I Have a Feeling I'm Being Sinful

What kind of friends charge interest when lending money to each other at this school?!

Kushida Kikyo barely managed to maintain her sweet smile: "Um, Senpai, actually I'm not that short on points. I just... I just really wanted to be the first to taste the new mini-cakes you've been making~"

"Is that so." Dongfang Yi frowned, looking somewhat hesitant.

"Da me~ ka? (No~ way?)" Kushida Kikyo clasped her hands together, her warm eyes looking at Dongfang Yi with a pitiful expression.

"It wouldn't be impossible to keep giving them to you." Dongfang Yi looked troubled: "But if people found out about this, wouldn't you be hated by everyone, Kikyo?"

"Eh? That's true."

Hearing this, Kushida Kikyo realized a bit too late that such a danger did indeed exist, and a sudden sense of lingering fear welled up in her heart.

Her entire social circle was almost gone!

But after the fear came a wave of being touched.

So Senpai has been thinking about me all this time!

Seeing that his psychological guidance was working, Dongfang Yi struck while the iron was hot, leaving her no time to think: "Ah, I've got it. How about this: if you come by every workday, we'll just say these are new items you specially ordered using your own points. How does that sound?"

"Eh? Can we really do that?"

"No problem at all. I just need someone to taste-test them anyway. As for you, it's perfectly normal for a freshman to spend a little extra for her friends." Dongfang Yi's words were meticulous and rapid: "I'll send you the new item and the 'pre-order price' a day in advance, so there won't be any slip-ups when you talk to others."

"But wouldn't that be too much trouble for you, Senpai?" Kushida asked tentatively.

"Not at all. As long as you don't tell anyone, it won't cause me any trouble." Dongfang Yi thought to himself that even if she did tell someone, it wouldn't be a problem for him, but he lowered his voice anyway: "Let's just keep this as our little secret."

Dongfang Yi held his right index finger to his lips and gave a wink, acting as if it were a serious matter.

"Mm-hmm, I definitely won't tell anyone, Senpai!"

Kushida was also infected by his serious and mysterious attitude, nodding emphatically.

"You can just call me Dongfang from now on, or Yi is fine too. This is my Line ID. I look forward to working with you."

Dongfang Yi smiled as he sent the black-hearted angel on her way.

He was very satisfied with the results of this conversation.

It's all about building favorability.

Even if it's a free gift, if you don't receive enough gratitude from the other party, isn't that just being taken for a ride?

Even if you receive enough gratitude in the moment, if it isn't solidified into favorability, isn't that still being taken for a ride?

Giving something after Kushida Kikyo asks for it is a completely different matter from Dongfang Yi proactively offering it for free.

The former makes the little angel indebted to him, while the latter would only make the girl think Dongfang Yi is a useful simp.

So even if Kushida hadn't fallen into the trap in his words, He would have eventually told the girl who wanted a free ride on some future day—you're late today, the lucky gift was already taken by your friend, I thought you were together.

Then, he would feign difficulty and "expend his connections" to add a free meal for her.

Of course, this was a business with no capital investment.

After all, Dongfang Yi didn't have to pay a single point; it was all funded by the Little Princess's sponsorship, and he had even cut down the free three-meal benefit into a single, slightly larger mini-cake.

But this was necessary.

To maintain long-term gratitude, one must always leave room for escalation and a few unintentional 'little surprises.'

Only occasional small gifts leave a deep impression.

He had to make Kushida truly realize that all these free supplies carried a piece of Dongfang Yi's personal favor.

That way, when he asked the girl for information later, she wouldn't be able to refuse due to their bond.

Lure them with profit, move them with emotion.

This is the strategy of attacking the heart.

Dongfang Yi let out a long sigh; two mental exercises in one day were truly a bit excessive.

Right now, he just wanted to find someone simple and guileless to heal himself.

However, he looked toward the cash register nearby, feeling a bit puzzled: Why hasn't that person returned yet?

A moment later, Sakura Airi returned to Dongfang Yi's side with a grave expression.

The girl kept her head down, looking dazed and full of worries.

Dongfang Yi, having just finished a mental battle, was now like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow: Could she have seen it just now?

Yamete! Don't take away my last harbor too!

What should I use as an opening if she did?

Actually, she (Kushida Kikyo) and I are just friends? We are pure? It's not what you think?

Damn it, why am I explaining these things!

His inner thoughts were complex and difficult to decipher.

The atmosphere behind the counter turned stagnant for a moment.

"Um..." Sakura Airi bit her lip and looked up, but stopped herself before she could speak.

"What's wrong?" Dongfang Yi maintained his smile, thinking to himself that if he was going to die, he might as well get it over with; destruction precedes construction, and the sooner it happens, the sooner he can rebuild.

"N-nothing." Sakura Airi lowered her head again.

Silence fell over the space behind the counter once more.

With her head bowed, Sakura Airi snuck a glance at Dongfang Yi.

Then she snuck another.

Dongfang Yi couldn't hold back anymore.

"Sakura-san, is something on your mind?" Dongfang Yi turned to face her, staring at her with a burning gaze. "If there is, you can tell me anything."

"N-no, it's nothing." Sakura Airi hurriedly waved her hands.

"If it's that time of the month, just go to the break room. I'll ask the manager for leave on your behalf." Dongfang Yi sensed that something was off.

"No, that's not it." Sakura Airi's face flushed red.

Seeming to realize she could no longer hide, Sakura Airi whispered, "Um, Dongfang-kun, I just received a message from the teacher."

"The teacher? Chabashira?" Dongfang Yi belatedly remembered that there was still that matter with the stalker to deal with.

"Did they fail to catch him? Or is there no way to handle it?" he continued to ask.

"No, that's not it." Sakura's voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum. "The teacher said he has already been driven away."

"Isn't that a good thing? At least you're safe now, Sakura-san." Dongfang Yi thought to himself, isn't this good news?

"Yeah, yeah." Sakura Airi nodded, but she still seemed burdened by her thoughts.

Silence returned...

"Um, Do, Dongfang-kun, in the future..." she muttered to herself in a small voice, "will you still be able to keep me company?"

It was as if she hoped he would hear her, yet also hoped he wouldn't.

But clearly, Dongfang Yi's hearing was far superior to the average person's.

He looked at Sakura's reddened, pretty face and turned his head away. "Ahem, Sakura-san, I'm planning to go buy some paper, pens, and a sketchbook this Saturday. Would you like to come along?"

"Eh? Ye, yes!" Sakura nodded like a chick pecking at rice. "Why does Dongfang-kun want to buy those?"

"I feel like I should cultivate some hobbies, you know, that thing people always talk about... refining one's character and all that." Dongfang Yi remained calm. "So, I've decided to try my hand at sketching in my spare time."

"I see."

"So, do you want to go together this weekend? We can find a nice place."

"Eh? Eh!" Sakura was so dazed by this sudden surprise that she felt a bit dizzy. "No, no problem!"

"Mm."

That night.

A girl with orange-yellow hair, dressed in pajamas, was lying on her bed, hugging a large pile of blankets and tossing and turning.

It was clear that she was too excited to sleep.

She squeezed her legs together and whispered softly, though it was unclear who she was speaking to:

"Mm... ah... Dongfang-senpai, you really are a bad guy!"