A Long Night / The First Day of School

"In that case, would you like to try my cooking?"

Remembering the culinary skills he had recently acquired, Aoyama was immediately energized and decided to give them a try.

"What dishes does Shiina like to eat?"

Before Shiina could speak, Aoyama asked again with great interest.

Seeing how motivated Aoyama was, Shiina swallowed his words of refusal and nodded with a smile.

"My favorite food is tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelet)."

Oh dear, I messed up. I'm so useless, Aoyama.

In the dimly lit room with the blackout curtains drawn, Ichinose lay on the bed, lost in self-reproach. Meanwhile, Amikura, who had slept in her room for two days, was not there.

She left the classroom alone.

While still in the classroom, when asked Kanzaki would choose as Student Council President, she immediately thought of Aoyama, only realizing a moment later that it was wrong.

As the class leader, her first thought should be who would be most beneficial to the class, rather than choosing a specific person.

No matter how much she likes Aoyama, she is still the leader of Class B, while Aoyama is the leader of Class A and their greatest enemy.

"We all hope you stay away from Aoyama Shiki and don't let him deceive and take advantage of you. Before the Uninhabited Island Exam, Horikita trusted Aoyama Shiki completely, just like you do now, and you saw the result."

'Right now, Aoyama Shiki is also in the Keyaki Mall, happily playing with Shiina of Class 1-C.'

Aoyama wasn't deceiving or using me.

I really want to see you right now, Aoyama.

Remembering Kanzaki's last words, Ichinose fumbled to open her phone, went into the chat app, and tapped on Aoyama's profile picture.

After hesitating for a while, she exited the private chat with Aoyama and nervously opened the class group chat to look through the chat history of her classmates today.

When she saw a photo of two people from behind, she felt a pang of unease and a sense of sadness welled up inside her.

Just from their backs, she recognized the one holding the giant plush toy as Aoyama, whom she had been longing to see, and the other with long silver hair as Shiina from Class C.

They must have had a lot of fun today...

With her phone locked and seemingly powerless, Aoyama picked up the polar bear plush toy that Ichinose had leaned against from the bedside table and hugged it tightly. The image of Aoyama's special treatment of Shiina during the Paper Shuffle Special Exam flashed through her mind.

I also want to be treated like you did Shiina.

Smelling the scent of the doll, Ichinose closed her eyes.

"So skillful! It looks delicious."

After shopping at the supermarket with Shiina, Aoyama immediately returned to his dormitory to start cooking, and Shiina followed him into the kitchen to watch.

Seeing that Aoyama's movements were very skillful and the tamagoyaki in the pot was gradually taking shape and was very neat, she couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

Aoyama smiled slightly at the praise, "It's almost done. Please let Miki and Masumi know they can come over and start eating."

Since the decision to cook was made around 5 PM, Kamuro and Yamamura definitely hadn't eaten yet, so Aoyama informed them in advance that they would have dinner together at his dorm that evening.

Ever since he changed how he addressed Kamuro, Yamamura has also made him call her Miki in front of others.

"Yeah, it's been a long time since I've seen Kamuro either." After an uncontrollable slight frown, Shiina took out her phone to contact her friend, whom she affectionately called "Friend."

Shortly after receiving the reply, she overheard Kamuro and Yamamura talking in the room from the kitchen.

Even the room key is backed up? It seems that Aoyama and Kamuro have made great strides in their relationship during the summer vacation, becoming much closer.

"Good evening, Kamuro, Yamamura -kun." Extinguishing her inner turmoil, Shiina carried the cooked rice out of the kitchen, greeting her friends whom she hadn't seen for over ten days and several days.

"Long time no see, Shiina."

As Shiina placed a large plate of rice on the table, Kamuro casually replied.

She had worked with Shiina in the Student Council for several months, and although they didn't get along very well, she had become familiar with Shiina's presence.

"Shiki... what did that guy cook today?" Kamuro continued, then realized that Aoyama was the first time she had addressed Aoyama so intimately in front of Shiina.

