Just as Takashi tried to slip into his seat like a background character, a long, black-stockinged leg suddenly stretched out in front of him, blocking his path.

Following the curve of that black nylon, Takashi traced it to its owner—Adagaki Aki.

She was leaning on her elbow, chin propped in one hand, looking up at him with a proud little face.

Height and presence aren't exactly the same, but height can influence a person's aura.

Taller people often feel more powerful and safe, triggering a primal sense of protection—even in modern society.

Usually, looking down slightly gives tall people an advantage in presence.

But that rule didn't apply to Adagaki Aki.

Even though she was shorter than Takashi, even while looking up, her presence was lofty—like a noblewoman gazing down on peasants. Her eyes carried a regal disdain.

Their silent standoff drew everyone's attention.

After all, every single girl in this room had some kind of history with Takashi.

So naturally, they were all watching this unfold.

Feeling their gazes—especially Umaru's sharp stare—Takashi knew he couldn't stay passive.

Time to go on the offensive.

"Lady Aki, is there something you need?" Takashi leaned slightly on the desk, bending closer with a teasing smile.

Apparently displeased by his looking down at her, Adagaki Aki grabbed his tie and yanked him down until he was lower than her.

Only then did she appear satisfied, though she didn't let go of the tie. She stared at him with imperious eyes.

To outsiders, it might've seemed hostile. But Takashi knew—this was just Aki being herself. She was trying to look imposing.

Though frankly, she resembled a haughty vampire lady in a power squat.

"Why did you read my message and not reply?" Aki asked the same question Hanabi once had.

Takashi blinked, thoughts racing.

"I wanted to reply, really. But I had medicine on my right hand, typing with my left was tough. I figured I'd reply later, but I got so busy I forgot."

"Failing to reply to Lady Aki was a sin beyond forgiveness. Please accept my most humble bow of apology!"

He dropped to his knees in mock repentance.

"That's not necessary." Aki brushed wind-tousled hair from her face, turning her head.

It was unclear whether she was pleased or angry. "Just don't forget next time."

"Understood."

Takashi had no real intention of kneeling.

Come on, a man like him bows to no one.

Adagaki Aki? She didn't have the qualifications to make him kneel.

He was just being polite.

"I'll pin you to the top of my messages right now, Lady Aki."

Takashi was different from other guys.

Most guys would just promise with words, which didn't mean much. Girls would still be uneasy, thinking they'd get ignored again.

But Takashi not only promised—he showed it, pinning her chat to the top right in front of her.

That's what you call attitude.

Just like how an apology means more when handwritten than just saying "sorry."

Even if you're just putting on a show, you need to show it.

Girls are touched by details.

An apology isn't just words—it's how you present them.

What happens next time is next time. This time, you show sincerity.

"Why are you pinning me? We're just ordinary friends. Don't act like we're so close."

"Even if you pin me, I won't pin you back."

"Not blocking and deleting you is already my limit. Don't expect me to pin you."

Aki gave his phone a glance, then huffed and looked away with a pouty, annoyed face.

But Takashi had dealt with tsundere types like Eriri before.

He knew the deal.

When a girl like her says "no," she means "yes."

When she looks unhappy, it means she's pleased.

"But what if I don't want to just be friends, Miss Aki?"

Takashi's gaze turned predatory—like a leopard locking onto prey.

Faced with that wild, devouring stare, Aki instinctively shrank back a bit.

But that reaction made her look weak, so she immediately glared back, unwilling to lose face.

"What are you even trying to say—"

"Why don't you guess what I mean, Miss Aki?"

Takashi smiled meaningfully, staring her down.

Whatever he whispered next made her snow-pale face light up red in an instant.

What are they saying?!

Umaru pouted in frustration.

From her seat behind them, she couldn't hear much, and Takashi was intentionally using his body to block her view.

Even if she could read lips, it wouldn't help.

But just seeing their closeness already made her upset.

Kaguya scoffed coldly. She wanted to capture this moment and send it to Hayasaka.

But she was still using an old flip phone, had no Twitter, and couldn't send images or videos—just typed messages:

[Wanna know what Kitahara's doing right now?]

Having witnessed Takashi dominate the Summer Armor Tournament, Kaguya admitted she had a tiny bit of a bias.

She also admitted he was outstanding.

But that didn't change the fact he was a scumbag.

Strength is strength. Character is character.

Hayasaka replied instantly:

[Don't care.]

Shinomiya: [?]

Huh?

That wasn't the reaction she expected.

She'd imagined Hayasaka would freak out and demand details.

"Don't care"?! What even is that?!

…

Meanwhile, in a different exam room, Hayasaka Ai saw Kaguya's "He's cheating!" message and just smirked knowingly.

"Talking bad about Takashi again."

Truth be told, Hayasaka was curious what Takashi was up to.

But she wouldn't trust any intel from Kaguya.

Kaguya had a deep bias, so Hayasaka didn't believe a word she said.

To Hayasaka, Kaguya was like that toxic girlfriend who always trash-talks your boyfriend behind your back.

Even if she was telling the truth, Hayasaka refused to believe it.

…

"Hey, Ichinose. Fancy seeing you here. Didn't expect us to be in the same exam room."

While Adagaki Aki stared at him with a confused "what do you mean?" expression, Takashi casually moved on and greeted Ichinose Honami.

Honami blinked, caught off guard.

She remembered Takashi being super aloof last time—why was he suddenly being so friendly?

Still, she quickly responded with a warm angelic smile.

"Yeah! How have you been, Kitahara-kun?"

"I'm great—just like today's weather."

