Just as the crew-cut boy turned his head, he saw a textbook flying straight toward him—only for it to miss and strike Yuki, the girl beside him. The sudden cry that followed stunned Ishida Shoya in place.

"Are you blind, Ishida?!"

"If you've got beef with Ito, take it outside!"

"Yuki didn't do anything to you. What, you hit her on purpose now?"

"Ito! Yuki's always helping you out, and you couldn't even step in?!"

"Exactly. You still think she might like you? Dream on."

"You boys are just the worst sometimes!"

Neither of the boys involved had spoken yet, but a wave of complaints erupted from some of the girls nearby—especially those protective of Yuki. A few even stepped forward as if ready to defend her physically.

Across the room, Akira, watching from his seat, raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Shouko frowned at the chaos, then quietly muttered, "My Akira would never do something like that."

Realizing she'd just spoken her thoughts out loud, she quickly scanned the room. Luckily, everyone was focused on the argument, and she stuck out her tongue in embarrassment.

Back at the center of it all, the crew-cut boy glanced at the crying Yuki and felt the pressure of the judgmental stares around him. His frustration boiled over, and he suddenly lunged at Ishida.

From the corner, Hirose Keisuke moved to intervene—only for Shimada Ikki to place a hand on his shoulder. Keisuke instantly shrugged it off but got the message. He backed down, frustrated.

Within seconds, Ishida had the upper hand. None of the nearby boys moved to help—some were just entertained, others afraid of being targeted next. It wasn't until Ishida raised a clenched fist that Mr. Takeuchi finally walked in, voice booming.

"Oi! Enough of that!"

He walked toward the two and barked a few half-hearted scoldings, then returned to the podium. He fiddled with his phone as if nothing had happened.

While he reprimanded Ishida, the crew-cut boy got a passing comment. Yuki, comforted by her friends, continued to sob softly at her desk.

More observant students began noticing a pattern in Mr. Takeuchi's behavior: his discipline was increasingly lazy, and his bias against Ishida Shoya was no longer subtle.

Just that morning, Ishida's desk had been vandalized—and Takeuchi had ignored it.

Today's incident was just another example.

A few students who disliked Ishida took mental note. If the teacher wouldn't step in, maybe they could get away with more next time...

"Dong... dong... dong...!"

"Class dismissed."

As soon as the bell rang, Mr. Takeuchi sprang up with uncharacteristic energy, tossed a lazy farewell over his shoulder, and exited the classroom.

"Akira, let's go." Shouko packed her books and gently nudged the still-sleeping boy next to her.

She watched as Akira stretched and sat up groggily.

Just then, Sahara Miyoko approached with a black schoolbag slung over her shoulder. "Hey, Akira—you nap through every class. Why are your grades still good?"

Then she gasped in mock realization, covering her mouth. "Wait… don't tell me you've got some inside help!?"

"Don't say weird stuff, Miyoko," Shouko huffed before Akira could reply. "Akira's always been smart. He even tutors me at night on the stuff I miss."

She wanted to say he was already studying high school-level material but held back. Miyokko probably wouldn't believe it.

Still, if Shouko hadn't seen those practice books with her own eyes, she might not believe it either.

Sahara grinned. "Right, right. Your Akira is the best."

Shouko's face turned crimson. She looked around quickly, and with a puffed-out chest, mumbled proudly, "Yes… he's mine."

Akira ignored the teasing. He was already used to Sahara's personality. At first, she seemed gentle—then she turned into a chatterbox once she got comfortable.

"Auntie! We're home!"

Shouko and Yuzuru shouted in unison as they entered the house behind Akira.

(Why was Yuzuru here? She had come to pick up Hachiko the dog.)

Hachiko bounded from the living room. Yuzuru called out, "Auntie! I'm taking Hachiko—he won't be home for dinner."

After hearing Miyamura Shizuka call back, Yuzuru turned to Akira at the genkan, smirking. "I'm leaving my sister with you for now. Be gentle with her."

"Don't worry. I will," Akira replied with mock seriousness.

"Yuzuru, you—!" Shouko puffed up in protest, but Yuzuru had already darted out the door with Hachiko.

Left flustered, Shouko lightly punched Akira in the arm. He took it with a chuckle—it was more like a massage anyway. Shouko scrunched her nose at him, satisfied.

After changing shoes and entering the living room, they found Shizuka intently staring at a flyer.

"Auntie, what's that?" Shouko asked curiously.

Shizuka waved the paper in the air. "This? It's an ad I picked up while grocery shopping today."

She smiled. "It's for the Sakura Festival. I was thinking—how about we go for a picnic this weekend? Just us and the Nishimiya family."

Akira and Shouko looked at each other.

The cherry blossoms… a picnic… together?

Shouko nodded eagerly.

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POWER STONE!!!

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