I Had a Feeling I Was a Terrible Person

What kind of school had friends who charged each other interest when they borrowed money?!

Kushida Kikyo forced herself to maintain her sweet smile. "Um, senpai, it's not that I'm really short on points. I just... just want to be the first to taste the new mini cakes you make~"

"I see." Dongfang Yi furrowed his brow, looking a little hesitant.

"Dame~ ka? (Is that not okay~?)" Kushida clasped her hands together and gazed at Dongfang Yi with pleading, gentle eyes.

"It's not that I can't keep giving them to you." Dongfang Yi looked troubled. "But if anyone found out, Little Kikyo would be disliked, wouldn't she?"

"Huh? Oh, right."

Hearing that, Kushida belatedly realized that really was a risk, and a sudden wave of fear washed over her.

My social life had almost been ruined!

But after the fear came a wave of gratitude.

So senpai had been thinking of me all along!

Seeing that he'd guided her thoughts just about far enough, Dongfang Yi seized the opportunity, not giving her any time to think. "Ah, I've got it. How about this: if Little Kikyo comes in every weekday from now on, we'll say these are new products she ordered privately with her own points. How does that sound?"

"Huh? We can do that?"

"No problem. I just need someone to taste-test them, after all. And it's perfectly fine for a first-year like you to spend a little freely on a friend." Dongfang Yi spoke quickly and carefully. "I'll send you the new product and its listed price a day in advance, so you won't slip up when you talk to anyone."

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

"It won't be any trouble. As long as you don't tell anyone, it won't cause me any problems." Dongfang Yi thought that even if she did tell someone, it wouldn't cause him any problems, but he still lowered his voice. "Let's make this our little secret."

Dongfang Yi held his right index finger to his lips and even gave her a meaningful wink.

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

Kushida was swept up in his serious, mysterious manner and nodded solemnly.

"From now on, just call me Dongfang. Or Yi is fine, too. Here's my Line ID. Looking forward to working with you."

Dongfang Yi smiled as he saw the black-hearted angel off.

He was very pleased with how the conversation had gone.

It was all about building affection.

Sure, he was giving her gifts for free, but if he didn't get enough gratitude in return, wasn't he just getting played for a sucker?

Even if she showed him enough gratitude to his face, if that didn't turn into lasting affection, wasn't he still getting played for a sucker?

There was a world of difference between giving things to Kushida Kikyo after she asked and Dongfang Yi offering them to her of his own accord.

The former would make the little angel feel indebted to him; the latter would just make the girl think Dongfang Yi was a useful doormat.

So even if Kushida didn't notice the trap in his words,

one day in the future, he'd kindly tell the girl trying to get something for free, "You came too late today. Your friend already claimed the lucky freebie. I thought you two were together."

Then he'd pretend to be reluctant as he used up some of his goodwill to throw in a few extra items for her.

Of course, this was a business venture that cost him nothing.

After all, Dongfang Yi didn't have to spend a single point. It was all funded by the Little Princess's generous support, and he'd even cut the three free meals down to one slightly larger mini cake.

But it was necessary.

To keep her feeling grateful over the long term, he had to leave himself room to sweeten the deal, along with the occasional little surprise.

It was the small, occasional gifts that left a lasting impression.

He had to make Kushida truly understand that all the free stuff she was getting came with a favor from Dongfang Yi.

That way, when he asked the girl for information later on, she wouldn't refuse out of a sense of obligation.

Entice her with benefits, move her with kindness.

That was the art of winning hearts and minds.

Dongfang Yi let out a long breath. Doing two rounds of mental gymnastics in one day had been a bit much.

Right now, all he wanted was to find someone simple, someone who didn't have too many schemes, and let her soothe his nerves.

But when he glanced toward the cash register, he wondered: Why hadn't that girl come back yet?

A little while later,

Sakura Airi returned to Dongfang Yi's side, her expression grave.

The girl kept her head down, looking dazed and troubled.

After the mental battle he'd just been through, Dongfang Yi was as jumpy as a startled bird. Had she seen what just happened?

No! Don't take away my last safe haven, too!

What should I say first, then?

Actually, Kushida Kikyo and I are just friends? There's nothing going on between us? It's not what you think?

Damn it, why am I even explaining this?

His thoughts were a tangled mess.

The atmosphere behind the counter grew tense.

"Um..." Sakura Airi bit her lip and looked up, but then hesitated.

"What's wrong?" Dongfang Yi kept smiling, thinking, Fine, let it happen. If it breaks, it breaks. Better to get it over with.

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

Silence fell over the counter once more.

Sakura Airi glanced secretly at Dongfang Yi.

Then she glanced again.

Dongfang Yi was starting to lose patience.

"Sakura, is something on your mind?" Dongfang Yi turned to face her and stared intently. "You can tell me anything."

"N-nothing." Sakura Airi waved her hands in a panic.

"If one of your relatives is here, go to the break room. I'll ask the manager to let you take a break." Dongfang Yi sensed that something was off.

"N-no, it's not that." Sakura Airi's face flushed red.

As if she realized she couldn't avoid it any longer, Sakura Airi spoke in a small voice. "Um, Dongfang, I just got a message from the teacher."

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

"Did they fail to catch him? Or is there nothing they can do about it?" he asked.

"N-no." Sakura's voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz. "The teacher said he'd already been driven away."

"Isn't that great? At least you're safe now, Sakura." Dongfang Yi thought, Isn't that good news?

"Mm, mm." Sakura Airi nodded, but she still looked troubled.

Silence returned...

"Um, D-Dongfang, in the future..." she murmured to herself. "Could you still spend time with me?"

As if she hoped he would hear her, yet also hoped he wouldn't.

But Dongfang Yi's hearing was clearly better than an ordinary person's.

He glanced at Sakura's flushed, pretty face, then turned away. "Ahem. Sakura, I'm planning to buy some paper, pens, and a drawing board on Saturday. Want to come with me?"

"Huh? Y-yes!" Sakura nodded like a pecking chicken. "Why do you want to buy those, Dongfang?"

"I think I should take up a hobby. You know, what people call... cultivating the mind and that sort of thing." Dongfang Yi remained calm. "So I thought I'd try to make time for some sketching."

"I see."

"Then want to go somewhere nice together this weekend?"

"Huh? Huh!" The sudden surprise left Sakura a little dizzy. "N-no problem!"

"Mm."

That night.

A girl with orange-yellow hair, dressed in pajamas, lay on her bed hugging a huge bundle of blankets, tossing and turning.

It was clear she was too excited to fall asleep.

She squeezed her legs together and murmured softly, not sure who she was talking to.

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