Elevator Killer Ibuki Mio

"No, no, I am now, Mom." The pitiful little girl hugged Asakusa Toru in her arms.

An unexpected reaction occurred.

A hint of surprise flashed in Kushida Kikyo's eyes. She wasn't particularly angry. Compared to Asakusa Toru, whom she could enjoy at any time, it was Sakura Airi was more surprising.

"Hmm, it's Sakura- mama's time now, okay?" Asakusa Toru a smile, "If Kikyo- mama needs anything, please line up obediently."

The fist... wasn't hard.

Kushida Kikyo was no longer so easily angered, especially since Asakusa Toru wasn't being particularly sarcastic at the moment.

More than mockery, it evoked a subtle sense of familiarity.

It's not the familiar feeling of breathing each other's scent on ordinary days, nor the familiar feeling one can feel when they are intertwined, nor the familiar feeling that gradually evolves from being together for a long time.

Fundamentally, this sense of familiarity doesn't seem to stem from Asakusa Toru himself at all.

But... because of himself?

Smile, micro-expressions, manner of speaking.

Recently, Asakusa Toru gave her a subtly familiar feeling.

She hadn't paid much attention to it before, but now, Kushida Kikyo suddenly realized the difference in this sense of familiarity.

This guy, I don't know when he started copying himself!

A kind expression, an approachable attitude, and a friendly atmosphere that everyone loves.

The perfect smile she painstakingly crafted and refined was easily copied by this guy!

She was a little puzzled as to why Sakura was so courageous today.

Given Sakura Airi's usual cowardice, even if she snatched someone away from her right in front of her, she wouldn't utter a sound. She would just bury her head under the covers and secretly watch with a nervous and excited expression, like someone hiding in a closet, her pretty face turning red.

It seems that this guy used such a trick to make Sakura Airi transfer and steal his trust and dependence on him.

Very good, your fist has hardened.

"It's alright." Then, Kushida Kikyo gave an incredibly kind smile, "Airi, you can continue to cling to your naughty baby who likes to steal other people's skills and trust."

"I only want the lower half."

The time for punishment passed in the blink of an eye.

With Kikyo's mother explaining things, who was panting heavily, Asakusa Toru finally understood the reason for her anger.

So that's how it is! He was wondering how the Affinity Aura increased other people's favorability; so this is how it's achieved!

Indeed, if favorability is increased through direct and forceful means, frankly, it does feel like a manipulation of public perception.

In comparison, improving others' initial positive impression of you by subtly correcting your facial expressions and demeanor is more likely to be well-received.

However... if that's the case, can the level of affection for someone you already know also be further increased?

Asakusa Toru was unaware of the details, but another piece of news from Kushida Kikyo was more concerning to him.

"Did you go and provoke that Little Princess?" Kushida Kikyo asked casually, drying her wet hair with a towel. "Recently, a lot of people in Class A have been asking me about you."

"Recently?" Asakusa Toru raised an eyebrow.

Lately or not... hasn't he been constantly provoking Sakayanagi Arisu?

However, the other party definitely doesn't know it's theirs.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have only started investigating themselves now.

But speaking of recent times... he hasn't done anything special, has he?

Aside from subtly confirming the status of the greatest masterpiece, he was also playing around with Sakura Airi and Kushida Kikyo.

Oh, and I also need to give Shiranami Chihiro Ichinose.

Surely they couldn't have identified me based on the nickname "mascot," could they?

He's maintained a friendly relationship with Shiranami Chihiro since the start of the semester; how could he possibly lock onto her without having some kind of supernatural ability?

Besides, if they were to confirm their identity, wouldn't they just storm into Class A instead of asking around?

Wasn't Wang Meiyu like that before?

So... from whom did the Little Princess find out my name?

"Yes, recently, to be precise, starting Friday." Kushida Kikyo nodded slightly and said casually, "Actually, it's only been in the last couple of days."

"It seems like Class C sent someone to set a trap for that Kito in Class B this week."

Leaning against Asakusa Toru, listening to the sound of Sakura Airi's running water in the bathroom, she continued:

"I don't know the specific details, but it seems to be some kind of 'violent incident'."

"Although in the end, it all fizzled out because of that Little Princess's intervention."

It just goes to show that those with Nepo Baby truly live up to their Nepo Baby; they easily suppressed this kind of thing.

I'm so envious.

"If it weren't for the fact that you haven't left the house much these past few days, I would really suspect that you went to Class C to team up with that guy Ryuen." Kushida Kikyo said casually, giving Asakusa Toru's thigh a hard pat.

After all, it was mentioned in the diary a long time ago that Asakusa Toru had already gone to trade information about the Special Exam with Class C just a few days after the start of the semester.

Therefore, it's not incomprehensible that Asakusa Toru and Ryuen Kakeru still maintain some contact.

Although to this day she has never seen that guy go to Class C.

Oh, except for when I spend every day at the library reading novels with Shiina Hiyori from Class C and that woman.

... To be honest, aside from the fact that Asakusa Toru seems to have a slight problem with his brain, he's otherwise impeccable.

Their observational skills and their ability to act are beyond imagination.

No matter how you look at it, his qualities should be top-notch.

"Hey," the girl suddenly asked, her thoughts racing, "Why do you think you were assigned to Class B?"

Kushida Kikyo was a little curious.

