What a twist! The loser heroine!

Wen Shui nodded gently in response, while thinking helplessly.

Himegami's grades weren't actually that bad, as could be seen from her conversations with some of the top students in her class.

But for some reason, whenever the teacher calls on her to answer a question, she stammers and hesitates, and Wen Shui has to remind her with a piece of paper before she can give the correct answer.

Could it be the so-called "tip-of-the-tongue effect"? Knowing the answer but not being able to recall it, or something like that.

The lukewarm water was a bit confused.

Ms. Ganxia's teaching style is as unconventional as she is, but when she is prepared, it is full of fun. The history of Japan during the Warring States period easily enters Wenshui's knowledge base.

One can't help but wonder, could it be that Teacher Gan Xia is actually a once-in-a-million teaching genius? Only, she's quite strange in other aspects—

"Oh! So that concludes our discussion of the Warring States period!" Teacher Gan Xia slapped her lesson plan on the podium and continued, "Alas, it's a pity that the charm of the Byzantine Empire won't be shared with you little devils until second grade..."

"What exactly is that...?"

As Wen Shui and many other students voiced their complaints, the bell signaling lunch break rang over the loudspeaker.

"Well then, get out of class is over. Everyone, please be careful during your lunch break," Teacher Gan Xia said with concern before leaving the classroom.

"Okay~" the students said, and took out the things or lunch boxes they had prepared for the lunch break.

Just as Wen Shui was about to take out Himegami's bento box from that morning, someone suddenly patted her on the shoulder.

Turning around, she saw Himegami Karen smiling at her.

"Warm Water, here you go." She held out her hand, a keychain lying in her palm. "I went to Nagoya over the weekend, this is a souvenir."

She didn't deliberately lower her voice, so all the students around her could hear her.

"Ah, I see. Thank you, Himegami-san." Wen Shui nodded and gratefully put the keychain into her pocket.

"Huh? Only Wen Shui has it?" A female classmate who had already gathered around asked curiously.

Princess smiled, opened her overflowing schoolbag, and showed the gifts inside to her classmates.

“Every student has one!” she said with a smile.

Then, an amazing cheer erupted in Class 1-C, startling Ms. Gan Xia, who had already walked halfway, so much so that she ran back, thinking that something unexpected had happened.

Seeing that classmates and even students from neighboring classes, attracted by the souvenirs, were getting closer and closer, Wen Shui quickly grabbed her lunchbox and fled from the increasingly crowded group.

"Ah—" Because she was in such a hurry when she left, Wenshui bumped into Hanami Anna, who was about to approach Himegami.

"I'm sorry," Wen Shui said first, apologizing.

“It’s alright,” Banami said generously.

She gestured with her eyes to Himegami, who was surrounded by a crowd, while looking at the warm water, and then quietly waved her little fist: "I'm going up now."

Wen Shui could easily understand what she meant, and he smiled and nodded slightly.

"Good luck, Hanami-kun."

~Nineteenth Defeat~ Student Council During Lunch Break (Part 1)

Holding a lunchbox in her arms, Wen Shui wandered aimlessly through the school building.

Previously, I had been spending my lunch break peacefully in my seat, but every now and then I would be called by Komari Chika to have lunch together on the fire escape stairs of the old school building.

Right now, Xiao Ju seems to be busy organizing the content of the third volume of her light novel, and even her lunch break is being used up. Her seat is now surrounded by layers of people... According to school rules, the club office is not allowed to be open at noon, so she can't go to the Literature Club either.

For a moment, Wen Shuiheyan had no idea where to take a lunch break.

He walked through the school's warehouse and came to a secluded corner of the school, where an old vending machine remained. There seemed to be a campus legend about it at Shilu High School, but Wen Shui didn't quite believe it.

Wen Shui planned to buy a drink from the vending machine and then eat her bento in this secluded spot.

"By the way... what was that campus legend again?" Wen Shui walked along the road, frowning in thought. "I remember it was something like, 'Be careful of the old vending machine—'"

Just as he walked to the corner where the vending machine was located.

