Before getting off the train, Nozomi reached into his bag and pulled out a bento box, pressing it into Mai Sakurajima's hands.
"I don't know how bad your situation is, senpai, but take this for now. If you're still hungry, come find me. You know which class I'm in, right?"
Mai looked at him, eyes shimmering with unspoken emotions. She turned her head away, not wanting him to see her expression, but she gave a small nod.
"I know... You're in Class F, first-year."
"Good. Then I'll see you later."
With a casual wave, Nozomi turned to wake Shiina Mahiru and Sanshokuin Sumireko, rousing them from their light slumber before stepping off the train. Mai followed suit, watching his retreating figure for a long moment, lost in thought.
Maybe... he wasn't such a bad guy after all.
===============
Mai Sakurajima's predicament was becoming dire. Despite her fame as a former child actress, she had little financial freedom. Her mother, acting as her manager, controlled most of her earnings. The money she did have was locked away in her apartment, an apartment she could no longer enter because no one even remembered she existed.
But that wasn't the worst part.
The worst part was her gradual inability to interact with objects. Sometimes, her hands would simply pass through things. If this continued, she wouldn't just be forgotten—she'd be unable to feed herself.
And then... she'd starve.
That's why Nozomi's bento was such a lifesaver.
==================
Meanwhile, Nozomi and his companions arrived at the school. Sumireko split off, heading to her own classroom, but not before giving him a meaningful glance. She clearly wanted to ask about the bizarre encounter with Mai, but it seemed she'd hold off until lunch.
Shiina Mahiru, on the other hand, had slept the entire way. Angel-sama must've worked hard last night, Nozomi mused. But after catching up on a little rest leaning against him, she looked slightly more refreshed.
Arriving at the hallway of Class F, Nozomi barely had time to react before a silver-haired girl in a high ponytail rushed out of the classroom and collided with him.
"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention," Kawasaki Saki muttered, her face impassive.
"No problem, just be careful next time," Nozomi replied with an easy smile. As he slipped his hand into his pocket, his fingers brushed against a small piece of paper. A note?
He didn't need to think too hard to guess what it was. Kawasaki Saki must've slipped it in when she bumped into him. She didn't want anyone to know she was reaching out to him, so this was her way of staying discreet.
She's probably worrying about how to return the one million yen, Nozomi thought.
Stepping into the classroom, he was immediately greeted by a lively presence.
"Nozomi-kun! Mahiru-chan! Ohayou!"
A bright and bubbly girl with her hair tied up in twin buns beamed at them—Yuigahama Yui.
"Ohayou, Yui," Mahiru responded in her usual soft tone.
Nozomi, on the other hand, smirked. "Morning, Yui. By the way, I really liked your gift."
Yui stiffened, her face rapidly turning the color of a tomato. "W-Wha... I-It's not like I chose that kind of book on purpose! I swear!"
She was so embarrassed that she started poking her fingers together, her voice barely above a squeak.
Ahh, poor girl. She probably regretted gifting him an ecchi manga with a ridiculously busty heroine on the cover.
Nozomi chuckled, savoring her reaction as he walked past her, greeting the other two girls in their usual group. "Morning, Yumiko. Hina."
Miura Yumiko's cheeks dusted pink at how casually he addressed her. "M-Morning, Nozomi..."
Tobe Kakeru always called her by her first name, but for some reason, when Nozomi did it, it felt... different.
Ebina Hina, on the other hand, practically sparkled as she looked at him. "Ohayou, Nozomi-kun! Did you have any yabai encounters this morning?"
She probably wanted to probe him for juicy gossip—or maybe she was still fascinated by the fact that he had a supernatural ability to exorcise spirits.
After exchanging greetings, Nozomi made his way to his seat, opening the window to let in the cool morning breeze. Mahiru sat next to him, still a bit drowsy, and decided to rest her head on the desk before class started.
Nozomi took out the note from his pocket and unfolded it.
As expected, it was a phone number.
Pulling out his phone, he added the contact and immediately sent a message.
Nozomi: "You there?"
The reply came almost instantly.
Saki: "Yeah. It's Kawasaki Saki."
Nozomi: "I figured. So why the sneaky approach?"
Saki: "I need to return the money."
Nozomi: "Not happening. It's hush money."
Saki: "That's way too much hush money. Just let me give you 10,000 yen as a token of gratitude."
Nozomi: "That's way too little. I might start talking."
A long silence followed.
Then:
Kawasaki Saki: "Are you some chaebol or something? Your parents make money, and you just throw it away like this?"
