After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back

Did you lose them?

Kagura Hikaru thought it was a pity.

But no matter, if not today, there's always tomorrow; they will eventually have to go to school, otherwise, they couldn't continue to contact Ruzaki Mami and blackmail her.

As for any possible contacts outside school, Kagura Hikaru had decided to ask Ai Cheng Hua Lian and Ruzaki Mami to go home together after returning, until they thoroughly resolved this blackmail case.

Compared to this, the reaction of those three thugs upon seeing him was indeed worth pondering.

Why did they run upon seeing him?

Kagura Hikaru was quite sure he had never interacted with them before; they shouldn't recognize him, and even if they did, there was no reason for such a big reaction.

Could it be that his objective was exposed in advance?

If so, who told them...

"I'm talking to you, can you not pretend you didn't hear me, Classmate Kagura?"

Ando Naoto frowned and woke Kagura Hikaru, who seemed lost in thought. He believed the other was avoiding the conversation and his tone grew more severe, "About you and the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee falsely accusing the Student Council President, what's your explanation? And the rumors that the President bullied you, you guys spread those too, right!"

? It's been such a long time, why is someone still bringing this up?

Kagura Hikaru was stunned, inexplicably at his wit's end.

Though upon reflection, this had only happened just over a week ago, for him, it already felt like a distant memory.

Like an old photograph tucked between the pages of a book, he couldn't recall where he put it momentarily.

"The Student Council was busy dealing with affairs when the rumors emerged, so they didn't come to find you immediately. But since we met today, you have to give me an explanation."

Ando Naoto earnestly asked, "We all know that Ayakoji Chiyoko is targeting the President, why did you become her accomplice? You clearly told me before that you liked—"

"Senior Ando."

Before he could finish saying that name, Kagura Hikaru couldn't help but interrupt.

Why must he discuss these emotional entanglements with this person in front of him? They weren't even friends, let alone this person being qualified as a rival.

Irritation welled up inside.

"I'm sorry, but right now I have other important matters to deal with. Please pretend you didn't see me today."

"Wait!"

Seeing Kagura Hikaru finish speaking and about to leave, Ando Naoto instinctively reached out to stop him, but he easily dodged it.

Kagura Hikaru looked back at him, "If you really want to know the reason, why not go ask President Kiriyu himself?"

"Are you saying there's something undisclosed here?"

"Who knows? After all, it's all in the past now."

Having said that, Kagura Hikaru left Ando Naoto standing there to ponder alone and walked away from the third-grade corridor.

As he walked downstairs, he realized there was an issue with his attitude.

As an outsider, Ando Naoto's reaction was nothing but normal, similar to those classmates whose opinions were influenced by the rumors.

But why was he blind to their reactions, yet unable to stay calm in front of Ando Naoto?

...Could he be jealous? Jealous of someone who could stay by her side, yet allowed to know nothing.

Kagura Hikaru walked out silently from the school building, out of the school gates.

It was only when he encountered Ai Cheng Hua Lian and Ruzaki Mami at the gate that he came back to his senses.

"What are you doing here?"

"Mr. Kagura!"

The two girls hurried up to him, and Ai Cheng Hua Lian asked, "How did it go? What's the situation?"

"It failed," Kagura Hikaru said calmly, "They recognized me and ran away."

"Ah? How could that be..."

"Yeah, why indeed."

His eyes, thoughtful, slowly shifted to the puzzled Ruzaki Mami.

Ruzaki Mami blinked like a rabbit, and oddly asked, "Mr. Kagura?"

"Ruzaki, I must ask you a question, please answer me truthfully."

"Alright!"

Perhaps it was because his tone was too earnest that Ruzaki Mami couldn't help but stand straight.

Kagura Hikaru asked, "Regarding my involvement in solving the extortion issue, who else have you told, besides Ai Cheng?"

"Eh?" Ruzaki Mami was momentarily stunned. "Aside from Karen-chan, I've only told my boyfriend; no one else knows."