"Warm water...?" A deep female voice suddenly rang out behind Warm Water.

[Female Ghost]

"Oh my god!"

Wen Shui was so frightened that she let out a scream like a girl.

He cautiously looked in the direction of the sound, only to find that the hot senior he had met briefly last week—Shikiya Yumeko—was looking at him with a mineral water bottle in her hand.

"Shikiya-senpai?" Wen Shui's eyes twitched as she tentatively greeted her, "Good afternoon, is there anything I can help you with?"

"What are you doing here?" Shiki-ya-senpai asked, her steps stiff as she slowly approached the warm water.

Seeing her senior walking towards her expressionlessly, Wen Shui slowly backed away while explaining, "Let's find a place to buy water, and while we're at it... get some lunch."

"Why...don't you eat in the classroom?"

"Since someone else has taken my seat, it's not really appropriate to sit in theirs..."

Wen Shui gave a simple explanation.

Shikiya Yumeko stopped in her tracks. She glanced at the bento box in Awami's hand, paused for a moment, and then said, "Then... let's go to the student council."

"Huh?" Wen Shui was stunned.

"Tian Aixing is... in the student council now..." Shikiya said, tilting his head. "Didn't you... want to ask her for a book...?"

Oh right, that copy of "Sanshiro" is still with Tenaihoshi.

But I'm not a member of the student council. Is it really okay for me to go to the student council office during lunch break?

Just as Wen Shui was pondering, his senior quietly came to his side.

She stretched out her fair arm and grabbed the warm water.

"Ah—" Wen Shui didn't even have time to exclaim before Shikiya Yumeko dragged her towards the school building.

◇

Standing in front of the bright red activity room, Wen Shuihe looked up at the sign with difficulty. The words "Student Council Room" written in gold lettering made him hesitate.

He asked in a low voice, "Um, Shikiya-senpai... I'm not a member of the student council, is it really okay for me to go in during lunch break?"

Standing next to him, Yumeko Shikiya glanced up at his expression.

Then she thought for a moment and said, "Don't be nervous... Tian Aixing... is easy to handle..."

"That's not what I meant." Wen Shui covered her face helplessly.

He recalled his only two interactions with Tian Aixing: once when he asked for directions inside the school building, and once when her schoolbag was being checked at the school gate. The girl had always behaved very well and politely.

[Can a girl like that really be considered easy to handle? In light novel settings, they're generally more likely to have stubborn personalities.]

"Why...don't you go in?"

Seeing Onami standing blankly at the door, lost in thought, Shikiya Yumeko pushed open the door to the student council room and pulled Onami inside.

"Senior! Wait—"

By the time Wen Shui realized what was happening, she was already standing in the student council's activity room. Looking around, she saw that after Friday's incident, the activity room had been re-hung with simple colored lights and decorations.

"Shikiya-senpai?!"

A familiar voice rang out in the activity room. Wen Shui turned around and saw Tian Aixing, whom she had met twice before, sitting at the large conference table. Tian Aixing was holding a piece of bread that she hadn't finished eating in her left hand, while her right hand covered her mouth as she chewed. Her eyes were filled with surprise, and she was clearly eating.

The senior student from Shikiya, who was called over by Amahoshi, didn't say anything. She just patted Onami's shoulder and sat down next to Amahoshi.

Tian Aixing then turned to look at Wen Shui, who looked troubled. She quickly chewed the food in her mouth, swallowed it, and then straightened her clothes. As Tian Aixing moved, Wen Shui noticed that Tian Aixing had a name tag pinned to her chest. Recalling that name tags were indeed given out at the entrance ceremony, although she had never seen anyone wear one before.

Then, Tian Aixing spoke:

"Ah, you were the one who checked my bag on Friday morning..."

That's great, she still remembers.

Wen Shui quickly placed the lunchbox on the table, then nodded and said, "Yes, I am Wen Shui He Yan from Class 1-C. It's nice to meet you. Please take care of me."

