Little Ye Ye, she's bullying me~

When he woke up the next morning, Hasebe was no longer in the room, leaving only a note on the table that said thank you.

He didn't think much of it and began preparing his own breakfast.

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

And the person with her was... Karuizawa Kei?

Seeing him, Kushida waved sweetly: "Jingu-kun, over here~"

Bai Ye, who had intended to walk around the pair, walked over helplessly.

When he reached them, Karuizawa, who had looked perfectly normal just a moment ago, gave him a cold glance and said to Kushida: "I have something to do, you two talk."

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

Kushida looked at her retreating back in confusion: "Jingu-kun, did you offend her?"

"I've never even spoken a word to her, how could I have offended her?"

"That's true... Could it be, love turned to hate?"

Kushida clapped her small hands together, her expression one of sudden realization.

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

"Do you know her that well... Oh right, you said you investigated the backgrounds of all the students in the school, so tell me, what secrets does she have?"

Kushida leaned in closer without him noticing, and a sweet, refreshing floral scent washed over him.

He inhaled the fragrance and smiled: "Did you change your body wash?"

"I did, does it smell good?" Kushida blinked like a little devil, "They say little virgins like this one the most. What do you think?"

"It's average," he said expressionlessly.

"Then what kind of scent do you like? I can satisfy your... tastes a little." Kushida parted her red lips slightly, whispering sweet and alluring words. "However, you have to tell me Karuizawa's secret."

"Then forget it."

"What is that supposed to mean? Who is your friend here? Is it really worth it for a stranger?" Kushida pouted in dissatisfaction.

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

"No way, you really have your eye on her."

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

"Tch... fine, don't tell me then." Kushida snorted lightly and followed him into the classroom.

Lunch break.

Hasebe walked over: "Little Ye-ye, let's eat together."

As soon as these words were spoken, several girls in the class who were about to leave stopped and looked over curiously.

The boys also looked up in surprise.

Hasebe's expression remained unchanged as she continued to invite him.

He had been eating alone for the past few days and, thinking no one would accompany him, was just about to agree.

At that moment, a cold voice reached his ears.

"Unfortunately, he is eating with me today. Classmate, you should try another day."

Horikita Suzune's beautiful figure stood beside him, her exquisite face set in an unquestionable tone.

"What right do you have to decide for him? Who are you to him?" Hasebe glared at her, somewhat angry.

Ever since she talked to Bai Ye yesterday, her impression of Horikita had plummeted, and seeing her arrogant behavior now only made her angrier.

Horikita tucked a strand of hair behind her ear: "I don't need to explain my business with him to you."

"Wow, look, look! Is this the legendary Asura field?"

"Jingu is so lucky, why isn't it me sitting in that seat!"

"Maya, guess who he'll choose? I'll bet a lunch that Horikita wins."

"I'll bet on Horikita too," Sato said with a mischievous smile.

Listening to the surrounding chatter, Bai Ye frowned: "Horikita, couldn't you have said that later? I could have waited for you after school..."

"No way, Little Ye-ye is going shopping with me after school," Hasebe interjected.

Horikita frowned at Hasebe: "What exactly are you trying to do? I have important things to discuss with him, I don't have time to fight over a man with you here."

"Who's fighting over a man? Have you no shame!" Hasebe's cheeks flushed red.

Ignoring her, Horikita looked at Bai Ye and said coldly: "What do you want to do?"

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

"Eh eh eh?" A chorus of voices erupted in the classroom, and the way they looked at him became somewhat strange.

"I meant eating lunch together," he emphasized helplessly.

The students finally let it go.

Hasebe snorted, tacitly agreeing, and Horikita nodded as well.

The three of them walked toward the cafeteria together.

The two girls walked on his left and right, keeping half a step behind him.

The atmosphere was somewhat bizarre; being sandwiched in the middle, he felt like a prisoner being escorted.

They were both just his friends now, so what was he afraid of?

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

Hasebe answered before he could, "I'm his older sister!"

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

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

"Haru... Haru?"

"Who gave you permission to call me that, you cold-faced girl!"

"Cold-faced girl?" Horikita's gaze grew even colder. "You've been provoking me since just now. Do you think I'm easy to bully?"

"So what if I do? Want to fight about it?"

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

Byakuya patted Hasebe on the shoulder. "Haru-Haru, you can't beat her. She knows Karate."

"Ah? Then what should I do?" Hasebe widened her eyes and looked at him fearfully. "Are you good at fighting, Yaya?"

"I don't like fighting."

"Then let's not fight, then."

"Hmph." Horikita gave a mocking smile.

Hasebe ignored her and reached out to grab Byakuya's arm. "Let's go. Don't talk to such a rude girl."

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

Horikita reached out to block their path, her eyes shimmering with a chill.

She was truly angry this time.

"Look, Yaya, she's bullying me~" Hasebe hid behind his back, shaking his arm.

"..." Byakuya.

Horikita's sharp gaze swept toward him. "Have you decided to side with this woman?"

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

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

Horikita turned to the side, leaving him with a view of her beautiful profile.

"..."

Hasebe said unceremoniously, "That's perfect. Don't pester Yaya anymore either. Let's go, hmph!"

With that, she pulled on his arm and walked away.

Before leaving, Byakuya gave Horikita an apologetic look, but she ignored him, shot him a cold glare, and turned to leave as well.

Not far away, the two girls from the gal group showed expressions of surprise.

Shinohara sighed, "Maya, you have another love rival."

Sato had already become immune to her teasing and could even make jokes about herself. "Isn't that perfect? When they're done fighting, I'll be the one to reap the benefits."

"But you and Jingu aren't even friends. Will he even pay attention to you?"

"That's true, but..." Sato looked at Karuizawa. "Isn't Kei-chan here? She's so cute, Jingu will definitely be moved. Then I'll just blend in..."

"Don't talk nonsense. I have no interest in such a fickle man," Karuizawa said with a look of disgust.

"You say that, but you still followed us here. Are you a tsundere, Kei-chan?"

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

Shinohara blinked, curious. "Jingu hasn't offended you, has he? Why do I feel like you... are always pushing him away?"

"...I just don't like scum like him... You're overthinking it."

Karuizawa shook her head, her expression somewhat unnatural.

She knew that many girls in the class secretly had a crush on Jingu Byakuya, including Sato, who she was close with.

If she let them mistakenly believe she had a grudge against Byakuya, it would be a heavy blow to her status in the class.

In reality, less than two weeks into the school year, she had already reached the top of the class hierarchy. As long as she found a boy of the same level to be her boyfriend, no one in the class would dare to bully her.

That candidate was originally Hirata, the class representative who was also popular with the girls, but because of Byakuya's presence, Hirata's popularity had been split, making it useless for her to even pretend to be in a relationship with him.

Her hatred for Byakuya stemmed from this.

Shinohara took her hand. "Although Jingu seems to be involved with several girls, these should all be rumors. He doesn't strike me as the type who likes to toy with girls, so don't misunderstand him."

"Fine."

Karuizawa nodded, though she didn't take it to heart.