl had imagined her wonderful future countless times: three years of diligent study to get into a good, top-tier university, graduating, moving to the bustling city of Tokyo, finding a suitable job, and walking hand-in-hand with the person she loved, working together to build a small home just for the two of them.
Attitude determines altitude—that was why the girl was listening so seriously.
Suddenly, Kokoro Aono heard a long, drawn-out breathing sound near her ear. It had to be someone asleep. The sound was very close, almost right beside her. As if remembering something, the girl thoughtfully prepared to turn her head toward the person who had taught her the art of slacking.
Before Kokoro Aono could move, she felt a sudden weight on her shoulder, something resting there.
Combined with the preceding breathing sound, the girl's body shuddered, but she made no further movement because she knew who was resting on her shoulder.
'Honestly~ Fei-yu-kun, that idiot, how can he sleep even in this situation?'
An involuntary sweet smile appeared on Kokoro Aono's lips. She slightly tilted her head and saw Ho Fei-yu, who had indeed slacked off so much that he fell asleep. The girl thought, amused.
Kokoro Aono looked at Ho Fei-yu. Meaningless light shimmered in her clear, transparent black eyes. The speech was immediately forgotten.
Noticing Ho Fei-yu's slightly furrowed brow, the girl realized something and slowly and carefully shifted her body so that Ho Fei-yu's head, resting on her shoulder, could lean at a more comfortable angle.
Even doing just this, the girl felt a sweetness like honey in her heart. However, she wasn't satisfied. Recalling the intimate sight of Ho Fei-yu and Hanatsu Tenkawa earlier, Kokoro Aono wanted more.
A bold idea suddenly appeared in Kokoro Aono's mind, causing her face to flush, and her breathing and heart rate to accelerate.
'I... Kokoro! Isn't acting like this toward Fei-yu-kun exactly like a perverted woman in anime and manga...' She cautiously and slowly tilted her delicate little head towards Ho Fei-yu. She only paused slightly when she felt the tickle of Ho Fei-yu's short hair on her fair face, and her mind raced with chaotic thoughts.
'T-this... this is different. Fei-yu-kun leaned over first. I... I'm just a little tired, that's all. So it's all Fei-yu-kun's fault! Yes, that's right!'
After two and a half seconds of deep contemplation, the girl finally convinced herself and found a guilt-free excuse.
And so.
Kokoro Aono successfully pressed her head against Ho Fei-yu's, closing her eyes happily like a small cat being stroked, enjoying the sweet moment of mutual closeness that belonged only to the two of them.
The girl didn't notice that directly behind the two of them, an ugly, obese man was holding a camera, looking at them with a jealous expression, his teeth gnashing. He looked like he wanted to eat them both alive. Moreover, a deep, greedy glint shone in his narrow, rat-like eyes when he looked at Kokoro Aono's face.
"Fei-yu-kun, wake up quickly! Don't sleep anymore. The ceremony is over. Look at you! You drooled all over me. What are you going to do about it~"
Ho Fei-yu was awakened by Kokoro Aono's sweet voice. Dazed, he realized he had overdone the slacking and actually fell asleep, apparently leaning on the girl, which led to her complaint. But... why did he feel the girl's tone sounded a little happy?
"Ugh, I'm sorry, Kokoro-chan. I accidentally slacked off and fell asleep. But! I can't agree with you saying I drooled."
Ho Fei-yu awkwardly lifted his head from Kokoro Aono's shoulder and sat up straight. He had been leaning sideways on the girl, his head tilted at a highly unnatural angle. He should have felt sore, but he didn't. Was it because his current body was too strong?
"Fei-yu-kun, are we going home now or checking out the clubs?" Kokoro Aono had only been teasing Ho Fei-yu. Seeing that he didn't admit it, she didn't press further and instead asked about his plans.
The girl wanted to go home with Ho Fei-yu, join the same club, and stay by his side.
"Let's go home... I'm not interested in clubs yet. But I have to wait until Hanatsu-chan finishes class. Kokoro, you..." Ho Fei-yu replied to the girl. Since club participation wasn't mandatory, he didn't have any immediate plans.
"Oh, then I'll go back to the classroom to review tomorrow's lessons. When Big Sister Hanatsu is done with class, we can all go back together."
"Mhm, sounds good. I'll wait for you both at the main gate. I'll walk around for a bit and stretch my legs now."
"Mhm~ See you later~"
Kokoro Aono didn't feel any discomfort hearing that Ho Fei-yu intended to wait for Hanatsu Tenkawa before leaving. She just nodded.
After saying goodbye to the girl, Ho Fei-yu walked alone on the empty campus, enjoying the cool autumn breeze and a moment of peace.
Ho Fei-yu walked and admired the campus scenery. Before he knew it, he reached the sports field. He stopped, looking through the fence at the young students sweating away. Everything seemed so beautiful and harmonious.
After watching for a while, he started walking again. As he passed the stadium warehouse, subtle sounds of an argument carried on the breeze entered Ho Fei-yu's ears.
This place was remote. Besides the athletes practicing their clubs, few people passed by. And an argument? Ho Fei-yu listened more closely and realized it was between a man and a woman.
"Isn't this the classic scenario?" Ho Fei-yu murmured to himself as a thought flashed in his mind.
He quickly approached.
He could hear the dialogue more clearly.
"Coach Tōgō! What is the meaning of this?"
"Heh heh, what do you think I mean, Nanao? It seems you haven't taken your coach's words to heart. I made it very clear when you joined the club."
"I always thought the rumors about you, Coach, were made up by others, but I never expected them to be true!" The girl called Nanao, wearing a baseball cap, had a refined face contorted with anger.
"You're the baseball team's coach, yet you do such disgusting things!"
"Heh heh, disgusting? Since you joined the baseball club, you should follow the club rules! You and that boy Katase secretly meeting here violated the rules. So, I have every right to expel him, don't I?"
"Nanao~ You don't want Katase to be expelled, do you?"