"There isn't... there isn't really any special reason."
Uruka Minami said with her cheeks slightly flushed: "We are classmates, aren't we? It's nothing..."
Her hands were gripping the hem of her clothes and kneading it, looking a little embarrassed.
At this moment, both Uruka Minami's expression and tone easily made people overthink.
But the more this happened, the more Ihei Byakuya felt that Uruka Minami had some hidden intention.
Today was his first time meeting Uruka Minami, and also the first time talking to her. There was no reason for her to develop a liking toward him so easily.
And besides, between humans and ghouls...
Although examples of humans and ghouls loving each other did exist, they were the minority.
The biggest obstacle was that humans were food to ghouls, which easily triggered a ghoul's appetite.
Compared to that, Byakuya found it more likely that Uruka Minami was approaching him to test him...
Of course, it was also possible that Uruka Minami truly just saw him as a classmate and was simply enthusiastic and friendly toward the new student. That was not entirely impossible.
After all, Uruka Minami was usually this friendly toward other classmates as well. Even toward someone like Fura Taishi, a delinquent boy, she could still greet him with a smile. That was one of the reasons why Fura Taishi fell for her.
It was just that Byakuya felt that, based on everything that happened today, Uruka Minami seemed to be a bit too enthusiastic toward him alone...
"Alright, then I guess I was thinking too much."
Ihei Byakuya said calmly.
However, there was not the slightest hint of embarrassment on his face that someone would normally have after realizing they were being self-indulgent.
At this moment, Byakuya glanced at the time. There were only about ten minutes left before class resumed.
And he had just finished his two pieces of bread.
"Class starts in a little over ten minutes. Let's go back to the classroom."
Ihei Byakuya said.
"Mm."
Uruka Minami lightly nodded.
...
The two returned to the classroom.
Ihei Byakuya had just taken his seat when he immediately felt two unfriendly gazes coming from his left.
It was Fura Taishi and Sasada Aki, who sat to his left and left-front.
Sasada Aki was simply irritated by him because she was a delinquent girl.
As for Fura Taishi...
It was most likely because of the situation involving Uruka Minami...
Especially since he had seen Ihei Byakuya walk back to the classroom together with Uruka Minami.
But Fura Taishi could not possibly do anything to Byakuya in public. After all, Uruka Minami was in the classroom too. He didn't want her impression of him to worsen. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been coming to class obediently so often lately...
...
Classes began at 1 p.m., but ended at 3 p.m.
Aside from the students on cleaning duty who had to stay behind for a while, everyone else could go home or do their own things.
Such as joining club activities, going to cram school, or working part-time...
Ihei Byakuya had no interest in joining any club activities, so once school ended he planned to head straight home.
"Ihei-kun, are you heading back already?"
At this moment, a girl from his class walked over.
"Yes, why?"
Ihei Byakuya asked.
He remembered this girl was the class representative. Her name seemed to be something like Arisu...
"I was planning to show you around the campus since you just transferred today. You probably haven't visited many of the places yet, right?"
The class representative said to Byakuya: "But I have something to take care of in the office right now. So how about Minami-san shows you around? I asked her earlier and she said she didn't mind."
Uruka Minami happened to be nearby.
"Ihei-kun, are you in a hurry to go back?"
Uruka Minami asked.
"Not really..."
Ihei Byakuya replied.
"Then, as the class representative suggested, I'll take Ihei-kun to get familiar with the campus."
Uruka Minami said with a smile.
Ihei Byakuya nodded in acceptance.
"Then I'll leave him to you, Minami-san."
After saying that, the class representative left to deal with her own matters.
And Uruka Minami began leading Ihei Byakuya around the campus.
...
Walking through the campus, Uruka Minami chatted with Byakuya.
"I heard Minami-san also transferred here this semester?"
Ihei Byakuya asked casually.
"Yes, I came at the start of this semester. It feels like we have a bit of fate between us, Ihei-kun."
Uruka Minami said with a smile.
"..."
Ihei Byakuya felt that there was something slightly suggestive in Uruka Minami's words.
He didn't know whether she was doing it on purpose or not.
The original story did not give much focus to Uruka Minami, so Byakuya didn't know a lot about her.
"Ah, that cherry blossom tree over there is one of the most famous places in our school. Ihei-kun, want to guess the story behind that cherry blossom tree?"
At that moment, Uruka Minami pointed toward a certain direction.
"The cherry blossom tree..."
Immediately, Ihei Byakuya thought of the classic scenes often seen in anime. "Something like... a confession spot?"
"That's right, Ihei-kun's guess is spot-on."
Uruka Minami said in surprise: "It's said that couples who confess to each other under that cherry blossom tree always end up together."
"As expected."
It was roughly what Ihei Byakuya had guessed.
After all, this setting appeared in many anime.
"How nice..."
Uruka Minami's gaze lingered in the direction of the cherry blossom tree for a moment, and she softly let out a sigh.
"What is it? Is Minami-san longing for something?"
Ihei Byakuya asked directly. "Logically speaking, Minami-san is so pretty. You shouldn't be short of people pursuing you, right?"
Although, as a transmigrator, he could probably guess the reason, he still deliberately asked.
"That may be true, but none of them are suitable."
Uruka Minami explained with a light laugh.
But the smile on her face looked faintly sad.
"Why aren't they suitable?"
Ihei Byakuya asked as if casually.
"There isn't any particular reason... it just doesn't feel right."
Uruka Minami continued explaining.
In reality, she couldn't tell the truth.
Think about it, Uruka Minami's real identity was that of a ghoul, and no one in the school knew it.
Those boys wanted to pursue her under the assumption that she was just an ordinary girl. Naturally, she could never agree.
In this regard, Uruka Minami was the complete opposite of Kamishiro Rize.
Kamishiro Rize would deliberately lure men and then prey on them. Kaneki Ken was the most typical victim.
In contrast, Uruka Minami...
"And Ihei-kun, were you just now... complimenting me for being pretty?"
Uruka Minami perhaps wanted to change the topic, or maybe she was genuinely happy. A hint of shyness appeared on her cheeks.