Doesn't this make it seem like the two of them have a very good relationship?

"Tamago, tempura shrimp, thick-cut pork cutlet, and scrambled eggs with tomatoes." Shiina smiled, looking at Kamuro suddenly seemed uncomfortable. "Aoyama's cooking looks really good. I'm so envious of Kamuro."

Sensing Shiina's slightly mocking tone, Kamuro quickly interjected, "This is only the second time I've eaten here, including today, and I can only say it was alright."

As for Aoyama's cooking skills, they are not as good as the cafeteria food she always eats at.

"Masumi n't worry, Masumi. This time, I'm the one who's returned from further studies. I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

Carrying two plates of food out of the kitchen, Aoyama was full of confidence after tasting his newly made dishes. He said the food was definitely much better than what he had eaten in the cafeteria, and even surpassed Horikita Suzune's.

"Alright, then let me keep looking forward to it." Her face flushed, Kamuro quickly walked into the kitchen, avoiding Shiina's gaze.

Being addressed by her name intimately in front of acquaintances made her feel a little more uncomfortable than she had imagined.

"I'll help too, Masumi."

With a faint smile, Yamamura followed Kamuro into the kitchen to help.

Chapter 211 The Long Night

"Little sister, you sit at the bow of the boat—I, your brother, walk on the shore."

After finishing their meal and cleaning up, Aoyama took out a card game he had specially bought and played with Shiina and the others until after nine o'clock.

Seeing that it was almost time, he went into the bathroom, humming a cheerful tune as he took a shower.

Overall, he was quite happy today, especially when he thought about eating. Kamuro looked at his own face in disbelief, wondering how his cooking skills had improved so much.

But why haven't we heard anything from Ichinose yet?

Standing in the wash area drying his hair, Aoyama hadn't forgotten the anomaly he'd noticed earlier that day. He glanced at his phone and realized it was almost ten o'clock.

[Aoyama, do you think I'm not suitable to be a class leader?]

Just as Aoyama was thinking about whether to ask, he received Ichinose.

Is Ichinose unsuitable to be a class leader? What happened to her?

As expected, Class B still needs a pawn, but unfortunately there's no suitable candidate.

With a slight frown, Aoyama stepped out of the bathroom and got dressed.

He had always wanted to plant someone in Class B to provide intelligence, but given the united atmosphere in Class B, it would be extremely difficult to win over the students.

[Is the Amikura still with you? I'm coming to find you.]

After thinking for a while, Aoyama decided to meet Ichinose in person, even at the risk of being expelled from school.

It's fine for a girl to appear in a boy's room late at night, but it's a different story for a boy to appear in a girl's room. If the room owner accuses him of indecent assault, he could face expulsion without sufficient evidence.

He made a mistake in his judgment and trusted the wrong Ichinose, he admitted.

[Not here.]

I'll go right now.

Wearing flip-flops, Aoyama took the elevator to Ichinose's floor. Finding Ichinose's door ajar, he pushed it open, entered, and then casually closed it.

"I've arrived, Ichinose."

Aoyama greeted Ichinose, who appeared before him in her school uniform, with Aoyama gentle smile.

He figured that Ichinose must have been to school today, and the students in Class B must have gathered somewhere on campus, most likely in the classroom.

The fact that they gathered in the classroom carrying Ichinose indicates that there's a problem with Class B, and a big one at that.

"I'm so happy, Aoyama." With her eyes shining brightly, Ichinose strode closer to Aoyama, her jade-like white hands slipping between his arms and body, and crossed over his back.

That idol-like, adorable face was pressed tightly against Aoyama's chest.

He didn't need to look down to smell the delicate fragrance emanating from Ichinose.

Why are you happy?

Without asking Ichinose why she did it, Aoyama gently stroked Ichinose's smooth, long hair.

Ichinose's current state doesn't seem like she's confused about whether she's suitable to be a class leader; the aura she exudes is neither peaceful nor melancholic.

