When I slipped back into our classroom, the teacher for the 5th period had already left.

Aya handed me the review notes that had been circulated for the final exam while Satsuki wordlessly stared at me. Clearly, she’s waiting for me to tell her about where I’ve been.

Although she’s not showing her grumpy pout, her usual blank stare that made her appear cool and cynical told me enough that she’s not going to let me off this time.

Obviously, she already knew where I went. She just had that slightly possessive glare like she wanted to hear it from my mouth, a weird mix of teasing and territorialism that no one would probably be able to interpret, except me.

To others, it only looked like she was staring at me as usual.

My lips curved up slightly before saying, "I know you missed me, but let’s tone down the flirting in the classroom, alright? What will you do if I get tempted to kiss you?"

Almost immediately, her eyebrows twitched, the only outward reaction she allowed herself in front of our classmates.

The girl kicked the leg of my chair first before snappily whispering in a volume that only I could hear, "Try it and see what happens."

I grinned, shifting my chair closer under the pretense of reaching for her notes. The wooden legs scraped against the floor, drawing a few glances our way, but no one paid us much attention. After all, this was already a normal occurrence for us. Even Sakuma could only stare from behind me, watching us flirt every time we got a chance.

Ah. Not every time. I mean, if it’s Satsuki, she’s always acting aloof even with my teasing. Furthermore, because of her basketball practice, there were times when she just wanted to rest and sleep. During those times, I’d just watch over her.

"Are you sure you want me to try?" I murmured, close enough that my breath brushed Satsuki’s earlobe. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"This idiot..."

I heard her whisper before lifting her head and looking around us.

Apart from Aya, who remained on my other side, curiously watching us, the classroom was already transitioning back to the previous groupings for our cultural festival booth.

"I’m your idiot, remember?" I pecked her lips before she could react, just a quick brush, barely lingering, then pulled back with a smirk as Satsuki’s fingers twitched toward her mouth.

Her glare could’ve melted steel, but the faint pink dusting her cheeks betrayed her.

Aya tugged at my sleeve next and when I turned to her, there was also the same desire written on her face. She didn’t say anything but her gaze lingered on my lips.

I chuckled and leaned forward, pressing a quick kiss on her lips too. Unlike Satsuki, who remained still with her glare, Aya giggled sweetly.

"You’re really too brazen now, idiot," Satsuki grumbled.

"I know. But even if they see, it’s not like they can do anything about it," I murmured, glancing around us.

Well, at this point, even if we tried to hide anything, our closeness was anything but discreet. Just that, it’s my other girls who’ll give me an earful later on.

Anyway, after that little incident, Satsuki and Aya started working on their part of the festival preparation while I went to shadow Mio and Chii again.

They’re still listing the necessary materials that they’d be buying later. Apart from that, An-rin, Kushii, and Amano were busy designing costumes while Kikuchi and Kashiwagi were drawing designs for every room of our Mystery Haunted House, or at least, just the outline of what each room would contain.

I remained silent, just watching over the girls. Although they also tried to get my opinion, I just waved my hands and told them that I trust their taste. After all, they’re better at that than me.

At least, that’s what I told them.

During the sixth and seventh periods, I switched to shadowing Nami, who was overseeing the group brainstorming for the ’mystery’ part of our Haunted House. They were crafting lore, then dissecting it into bits and turning it into a challenge that our would-be visitors would have to solve to get out.

"Ruu... Are you not gonna ask us?" At some point, Nami suddenly talked to me, bringing up that question.

"Ask about what?" I answered with a question but I could already guess what she meant by that.

I mean, it’s not just her, everyone who went with Kazuha-nee yesterday to shop for their ’swimsuit’ had already sent me a snapshot of them in it.

"Geez. I never thought I’d see you act like this. I thought you just forgot to reply, but you intentionally left us all hanging, am I right? I asked the others, so don’t lie." Nami sighed dramatically before reaching for my cheek and pinching it.

