An Indirect Kiss / In for a Penny, In for a Pound

Treating them like commodities is more infuriating than Aoyama trampling on him or Ayanokoji, whom he once admired, surrendering.

"Don't worry, Yagami, your parents still care about you. You're different from Amasawa Ichika." Tsukishiro wasn't angry at Yagami's question at all; he was just stating a matter-of-fact statement.

The genius performance of the fifth generation's number one player made Yagami's parents visit him secretly in the White Room whenever they had time, which was completely different from President Amasawa Ichika, who had not visited the White Room in more than ten years.

"I refuse."

With a casual remark, Aoyama placed his hand on Amasawa Ichika's trembling shoulder.

Chapter 357 Indirect Kiss

"How pitiful, only her parents haven't come to see her."

"Maybe he's forgotten, after all, he wasn't born 'personally'."

The desire to gossip and share are human nature. Having lived in the White Room for more than ten years, Amasawa Ichika has also heard things from adults that they shouldn't know.

For example, who are the parents of a certain companion, or who cheated on whom with their husband.

One afternoon when she was thirteen, less than a week before her birthday, she overheard the cleaning staff talking about something related to her.

That was the topic that left her feeling completely dazed and confused that day.

All her companions would be taken home someday, but she lost that possibility, meaning there was no one who loved or cared about her.

Maybe it's better to be handed over to a senior student.

If it were a senior student, they definitely wouldn't treat me roughly.

When Tsukishiro heard that Amasawa Ichika was giving him away like merchandise, he felt extremely resentful and even wanted to shout out to vent his anger.

However, as a precocious child, she was very clear that she could not resist a powerful figure like Tsukishiro.

"I refuse."

The words, though not loud, were powerful and came from the senior student beside her. Just as Amasawa Ichika was suddenly gripped by the panic of feeling unwanted, she felt a hand on her shoulder.

As if to reassure himself, he used force to show his presence.

"If you promise something you can't deliver, I don't think you're sincere at all."

"Since I can say it, that's natural."

"You can't do it." Aoyama interrupted Tsukishiro directly, "Because Amasawa Ichika is a member of my Student Council, and until I approve of her, no one can force her to do something she doesn't like."

This treatment of people like commodities disgusted him from the bottom of his heart.

Especially since that person was someone he knew.

"You just..."

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"This is a bit unreasonable, Aoyama Shiki." Tsukishiro's smile faded. In his view, Aoyama was robbing him outright, treating him like a sucker.

He's always the one stealing from others; when has anyone ever dared to steal from him?

"My reasoning is the only valid reasoning."

Without offering any explanation, Aoyama stood up from his chair and shielded Amasawa Ichika behind him.

Whether Amasawa Ichika likes it or not, he will not let Tsukishiro take Amasawa Ichika away today.

Tsukishiro also stood up, her eyes cold. "Come back."

"If you dare come any closer, I'll break your legs."

Before Amasawa Ichika could respond, Aoyama grabbed Amasawa Ichika by the back of the neck to prevent her from moving.

"Shouldn't you be saying 'Trust me' right now, senior?" Amasawa Ichika tried his best to keep his tone normal, but it still carried a strong sense of unease.

It would be absolutely impossible for her not to be moved by Aoyama's actions in protecting her, but it was also because of this that she couldn't bear to see Aoyama being retaliated against by Tsukishiro because of her.

No matter how capable he was, at this point, Aoyama was still just a student.

"I don't care what you think, I care what I think."

"As a Student Council member, all you need to do is listen to me, the president."

Aoyama calmly answered the cute girl with a sad expression, facing Tsukishiro's increasingly sharp aura.

"It seems you were a bit irrational today. I think you'll come to your senses later." Yagami clenched his fist and then released it, giving Ayanokoji and Tsukishiro a cold glance.

"Walk."

With a cold snort, Tsukishiro turned around and took Ayanokoji and Yagami away.

Soon, only Aoyama and Amasawa Ichika remained by the roaring campfire.

Apart from the crackling sound of firewood burning in the bonfire, the surrounding space became quiet for a moment.

"I have some candy here, want some?" Taking out two lollipops from the backpack beside him, Aoyama unwrapped one and put it in his mouth.

When they were at the central Base on the Uninhabited Island, he noticed that Tsubaki Sakurako often had a lollipop in her mouth, so on a whim, he bought a pack and shared it with all the girls. He would give them to them whenever he saw them.

"I want strawberry flavor."

"And they even picked you."

Aoyama gave a casual reply, put away the orange-flavored lollipop, and then rummaged through his backpack again.

As a result, the most popular flavor was gone except for the one he was holding in his mouth; the remaining few were all other flavors.

"That's all. I'm the only strawberry flavor left. The rest are lemon, grape, and green apple."

Taking the lollipop out of his mouth and holding it open, Aoyama showed Amasawa Ichika the lollipop in his other hand, telling Amasawa Ichika to take it if he wanted.

"This one will do." Suddenly revealing a cunning smile—the brightest one Aoyama had seen all day— Amasawa Ichika bent down and snatched the lollipop that Aoyama had already eaten from his hand.

Suddenly, they had completed the act of indirect kissing.

"So sweet."

He grabbed the thin stem of the lollipop and pulled it out of his mouth, Amasawa Ichika stuck out his small tongue and licked the corner of his mouth.

The smile on her face became even brighter and more adorable.

"I just can't do anything with you." With a sigh, Aoyama casually unwrapped a lollipop and started eating it.

