Classroom of the Elite, I Really Just Want to Collect All the CGs

Shikime Natsu didn't bother saying whether he understood or not. To Kushida Kikyo, such things were meaningless; right now, she was simply venting her own emotions.

"And then leave this school with your tail between your legs?"

Shikime Natsu's words pierced Kushida Kikyo's heart like the tip of a blade, causing her significant distress.

The idea that she wouldn't be discovered—wasn't she already exposed to an outsider like Shikime Natsu right now?

If there was a first time, there would naturally be a second. Kushida Kikyo couldn't guarantee that someone else wouldn't discover her other side next time.

Interpersonal relationships were incredibly complex; at the very least, Kushida Kikyo was prone to playing with fire.

"Stop talking so much! Are you going to help me or not?!"

Kushida Kikyo glared viciously at Shikime Natsu.

"Are you certain Horikita knows about your past?"

Shikime Natsu asked the question quite casually.

"Of course!"

"I don't think she knows anything about you. She only cares about herself and doesn't pay you any mind at all. If you do anything unnecessary, you might even end up drawing suspicion."

This girl had completely lost her cool. Unfortunately, the only ability Shikime Natsu possessed was Mind Interference, which wasn't enough to force Kushida Kikyo to calm down.

"So you're unwilling to help me?"

Kushida Kikyo leaned in close to Shikime Natsu, the faint scent of shampoo lingering on her. Although she looked incredibly fierce, her body was undeniably soft—that much was certain.

"I am certainly willing, but... what price are you prepared to pay? You doing things for me only ensures that I don't spread your secrets."

Shikime Natsu began his classic routine of raising the price on the spot. He was the one holding the leverage now, and since he had learned about the dark history of Kushida Kikyo's past, its value had only increased.

"You bastard!"

Kushida Kikyo hadn't expected Shikime Natsu to be this shameless; she was practically exploding with rage.

"It's late and quiet now. If you're too loud, you'll attract others. Are you sure that's okay?"

Shikime Natsu spoke without a hint of concern.

"What do you want?"

Kushida Kikyo looked at Shikime Natsu with intense hostility. If he wanted her body, she would absolutely refuse—a little touching was one thing, but he actually wanted to go all the way?

"Hmm... let me think. How about you stop hiding your true self from now on?"

Shikime Natsu offered a remarkably reasonable suggestion.

"Are you an idiot?"

Kushida Kikyo couldn't hold back anymore. The whole reason she went to such lengths was to be popular and keep her true self hidden. What was the point of telling her not to hide?

This guy clearly had no intention of actually negotiating a deal with her!

"That's a bit hurtful. I'm being quite serious. Isn't it exhausting to live while wearing a different mask?"

It was definitely exhausting; otherwise, Kushida Kikyo wouldn't have resorted to venting her emotions like this.

"I've realized that you're completely incapable of understanding what I'm saying!"

Kushida Kikyo clenched her fists. What on earth was this guy rambling about?

"Personally, I prefer the authentic side of people."

Shikime Natsu looked at Kushida Kikyo and spoke with complete sincerity.

Well, if that authentic side turned out to be truly vile, he would simply have to correct it. After all, he had already said he preferred the authentic side; if he didn't like it, he would just have to fix it.

Chapter 55: If he asks, will you tell him?

Kushida Kikyo stared straight at Shikime Natsu, seemingly trying to find traces of a lie on him.

She had already revealed her past, yet this guy still claimed to prefer her true self. Most people would never like her real personality; this guy really was a freak.

"You don't think I'll fall for you just because you said something like that, do you?"

Kushida Kikyo looked at Shikime Natsu with utter disdain. She figured this guy was just like Yamauchi Haruki and those other losers in class, with nothing but filth on his mind.

"Are you the type of person who falls for someone just because of a single sentence, Kikyo?"

Shikime Natsu looked at Kushida Kikyo with a faint, mocking smile.

"Of course not."

Kushida Kikyo denied it flatly.

"It's getting late. Time to head back."

Shikime Natsu took out his phone to check the time. It was 9:50 PM; curfew was in ten minutes.

"As long as you don't act recklessly, Horikita won't say anything."

Hearing Shikime Natsu's words, Kushida Kikyo followed him. Of course, she was still full of disbelief—what if Horikita Suzune just went ahead and spilled the beans anyway?

As expected, this matter didn't concern Shikime Natsu, so he didn't care in the slightest.

The night breeze was quite refreshing. Facing the wind, Kushida Kikyo felt her mind calm down just a little.

"Then I'll leave it to you, Shikime-kun~"

The expression on Kushida Kikyo's face reverted to the angelic look she had worn from the very beginning.

"I've already started calling you Kikyo, so you should change how you address me too. We share a secret that only the two of us know, shouldn't we be getting closer?"

How utterly shameless! How on earth had their relationship gotten any closer?

