Next morning.

“Chieri-chan, I heard that you’re being bullied by the girls~!”

“Oh, you poor thing! But if it’s us, we can protect you, Chieri!”

“That’s right! Just be friends with us, Chieri!”

As soon as Chieri sat down in her seat, a group of fancy boys from the class immediately surrounded her.

In my eyes, Chieri is the most beautiful girl in the class.

Most likely, they were thinking that as she was isolated, they had a chance on her.

Chieri took a glance at everyone with cold eyes and let out a sigh.

“I don’t get along with you guys well enough to allow you to call me by my first name.”

“I understand, Tohsaka-chan. Then let’s be friends from now on!”

“For now, let’s exchange RINE.”

Chieri puts her hand on her chin when she heard that.

“… Hmm, a RINE exchange. That’s a good idea.”

“Right~? As expected of Tohsaka-chan—”

“Although, I won’t do it with you.”

Before I could finish listening to the conversation, Chieri suddenly got up from her seat and walked to the front of my seat.

“Ruka, how about we exchange RINE?”

“ —Hey!”

All eyes in the class were on me and Chieri.

Chieri’s outlandish behavior made me break out in a cold sweat.

“T-Tohsaka… don’t be too obvious—”

“Ruka? What did you call me again?”

Chieri glared at me.

Erm, do I really have to say it in this atmosphere?

“… Chieri.”

“That’s right, Ruka. Come, let’s exchange RINE.”

A burst of laughter erupted from the class.

“What is that? Is she dating the Pig now? ww”

“No way~! Aww, seriously, that’s so refreshing! ww”

“Uwa, I thought she was insanely cute, but who would’ve thought that she was this stupid!”

I whispered to Chieri in the expected turn of events.

“… There’s a terrible misunderstanding going on here.”

“Let them say it. It’s more convenient for me not to be approached anymore anyway.”

Chieri clapped her hands as if she had thought of something again as she said that.

And then she went to one of the gals.

“Miyashita-san, I have a better view of the blackboard from my seat. Would you trade seats with me for yours which is next to Ruka’s? Unlike you, I have good eyesight.”

“Heh? That’s wishful thinking, but… seriously?”

“I’m serious. Don’t worry, I’ll tell the teacher.”

After this Chieri immediately moved her seat next to mine.

“Ruka, I will protect you from now until you leave for the U.S.”

She smiled as she said that.

— Apparently, I had underestimated Chieri’s seriousness.

[Postscript]

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