Ayano Has a Bone to Pick with Airi

How was I unable to refuse?

You were the one who pressured me into it!

Kiyoharu cried injustice in his heart.

Ayano's two consecutive "Isn't that so?" questions left his head spinning, and for a moment, he did not know how to answer.

The woman's fingertips repeatedly traced around Kiyoharu's ears. The sound was somewhat grating at first, but once he grew used to it, his whole body gradually fell into its rhythm, like beef marinated with baking soda, slowly becoming tender through some chemical reaction formula.

Just as Kiyoharu was drifting off to sleep, the system's energetic, cutesy voice boomed like thunder:

"Host! Good news, there are Energy Points to earn again!"

"...Useless system, could you give me a warning before suddenly popping up next time? You scared the hell out of me."

"Boohoo, time is of the essence! Opportunity knocks but once!"

Kiyoharu immediately saw the mission prompt.

Mission Name: Counterattack! The Teasing Kitahara Ayano

Mission Description: Under Miss Kitahara's relentless pestering, you deeply feel that your peaceful daily life is showing signs of collapsing. Whenever Miss Kitahara wears that self-satisfied smile of certain victory, you sincerely want to punch her twice... Seducing you into cheating so brazenly—she is no ordinary scoundrel. You must strike hard and show her that you are not someone to be messed with!

Mission Objective: The area around Miss Kitahara's waist and abdomen is a sensitive zone. Use your masculine charm to interrupt her gentle finger-tracing trap!

Mission Reward: 30 Energy Points

Kiyoharu's first reaction was, "Why only 30?"

"Thirty is already pretty good! This mission is so simple, and there's no risk at all. You know, Host, for the same target, mission difficulty is directly proportional to the rewards. Like that childbirth mission..."

"Enough, don't mention childbirth. That thing is completely impossible." Kiyoharu promptly cut off the useless system's sales pitch and began considering his next move.

At that moment, Kiyoharu's head rested on Ayano's lap. With a slight turn, he could see her slender waist beneath the fabric of her dress, as well as her flat stomach.

Was she really that sensitive?

Kiyoharu was somewhat reluctant to give up the pleasant sensation of her finger tracing. Craving sensory comfort was human nature, but the system was right—Kitahara Ayano's gentleness was only a trap. The devil was tempting him step by step into the abyss!

He could not keep falling any further!

So Kiyoharu suddenly faced roughly toward Ayano's navel and blew a breath from very close by.

Ayano's hand stroking Kiyoharu's forehead visibly trembled, and her voice carried a hint of irritation. "No fidgeting, Kiyoharu-kun. Naughty children don't get candy."

"I suggest Miss Kitahara go find actual children to play with at a kindergarten. I'm an adult responsible for myself. I don't need your candy."

Kiyoharu continued blowing warm air at the curve of her side waist, outlined by the sash around her dress.

Ayano immediately let out an embarrassing sound. When she lowered her head, Kiyoharu was smiling at her, his voice faintly mocking. "Go on, Miss Kitahara?"

Without a word, Ayano set Kiyoharu's head down and shifted her plump hips away, putting a safe distance between them.

"Today was a trial. If Kiyoharu-kun wants finger-tracing service in the future, you only need to be my drawing model. Every time you model for me, you'll be rewarded with one session. Of course, when it comes to Airi, I'll say you're helping me for free."

"Actually, if you truly need help, I don't need any reward." Kiyoharu sat up properly. "After all, you're Airi's good friend."

"People often say that dogs are humanity's good friends too."

There was clearly a hidden meaning in those words, containing Miss Kitahara's deep resentment toward her best friend. Kiyoharu actually wanted to hear her complain more, but Ayano no longer seemed interested in continuing the conversation.

Forget it. Since she could not be bothered to talk, Kiyoharu was happy to enjoy some peace and browse his phone, watching the forum guys mess around.

Thirty Energy Points had been credited, bringing him up to a hundred. Now it depended on how much Shimaura Hitomi could raise his Charm value once she finished getting her hair done.

