The Sudoku Challenge Sparks a Craze

"That's probably right. Given Horikita's personality, she probably doesn't make any friends."

"Okay, let's not talk about this anymore. Let's go eat, I'm starving."

As the leader of the small group, Kushida Kikyo ended the conversation. Although she was quite annoyed, she wouldn't choose to show it at this moment; that's a girl's survival rule.

"What's wrong? Are you bothered by Kushida?"

Horikita Suzune glanced at the boy beside her. Although she didn't see their subtle interaction, the girl was already certain that there was some connection between the two, which was why she asked that question on purpose.

"It's alright, but that has nothing to do with what we're talking about today, so why would Horikita ask that?"

"Just out of curiosity."

"You're curious too?"

"I'm a normal person too."

"Alright then, but we've arrived already. I'll answer you next time."

The two arrived at the entrance of the club Activity Classroom they had applied for. The location was quite good; a little further ahead was the rightmost staircase, making it convenient to go up and down.

After opening the door, Hashiba Hikaru and Horikita Suzune went inside together. Although the club Activity Classroom wasn't large, it was more than enough as a base for carrying out the Point Collection Plan.

"Well, the first thing we should do now is clean up, right?" Hashiba Hikaru touched the dust on the tables and chairs, her fingers immediately turning black.

"Indeed, it can only be used properly after it's been cleaned up."

Horikita Suzune opened the window by the wall to ventilate the club Activity Classroom, which hadn't been used for a long time. After looking around, the girl rolled up her sleeves and prepared to get to work.

"Um, this Club Room doesn't have the necessary cleaning supplies. It seems we'll have to borrow some from the nearby Activity Classroom," Hashiba Hikaru quickly pointed out.

"Let's go together then."

Horikita Suzune knew that if she wanted this Sudoku Plan to get on track, Sudoku alone wouldn't be enough, so she needed to think about a series of follow-up steps, but first she had to get this place sorted out.

"Horikita's positive attitude is great, let's work together."

The two of them worked in the newly acquired Club Room until around seven o'clock. They left together a dozen minutes before the Club Activity Building closed.

"We need to keep everyone informed, communicate with those who are interested, and finally guide them to the club Activity Classroom."

"I will finalize the detailed plan, rules, and contract details tonight."

"Okay, I'll leave it to Horikita."

After the group disbanded, Hashiba Hikaru went to a convenience store and returned with her things around 7:30.

When the boy arrived at his dormitory floor, a beautiful figure was standing at his door.

"..."

Upon seeing the other person's face, Hashiba Hikaru greeted them somewhat speechlessly.

"Didn't I say we could communicate by phone? Why bother coming all this way in person, Kushida?"

The figure was none other than Kushida Kikyo. The short-haired girl's attire was different from when they met at the Club Building. She was no longer wearing the plain burgundy school uniform, but a white short-sleeved shirt with lace trim, and denim hot pants that revealed her smooth, fair thighs. She looked quite pleasing to the eye.

"Some things can't be explained over the phone, let me in first." Although Kushida still had a smile on her face, Hashiba Hikaru could tell that she was in a bad mood, so she immediately opened the door for her.

After the two entered the dormitory, the girl immediately asked.

"What are you doing?"

Hashiba Hikaru turned her head to gaze at Kushida Kikyo's indifferent face and smiled faintly, "It's just handling some things with Horikita, nothing complicated."

"Can't you tell me? We're business partners, aren't we?" Kushida walked over and stared at Hashiba Hikaru's face with her beautiful eyes.

I can only explain why I did this, but I can't tell you the specifics.

"Why?"

Upon hearing this, Kushida Kikyo's initial displeasure instantly turned into bitterness. She glared at the boy before her and gritted her teeth, saying, "Are you planning to go back on your word?"

"Of course not, let me finish."

Hashiba Hikaru gently recounted what she and Horikita Suzune had done that day, but omitted many details, such as the core of the plan and its operational details, only mentioning that the black-haired girl wanted to collect points.

"Then why are you helping her?" Kushida Kikyo raised an eyebrow.

"It's simple. If Horikita goes through with this plan, she'll likely come into contact with many people. If I work with her, I can not only stay informed but also gain her trust."

"Don't you think this is a good thing to keep your secret Kushida?"

"... So, you're saying that Classmate Hashiba did this for my sake?"

After hearing the other party's explanation, Kushida Kikyo was somewhat amused and annoyed. Based on her understanding of the boy, she knew that only part of his explanation was true, and he must have missed many details.

And in the end, he even spoke in a self-serving tone; what a shameless guy.

"That's right."

"Then shouldn't I thank you?"

"It's not that serious. Just don't overthink it. I'll keep you updated on Horikita's information."

"... Oh well."

After nodding, Kushida Kikyo snuggled into Hashiba Hikaru's arms again, nuzzling her chest with her head and whispering, "Remember what you said before, you can only stand on my side, understand?"

"Certainly."

Hashiba Hikaru embraced the other's slender waist, savoring the tranquil atmosphere.

Kushida Kikyo hugged the boy's back tightly, enjoying the increasingly comfortable warmth of his embrace, while simultaneously pondering something in her mind.

This woman's presence is really an eyesore.

This Sports Festival.

She had to do something.

