Little Yaya, She's Bullying Me~

The next morning, when he woke up, Hasebe was already gone. She'd left a note on the table that said, "Thank you."

He didn't think much of it and started making breakfast.

After breakfast, he ran into Kushida Kikyou on the way to school.

The person with her was... Karuizawa Kei?

When she saw him, Kushida waved sweetly. "Jingu-kun, over here~"

Bai Ye had been planning to walk around them, but reluctantly went over.

When he reached them, Karuizawa, who'd looked perfectly normal just moments ago, shot him a cold glance and said to Kushida, "I have something to do. You two talk."

Without waiting for Kushida to reply, she turned and left.

Kushida watched her go, puzzled. "Jingu-kun, did you offend her?"

"I haven't even said a word to her. How could I have offended her?"

"True... Could it be that she hates you because she loves you?"

Kushida clapped her hands, looking as if she'd figured it out.

"Impossible. She doesn't seem like that kind of person."

"You know her well... Oh, right, you said you investigated all the students' backgrounds. Then tell me, what's her secret?"

Without realizing it, Kushida had edged closer. The sweet scent of flowers wafted over, soothing and intoxicating.

He breathed in her fragrance and smiled. "Did you change your body wash?"

"I did. Does it smell nice?" Kushida blinked like a little demon. "I heard this is the kind little virgins like best. What do you think?"

"It's okay," he said expressionlessly.

"Then what kind of scent do you like? I could indulge your... tastes a little." Kushida parted her red lips slightly, letting the sweet, tempting words spill out. "But you have to tell me Karuizawa's secret."

"Then forget it."

"What? Who's your friend here? Is it really necessary to do this for some woman you barely know?" Kushida pouted in dissatisfaction.

"She's different. She still has her uses."

"Seriously? You really have a thing for her?"

"I can't be bothered to talk to you."

"Tch... Fine, don't tell me." Kushida gave a soft snort and followed him into the classroom.

Lunch break.

Hasebe came over. "Little Yaya, let's eat together."

At that, several girls who'd been about to leave the classroom stopped and looked over curiously.

The boys also looked up in surprise.

Hasebe didn't change her expression and continued inviting him.

He'd been eating alone these past few days. Since he figured nobody else would join him, he was about to say yes.

Just then, a cool voice reached his ears.

"I'm afraid he's having lunch with me today. You can try another time."

Horikita Suzune stood beside him, her lovely figure poised, her delicate face set in an uncompromising expression.

"What gives you the right to decide for him? Who are you to him?" Hasebe glared at her, clearly angry.

After talking with Bai Ye yesterday, Hasebe's opinion of Horikita had plummeted. Seeing her act so high and mighty now only made her angrier.

Horikita brushed the hair beside her ear. "I don't have to explain what's between him and me to you."

"Wow, look, look! Is this the legendary showdown between two girls over a guy?"

"Jingu's so lucky. Why couldn't I be in his place?"

"Maya, who do you think he'll choose? I'll bet lunch that Horikita wins."

"I'm betting on Horikita too," Sato said with a mischievous smile.

Hearing the chatter around him, Bai Ye frowned. "Horikita, couldn't you have brought it up later? I can wait for you after school..."

"No. Little Yaya is coming shopping with me after school," Hasebe cut in.

Horikita frowned at Hasebe. "What exactly are you trying to do? I have something important to discuss with him. I don't have time to fight you over a guy."

"Who's fighting over a guy? Have you no shame?" Hasebe's cheeks turned red.

Horikita ignored her and looked at Bai Ye, her gaze cool. "What do you want to do?"

"How about... we all go together?"

"Eh?!" Exclamations rose around the classroom, and everyone looked at him strangely.

"I mean, let's all have lunch together," he clarified helplessly.

Only then did his classmates let it go.

Hasebe gave a cold snort, tacitly agreeing, and Horikita nodded too.

The three of them headed to the cafeteria together.

The two girls walked side by side with him, one on either side, half a step away.

The atmosphere was strange. Caught between them, he felt like a prisoner being escorted.

They were both just his friends. What was he afraid of?

Then Horikita suddenly asked him, "Is she your new girlfriend?"

Hasebe answered first. "I'm his older sister!"

"Hm?" Horikita's brows knit slightly. "Are you long-lost siblings?"

"Don't listen to her. She's my friend, Hasebe Haruka. You can call her... Jiajia?"

"Jia... jia?"

"Who said you could call me that, Ice Queen?"

"Ice Queen?" Horikita's gaze grew colder. "You've been provoking me this whole time. Do you think I'm easy to bully?"

"So what if I do? Got the guts to fight me?"

"You think awfully highly of yourself," Horikita sneered.

Bai Ye patted Hasebe's shoulder. "Jiajia, you can't beat her. She knows karate."

"Huh? Then what do I do?" Hasebe stared at him with wide, fearful eyes. "Little Yaya, are you good at fighting?"

"I don't like fighting."

"Then let's not fight."

"Hmph." Horikita gave a mocking smile.

Hasebe ignored her and took Bai Ye by the arm. "Let's go. Don't talk to a rude girl like that."

"Who are you calling rude? Say that again if you dare!"

Horikita stepped in front of them, her eyes glinting with a chill.

This time, she was genuinely angry.

"Little Yaya, look, she's bullying me~" Hasebe hid behind him and tugged on his arm.

"..." Bai Ye.

Horikita's sharp gaze swept over him. "So you've decided to take that woman's side?"

"She is my friend, after all..."

"If you choose to help her, don't talk to me again."

Horikita turned away, leaving him with a glimpse of her beautiful profile.

"..."

Hasebe said without holding back, "Good. Then don't bother Little Yaya anymore, either. Let's go. Hmph!"

She pulled him away by the arm.

Before leaving, Bai Ye gave Horikita an apologetic look. She ignored him, shot him a cold glance, and turned away.

Not far off, the two girls from the gyaru group looked surprised.

Shinohara sighed. "Maya, you've got another rival."

Sato was already immune to her teasing and could even joke about herself. "Isn't that perfect? I'll just swoop in once they've fought it out."

"But you're not even friends with Jingu. Would he pay any attention to you?"

"True, but..." Sato glanced at Karuizawa. "We have Kei-chan, don't we? She's so cute that Jingu is bound to fall for her. Then I can join in..."

"Don't make things up. I'm not interested in a womanizer like him," Karuizawa said with a look of disgust.

"You say that, but you still followed us over. Kei-chan, are you tsundere?"

"I just wanted to see him make a fool of himself. Hmph, just as I expected," Karuizawa sneered.

Shinohara blinked curiously. "Jingu hasn't offended you, has he? Why do I get the feeling that you're... always excluding him?"

"...I just don't like scum like him, that's all... You're overthinking it."

Karuizawa shook her head, looking uneasy.

She knew that quite a few girls in class had secret crushes on Jingu Byakuya, including Sato, who was on good terms with her.

If they got the impression that she had a grudge against Bai Ye, it would seriously damage her standing in class.

In less than two weeks since the start of term, she'd already risen to the top of the class. If she could find a boyfriend of equal standing, no one in the class would dare bully her.

Her first choice had been Hirata, the class representative, who was just as popular with the girls. But Bai Ye had stolen some of Hirata's popularity, so even if she pretended to be Hirata's girlfriend, it wouldn't help.

That was how her hatred of Bai Ye had begun.

Shinohara took her hand. "Jingu may seem to have ambiguous relationships with several girls, but those are probably just rumors. He doesn't seem like the type to toy with girls. Don't misunderstand him."

"Okay."

Karuizawa nodded, though she didn't agree.