Chapter 369: Chapter 369

Today, Ayaka did not flip up her skirt.

Aozawa was rather disappointed. He could see clearly with his X-ray ability, but that way of looking lacked the charm of it being flipped up. It was also somewhat rude towards Ayaka.

Aside from the first time, as his relationship with Ayaka deepened, he had not used his X-ray ability to peek into the private realm of girls. This was a bottom line he had set for himself: not to use his X-ray ability on friends he was familiar with. Strangers, however, he looked at freely. After all, since he didn't interact much with them, it didn't bring any psychological burden.

He walked over to the shoe locker area, changed into indoor shoes, and couldn't help but say, "Ayaka, there's no one around us right now. Do you want to give me a little surprise?"

Upon hearing his words, Ayatsuki Ayaka's wheat-colored cheeks instantly turned red. She hurriedly glared at him, "Aozawa, what are you talking about? What if someone sees us?"

"It's okay. Besides you and me, there's no one else here."

Ayatsuki Ayaka shook her head again. She felt deeply in agreement with what Saeko had said. Boys really are insatiable when it comes to this kind of thing. Once they see it once, they'll want to see it a second time, a third time, until those things become normalized, and they gradually lose interest. According to Saeko, when boys watch those kinds of movies, their state of excitement often only lasts for a few minutes to over ten minutes. Afterwards, they become bored with it.

After changing into her indoor shoes, Ayatsuki Ayaka saw the somewhat disappointed expression on Aozawa's face. She thought about it for a moment, then glanced around with her large eyes, making sure no one was there.

Taking a deep breath, she trotted forward and whispered in his ear, "It's black~"

The soft words turned into a warm breeze brushing against his earlobe, as if to melt the skin it touched.

Aozawa immediately cast aside the disappointment in his heart, becoming completely energized from head to toe.

He had not expected that simply whispering a color in his ear, without even a glimpse, could elicit such immense excitement. It was quite a new way to play.

Seeing her leaning in so close, Aozawa couldn't resist moving forward to cover her pink-lipsticked lips with his own.

Ayatsuki Ayaka's eyes widened. She quickly stepped back, complaining cutely, "Aozawa, what if someone sees us?"

"It's fine. I remember that Brilliant High School doesn't prohibit students from dating."

"Still, from now on, we're banning anything naughty inside the school building!"

Ayatsuki Ayaka pressed her index finger against his lips as if to place a firm seal.

Aozawa bit lightly, as gently as a gourmand savoring a newly presented delicacy.

Ayatsuki Ayaka's cheeks flushed even redder. She wanted to pull her hand away, but the sensation was rather pleasant. It made her a little reluctant to withdraw her finger until she heard the DING-DING-DING of the class bell.

The sound startled her, and she quickly pulled her hand back.

Despite her academic performance, Ayatsuki Ayaka always emulated the honor students when it came to attendance and punctuality.

"Aozawa, it's all your fault for messing around."

"Sorry, let's hurry up and run."

Aozawa took her hand and ran upstairs, having been so caught up in enjoying the sweetness of her fingertips that he'd forgotten they had class.

The two of them quickly ran up the stairs and managed to enter the classroom before the teacher arrived.

Phoenix Academy Maggie noticed that the two of them were late together. Suspicion flickered in her eyes; she felt they must have been up to something on the way, but she had no time to ask.

The teacher arrived right after.

Phoenix Academy Maggie turned around.

The loose sailor uniform, despite her advanced development, still formed a perfect semicircle. Her presence was as overpowering as an armored tank sweeping across a continent, capable of clearing Aozawa's desk in one go.

With her arms crossed, the pressure was immediately evident.

"You arrived pretty late today."

"Haha, I accidentally lost track of time."

Aozawa did not lie; he just didn't specify what made him lose track of time.

Phoenix Academy Maggie humphed lightly. She didn't fuss over the matter, nor did she raise her textbook to block her view.

That kind of close conversation was still a bit too stimulating for her heart.

"This morning, I got detailed information that Vincent's failure originated from the Flame Giant. Although there's no evidence yet, everyone unanimously believes that it was Dio."

Her words confirmed to Aozawa that what he and Emily had discussed had not reached the Phoenix Academy.

"Why would Dio interfere with Vincent's matters?"

Aozawa's question made Phoenix Academy Maggie's eyes narrow slightly, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "I heard our Police Director also went to Washington D.C. She's alright, isn't she?"

"Yesterday, Chitose sent a message saying she's fine."

Phoenix Academy Maggie laughed coldly. She was now convinced Dio's appearance there was for a specific reason. It had nothing to do with disliking someone; it was purely to protect an individual.

"Fabricating lies, deceiving the whole world into believing them, making them invest effort and vast sums of money—that must be quite an accomplishment, don't you think?"

"I'm not sure. I've always been a good kid who tells the truth."

Aozawa spread his hands, an expression of pure innocence on his face. It made Phoenix Academy Maggie want to reach out and pinch his cheek to test just how thick-skinned he really was.