Chapter 249 The Craze Caused by the Sudoku Challenge

After hugging for a while, the girl lifted her head from Hashiba Hikaru's arms. She had already figured out how to deal with Horikita Suzune, and the gentle attitude someone had just shown had made Kushida feel much better.

"I say, you're being so proactive in helping Horikita Suzune, it's not like...?" Kushida asked tentatively.

"Could it be something else?"

Hashiba Hikaru pretended not to understand the implication in her words and shook her head slightly, saying, "Didn't I just explain? This is for Kushida."

"I don't believe it!"

Kushida Kikyo tiptoed and brought her face close to the other person's. "Although Horikita has a terrible personality, I have to admit that she is really cute."

"Are you so eager to help her because you want to have another girl by your side?"

"... That's slander! I never even thought that way."

"Including me, you're already juggling three relationships, so one more wouldn't matter," Kushida Kikyo said with a flirtatious smile, putting her arm around Hashiba Hikaru's neck and gently breathing on his face. "Anyway, it's not surprising that a pervert like you would do something like this."

"Kushida, you should watch your words. Even if I'm close to Honami and Airi, what you're saying... doesn't really count, does it?"

"What did you say!"

Upon hearing this, Kushida's expression changed drastically. Her gentle face instantly turned icy, and she shouted sharply, "You're not planning to eat and then deny it, are you?"

"What do you mean by 'refuting to pay for what you've eaten'? What did I actually eat?"

Seeing the angry look on the short-haired girl's face, Hashiba Hikaru deliberately teased her. No matter how angry Kushida was, he still maintained an expression of indifference.

"You!"

Kushida's chest began to heave violently, her delicate face flushed red with anger. She glared fiercely at Hashiba Hikaru's face, wishing she could bite a piece of flesh off it.

"Did I say something wrong?" Hashiba Hikaru hugged her waist, her tone melodious. "If I'm cheating on three people at once, then we should be doing things that couples do in private."

"But does Kushida like me?"

"..."

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Hashiba Hikaru touched her little face, her smile growing even more smug. "Whether you like it or hate it, there needs to be a definite answer, right?"

Just then, Kushida Kikyo realized that this bastard was deliberately toying with her; if he didn't have feelings for her, he wouldn't have reacted this way.

"Then you wait, I'll give you my answer right now."

The girl couldn't help but recall the bittersweet feeling she had just experienced. In an instant, she brought her face close to Hashiba Hikaru's, leaning forward forcefully to press their bodies together.

"Hmm."

"Um..."

This was the second kiss initiated by Kushida Kikyo. To get back at him, she bit him hard when they parted.

"Hiss."

After the two separated, Hashiba Hikaru touched his lips in pain. He tasted a faint metallic flavor, indicating that he was bleeding.

Are you a puppy?

"Didn't you just want an answer? Here's my answer. So, are you satisfied, Classmate Hashiba?"

Kushida licked her lips, her pretty face regaining its rosy hue. Kissing Hashiba Hikaru had made her extremely happy, and that slight sourness and displeasure had vanished in an instant.

"I'm so satisfied. As expected of Kushida."

Hashiba Hikaru still wore a faint smile. In any case, the other party's attitude had already revealed her true feelings.

"Then I'll do as you say and reluctantly have my cake and eat it too."

"Pah! Shameless!"

"Indeed, that's shameless."

"Abnormal."

"That's really perverted."

"Playboy"

"You're right."

"Hurry up and hug me."

"?"

Hashiba Hikaru looked up. The short-haired girl standing in front of him, who had been relentlessly attacking him, raised her hand again, a captivatingly gentle smile on her face.

"They've arrived."

He pulled her full, soft body back into his arms, stroked her hair, and whispered, "Well, Hashiba Hikaru -Kushida is giving me a really strange feeling right now."

"You're talking bad about me?" The girl softly punched his chest.

"When I first met you, I thought you were a very aggressive person, Kushida -faced. I thought someone like that must be under a lot of pressure, so I thought it was better to keep my distance."

"And then?" Kushida Kikyo hugged Hashiba Hikaru's waist. Although these words were unpleasant, her mood was not affected in the slightest.

"But after we started getting to know each other, I found that Kushida is actually quite interesting," Hashiba Hikaru said earnestly, lifting her face with her palm. "Of course, that could also be because you're cute. If it weren't for that, I probably would never have talked to you again after finding out you have two faces."

"For a pervert like you, this answer is easy to come up with." Kushida rubbed her cheek against his hand, a cold smile playing on her lips.

"Indeed, it's precisely because you're so cute that I didn't do that, and in the end, I even got closer and closer to Kushida," Hashiba Hikaru suddenly smiled gently. "Is this fate?"

Perhaps.

Kushida Kikyo was also quite emotional. The process of getting to know Hashiba Hikaru was quite eventful, from misunderstandings to cooperation, then to various deceptions and transactions, and finally to becoming such a close friend.

"If you hadn't shown up at the railing that night, perhaps our relationship wouldn't have changed."

"However, what you've said has made me think of another possibility."

"What possibility?" Kushida Kikyo looked up and saw the slight curve of the other's lips.

"If I had actually confessed to Kushida back then, would you have said yes?"

"..."

After a moment of silence, a clear and gentle smile appeared on Kushida Kikyo's pretty face. She looked at Hashiba Hikaru, her heart filled with warmth.

"Of course I'd refuse! How could I possibly like someone like you who's a complete liar?"

"That's what I think too, hahaha."