Killing Three Birds with One Stone

The next day, after school, Hirata Yosuke caught up to Tenyo Yuyuki while he was alone. "Tenyo, do you have anything planned next?"

Looking at Hirata's cheerful smile, Yuyuki did not need to guess that he wanted to invite him to a Study Session to help tutor some students who were struggling academically.

There was no benefit to it whatsoever. It would only waste his private time.

Every day, Hirata finished school at three thirty, attended two and a half hours of Club Activity, and still spent over two hours after dinner tutoring his classmates in the Study Session.

He also had to deal with D Class's interpersonal issues on a regular basis. Just thinking about it, Yuyuki could only sigh at how foolish—or perhaps selfless—Hirata truly was.

"Hirata, is there something you need?"

"Hm, we formed a Study Session, and Matsushita said she hoped you could join us too."

In terms of social skills alone, Hirata was indeed outstanding. He first confirmed whether the other person had time, leaving no room for rebuttal, before bringing up Matsushita Chiaki.

Whether Matsushita had actually asked Hirata to invite him was another matter entirely. More likely, it was simply Hirata's own excuse to improve his chances of success. Even if he asked Matsushita to confirm it, he would only get the answer that she did indeed hope he would come.

Besides.

It seemed that most of D Class already knew that Matsushita Chiaki liked him. Perhaps that had been deliberate on her part as well—one of a series of preparations meant to increase the chances of her confession succeeding.

However.

Did This Guy Hirata really think that he would attend just because Matsushita Chiaki was participating?

Refusing outright would seem somewhat cold, as though he was unwilling to help his companions. And if this really had been Matsushita's request, it might dampen her enthusiasm.

"Sorry, I have something to do next. If I have any extra time afterward, I can stop by the Study Session and take a look."

"Uh... I see. If you need any help, you can tell me anytime."

Faced with such a tactful refusal, Hirata could only accept it. He could not bring himself to force someone else.

Outside Room 402 of the Student Dormitory.

When Kamuro Masumi saw Yuyuki, he crossed his arms with an unhappy look on his face. "You're so slow. Do you know how long I've been waiting here?"

"Sorry. Anyway, let's go inside first."

Yuyuki opened the dorm room door. Arguing with a girl over something like this would only drag on endlessly.

It had only been a few minutes since Kamuro had contacted him.

The moment he stepped inside, Kamuro Masumi let out a sigh.

"How do you even live like this?"

"Well, don't worry about that. What do you want to drink?"

"Cocoa!"

"Wait a moment."

Yuyuki went to the kitchen alone, while Kamuro Masumi sat on the floor and looked around. Other than a Punching Bag and some books, there was nothing else in the room. It was remarkably bare.

His trousers had not been folded properly, and several clumps of trash lay scattered beside the Trash Can.

"Somehow, this is exactly like the kind of room I imagined Boys would have."

"Don't look around. I've just never lived alone before, so I'm still not used to it."

Yuyuki's dissatisfied voice came from the kitchen. Kamuro Masumi teased, "Makes sense. You're the son of a conglomerate family, after all. You probably grew up being waited on by servants. So how does it feel now?"

"Here."

Handing a cup of Hot Cocoa to Kamuro, Yuyuki said helplessly, "Did you come here specifically to make fun of me?"

"Tch, just thinking about it pisses me off." Kamuro smacked his lips, his expression filled with disgust. "It's so damn annoying. Someone found out about me stealing things."

"Really? Are you okay?"

Yuyuki's response turned serious.

It seemed Kamuro had come specifically to complain to him. At the very least, it showed that Kamuro saw him as a companion on the same side.

"How could I be okay?" Kamuro took a huge gulp of cocoa, sounding furious. "That damned Sakayanagi actually wants me to work for her. In her dreams."

"Sakayanagi?"

"Well, she's one of A Class's leaders. Her name is Sakayanagi Arisu, and she's an incredibly arrogant person!"

"Um... Masumi, is it really okay for you to tell me something this important?"

"It's fine. It's not important information anyway. People will find out Sooner or Later!"

Kamuro Masumi waved his hand carelessly, not thinking there was anything inappropriate about his actions.

Their relationship had already reached this point, but it also showed that Kamuro had his own judgment when it came to truly important information.

In short, nothing Kamuro said could be trusted!

He was merely seeking excitement.

Yuyuki said meaningfully, "Still, Masumi, even though your mouth seems unwilling, you look rather happy."

"Huh?" Kamuro stared at Yeyue as if dumbfounded. "I'm going to be ordered around like some lackey for three years. How could I possibly be happy about that? Yeyue, are you an idiot?"

Whether it was helping Yanagi or feeding him information, this behavior that was almost, yet not quite, a betrayal of A Class was merely Kamuro's way of seeking thrills.

Since that was the case.

Yeyue casually walked over to Kamuro and suddenly pinned her to the floor. "Come to think of it, I remember saying, 'Next time, come to my room and do something exciting.' Masumi, you haven't forgotten, have you? Or did you come here deliberately to test me?"

Kamuro Masumi's face instantly flushed from her neck to the tips of her ears. She shoved Yeyue away.

"I'm going back."

Leaving behind a flustered silhouette, Kamuro Masumi fled the dormitory as if running away.

In the end, no matter how much she enjoyed chasing thrills, when it truly came to this, Kamuro was still an inexperienced girl.

Although this was his own dorm room and Yeyue held the absolute initiative, without absolute certainty, he would not do anything that violated the rules.

After casually tidying up his room and waiting around thirty minutes, Yeyue sent Kamuro a message.

Yeyue: "Feeling excited?"

Kamuro: "As expected, Yeyue, you really are an idiot. I almost got... What girl would feel excited? Watch out, or I'll report you to the school. [Threat]"

Yeyue: "I only wanted to teach you how my family seeks thrills. Looks like I failed."

Kamuro: "Do rich people also like seeking thrills?"

Yeyue: "That money can't be spent even after several lifetimes. Isn't it only natural to start pursuing an exciting life? So, Masumi really is interested after all?"

Kamuro: "Huh? Who would be interested? The exciting things you mean are that kind of H stuff, right? I hate it most."

Yeyue: "If you really hated it—no, rather, an ordinary girl who encountered something like what happened today would've already blocked me."

Kamuro: "Yeyue, maybe I really should delete you after all. [Knife]"

Yeyue: "I was wrong. Next time you come to my room, I'll teach you some exciting things as an apology, so forgive me."

Kamuro: "Scumbag. [Knife] If you dare do anything weird to me again next time, I definitely won't let you off."

"She really is an interesting woman."

Yeyue smiled casually at the screen and did not reply further.

If Horikita Suzune was a girl whose words and feelings were completely aligned, then Kamuro Masumi was a girl whose words and feelings were completely at odds. Though she complained and expressed disgust in every possible way, she was actually quite satisfied inside. Once she had mentally prepared herself, Kamuro would still come to challenge him.