Nozomi: "...."
He sent an ellipsis in response, letting a few seconds pass before finally replying.
Nozomi: "I don't have parents. It's just me, and I earn my own money."
Kawasaki Saki, who had just returned to her seat, froze. A pang of guilt washed over her as she quickly typed a response.
"I'm sorry! I didn't know... I shouldn't have brought up something painful. I'm really sorry!"
Nozomi: "It's fine. I'm used to it."
Even though he said that, Kawasaki Saki still felt bad. She hesitated for a moment before insisting:
"Even if you earn it yourself, you shouldn't spend it so recklessly! I'll return it to you. I really don't need hush money. I'm not the type to go blabbing about other people's secrets."
Nozomi: "You're seriously annoying, you know that? I said it's yours, so just take it. Throw it away if you don't want it."
"And don't even think about sneaking it back into my shoe locker or desk. If you do, I'll just find a way to give it back again."
Kawasaki Saki puffed up her cheeks in frustration.
Why is this guy so stubborn?
Does he really want to take care of me that badly?
She wasn't some gold digger, nor was she about to become some rich guy's plaything!
Nozomi: "Anyway, if you don't take it, I'll assume you're planning to spill my secret."
Kawasaki Saki: "Tch... Fine. I'll just hold onto it for now. If you ever need it back, you can come and ask me."
Hozuki Nozomi: "Do whatever you want."
Seeing that message, Kawasaki Saki clenched her fists.
"Do whatever you want"?!
That bastard! Does he think I'm some kind of leech?
Like I'd ever take his money just because I wanted to!
Nozomi, of course, had no such intentions. He was simply using this opportunity to get involved in her life. Creating an opening, a reason for their paths to cross more often.
And just like that, Kawasaki Saki had unwittingly stepped into his pace.
As he put away his phone, Nozomi suddenly felt a gaze on him.
When he looked up, his eyes met those of a certain golden boy.
It was none other than Hayama Hayato, his ever-smiling, ever-perfect classmate, watching him with a somewhat complicated expression.
Noticing that Hozuki Nozomi had caught him staring, Hayama quickly plastered on his signature bright smile and gave him a polite nod.
Hozuki Nozomi returned a grin, raising an eyebrow slightly in amusement.
Hayama Hayato sure was an interesting guy.
That guy had been dying to ask about his relationship with Yukinoshita Haruno, but he had been holding himself back this whole time. And Nozomi, of course, had no intention of making things easier for him.
He was content to let Hayato stew in his own curiosity.
After all, how many guys could say they'd been kissed on the cheek by Yukinoshita Haruno?
Oh, right.
Hayama had it even worse.
He had been crushing on Yukinoshita Haruno for years, but she barely acknowledged his existence.
No, rather than "barely acknowledged," it was more accurate to say that she outright ignored him.
And in a way, that was the most painful response of all.
If she really wanted to mess with him, she could've easily exposed his fake nice-guy act to his little fan club and shattered his carefully crafted image.
But instead, she treated him like a background character.
Complete and utter indifference.
Just as Hozuki Nozomi was lost in thought, his phone buzzed again.
A new message had arrived.
"It's your dear Onee-san, Yukinoshita Haruno~ Nozomi-kun, come meet me at the school gate. I have something to ask you."
Hozuki Nozomi blinked.
"Uh, Haruno-nee-san, how do you even have my number?"
"Hehe, I got it from Yukino-chan~ She didn't want to give it to me at first, though."
As if on cue, another message popped up.
This time, it was from Yukinoshita Yukino.
"I'm sorry, Hozuki-kun. My sister wouldn't stop pestering me for your contact information. I really tried to refuse, but she wouldn't let up. Please be careful around her."
Hozuki Nozomi smirked.
"There's no need to be so cautious, Yukino. Haruno-nee-san even drove me to school last time. She's a really nice person."
Yukinoshita Yukino: "..."
"Just be careful, alright?!"
Hozuki Nozomi chuckled to himself as he put his phone away.
It was almost cute how much Yukino was still traumatized by Haruno's antics.
Well, with the way Haruno used to torment her as a kid, it was no surprise that Yukino had developed this natural wariness around her older sister.
Still, Haruno was clearly a devoted older sister in her own way.
It was just... unfortunate that her affection tended to manifest as relentless teasing.
Since class hadn't started yet, Hozuki Nozomi got up from his seat and strolled out of the classroom, making his way toward the school gate to see just what Haruno-nee-san had planned for him this time.