That was way too shameless!
Besides, if she went into the boys' dorm, she might not be able to call for help no matter how much she screamed. What if Kijima Tsukur just pounced on her?
At the thought,
Yamamura Miki's pretty face flushed red, and she nearly fainted.
No,
She couldn't let Kijima Tsukur lead her around by the nose anymore. She couldn't let him order her around so casually, or keep being so timid. She had to properly tell him no!
"Um..."
Finally, Yamamura Miki worked up her courage and said in a soft voice, mustering all her strength:
"The dormitory handbook says improper relationships between boys and girls are prohibited!"
So... they'd only just met today, and she didn't want to go to his room. In the end, she still hadn't dared to say it so plainly.
"Hm?"
As the elevator ascended, Kijima Tsukur glanced back and said nonchalantly:
"Thinking that strict laws can bring peace to the world is a naïve idea only middle schoolers would have."
In other words, rules like that were meaningless.
Since Yamamura Miki was the person assigned by Tenmei to take care of his daily needs, Kijima Tsukur patiently explained, in case she didn't understand:
"Prohibiting improper relationships between boys and girls and prohibiting bullying are among the few clear-cut rules at this school. However, problems like bullying are difficult to resolve in the first place, let alone at a closed-off school like this."
"The students have lost the restraint of their parents, and the school has also lost an effective way to deal with problems: 'calling their parents.' Preventing issues like bullying will only become even more difficult."
"That leaves the school with only two ways to deal with problem students: demerits and expulsion. Or maybe point deductions, too?"
"Extreme punishments can certainly raise the cost of committing a crime, but they'll only make bullies more cautious and drive them to hide their methods better."
"Concerned about their pride and the fact they still have to live at this closed-off school for three years, victims will find it even harder to speak up."
"Simply put, those two rules are like rules set up for the sake of political correctness, just to shut the taxpayers up."
"So if you want to date someone, you don't need to worry about them."
That wasn't what I meant!
Yamamura Miki nearly shouted. She was on the verge of tears.
Did this guy not understand that boys and girls were different?
And judging by what he'd said, Kijima Tsukur didn't take the school rules seriously at all. What if he really did take advantage of her?
Yamamura Miki was nearly scared to tears.
What kind of girl went to a boy's room the first time they met? She wasn't that kind of girl.
But when the time came,
Yamamura Miki suspected she might really lack the courage to refuse.
No. She had to say it properly.
But while she hesitated, the elevator had already reached the seventh floor.
"Let's go."
At his words, Yamamura Miki stepped out of the elevator with a long face. The two of them stopped in front of Room 703, and Kijima Tsukur took out a green key card and opened the door.
She hadn't even been to her own dorm room yet, and here she was going to the room of a boy she'd only just met.
What am I even doing~
Yamamura Miki followed him into the room, hunched her shoulders, and murmured politely:
"Sorry to intrude..."
"You'll be coming here every day to take care of me from now on, so you don't have to be so polite."
"..."
Waaah~
Yamamura Miki was dumbfounded.
Did this guy not understand plain English? Was she being polite?
And every day?
Getting today was already a lot.
She'd only come to look after him today out of the kindness of her heart because Kijima Tsukur seemed so out of touch with the world.
She definitely wasn't coming tomorrow!
The two entered the room, and Kijima Tsukur looked around the dorm where he'd live for the next three years.
One bedroom, one kitchen, and one bathroom.
There was a microwave, a refrigerator, an air conditioner, a desk, and all the other essentials.
He'd originally planned to have Yamamura Miki clean the place, but it was unexpectedly spotless. The school must have cleaned it beforehand.
"It's pretty clean. Looks like there's no need to clean."
Kijima Tsukur looked around the room. Before Yamamura Miki could feel relieved, he added:
"Then go make me dinner, and put the drinks and things like that in the fridge while you're at it. I'll allow you to eat with me later."
"Ugh..."
Yamamura Miki gave a muffled response and carried the shopping bag into the kitchen.
Before long,
The sound of chopping came from the kitchen.
She glanced at the kitchen door, then glared fiercely at the cutting board in her hands.
What kind of person was he?
What did he mean, he'd allow her to eat with him later?
As if eating with Kijima Tsukur were some kind of reward. Just how full of himself was this guy?
Who wanted to eat with him?
If he wanted to pay her back, he should pay her properly~
How infuriating.
Yamamura Miki chopped away, glaring fiercely with her bright eyes:
"I'll make you suffer~"
Never mind,
She'd be eating with him later, too. She really wasn't good with spicy food.
As for Kijima Tsukur?
He should be grateful she was making him food. Did he really expect her to cater to his tastes?
Dream on!
Inside the room,
Kijima Tsukur wasn't doing anything in particular, and he felt no stir of emotion. It was as if bringing a girl he'd just met to his room to cook for him was a perfectly ordinary thing.
He sat on the floor with his back against the edge of the bed,
casually flipping through a miscellaneous book with his left hand and fiddling with a Rubik's Cube with his right.
Before long,
Yamamura Miki came out of the kitchen carrying a tray with dinner for two.
Rice, pan-fried fish, miso soup, and a side dish.
It all felt perfunctory, clearly showing that she wanted to leave as soon as possible.
Fortunately,
Kijima Tsukur wasn't particular about food.
He lifted his bowl, scooped up a mouthful of rice, and put it in his mouth. Then he casually picked up a bit of pan-fried fish and tried it, not caring much about the taste.
Meanwhile,
Yamamura Miki grumbled to herself about his lack of manners, then clasped her hands together and silently said, Let's eat.
She picked up her bowl and shoveled the rice into her mouth without even tasting it properly, as if she didn't want to stay a second longer.
Five minutes later,
"I'm full..."
Yamamura Miki clasped her hands together, secretly opened her eyes to study Kijima Tsukur's expression, and asked tentatively:
"Then I'll head back."
"Oh?"
Kijima Tsukur wiped a grain of rice from the corner of his mouth, only now catching on:
"You haven't washed your bowl yet?"
"..."
Yamamura Miki froze in place. Still unwilling to give up, she tried again:
"Then I'll leave after I wash it?"
"Wait until I'm done eating, then we can wash everything together. That way you won't have to go to so much trouble."
"..."
Aaaaah~
Yamamura Miki wanted to scream.
She knew that washing everything together saved time and effort!
What a shameless guy!
After Kijima Tsukur finished dinner, Yamamura Miki gathered their dishes and carried them into the kitchen, then quickly washed everything.
She crept out of the kitchen with quiet footsteps, like a thief sneaking away. Forcing a smile, she rested her right hand against her chest and gave a small wave.
In a voice as quiet as a mosquito's, she said:
"I'm heading out~"
"Wait a moment~"
Yamamura Miki's heart clenched.
Hearing that voice made her feel like she was developing PTSD.
"I'll transfer the points to you."
At least he had some conscience and knew to pay her. But before Yamamura Miki could relax, Kijima Tsukur added:
"Let's count these twenty thousand points as my meal money for the month. I won't make you wake me up, then. Sandwiches, boxed lunches, whatever—remember to bring me breakfast tomorrow. See you tomorrow."
"Waaah... see you tomorrow..."
Yamamura Miki's voice was barely audible as she slumped her shoulders and left the room.
She hurried into the elevator, quickly pressed the button for the twelfth floor, found Room 1206, took out her key, and opened the door.
She didn't turn on the lights.
Yamamura Miki quickly found her bed, casually tossed her schoolbag onto the floor, and threw herself onto the mattress.
After a long silence!
Yamamura Miki suddenly rolled around on the bed, kicked her legs wildly, clutched her head, and began screaming:
Before you continue