Nishida Yuki's Interests

Every day after the student council election activities concluded and everyone headed home, Nishida Yuki would always ask Akimoto Yoichi to stay behind.

It wasn't for anything else, but rather to have Akimoto Yoichi accompany her while she played the piano.

In Nishida Yuki's own words, practicing the piano helped her gain votes for the student council election.

Suzuran Ayano also accepted this reasoning.

Of course, Akimoto Yoichi didn't know anything about elegant things like the piano; the reason she kept him behind instead of Suzuran Ayano or Kuroo Maya was simple.

According to Nishida Yuki, she needed him to help turn the pages of her sheet music, so Akimoto Yoichi had to stand right beside her.

Since he was tall, he could reach the sheet music without disturbing Nishida Yuki while she played, whereas Ayano and Maya were too short and their bodies would bump into the keys.

However, Nishida Yuki's piano skills were already at a level where she didn't need to look at the sheet music at all; she didn't need anyone to turn pages for her in the slightest.

If she had just said she wanted Akimoto Yoichi to keep her company because she wanted to hang out with him a bit longer, that would have been far more straightforward.

But Nishida Yuki insisted; she specifically wanted Akimoto Yoichi to stand by her side and turn the pages.

If he turned them too slowly, she would look at him with a smile, the meaning in her eyes quite self-evident.

She just loved watching Akimoto Yoichi make a fool of himself.

Listening to the upbeat piano melody drifting through the music room, if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Akimoto Yoichi wouldn't have believed that such a sound could be produced by someone with as terrible a personality as Nishida Yuki.

To put it bluntly, Nishida Yuki was just trying to derive pleasure from Akimoto Yoichi.

Seeing Akimoto Yoichi obediently do exactly as she wanted made Nishida Yuki happy and satisfied.

Akimoto Yoichi, who was well aware of this, didn't bother calling out the petty schemes of this black-hearted, wicked young lady; after all, it would be a waste of breath, and she wouldn't change anyway.

And so, after participating in the student council election and finishing the daily flyer distribution for his campaign, Akimoto Yoichi would accompany Nishida Yuki home late every day, practicing piano in this music room.

As the piece ended, Nishida Yuki turned her head to look at Akimoto Yoichi beside her.

He gave her an impatient, sour look.

But Nishida Yuki's smile only grew brighter, and she became even more interested.

"You're getting quite skilled now, Akimoto-kun. You don't just sit there blankly anymore when I finish a page, waiting forever to turn to the next one."

"Oh? Should I thank you for that?" Akimoto Yoichi said bluntly.

In fact, he really should thank Nishida Yuki, because the heroine trait she possessed had the effect of increasing Focus.

Akimoto Yoichi had originally thought that since he and Nishida Yuki weren't in the same class, a buff that was only useful during class would be of no use to him.

Who would have guessed that Nishida Yuki would spend every day intentionally toying with him—a musical novice—by dragging him along to play the piano.

No matter how reluctant Akimoto Yoichi was, under the influence of Nishida Yuki's Focus buff, he was learning the piano rapidly.

This was the definition of being influenced by one's surroundings; Akimoto Yoichi could now play simple pieces like "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" all on his own.

Although it was the simplest of tunes, Akimoto Yoichi had never touched a piano in his life before this.

One had to admit, the buffs possessed by these heroines were truly terrifying.

Depending on how the heroines were utilized, the effects on whatever one was doing were completely different.

"Of course, you should thank me. Alright, although I haven't had my fill yet, tomorrow is a day off, isn't it? Let's head back early today."

Nishida Yuki stood up from her seat with satisfaction, closed the piano, and walked toward the door with her hands behind her back.

"Let's go~ Akimoto-kun."

"Or are you reluctant to part with me? That won't do, you know."

Nishida Yuki said this deliberately, aiming to provoke a reaction from Akimoto Yoichi.

"No, I just think you're up to no good, woman. You aren't plotting something bad again, are you?" Akimoto Yoichi never stood on ceremony when speaking to Nishida Yuki.

She usually dragged the piano practice out until six or seven in the evening, yet today she was letting him go so quickly.

Looking at the sky outside, it was probably just a little past six.

Now that Nishida Yuki was letting him off the hook, Akimoto Yoichi was certain this girl would make him pay double for it somewhere else.

"How vulgar, Akimoto-kun." Nishida Yuki covered her mouth and laughed, though she didn't deny Akimoto Yoichi's words.

"To say such vulgar things to an elegant girl like me."

"But I don't actually dislike this side of you, Akimoto-kun."

"Because you're the only one who treats me so frankly, and I quite fancy your personality, Akimoto-kun."

Akimoto Yoichi glanced at the young lady beside him who loved playing with fire. Was she getting a kick out of this again?

If someone else were in his shoes, you'd be in for a world of hurt.

By then, there would be no need for piano playing; it would be all about drums and opera singing.

"Let's go, stop yapping. Your luxury car is already waiting at the school gate, isn't it?"

As a young lady of status, Nishida Yuki had a private car pick her up every day.

During this time, he had accompanied Nishida Yuki in and out of the school gate every day, to the point where he was almost on familiar terms with the driver.

"If you're willing, Akimoto-kun, you could enjoy the same treatment, too."

That was somewhat tempting; who doesn't like a wealthy woman?

"I might consider it with other young ladies, but with you? Forget it. I'm afraid if I followed you, I'd end up sleeping in a dog crate," Akimoto Yoichi said.

Hearing this, Nishida Yuki giggled.

The two of them changed into their own shoes and walked side by side out of the school building.

Just as they caught sight of the luxury car that had come to pick up Nishida Yuki, Akimoto Yoichi also spotted those guys with green hair crouching at the school gate.

"Go stand over there. Don't follow me; just let your driver pick you up." The moment his gaze met theirs, Akimoto Yoichi understood they were here for him.

For once, Nishida Yuki didn't try to go against him as she usually did; she nodded. "Mm."

Then, Nishida Yuki stepped back, putting some distance between herself and Akimoto Yoichi.

However, she didn't call for her driver, instead standing there with her hands behind her back, watching with a smile.

Regardless of what Nishida Yuki might be thinking behind him, Akimoto Yoichi walked toward the group of high school students in different uniforms who were gradually emerging from both sides of the school gate.

One look at these high schoolers was enough to know what they were here for.

Sure enough, as soon as Akimoto Yoichi reached them, the group of students called out to him.

"Hey! Kid, you're the one who beat up our friend earlier, right!"

"This isn't a good spot. Let's head outside." Akimoto Yoichi glanced at the students who hadn't left yet nearby and walked straight toward the exit of the school.