For no apparent reason, she began to want to understand the guy next to her more deeply.

... She had actually been unable to be satisfied with a relationship that was simply about mutual giving and receiving for quite some time.

Whether it was her behavior of squatting outside his door that day, or her veiled words during the recent money transfer, she had long been expressing her inclinations, both openly and subtly.

For someone like her who cannot easily reveal her true self, Asakusa Toru's existence is quite special.

Kushida Kikyo dared to say that she definitely couldn't find another person in this school who could satisfy the conditions of "not disliking her true self," "significantly relieving her stress," and "not being particularly averse to her."

Therefore, she wanted to understand the true nature of the guy named Asakusa Toru better.

I heard that he and Ichinose Honami knew each other before they enrolled in school.

Perhaps it was for the same reason that the perfect Ichinose Honami was assigned to First-Year Class B with him.

"Me?" An unexpected question arose.

If it were a question-and-answer session in Diary, Asakusa Toru could quite freely use various off-site information for analysis.

But now, he can only think from Asakusa Toru's perspective.

After a moment's thought, Asakusa Toru gave a rather casual answer.

"Probably because I'm too lazy to move, but not incapable of moving, the school just randomly assigned me to Class B, right?" As he spoke, he grabbed Kushida Kikyo's small hand, which was resting on his lap.

"As for the reason you were relegated to Class D... I can guess without you even saying it."

"I didn't ask you to guess that kind of thing." Kushida Kikyo rolled her eyes.

Hmph, it's the same as saying nothing at all.

... It seems I won't get an answer from this guy myself.

Or, how about asking the Diary?

If she remembers correctly, she should have one more chance to leave a message.

Horikita Suzune even had two more chances left.

Anyway, Horikita Suzune doesn't seem to need this message, so I might as well trick her into giving it to me and satisfy her curiosity.

The sound of running water stopped a short while ago, and the bathroom door clicked open. Steam wafted out from the crack in the door, and then Sakura Airi figure was barely concealed by a towel draped over her shoulders, tiptoed out through the mist.

"I... I'm done washing..." she whispered, glancing evasively at Asakusa Toru: "Stay... stay and sleep together?"

For once, the girl extended an invitation to sleep in the same bed.

If it were just for today, she wanted to hold him as she fell asleep.

"Okay." With a radiant smile, Kushida Kikyo responded first.

She wasn't going to let Sakura Airi and Asakusa Toru sleep together.

Although they spend a lot of time alone together on weekdays, she just doesn't want to.

Even if Sakura Airi, that little wimp, dragged herself into this mess.

"Eh--"

The single bed in the dormitory isn't small, but it's clear that accommodating three people while still having enough room to move around is far too difficult.

Two pillows can easily fit together, but it would be a bit crowded for three people.

Unless, of course, limbs can overlap.

Obviously, it is possible.

They were entwined, embracing tightly, inhaling the scent emanating from their close proximity, and feeling the steady heartbeat of Asakusa Toru beside them.

Sakura Airi found an unprecedented peaceful sleep.

Chapter 175 Elevator Killer Ibuki Mio

Sakayanagi Arisu is investigating herself.

Clearly, this is not something that can be easily forgotten.

Even though Asakusa Toru knew perfectly well that the other party had no chance of detecting his identity, he still needed to consider the possibility of his identity being exposed.

Therefore, he needs to slightly synchronize the recordings from the Voice Recorder he has scattered around.

For more than two months, Asakusa Toru continued his business of selling Voice Recorder with unwavering perseverance.

However, he stopped running the advertisements a long time ago.

The advertisements used during club recruitment at the beginning of the semester are already sufficient. Continuing to shout and advertise everywhere will only be considered a disturbance and could lead to the school shutting down or even imposing penalties.

Besides, Asakusa Toru doesn't have the time to go around having clearance sales.

Being overly persistent in begging someone to buy your Voice Recorder will only make people think you have ulterior motives.

Just as Sato Maya from Class D became his client out of curiosity by striking up a conversation, he had already planted many scouts and guards in other classes.

Shiina Hiyori and Ibuki from Class C were the first to receive the gift, but they were also the first to leave his Voice Recorder aside to gather dust.

Ryuen went even further, accepting more than one of his Voice Recorder but never once considering using them to make a fortune.

Fortunately, there are still other good people in Class C.

Shortly after Asakusa Toru launched his Voice Recorder advertisement, he should have been hanging up at that time, but then Tokito Yuya, who appeared out of nowhere, contacted him.

The reason for choosing to do business with someone from another department like him was certainly not because I was attracted to his looks or wanted to befriend him.

Simply because Asakusa Toru is an 'individual merchant'.

In other words, it is possible to hide transaction traces by trading without using Private Points.

... Although Asakusa Toru's Voice Recorder is priced at only 3,000 Private Points.

By simply moving a few odds and ends, or even just treating someone to a meal, one can easily and silently convert the points on their account into Voice Recorder that isn't actually stored anywhere else.

Therefore, Tokito Yuya works very hard every day to help Asakusa Toru record the life of Class C.

However, despite being an opponent of Ryuen Kakeru and having gone to great lengths to hide such a Voice Recorder, it is unclear whether he intends to remain in hiding or has decided to observe Ryuen Kakeru's actions for the time being. To this Tokito Yuya continues his idling life.