"What are you guys talking about?" Hojo Tetsuji asked as he woke up, naturally joining their conversation.

Phoenix Academy Maggie didn't continue with that topic, instead shifting the conversation, "We're discussing the fundraising event this weekend."

"That's just some nonsense Shouko cooked up," Hojo Tetsuji scratched his head. He was neither supportive nor opposed to Shouko's plans, maintaining an indifferent attitude.

"Didn't she tell you she invited Little Sayuri?" Phoenix Academy Maggie asked with some surprise.

"Eh? She never mentioned anything like that!" Hojo Tetsuji exclaimed, astounded.

"Because if she told you now, you'd probably fret endlessly over what to wear, despite only having two casual outfits. That's Shouko's exact words."

Aozawa's interjection surprised Phoenix Academy Maggie. She glanced at Hojo Tetsuji. "You only have two sets of casual clothes?"

For Phoenix Academy Maggie, who owned tens of thousands of outfits, the idea that someone possessed only two sets of casual clothes was incomprehensible. Even an average family should have at least seven or eight sets to rotate.

Hojo Tetsuji admitted sheepishly, "I... I never know what clothes to buy."

"In that case, I'll pick them out for you," Phoenix Academy Maggie said, a brainwave striking her. "Aozawa, you come too. You also look like you don't have many clothes. I'll graciously help you buy a set as well."

Though she said it was "as well," Hojo Tetsuji was clearly the one being included incidentally. Phoenix Academy Maggie simply wanted to buy clothes for Aozawa. Buying clothes for her boyfriend was a girlfriend's duty, wasn't it? She wanted to try it out in advance.

Aozawa thought for a moment and nodded, "Okay."

"Then it's settled!" Phoenix Academy Maggie clapped her hands. "After school this afternoon, we'll go to the Silver Department Store to buy clothes."

"Should we ask Little Sayuri to come along?" she mused, her eyes twinkling.

"Miss, I think new clothes look best when worn for the first time on the actual day," Hojo Tetsuji quickly shook his head.

"Tetsuji, you have a point there."

Phoenix Academy Maggie glanced at his sunglasses and mustache, seemingly deep in thought. "Since you're aiming for a new image, you should take off your sunglasses and shave your mustache for the event."

"Miss, that's a matter of manly dignity!"

"Little Sayuri once said that high school boys look better without mustaches or sunglasses."

"That's true. A high schooler should look fresh and clean. I'll shave it off."

In less than three seconds, Hojo Tetsuji had completely changed his mind.

Commanding Tetsuji in Little Sayuri's name... Aozawa noted that Phoenix Academy Maggie was getting increasingly adept at this tactic.

"Tetsuji, where's your manly dignity?"

"A man's dignity lies in protecting those important to him! I must protect Little Sayuri's aesthetic sense!"

"Well said. I hope *someone* learns from that," Phoenix Academy Maggie said, casting a sidelong glance at Aozawa.

He just smiled, not taking the bait.

「Lunchtime, Manga Club.」 Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦•𝘯𝘦𝘵

The sound of cicadas drifted in through the third-floor window. Phoenix Academy Maggie opened her bento and announced to her two friends, "I won't be coming to the club after school today. I'm going with Aozawa to the mall to buy clothes."

Upon hearing this, both her friends' "gossip DNA" practically vibrated.

Yoshikawa Sayuri's eyes lit up. She quickly leaned in. "Ooh~ Maggie! When did you and Aozawa get so close? You're already buying him clothes?"

"Yeah! What have you been doing behind our backs?" Nomura Makoto chimed in.

Seeing her friends adopt an interrogating stance, Phoenix Academy Maggie blushed slightly. "It's not like that! We have the fundraiser, remember? Aozawa doesn't have many casual clothes, so I thought I'd buy him a nice outfit."

"I see... using clothes shopping as an excuse to deepen your bond," Yoshikawa Sayuri said with a knowing smile, nudging Phoenix Academy Maggie with her elbow. "So, should I start calling you... Hmm, wait, what's Aozawa's surname? Is it Ao?"

"Probably," Nomura Makoto replied. "I've never heard him use a surname. It's always just Aozawa."

"So that makes Maggie Mrs. Blue~"

"Makoto, do you think I should try to bargain?" Phoenix Academy Maggie asked, changing the subject.

She had money, but she disliked being treated like a rich fool ripe for fleecing. It wasn't about the one hundred yen itself; it was about others not taking advantage of her perceived indifference. It was a matter of principle.

"Unlike expensive electronics, clothes usually have fixed prices. You just look for sales or consider buying second-hand," Nomura Makoto replied.

Phoenix Academy Maggie pondered. It was her first time buying clothes for someone else. Usually, her personal fashion designer handled all her wardrobe matters.

"So, what kind of stores are less likely to overcharge?" she continued, genuinely seeking advice.

She was worried that, for her first time buying clothes for Aozawa, she might overpay or choose something of poor quality. She wanted to know what brands ordinary people wore so she could pick something suitable for him.

Nomura Makoto replied with a grin, "Well, you've definitely asked the right person about that!"