COTE : Backed By Black Technology System

The panda plushie was bought in the morning, and Kushida Kikyo came in the evening.

After some usual complaining, Kushida looked at the quiet Panda sitting on the bed. She had noticed it when she came in but hadn't had the chance to ask.

"Did you buy this during the day?"

"Yeah, it's cute, right?" Kanda Shuichi raised his eyebrows, looking proud.

"You actually like this kind of thing?" Kushida's face showed doubt.

Seeing Kushida's current expression, Kanda Shuichi thought it was much more lively than her usual smiling face, but he still had to argue back.

"Huh? Liking pandas shouldn't be limited by gender, right? Haven't you ever been to the zoo to see pandas?"

"How could I have time to go to the zoo to see pandas?"

Kushida showed her dissatisfaction, but Kanda Shuichi noticed she kept staring at the panda plushie on the bed.

Well, with so many friends, maintaining relationships must take a lot of time.

"Then this is for you."

"Huh? For me? You're not joking, right?"

Kushida Kikyo was clearly stunned and looked at Kanda Shuichi in disbelief.

She knew the price of this thing. It wasn't her first time in that store, so she knew the panda's price was 30,000 points, which was a huge amount for an average student.

And those who had that many points usually wouldn't spend money on this, so it had been sitting there until Kanda Shuichi brought it back today.

"It was meant for you. Consider it a thank you for helping me gather information these past few days."

Kanda Shuichi shrugged.

These past few days, Kushida Kikyo had gathered a lot of information about the second-year students from Senpai Hashibara.

Since learning about Nagumo's ways, Kanda Shuichi felt he would eventually clash with him, so he wanted to gather some information about him while he could.

So, while helping gather information, he also gathered some about the second-year students.

As expected, Kanda Shuichi came to the same conclusion again.

The second-year students are a bunch of nobodies?

Except for Nagumo, none of them are worth mentioning?

Of course, it could be that Kushida's information wasn't comprehensive enough, but for now, he hadn't heard of any notable figures under Nagumo.

Forget it, no point thinking about it now. Better to focus on the gossip at hand.

"By the way, after you guys left today, I ran into Katsuragi."

Kanda Shuichi naturally shared today's interesting encounter with Kushida, mainly intending to use her connections.

Gossip, who doesn't love it!

Although Katsuragi said he had no plans for romance in high school, the gift he was picking today was clearly for a woman.

So, if it's not a love interest, what is it?

Could it be like Kanda Shuichi, just giving a birthday gift to a classmate? But then he wouldn't need to be so careful in choosing. Giving such a thoughtful gift could be misunderstood, and Katsuragi should know that.

"Oh, I know about this. When I was in Ayanokouji's room earlier, Ike mentioned it."

What? You went to Ayanokouji's room? And Ike was there too?

"They seem to suspect Katsuragi has a girlfriend, so they asked Ayanokouji to investigate."

...

This one's on me, I shouldn't have doubted you, Angel Kikyo.

But, asking Ayanokouji to investigate Katsuragi? You guys sure know how to pick.

"By the way, I asked Katsuragi yesterday. He said he doesn't plan to date in high school. I don't think he's the type to lie about this."

"I think so too. But if Katsuragi does have someone he likes, I'm curious who it is."

Kushida was now sitting on Kanda Shuichi's bed next to the giant panda plush, looking curious.

"And, according to Ike and the others, the person Katsuragi is giving a gift to has a birthday on August 29th."

"That's only a week away. If it's a girlfriend, he should give it to her in person. So why not just go and ask him directly?"

Kanda Shuichi's reckless suggestion made Kushida Kikyo look deeply dissatisfied.

"How could you just go and ask him? If he fails to confess because of this, he'll hate you forever."

Kushida Kikyo looked displeased.

"I'm surprised you worry about things like that."

"What did you say?"

Kushida Kikyo's face darkened, and she grabbed the panda plush tightly.

"No, nothing. I mean, I'm also curious about Katsuragi, so I'll go with Ayanokouji to find out."

"I see." Kushida nodded. "Have you chosen a gift for Inogashira?"

"Of course not. I'll leave that to you. I'll give you 5000 points as a budget." Kanda Shuichi handed the task to Kushida, which was his plan all along.

"You have 50 million points, and you only give me 5000?" Kushida Kikyo looked annoyed.

"I'm not even close to her. If it weren't for your suggestion, I wouldn't even spend 5000 points."

Seeing Kanda Shuichi's expression of "I wouldn't be involved if it weren't for you," Kushida smiled with satisfaction.

They chatted until almost eleven, and then Kushida left Kanda Shuichi's dorm with the giant panda plush that seemed huge for her.

The next day, at the intersection of the tree-lined avenue, Kanda Shuichi and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka were lounging on chairs under a tree like two lazy fish.

According to Kushida's information, none of the first-year girls had a birthday on August 29th, so they thought Katsuragi's gift recipient might be an upperclassman or a shop clerk.

Whether going to the upperclassmen's dorm or the shopping street, this was the only way, so Kanda Shuichi and Ayanokouji waited here after greeting each other.

Today's weather was even hotter than yesterday. Even in the shade, Kanda Shuichi found it unbearable.

Sweat kept dripping from his forehead, and he had already finished a bottle of electrolyte drink to replenish his salts.

But after drinking the cold drink, he felt much better. Thanks to the school for installing a vending machine here.

"Why are you going through all this trouble to follow Katsuragi?"

Damn, Ayanokouji, you must be up to no good.

"Because shopping with girls is even more tiring."