The dopamine released by the sugar helped improve his somewhat unpleasant mood.

He originally intended to teach Ayanokoji a lesson, at least to break one of his legs and force him to withdraw from the competition, but this was thwarted by Tsukishiro's interference.

"Is it okay to sleep with Tsubaki Sakurako tonight? She has a two-person tent."

"Generally speaking, she'll give me face."

After a while, Aoyama, who was already sitting in a chair, asked.

Having brought nothing with him, Amasawa Ichika clearly has nowhere to stay tonight.

"Can't I sleep with my senior? I saw that he brought a double tent too." Amasawa Ichika wrapped his arms around Aoyama's neck from behind and pressed his entire body weight onto him.

Feeling the warmth emanating from Aoyama's body, Amasawa Ichika couldn't help but rub his cheek against Aoyama's cheek, comfortably half-closing his eyes.

"Dream on! My pure and innocent body cannot be ruined by you."

Even now, Aoyama still doesn't feel at ease about Amasawa Ichika, so naturally he wouldn't do something so dangerous.

If he gets caught cheating by school staff, he's really doomed.

"Move aside, we're taking down the tents and going back."

"So fast? Let me hug you a little longer and rest a bit, senior." Amasawa Ichika tightened his grip on Aoyama's neck, speaking in a spoiled tone and rubbing his face against him again.

"Why are you acting like a child? Can't you act like a high school student?"

"I'm just a kid in front of my seniors."

Emptying his mind and expressing his true feelings, Amasawa Ichika wasn't ashamed of himself at all.

"Could it be that you've lost your mind due to a fever?" Aoyama reached out and brushed away Amasawa Ichika's bangs, placing his hand on her smooth forehead.

The temperature emanating from the delicate skin was not excessively high.

"Senior, you've lost your mind! Treating that bastard Tsukishiro like this, protecting me, your enemy!"

"So you're saying I was wrong, and this is a real-life version of the farmer and the snake?"

"If I weren't involved, I would definitely say that the senior was wrong, but unfortunately I am."

After making up his mind, Amasawa Ichika gently kissed Aoyama's cheek.

This is a reward for protecting her senior.

Chapter 358 No Turning Back

"I'm talking about you, Shiki."

Around 9 PM, Kamuro finally saw Aoyama return, who had previously announced that everything was alright.

Behind him was a female student who was clutching his clothes and giving him a strange look.

She thought Aoyama had gone out to fight and have fun, but instead he brought back a bandit's wife from the other side. As expected, she'll have another good friend soon.

"We can't just leave her there. I'll take her to Tsubaki Sakurako's place first, and then I'll give you a detailed report when I get back."

Knowing what Kamuro was unhappy about, Aoyama scratched his head helplessly, then left Amasawa Ichika with Tsubaki Sakurako.

After returning, he went to the lakeside with Kamuro and told Kamuro in detail what had happened.

"Should we ask the Sakayanagi Family to intervene? It's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark." Kamuro could imagine how angry Tsukishiro was.

Aoyama shook his head. "No need. I will make Tsukishiro disappear, physically speaking."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka Tsukishiro Tokinari. The prudent Ayanokoji wouldn't act recklessly, but Tsukishiro is someone who walks the gray area.

Since he had already offended Tsukishiro, he might as well go all the way.

"I knew you were lawless, but I never imagined you'd be this lawless."

Kamuro was somewhat speechless, unsure of what to say.

She was just an ordinary high school student when she was suddenly told that her boyfriend was going to kill someone, and that the person he was going to kill was a very important person.

"I'll handle everything. You just need to stay by my side and be happy."

Sitting on a huge rock by the lake, Aoyama pulled Kamuro onto his lap and sat her sideways, quietly holding her waist.

It might have been better to kill Tsukishiro without Kamuro's knowledge, but he didn't want to keep it from Kamuro.

"My happiness depends on you being by my side." Resting his head on Aoyama's shoulder, Kamuro subtly advised Aoyama to think twice before acting.

She didn't object to Aoyama saving Amasawa Ichika; she only hoped that Aoyama wouldn't act recklessly without absolute certainty, lest he incur unbearable consequences.

"Okay, I understand."

Without saying anything like "trust me" or "no problem," Aoyama nodded while gently stroking Kamuro's smooth, long hair.

The following day, the morning of the eleventh day of the exam.

With no leader and constantly being suppressed, three of the bottom five groups are now from Class 1-B.

"That Ayanokoji ran really fast, otherwise I would have broken his legs tonight."

After checking the bottom ten rankings, Aoyama used the GPS to locate Ayanokoji, but just like before going to bed last night, he still couldn't locate him.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Ayanokoji will likely abstain.

Whether he will actually choose to drop out of school as he said that night is hard to say.

"Seniors, do you want third place in your group? I can eliminate our group."

Amasawa Ichika snuggled up to Aoyama and hugged his arm. He was more outgoing than ever before and didn't care about the traditional boundaries between men and women at all.

Currently, the top-ranked group is still the first-year Amasawa Ichika group, the second is the Ichinose group, and the third is the third-year Kiryuin group.

Fourth place went to Katsuragi's group from Class 2-A.

"We don't need your help. Our group might still be in the top three." Aoyama tried to pull his hand away but couldn't, so he let Amasawa Ichika hold his arm and spoke.

He hadn't forgotten Hosen, a member of the Amasawa Ichika group, and secretly prepared one million personal points for himself.

The exam will be over in a little over two days, and I reckon Hosen's condition will be acting up soon.