Chapter 51: The Buried Genius

“Hahaha, this is hilarious! I don’t quite understand male friendships, but I do know a little,” Waka said, her tone oddly playful. The onlookers had long stopped caring about such details.

They listened quietly as Waka continued, “A bunch of guys drinking and skipping class—that’s friendship. Playing ball or video games together—that’s friendship. But a group of guys standing up for one woman… What, are you planning to divide that woman into pieces and each take a share?”

Her words stunned the baseball team boys into silence.

Indeed, Kosuke Mizuno was a genius, and it was entirely possible he could marry Rie Hanada. But what about the rest of them? A goddess like Rie Hanada was only a fantasy they could indulge in alone at night. From start to finish, they never had the slightest chance with such a goddess.

In ancient times, soldiers followed their rebel leaders because they hoped to share in the glory and wealth once the world was theirs. But if the leader said, “I rebel not for power or land, but for a woman,” no one would willingly follow him.

So why were they still following Kosuke Mizuno today? Simply because he was a genius, and they admired him. But upon reflection, what practical benefit did that admiration bring them? None.

“Step aside, I have other things to attend to,” Waka said, stepping forward past the baseball team members who blocked her path.

They exchanged glances and silently parted to let her through.

“Hey, you guys…” Kosuke Mizuno snapped out of his daze and scowled at the baseball team for letting Waka leave.

“Mizuno, don’t say anything more. That Shirotori Kiyoshi isn’t ordinary,” Yasuo Kosugi said gravely as he helped him up.

He had seen everything clearly just now. That slap was so fast—faster than even the baseball team’s genius Mizuno! In that moment, an incredible thought crossed his mind: Shirotori Kiyoshi was also a baseball prodigy—perhaps even more talented than Mizuno—but a buried genius whose talent went unnoticed.

Though reluctant, Mizuno’s expression darkened as he recalled that slap. Clearly, he and Kosugi shared the same thought.

“That’s Shirotori Kiyoshi! Why didn’t I realize he was this handsome before?”

“Right? So cool—he never even flinched in front of the baseball team…”

The girls watching Waka’s retreating figure sparkled with admiration.

Especially Asaka Fujii, who stood in the front row near Waka, a faint smile playing on her lips as she whispered, “53.7 meters per second… just seven meters shy of the world’s highest recorded speed. I didn’t expect Shirotori-kun to have that kind of talent…”

——————Main Perspective——————

At Miyagi Hyakka Academy, nestled within a beautifully landscaped pond garden, pebbled paths were flanked by lush grass and neatly trimmed crimson shrubs shaped like giant colorful mushrooms. A clear pool reflected the scene, while the quiet clatter of a startled deer echoed from the northern courtyard.

“Ivanlyn, we’re good friends, right?” Waka tugged at Ivanlyn’s hand on the pebble path, her eyes wide and innocent.

Both exquisite girls wore short kimono-style skirts, standing side by side. Their slender, alabaster legs were stunning, and the slight sway of their skirts stirred the imagination.

Ivanlyn, usually expressionless, paused before nodding slowly—her reflexes seemed a bit delayed.

“Then friends help each other out, right?” Waka blinked up at her cutely.

After a moment’s thought, Ivanlyn nodded again.

“I have something to do today. Can you help me clean the North Garden? You’re not saying no, so that means yes!” Waka chirped happily, handing her the broom without waiting for a reply.

“Ivanlyn, you’re so great! Thank you!” Waka kissed Ivanlyn’s cheek and skipped away.

Ivanlyn touched the damp spot on her face, glanced at Waka’s fading figure, pondered for a good ten seconds, then turned toward the North Garden.

Waka leisurely wandered the academy gardens. She didn’t truly have any errands; she was just lazy and didn’t want to clean the wetland garden herself.

“Ivanlyn is such a good roommate!”

“How did I never notice before…”

A delicate young beauty tapped a rosy cheek thoughtfully.

“No classes this afternoon. I’ll just go back to the dorm and sleep,” she decided, turning toward the dormitories.

At Miyagi Hyakka Academy, courses were divided into required and elective subjects.

Required courses were mandatory for all—tea ceremony, flower arranging, dance, and so forth.

Dance was broad, subdivided into many styles, each student needing to master every style and at least fifty routines per category.

Electives varied widely: kendo, archery, horseback riding, calligraphy, antique appraisal, cooking, go, childcare, nursing, weaving, rope artistry, acting, swimming, recitation, mathematics, programming, violin, carving, driving, surgery… an endless variety.

The academy assigned electives based on each student’s traits.

Waka had even seen an elective called “self-binding art,” where one had to tie themselves up in ropes so beautifully and securely that they couldn’t untie themselves—aesthetically pleasing and utterly perplexing.

Waka had been speechless at the absurdity of such a class.

Each student, upon graduating ninth grade at around fourteen or fifteen, had to master at least ten elective courses, reaching proficiency—not necessarily mastery, but excellence.

Top students needed to excel in over twenty electives.

The original body had found this exhausting and grueling; Waka had too. But as her consciousness deepened with each awakening, she found learning much easier.

Now back at the dorm, she noticed the door was open, assuming a roommate had returned.

Upon entering, she saw a furtive woman peeking around the doorway.

The woman appeared to be in her twenties, wearing a long black maid’s dress. Her features were plain, blending into any crowd.

“Who are you? Why are you in my dorm?” Waka asked, hands on her hips, her flawless face lifted with regal defiance.

She planted her feet firmly, trying to appear stronger than she felt—a psychological measure.

The woman in the living room was startled, quickly turning to see the slender, graceful beauty blocking the door.

‘How did someone get this close?’ Kazuko Kawamoto was alarmed.

Her gaze swept over Waka’s long legs beneath the short kimono skirt thoughtfully.

‘Could this be a top student? Her dance must be so good she walks without making a sound.’

“I’m from the logistics department—the laundry staff. I’m here to collect your laundry,” Kawamoto said calmly.

“Isn’t a robot supposed to collect laundry?” Waka asked.

Though they learned bathing, laundry, cooking, and more in classes, their own clothes were never washed manually—robots collected them daily and took them to the laundry.

“The laundry robot is broken and under repair, so I was sent instead,” Kawamoto replied.

“Is that so~~” Waka puffed her cheeks, scrutinized the woman carefully, then went outside to ask a robot, receiving the same explanation.

“I thought you were a thief~” Waka apologized as she returned.

“It’s fine,” Kawamoto said.

“Wait here a moment.”

Waka ran back inside and grabbed the socks she had tossed by the bed, handing them to Kawamoto.

After the woman left, Waka lay back on the soft bed, her long legs wrapped in the covers.

“I thought that woman was suspicious, but I was overthinking it~” she murmured. “Oh, my other self got the message~~”