"Since you're Kushida-chan's friend, I'll let you off."
Kanji Ike left after delivering that firm declaration.
"Don't do anything rash, either. We're all classmates."
Kushida Kikyo turned to Kageya Shinjitsu.
"Classmates, huh..."
Kageya Shinjitsu just laughed at her words.
He hoped they'd still be classmates a few days from now.
He sat down without saying anything else.
The students in Class 1-D settled in to watch the show.
They'd gained a somewhat different impression of Kageya Shinjitsu.
But Kageya Shinjitsu wasn't about to let Kanji Ike off the hook.
He showed up on the forum as the first-year "top delinquent" and made sure to spread the word about Kanji Ike, Yamauchi Haruki, and Ken Sudō.
The Idiot Trio, who were all glued to their phones, were getting red-faced with anger.
They hadn't expected the whole thing to turn on them, too.
"If you hadn't picked a fight with him, none of this would've happened."
Yamauchi Haruki grumbled at Kanji Ike.
As far as he was concerned, Kanji Ike had brought this on himself.
Besides, they didn't seem to have anyone they could turn to for help.
Unless they went straight after Kageya Shinjitsu.
And what about going to the school?
If the school looked into the forum post, wouldn't they just end up finding out it was them anyway?
"No, there has to be a way."
Kanji Ike couldn't accept taking the loss like this—especially after being embarrassed in front of Kushida Kikyo.
He kept digging himself deeper.
PS: I've already written up to the handprint scene, but after revising it a few times, I'm still not satisfied. I hope the finished version will be something you can enjoy.
[New author, new book, fifth update. This is an unpopular genre, so the stats are up to you. If the numbers are decent, I'll finish the story. If you think it's pretty good, please support it and leave a comment. "Please subscribe," "please send flowers," "please tip," "please bookmark," and "please vote."]
Chapter 56: Ayanokouji Kiyotaka Was Curious
"Even if you find a way, what then? How many points do you have left?"
"By the way, I'm almost out of points for food myself."
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka saw that Kanji Ike was still thinking about causing trouble and offered his opinion.
Making friends was exhausting.
If he weren't a little curious about what was going on with Kageya Shinjitsu, he wouldn't bother getting involved.
"Besides, after the way you acted just now, your standing with Kushida Kikyo must've plummeted. You might even rank lower than Kageya Shinjitsu. At least he hasn't gone out of his way to bother anyone in the class so far."
"Ayanokouji, whose side are you on?"
"I'm just telling it like it is."
"Damn it."
That was enough to make Kanji Ike explode.
He couldn't stand the thought of his goddess being all lovey-dovey with a guy like that every day.
And being deceived by him, too.
"I'm your friend, but we have to look at the facts."
"If he really is a bad guy, he'll show his true colors eventually. We might as well wait and see."
"Until then, why not shift your focus? Just keep trying to get close to Kushida Kikyo. That way, she won't have time to spend with Kageya Shinjitsu, and you might even get an unexpected surprise."
"I've seen Kageya Shinjitsu. He almost never approaches Kushida Kikyo on his own. I don't know why yet."
Afraid that the guy, whose brain had been taken over by lust, would do something reckless, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka had to talk him into backing off for now.
And he was almost certain that there was something very wrong with Kageya Shinjitsu—that he was putting on an act.
Did you come from somewhere like the White Room, too?
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was curious.
Though Kanji Ike was deeply dissatisfied, he had no points and couldn't think of a better plan, so he had to give up for the time being.
He'd keep running the forum and look for chances to get close to Kushida Kikyo, leaving Kageya Shinjitsu no opening.
Then, at the end of the school day, Kanji Ike nearly vomited blood again.
He could only watch as Kushida Kikyo asked Kageya Shinjitsu to leave with her.
"Take it easy."
"Looks like Kushida-chan has him wrapped around her little finger."
"But they don't seem to be dating yet."
"Maybe you still have a chance."