Standing up, Kanda Shuichi threw the drink bottle into the recycling bin and stretched.

"If Ike or Yamauchi heard what you just said, they would explode on the spot."

"Really? That sounds interesting."

Ayanokouji didn't know how to respond, so he silently turned back to continue watching the students passing by from all directions.

Then, two people in uniforms arrived and stopped.

"What are you doing here?"

It was the student council president Horikita Manabu and the student council secretary Tachibana Akane, whom Kanda Shuichi had met a few days ago.

Hearing the voice, Kanda Shuichi, who was slumped on the bench, struggled to stand up and looked at the two.

"Good morning, President Horikita, and Secretary. We're just waiting for someone here."

"Who's the secretary? You're so rude!"

Tachibana Akane pouted, clearly displeased.

I'm helping you, can't you see that, idiot? Didn't you notice the president is happy?

What? You say he has a poker face?

That's because you're not looking closely enough!

"The thing we talked about last time is complete."

"So fast?"

Horikita Manabu's news surprised Kanda Shuichi. In less than a week, during the summer vacation, they had completed the appointment of a vice president?

As expected of the strongest student council president ever, truly impressive.

"The student council room is almost renovated. Do you want me to show you?"

"No, thanks. I'm not wearing my uniform today, so I can't enter the school."

Kanda Shuichi immediately refused. Almost renovated? That means it's not done yet. If I go, I might have to help with the work, which would be a big loss.

I'm lazy, don't count on me for work, thanks!

Horikita Manabu nodded, then looked at Kanda Shuichi and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.

"Although having a bodyguard when going out is a good idea, it's better to exercise when you have time."

Kanda Shuichi: ?

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka: ??

Bodyguard? What does that mean???

Kanda Shuichi: Does he think Ayanokouji is my bodyguard?

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka: When did I become Kanda's bodyguard?

But Horikita Manabu had already walked away with Tachibana Akane.

"You two seem to have gotten quite close."

After they left, Ayanokouji looked at Kanda Shuichi.

"Uh, well, I joined the student council."

It's not a big secret. The temporary secrecy is just to gather information from the second years without Nagumo knowing.

Ayanokouji is definitely not one of Nagumo's followers, so Kanda Shuichi didn't mind.

"You, I remember you refused to join the student council before."

"Times change, and so do people."

"The Third Young Master's Sword?"

"Huh? You read foreign martial arts novels?"

This is a line from the Hong Kong martial arts writer Gu Long's novel "The Third Young Master's Sword." Kanda Shuichi didn't expect Ayanokouji to know it.

"Because they have it in the library, so I sometimes read it."

"I see, you have good taste."

Since they unexpectedly found something they both liked, they chatted and passed the time, not feeling too hot.

After about half an hour, their target finally appeared.

Katsuragi Kohei, even though it was summer, was wearing the school uniform, and not the summer one, but the long-sleeved one with a red blazer that looked very hot.

For some reason, seeing Katsuragi's outfit made Kanda Shuichi feel a wave of heat rise from his heart.

Isn't this guy hot?

Seeing Katsuragi in the red blazer, both Ayanokouji and Kanda Shuichi fell silent.

They were both wearing summer casual T-shirts, which were more suitable for the season, but for some reason, they both felt like they had lost.

"That shopping bag he's holding is from the store we saw yesterday, right? Isn't it the 29th? Normally, you'd keep the gift in the dorm until the day, right? Is he planning to give it early?"

Kanda Shuichi changed the topic, not wanting to dwell on the outfit.

"Who knows, and would anyone normally wear such a hot-looking uniform in summer to give a gift? It's hard to imagine."

They hid slightly behind a tree, avoiding Katsuragi's sight, and followed him after he passed.

Then they exchanged glances, both seeing the surprise in each other's eyes.

Because he wasn't heading towards the senior dorms or the shopping street, but towards the place where Horikita Manabu and Tachibana Akane had just gone.

A place where students wouldn't normally go during summer vacation—the school.

"So he's going to school? That's why he's wearing the uniform."

Ayanokouji nodded, looking like he understood.

"Could it be that his love interest is a teacher? That's why he won't date in high school!?" Kanda Shuichi's words left Ayanokouji momentarily stunned.

Is that even possible?

Indeed, if it's a student-teacher relationship, it can't be shown in high school.

In Japan, as long as one party is a minor, student-teacher relationships are absolutely not allowed.

If such a situation occurs, the teacher usually faces dismissal and may never work in education again, and might even face legal action. The student also often faces disciplinary action and education.

This could be serious...

Kanda Shuichi looked at Ayanokouji and put his arm around his neck: "Listen, Ayanokouji, you absolutely can't tell Ike and Yamauchi about this... No, don't tell anyone. If this gets out, it won't be a small matter."

"I-I got it, let go of me, it's hot." Ayanokouji immediately agreed to Kanda Shuichi's request. "And we can't be sure that Katsuragi's gift is for a teacher, right?"

"Of course, I know that, but if this rumor gets out, it will be troublesome."

Rumors stop with the wise, but unfortunately, most people love gossip. Who knows what version it will become if it spreads.

But since Katsuragi had already entered the school through the main entrance, there was no point in following him. They couldn't enter the school in casual clothes, so today's tracking ended here.

However, Ayanokouji still had a question...

Why couldn't Katsuragi's gift be for a guy?

Although the possibility was very low, it wasn't impossible. Ayanokouji Kiyotaka thought Kanda Shuichi hadn't considered everything.

————— ----

You can read 10 advanced chapters at my patreon.com/YeyeQiu