Classroom of the Elite Volume 7.5

Chapter 2.4: Ibuki's One Misfortunate Day

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka POV

Part 4

"In various ways, it's been a disaster".
Even as my initial schedule changed partly, I was able to overcome this long half day and it finally seems like I'd be able to successfully return to the dorm. During winter vacation, an outing seems to have danger attached to it as well. First Sakayanagi and Kamuro, then the dispute with Ibuki. I passed by Ishizaki and the others as well.
Checking the time on my phone, it seems like it's almost 3 PM.
"Ahaha. You can say that again---".

As I was walking through Keyaki Mall in order to head back to the dorm, I saw a group of three girls turn the corner and start walking slightly ahead of me. Satou, Shinohara and also Matsushita. All three were students of Class D. They were walking while having a friendly conversation with each other. Since I have plans to meet with Satou the day after tomorrow, my gaze was unconsciously stolen away by her.
I hid my presence so as to not be noticed and kept at a distance where I could pick up their voices. Because if there's any information that could be useful to me I could acquire here, I'd consider it lucky.

"In the end, up until Christmas we couldn't get ourselves boyfriends at all---".
Matsushita said that while looking at the couples surrounding them and sighing.
"Even though if you thought about getting yourself one, you could get yourself one right away. Because you're cute".
Shinohara naughtily chuckles while poking Matsushita's armpit.
"I don't want to date someone so badly to the point I have to compromise".
"That's true too~. But, on second thought, I want a boyfriend".

"Then do you have a boyfriend candidate in mind?".
Towards Shinohara, Matsushita asks that, but Shinohara crossed her arms together and made a complicated face.
"Not at all. First of all our class is catastrophic".
"The one and only ultimate prize has been taken away by Karuizawa-san after all---".
Of course by prize, they mean Hirata.

"Since we've been fighting against other classes all the time during the exams, we barely had any time to make friends. Since it's come to this, I wonder if it'll be better to just go out with a senior student---is what I'm thinking. Really, a university student would be better though".
Matsushita said that her school year is of the question.
"Senior student, huh---. I might be the opposite, I wouldn't want someone older than me. If I'm going to be getting into romance, it'd be with someone my age I suppose".
On the other hand, Shinohara seems to prefer someone from her school year.

"What about you, Satou-san?".
"Ehh? Me? That's right---. Like Shinohara-san, I'd prefer one of my classmates".
"No, no. No one said anything about classmates".
Shinohara immediately denies it. It seems in regards to that, she feels the need to deny it.
"Speaking of which, Satou-san haven't.....you been talking to Ayanokouji-kun?".
Suddenly, my name was uttered. If I suddenly turn to look then it'll be an out with just that. I turned my eyes towards a bookstore beside me, towards a corner of it facing the aisle.

Giving up immediately on following them, I made a change. To increase my distance from Satou and her group too, I decided to kill time here for a while.
"This year's fashionable goods ranking, huh".

From daily necessities to consumer electronics, it seems it's a ranking that includes a variety of familiar things like that. Whether or not this manufacturer's detergent is good or bad, details like that seem to be written down.
Since I has caught my interest slightly, I took it into my hands and decided to look through it.
".....it might be a good idea to just buy it and go back".
The best cars merchandise summary in the appendix is unnecessary but since it's a bonus I'll just leave it be.