Kikyo in Hiding

Those words struck Kiyotaka like a hammer. A rare surge of anger rose in him, and he grabbed Chabashira by the collar.

"Do you really deserve to call yourself a teacher?"

Chabashira looked at Kiyotaka calmly.

"Now, give me an answer. Will you rise through the ranks, or drop out?"

Kiyotaka forced down his anger and let go of Chabashira.

"One day, you'll regret using me."

With that, Kiyotaka turned and left. The unequal deal had, for the time being, been reached.

"Kiyotaka, where have you been? I've been looking for you forever."

After leaving the theater, Kiyotaka headed out onto the deck to feel the sea breeze. Airi's soft voice sounded behind him.

"Oh, Airi. What did you need?"

Kiyotaka's sharp gaze softened as he turned to her.

"Nothing. The school hardly ever takes us on vacation aboard such a luxurious cruise ship. I thought I'd spend some time having fun with you." Airi leaned against Kiyotaka, and the two of them enjoyed the breeze blowing toward them.

Luxurious? Kiyotaka looked ahead. That was certainly true. The Hope was a large, luxurious cruise ship, with restaurants offering a wide variety of food, a grand theater, all kinds of entertainment facilities, and even private services such as spas. A private vacation like this would probably cost well over a hundred or two hundred thousand yen...

"Kiyotaka, everything on this ship is free to use. Why do you think the school is treating us so generously?"

Airi rested her chin on her hand and looked down at Kikyo and several others playing in the pool below, dressed in revealing swimsuits. A crowd of boys had gathered nearby, impressed by Kikyo's ball skills. Airi asked curiously.

"Who knows? Maybe the school's feeling generous and wants to reward us."

"Kiyotaka, you're so mean. You're teasing me again!"

Watching Kiyotaka leave, Airi pouted and grumbled as she walked.

After Kiyotaka left, Kikyo suddenly seemed to lose interest in playing in the pool. She climbed out and put on a jacket.

"Kikyo, where are you going?" one of the girls playing with her asked.

"Sorry, you guys go ahead. I'm a little tired."

Kikyo answered with a sweet smile.

On their way back to their rooms, Kiyotaka and Airi ran into Horikita. Horikita gave Kiyotaka a cold snort, then took Airi off somewhere else.

Airi could only look back and smile apologetically at Kiyotaka. It was obvious that Horikita still held a grudge over the way Kiyotaka had treated them a few days earlier.

Kiyotaka shrugged indifferently, then returned to his room to rest.

But he had barely lain down when someone knocked on the door.

"Coming."

Kiyotaka replied coolly and got up to answer it. To his surprise, Kikyo was standing outside.

"Kiyotaka... can I come in?"

Wearing a red bikini under a thin jacket, Kikyo looked at him with a plaintive expression.

Kiyotaka was silent for a moment, then stepped aside and went straight back to lie down on the bed. Kikyo immediately entered and shut the door.

"Is something wrong?" Kiyotaka asked, looking at Kikyo coolly.

"Kiyotaka, why are you so cold to me...?"

With that, Kikyo took off her white jacket and spun around.

"Look, do you like my swimsuit?"

"It looks nice. Weren't plenty of boys staring at you earlier?"

Kikyo froze, then replied with a hint of delight.

"Kiyotaka, were you paying attention to me?"

Excited, Kikyo threw herself at him. Kiyotaka's face was suddenly buried against her.

Kiyotaka pushed her away without hesitation.

"No. Airi saw you."

Kikyo didn't seem bothered at all. If anything, she seemed to enjoy Kiyotaka's rough treatment.

"Kiyotaka... over there too!"

Kiyotaka knew Kikyo's nature all too well. He let go of her, turned away, and closed his eyes to rest.

The pressure suddenly gone, Kikyo pouted in disappointment, then wrapped herself around Kiyotaka like a water snake.

"Kiyotaka, pay attention to me, please. How about we do something fun?"

Before Kiyotaka could answer, someone knocked at the door again.

Kikyo grabbed her jacket and hid beneath the table, which had a tablecloth draped over it. Kiyotaka stared at her, speechless, then went to open the door.

"Hey, Hirata. What is it?"

"Could I come in and talk?" Hirata Yosuke asked with a smile.

Kiyotaka hesitated, then stepped aside and went in first. He took a chair and sat behind the table where Kikyo was hiding.

Hirata didn't seem to mind. He entered and closed the door.

"Ayanokoji, we're having a gathering later. Would you like to join us?" Hirata always wore a warm smile. He spoke to Kiyotaka gently.

"I think I'll pass. I'm not that close with everyone."

"Ayanokoji, don't you think this would be a good chance to talk with everyone?" Hirata pressed.

"I'll pass, Hirata. I don't need anyone's pity. Sometimes it's nice to be alone."

Hirata was silent for a moment, then looked Kiyotaka in the eye.

"Ayanokoji, actually, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."

Chapter 27: Kikyo in Hiding

"Discuss?" Kiyotaka asked, looking at Hirata with some confusion.

Just then, Kiyotaka felt the tablecloth lift slightly. A mischievous little hand reached out and began fondling him.

