Chapter 12 Hatred

　　Yu Haibara is the glue that binds the first graders. He is always the most positive and the brightest. Pulling him and the equally dull Kento Nanami together, the sparsely populated school suddenly becomes lively.

　　The seniors all seemed to like Haibara Yu. With the new junior, the attention focused on him finally subsided a little, making Kei Kojima feel a lot more relaxed.

　　As long as Geto Suguru doesn't notice him and he can endure the teasing from Gojo Satoru, he can accept it.

　　...But, it’s not less at all.

　　Among the three second-year seniors, Haibara Yu likes Takeru-senpai the most. A month later, he talks about Takeru-senpai all the time.

　　"Getsuyu-senpai is amazing!"

　　Huiyuan Xiong's face was full of longing:

　　"When will I ever be able to catch up with him? A strong yet gentle senior! I want to be like him in the future. You think so too, don't you, Kojima?"

　　He poked Kei Kojima next to him, seeking approval.

　　Kojima Kei mumbled, "...Um, yes...right."

　　No matter where he is, "Grandpa Takeuchi" is always the most popular.

　　It is human nature to admire the strong.

　　Even the last member of the first grade, Nanami Kento, who is as quiet as him, would smile faintly and say hello to Geto Suguru when he met him.

　　Seeing two freshmen getting along naturally with three sophomores, saying "Hello, seniors", exchanging information about their recent situation and training results, and then passing by each other, is the most natural and proper relationship between seniors and juniors.

　　Not too close, nor too distant.

　　Only he felt out of place and avoided the seniors like the plague.

　　No wonder it always attracts attention.

　　Kojima Kei then realized that he had clearly intended to achieve this effect from the beginning. But why was the result different from what he imagined?

　　What went wrong?

　　Kojima Kei rubbed his chin and thought.

　　He tried to find clues in his two contemporaries.

　　Gojo Satoru smiled and waved at them: "Oh, it's Nanami~ Good afternoon."

　　Nanami Kento replied coldly, "Good afternoon, Gojo-senpai."

　　After the two exchanged the usual greetings, Gojo Satoru walked directly past Nanami Kento and grabbed the hat of Kei Kojima, who was standing there in a daze.

　　"Kyu~ Long time no see! Did you miss me after not seeing me for a few days? Why don't you say hello to your cute and charming senior?"

　　Someone said with a smile: "Ah! Are you playing hard to get? Waiting for the senior to ask you? That's annoying~"

　　Kojima Kei: "..."

　　Damn it, why does this guy always say such teasing words when he sees him! His face flushed and he couldn't help but want to refute.

　　However, today's Kei Kojima is finally a little different.

　　With a template nearby, Kojima Kei imitated Nanami Kento's tone and said in a cold tone:

　　"Good afternoon, Gojo-senpai."

　　Gojo Satoru pinched Kojima Kei's cheek and said in surprise:

　　"Huh? You're so obedient today~ You're not Kei, are you? Who are you? Get off my Kei!"

　　Kei Kojima failed to learn from others and was teased again, so he became angry and embarrassed:

　　"Don't pinch me! And! Don't call me Kei!"

　　I've told you so many times! Why doesn't this guy ever listen?

　　Talking to himself, he is indeed the young master!

　　Gojo Satoru felt relieved and patted his chest and breathed a sigh of relief:

　　"Fortunately, fortunately, it's me, not possessed."

　　Kojima Kei: "..."

　　hateful!!

　　What a nasty guy!

　　Why did it become like this again!

　　He shifted his suspicious gaze to Kento Nanami.

　　Could it be the aura that Kento Nanami possesses?

　　He certainly looked a bit fiercer than me, more mature and steady, while I had the face of a teenager...

　　There are also advantages to looking old!

　　Kei Kojima looked at Kento Nanami, sighed softly, and his eyes were full of resentment.

　　Qianhai Jianren: "..."

　　Nanami Kento looked away, not even bothering to ask why.

　　Curiosity was exhausting, and he only had so much energy each day.

　　For him, he has no interest in what Kei Kojima does or thinks.

　　This classmate named Kei Kojima has been watching him stealthily from the dark lately, thinking he is being very secretive, hiding in corners and spying on him, but his hiding methods are actually very clumsy, it's almost like the words "I have something on my mind" are written on his forehead.

　　【stare……】

　　Okay, I’m watching it again.

　　Nanami Kento...was too lazy to expose him.

　　He exudes a sense of stupidity and a naivety that makes him completely clueless. Nanami Kento can guess with his toes what he is planning in his little head.

　　He entered school earlier than them, and I heard that he was a relative of Mr. Yega who brought him in. However, I don't know what conflicts he has with the two seniors. Kojima Kei himself may not have noticed it. Every time he sees the second graders, he is like a mouse seeing a cat, with the hair on his body standing up and he is in a state of tension.

　　Nanami Kento could tell the difference the first time they met.

　　...He is shaking.

　　He was afraid that they would hurt them, and it seemed even more obvious when facing... Senior Geto.

　　Every time Kei Kojima pretends to be strong, he looks really pitiful.

　　No wonder Gojo-senpai always deliberately makes fun of him. Perhaps he also has some intention of trying to make him relax.

　　Of course, these are just Kento Nanami's personal guesses.

　　Considering Senior Gojo's bad taste...it's not ruled out that he might prefer the younger student to tremble in front of him.