Right... I viewed all those and didn’t reply to any of them.

I know. When Watanabe and her group of friends sent me theirs, I immediately replied to them.

However, I was thinking of teasing my girls a bit by delaying my reaction. Earlier during lunch break, some of them even hinted it at me. I just pretended not to hear them.

"Alright. You got me. But you know how I will answer, right? For you girls, I prefer to do it in person," I said before leaning closer, just enough for me to whisper in Nami’s ear, "That aquamarine blue two-piece? Looks like it was made just to wrap around your waist. The way the strings tie at the side. Perfect for pulling loose with my teeth."

Nami sucked in a sharp breath, her fingers twitching against my cheek before slowly releasing their pinch. "C-Cheat. You’re playing dirty now..."

"Only because you asked." I pulled back with a smirk, watching her flustered reaction with satisfaction. "But seriously... I’ve already committed all of those in my memory but... if I can see you in it..."

"Stop." She slapped a hand over my mouth, glancing around at the other girls who were engrossed in their own discussions. "If you don’t, I might have to drag you out of here right now. You know... it’s been a while since I... since we..."

"My Nami is becoming naughty."

"And whose fault is that?"

"Mine, of course." I grinned, catching Nami’s wrist before sliding down to clasp our hands together.

"Ugh. Alright. Focus, Ruu. And you better give them an explanation too. They’re all waiting."

"Oh, I will. You know me enough that I won’t ever neglect all of you. On the other hand, teasing you girls with delayed reactions is just... fun."

Nami rolled her eyes but squeezed my fingers before letting go. "You’re lucky we’re all too far gone for you already. Now shoo, go bother someone else before I really whisk you away from here."

Honestly, if she did do that, I wouldn’t resist. I told them they could always ask me if they wanted to spend more time with me. However, only a few of them were bold enough to outright pull me away from class.

Most of them either waited for lunch breaks or free periods. Some even waited after classes if they’re not in a hurry.

In any case, knowing my girls, it won’t take long for them to probe me for answers. Especially since they already knew that I saw their swimsuit snaps and didn’t respond to any of them.

I mean, I can already sense it with the few girls in front of us. Hina and Saki were staring at us, clearly wondering if Nami had interrogated me already or if we were just flirting.

I winked at them before taking a step back, watching the gears turn in their heads.

As I expected, Hina didn’t even let me turn around. She quickly stood up, excusing herself to chase after me.

"Ruki. I can tell. Nanami pressed you already, didn’t she?" Hina grabbed my sleeve. She glanced back at the others, then tugged me a few steps away from the group.

"Mhm, she did. Do you want my comment now?"

"This idiot." The girl muttered under her breath as her eyes narrowed, looking like she wanted to push me down right here. "Everyone’s anxious. Even the juniors. They’re asking us if you hated their swimsuits."

I blinked. Right... Sumire and Umi were with them... Uhh... I guess that’s a blunder on my part.

I raised my arms defensively, though my smirk remained. "Hate them? That’s impossible. But... I guess I should’ve called them first..."

"If that’s the case, then good. But don’t think this excuses you for doing that. So, Ruki, won’t you tell me what you think of my swimsuit?"

Her cheeks were already flushed as she asked, clearly embarrassed but determined. The way her fingers tightened around my sleeve betrayed her nervousness.

Hina wasn’t usually this forward unless she was genuinely bothered. Well, if she decided to act boldly, no one could stop her. Not even me.

Anyway, I guess that’s enough teasing for me.

"That black one-piece suits you a lot, Hina. The way those laces criss-cross over your hips makes me want to tug them loose one by one," I leaned close to her ear and whispered.

Hina immediately reddened before looking up at me with puffed-up cheeks. "See, you’re teasing me again."

"I’m not. That’s my honest thoughts. But of course, like what I told Nami, I’ll have more to say when I see it in person.”