"Oh, you're right, Natsu~"

Of course, that was what she thought in her heart, but by the time Kushida Kikyo reached the dormitory area, she still wore a very gentle smile on her face.

Listening to that soft, sweet voice—well, if it were a true angel like Shiina Hiyori or Ichinose Honami saying it, it would be lovely, but unfortunately, Kushida Kikyo was a two-faced angel.

"See you tomorrow then, Kikyo. Oh, and help me keep an eye out for anyone who could become a friend to Horikita."

Shikime Natsu spoke to Kushida Kikyo before stepping out of the elevator, leaving the girl stunned for a moment. What was this guy thinking?

Had she not made herself clear enough? She couldn't stand that bitch Horikita Suzune!

And yet, Shikime Natsu wanted her to help Horikita Suzune find friends?

Should she suggest the Yamauchi Haruki trio or something?!

Kushida Kikyo felt that Shikime Natsu was completely unreasonable. It was as if he had ignored everything she had just said to him. How could such a person exist?

He really was a bizarre guy!

But thinking back on Shikime Natsu's earlier remarks, it wasn't so strange that he could accept even her true, rotten personality.

If it were a normal person, they certainly wouldn't show any goodwill upon seeing this side of her; even if they didn't resort to violence, rejection would be absolutely unavoidable.

Were there really no fingerprints on these pajamas?

Kushida Kikyo looked at her pajamas, still finding it hard to believe. However, there was no place in this school to extract fingerprints.

After all, fingerprinting wasn't something a normal high school student would need. If it were truly necessary, someone would have to come in from the outside.

That would be a huge headache for her. She should look it up online when she got back.

As for the matter of helping Horikita Suzune find friends, Kushida Kikyo would absolutely never agree to it. Horikita Suzune should remain exactly as she was, alone for all three years of high school, just as she had said!

Could it be... that there was some connection between Horikita Suzune and Shikime Natsu?

At that thought, Kushida Kikyo's heart sank. She had essentially handed over all her leverage. If those two were truly in cahoots, then starting tomorrow, Kushida Kikyo might start hearing rumors about herself.

Damn it!

Why did she say anything just because he asked?

Kushida Kikyo felt her brain must not have been functioning clearly, but... at this point, she could only cling to the hope that what Shikime Natsu said was true.

Shikime Natsu returned to his room, washed up briefly, and lay on his bed, observing the CGs he had acquired so far.

He had gained so much in less than a week since enrollment; coming to this school was definitely the right choice.

Although there were quite a few troubled girls, it didn't matter. After all, he was here, and they would be spending three whole years together. In three years, surely he could change someone's personality, right?

At least Shikime Natsu felt he could do it. Yes... he could definitely do it.

He decided to mark the troubled girls for now.

First was Horikita Suzune, who was tied to Shikime Natsu's one-million-point plan. Then there was Sakayanagi Arisu, a bratty girl whose favorite things were backstabbing and scheming; if he hadn't been sharp, he might have really tripped up.

After that came Kushida Kikyo, though her priority wasn't as high as the first two.

As for Kamuro Masumi and Yamamura Miki, there weren't any major issues; the former was a tsundere, and the latter was insecure. Things could be resolved slowly. Besides, Shikime Natsu actually quite liked Kamuro Masumi's personality.

Wang Meiyu... the gal trio... he didn't know much about them; he had basically only met them once.

Right, there were also the two angels, Ichinose Honami and Shiina Hiyori. He just didn't know if they had another side to them like Kushida Kikyo did.

One was a beautiful girl who was friendly and approachable to everyone, and the other was a literary girl from the library. Honestly, if he really had to choose between the two angels, it would be a difficult decision.

Fortunately, for Shikime Natsu, it was never a multiple-choice question with only one answer.

Of course, Shikime Natsu constantly warned himself never to follow in the footsteps of Makoto, but rather to learn from Itsuka Shido—that was the ideal—or perhaps someone like Aijo Rentaro.

However, a hundred was a bit too many for Shikime Natsu. There were only seven days in a week; he couldn't possibly rotate through them all.

Soon, Shikime Natsu turned his thoughts back to Horikita Suzune. How should he deal with this troubled girl?

He had already obtained permission from Horikita Manabu and had him notify Horikita Suzune, so there shouldn't be any problems.

First, correct her personality, then help Horikita Suzune find friends. The first candidate would be himself, and the second and third candidates should be chosen from Class D; otherwise, it would be hard to correct Horikita Suzune's personality.

To be honest, Shikime Natsu really wanted to see Kushida Kikyo and Horikita Suzune become friends. Two people who couldn't stand each other being forced together—that kind of "forced melon" would be quite interesting.

Of course, he didn't expect them to be friendly with each other within a single semester. It would be good enough if Kushida Kikyo didn't tear off her mask in front of Horikita Suzune.

The relationship between people always requires a catalyst.

Shikime Natsu put down his phone, no longer dwelling on it. One way or another, he would always find the right opportunity.