　　...Oh, sorry, I shouldn't have thought about Cricket-senpai in my heart.

　　Haibara Yu was leaning against Geto Suguru, and no one knew what he was talking about.

　　Nanami Kento stood silently in the team, not saying a word, only feeling some noise in his ears.

　　When will Mr. Ye Moth come?

　　It seems like I should finish early and go back to the dormitory.

　　Noctua finally arrived and announced a major news.

　　——Two weeks later, all first-year students will undergo the first sorcerer level test.

　　After the test, depending on the results, you will start to go out to carry out low-level curse removal or investigation tasks.

　　"take an exam?"

　　Huiyuan Xiong was a little excited:

　　"If I pass the exam, I can get the money!"

　　This was obviously the young man's biggest concern.

　　Kei Kojima also looked up silently.

　　Money! Bonus! Pocket money!

　　"That's right."

　　Ye Moth Zhengdao nodded:

　　"Going out on missions also carries certain dangers. You should know this from reading the student handbook. I wonder if you have any experience fighting cursed spirits before."

　　His eyes were heavy:

　　"Many sorcerers have fallen on this road. I hope you are ready to sacrifice at any time."

　　As soon as these words were spoken, the three first-year students' expressions became serious and their eyes became much clearer.

　　Kei Kojima lowered his head silently without any big reaction.

　　This incident was far less shocking than asking him to go out with the second graders.

　　"If you're a coward and want to quit, you can do so at any time. The exam isn't compulsory."

　　Ye Moth Zhengdao glanced at him in surprise and continued:

　　"This exam also requires you to successfully remove the cursed spirits from the mission site. Supervisors and teachers will be stationed outside the tent to check on your condition at all times and intervene promptly if you are in danger. However, I must remind you that even in such a situation, there is no absolute guarantee that your safety will be fully guaranteed. Under a direct attack from a cursed spirit, no one knows what unexpected events might occur. In addition to improving your techniques over the next two weeks, survival is also one of your most important tasks."

　　"yes."

　　The first years responded in unison.

　　He had already prepared himself mentally, but when the moment really came, Kei Kojima still felt a little nervous.

　　He had already experienced death once.

　　He wanted to be alive more than anyone else.

　　Teacher Ye Mo is very busy every day. I heard that she is running for the next principal. In order to prepare for the exam in two weeks, all first-grade students have started special training.

　　The responsibility of training them fell on Geto Suguru and Gojo Satoru.

　　Among the three, Haibara Yu is the most talented and has the strongest physical fitness, and is coached individually by Geto Suguru.

　　Gojo Satoru had to deal with both Kojima Kei and Nanami Kento alone, but he still couldn't even touch the corner of his clothes.

　　Once again, Kei Kojima was easily pinned to the ground by Gojo Satoru in a mess.

　　"Kyu-kun, you're so weak."

　　Gojo Satoru sighed, looked into Kojima Kei's eyes and said:

　　"Don't think I'm being harsh. I've been wanting to say this for a long time. If you keep going like this, you'll be surpassed by Nanami and Haibara. If you don't have talent, you don't have talent. Stop forcing yourself."

　　Kojima Kei's mouth moved.

　　"What did you say?"

　　Gojo Satoru tilted his head and asked.

　　"I said..."

　　Kei Kojima dug his ten fingers into the ground, his palms surging with magical power, and slapped Gojo Satoru:

　　"What's wrong with me? It's none of your business!"

　　Gojo Satoru sensed the danger at that moment, and he simply jumped into the air.

　　He looked down at Kei Kojima lying on the ground. The little boy who always kept his head down, always looked weak and had no intention of resisting, was now glaring at him fiercely.

　　"Oh, so fierce~" he murmured.

　　After practicing the technique for such a long time, Kei Kojima finally made some progress.

　　But he couldn't even touch Gojo Satoru's body.

　　but……

　　At least it makes him alert, which is progress.

　　Kojima Kei thought this while clenching his palms.

　　"Not bad, Kojima-kun. Is this your technique? Did it finally work?"

　　Someone's voice sounded beside him, with a relieved tone, but it made Kei Kojima's hair stand on end. He was so focused on dealing with Gojo Satoru that he actually forgot that there was this person in this place.

　　Kei Kojima jumped up almost instantly and retreated more than ten meters. He supported himself on the ground with one hand and looked at Geto Suguru with a wary look on his face.

　　This is an instinct that comes from deep within him.

　　Almost subconsciously.

　　He raised his head, his eyes revealing fear of Geto Suguru and deep-seated hatred.

　　What cannot be concealed is exposed.

　　The strong emotions almost made Geto Suguru freeze in place the moment he saw it.

　　An inexplicable sadness and pain came from somewhere in his body and filled his heart.

　　He paused, swallowed the bitterness on his lips, subconsciously took two steps forward, wanting to get closer to him, and blurted out:

　　"I'm sorry, Kei, did I scare you just now?"

　　Kei...Kui?

　　Why did you suddenly call his name?

　　After saying this, Geto Suguru suddenly realized this problem.

　　Why... this first grade always gives him a sense of déjà vu?

　　It was as if in a dream, in another world, they were each other, the most familiar people.

　　"Don't call me!"

　　Kojima Kei looked at him coldly:

　　"Who are you to me, Geto-san? We're not close enough to call each other that."