A Peaceful Romantic Life

It had been nearly a month since the school term began.

As the end of the month approached, the students in Class D started complaining about being broke. Fortunately, the next month was just around the corner, and they would receive a fresh batch of points then.

As a result, the class had been in especially high spirits over the past few days, and everyone had become much more attentive in class.

Ever since they learned that their behavior might be tied to their Class Points, they had started to watch their step. Nobody wanted to be short on money. Without it, what was the difference between staying at this school and being in prison?

"We'll have a quiz in this period. Pass your papers back once you've received them."

Chabashira Sae's calm voice echoed through the classroom.

At the mention of a test, the students' faces fell again.

"This won't count toward your official grades. Think of it as a practice test, so there's no need to worry."

Only then did they relax.

After school, Horikita Suzune came to his desk and waited for him so they could walk back together.

As they left the classroom, she asked:

"How did you do?"

"Probably fine."

Horikita nodded. "You've improved a lot lately. I wonder why you didn't study properly before."

Every now and then, Horikita had been tutoring him, under the pretext of making his grades worthy of his position on the Student Council.

He hadn't refused, for reasons he would explain later.

"Horikita, why do you study?"

"Me...? I used to want my brother's praise. Now... I'm not sure."

Bai Ye felt a flicker of joy. His efforts lately hadn't been in vain after all.

Horikita had gradually shifted her attention away from Horikita Manabu and toward him.

"Studying is no use to me, so there's no reason for me to do it."

Other people might study to make money or get by in life, but it meant nothing to him.

He wasn't short on money. Even if his family had disappeared, the enormous fortune his father—who might or might not be dead—had secretly left him through his old channels would last him the rest of his life.

Besides, in his previous life, he had already learned everything up through university-level material. There was no need to study it all again.

It wasn't as if he wanted to become a scientist.

Horikita frowned slightly. "Since you've made such obvious progress, I'll let it go. Come on, let's head back. I'll cook for you."

"You're so nice, Horikita. Whoever marries you someday will be lucky."

"Don't give me that. I'm only making extra for you while I'm at it. One more person doesn't make a difference... And I'm rewarding you for working so hard at your studies lately."

"Okay."

"Aren't you going to the Student Council?"

"The president said I'd done more than enough, so I don't have to go every day anymore. He'll call me in when something comes up."

"Hmm..."

Seeing the faintly dazed look on the cool, beautiful girl's face, Bai Ye stepped forward and took her hand. He slipped his fingers between her cool ones and laced them together.

Feeling him do that, Horikita shot him a look, her cheeks turning slightly red.

But she had long since gotten used to it. After a brief moment of awkwardness, she relaxed.

They walked hand in hand back to Horikita's dorm room.

He sat on Horikita's soft, fragrant bed and watched the beautiful girl bustling about, preparing dinner.

Normally, he should have helped her. In his previous life, he'd often cooked for himself.

But after years of being spoiled, the thought of having to do the work himself made him feel uncomfortable all over.

Once you got used to living well, it was hard to go back.

After watching her for a while, he started to get bored, so he got up and went over to Horikita.

She was chopping vegetables.

She had taken off her wine-red school blazer and wore a black apron over her white shirt.

The apron strings were tied around her slender waist, and her shapely hips swayed with every chop.

Below them were her smooth, pale thighs and long, perfectly shaped calves wrapped in black stockings.

Feeling a little thirsty, Bai Ye went up behind her, pressed himself against her back, and wrapped an arm around her waist.

Horikita's chopping paused for a moment, and the tips of her ears slowly turned red.

But she said nothing, lowering her head and continuing to chop.

Seeing that the girl didn't resist, he smiled slightly and leaned close to the back of her graceful neck, breathing in her fragrance.

After all, this wasn't the first time. She had already tacitly accepted his behavior.

Only after she finished preparing the vegetables in her hands did she speak, her voice unhurried:

"How long are you going to hold me...?"

"What do you need? I can get it for you."

"No need. Go stand somewhere else. You're in the way."

"Then... give me a kiss?"

"...No."

Horikita's expression turned cold.

"Fine." It would take time before Horikita would kiss him on her own.

Reluctantly, he left the kitchen and sat back down on Horikita's bed.

His gaze drifted to the neat bedding. His eyes shifted, and he took off his blazer, lay down, and pulled the quilt over himself.

At once, an even stronger fragrance than before filled his nose, surrounding him from head to toe.

It was as if the scent had a calming effect. It soothed the irritation in his heart and left his mind peaceful and still.

He liked the feeling.

No matter how many storms it weathered or how many rough roads it crossed, a pine tree still stood firm in the cold wind, unmoving.

This was his first time lying on Horikita's bed, and he immediately regretted not doing it sooner.

If only he'd known, he would have climbed into it earlier.

Unfortunately, it wasn't long before Horikita finished cooking and came over to tug at his quilt.

She wasn't angry, but there was a hint of regret in her voice:

"Why are you getting more and more like a pervert...?"

"Isn't this what ordinary couples do? What's weird about it?"

"It's absolutely weird..." Horikita's face reddened. "You keep coming over and kissing me out of nowhere. Do you have some kind of strange illness?"

"It's because..."

That called for a funny little story.

Every time he kissed Horikita, she acted somewhat resistant. But as their feelings for each other deepened, the girl gradually stopped resisting. Her cheeks would flush, she'd let out soft little murmurs, and her whole body would go limp against him.

That was when he could do whatever he wanted.

Horikita clearly hadn't forgotten about it either. She shot him an exasperated look, her voice growing sterner:

"Eat. If you even think about bringing that up, you're done for."

"Okay."

He didn't dare get on Horikita's bad side. She was lovely when he kissed her, but if he made her angry, she could be fierce—and childish, too.

She'd actually made him copy passages from his textbook...

If The Three Idiots found out, they'd die laughing.

Dinner was a warm and cozy affair.

He had his enthusiasm and world-class sense of humor to thank for that.

Even Horikita, who was usually as cold as ice, laughed a couple of times at his jokes.

That was what he said, anyway.

But he didn't usually like to be so forward.

Still, if he didn't take the initiative, given Horikita's personality, the two of them might sit in silence together for the rest of their lives.

After dinner, he tried to kiss Horikita again. He kept at it until he'd thoroughly embarrassed her, and she finally flushed and flustered as she drove him out.