You're Not a Kid Anymore If You've Tried

Watching the group huddled together around Ichinose, Himeno Yuki felt a bit helpless, curious about how they could always laugh so easily.

I really don't fit in with this kind of atmosphere.

"I never thought Satoru-kun and Honami had actually met before!"

Amikura Mako, sitting on Gojo Satoru's lap, put on a somewhat shocked expression, but her eyes looked strange, as if she were lying.

Hearing her say that, Gojo Satoru pressed both hands onto her face and started kneading it.

"Didn't you say you believed me? So why say that now?!"

"Mmph mmph mmph~"

With her mouth squished shut, Amikura Mako tried to speak but could only let out muffled, strange noises.

Watching this scene, Kobashi Yume couldn't help but grip her skirt tighter.

A little while later, after seeing the massive amount of points displayed on Ichinose's student ID terminal, everyone returned to their original spots, though their faces still carried traces of excitement.

Seeing that everyone was back in place, Gojo Satoru smiled and teased again.

"Being thought so highly of by Ichinose-san really makes me happy."

"Not at all, it's thanks to Gojo-kun that we were able to increase the class points by so much all at once."

Hearing the unfamiliar form of address, Ichinose paused for a moment, then quickly responded.

"Yeah, yeah."

"It really is all thanks to Gojo-kun!"

"I was totally shocked when I watched the game!"

Once Ichinose started praising him, the other girls chimed in too, since they all had a share in those points.

But Gojo Satoru just waved his hand and said something cryptic with a smile.

"No need to worry about that. We're all family now anyway."

???

Though they didn't quite understand, it wasn't the time to call him out on it—after all, they were benefiting from him.

"But is a verbal thanks all I get? How about something more tangible?"

???

The already quiet group fell even more silent.

It seemed they'd been so caught up in the excitement that they'd forgotten they hadn't brought anything. After all, only Ichinose had known the real purpose of coming here from the start.

They only realized it now. Forget gifts—they were still a bit dazed themselves.

Unlike the others, Amikura Mako glanced around at everyone, then leaned close to Gojo Satoru's ear and whispered something cryptic.

"Isn't this enough?"

Then she winked at Ichinose.

Ichinose blushed and looked away.

Though it was a very subtle move, Gojo Satoru still noticed.

Is there some kind of deal going on?

About an hour later, everyone except Amikura Mako had left cheerfully.

Having just learned they'd gained a huge amount of points, they were planning to find the rest of the class and share the joy.

They also needed to help Ichinose cover up a little lie—they couldn't let something this small ruin the class atmosphere. Maybe that was exactly why Ichinose had chosen these particular friends to come along?

After seeing off the last reluctant Kobashi Yume, Gojo Satoru returned to the room and looked at Amikura Mako, who was sitting on the bed with evasive eyes.

"Spill it. Did something happen?"

But this time, she didn't answer. Instead, she kept tapping her index fingers together and stammered.

"W-Well... it's not a bad thing, anyway!

It's just... just not the right time to tell you yet!"

Watching her strange behavior, and recalling the actions of Kobashi Yume and Ichinose earlier, Gojo Satoru had more or less figured it out. But since she wasn't willing to say it, there was no point in pressing further.

"By the way, I have a surprise for you too, but it won't be until next Monday."

I came over and sat down next to Amikura Mako, but felt a strange sensation underneath.

I stood up and pulled the blanket aside.

!!!

A box of twenty condoms was sitting there!

Seeing that he'd already discovered it, ignoring her earlier words, Amikura Mako blushed and explained, "Exams are over now, so I've got plenty of energy for other things.

If... if Satoru-kun wants to.

We could use them all up tonight!

I'll hold out this time!"

'Xiao Mako, are you serious?!'

With that many, forget using them all—she'd be done before they even got through a quarter.

How did she have the nerve to say that?

Amikura Mako seemed to catch his doubt, so she just lay down on the bed, face red, turning her head to the side.

She tossed the box of condoms over and said angrily, "Hurry up!

I can handle it now!

Don't underestimate me!"

With that, she yanked her skirt up.

Catching the box she'd thrown, and seeing she was already ready, Gojo Satoru decided not to keep questioning it.

'Guess I'll just do a little check on Xiao Mako's progress.'

"That spot... no way?!"

"Stop!"

A little over two hours later, Gojo Satoru looked at Amikura Mako, collapsed on the bed, with some satisfaction.

Just as he'd expected, they hadn't even used a quarter of them, but she really had improved.

Not just in that area—she'd gotten a lot more stubborn with her words too.

The next afternoon, Following behind either Kobashi Yume or Amikura Mako, Gojo Satoru felt utterly helpless.

Even though they'd kept a fair distance and their voices were low, to him it was no different from whispering right in his ear!

This wasn't even a secret talk anymore—it was basically a loud discussion as far as he was concerned!

"How did Mako do last night, anyway?

Did you really use all of them?"

As one of the participants in Amikura Mako's "Gojo Satoru Harem Plan," Kobashi Yume was dying to know how last night went—after all, they'd bought them together!

"It's all your fault! I told you to stay, and you bailed!

You have no idea how miserable I was last night. I talked all that big game, and I couldn't even make it halfway!"

Hearing the question about last night, Amikura Mako complained bitterly. They'd agreed to duo, and this idiot had chickened out!

Receiving that information-packed answer, Kobashi Yume's face instantly turned even redder, and she explained shyly, "It's just that Mako was too impatient!

I'm still just friends with Gojo-kun—how could I jump straight into that kind of relationship!?"

As she spoke, she remembered what Kamuro Masumi had said last time, and added pitifully, "Besides, I'm still just a kid. I haven't even kissed anyone—how could I do stuff like that!?"

But Amikura Mako wasn't having it, and shot back, "Then go try it! Once you try, you're not a kid anymore."

"Is this something you can just try out?!!"

Unable to believe the other person could utter such an explosive remark, Kobashi Yume stared at Amikura Mako in utter shock.

After a moment of silence, she firmly refused.

"Anyway, I'm not doing something like that until we're officially dating!"

"If I rush this, I'll definitely be seen as a bad girl by Gojo-kun!"

Actually, being a bad girl wouldn't be so bad either.

Having listened the whole way, Gojo Satoru wanted to chime in, but felt it would be too weird.

Well, forget it.

As long as he knew she liked him, that was enough—there was plenty of time ahead.

Starting next week, they'd be classmates, so not just on breaks, but even on normal weekdays from Monday to Friday, he'd see her every day.

Rushing things now would just be rude.