Ichinose Is Rude / Uninvited Guest

At this time, the girls in Class A were also on break.

With his face covered in sweat, Kamuro bent over, supporting himself on his knees, and sat next to Sakayanagi, leaning forward, letting the sweat slide down his smooth cheek and fall to the ground.

"Masumi, where's your towel?"

"I forgot it, and I'm too lazy to go back and get it."

Aoyama found his own towel and handed it over, saying, "Use mine, I haven't used mine yet."

He had just finished running and immediately lifted his shirt to wipe away the sweat.

"What just happened over there, Shiki- kun?"

After glancing at Kamuro, who calmly accepted Aoyama's towel, Sakayanagi narrowed his eyes and asked Aoyama a question.

She was curious as to why Ryuen would attack Class B at this particular time. It seemed too early to say it was for the Sports Festival, especially since it happened in public.

"The cause was that Ryuen made Ichinose's past criminal record, and Ichinose ran away citing feeling unwell."

"Then I stopped Kanzaki and Ryuen from arguing."

With so many students watching, the sensational nature of the incident, and Ichinose's popularity, Aoyama estimated that by lunchtime, the news would have spread throughout most of the first-year students.

Wiping the sweat from his neck, Kamuro looked surprised. "That Ichinose committed a crime? How dare Ryuen say that?"

Kamuro immediately refused to believe it was true.

Ichinose, whom everyone thought was an excessively good person, had actually committed a crime.

"Who knows?" Aoyama said noncommittally.

Perhaps it is because of the mistakes she made when she was young and ignorant that Ichinose is now pathologically acting like a nice guy and has never thought of attacking other classes.

Moreover, she not only refrains from attacking, but she also backs down in Special Exam where a class victory would lead to the expulsion of students from other classes.

Looking up at the Aoyama, Kamuro asked in astonishment, "You mean this is true?"

Based on her understanding of Aoyama, saying this meant she believed it to be true; Ichinose had indeed committed a crime.

Like her, Ichinose is also a criminal.

"I can only say it's highly likely." Unable to explain how he knew, Aoyama could only offer his speculation. "This matter is also somewhat related to Nagumo; I'll go handle it."

Since the attack on Ichinose occurred during summer vacation, rather than during the Student Council President election, Nagumo could only be targeting him.

Putting myself in Nagumo, I realized he would use the Student Council President election as an opportunity to threaten Class B into defecting by keeping Ichinose's past hidden.

"Do you need my help?"

"Just let me pat your head and give me some motivation."

"Roll."

"Yes, Lord Masumi, I obey."

Still smiling, Aoyama walked towards the school gate.

There's only one place Ichinose can escape to, and only there can she escape from being seen and disturbed by anyone.

You're such a fool, Ichinose Honami.

Curled up under the covers, Ichinose regretted the mistakes she had made in the past, and regretted how foolish she had been to fail in her application to become Student Council at the start of the semester and be deceived by Nagumo's words, confiding in him about the mistakes she had made.

If Nagumo were to reveal the mistakes he made in the past, what would his classmates think? What would Aoyama think?

My act of running away will surely arouse suspicion, but if I stay where I am, my classmates will definitely ask me to speak out and clarify that what Ryuen said is false.

She couldn't bring herself to lie after committing such a crime.

I feel so awful, I don't want to move at all.

Even though her lips felt very dry and she wanted to drink water, Ichinose remained curled up on the bed, motionless.

She was in a good mood when she saw her classmates running ahead of her on the Aoyama playground that morning, and she even thought about creating a little chance encounter.

Having been back at school for so many days, this was the first time she had seen the Aoyama.

Today should have been a happy day.

Regretting her past mistakes, Ichinose curled up even more.

"You big bad guy, what are you doing here?"

On the floor where Ichinose's room was located, Aoyama ran into Amikura and Shiranami, who both looked troubled, as he exited the elevator.

He estimated that it was highly likely that the two of them were turned away at Ichinose's Ichinose and persuaded to leave.

