Advanced Nurturing High School's Top Gigolo

The final bell of the day rang around the students' ears.

Kamigami Haruo stood up and stretched, then politely declined Hirata Yosuke's invitation to a group dinner.

Only after most of the students had left the classroom did he walk out alone.

His destination this time was the convenience store.

He planned to buy a rice ball to deal with his slight hunger, then head straight to the field to work out.

But the moment he arrived at the store, he unexpectedly ran into a repeat offender.

Kamigami Haruo hid around the corner and observed her.

The culprit was checking her surroundings and the angles covered by the surveillance cameras.

After making sure there were no issues, she casually walked past the display cabinet containing the stolen goods.

As she passed by, she naturally reached out and slipped the stolen item into her bag.

Not once during the process did the culprit show any unusual expression.

Without the slightest psychological burden, she headed toward the store exit.

Unlike others who, after shoplifting, would buy a few items to conceal their guilt.

She savored the thrill in her heart as she headed toward the surveillance blind spot Kamigami Haruo had pointed out last time.

Kamigami Haruo had practically watched a blockbuster about a master thief.

Seeing Sakayanagi Arisu following Kamuro Masumi from behind at an unhurried pace,

Kamigami Haruo silently offered her his condolences.

After leaving the store, he glanced at Ken Sudo, who had to squat outside the convenience store and hurriedly eat because he needed to attend club activities.

Then he headed toward the field to exercise.

Some time later.

"Haah..."

Kamigami Haruo took a towel from his bag and wiped away his sweat.

After taking a sip of water, he collapsed weakly onto the grass washed by the evening breeze, listening to music as he relaxed his body.

He silently enjoyed wave after wave of spring evening breezes.

As the breeze swept across his cheeks and scattered nearby cherry blossoms, he became entranced by the falling petals.

Until, amid the dancing blossoms, a figure appeared that could rival them.

The outline of that figure went from blurry to gradually clear.

It was a strawberry-blonde girl. She quietly walked over and sat beside Kamigami Haruo.

"Kamigami-kun."

Kamigami Haruo turned toward the voice, and a flash of pink entered his sight.

He propped himself up with both hands, then greeted her.

"Good evening, Ichinose."

"Good evening. I wanted to familiarize myself with the school's facilities, but somehow I wandered here by accident."

"You're really bad at lying. That's only half the truth, isn't it?"

"I-I guess so."

The moment the word "lying" came up, the girl's mood sank.

Kamigami Haruo figured she had only recently emerged from the shadows and was a little sensitive.

"Did you need something? If not, I'm going to dinner."

Kamigami Haruo rubbed his flat, hungry stomach, stood up, picked up his bag, and started toward the student cafeteria.

Ichinose, whose attempt to speak had been forcibly interrupted, followed after him as well.

"Could it be that you work out every day, Kamigami-kun? You really have a lot of energy."

"A strong body is indispensable at this school."

"Now that you mention it, I suddenly feel like exercising too."

"An Ichinose covered in muscles? Better not."

"Ahaha..."

Ichinose laughed awkwardly and scratched her cheek with one finger.

"Have you eaten dinner? Of course, if you came here to treat me to a meal, then I'd happily accept."

"Not yet. And Kushida-san told me you have quite the appetite. But sure, I'll treat you."

"You really are a great angel..."

"Sorry, what did you just say?"

"Nothing..."

Kamigami Haruo appeared at the entrance to the student cafeteria with someone else again, and once more, the other person was paying.

In just a few days, two beautiful girls had treated him to meals.

He wondered if, after a few months, he would become Advanced Nurturing High School's number one kept man.

Anything he could get for free was not to be missed.

Because he was hungry, he ate very quickly this time.

Though Ichinose's shocked expression was a bit exaggerated.

"Burp... Surprised, Ichinose?"

"Ahaha... It's a little unbelievable."

Ichinose scratched her cheek again.

Kamigami Haruo declared with unusual pride.

