I'm So Hungry

"Don't worry. If I ever need help, I definitely won't forget Ichinose."

Shi Cheng gazed deeply at Ichinose Honami. "Even if I don't need help, I still won't forget Ichinose."

His affectionate gaze made her incredibly embarrassed. She shifted awkwardly and changed the subject. "Anyway, Shi Cheng, just remember our agreement."

Looking at the flushed Ichinose Honami, Shi Cheng could not tell what was real for a moment.

Was she really this innocent?

Had he judged her wrong just now?

She was not some scheming girl.

Was she genuinely acting out of kindness?

But looking at the girl before him, who seemed like an upgraded version of Kushida Kikyo...

Shi Cheng simply could not bring himself to believe it.

"All right, thanks for the information. I should get going too."

Before leaving, Shi Cheng suddenly had an idea and turned back to test the waters.

"Although this may be a little presumptuous, I still have to ask. Would you agree if I treated you to a meal as thanks?"

Hearing the sudden invitation, Ichinose Honami puffed out her soft cheeks slightly.

If he knew it was presumptuous, why did he say it?

Shi Cheng was a little mean-spirited.

Fortunately, she had a practiced way of refusing.

Without panicking, she said, "Shi Cheng, this was only a small matter. It was very easy to find out."

"Besides, aren't we friends? Friends shouldn't be overly polite with each other."

Shi Cheng nodded. He understood.

She could only refuse favors that were too significant.

Still, Shi Cheng agreed with what she had just said, so he shamelessly replied, "I understand. Then, Ichinose, treat me to a meal."

Shi Cheng put on a pitiful act. "You know Class D's situation right now, don't you? I'm so hungry!"

"Huh?!" The topic changed so quickly that Ichinose Honami nearly failed to react.

Fortunately, Shi Cheng's pitiful eyes made her heart race.

Her sympathy instantly rose to its peak.

"Sure. But Shi Cheng, you have to work hard to change the current situation too."

Ichinose Honami did not spell it out directly.

That was not only because she wanted to protect Shi Cheng's pride, but also because her help could not be limitless.

Shi Cheng understood and patted his chest. "Don't worry. Our relationship hasn't reached the point where I can keep troubling you."

That was an extremely ambiguous thing to say.

It made Ichinose Honami immediately want to take back her words.

Unfortunately, she was someone who kept her promises, so she could only let out a soft, annoyed hum to express her dissatisfaction.

Besides, the two of them had only just formed a relationship of mutual support.

If she soured their relationship now, would not all her previous efforts have been for nothing?

Seeing her reaction,

Shi Cheng nodded to himself.

Not bad.

She had some resistance. She was not simply an innocent novice.

That made him more interested in adding colors he liked.

The two then headed to the cafeteria.

Because the school had broken its promise,

far fewer people were eating in the cafeteria.

Other than during the lunch break, when they had no choice, almost no one came here.

That might also have been why Ichinose Honami had agreed so readily.

No matter what, Shi Cheng was a boy.

The two of them appearing here together could easily become a topic of gossip.

Though she did not want to be narcissistic, the attention around her had never diminished.

She needed to keep as low a profile as possible.

When they arrived at the counter to order, Shi Cheng inadvertently caught sight of the huge number on Ichinose Honami's phone.

Shi Cheng's eyes widened in shock.

Remembering that everyone had been rich during the first month, a subtle suspicion suddenly surfaced in his mind.

It had to be a joke.

If that much money was real,

there was no way he would not have heard rumors about it.

After all, there were plenty of big mouths in his group chat.

Shi Cheng guessed

it had to be class funds.

Shi Cheng tried to think of it in the best possible way, because he did not want Ichinose Honami to have already become completely corrupted.

"Shi Cheng, you saw it just now, didn't you?" Ichinose Honami regretted her momentary carelessness.

It was not a major matter, but it showed how lacking in caution she had been.

"Yeah, I saw it." Shi Cheng admitted honestly, then raised an eyebrow. "So, Ichinose, will you tell me?"

Guessing that this school's future developments would not be simple, Ichinose Honami naturally would not confess so easily.

She stiffly changed the subject. "Let's eat over there."

Ichinose Honami picked up her tray and took the lead.

Shi Cheng shrugged lightly, with no intention of forcing her.

There were only a few possible explanations anyway.

But judging by Ichinose Honami's calm reaction,

it was probably something positive.

Shi Cheng followed behind her with light steps.

No one liked talking while eating, especially after something like that had just happened.

The two tacitly ate in silence.

Just then, a soft, pleasant voice with a trace of surprise came from nearby. "Shi Cheng?"

It was Shiina Hiyori.

She happened to be eating here.

"May I sit here?" After confirming that it was Shi Cheng, Shiina Hiyori happily walked over.

"Please do." Of course Shi Cheng would not refuse.

He could say that his happiness had increased by one.

Having received permission, Shiina Hiyori naturally sat down beside Shi Cheng with a pleased expression.

From spending time together at the Library, she had grown accustomed to such close proximity.

Only after sitting down did Shiina Hiyori notice Ichinose Honami across from her, who was looking at her with slightly furrowed brows.

With a hint of sourness in her voice, Shiina Hiyori confirmed, "You're Ichinose?"

Seeing the other girl's overwhelming friendliness, Shiina Hiyori was deeply worried that Shi Cheng, her only friend, would grow distant from her.

"Mm, and you are?" Although Ichinose Honami knew even more people than Kushida Kikyo, there were still people she did not know.

That was because Shiina Hiyori was very withdrawn.

Hardly anyone knew her at all.

"I'm Shiina Hiyori from Class C."

This was not the time to show weakness. Shiina Hiyori calmly introduced herself with a gentle smile.

A momentary blankness appeared on Ichinose Honami's face.

She had never expected that just after speaking badly of Ryuen Kakeru, she would immediately run into someone from his class.

And judging from the situation, Shiina Hiyori seemed to be rather close to Shi Cheng.

Ichinose Honami's previously furrowed brows became even more pronounced.

This was bad. She was being attacked from both sides.

Seeing the worry on her face, Shi Cheng could roughly guess what Ichinose Honami was concerned about.

Not wanting the misunderstanding to deepen, Shi Cheng decisively explained, "We met through books. We're fellow book lovers."

Shi Cheng explained it in a way that was easy to understand.

Hearing his explanation,

Ichinose Honami breathed a sigh of relief, though she still did not lower her guard.

Who knew whether it was true?

Just like he had said, it was easy to understand.

Shiina Hiyori understood it too.

She blinked her large eyes, glanced at Shi Cheng, then glanced at Ichinose Honami.

A perfectly normal guess arose in her heart.

"Don't worry, Ichinose. We really are just fellow book lovers."

Hearing Shi Cheng acknowledge it, Shiina Hiyori was no longer worried.

So she contributed a little.

"Mm?" A trace of confusion flashed through Ichinose Honami's eyes.

Someone as inexperienced as her simply could not react in time.

"I'm done eating, so I'll leave first. You two take your time talking." Shiina Hiyori did not intend to stay and be a third wheel.

Because this was not her home ground.