Ichinose Honami Feels a Little Lonely

Hashiba Hikaru nodded, intending to get straight to the most crucial issue.

"Did Kiryuin leave school to attend the Koenji Family's board meeting tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"What are the specific reasons?"

"Because the Kiryuuin Family is a partner of the Koenji Family."

The silver-haired girl paused, and when she talked about her family, her voice was completely emotionless, making it impossible for Hashiba Hikaru to gather any more useful information.

"Has your family already entrusted you with handling this kind of matter?"

Hashiba Hikaru tried to soften her tone when asking the question, since she was asking for answers.

"I guess so, considering I only have less than a year left before graduation."

"Is your senior preparing to inherit the family business?"

Hashiba Hikaru suddenly became curious.

"Of course not. I have an older brother and an older sister. Inheriting the family business is something that will never be my turn."

Kiryuuin Fuuka shook her head. When she mentioned her family, her expression stiffened for a moment, but she quickly covered it up.

"If that's the case, why did you bring your senior to the board meeting of the Koenji Family?"

Hashiba Hikaru keenly noticed the change in the silver-haired girl's expression and began to make some guesses.

"Because..."

After pondering for a moment, Kiryuuin Fuuka suddenly noticed that the other person's gaze was somewhat strange.

She was an extremely intelligent person, and immediately realized that Hashiba Hikaru must have misunderstood. She couldn't help but smile, her eyes crinkling.

"... What are you laughing at, senior?"

"Did a really cliché guess just flash through your mind, Hashiba?"

After thinking for a moment, Kiryuuin Fuuka decided to test the waters first.

"..."

"Don't be so coy. If you have a question, just ask it. I'll tell you everything I know."

Kiryuuin Fuuka patted the boy's thigh and said with a smile.

"Okay, senior guessed right."

Hashiba Hikaru sighed and explained helplessly, "My guess was... that my senior might have been abandoned by her family, and this is a particularly important opportunity for her to prove herself."

"Haha, Hashiba, really, what kind of cheesy midnight romance drama is this?"

Kiryuuin Fuuka was so amused by Hashiba Hikaru's guess that she laughed so hard she cried.

"Okay, if I'm wrong, then why was the senior sent here?"

"I applied voluntarily."

Kiryuuin Fuuka tugged at the corner of her eye with her index finger, her voice still tinged with amusement, "My relationship with my family is alright. Although I'm not in line to be the heir, they're still quite good to me."

"That's good."

Hashiba Hikaru breathed a sigh of relief. Since Kiryuuin Fuuka could attend the Koenji Family's board meeting as a family representative, it at least showed that the Kiryuuin Family was also a wealthy and powerful family. In the face of power and money, it was not surprising that anything could happen between family members.

"Could it be that Hashiba Hikaru... was worried about me just now?"

Taking in Hashiba Hikaru's changing expression, Kiryuuin Fuuka felt that her test had yielded good results, proving that she had indeed chosen the right person.

"I suppose so. After all, human nature can undergo unpredictable changes when faced with immense power and wealth."

Hashiba Hikaru couldn't help but think of many things. "Since you applied to come here to participate in the board meeting, what was the reason?"

"The reason is very simple."

Kiryuuin Fuuka stared intently at Hashiba Hikaru's face. "It's you."

"I?"

Hashiba Hikaru hesitated for a moment, her expression somewhat strange. "Kiryuin applied to leave school to complete this mission just for me?"

"Yes."

Kiryuuin Fuuka nodded firmly, her eyes bright as stars.

"I've already told you my feelings, do I really need to repeat myself, Hashiba Yujima?"

"..."

After the silver-haired girl asked that question, the huge hotel room suddenly fell silent.

Looking into her affectionate eyes, Hashiba Hikaru was surprised by Kiryuuin Fuuka's repeated emphasis on her feelings.

"I'm someone who juggles multiple relationships, senior."

The boy's voice was somewhat low as he answered.

"I know, and I knew it before many of the girls around you, but I don't mind."

Kiryuuin Fuuka knew that after revealing her feelings again, a result would definitely emerge today.

She suddenly felt nervous, and her heart was racing.

"Senior, you really don't regret it?"

"Certainly."

"..."

Hashiba Hikaru took a deep breath and saw a new notification pop up in the System Bar.

[Kiryuuin Fuuka has decided to confess her feelings to you once again. Her love is burning brightly, and she longs for your relationship to progress further. Kiryuuin Fuuka Stock price has risen by 30, currently at 210.]

"I see."

Hashiba Hikaru nodded, having made her decision.

Chapter 781 Somewhat Lonely Ichinose Honami

In the elegant atmosphere of the five-star hotel room, after Hashiba Hikaru nodded, Kiryuuin Fuuka kept her eyes fixed on his face.

She was waiting for an answer.

Liking someone is a very special feeling.