After chatting with her for a bit, Takashi turned to Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

"Ayanokoji-kun! Didn't expect to see you here too."

Kiyotaka stared at the unusually enthusiastic Takashi, not sure how to respond.

Are we even close?

Why's he acting like we're buddies?

Kiyotaka didn't get it, but he gave a nod in return.

"Horikita-san, has anyone ever told you that you look a lot like someone I know?"

"..."

Horikita Suzune ignored him.

Takashi didn't mind. He leaned in and whispered just loud enough for her to hear:

"If you ignore me again, I'll find someone to beat up your brother."

"Think I won't?"

Suzune whipped her head up, eyes blazing.

"You—!"

Scum!

Bastard!

Human trash!

Absolute garbage!

How could someone like this even exist in the world?!

"Do you also think you look like Yukinoshita-san?"

Sitting by the window, flipping through a paperback novel, Yukino heard herself being suddenly called out.

She looked up and cast an annoyed glare at Takashi.

"Takashi, if your eyes are that bad, go see an ophthalmologist!"

"How exactly am I like her, besides both of us being girls?"

Takashi ignored Horikita Suzune and walked up to Yukino, snatching the book from her hands.

He looked at the title: The Lost Paradise, by Watanabe Junichi.

Yukino's anger flared further. Her gaze toward Takashi was like she wanted to freeze him solid. "Give me back my book!"

"How's this one?"

Takashi had heard of it.

The novel tells the story of a once-popular, now creatively exhausted writer, Murao Kikuchi, and a married woman, Fuyuka, who admires him.

They abandon everything for a passionate love affair.

Takashi didn't particularly like this type of story—felt a lot like a typical melodrama—but he didn't exactly hate it either.

Yukino, refusing to speak to Takashi, stood and reached to snatch her book back.

Takashi simply raised his arm, lifting it out of reach.

She looked up, her small face cold, as she glared at him.

Takashi, meanwhile, looked down at her, a sly grin playing at the corner of his mouth.

In the sunlight, the two of them standing face to face gave everyone the impression they were watching the leads of a youth romance anime.

She—beautiful face, cool demeanor, tall and graceful.

He—handsome and radiant, with a mischievous air and a confident stance.

From mutual disdain at first sight, to rivalry on the field, to walking side by side after the match—his eyes seeing only her, and hers only him.

If this wasn't the classic "enemies-to-lovers" trope, what was?

If the male lead weren't Takashi, even Umaru might've offered her blessing and urged them to just get together already.

But the problem was—she liked Takashi too.

Seeing how well-matched they looked, she didn't feel the sweetness of romance—only the sting of heartbreak, as if swallowing shards of broken glass.

Why was Takashi intentionally flirting with Yukino?

And doing it right in front of her?

Did he really think she wouldn't be upset?

Or did he just not care about her at all?

"Does your stomach hurt?"

Takashi's voice suddenly sounded beside her. Umaru turned and realized he was now standing in front of her.

"Did you skip breakfast again?"

Takashi looked genuinely concerned.

"What are you doing here?"

Umaru turned away, her voice tinged with sulkiness and frustration. "Didn't you say we'd pretend not to know each other today?"

Just a few days ago, he had said he didn't want to get caught by the paparazzi and asked her to act like strangers.

Yet now he was openly flirting with Yukino.

Right in front of her.

"Because I missed you."

Takashi replied with a faint smile.

"Another sweet-talking lie."

"I'm not even close with those girls."

He glanced toward Honami and the others.

Umaru followed his gaze, and Takashi took that moment to lean in close, whispering by her ear:

"I only greeted everyone so I could talk to you without drawing attention."

Umaru looked up in shock.

"I figured… if I just greeted you alone, everyone would stare. I was worried it'd affect your focus during the exam, so I used this dumb strategy."

Does she understand now the effort he made—hugging the entire class, just so he could 'hug' her?

"But I guess you misunderstood. Did I mess it all up?"

Takashi looked visibly dejected.

Umaru looked at the boy now drowning in self-blame and regret. Now that she knew the reason, she felt both annoyed and amused.

"So the flirting with Yukino was part of this whole plan?"

She couldn't believe it. What kind of brain comes up with this?

"Yeah."

"Idiot!"

She cursed him with a smile, but then, still not satisfied, added, "Takashi, you're such a big dumb pig! Hmph!"

"Come on, don't be mad anymore."

Takashi tugged at her sleeve.

"Don't touch me."

She wasn't really angry anymore—not since learning the truth.

But as punishment for how hurt he made her feel earlier, Umaru decided: I'm ignoring him for the rest of the day!

'Perfect execution!' Takashi thought.

He could tell Umaru had already cooled off.

But he still held her sleeve, still pleaded—because once again, it was about attitude.

Truthfully, this wasn't his original plan. At first, he intended to ignore everyone and quietly finish the test.

But then Adagaki Aki stopped him.

And he knew—if he didn't do something, Umaru would definitely start asking questions about his relationship with Aki.

So what should he do?

Would she even believe an explanation?

Rather than explain, Takashi chose to distract.

If he only spoke with Adagaki Aki, it'd imply their relationship was special.

But if he spoke with everyone, it'd just mean he was sociable.

It's not like he had some kind of deep connection with every girl in the room, right?

Well… okay, technically, maybe he did. But normal people wouldn't assume that!

Only someone like me could pull this off, Takashi thought. What a genius I am.

___

20 Advanced Chapters available on p@ tr eon (.) com/HalflingFics

Also, please point out my mistakes in the comment, thank you!

Don't forget to leave a review too~

Check out the other translations too

___