In Classroom of the Elite, Ichinose You Will Regret It

Uesugi Gen slowly took two steps back, turned around, and bolted.

Regardless of anything else, running away was the priority; he could find a chance to negotiate with her later.

If he actually got into a fight with her, he would be the one losing face whether he won or lost.

Seeing Uesugi Gen running away, Kushida Kikyo moved her long, fair legs even faster in pursuit.

Looking at Kushida Kikyo, who was chasing him relentlessly from behind.

Uesugi Gen tried to communicate with her, "Kushida-san, please let me explain."

"Cut the crap, you saw it just now, didn't you?"

Uesugi Gen continued to attempt his "talk-no-jutsu,"

"Just listen to me for a second."

"Shut your mouth!"

Uesugi Gen made a final desperate struggle, "I can help you make friends."

And what greeted him was, "Stop right there, or I'll accuse you of attempted rape!"

At this moment, Uesugi Gen deeply understood one truth.

--Don't try to reason with a woman, because women themselves are unreasonable.

Therefore, Uesugi Gen ran even faster.

"Huff... huff..."

"...huff... huff..."

After a long-distance chase, the two stopped at a school building, playing a game of cat-and-mouse around a bench.

"Huff... Kushida-san... let's call a temporary truce."

At this point, Uesugi Gen was completely numb. Why did he keep running into girls like this lately? The Thief Lady was one thing.

But this approach of Kushida Kikyo—throwing wild punches regardless of the consequences—was practically going to be the death of him.

"No... impossible."

Despite saying that, Kushida Kikyo, flushed and panting, clearly didn't have the strength to keep running either.

"...Let's make a deal, Kushida-san. In exchange, I will keep this secret for you."

"Speak!"

Kushida Kikyo didn't want to waste any more time with Uesugi Gen either. This boy in front of her was slippery as an eel; she hadn't been able to find a single opening to catch him.

"You know... the secrets of many students, right? Hand... them... over to me."

"That way... we will become... accomplices. If you are exposed, I gain nothing, and I would lose an important source of information."

Uesugi Gen calmed his breathing slightly, stared at the flushed girl in front of him, and continued, "Conversely, if others find out about you, my interests will also be damaged. Therefore, not only will I not report you, but I will actually protect you in return."

Kushida Kikyo steadied her breathing, and her fierce expression vanished like a mask being swapped, instantly reverting to the beloved Kushida Kikyo everyone adored.

"..."

"Oh my, what silly things are you saying, Uesugi-kun? How could I ever do anything to threaten you?"

Seeing Kushida Kikyo return to her usual self, Uesugi Gen couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Suddenly, Kushida lunged forward, grabbed Uesugi Gen's right hand, and pressed it firmly against her own chest without hesitation.

"I agree to your deal. But if you dare to tell anyone about our business, I'll go and say you tried to rape me. That way, I'll even have evidence."

Kushida Kikyo instantly reverted to that dark personality, speaking viciously to Uesugi Gen.

Feeling the incomparable softness in his hand, Uesugi Gen sighed and said helplessly, "You really..."

As he spoke, Uesugi Gen wrapped his arms around Kushida Kikyo's waist and pulled her abruptly into his embrace.

Just like that, The two, drenched in sweat from their exercise, held each other, their sweat mingling together.

"What are you doing, you bastard? Let me go!"

Feeling the world spin, Kushida Kikyo realized where she was and began to struggle violently in Uesugi Gen's arms.

Uesugi Gen had one hand cupping Kushida Kikyo's soft breast, while his other arm wrapped around her slender waist, stroking the fabric with delicate movements as he slowly leaned in toward her ear.

"Hey, Kushida-san, how about you try trusting me for once? This kind of fabric doesn't hold fingerprints, so it can't be used as evidence, you know."

"So what? Let go of me, you bastard!"

"But bodily fluids can. Right now, our sweat is intermingled; my sweat has soaked into your clothes, and that can serve as evidence."

The delicate body that had been struggling violently in Uesugi Gen's arms froze the moment she heard those words.

Kushida Kikyo felt the presence of the man before her closing in from all sides, his touch seeming to be everywhere at once, and her body gradually began to lose its strength...

