After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back

"Oh, if it isn't Classmate Ayakoji who only shows up when in need. What is it this time, still looking into Kagura Hikaru and Suse's case?"

On the other end of the phone, Sakata Asahi's teasing voice came through, slightly mocking.

One must say, she had quite a grasp on Chiyoko Ayakoji's personality.

Ayakoji was a typical reclusive pragmatist who never contacted unless she needed a favor.

But she would reciprocate the favors properly, understanding well the social give-and-take.

For instance, after her last visit to Tsukinomori where she learned about Kohinata Suse, as a return favor, Chiyoko Ayakoji used the influence of the Discipline Committee to facilitate an arts and culture exchange between Tsukinomori Girls' Academy and Yuqiu High School.

Both schools benefited from the outcomes.

Chiyoko Ayakoji snorted, "I didn't call to banter with you, let's talk serious, our sports festival has run into some trouble."

"Name it, as long as it's nothing too troublesome, I can handle it. Is it a shortage of manpower?"

"It's equipment, sports equipment. There was an issue with the factory we placed orders with. Basically, I want to borrow some equipment from Tsukinomori, any problem with that?"

"Equipment, huh… sure, if you send someone to transport it, I'll agree to negotiate."

"Good, I will send someone over. But just to be clear ahead of time, the amount of equipment we need is substantial; it might impact Tsukinomori's club activities during the duration of Yuqiu's sports festival."

"Ah, no worries there. Most of our sports clubs aren't seriously active; borrowing some equipment for a few days won't stir any complaints."

"That's more than I could ask for." Chiyoko Ayakoji paused for a moment before adding, "Also, thank you."

"Huh?" Sakata Asahi let out a surprised laugh and then burst into hearty laughter, with the sound of slapping the table faintly heard, "Never thought Chiyoko Ayakoji of all people would thank someone. Is the sun going to rise from the west tomorrow?!"

"It's just a thank-you, anyone can say it!" Chiyoko Ayakoji's tone grew darker, "Or do you think I'm that bad with personal relations?"

"Ah? You're just realizing it now?"

"?"

"Hahaha, just kidding." The laughter on the other end eased, and Sakata Asahi grew somewhat sentimental, "Chiyoko, you've changed too. When I first met you, you were so rigid. Now you've softened up and talk more."

"...Is that so?"

"Yeah, you don't know how intimidating you used to be, like a lioness. Did a year of growth do this, or did someone at Uka change you?"

"......"

"Ah, sorry, let's not delve into that. You must have an urgent matter to handle. It was about the sports equipment, right? I'll go talk to them now. If all goes well, send your people over."

After hanging up the phone, Chiyoko Ayakoji leaned back in her chair, turned her head to look at the floating white clouds outside the window, her gaze shifting unpredictably.

Who changed her?

What a joke.

There are things in this world she wanted to change, but she never thought of herself as being subject to change, nor did she believe it would ever happen.

Glancing at her phone, Chiyoko Ayakoji realized that during her call with Sakata Asahi, she had missed a call from Kagura Hikaru.

In the phone's Line app, she saw his message.

[Saijo Mari's father was caught by the National Tax Agency, and I am accompanying her to pick up her sister.]

[If you need help with the equipment, just let me know.]

The message included a series of issues with Mari Enterprise, explaining the whole situation, and how the sports equipment and Mari Enterprise were connected.

Ayakoji Chiyoko had just found out for the first time that Kagura Hikaru had been doing so much behind her back.

Perhaps it was because they had recently had an argument. This time, Kagura Hikaru acted alone without informing anyone, including her.

This made Ayakoji Chiyoko feel very upset.

Yet, irritatingly, his work had been done beautifully. He not only found out why the equipment needed for the sports festival hadn't been secured but also cleared the suspicions surrounding Mari Enterprises, and even progressed swiftly in his task of getting closer to Saijo Mari.

It left her with no grounds to criticize him.

Just then, Sakata Asahi also sent through an 'ok' emoji; it seemed her side was progressing well too.

[Tsukinomori has agreed to lend the equipment.]

[I will take over the equipment matter, you go help Saijo Mari, don't worry about this side.]

After typing the last character, Ayakoji Chiyoko hesitated for two seconds before clicking send for some unknown reason.

Apart of her felt an irritating itch, but she couldn't pinpoint its source.

It seemed like it had started after seeing Kagura Hikaru's message.

It was inexplicable.

She adjusted her mood, went out, called the Gorilla Vice President and all the Disciplinary Committee members, and hurriedly rushed to Tsukinomori to transport the equipment.

Meanwhile, Kagura Hikaru had already arrived with Saijo Mari at an elementary school in the Bunkyo District.

[It's been several years, huh? That store is still there.]

At the school gate, Kagura Hikaru turned his head to look at a nearby snack stand and murmured softly in awe.

Perhaps because she was close, Saijo Mari heard him and asked in confusion, ["Mr. Kagura, do you live around here too?"]

["No,"] Kagura Hikaru responded with his hands in his pockets, looking up at the school's sign and sighed, briefly explaining, ["This place, this was the old site of the elementary school I used to attend."]

[I see... I remember it was called Yoshou Elementary School before it was rebuilt,] she remarked.

[Senior Saijo actually knows about it.]

[Yeah, I heard it from others before.]

Yoshou Elementary School, it truly was nostalgic.

He had only attended there for four years because, in fourth grade, he had been pushed downstairs by a classmate, injuring his head and having to be hospitalized for two years, even missing his graduation ceremony.
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But fortunately, three days after falling into a coma from the injury, Kagura Hikaru discovered he had developed the mind-reading ability "Golden Finger," even recalling memories from his past lives.

Though, in his past life, he was just a middle school student who got hit by a dump truck, ignorant about soccer, stocks, or plagiarism, and thus was of no help.

During those two years in the hospital, he grew closer to a classmate girl—Kiryu Hina, who often visited him. Ultimately, they ended up attending the same middle school and enjoyed a period of happy times together.

Everyone knew what happened afterward.

Thinking back, why was he pushed down the stairs initially?

It seemed to be over another female classmate, getting on the wrong side of a group of bad kids... It was all elementary school stuff, hard to remember clearly.

["Midori, Riko!"]

Saijo Mari's voice brought him back from his memories.

Looking up, two angelically beautiful long-haired little girls, breaking free from their female teacher's grasp, ran towards Saijo Mari.