“Such strong and motivational words. I’m sure many of the students have their eyes opened at your speech. Asabe was never wrong to accept you indeed, Haruto-kun.” Watanabe praised me while we shook our hands once more.

“Thank you, Watanabe-san.” I smiled in response and after that, bow my head to her and left the stage. While I was walking back to my sit, the crowd were still cheering and throwing praises at me.

When I finally reunited with my dear sister at our spot, Erina instantly glared at me with a red face.

“Onii-chan, was it really necessary to embarrass me like that!?” the little she-devil pouted at me.

“Haha, sorry about that, Erina. I needed a perfect example of someone who is determined, passionate, and hardworking, and you were the first person who came into my mind.” I chuckled as I took my sit.

“Mou!! You really are a Troll, onii-chan.” Erina blushed at my words and crossed her arms in response.

I merely patter her head affectionately and we watched the remainder of the program in comfortable silence.

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Inevitably, Erina and I had to part ways since we are assigned in different buildings, her at Middle-school section of the Academy while I’m at the High school one obviously.

Being myself alone, I stared at the bulletin board located outside that consisted of our classroom assignments for this school year.

Finding my name, I was at Class 1-A. Then, I also decided to see if Himegi is going to be my classmate as well.

Let’s see, Asakura… naturally the name should be at the top of the list given that it starts with letter “A”.

No. 1, Asakura Himegi. And there she is…

Fate has seemed to continue favoring me today since my daughter and I are going to be classmates as well. With this, it’s a lot easier to keep an eye on her and become close with her in the process.

And speak of the devil, the girl herself appeared beside me, with two other girls who were also at her side.

“Ah, Haruto-san. We meet again.” Himegi’s sweet smile shined brighter than the morning sun.

“Himegi-san, good morning.” I nodded with a simple smile of my own.

“Hmm, what class are you in, Haruto-san? Oh, I’m in Class 1-A.” It did not take long for Himegi to spot her name in the list.

“I’m in Class 1-A as well.”

Himegi’s expression lit up instantly and she was quite cheerful when she said, “Really!? Then let us get along as classmates this whole school year, Haruto-san!”

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

Wow, excited much? My daughter sure was quite the expressive one. Perhaps she took that one from her Mother since Himeko also gets excited even at the smallest of things, back when we were at High School when I was still Takamura Daichi. I suppose she was just impressed with my speech earlier just like others, hence her excitement at even being classmates with someone like me soaring quite high.

And I was right on the money when she suddenly approached rather closely and eyed me like I was her God or something.

“Your speech earlier is very incredible, Haruto-san!! You have definitely stirred my… the hearts of every person inside the gymnasium! I knew that you are amazing, but not that amazing, Haruto-san!! Also…”

And she did not stop with her praises there. I swore that each and every word that I’m hearing from her makes even less sense as time passes by.

Yup, just like her Mother alright…

Before Himegi was even given the opportunity to finish her long list of complimenting statements, she was suddenly yanked off comically by one of the girls who was accompanying her.

“Woah, calm your tits, girl!! I know that you are thirsty for Hanazono’s attention, but wow, really, you sure have dialed up the notch!!” The girl with long maroon hair said with a sassy voice while grinning madly.

“Hahaha, Himechi sure has it down bad, huh?” The other girl, the one with long blue hair, chuckled at Himegi’s frantic actions towards me.

The girl in question was now blushing profusely and raised her arm in protest at her two friends.

“N-no, it’s not like that!! I mean, who would not want to talk to such an amazing person like Haruto-san!!”

“Amazing, huh? Really, you sure speak your mind very quickly without any hint of hesitation whatsoever.” The cheeky maroon haired girl smile was akin to a Cheshire cat. “If that’s the case, then we are going to talk to him too!!”

Without warning, the maroon and blue duo invaded my personal space and said their greetings.

“Hello!!! / Yahoo!!!” Both of them waved their hands in perfect tandem.

Impressive, did they practice this skit or something?

“Hi.” Despite the wave of energy thrown at me, I remained calm in my own greeting nonetheless.

“So, you’re the guy who caught our adorable best friend’s attention. It’s not everyday that Himegi is head over heels for a boy. Wait, now that I think about it, this is actually the first time.” The maroon head said while eyeing me deeply from head to toe.

“Then, it’s an honor to be her first.” I remarked with a witty response of my own, and the girl was slightly caught off guard by my response.

I caught a glimpse of Himegi’s face reddening even further at my casual statement.

Hmm, was it something I said? My answer is straight to the point, with no added innuendo or any hidden meaning whatsoever…

Or at least, that was my intention.

“Woah!! Easy there, tiger!! Damn, Himegi is going to faint out of blood loss at this rate!!” The girl clicked her tongue and then looked back at her friend, “Medic Madoka, take good care of our patient and make sure she does not die out there!!”

“Aye-aye, Doctor Asuna!!” The blue-haired girl saluted and playfully check for Himegi’s vitals like touching her forehead as if it was a game to her.

“I’m not in a critical condition or anything!! Sheesh, you girls!! You’re always like this!!’ Himegi’s expression was clearly annoyed, but one can see that she was used to this, like three friends who were just playing and teasing around without a care in the world.

Ah, the joys of youth. And as Hanazono Haruto, I suppose I get to experience this sort of wonderful thing for the second time.

“Hahaha, you, I like, Hanazono. I’m sure the two of us are going to be great friends.” The redhead said to me truthfully. “Crap, manners, manners… name’s Akatsuki Asuna, a pleasure.”

“And mine’s Otsuki Madoka, nice to meet you!!” The other one spoke with immense vigor.

“And since I declare you to be our friend, then it’s only right that we call each other by our first names as well, like how you lovingly refer to Himegi over here.” Asuna requested.

Lovingly? She must be just joking to rile Himegi in a playful manner. I simply ignored that and nodded in agreement, “Sure. Any friend of Himegi-san is a friend of mine. I look forward to getting along with you, Asuna-san, Madoka-san.”

“The feeling’s mutual, Haruchi!!” Madoka cackled mischievously and I raised a brow at the new nickname that I received from her. Not that I mind, and it actually felt kind of nice to be acknowledge by her own fun way.

“Same here. Now, while I prefer you call us with no honorifics but whatever, we won’t force you, first meeting and all of that.” Asuna smiled at me and after that, turned her attention back at Himegi, “Hehe, I hope you’re not angry Himegi, for us hogging the precious time between you and your boy toy.”

“He’s not my boy toy!! Ugh, I give up. You two suck, you know that.” Himegi made angry Himegi noises.

“Love you too, Himegi!!” Asuna blow a kiss and Madoka followed as well.

As what friends normally did, the three girls then shared a merry laugh, and I can’t help but smile reminiscently as I was drawn in by the joyous relationship that they all have towards one another.

Himegi sure was lucky to have good friends like them…

For a brief moment there, I almost forgot about my revenge right there…

Of course, we all know that it’s just wishful thinking because at the end of the day…

Nothing excited me more than the scenery of having Kuzuki’s head being impaled on a bloody pike.

Not even this heartwarming phenomena that they call friendship.