It took Ayano several minutes to calm her body down. She cast Kiyoharu a resentful glance.

That guy was playing on his phone with an utterly carefree look, completely unaware that what he had just done had stirred up stormy waves within Ayano.

He spoke righteously, yet had not hesitated in the slightest to attack her weakness.

Ayano, who had always had Kiyoharu wrapped around her finger, had nearly lost her composure.

Had he done it deliberately, or was it an accident?

After careful consideration, Kitahara Ayano still leaned toward coincidence. After all, this was sensitive information only she knew. There was no reason for Kiyoharu to know it.

But...

Wrapped in Kiyoharu's breath, she felt tingly and itchy, with an evil sense of falling into depravity. Especially when she thought of Airi being in the next room over, Kitahara Ayano found it even more interesting.

Should she find an excuse to continue the finger tracing?

Ayano could tell that Kiyoharu enjoyed her service too. She had originally hated this finger-tracing routine. Why should she serve a man with no emotional connection to her, all for her family's interests?

Rather than being forced to serve some inexplicable young master after marrying him, she might as well use the skills she had cultivated on a man who interested her.

Unfortunately, Kiyoharu seemed to have anticipated her thoughts. Perhaps he had noticed the way she licked her red lips, along with the greed in her eyes.

In any case, Kiyoharu gave her no further chance. He crossed the short L-shaped corridor and knocked on the glass door next door.

"What would Young Lady like to drink?"

"Mm, the blue one." Airi's voice was a little more lazily seductive than usual. Clearly, she was enjoying the service of the professional salon.

"Got it. What about you, junior?"

"Um, I haven't finished my milk tea yet. I'll just keep drinking this!"

Just look at Shimaura Hitomi—how thrifty and sensible she was. In contrast, a certain Red-Eyed Devil tossed aside her milk tea after only a few sips.

Based on Kiyoharu's understanding of Airi, she would probably order him to make a cocktail soon. Ever since she had tried one of Kiyoharu's homemade cocktails, whenever the circumstances allowed, Airi always asked for a glass.

Since that was the case, Kiyoharu might as well volunteer first, so that Airi would not happen to order him around when Ayano started causing trouble later.

Kiyoharu left the VIP room, went to the salon bar, and asked to borrow some equipment.

Kiyoharu had made drinks here several times before, so the bartender was not surprised and readily lent him the tools.

Ayano, who had followed him over, was an unfamiliar face, making the people nearby unable to resist looking at her a few more times.

That utterly natural air of elegance made Ayano herself seem like a perfect work of art.

Kiyoharu recalled how many men in their circle described Ayano—the Young Lady most suitable to marry and bring home.

Whether that assessment was accurate or not, it meant that Ayano's parents had completely succeeded in how they raised her. Objectively speaking, they had indeed turned Ayano into an excellent bargaining chip for an arranged marriage alliance.

"It'll be ready soon. Miss Kitahara, you should head back first."

"Do you dislike me that much? I want to see Kiyoharu-kun's skills too. Airi has always been picky, so it's rare for someone to satisfy her."

"She just likes watching me run around for her." Kiyoharu lowered his voice, teasing her in a tone only the two of them could hear. "The cocktail itself is nothing special. It's not worth mentioning."

"Does Kiyoharu-kun have complaints about Airi?"

"Not really. I've mostly gotten used to it by now, though a lot of people find her difficult to get along with." Kiyoharu stated honestly.

Kitahara Ayano stared into Kiyoharu's eyes and was surprised to find that he was not lying.

That was not right.

Even if he tolerated Airi for some reason, he would only be swallowing his grievances. How could he truly harbor no resentment?

But Kiyoharu had his own unique perspective. He had lived too long across two lifetimes, and he was naturally rather easygoing. He simply treated Airi as a workplace superior. Whenever Airi put him through the wringer, Kiyoharu considered it the price he paid for fending off the Yandere and gaining financial benefits.

His mindset was rock solid.