"Um, did something happen between you and the teacher?"
Karuizawa Kei asked worriedly.
The way the teacher had left didn't look like she was just angry.
And she was a little worried about what Kageya Shinjitsu had said about relying on himself and things like that.
"Ah, maybe she's going through menopause."
"If you're okay, you should go back and rest too."
Kageya Shinjitsu didn't answer.
"..."
But that clearly wasn't what Karuizawa Kei wanted.
"Um..."
After a brief silence, she slowly worked up the courage to speak again.
"If you have something to say, just say it."
Under Kageya Shinjitsu's gaze, she finally spoke.
"About last night."
"I mean, about the confession."
"You still haven't given me an answer."
Not wanting Kageya Shinjitsu to come up with some ridiculous excuse, Karuizawa Kei went straight for it.
Hearing that, even Kageya Shinjitsu scratched his head, feeling a little troubled.
He hadn't expected anyone to confess to someone with his personality.
"Um, what do you think?"
Sitting obediently beside him without getting an answer, Karuizawa Kei began to feel a little embarrassed.
This was her first confession.
But for the sake of her future, it was also the best choice.
"Huh? That? Could you tell me why? I don't think I have anything that would attract someone."
"Even if you've heard about some things I did outside school, there's no need to go that far."
Kageya Shinjitsu remembered what she meant and felt utterly at a loss. Should he accept? Should he reject her? His feelings were a little complicated.
It was also a little novel. He felt a bit happy, but at the same time, he didn't know how to face it.
Was the girl in front of him cute? She certainly was.
Did he like her? Not really.
His love wasn't that cheap.
After all, he'd already "sold" it at a low price once before.
Ah, those were the days of his lost youth.
Remembering the girl from his past made his stomach ache~
Chapter 46: Tool +1, The Outcome
"Ah, um..."
After asking that, Karuizawa Kei seemed hesitant and anxious.
In the end, looking at Kageya Shinjitsu, she still managed to say it.
I don't need youth or anything like that.
I don't need friends or anything like that.
The most important thing is protecting myself.
For that, I can pay any price.
I'm... a parasite, a weak creature that can't survive on its own.
"I don't want to be bullied anymore, so please let me be with you."
"I'll do anything."
"Anything..."
Karuizawa Kei said it, then repeated herself at the end.
Her whole body trembled with nerves as she looked pitifully at the person in the hospital bed with watery eyes.
Like a little dog longing for its owner's response~~
"Huh?"
"You don't want to be bullied?"
Hearing that, Kageya Shinjitsu didn't understand at first.
But he quickly figured it out.
"Sure enough, you're another problem child."
Class D really was a gathering place for defective products.
He'd thought Karuizawa Kei had been placed in Class D because she acted like a delinquent and had poor grades.
Now it seemed there was a more hidden story behind it.
She explained it in a very rough manner.
"So you were bullied at school in the past?"
"And now you want to find someone powerful to back you up?"
"I should've figured it out sooner."
He hadn't paid much attention last night, assuming it was just a little girl's fondness for heroes.
Thinking about it now, there'd been a note of excitement and admiration when the girl said his name yesterday.
Looking at the girl in front of him, her face full of longing—
"Ah, sorry. Your reasons are perfectly valid, but I refuse."
Kageya Shinjitsu said it without hesitation.
"Ah..."
Hearing his answer, Karuizawa Kei was flustered, frightened, and disbelieving. Her tears were about to burst out.
Girls really were made of water.
"Don't make that face."
Women really were such a hassle.
Did that mean men were destined to be at women's mercy?
Could he still get away from her now?
As thoughts raced through his mind, Kageya Shinjitsu looked at the girl who'd given him his first confession.
"If you're willing to become my tool, then I'll try to help you deal with anything that comes up in the future."
Looking at the girl who'd started crying, Kageya Shinjitsu let out a breath and spoke.
"Your tool?"
Karuizawa Kei paused her tears a little and looked at him, sniffling.
"That woman wasn't wrong. People have their limits, so you have to learn to use tools."
"That's what I realized after I was caught. If I'd had enough people working for me, I definitely wouldn't have been caught."
"Become my tool. You can do whatever you like normally, but when I need you, act according to my instructions. Don't overthink it, don't say too much, and obey my will completely. You'll be someone who exists just like me."
Kageya Shinjitsu looked at the girl.
He spoke awkwardly.
"I can do that. Anything is fine."
Karuizawa Kei didn't understand what kind of arrangement this was.
But none of that mattered anymore.
"Good. Then it's settled."
"Just so you know, if I ever decide you're no longer suited to being a tool, I'll throw you away."
"If you do a good job, I'll reward you."
"If you have any trouble, I'll take care of it for you too."
Kageya Shinjitsu made the terms clear.
He didn't want to end up with a burden.
"I won't."
"Whatever you say goes."
When Karuizawa Kei heard that he might throw her away, her body trembled.
Then, hearing him mention rewards, she blushed slightly again and lowered her head, lost in thought.
And so, the young man and woman made an agreement in the hospital room.
Meanwhile, the second-year brawl had also reached its conclusion.
In the afternoon, Karuizawa Kei was called back to class.
That left Kageya Shinjitsu alone in the hospital room, where he lazed around.
In fact, he knew how he was doing. There was no problem with him being discharged.
His injuries looked serious, but they were only external.
The only reason he was here was to wait for a decision.
After school, Horikita Manabu and Miyabi Nagumo arrived at the hospital room.
"Kageya, we've come to see you."
When they entered the room, it was the blond Miyabi Nagumo—not Horikita Manabu—who greeted him first.
Seeing Miyabi Nagumo arrive, Kageya Shinjitsu knew they'd reached a conclusion.
They must have come to an agreement.
"Student Council President, Vice President."
"..."
Hearing the words "Vice President," Miyabi Nagumo's expression stiffened a little.
"We came because we've reached a conclusion about what happened yesterday."
"The second-year students have admitted their wrongdoing. They've confessed to planning to surround you. They also said they never touched Karuizawa and only said those things to scare you. They've acknowledged their mistake and promised not to do it again."
Horikita Manabu spoke seriously.
"So?"
Kageya Shinjitsu saw him pause and naturally spoke up.
Chapter 47: Compensation
Before you continue