In his personal opinion, it's somewhat similar to Kushida's second form.

Taking a deep breath of Aoyama's unique scent, Ichinose looked up at Aoyama's face, gazing intently. "Because you came, that's all."

When talking to Kanzaki in the classroom, and when Kanzaki mentioned that Aoyama had designed Horikita Suzune's scheme, she also began to have some doubts about whether Aoyama was using her.

That remains true even now, but it doesn't matter anymore.

A meticulous Student Council Vice President couldn't be unaware of the risks of showing up at the girls' dormitory late at night.

When Aoyama, unafraid of the risk of dropping out of school, voluntarily entered her room, she felt that being used was acceptable, as long as Aoyama still trusted her.

Knowing that she still trusted her in the past was enough for her.

"What happened that made you say something unsuitable for a leader?" Feeling a little uncomfortable being squeezed by her soft, massive breasts, Aoyama led Ichinose to the bedside, wanting to sit down separately to talk.

He couldn't ignore the girl's well-developed body, and a certain part of his own body gradually began to react.

"Let me hug you first."

As Aoyama wished, Ichinose released him and let him sit down.

But then, Ichinose came up behind him, knelt down, and wrapped her arms around his neck, letting his head sink into her extreme softness.

"I've realized I'm no longer suited to be the leader of Class B, and it's all Aoyama's fault."

Just as Aoyama was about to tell Ichinose to be more careful, he heard Ichinose's light, seemingly carefree voice.

"Kanzaki questioned me today, wondering if I trusted Aoyama too much. Last time, she even misappropriated class funds and lent them to Aoyama for a few minutes to bluff."

"When asked who I would support in the Student Council President election, I lost the judgment a leader should have and just kept thinking about supporting Aoyama."

"So I think Kanzaki's idea of establishing a vice class representative position is correct, but not thorough enough."

With an expression of infatuation, Ichinose reached out and gently stroked Aoyama's cheek.

"As long as I still like Aoyama, I will unconsciously lean towards Aoyama, so I have decided to resign from my position as class leader and assist Kanzaki as vice class president."

"I will continue to contribute to the class as usual, but the final decision-making power will be left to Kanzaki."

"I want to help the class, but I also want to continue liking Aoyama, the leader of Class A. I'm such a bad kid who wants to have it all."

Seemingly unsatisfied with being stroked by hand, Ichinose rubbed her face against Aoyama's.

A rich and captivating aroma enveloped the Aoyama hills.

Even through her silky smooth pink hair, he could still clearly perceive the unusual delicacy and softness of Ichinose's exquisite face.

He naturally didn't miss Ichinose Ai's confession mixed in with her words.

He didn't care at all about Kanzaki to make him the vice class representative Ichinose losing complete control of Class B.

"I'm a philandering bastard." Aoyama grasped Ichinose's hand, which was outstretched to his chest.

If Ichinose is willing, he will naturally accept this cute girl who likes him and whom he likes in return.

With a look of joy, Ichinose buried her head in Aoyama's neck, leaving her mark before looking up. "Even so, I still love Aoyama, and I don't think I can leave Aoyama."

She wants to cut off her own escape route and her own confusion today.

"I like you too, Honami."

Turning around, Aoyama touched Ichinose's unusually rosy cheek and gently cupped it in his hands.

Her icy blue, watery eyes were tightly closed, and her long, beautiful eyelashes trembled slightly, revealing the turmoil in her heart.

"So cute!"

Forgetting his initial purpose for going to Ichinose's room, Aoyama used Ichinose actions to express his feelings for her.

With his breathing becoming deeper, he removed Ichinose's last line of defense.

The act of sensing each other's body temperature continued for a very long time, even past midnight.

The consequence of this was that Aoyama, who set his alarm for an early start the next day, went to school looking exhausted with dark circles under his eyes.

Chapter 212 The First Day of School

"Ah--"