Aoyama placed his hand on Shiranami's head and ruffled it. "Why can't I be here? As you guessed, I came to find Ichinose. I also know what happened on the playground."

Amikura lowered his eyelids. "Xiao Fanbo said she feels very unwell and doesn't want to see anyone. She was perfectly fine before Long Ryuen came..."

Because they were such close friends, she was more aware than others of what Ryuen was saying that there must be something that had caused Ichinose to panic like this.

The thought that what Ryuen said might be true made her even more worried about Ichinose's current feelings.

Despite Ichinose's painful past, she is still Ichinose Honami's closest and most trusted friend.

She couldn't be happy when her friend was sad.

Aoyama looked gently at Amikura, whose expression was full of worry. "Don't worry, Ichinose will be fine. This matter is also related to me, and I won't stand idly by."

Driven by Ichinose, the trusted leader of Class B, could not stand idly by.

If it weren't for him, Ichinose wouldn't have faced Ryuen's almost name-calling accusations right from the start, without any mental preparation whatsoever.

Chapter 195 The Impolite Ichinose

"Hello, is anyone home? Some students downstairs are complaining about a leak upstairs. Could you please let us in to check it out?"

Knocking on the door of Ichinose's room, Aoyama used Voice Mimicry to impersonate the female dormitory supervisor.

Since his two closest friends, Amikura and Shiranami, had both failed to get in, he didn't think Ichinose would open the door easily.

Ichinose is probably terrified of being found by students or her homeroom teacher and questioned about the truth of what Ryuen said. Pretending to be an indifferent dorm supervisor is probably the best option for her.

"Yes, please wait a moment, I'll open the door now." Ichinose's lifeless voice came from inside the door.

As Aoyama had predicted, Ichinose, not wanting to trouble others, wouldn't pretend not to exist even when she was feeling very down and sad.

As the doorknob turned, the wooden door was slowly pulled open.

"Aoyama -kun?!?"

Upon seeing who was outside the door, Ichinose panicked instantly, and her hand, which had been moving to open the door inward, immediately slammed it shut.

However, no matter how hard she tried to push it open, the door, which was being held open by the person outside with one hand, not only wouldn't close but was gradually being opened again.

Aoyama pushed open a gap large enough for a person to pass through, his expression as casual as ever. "Surprised? Unexpected?"

Faced with Ichinose blocking the doorway, he squeezed through without much difficulty, entered the room, and closed the door. Then, while Ichinose was stunned and at a loss, he took over the seat at the dining table, his back to the entrance.

The plush toys I'd seen in arcades and claw machines were piled up on the bedside table, along with the girly, pure white lace curtains.

Compared to Horikita Suzune's minimalist room, Ichinose's room is full of girlish charm, with many cute personal items and a faint fragrance.

Aoyama's gaze fell on the desk. "You framed the photos?"

The photo, taken from the bedside on the cruise ship deck, is now prominently displayed on my desk.

In the photo, Amikura stands to his left with a hint of disdain, while to his right is Ichinose, who is smiling gently, and Shiranami is holding Ichinose's right arm on the other side.

"You knew about this, Aoyama -kun?"

Having given an irrelevant answer, Ichinose had no choice but to enter the room, her eyes lowered and her expression full of apprehension and fear.

No matter how casual and relaxed Aoyama appeared, the Ryuen Aoyama causing trouble, and that she hadn't responded to his escape attempt.

"That's why I'm here," Aoyama replied, a worried voice sounding behind him. "But Ichinose, don't worry, I'm not here to interrogate you."

He knew that Ichinose wasn't ready to let her friends know about her past thefts.

The reason for forcibly barging in was simply that he was worried Ichinose might do something foolish, or be used by Nagumo without Ichinose's knowledge.

"I'm sorry, Aoyama -kun, I'm not feeling well right now and would like to rest alone."

"I'll be fine tomorrow... in a few days, don't worry."

Ichinose's voice revealed a vulnerability that Aoyama had never heard before; even without seeing Ichinose's face, he could imagine her sorrowful expression.

