Such a Position Was a Little Too Much

That evening, Ju Ji and Kikyo began their martial arts training as usual.

It seemed to have become a regular part of their routine. Training was also a good way for them to let off steam. Playing roles they weren't used to had left them both with plenty of pent-up stress.

"Your moves have improved a lot, but you're still nowhere near landing a hit on me. Hey, didn't we agree you wouldn't aim for my face? That's against the rules."

"Sorry, I just can't help wanting to hit that face... Tch!"

Kikyo, please don't say things like that with such an adorable expression. It doesn't suit your little angel persona at all, even if you did switch back to your little devil self at the end.

It seemed Kikyo really did have an unexpected talent for martial arts. Ju Ji had to use half his strength just to keep her in check. He was sure that before long, she'd be beating him up instead.

He found that reality a little hard to accept. It hadn't even been two days! The gulf between him and a genius was truly enormous. If he didn't have a cheat, he'd have been completely crushed by now.

"Kikyo, can you tell me why you're so into martial arts? You didn't seem interested in it before."

"I'm really enjoying the process now. And I have a reason I need to get stronger. As for what it is... that's a secret."

Even with a natural talent for martial arts, Kikyo wouldn't get anywhere without putting in the effort. And she hadn't been training mindlessly these past few days, either. She'd been channeling a certain resolve into it, which was why she'd improved so quickly.

But it was against the rules for Kikyo to make such an adorable expression during training. Even Ju Ji lost focus for a split second, and Kikyo seized the opening to throw him to the ground and pin him down by the waist.

"I lost this time. Let's call it a day. Kikyo, get off me."

They'd been training for almost two hours, and they were both running out of stamina. Otherwise, even if Ju Ji had been distracted, he wouldn't have been caught off guard.

More importantly, their current position was a little too much. The softness pressed against him made it almost impossible to breathe.

"Ju Ji, what are you talking about? The fun's only just beginning... Hey, you had a great time with Horikita today, didn't you? So tonight, you can pay me back with your body."

Kikyo held that position and leaned down. Her upper body pressed against Ju Ji's chest, their faces less than an inch apart. At that distance, he could see every detail of her delicate, adorable face.

That was how Ju Ji caught the playful glint hidden in Kikyo's otherwise devilishly cold eyes. She really had a wicked sense of humor.

This wasn't good for his heart. He could clearly feel it racing. This wasn't the kind of joke he should be making. If the little devil kept teasing him like this, he wasn't sure he could stay rational.

"Kikyo? N-no, stop joking around. We have class tomorrow... What if we stay up late and I oversleep?"

It was already close to eleven. After a busy day, Ju Ji was exhausted in both body and mind.

"Don't worry. I'll come wake you up tomorrow."

Kikyo lifted herself slightly and pulled a key from her chest. It had Ju Ji's room number written on it. But he knew perfectly well that his own key was with him, so this had to be a spare.

"When did you get that?"

"The day you lent me your jacket, of course. If you want it, why don't you come get it yourself?"

Kikyo gave him a teasing smile and put the key back where it had been.

Go get it himself? The moment the thought crossed his mind, Ju Ji's mouth went dry and he couldn't help swallowing. Reason told him it would be best not to, but part of him wanted to give it a try.

Without realizing it, Ju Ji's right hand began inching toward its target. He didn't even notice what he was doing.

"Ugh, you're so slow... I'm bored. Let's call it a day. See you tomorrow, Ju Ji... Hmph!"

Just as he was about to succeed, Kikyo got up and moved off him. Before leaving, she even flipped him the bird. A sense of loss washed over him.

Ju Ji felt both exasperated and amused, but he was also secretly relieved. If they'd gone any further, there'd have been no way to smooth things over. He looked at the tent pitched beneath him and sighed.

Kikyo really was a little devil through and through. At least he had some important treasures under his bed. It was time for them to make an appearance.

Before long, Ju Ji drifted off to sleep, his body exhausted. Ever since he'd come to this school, it felt like he hadn't had a single day without getting tired.

"Ju Ji, time to get up. Otherwise, I'm going to play a prank on you."

Through the haze of sleep, Ju Ji thought he heard the little devil's voice. At the same time, he felt something smooth brushing against his face, as though some kind of filament were rubbing against it.

"Um, Miss Kikyo, I'm glad you came to wake me up, but could you please not put your foot on my face?"

"Huh? Don't guys like that?"

Sure, some men might enjoy it and cheer for her beautiful feet. But unfortunately, Ju Ji wasn't a masochist, and he didn't have any particular foot fetish. It didn't make him feel good at all. [And could you please stop poking me in the face with your foot?]

"Ahh, what are you doing?"

"Nothing. I'm just moving someone's naughty, smelly foot out of the way. And don't interrupt me while I'm getting dressed. We're going to be late. Besides, aren't you worried our classmates will get the wrong idea when you come to my room first thing in the morning?"

After moving Kikyo's misbehaving right foot, clad in a white stocking, Ju Ji quickly changed into his uniform and washed up. He knew it was best not to keep going back and forth with Kikyo, or he'd definitely fall into her trap. People who played mind games really were devious.

"Get the wrong idea about what? That you and I are dating, Ju Ji? ...Would you hate it if people thought that? ...No, I'm kidding. Aren't we close friends? I don't mind a little misunderstanding like that.

"Besides, they're more likely to think I have something on you."

Kikyo was right. If anyone saw her leaving Ju Ji's room, their first thought would definitely be that Ju Ji was blackmailing her. Then his classmates would punish him.

"Since you know that, could I trouble you to leave already? Please spare this humble servant's life."

Kikyo was practically the class idol now. Ju Ji could hardly imagine whether he'd survive long enough to make it to Class A. Just because the two of them called each other by their first names, he'd already felt the piercing stares of quite a few boys.

"Kikyo, you came out of Shinomiya's room? That's unusual."

At Ju Ji's desperate request, Kikyo had listened to him and gone out first. But then he heard a voice he really hadn't wanted to hear, completely devoid of emotion.

It belonged to Ayanokoji, who lived two doors down from him. Ju Ji was already wondering whether he should kill him to keep him quiet.

"Good morning, Ayanokoji. Ju Ji lost something, so I was just helping him look for it."

"Is that so? I thought you two had gotten close enough to share a room."

"How could that be? That's impossible. We're just friends."

"Well, let's go with that."

Kikyo's made-up excuse was a little clumsy, but Ayanokoji seemed to believe it...