Hiyori in the Throes of Love

The morning after Hiyori and Kujo confirmed their relationship.

At this time, Advanced Nurturing High School was still in that phase where "students are reluctant to poke their heads out from under their blankets, swat their alarm clocks with one hand, grumble about setting the wrong time, and then toss them far away."

Walking through the empty lobby, Hiyori headed out of the dormitory building with a bento box and water.

First-year male and female students at Advanced Nurturing High School lived in the same building, with every student occupying a single room.

With private bathrooms and air conditioning, the school did not skimp on living conditions despite the tuition being fully covered.

The boys lived on the lower floors, while the girls lived on the upper floors.

Boys generally did not go up to the upper floors where the girls lived.

Usually, if they were going on a date, the girl would choose to meet her partner in the lobby on the first floor of the dormitory.

However, Kujo liked to wake up early every day to go for a morning run with students from other classes.

Therefore, Hiyori also chose to wake up early to accompany him.

Sitting on a nearby bench and quietly watching Kujo exercise, Hiyori felt it was a very happy thing.

When Kujo finished running, she thoughtfully handed him a bottle of water.

It was an electrolyte drink that Hiyori had bought with her own private points.

It was much more expensive than the water Kujo usually drank.

"Koenji, Ayanokoji, I prepared a bottle for you two as well. Here, here."

Watching Hiyori's actions, Kujo couldn't help but sigh in his heart that she was truly an angel.

But in reality, there was no need to worry about those two guys, Ayanokoji and Koenji.

"Thanks."

Ayanokoji accepted it with peace of mind.

What surprised Kujo, however, was that Koenji actually accepted it as well.

Is this the etiquette of a gentleman?

Facing this person whose behavior could not be explained by common sense in the original story, Kujo felt that there were still many things he needed to understand.

As the time for class drew closer.

Even though Kujo and the others deliberately chose a path that was not on the way to the school building.

Around them, there were still some faculty members and adults working on campus passing by.

For example, the owner often seen in the cafe, the assistant coach at the gym, the florist walking with a staggering gait...

Ayanokoji and Koenji would not pay attention to these people.

But Kujo could perceive that their gazes would briefly linger on them.

He could empathize with these working adults.

The beautiful friendship between students was something to be envied.

It was a pity that time could not flow backward.

Transmigration was also impossible.

Kujo muttered to himself.

Then he looked at Hiyori beside him.

Although there was nothing unusual about her state, Kujo knew that Hiyori hadn't actually slept well yesterday.

So he asked Hiyori with concern:

"Hiyori, why don't you go back and rest for a while? You're taking the day off anyway."

Before Hiyori could answer, Koenji spoke up from the side:

"Kujo-boy, failing to live up to a lady's intentions is not what an excellent gentleman should do."

After saying that, Koenji turned around and left dashingly.

Watching his back, Kujo guessed that he was probably heading toward the upperclassmen's area to continue living his carefree life.

At the same time, Hiyori had been secretly observing Kujo.

It was true that she hadn't woken up early; she hadn't slept well all night, or one could say she hadn't slept at all.

Last night, Hiyori's mind was full of thoughts about sending text messages to Kujo.

And no matter what time she sent a message, Kujo would reply to her.

Even though she only asked about trivial matters, he managed to reply in seconds every time.

For example:

What does Kujo-kun like to eat?

What color clothes does Kujo-kun like?

When is Kujo's birthday?

Hiyori knows that Kujo's birthday is on July 15th.

Right now, she is a girl in the throes of new love.

Even the smallest things are magnified infinitely in her mind.

They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

So, in Hiyori's eyes, her Kujo is the best in the world.

"I also prepared breakfast for Kujo. If you don't mind, Ayanokoji, would you like to try some too?"

Faced with Hiyori's invitation, Ayanokoji understands that this is probably what a normal student's campus life should be like.

He successfully extracts a template for conversations between boys and girls from the way Kujo and Hiyori interact.

Ayanokoji then takes the chopsticks, picks up a piece of rolled omelet, and begins to taste it.

Meanwhile, Kujo watches Ayanokoji, who has his eyes closed, feeling completely speechless inside.

To an outsider, the other person's expression looks as if he is truly enjoying the food.

But Kujo knows that this guy's factory settings don't include such emotions at all.

Kujo then holds his bento box and eats quietly.

The portion Hiyori prepared is relatively small, and he doesn't know how to bring himself to comment on it.

Kujo knows full well that he is a person who doesn't understand romance.

However, if this were a normal teen romance drama, shouldn't it be at the feeding stage by now?

Or perhaps a scene where they feel shy because of an indirect kiss?

Or maybe...

Counting his age from his previous life, Kujo feels like he couldn't possibly pull off such actions.

For a moment, he feels lost amidst this daily happiness.

Having such a cute and virtuous girlfriend, Kujo feels that his life from here on out has suddenly lost its purpose.

Isn't graduating from Class A just to find a good job?

Isn't finding a good job just to marry a good wife?

So what comes next...

"Ayanokoji, please don't reach over with your chopsticks."

