Kushida Kikyo: Next Time, You're Helping Me / Nagumo's Proactive Provocation

"I think it's fine. In that case, we can do it again after we get back to school. My promise is still valid. It's not a big deal if the Special Exam interrupts our plans."

Hashiba Hikaru smiled gently and stroked the girl's pretty face. "Being here will prevent you from being surrounded by everyone as the birthday girl. Let me celebrate your birthday separately when we get back to school."

Is this okay?

Hearing the other party's promise, Kushida Kikyo felt as sweet as if she had eaten honey.

"Of course, I also remember Kikyo saying that on that day..."

He brought his mouth close to the girl's ear, his voice incredibly suggestive, "Let me see your full extent as a perverted woman."

"Hmph... you'll see when the time comes. I'll make sure you can't get out of bed!"

Kushida Kikyo blushed, her eyes immediately welling up with tears, and her hand instinctively slipped into Hashiba Hikaru's short sleeve.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"Hehehe, don't move! I need to rehearse my birthday party first, so you'll have to cooperate!"

"..."

485

Chapter 485 Kushida Kikyo: Next time it's your turn to help me.

After lingering for a long time in the clearing next to the woods, Hashiba Hikaru helped up Kushida Kikyo, whose face was flushed, and carefully tidied her disheveled hair.

"Hmm... I drank it all."

The short-haired girl wiped her mouth, a charming smile playing on her lips.

"Yes, I saw it."

Hashiba Hikaru couldn't help but sigh. Although the place was relatively secluded, doing something like this was still too daring. On the one hand, it was in the wild, and on the other hand, she was worried that someone might suddenly come looking for her.

Just now, when Kushida Kikyo's arrogant and passionate love erupted, he couldn't utter a single word of rejection.

Ah, male instinct.

"Next time it'll be Hikaru's turn to help me, okay?"

After swallowing everything in her mouth, Kushida Kikyo straightened her tracksuit, which had been wrinkled by the other person.

"Of course, no problem."

Hashiba Hikaru smiled gently. These are just little romantic gestures between lovers, and it's fine no matter who makes the sacrifice.

"Hmph, then I'll head back first. Let's meet here again next time."

Kushida Kikyo knew that the boy and girl would meet at the restaurant during lunch and dinner. Although they couldn't use their phones, they still had a chance to get close if they decided on a meeting place.

"Sure, but it's better to keep a low profile."

Hashiba Hikaru held her little hand and said, "In this exam, remember to pay more attention to Airi. She's in the same class as you. If she has any difficulties, remember to lend a hand."

"I know! Honestly, they're both lovers, but I always feel like she gets more of the light's favor."

Kushida Kikyo rolled her eyes dramatically. After spending Christmas Eve with Hashiba Hikaru and Sakura Airi, their relationship had indeed become much closer.

"Stop talking nonsense, remember what I said, and I'll reward you handsomely if you do well."

Hashiba Hikaru reached out and gently pinched her nose, a tender smile playing on her lips.

"Um."

"Then let's go back."

After meeting the second person, Hashiba Hikaru and Kushida Kikyo returned the way they came. He had another appointment to keep before dinner with his girlfriend, Ichinose Honami.

However, meeting with Ichinose Honami wouldn't be so complicated. Their relationship was common knowledge throughout the school, so there was no need to hide it. The meeting place they agreed on on the bus was right at the entrance of the girls' dormitory.

After deliberately avoiding meeting Kushida Kikyo, he watched the short-haired girl's figure disappear at the entrance of the girls' school building before he followed her.

An hour before the group dinner, Hashiba Hikaru stood at the entrance of the girls' dormitory. Since it was the first day, there were no restrictions on the students, and quite a few people were walking around. The students all saw the handsome boy waiting at the entrance.

"It's Classmate Hashiba- kun... He must be here to see Ichinose, right?"

"Definitely. This time the exams are separated for boys and girls, so it must be really tough not being able to see your girlfriend."

"Ichinose has worked very hard too."

The girls stared at the tall, slender figure standing there. Most of the people making comments were first-year students, since he had always been number one on the handsome guy list and always attracted a lot of attention.

"Light!"

After waiting for about three minutes, the girl with long pink hair came out from the school building. When she saw her boyfriend, she ran over to him with a big smile.

"Yes, I'm here."

Hashiba Hikaru waved to her, and the two met up.

Let's take a walk together and chat as we go.

"OK."

Hashiba Hikaru and Ichinose Honami walked side by side down the wooden stairs, heading towards a quieter area outside.

What are Honami's thoughts on this exam?

"Hmm... Although not being able to see the light can be lonely, I've tried a lot of things."

Ichinose Honami took her boyfriend's arm, saying, "For example, regarding the group assignments, it was quite difficult for everyone to reach a consensus at first."

"How did Honami choose the groups? Were you in charge?"

Although she already knew about these things through the other two girls, Hashiba Hikaru had to pretend it was the first time she was hearing it and put on a serious expression.

"Yes, I think it's better for someone to step up in times like this. I'm the [leader] of our group."

Ichinose Honami deliberately puffed out her chest, revealing her extremely eye-catching figure, making her very attractive even in simple sportswear.

"That's good too. Honami, work hard and lead everyone to strive for a better ranking."

Hashiba Hikaru gave a supportive smile. "I believe you can do this well."

After walking for a while, the two stopped in front of a wooden terrace overlooking the mountains and forests. Ichinose Honami held her boyfriend's hand and looked at the boys' school building next to the girls' school building.

"Hmm, what about Guang's side? How are the boys' group assignments going?"

