Fifth period. The last period before the Mentor Program.

Since the teacher at the front busied herself on the table and only posted topics on the board that she asked us to read from our books, I got the chance to fiddle with my phone without her noticing.

Furthermore, Aya and Satsuki were covering for me. Whenever our teacher would stand up to check if we were doing what we were supposed to do, they would warn me.

Well, the reason for using my phone during class was to check on the innocent girl, Misaki. Last Friday night, I asked Itou for her contact number or even a social media handle. However, the girl never delivered.

From what I heard, Misaki didnt have a phone much less an account on social media. Earlier during the lunch break, they went to our classroom to look for me. But that was the time when Satsuki dragged me out of the room.

Due to that, Itou left me a message stating that if I wanted to talk to Misaki before that meeting later, she was going to let the girl use her phone for that purpose.

Thats kind of her, right? Its as though she didnt have another motive for arranging it.

Well, I would give her the benefit of the doubt. In a way, shes still going to do that for her friend. Even if she had another reason for it, its still commendable.

And since I also wanted to get along with her to stop her mood swings whenever I was around I would tell Himeko about her role in this That sweet girl would praise her little sister, for sure. It would be a win-win for all of us.

Anyway, using that method, half of my focus was put on conversing with Misaki while the other half was on the lesson our teacher told us to read. I mean, I was still aiming to improve on my studies despite everything on my plate. Theres no going around that point.

At the start, although Itou sounded a little upset when I immediately asked for Misaki and didnt even try to start a conversation with her, setting up a short meeting with her before we start was enough to abate it. Given that I already got the gist of what was on her mind, its now easy to tread around her.

When she gave the phone to Misaki, it took a few minutes before the innocent girl could send a short message which only contained a greeting.

Misaki was also not good at using a phone. And thats obvious. As our conversation progressed, the girls reply was often filled with typographical errors and incoherent sentences. In the end, she told me that she got Itous assistance to proofread her messages before sending them and apologized to me for the slow replies.

Really, what did her parents think? They made their daughter become like an older generation, ignorant of the advancement in technologies.

When I asked her why she didnt have a phone, the girl answered that they would only give her one once she graduated from high school or in short, in college when shes already considered an adult.

Upon hearing that, I was somehow tempted to get her one and have her hide it from her parents But I guess its up to her. I would raise that later and if she accepted, Id buy her one Shes my first friend. Its normal to do that for a friend, right? Maybe, I dont know

Fortunately, were now finishing our talk even before the fifth period ends I told her to reserve her questions for later but still, I already answered some of her questions.

And at the moment, I was staring at the last one before we concluded this

Ruki, you said youre going to teach me things. Can I know what kind of things? Im so excited thinking about it that I cant focus in class.

Yeah. Youre already not focusing when youre chatting with me.

Anyway, as someone also lacking in common sense, I couldnt type and send that as an answer. So, after thinking it over, I sent a vague one.

A lot of things. But do you have something in particular in mind that you wanted to know?

Yes, I have! Is there a way to be your close friend like the others? Im envious of them.

What do I expect, really? Of course, shed bring that up.

Lets see. First, being envious isnt great, Misaki. I already considered you as one but to clear things up for you, Ill tell you more about it later. Deal?

I understand!

Although a little unprepared, I should at least be a little truthful to her. If she found out that theres more to it than just being a close friend, I couldnt imagine how she would react As for the explanation that she could easily digest, there are a lot of ways to do that.

Anyway, soon after that, I moved on to talking about the place where were going to meet for it. Since Itou was proofreading her messages, I also directed some of my replies to the girl.

With that ambush looming above my head. I have to make sure that they wont be involved in it. Thats why I deemed it best if they wont be seen walking with me later.

I designated one of the empty clubrooms I got the knowledge of from Shizu and gave them the directions to it.

Once thats done, I reminded Itou to come there before me and message me when they arrived. Its to prevent someone from spotting them. Our little meeting would also have to happen in that room, unfortunately.

I already checked earlier with Satsuki. No one was following nor spying on me. But thats normal since its still early. But the time of my meeting with the two was nearing the end of school hours. It wont hurt to be cautious.

Even if Im a shameless bastard who will never back down in a fight, theres just no way I will involve those unrelated to it.

Anyway, after I concluded our conversation. I also sent a message to Arisa, telling her to meet me somewhere else rather than the abandoned clubroom for our Mentor Program time.

Now, the only thing left is how to tell my girls about the possible ambush without them being worked up

For sure, theyd be more worked up than Izumi-senpai And since I hated lying to them, I started deliberating whether only to delay it and tell them later at night.

But that would beat the purpose, right? Nonetheless, I started finding that option more favorable I would risk them becoming upset with me than make them worry too much because I would be walking right in the ambush if there was really any.

Idiot. Hurry and take your phone away. Pulling me out of my mind palace where I was probably overthinking again, I heard Satsukis hurried voice.

Looking up, our teacher was already about to walk in our direction. While acting as though I was reading the opened book on top of my desk, I quickly hid the phone beneath it.

By the time the teacher reached my position, I was already turning the page which made her pass by me without so much as a suspicion.

A few seconds later, someone else was caught by her. Fukuda? Where is your book? You dare slack off in my class, is that it?

Should I say that serves him right? Or maybe, thanks for the sacrifice.

Either way, this was how the fifth period ended. I thanked Satsuki and Aya for helping me by, of course, pampering them before we all leave for the Mentor Program.