Tokyo: To reiterate, this is not a dating system.

58. The sudden atmosphere of a chaotic battleground

The corridor on the fifth floor of the special building, which is usually very quiet because no one visits it, now has three more people.

The flowing air seemed to become viscous, with a slight sense of stagnation.

Although it wasn't to the point of having difficulty breathing, it still made Genji Aoyama feel a bit of pressure.

Haruka Minatsuki's gaze remained fixed on the arm that was holding him.

A few seconds passed.

Saki Izumo finally released Genji Aoyama's arm.

"...Good afternoon, Ms. Haruka." Genji Aoyama greeted her calmly.

"Good afternoon," Haruka Minatsuki said with a smile, "Is Genji-kun not feeling well?"

Genji Aoyama shook his head.

At least for now, I don't feel unwell.

"Did Miss Haruka need something from me?" he asked.

"It's nothing major, and I didn't come here specifically to see Genji."

Haruka Minatsuki then turned her gaze to Saki Izumo: "I'm here to find Senior Izumo."

"what?"

Izumo Saki had originally planned to activate battle mode and protect Aoyama Genji in front of her.

Upon hearing that Minazuki Haruka had come to see her, she was slightly confused and blinked, "What does Minazuki-senpai want with me?"

"New regulations from the school regarding student participation in club activities, and regulations concerning clubs themselves."

"Hmm... Is there a problem with the club?"

"As a member of the student council, I'm here to check attendance as usual. It seems neither of you has been present."

Haruka Minatsuki looked at the two of them, paused for a moment, and then turned her gaze back to Saki Izumo:

"Furthermore, if I remember correctly, the Psychological Problems Research Club only has two people, right? This doesn't comply with the school's regulations for club management, and according to the rules, the club should be abolished, so..."

Before she could finish speaking, Izumo Saki interrupted her.

"...My dad donated 50 million to the school."

"..."

Haruka Minatsuki remained silent, then seemed to sigh, "I see."

Aoyama Genji looked up at the sky.

He wanted a father like that, or even a godfather, as long as he was willing to send money.

just kidding.

In short, money is such a convenient thing.

Seeing that Haruka Minatsuki was speechless, Saki Izumo smiled triumphantly, as if she had won.

Haruka Minatsuki didn't seem to care much, and quietly looked at Genji Aoyama.

"Genji-kun, could you come here for a moment?"

"Hmm? Is there anything else you want to see Aoyama-kun about, Minatsuki-senpai?"

Before Aoyama Genji could speak, Izumo Saki interrupted, looking at Minatsuki Haruka, "If it's about club matters, couldn't we have discussed it in the club room?"

Genji Aoyama sighed inwardly.

What's with this sudden, chaotic atmosphere?

"Please wait a moment, gentlemen."

Genji Aoyama tried to stop it, but no one paid any attention to him.

"Finding Genji is a private matter between the two of us. Even as the club president, Izumo-senpai can't interfere, can she?"

"If I remember correctly, from after school until six o'clock is club activity time. If there's anything, Minatsuki-senpai can talk to Aoyama-kun privately. In short, not now."

"Slap! Slap!"

Genji Aoyama clapped his hands and stood right in the middle where their eyes met.

"Saki, you can go back to the activity room now. I'll be there in a bit."

This time, Izumo Saki didn't huff or snort, and instead looked at him with a cute, puffed-up expression.

She glanced at Genji Aoyama, then walked expressionlessly toward the activity room.

After watching her leave, the two went to the location where they had received their consultation the day before.

On the small platform, the small pits where water had accumulated have evaporated completely, leaving only shallow traces of dryness.

Genji Aoyama glanced at her briefly, then turned his gaze to Haruka Minatsuki, who was staring at him.

"Saki?" Haruka Minatsuki asked with a subtle smile. "Are Genji-kun and Izumo-senpai on good terms?"

"Yes, it's not bad," Aoyama Genji replied.

"Isn't it already pretty good?"

Haruka Minatsuki recalled that when they met earlier, Saki Izumo had tightly clung to Genji Aoyama's arm.

"I was going to say no, but now it seems Genji-kun doesn't dislike this kind of closeness."

Aoyama Genji was thoughtful.

"How should I put it..."

"If this question bothers Genji-kun, you don't have to answer it." Minatsuki Haruka's gaze was calm, and there was no smile in her eyes.

Her expression completely betrayed the meaning behind her words.

"I wouldn't say I like it, but I wouldn't say I hate it either. It's just that my body is in puberty and I just can't resist this kind of thing." Aoyama Genji's face showed a distressed expression.

You can't exactly say that Yun Shaxi is a girl with superhuman strength and he has no way to resist, can you?

Even Genji Aoyama would feel ashamed to say such a thing.

"Is that so..."

Haruka Minatsuki looked thoughtful, then suddenly smiled and said, "If Aoyama-kun's reply satisfies me, there will be a surprise~"

"..."

Qingshanyuan cured a condition where people would get goosebumps at the mention of "surprise".

The rewards over there haven't even been claimed yet, but the prize pool over here has already started to accumulate.

The two parted ways again at the stairs.

Genji Aoyama walked through the unusually quiet corridor and arrived at the activity room of the Department of Psychological Problems Research.

After thinking for a moment, he decided not to knock.

Upon opening the activity room door, Genji Aoyama saw that Saki Izumo was looking down, not at him, but frantically typing on her phone.

Genji Aoyama sat down beside her and reached out to pat her little head.

It's fluffy and feels quite nice to the touch.

"what."

The voice sounded a little emotional.

"I still prefer Saki's energetic self," said Genji Aoyama.

Saki is unhappy.

Saki Izumo put down her phone, covered her ample chest with one hand, and her once bright face was now filled with dejection.

They inexplicably evoke feelings of pity and affection.

Aoyama Genji glanced at the covered area before turning his gaze to her slightly downcast face.

"It has nothing to do with Aoyama-kun, it's just that Minatsuki-san's attitude towards Aoyama-kun makes me feel a little uncomfortable."

Saki Izumo said to herself, "But it has nothing to do with Minatsuki-kun. I just think Aoyama-kun will feel uncomfortable."

"puff--"

Genji Aoyama couldn't help but laugh.

"What are you laughing at!?" Izumo Saki's voice returned to its usual form.

"Who exactly is involved, and who is feeling unwell... Hmm... Genji Aoyama's mind is starting to get confused, and he can't quite figure it out anymore."

"Anyway, Saki's unhappy—" Izumo Saki puffed out her cheeks, glaring angrily at Aoyama Genji, "So there's no reward! I'm going to punish you!"

……

In short, not long after, Genji Aoyama left the school with steady steps.

It wasn't because he had a strong recovery ability, but because nothing actually happened in the department's activity room.

The next tram departs at 6:20.

Standing on the platform were many office workers leaving get off work, their expressions somewhat relaxed.

Genji Aoyama followed their example and loosened his tie a little.

Shortly after, a tram announcement sounded on the platform, followed by a gust of wind that carried Genji Aoyama towards his apartment.

The carriage swayed and rocked, and the connecting parts occasionally emitted a creaking sound.

◇

Here are my favorite mini-theater segments:

[Yuuko: Let's not eat fast food today.]

[Aoyama: Then we can go eat at Yuuko's place~]

[Yuuko: That's so unreasonable!]

[Yuuko: I'll bring it to you when I'm done. Hmm... I've recently learned a new Chinese dish.]