Tenya nodded seriously, then examined her carefully.
"You...!"
The woman became flustered as she shrank her legs, seemingly not expecting that Tenya, having been caught red-handed, would still dare to look so openly.
This guy!
Could he really be a pervert?
But this face... why does he look a bit familiar?
The woman took out her phone and opened the Sobu High School forum.
The top trending post was "Sobu High School's Most Beautiful Girl Ranking".
The second top trending post was "Sobu High School's Most Handsome Guy Ranking".
Clicking into the post, the first face that came into view in the ranking was:
Yoshida Tenya, First Year F Class...
She looked up at the man in front of her and had to admit, he looked even more handsome in person than in the photo.
On the other side, by eavesdropping on her thoughts, Tenya also learned the identity of the woman before him.
Kasumigaoka Utaha, Second Year Class C...
A workaholic!
"So it's Kasumigaoka-senpai, what a coincidence."
Tenya's attitude suddenly became friendly.
For the sake of the treasure chest!
Utaha meaningfully said, "I didn't expect to meet the famous Yoshida-kun. I don't know if this is luck or misfortune."
Tenya's reputation as the Harem King had long been the talk of Sobu High School.
"It's just a false reputation, nothing to mention." Tenya said with a humble expression.
"I wasn't praising you!" Utaha's lips twitched.
"Since senpai knows who I am, I presume the misunderstanding can be cleared up?" Tenya said.
"Misunderstanding?"
"Could it be that too you were targeting me, which is why he followed me onto the train?" Utaha asked, feigning surprise.
Tenya asked back, "Isn't there a possibility that we just happened to be going to the same destination?"
He truthfully said, "Shopping at the mall on the weekend, that's a very normal daily activity, isn't it?"
Utaha said, "Hmph~ Do you think I'll believe you?"
Actually, she already believed him. Utaha only said this deliberately to tease the other party.
"Saying no but being honest." Tenya heard her thoughts.
"Wh...?!"
"You really dare to say that, just a mere kohai!"
Instead of successfully teasing, she was teased back. Utaha immediately felt somewhat embarrassed and annoyed.
...
"We've arrived..."
"I wish you a smooth date~"
The driver offered sincere blessings.
"I told you, he and I aren't that kind of relationship!" Utaha emphasized loudly.
"Thank you." Tenya scanned the code to pay the fare.
"Wait a minute! I want to pay my half of the fare!"
Utaha said angrily, holding her phone. She didn't want to owe anyone a favor.
"Alright."
"Then transfer it to me."
Tenya didn't refuse either.
He scanned the code to add her as a friend, and quickly completed the transfer.
Utaha was finally satisfied.
Wait!
Why does something feel not quite right....
Looking at the list of friends, she finally realized it.
"Hoo~"
"I finally understand your strategy!"
"Getting a girl's contact information so easily."
Utaha took a deep breath, her sharp eyes fixed on him.
"Kasumigaoka-senpai is too sensitive. It's just a mere friend on the internet."
"Could it be..."
Tenya's tone changed, and he immediately showed a look of pity, "Sorry! It was my oversight."
'You bastard! Are you implying I have no friends?'
Utaha bit her red lip, yet she couldn't refute his words. With her personality, she disliked socializing.
She also had the identity of a light novel author, often staying up late writing, which resulted in her falling asleep as soon as she returned to the classroom the next day, gradually losing out in social activities.
"Then goodbye, Kasumigaoka-senpai." Tenya actively ended the conversation with her.
Because he believed that Utaha's personality, to some extent, was similar to Yukino's. She had a strong inner self-defense mechanism and couldn't become friends with just a few words.
There was no rush to extract the treasure chest.
"This guy..."
Looking at his departing back, leaving without reluctance, a hint of absentmindedness flashed in Utaha's eyes.
At this moment, her author mind got an inspiration.
Sakuya's eyes were intertwined with reluctance and confusion.
With an indescribable expression, she gazed deeply at Naoto's gradually blurring, and finally disappearing around the corner, back.
At that moment, she felt like an unexpected wind had blown through her heart, stirring up layers of delicate and complex ripples.
Each ripple carried lingering attachment to the past and uncertainty about the future...
(Naoto and Sakuya are the male and female leada in "Love Metronome")
In an instant, thoughts surged like a spring.
"Yoshida Tenya, I'll keep you as a friend for now." Utaha withdrew the action of blocking him.
.....
Entering the mall, Tenya first wandered around casually, then walked into a watch store.
He planned to buy a wristwatch. As a technology enthusiast, he loved electronic watches.
He had no interest at all in those so-called mechanical watches made with centuries of craftsmanship and luxurious manufacturing.
"Hello sir, how can I help you... Huh?!"
"Yoshida-san?"
The store clerk was none other than Aoyama Nanami.
"Hello, we meet again, Part-time Job Emperor." Tenya also recognized the other party.
It was the store clerk Nanami he had encountered when he had gone to the convenience store late at night to buy adult products.
He even conveniently got a treasure chest from her.
"I really can't argue with that nickname..."
Nanami smiled awkwardly, then returned to her professional demeanor, "May I ask if you want to purchase a wristwatch?"
"Master UT." Tenya's goal was clear.
"This is the latest model from the Extraordinary Master series."
Nanami took out a wristwatch from the counter and patiently introduced the product to him, "It's made of ultra-sturdy amorphous zirconium alloy..."
"Alright, I know everything you're saying. Help me put it on." Tenya extended his wrist and said.
"Yes!"
As a store clerk, she loved this kind of straightforward customer.
Nanami carefully placed the watch on his wrist.
His hand is so beautiful...
No, no, no, what am I thinking?!
A fleeting blush flashed across her cheeks.
"Hehe~ I'll take this one."
Tenya never procrastinated when shopping. He paid for what he liked on the spot.
Oh yeah!
First order of the day!
There's commission!
Nanami was overjoyed and led him to the checkout counter.
"A total of 34999 yen, honored guest!"