The two stood there quietly, embracing like a pair of lovers in the heat of passion.

"Let... let me go," a faint voice came from Uesugi Gen's chest.

"We are now genuine accomplices, so you don't have to worry about me betraying you. I trust that Kushida-san won't betray me either, right?"

"Mm... mm."

By now, Kushida Kikyo was completely drained of strength; she could only clutch one of Uesugi Gen's hands while grabbing the front of his shirt with the other, leaning her entire weight against him.

Her face was burning red, and her once-translucent earlobes had turned round and flushed pink.

"Then the deal is struck. As proof of our complicity, Kushida-san, you must keep this outfit and not wash it, otherwise the evidence of our partnership will disappear."

"I... I understand. I... will be a good girl and put this outfit away."

Watching Kushida Kikyo, who looked like a spoiled kitten before him, Uesugi Gen fell into deep contemplation.

I'm sorry, I take back what I said earlier.

Kushida-san, Compared to The Thief Lady, you are simply the easiest woman to handle in all of Advanced Nurturing!

Chapter 18: Kushida-san, You Really Are a Bad Woman

"So... munch... you're saying that because that classmate of yours named Horikita Suzune... munch (￣~￣) munch!... wouldn't be friends with you, you went and kicked a railing?"

Inside the boys' dormitory, Uesugi Gen was eating popcorn while listening to Kushida Kikyo recount her grand plan to befriend the entire grade.

"That's right! Everything is that bitch's fault."

Opposite Uesugi Gen, Kushida Kikyo said viciously.

Originally, upon arriving at Advanced Nurturing, she had already made friends with the majority of the students in the grade.

Her life goal was on the verge of being achieved.

But unexpectedly, that Horikita Suzune had appeared out of nowhere; she actually came from the same middle school and might even know about her past.

More importantly, she kept that deadpan expression on her face and stubbornly refused to be friends with her.

And so, Kushida Kikyo, in a fit of rage...

Just got a little angry.

...And went to kick a railing.

Regarding this, Uesugi Gen chewed two pieces of popcorn and remarked, "Kushida-san, you're so pathetic."

"Shut up, a guy like you wouldn't understand..."

Kushida Kikyo said with a twisted expression, "That kind of person, her actions, it's as if she's completely negating every effort I've made up until now."

"Her very existence feels like she's pinning me under her feet and trampling on me."

"Therefore, no matter what it takes, I must get her expelled."

Uesugi Gen summarized Kushida Kikyo's words.

Simply put, Kushida Kikyo had encountered a classmate who was completely incompatible with her and whom she couldn't do anything about, right?

That's not really a big...

Wait!

Uesugi Gen furrowed his brows.

Why does this sound so familiar?

Same class...

Incompatible...

Can't do anything about her...

Holy crap, Ichinose!

In an instant, Uesugi Gen understood.

And it was the kind where he felt exactly the same way!

Uesugi Gen stood up with a sudden jolt and reached out to shake Kushida Kikyo's hand to show his respect.

"I'm sorry, Kushida-san, I misunderstood you. I previously thought you were the type of petty, vicious woman."

"I never expected that you had such a difficult situation."

"Right? Right? You also think that woman Horikita Suzune is detestable, don't you?"

Kushida Kikyo looked at Uesugi Gen's sincere expression and felt a bit moved for a moment.

It seems there is still someone in this school who can understand me.

"However, I still think you're pretty lame, Kushida-san. To be suppressed like this by your own nemesis and not even make a peep, instead running off to kick a pole."

"..."

Kushida Kikyo shoved Uesugi Gen's hand away, lunged at him, and began pummeling him with her fists in a venting frenzy.

"You have no idea how troublesome that woman is!"

Kushida Kikyo, who had already been sweating a lot from exercise, began to sweat even more as she got worked up.

And so...

Uesugi Gen's nostrils flared slightly, and he tilted his head to the side.

"Kushida-san, you smell bad. Could you go take a shower first?"

Kushida Kikyo's face turned bright red in an instant.

"Get lost! I smell perfectly fine, I'm not washing!"

In the end, Kushida-san still obediently ran off to take a shower.