After quickly introducing himself, he straightened up and began to explain the situation.

"There was some chaos on Friday morning, and when Tian Aixing went to maintain order, she... happened to take my books with her."

Wen Shui carefully considered her words: "Because things were quite chaotic at the time, I didn't have time to specifically ask you to return it, so..."

Upon hearing this, Tian Aixing's expression suddenly turned strange. She said with slight embarrassment, "That...is it that book, Natsume Soseki's 'Sanshiro'?"

"Yes."

"I'm sorry, I couldn't find the book to return the other day, so I took it home with me. My younger brother then asked to read it, so I didn't bring it today..."

Wen Shui's lips twitched slightly.

He tentatively asked, "Um, Tian Aixing, your younger brother should still be in junior high school, right?"

"Yes, yes." Tian Aixing seemed a little uneasy.

"Letting him watch those tragic love stories filled with angst and loneliness might have a negative impact on him."

Wen Shui adopted an air of "no one understands Natsume Soseki better than me": "After all, it's a work that criticizes the times. Tian Aixing, you wouldn't want your younger brother to fall for a woman like Miyako, would you?"

Of course, Wen Shui himself certainly didn't understand. Just as Tian Aixing said before, all his impressions of Natsume Soseki's works were limited to textbooks and exam questions; he was simply reciting the standard answers verbatim.

To everyone's surprise, Tenaihoshi shouted, "Who, who would like Miyako! Sanshiro is clearly more pitiful! Also, please don't call me by my name!"

Why are you suddenly getting so agitated?!

[Could it be that Tian Aixing herself wanted to read it...?]

Seeing Tian Aixing's reaction, Wen Shui Kazuhiko felt somewhat ashamed.

"So, what should I call you?"

Wen Shui glanced at the name tag on Tian Aixing's chest.

[My senior did teach me that my name is Tiara, and Ma Sha is Basori.]

Ma noticed Wen Shui's gaze and immediately covered his chest with his hand.

"Why, why are you looking at my chest?!"

"I was just looking at designer brands, Ma Ti, Ma Ti Tian Ai Xing, right?!" Wen Shui quickly explained.

“Yes…yes.” Tian Aixing nodded.

“Well, since your… your brother is very interested in that book, then I’ll leave it with you for now.” Wen Shui sat down in her seat helplessly. “You can return it to me whenever you finish reading it. I’ll explain it to Yue Zhi Mu senior later.”

"Moon Tree...?"

It seems that both Tenaihoshi and Shikiya-senpai reacted to this surname.

"So, Wen Shui, you're... in the Literature Club?"

As Tian Aixing said this, her gaze towards Wen Shui suddenly became strange. She quickly changed seats to distance herself from Wen Shui, but unexpectedly bumped right into Shikiya-senpai.

"Tian Aixing, why are you making that expression?" Wen Shui was completely baffled.

"Ah! Shikiya-senpai, please don't move!" Tian Aixing, caught off guard by Shikiya's attack from behind, let out a cute cry.

But she still dutifully told Wen Shui, "Because, because the upperclassmen have mentioned rumors about you, saying that you hide in the corner of the school building and spend all day writing lewd novels—"

"Tian Aixing, I can take this as slander against the Literature and Art Club—"

Just as Wen Shui was about to finish speaking, she suddenly thought of a certain beautiful woman with her hair tied up, wearing glasses, holding a BL book in her hand, and wearing a confident smile.

Ah, it seems someone is indeed writing it.

His expression turned awkward.

"See, you yourself feel guilty!"

"So, really, there isn't. Senior Tsukinoki is still struggling with what club activities to organize recently, so she won't write anything random."

As he spoke, Wen Shuiyuan decided to end this strange topic and looked at the bento box he had placed on the table.

"Shikiya-senpai, may I have lunch here?"

Just in case, Wen Shui asked beforehand.

"no problem……"

Shikiya-senpai, who had stopped playing with the Heavenly Star at some point, quietly looked at Wenshui and spoke softly.