"For the boys, the group assignments weren't too complicated; in fact, they went quite smoothly."

Hashiba Hikaru briefly explained the situation to her. The pink-haired girl was clearly surprised to hear that the boys had formed large groups with the second and third-year students.

"Hey, you guys have already finished setting up the large team?"

"Honami, don't forget who the representative figures are in the second and third years?"

Hashiba Hikaru raised an eyebrow, a meaningful smile playing on her lips. "Whether it's Nagumo or Horikita-senpai, these people are no ordinary individuals."

"Hmm... I understand."

Ichinose Honami immediately thought of the two people's situation. Although he hadn't joined the Student Council, Ichinose Honami had always known about the power struggle between Hashiba Hikaru and Miyabi Nagumo. Everything he did was for Class A, and the girl was very supportive of her boyfriend.

"So, did you join Horikita-senpai's large group?"

"Yes."

"What about Nagumo?"

As seniors, they should use honorifics, but due to Hashiba Hikaru's long-term "imaginary enemy" rhetoric, the students in Class A of the First Year now address Miyabi Nagumo by her surname in private, showing no respect whatsoever.

"He became a teammate of Katsuragi from Class B, but the two had been showing signs of working together for some time, so making this decision is perfectly understandable."

Hashiba Hikaru shrugged. After the formation of the large group was completed, neither Hirata Yosuke, the representative of Class D of the First Year, nor Ryuen Kakeru, the representative of Class C of the First Year, joined Nagumo's large group. If they really faced off, then this time it would still be a battle between Class A and Class B.

"Are you alright?"

Ichinose Honami was still somewhat worried.

"It's alright. If we can successfully suppress Nagumo's arrogance, it might even speed up my plans."

Hashiba Hikaru smiled slightly. Putting aside the fact that his stamina had improved significantly compared to before, with so many skills now added to his arsenal, dealing with Miyabi Nagumo was just a minor issue.

"Yes, I believe Guang will do a good job."

"Of course."

486

Chapter 486 Nagumo's Provocation.

I chatted with my girlfriend on the terrace for about an hour, and then it was time for dinner.

Hashiba Hikaru led Ichinose Honami to the cafeteria located between two school buildings. Because it had to accommodate students from three grades, the building occupied a considerable area.

After the midday assembly, each student knew the specific timetable and detailed arrangements for the day. Since the group members needed to live together, their meal and bedtime times had to be consistent.

Upon arriving at the restaurant entrance, Hashiba Hikaru's group members immediately spotted a very conspicuous couple standing there and quickly gathered around them.

"Classmate Hashiba, and Ichinose, were you two acting together just now?"

"Yes, it's time to eat. Let's go in together."

Because there were three students from different classes in the group, Hashiba Hikaru took the initiative to consider their feelings and made a suggestion to them.

"Honami, go and meet up with your group members. We'll sit together again when we eat later."

"Uh-huh."

The group entered the restaurant in a grand procession. After finding seats, Hashiba Hikaru began to examine the food.

To ensure the students' health and nutrition, there are quite a few meal options available, and since mobile phones are not allowed, these meals are naturally free.

Once inside the restaurant, everyone was free to move around as they pleased, since everyone has different tastes. Hashiba Hikaru, Shibata, and Kanzaki Ryuji were queuing in one line, while the others went to other windows.

"Did Classmate Hashiba just go outside to familiarize himself with the surroundings?"

Holding the plate, Kanzaki Ryuji asked his question.

"Yes, there are many artificial Matoba around here, which should be related to the upcoming exams."

"We also went out for a walk, and we had the same thoughts as you."

Kanzaki Ryuji and Shibata Sou are both quite capable boys in Class A of the First Year, second only to Hashiba Hikaru. They also take this exam very seriously.

"Well, no matter what, we'll deal with whatever comes our way."

Hashiba Hikaru smiled. "We can work together."

"Clear."

After serving the food, Kanzaki Ryuji and Shibata Sou both caught a glimpse of Ichinose Honami and Ando Sayo walking over. As core members of Class A of the First Year students who often acted together, they were already used to eating together.

"Then let's sit here together."

With Hashiba Hikaru making it exactly five people, everyone gathered around to choose seats. The restaurant was spacious enough to accommodate 500 people, with plenty of seating.

Generally, in these large cafeterias, students from the three grades eat separately, since everyone needs to learn to be mindful of the atmosphere.

However, when faced with this kind of exam at Forest School, students from all three grades immediately began to communicate frequently during mealtimes when boys and girls could interact. This was partly to exchange information with each other, and partly to maintain close communication with their group members.

Everyone's so busy!

Hashiba Hikaru slowly withdrew her gaze. The meal time was set at one hour, and in order not to waste this opportunity for interaction, there were many other things to do besides eating.

"I see a lot of students chatting; they're probably exchanging information."

Ichinose Honami immediately understood her boyfriend's meaning. Although the boys had completed their group formation, the girls had not yet. They could use the mealtime not only for discussion but also to gather information about the students, making it easier for each other to make better judgments.

"It's so lively!"

"If you girls want to choose seniors from the second or third year, you can discuss it together; maybe you can make a better decision."

Shibata noticed many people he knew interacting with the upperclassmen and casually brought up the idea.

"What are Honami's thoughts? Does he have a goal?"

"Our targets are tentatively the senior students in Class A of the Third Year and the senior students in Class B of the Second Year."

After learning about Hashiba Hikaru's situation, Ichinose Honami realized that this was the better choice.

"Communication in this area will likely be a bit bumpy, but I think it's still possible with some effort, because our Class A of the First Year has a significant advantage."

"Okay, I'll handle this."