Your Smile Gives People the Creeps

The protagonist made his move, confessed his love, got brutally rejected, was harshly scolded, and earned MVP...

That afternoon, during the usual club activity period after classes ended.

Bai Yu was writing something on a sheet of paper, looking relaxed and pleased.

As he wrote, he suddenly felt something was missing. Turning his head toward Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who seemed to be interrogating himself beside him, he asked, "Ayanokoji, how did you feel about yesterday's performance?"

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was still immersed in the regret of not getting a sip of good tea before going home. When he spoke, his tone was utterly lifeless. "The script was absurd, the acting was terrible, the process was chaotic, but the result was fine."

"A fitting assessment, but I was asking how you felt," Bai Yu added.

"Hard to put into words." Ayanokoji Kiyotaka withdrew his gaze from the school path outside the window and let out a quiet sigh. "Anyway, please don't assign me any more strange roles like that in the future."

"Oh, you want bolder challenges? Very good. I have high hopes for you."

Bai Yu gave him an appreciative smile, nodded happily, then turned back to the notebook on his desk and continued recording and summarizing the club's activities.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka no longer wanted to waste the energy to complain.

He glanced at Shiina's seat. She had been unable to come to the activity room because of class matters. Remembering something, he asked at the right moment, "President, why did you choose Shiina to handle this request? Though there are indeed certain inconveniences between men and women, wouldn't it still be better to find a girl from the same class rather than another class?"

"Of course, because Shiina is the most suitable."

After giving that concise answer, Bai Yu casually asked, "Ayanokoji, how much do you know about the other three classes?"

"Not much." Ayanokoji Kiyotaka shook his head slightly. "But I've heard some of the more well-known rumors."

"Class A's discipline, Class B's harmony, Class C's violence and dictatorship, and Class D's chaos."

Bai Yu put down his pen and summed up, "Those are the evaluations first-year students have of each other's classes. I've also had occasional contact with members of other classes, so overall, they can be considered objective facts."

"So you chose Shiina for this request because she exists in the same kind of environment..."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka could not help but come to a realization.

"Ayanokoji, you really are smart."

Bai Yu once again revealed an appreciative smile. That smile made one feel as if they were standing in the passionate streets of Shimokitazawa—ass-chillingly creepy.

"I noticed long ago that Class C's gloomy atmosphere seemed to have no effect on Shiina. From what I know, Ryuen Kakeru has used violence against nearly everyone, yet Shiina alone has remained unscathed. Being able to stay above the fray in such an environment, what does that tell you?"

It means... it means Ryuen has a thing for the flower of our Service Club!

For a moment, Bai Yu's nonsense flashed through Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's mind. He promptly deleted it, packed it up, tossed it into the recycle bin, and thoroughly destroyed it. After taking some time to regain himself, he said, "It means that either Ryuen thinks there's no need, or he thinks he shouldn't. At the very least, in some respect, Shiina has earned Ryuen's appreciation and respect..."

"Correct answer! But unfortunately, there's no prize."

Bai Yu snapped his fingers cheerfully and turned to face Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. "Looking across all of Advanced Nurturing, the only place where bullying is most likely to be happening—or is already happening—is first-year Class C. That may be the direct reason for Karuizawa's anxiety."

"And Shiina can still protect herself in that sort of environment. Using the privileges she has within her class to extend a hand and shelter our Karuizawa would be easy, wouldn't it?"

After saying that, Bai Yu showed the same smile he always did, though at that moment, it seemed somewhat subtle.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was a little surprised. When had this person considered so much?

He had thought Bai Yu had simply chosen Shiina because of the convenience of her gender, along with her gentle, detached personality. She was unlikely to make enemies, and would be able to speak up easily if something happened, so she could serve as Karuizawa's protection.

Now that he thought about it...

His feelings became somewhat complicated.

He cast a cautious gaze at the person before him. After gathering his thoughts for a while, he asked quietly, "Did you notice Shiina's special qualities from the very beginning? Is that why you invited her into the club...?"

After hearing him, Bai Yu merely shifted his gaze away, slowly avoiding eye contact with him, and then... suddenly became shy and bashful?

?

A question mark instantly appeared over Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's head. Bai Yu shrank back into his seat, looking awkward and embarrassed, like an otaku whose strange fetish had just been exposed on the spot.

"Ayanokoji, isn't it perfectly normal for a man to have a little selfish desire?"

"What exactly are you questioning? Are you trying to destroy a group that is passionate and pure?"

Bai Yu suddenly launched into an impassioned defense.

At that moment, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's mood could perhaps only be described by a certain sweating yellow bean. He gave a tentative explanation.

"No, I think you've misunderstood something..."

"Fine, then let me ask you."

Feeling that it was unfair for him alone to be exposed, Bai Yu pressed on with his questions. "Is there a man in this world who has absolutely no interest in any trait of any member of the opposite sex? Or even a woman! Do you think such a person exists?"

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka could not help thinking of himself. What was so appealing about creatures known as women?

Though he had done his best to put himself in their shoes and understand them, he still could not feel even the slightest appeal... They would only slow down my problem-solving speed!

After thinking for a moment, he wanted to fiercely refute the other man. To be distracted by ordinary beauty—how unbecoming for a club president!

Just as he was about to speak, the corner of his eye kept catching a figure about to step through the classroom's back door. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka wisely fell silent.

"Hahahaha, well? Answer me. Can't say it, can you?"

"Whether man or woman, even you yourself wouldn't dare claim to feel absolutely nothing for the opposite sex. Even among the same sex, people often rely on and admire one another. Listen to the tide of romance through the ages—never forget that our ancestors enjoyed male love!"

"Um..."

The classroom's back door was pushed open, and the recitation that had been steadily building momentum abruptly stopped.

Before the white-haired girl could even check the sign by the classroom door, her gaze was caught by the man inside making that earth-shattering declaration.

She could no longer look away.