I just hope to live a leisurely life in the world of anime.

The experiment that Sakayanagi-san just mentioned... is it about Ayanokouji's father?

They were really amazing just now...

I hadn't even figured it out before the game ended, leaving me with a lot of time left during the 30-minute break.

My aptitude isn't bad either. Online advice suggests that once you're familiar with the rules, chess is easy to pick up.

I've memorized all the rules, but I still don't quite understand how they're doing it.

Ayanokouji, as expected, has always been hiding his true abilities.

Last time, I went to Ms. Chabashira to ask for an explanation regarding the class assignment issue after enrollment, but I was surprised to hear her say that Sakayanagi Arisu from Class A and Shima Miori from Class C were tied for first place in their entrance exam scores!

"Speaking of which, Ayanokouji-san, please answer seriously: in the game just now, you didn't give anyone a handicap, did you?"

No, you definitely won.

"Really? I'll go back and review it. If it's true, thank you for your guidance. If it's false, then the students in Class A will be causing trouble for Teacher Anshu."

"Wait, what do you mean by causing me trouble?" An Shu, who had been dragged into this for no reason, was a little confused.

The girl blinked in confusion: "Eh, isn't Ms. Anshu in Class D? If Class A attacks Class D, Ms. Anshu would probably be troubled too, right?"

"Hmm...maybe. So, we should blame Ayanokouji-san, Horikita-san. Did you hear that? Horikita-san has always aimed to get into Class A!"

"Huh, is that so?" Sakayanagi Arisu looked at the somewhat aloof beauty with some surprise, then suddenly looked enlightened. "So that's how it is. The genius that Father mentioned who was assigned to Class D because of his terrible social skills is the one I can't even look at. So that's you, Horikita-kun."

"..."

"There are only two ways to get into Class A: either accumulate 20 million personal points or have your class's points surpass all other classes. As a student, the first one is practically impossible, right? I'm really looking forward to your challenge, Horikita-kun."

Class points can be obtained through "special exams," and if that's truly her goal, then future competition will be inevitable.

"Please look forward to it, Sakayanagi-san, I will defeat you! However, I've heard that Class A isn't exactly harmonious right now. It seems that a student named Katsuragi Kohei and Sakayanagi-san have divided Class A into two major factions."

"Ah... that conservative guy who's like a woman," Sakayanagi Arisu sighed with some distress, resting her chin on the table like a little maid.

…………

The corridor you have to walk through to get back to the classroom.

"Horikita."

"Hmm," Horikita Suzune looked at the boy next to her, puzzled, after he called her name.

"That's cool."

""

"Saying 'Just wait and see, I'll beat you' with such a straight face is so cool!" Ayanokouji Kiyotaka gave a thumbs up in admiration, though his expression remained completely unconvincing.

"I was thinking, would it sound more domineering if I changed that sentence to 'Just wait and see, because it won't be long before I defeat you'... Uh oh!"

Ayanokouji stopped talking abruptly before he could finish, because the girl next to him chopped into his side.

"Shut up!" Horikita Suzune's cheeks flushed slightly as she closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, and lowered her voice to let the four words escape her lips.

"hiss……"

This guy is awful.

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji clutched his stomach, thinking to himself, "I was clearly praising her, and she's treating me like this?"

It seems that there are also inaccuracies in the knowledge contained in the book.

The idea that all girls like to be praised is wrong; not all girls like to be praised.

"Oh, right, Ayanokouji."

"Ah."

"You really didn't hold back just now?"

"...No, not at all. Are you afraid to face her right now?"

“Those problem kids in the class are too much of a headache. Dealing with her is definitely an option, but not now.” Horikita pinched the bridge of her nose and continued walking.

"If it's Sakayanagi Arisu, you should take her seriously. At least in chess, she has the qualities that earn your respect."

Horikita Suzune looked at him strangely: "...I don't play chess."

"Even ordinary people should have some respect for those chess masters on TV, right?"

"A master, huh... I see. But, is Ayanokouji-kun praising himself?"

"No, it's the truth."

###Chapter 605 Letter###

How was your day?

"It's alright, nothing's changed from usual~" the little girl mumbled, biting the pudding stuck on her fork.

"But I heard from Rem that this morning Anshu was watching Arisu-kun and... um... and that guy again."

"Ayanokouji Kiyotaka."

"Yes, right, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, Anshu-nii watched them play chess this morning."