"When it comes to eating, you're not number one."

"But I'm very confident in other areas."

Ichinose did not argue. Instead, she spoke in a confident tone.

It gave her an innocent, guileless air.

Kamigami Haruo rubbed his slightly overstuffed stomach and asked Ichinose,

"Then I'll look forward to it. Want to take a walk and chat while we digest?"

After a while.

Kamigami Haruo was once again walking back with someone else, and the atmosphere was much the same.

"Ichinose, you have something you want to say, don't you?"

"Um... never mind..."

"Ichinose, is this as far as your courage goes? Do you remember what was written on that note?"

Kamigami Haruo gave the hesitant girl a push, making her say it herself.

Only by facing reality and reconciling with the past could she escape the shadows.

"Y-yes. It's a little surprising... How did you know?"

Ichinose forced out a smile and did not dare meet Kamigami Haruo's eyes.

It was as if she had returned to those fallen days, wanting to run away from reality.

"Ichinose, how I know doesn't matter. What matters is the burden in your heart. Paper can't wrap up fire forever. One day, you'll have to face that guilt again. It hurts, doesn't it? Being tortured by it all the time, and being afraid of disappointing everyone's expectations again."

"No, that's not it. I just... I just..."

Of the two sets of footsteps walking together, only one remained.

Kamigami Haruo stopped and turned around. Seeing Ichinose crouching where she stood with her face covered, he sighed.

If anyone found out about this, he would definitely become Class B's public enemy.

Thinking that, Kamigami Haruo walked forward with light, slow steps.

He stopped in front of Ichinose and looked at her trembling body.

Ichinose's tears streamed down her cheeks like a broken string, while muffled sobs escaped her lips.

As Kamigami Haruo looked at her, he wondered how he could bring her somewhere without people around.

In her current state, calling to her would not do any good.

But forcibly dragging her would hurt her too.

Kamigami Haruo could only helplessly walk behind Ichinose.

He crouched behind her, caught Ichinose's scent, and reached out both hands as he said,

"Forgive me..."

His arms went around Ichinose's crouched body, threading through the gap between her thighs before he tightly gripped her legs.

Whether his body was too weak or she was too heavy, he struggled a little as he stood up.

Holding her in that embarrassing position, he carried Ichinose, whose legs were spread apart, over to the nearby bushes.

Ichinose, sunk in a mire of self-blame, did not react at all to Kamigami Haruo's actions.

She continued to sob in suppression, blaming herself for her guilt.

After setting Ichinose down, Kamigami Haruo took out a clean towel from his bag and wiped away her tears.

Looking at her cute face, he ultimately gave up on the idea of slapping her.

That method probably only worked on people of the same sex.

Helpless, Kamigami Haruo could only cup the girl's face and comfort her.

Looking into her tear-filled eyes, he wiped them with his thumbs and said,

"Let it out. Once you've vented it all, the blockage in your heart will clear."

"Since it has already happened, no amount of blaming or tormenting yourself will help. Work hard from now on. Once you have the ability in the future, compensate the people you hurt, and let the family who places so much hope in you have their wishes fulfilled too, okay?"

The girl seemed to understand that she had caused trouble for others, and she too tried hard to pull herself together from her emotional collapse.

When Kamigami Haruo saw that her sobs were growing quieter, he mischievously pinched her collagen-filled cheeks, shaping them into all sorts of forms.

After a while.

Ichinose said through sniffles,

"Th-thank you, Kamigami-kun. I'll try to face it... Um. Even if everyone hates me and curses me, I-I'll work hard to live up to everyone's expectations. After this, even if it ends badly, I think I'll be able to accept it calmly."

After saying that, Ichinose showed a strained but cute smile.

Kamigami Haruo wiped her face again where it had not been fully dried and said,

"Let's go back. There are so many mosquitoes. We'll deal with the future when it comes."

Slap...

As he spoke, he swatted a mosquito dead on his leg.