Watching the low-presence Ayanokoji obliviously trying to pick food from his bento box again, Kujo says this while mercilessly swatting away the chopsticks reaching toward him.

Beside them, Hiyori covers her face and giggles.

Afterward.

Hiyori curiously asks Ayanokoji:

"Where is Ayanokoji's home?"

Hearing this, Kujo's curiosity is also piqued by Hiyori's question; he wants to hear how Ayanokoji will answer.

Ayanokoji replies with a blank expression:

"A place where the first thing I see every time I open my eyes is a white ceiling."

?

No one understands your humor.

Ayanokoji, from the White Room.

Kujo mutters to himself, then picks up the last piece of seaweed roll from the bento and pops it into his mouth.

"Is it a hospital? Do Ayanokoji's parents work at a hospital?"

White ceiling—Hiyori quickly associates it with a hospital.

"If I had to describe it, my father is an activist who specializes in genetic research and social behavioral studies."

Listening to Ayanokoji's description, Hiyori says:

"So he's a medical professor, then."

Ayanokoji does not deny it.

To this, Kujo remains speechless throughout.

Watching Hiyori completely accept what Ayanokoji said, Kujo rubs his forehead.

What normal person talks about "activism" all the time?

"Ayanokoji, class is starting soon. Are you sure it's okay for you not to go to class?"

Kujo issues an eviction notice to Ayanokoji.

Hearing this, Ayanokoji seems to finally realize that of the two people beside him, one is on leave and the other doesn't need to attend class, and even Koenji, who just left, is a student who doesn't need to be in class.

Ayanokoji did not have the luxury of enjoying such benefits, so he had no choice but to get up and leave.

Once Ayanokoji was completely out of their sight.

Only Kujo and Hiyori remained on the lawn.

It was as if a switch had been flipped in Hiyori; at lightning speed, she reached out, grabbed the bento box Kujo had set aside, and used it to cover her face.

The girl's face turned bright red in an instant.

Don't...

Don't look at me...

Kujo watched Hiyori, whose neck was flushed crimson, and his previously calm demeanor in front of others shattered instantly.

Hiyori, with a reaction as cute as that, what am I supposed to do?

Ayanokoji, why don't you just come back?

Help!

Kujo tried to move a little further away from Hiyori, wanting to see if her emotions would calm down.

But before his body could even move, Hiyori's hand darted out and grabbed Kujo's sleeve.

"Don't... don't go."

Kujo signaled that he hadn't even moved yet.

Then?

Move closer?

Hiyori's slender hand turned, and she quickly pressed down on the back of Kujo's hand, which had been trying to move forward.

"Don't... don't come closer, either."

The girl's blush spoke louder than a thousand sweet words.

Kujo swallowed hard.

Looking at the shy girl, he had absolutely no idea what to do next.

Seeing Kujo consciously remain frozen in place, Hiyori quickly turned her back, took her phone out of her pocket, drafted a message, and sent it to Kujo.

[I'm not sleepy yet. I just want to keep talking to Kujo-kun.]

Kujo watched her typing and realized she was composing a message, so he quickly pulled his own phone from his pocket to reply.

[Mm-hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm]

Kujo sent a string of emojis like a middle-aged man.

[Does Kujo-kun like the tamagoyaki I made today more? Or the rice balls?]

Wait, weren't those egg rolls and sushi?

Should I reply that I like anything Hiyori makes?

That answer feels too irresponsible.

And saying it's especially delicious or nitpicking would also be wrong.

Saying it's especially delicious sounds like I'm just trying to comfort her; even though it was delicious, there's no need to describe it that way.

No, no, no. Normally, if you really wanted to show that something was delicious in front of someone, you should have said so the moment you ate the first piece.

Without waiting for Kujo to reply, Hiyori immediately sent another message.

[Kujo-kun looks very handsome when he runs.]

Kujo hurriedly selected a few blushing emojis to send back.

While Hiyori was still typing.

Kujo quickly edited a message on his phone.

[I don't usually go out of my way to choose my breakfast. I like both the tamagoyaki and the sushi Hiyori makes, but it might be even better if we could switch things up every day.]

Hiyori deleted the words she had just typed and sent three messages in a row:

[Kujo-kun is so greedy.]

[Heehee.]

[Okay! I'll do my best to ensure Kujo-kun gets to eat a different flavor every day.]

Faced with Hiyori's reply, Kujo began to feel regretful inside.

Isn't this just making things more troublesome for his Hiyori?

Should I give her something as a return gift?

Just as Kujo sent a message to ask her, Hiyori suddenly turned around.

At this moment, her face was full of smiles.

Kujo noticed the other person's phone.

On her phone's photo gallery, Kujo's embarrassed appearance from just a moment ago had already been recorded.

And the reason Hiyori had turned her head was precisely because she wanted to see what kind of reaction her Kujo-kun would have once he found out about this.

Seeing Kujo's troubled expression, she smiled and said:

"I've already gotten what I wanted. I'm a little sleepy and want to go back to sleep~ Why don't you look forward to tomorrow's breakfast, Kujo-kun?"