"Yes, that's right. Speaking of which, does Xiaoweizhi know how to play chess?"

"I know a little about this."

"..."

"What's wrong?" The little girl wrinkled her nose unhappily. "Why is Brother Anshu looking at me like that? Before I met Brother Anshu, I was a well-bred young lady! I was proficient in all the arts!"

"Little Weizhi, a lady from a respectable family, has really gotten thick-skinned again..." An Shu retorted, pursing his lips. Although he knew the girl was telling the truth.

"No way! Ugh, I hate Anshu the most!" The little girl huffed and puffed, sticking her fork into the large pudding on her plate, and then stood in front of Anshu, lifting her kimono skirt.

An Shu was naturally not intimidated by her "imposing manner," and spread her hands with a "don't lie to me" expression, saying, "Well, then tell me, little Wei Zhi, what are the arts and sciences that little Wei Zhi is proficient in?"

"Hmph! Hmm..." The little girl put her hands on her hips and began to list her skills for An Shu, "I can play the piano and violin! I can also play chess, Chinese chess, shogi, and Go. As for calligraphy, needless to say, the words on that fan are my own! And as for painting... I can do oil painting and sketching, but I'm not very good at ink painting. I only learned a little bit at first, and then... um, I met Brother An Shu..."

The little girl introduced her talents, and after pausing for a while at the end, she continued speaking, but her voice was not as loud as before.

When we first met... to be honest, the scene wasn't beautiful.

An Shu raised her head, cupped her cheeks in her hands, and pressed them to the corners of her mouth, making her smile: "Could it be that Miori-chan is really so talented?"

Instead of comforting her, who looked dejected, An Shu steered the conversation back on track.

Fortunately, the little girl didn't want to worry him either, and quickly cheered up: "Hmph~ Of course! Not only can I play the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but I can also dance and sing. I even showed off my cooking skills when I upset Brother Anshu. Thinking about it this way, Brother Anshu is really lucky to have married me!"

"Hey... if it's true, that's a huge win!" An Shu nodded, feigning hesitation, then raised a new question, "But that's just what I say, I don't know if it's true or not!"

"Really! Little Weizhi would never lie!" The little girl patted her chest and made a solemn promise.

"Can Little Weizhi sing a song?"

"Okay! Ahem... Listen up, Anshu-gege!"

"I'm listening."

This girl can be really silly sometimes. An Shu chuckled inwardly. She'd only managed to get her to sing obediently through some reverse psychology... but if she came up with any more strange ideas... cough cough.

With her mind wandering, An Shu planned to praise her singing regardless of how well she sang, so she didn't pay much attention to listening.

As she was thinking, the characters began to jump, a gentle melody began to surround her, and the beautiful melody led to ups and downs. Unconsciously, An Shu spoke again.

I was lost in thought because I was engrossed in her song.

My heart is calling out to you~

I want to find you~

Although sadness repeats itself~

But I still firmly believe it~

We always just pass each other by.

But there's nothing I can do.

Although the future is uncertain~

But I still search for the light.

To live and die inexplicably~

I don't know why I got here~

Because of you and me, my existence becomes meaningful~

"Brother Anshu~ Hmph~ How about that?" The little girl proudly raised her head and puffed out her chest, quite confident in her voice.

Even if Miori's face is practically screaming, "Isn't it nice? Praise me!", I still won't praise you!

Is it nice to listen to? Absolutely! It's incredibly nice to listen to!

Her voice, though soft and gentle, manages to evoke an ethereal quality...

The pauses between lyrics, the direct changes in rhythm, the rise and fall of pitch... mmm... amazing!

However, I still feel a little uncomfortable if I directly praise her when she's beaming with pride.

"Hmm—" The little girl, who had been looking forward to it, puffed out her cheeks.

"No praise."

"Hmm—" The little girl, who had been looking forward to it, puffed up her cheeks even more.

"No... okay, okay... it sounds amazing!" Realizing that she might be in big trouble if she didn't praise it, An Shu immediately changed her tune.

This will make the little girl immediately forget what she was about to do.

"It really, really sounds amazing!"

"Yeah! It really is! Marrying Miori was such a great deal!"

"Hehehe~"

The two were chatting when a noise came from the entrance.

"I'm back from shopping with Lia-neechan! ~ Hey, why is Miori-neechan grinning like an idiot the first thing I see when I walk in?"