From initially finding this junior student interesting, to gradually being attracted to his every move, and then developing romantic feelings, it was a very smooth process, without any surprises or setbacks.

Even Kiryuuin Fuuka herself didn't quite understand why she had fallen for Hashiba Hikaru so quickly, even though she had never been in a relationship before.

During her first year at school, the silver-haired girl didn't even develop any interest in the opposite sex; in her opinion, they were all too boring.

Hashiba Hikaru's appearance was an exception.

He was a year younger than her, and his various actions surprised her.

This curiosity gradually turned into attraction, and after Kiryuuin Fuuka realized this, many things had already had irreversible consequences.

She likes Hashiba Hikaru and wants to achieve a perfect outcome.

"I'm very grateful for Kiryuin's feelings for me. It's my luck to be liked by such an outstanding girl like you."

Hashiba Hikaru gently expressed her thoughts; now that the matter was out in the open, she naturally wanted to explain her thought process clearly.

"What does Hashiba Yujima think of me?"

Hearing the praise, Kiryuuin Fuuka a sweet warmth in her heart.

"Girl Kiryuin is a very special person at school. I even inquired about you later."

Hashiba Hikaru smiled. The way the two met was indeed due to luck; it was a unique fate.

"At the time, I thought to myself, since this senior is so unconventional, she must be a bit difficult to get along with."

"Then what?"

The silver-haired girl recalled her first meeting with Hashiba Hikaru at the Swimming Pool, and a smile involuntarily appeared on her lips. If it weren't for her habit of swimming, she might have waited a long time before she truly noticed the boy's presence.

"Then I was really surprised that my senior actually agreed to my request and taught me swimming techniques."

Hashiba Hikaru spoke in a very gentle voice when sharing her inner thoughts.

"Later on, needless to say, Kiryuin helped me several times, making my plans run more smoothly. This is a very important favor."

"Well, what kind of impression does Hashiba have of me?"

Listening to his gentle voice, Kiryuuin Fuuka's tension and unease suddenly disappeared.

"Of course it's great, really great!"

Hashiba Hikaru reached out and took Kiryuuin Fuuka's small hand, her tone becoming very serious, "I'm a very greedy person, and the girls around me have only accepted their current situation because of my greed."

"If you really like me, of course I won't refuse you, but..."

Just as the boy was about to give him one last reminder, Kiryuuin Fuuka covered his mouth with her small hand.

"No buts..."

Kiryuuin Fuuka stared intently into Hashiba Hikaru's dark eyes, and said, word by word, "Liking someone is a very pure feeling. I don't care about anything else, as long as Hashiba- kun can answer one question for me."

"What's the problem?"

"Do you like me?"

The silver-haired girl gripped his large hand tightly, her beautiful eyes brimming with tender affection.

"Like."

This is Hashiba Hikaru's answer: Kiryuuin Fuuka is an exceptionally talented girl; it's impossible not to like her.

"That's enough. Since we share the same sentiment, I certainly won't care about anything else."

Kiryuuin Fuuka suddenly smiled easily, snuggled into Hashiba Hikaru's arms, and wrapped her arms around his waist.

I don't care how many people are around you, as long as some of them belong to me.

The silver-haired girl pressed her small face tightly against Hashiba Hikaru's neck, her voice filled with a sense of satisfaction that her wish had finally been fulfilled.

"Anyway, I don't have to inherit the family business, nor do I need to go through any arranged marriages for the sake of the family's interests. Even if I become someone's mistress, no one will care."

"Wouldn't that be too unfair?"

Holding her full, rounded body, Hashiba Hikaru asked with a smile.

"That's exactly what I need to do—make sure I don't feel wronged. That way, junior Hashiba will care about me even more, right?"

Kiryuuin Fuuka raised her head, a slight smile playing on her lips. "I've studied boys' preferences, and you all like girls who would give everything for just you, right?"

"Isn't this a bit too much..."

Hashiba Hikaru felt somewhat helpless. Since he had decided to take the path of "I Want It All," he was prepared to take responsibility for everyone's future.

"I was just saying it casually, Hashiba, don't take it too seriously."

Kiryuuin Fuuka shifted her position in Hashiba Hikaru's arms, and said softly, "Now that we're a couple, I'll rest here for the rest of the day."

"No problem."

"That..."

The silver-haired girl paused, then said matter-of-factly, "I'm way behind; I have to work hard to catch up with everyone."

"..."

Why does this sales pitch sound so strangely familiar?

Hashiba Hikaru paused for a moment, then patted her little hand.

"Senior, are you really going to do this? I think it's better to let things happen naturally."

Isn't today a very suitable time?

Kiryuuin Fuuka said firmly, "We're both off-campus, so we don't need to worry about being disturbed by others."

"Besides, Hashiba, you've always worked with girls around your age. Don't you want to try the taste of older women?"