Right now, Ichinose must just want to be alone and doesn't want anyone to see her in this terrible state.

"I have no intention of leaving until Ichinose returns to normal. Just pretend I don't exist." Instead of complying with Ichinose's hidden intention to leave, Aoyama directly stated that he wouldn't go.

He didn't want to force Ichinose to reveal the truth, but he couldn't just let it go unchecked either.

Since Ichinose doesn't want to talk yet, he'll wait until Ichinose does. He can't leave her Ichinose.

Once you get used to being alone, lost in your own thoughts, and staying indoors, this temporary escape can turn into a long-term, or even permanent, escape.

"Aoyama -kun is quite tough today."

With her emotions becoming more complicated, Ichinose looked at Aoyama's broad back with a wry smile, caught in a dilemma.

If she leaves the room, her classmates will find her; and with Aoyama in the room, she can't even be alone.

In the past, she would have been happy if Aoyama had visited her room, but now she only hoped that Aoyama would leave quickly and never know the mistakes he had made.

The thought that Aoyama would know that what Ryuen said was true made her afraid to imagine what Aoyama would do then.

We are no longer friends.

In order to avoid the possibility that Aoyama would say those words to her, even though Aoyama firmly stated that he would stay and not leave, Ichinose did not tell Aoyama about her plans to go over there.

Silently crossing the Aoyama, Ichinose, without any manners, lay back on the bed and curled up under the covers.

No matter what, Aoyama will surely go back by nightfall.

In the unusually quiet room, Ichinose began to let her mind wander, forcing herself to ignore Aoyama in the room.

Aoyama didn't say anything in response, but simply took out his phone to kill time.

[To fulfill your brother's wish, buy some dried scallops, chicken, and shredded ginger, and deliver them to Ichinose's dormitory.]

Around midnight, after opening the refrigerator door and finding no food he wanted, Aoyama sent a text message to Horikita Suzune.

He had been in Ichinose's room for more than three hours. Ichinose, who had been curled up under the covers, was now peeking out of his sleep, his expression no longer filled with sorrow.

[What does this have to do with fulfilling my brother's expectations???]

[If I don't flatter Ichinose, how will Ichinose support me becoming the Student Council president? It's all to meet your brother's expectations. Since you're the president's sister, you'd better work hard.]

With a slight smile, Aoyama replied to Horikita Suzune must be icy cold at this moment.

If I were to ask Kamuro and the others to let me stay in Ichinose's room or even cook for her, they would definitely be unhappy.

Sakayanagi's legs were weak, and he didn't want to increase the possibility of exposure with Shiraishi and Manabe, Horikita Suzune, who could be used for free, was the best choice, since he wouldn't feel bad using her anyway.

[You bastard, if you don't meet your brother's expectations, I'll never let you get away with this. Hirata reported that Ichinose is a criminal. What's going on?]

[Who knows? Please send it quickly, I'm hungry.]

Without answering Horikita Suzune's questions or offering any suggestions, Aoyama entered the unfamiliar kitchen and slowly found the kitchenware he needed.

After washing two portions of rice, he wiped his hands and left the kitchen, waiting for Horikita Suzune to deliver it.

Thinking that Ichinose probably didn't have a good appetite, he planned to make a fragrant and nutritious scallop porridge for the two of them for lunch.

Mental illness is also an illness, and scallop porridge is a suitable choice for patients.

While waiting, having nothing to do, Aoyama walked to the bedside and looked at Ichinose's sleeping face, who had just fallen asleep less than half an hour ago.

She was fast asleep when she opened the door, her furrowed brows had Matsushita, and her lovely, peaceful face was incredibly endearing.

Chapter 196 The Uninvited Guest

How did I fall asleep? Aoyama should have left by now.

Ichinose groggily opened her eyes to the familiar ceiling. Ichinose consciousness slowly returned, and at the same time, she felt a pang of hunger in her stomach.

What time is it?