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka glanced at Kanji Ike.
Yamauchi Haruki, beside him, looked a little dejected, too.
"Looks like I'll have to change targets again."
He was already hatching a plan in his mind.
"I will never, ever let him get away with this."
The grudge of having your wife stolen was irreconcilable. Kanji Ike looked ready to devour Kageya Shinjitsu.
"What a bunch of idiots."
The rest of the class watched the fools. Kanji Ike, Yamauchi Haruki, and Ken Sudō had already earned the "Idiot Trio" nickname.
Hirata wanted to talk some sense into them, but he had a feeling that if he said anything, they might start fighting.
There was no talking them out of it.
The school cafeteria was bustling with people coming and going, since classes had just ended.
Kageya Shinjitsu and Kushida Kikyo arrived together, got their meals, and started looking for a place to sit.
This wasn't the first or second time this had happened. She was very curious about how Karuizawa Kei had changed, as well as why he'd gotten close to Horikita Suzune and things like that.
Perhaps she couldn't get anything out of Karuizawa Kei, so she kept coming to him instead.
But after failing to get any information from Kageya Shinjitsu once or twice, she'd grown frustrated with him.
Anyone who didn't know better would think he'd committed some terrible crime.
"Let's sit over there, Kageya."
Neither of them mentioned the post or Kanji Ike. They found a seat as naturally as a couple, and Kushida Kikyo sat beside Kageya Shinjitsu.
"Kageya..."
As soon as Kushida Kikyo opened her mouth, Kageya Shinjitsu knew what she was after.
"Even if you do that, I'm still not telling you, Hanada."
Kageya Shinjitsu sounded a little weary.
He'd seriously underestimated how curious girls could be.
She really was going to keep hounding him just to ask questions.
It was his fault, too, for being unable to turn down a cute girl.
All he could do was object and make her mad.
"Honestly, you're so mean, rejecting me before I've even finished asking."
"I get it now. You called me by the wrong name again on purpose, to make me mad enough to leave, right?"
"You always act cold, but deep down you're actually a good person, aren't you?"
"Don't think you can fool me."
Kushida Kikyo said with a cute, playful pout.
She was getting more and more familiar with how Kageya Shinjitsu operated.
He instinctively pushed people away and was completely uncomfortable with cute, flirtatious behavior.
If you really understood, the normal thing to do would be to leave right now.
Kageya Shinjitsu didn't deny it. He just kept eating.
"Honestly, there you go again."
Kushida Kikyo complained.
Then she changed the subject.
"Hey, Kageya, did you have any goals when you came to this school?"
[New author, new book, first update. This is an unpopular genre, so the stats are up to you. If the numbers are decent, I'll finish the story. If you think it's pretty good, please support it and leave a comment. "Please subscribe," "please send flowers," "please tip," "please bookmark," and "please vote."]
Chapter 57: Goals for Going to School
It felt like the conversation had jumped from small talk to life plans.
That was quite a leap.
He looked at Kushida Kikyo beside him, her eyes full of anticipation.
Kageya Shinjitsu let out a breath, then answered.
"Does graduating normally count as a goal?"
He didn't seem to have many goals.
"Just graduating normally? That's it? What kind of strange thing is that? Isn't graduating what everyone normally does?"
"Don't people usually have other goals, too?"
"Like making friends, getting a certain grade on exams, finding a job, choosing a school, or getting a girlfriend?"
Kushida Kikyo asked curiously.
"Making money, maybe? Earn a bit more so I'll have some when I graduate?"
Kageya Shinjitsu answered without hesitation.
After learning how this school worked, he'd definitely started thinking that way.
And lately, things had been going pretty well.
Based on the points he'd earned so far, as long as he didn't spend recklessly, he should be able to buy a house after graduation.
Of course, he could also transfer to Class A.
He'd see how things went.
"Huh??? Making money? Why would you think of that?"
"Are you brushing me off again?"
Before you continue