Kikyo's head emerged as well. She gave Kiyotaka a playful, grateful smile, then began to pleasure him.

Before Kiyotaka could react, Hirata continued speaking.

"Yes. I'd like you to help me get in touch with Horikita. If Class D wants to become stronger, we have to unite, and Horikita is indispensable to that."

As he felt Kikyo's actions beneath the table, Kiyotaka clenched his fists. Keeping his expression calm, he replied to Hirata.

"Wouldn't it be faster to approach Horikita directly?"

"Ding-ding-ding."

Just as Hirata was about to continue, his terminal rang and began vibrating repeatedly.

"Can't you ignore it?"

Kiyotaka asked.

"Sorry, it's time. Let's talk again when we have a chance."

With that, Hirata left the room and closed the door behind him.

Kiyotaka let out a long breath, then pulled Kikyo out from beneath the table.

"Mmm, why did it end so quickly?" Kikyo asked, sucking on her finger.

Kiyotaka could no longer tolerate this utterly shameless woman.

He tossed her onto the bed and, in a practiced motion, removed her bikini.

To his surprise, Kikyo was already aroused. The two of them quickly became intimate.

The room was well soundproofed. No matter how loud the sounds inside grew, not a trace could be heard outside.

Kiyotaka's harsh retaliation continued, and his relentless assault left Kikyo begging for mercy.

"Kiyotaka... no, I can't take it anymore! Ah!"

But Kiyotaka showed Kikyo no mercy for what she had done. Even as she gasped for breath, her tongue lolling out, and her whole body trembled, he showed no sign of stopping.

Only after Kiyotaka had finally vented his feelings did he stop.

"Wah... I'm going to die, I'm going to die..."

Kikyo lay on the bed, sobbing and trembling. She looked utterly pitiful.

After a while, Kikyo had recovered a little. She touched her slightly swollen, full stomach, then teasingly brushed Kiyotaka with the tip of her foot.

"Kiyotaka~ If I really gave myself to you, would you satisfy me like that every day?"

Kiyotaka glanced at Kikyo before replying.

"No. You wouldn't be the only one. Think carefully before you answer. If you can't accept that, you'd better disappear from my sight starting now."

"Wah, Kiyotaka's so cold. You've barely finished with me, and now you're saying such heartless things."

As she spoke, Kikyo crawled over and playfully teased him.

"But I'm so hooked on this feeling."

Kiyotaka didn't indulge Kikyo's teasing. In the end, she spent the entire afternoon in the room, crying out. Her voice started out strong, then grew weak. After all that, she should have been hungry, yet strangely, her stomach was bulging as if she'd eaten a great deal.

No one knew exactly what had happened. In any case, Kikyo fled the room as if escaping. Before she left, she said,

"If that's how intense it'll be, I'll think about it, Kiyotaka~"

Kiyotaka had gradually gotten used to Kikyo's unrestrained remarks. After all, from the beginning, his aim in dealing with her had been to get her into bed.

So Kiyotaka wasn't in a hurry. He didn't mind the little tricks Kikyo played behind his back. They were meaningless, except for adding a little amusement to his otherwise boring days.

This was fine. Kikyo's rebellious streak made his plan to win her over a lot more entertaining.

"Mmm, that feels so good. A little harder—ah, yes, right there."

"Hoshinomiya-sensei, you're only here for a spa treatment. Is there really a need for that?"

Honami Ichinose looked helplessly at her homeroom teacher, who was lying naked beside her and making strange noises from time to time.

"Ahaha, sorry, sorry. I'm getting old, and my muscles are stiff. Once they loosen up, I can't help myself. What were you saying again?"

Ichinose sighed before replying.

"Sakayanagi and Katsuragi have already split Class A into two factions. The two of them are clearly the key people to keep an eye on.

"As for Class C, Ryuen rules with an iron fist. A small number of students aren't satisfied with him, but they can't make any waves."

When Ichinose had nothing more to say, Hoshinomiya lazily stretched and asked,

"What about Class D? Haven't you looked into them much? I heard there's an interesting student named Ayanokoji Kiyotaka."

"Ayanokoji Kiyotaka... I haven't looked into him much."

At the mention of Kiyotaka's name, Ichinose's cheeks inexplicably turned red. She stammered as she answered.

"Well, well, just do what you can. With you in charge of Class B, I'm not worried."

"Teacher, could you not say something so irresponsible with such a straight face?"

"Hmm? Mm-hmm..."

The extremely soothing massage made Hoshinomiya drowsy. She answered Ichinose's question vaguely, lost in a haze, leaving Ichinose to sigh quietly as she watched.

Three leisurely days passed like that. During that time, the first-years lost themselves in having fun.

But early on the fourth day, while everyone was still asleep, an announcement came over the speakers.

"Attention, all students and staff. Please get dressed and assemble on the deck immediately."

As Kiyotaka listened to the announcement repeat, his eyes narrowed slightly. He looked out the window and saw that, at some point, the cruise ship had stopped near a vast island.

"Is the school about to make its move..."