"Um, if I told you I'd briefly gone blind and deaf just now, would you believe me?"
An Xiao saw that he couldn't get out of it and forced a strained smile as he spoke to Kikyo Kushida, whose expression was cold.
"Tch, I still didn't pick a good spot..." Kushida clicked her tongue in annoyance, then stepped closer and leaned in until her face was near An Xiao's.
"Do you think I should believe you?"
"Fair enough..."
"If you tell anyone what you heard just now, I won't let you off."
Her tone was so cold that it sounded more like a threat than mere indifference.
By the light of the street lamps, An Xiao looked at the Kushida who was so different from her usual self. After their eyes met briefly, he suddenly let out a weary sigh and gave a bitter smile.
"Even if I said I wouldn't tell anyone, you probably still wouldn't believe me."
Seeing An Xiao suddenly relax, Kushida's threatening words caught in her throat. Embarrassed and angry, she grabbed him by the collar.
"I'm not joking!"
"But you're right. Before, I couldn't guarantee that you absolutely wouldn't tell anyone about this."
"After all, you're pretty close to that bitch Horikita."
"Before... what do you mean?" Hearing Kushida say that, An Xiao's brief sense of relief vanished, and tension seized him again.
"Exactly what I said." Kushida let go of his collar, then abruptly grabbed one of his hands and pressed it hard against her chest.
"If you dare tell anyone, I'll report you."
Kikyo Kushida threatened him, but by then, An Xiao's brain had completely shut down.
An astonishing softness spread through his hand. Perhaps because its owner was so well-endowed, he could even feel the complicated patterns through her uniform.
Maybe Kushida had pressed his hand too hard, because half of it had sunk in slightly. Now An Xiao didn't know whether to press harder or ease up.
He didn't dare close his eyes. Stiffly turning his head away, he stammered as he spoke.
"Th-that, Kushida..."
"Huh? I've got evidence now, so it's too late for you to take it back. I'll keep these clothes, too. I won't wash them."
"No, that's not what I meant." An Xiao bit his tongue hard, managing to stop himself from stammering.
"What I meant was..."
Before An Xiao could finish, Shiina Hiyori stepped out of the shadows behind him, holding her phone in both hands and clearly recording something.
"There's actually someone behind me."
"Can you let go of my hand now? Maybe we should find somewhere else and have a proper talk."
"Right, Kushida?"
"No, I mean, I get that we need to talk, but why are we doing it in my room?" An Xiao poked his head out of the kitchen and asked timidly.
"It's this late. Where else do you think we could go?"
But if it's this late, wouldn't coming to a guy's room be even worse?
An Xiao grumbled to himself. Exhausted, he carried out the three bowls of millet porridge he'd prepared.
"Let's talk while we eat. None of us have had dinner, after all."
"Thank you." Shiina took the bowl An Xiao handed her and had a small sip. A look of contentment spread across her face.
Kushida sat beside them with her chin resting on one hand. She stirred the porridge several times with her spoon before reluctantly taking a spoonful, though her expression had softened a little.
Looking at Shiina Hiyori as she sat quietly, sipping her porridge in small mouthfuls, Kushida asked, "So, when did you start recording?"
"Mm... probably when you walked toward An Xiao, Kushida."
So she'd recorded everything!?
Kushida's nails dug into her palm. Through her skirt, they left five distinct red marks on her fair thigh. She gritted her teeth and glared at Shiina Hiyori.
Then her expression changed again, returning to the pitiful look she usually wore as she turned to Hiyori.
"So, could you delete the video?"
"Nope! You were trying to threaten An Xiao, Kushida. If I agreed, he'd be in trouble." Shiina Hiyori set down her bowl and spoke to Kushida earnestly.
"Tch." The gentle expression on Kushida's face vanished in an instant, replaced by the one An Xiao had seen earlier.
"Um, can I say something?" An Xiao couldn't help speaking up. He looked at Kushida and asked in confusion, "I don't know why you have two such different sides, but was that really necessary?"
He meant the fact that An Xiao had been forced to touch her chest.
"Of course it was! Why wouldn't it be?" Kushida's voice rose when she heard him, but after realizing she was getting carried away, she calmed down and looked at An Xiao with a sneer.
"Well? Has your image of me shattered?"
"Not really. Honestly, talking to you like this feels a lot less stressful than before, so I'm fine with it."
"Hm? Aren't guys supposed to prefer the way I was before? All cheerful and looking at you with those watery eyes all day? That sickening act?" Seeing that An Xiao didn't seem to be lying, Kushida grew curious and asked.
"Besides, when you saw me like that earlier, you didn't seem all that surprised."
"Well... if you'd met our homeroom teacher, you'd probably understand."
"Wait, we've gotten off track. You still haven't answered my question."
"What's there to answer? If Shiina hadn't been following you, I would've had you right where I wanted you. This wouldn't have turned into such a mess." Kikyo Kushida tapped her fingers on the table irritably as she spoke.
"...Actually, there are security cameras there." Seeing Kushida's reaction, An Xiao spoke helplessly. When her tapping hand paused, he continued, "There's a vending machine nearby, and the school has cameras installed to prevent people from damaging it."
"They might not capture a clear image, but they'd definitely pick up the sound." An Xiao sighed again, rubbing his temple. "If you'd run into some creep, he might've used this as an opportunity to keep groping you."
"Or after getting the video and audio, he could've tracked you down and said something like, 'You wouldn't want this to get out, would you?' or 'If you don't do what I say, I'll...'"
As An Xiao spoke, he noticed the strange look in Shiina's eyes and Kushida's disgusted stare. His voice gradually trailed off.
"Um, An Xiao, you should know that books like that are the kind you're better off reading less of!"
"Gross."
"No, isn't that kind of thing a specialty around here?"
"What kind of specialty is—" Kushida's sarcastic retort cut off halfway through.
This guy... in a way, he wasn't wrong.
That was like Garen buying Last Whisper—silenced and emotionally devastated.
The two of them stared at each other, and the room fell silent.
"Hey, I heard you're good at making desserts. You've got some left at home, right?" Not knowing what else to say, Kikyo Kushida changed the subject, remembering what Ichinose had told her earlier.
"Yeah, there's some left in the fridge."
"Mind if I have some?"
Though she phrased it like a question, Kushida had already stood up and headed for the fridge. Shiina quietly followed her.
Watching the two of them leave, An Xiao didn't know what to say. He could only quietly sip his porridge.
Before you continue