He fell silent for a moment, then turned away.

"Ai Cheng, how about you?"

Ai Cheng Hua Lian immediately shook her head: "I haven't told anyone."

"Good." Kagura Hikaru's eyes shifted back to Ruzaki Mami, his expression serious, "Now, tell me your boyfriend's identity."

"...You mean to say he leaked it?" Ruzaki Mami was frozen for three seconds before catching on, her head snapped up emotionally, her eyes reddened, her voice slightly raised, "No, he couldn't possibly betray us; there is absolutely no reason for him to do so! This is a matter that concerns his career; he wouldn't create trouble on purpose, he's too busy helping!"

Discussing this loudly at the school entrance clearly wasn't a good idea, as many people's gaze was drawn by Ruzaki Mami's voice.

They had no choice but to move to a more secluded area in the school's courtyard.

Perhaps by coincidence, this was the exact spot where Ai Cheng Hua Lian had seen Kagura Hikaru being 'bullied'.

The three exchanged looks in silence, a subtle tension hanging in the air.

Ai Cheng Hua Lian and Ruzaki Mami were no fools; they could certainly pick up the 'subtext' in Kagura Hikaru's words.

He was suspecting that Ruzaki Mami's boyfriend intentionally leaked information, leading to today's failed encounter with the extortionists.

Yet Ruzaki Mami's reasoning was quite valid; her boyfriend had no reason to impede Kagura Hikaru.

The whole matter suddenly became even more confusing.

In such a short time, how did those three extortionists learn of Kagura Hikaru's involvement?

The idea that this was a simple case had already been dismissed by Kagura Hikaru, his intuition telling him that there was an enemy within them.

"Which teacher is it?" Kagura Hikaru bluntly inquired.

At this point, it was no longer a situation Ruzaki Mami could whimsically keep confidential.

Clearly resistant, Ruzaki Mami was beating around the bush, attempting to gloss over the matter, but this time Ai Cheng Hua Lian did not take her side and immediately disclosed the suspect.

"It must be Teacher Sato, the one who teaches the national language. I've seen him talking to Mami alone several times, and he's also handsome—the type of teacher Mami would like in the school," she said.

"Karen-chan...?"

"Sorry, Mami. I trust you, but I cannot trust your boyfriend," Ai Cheng Hua Lian said, her face a mix of apology and difficulty.

Her thoughts aligned with Kagura Hikaru's, harboring doubts about the teacher who was close to her best friend.

Given the already low level of trust, they were even less likely to keep secrets for him.

However, to Ruzaki Mami, the girlfriend, the situation did not appear the same. To a girl with budding feelings, the person she loved was always innocent and untainted.

"This doesn't make any sense, you have to believe him…" Ruzaki Mami pleaded.

"Classmate Ruzaki, I can assure you, I won't judge him with malice in mind," Kagura Hikaru stood up, "but at this point, we must seek help from the Disciplinary Committee."

"If this ends up involving Teacher Sato—"

"If it turns out he's not involved, I will plead with President Ayakoji to turn a blind eye," he said.

"But, but will President Ayakoji really listen to you? I heard she's quite ruthless."

"She will."

Kagura Hikaru's firm stance made Ruzaki Mami's face go slightly pale as she lowered her head, "I understand…"

She was naturally passive, too scared even to resist when extorted. Even if Kagura Hikaru didn't explain any further, and took a firmer stance, she would ultimately accept it.

Ai Cheng Hua Lian hugged her, offering comfort and support.

"If there's any development in the future, apart from the three of us, please don't tell anyone else, even your boyfriend. Can you promise me that?" Kagura Hikaru said to Ruzaki Mami.

After receiving a positive response, he stood up and left.

This could be considered an unhappy departure, since before leaving, Kagura Hikaru saw discontent and disagreement on Ruzaki Mami's face.

Apparently, it's hard to persuade a teenage girl with reason.

After today, they might never again hear that crisp 'Mr. Kagura' from her.

Kagura Hikaru walked on without caring about these matters.