Shiina-Style Childcare / Little Sakayanagi's Probe

"No way, we're going to be on this Cruise Ship next? That's so cool!!"

"And everything inside is completely free, not a single extra point is required, that's amazing!!"

They couldn't hide their excitement. After all, they had endured two whole months of hardship, and this feeling of being able to enjoy themselves without worrying about expenses was a rare experience for them.

"En-kun, actually this Cruise Ship belongs to my family."

Hidden in an inconspicuous corner of the crowd, Sakayanagi Arisu dropped a bombshell.

"Oh, I know that."

However, Hoshino En did not show any surprise. He held Sakayanagi Arisu's hand with one hand and held his phone in the other, answering the girl's questions while sending a message to someone.

"I heard from my seniors that the Cruise Ship that took the students to the Uninhabited Island for the final Uninhabited Island Special Exam was provided by the Chairman's family."

His performance greatly displeased Sakayanagi Arisu.

"En-kun, shouldn't this be my time? How can you be fobbing me off while flirting with other kittens?!"

"Flirting? No, no, no, I'm finding someone to take care of you."

"The person who takes care of me? Then you—"

Although she was temporarily trapped in the illusion of love, Sakayanagi Arisu was still Sakayanagi Arisu after all, and she quickly realized Hoshino En's intentions.

"En-kun, are you planning to make a move in this Special Exam?"

"That's right. After all, I don't have many Private Points left, so I need to take this opportunity to get as many as possible."

Upon receiving confirmation from the other end, Hoshino En put down her phone and patted Sakayanagi Arisu's head through her beret.

"Don't worry, I'll make time for you no matter what, so don't fret."

First Semester of First Year:

Chapters 147 and 138: Shiina-style Childcare

"Are you so sure I won't interfere, Yuan-jun?"

Sakayanagi Arisu tilted her head and looked at Hoshino En along the side of his hand.

"You should know very well that I won't let go of any opportunity to fight you."

This matter concerns their future status in the family. Unlike other ordinary girls, Sakayanagi Arisu doesn't blindly try to emulate her lover.

What she needs to do is cultivate the man she likes into an ideal husband that she likes even more!

"Then why did you help me and let me come along? Wouldn't it have been more in line with your purpose to have me stay at school and completely isolate myself?!"

Looking into her eyes, which were as beautiful as purple crystals and staring straight at him, Hoshino En smiled helplessly, her lips curving upwards with a hint of doting affection that she herself was unaware of.

"I anticipated your involvement long ago. In fact, from the moment I decided to make my move, I was already thinking about how to get rid of you, little guy."

"Don't call me little one! You yourself admitted it, I'm the older sister! Ugh--!!"

Sakayanagi Arisu tried to protest Hoshino En's way of addressing her, but Hoshino En's hand on her head tightened, almost to the point that it could ruffle her hair through her beret.

He used this method to suppress the girl's protest.

"Yes, yes, she's my older sister, but she's a spoiled one who needs to be pampered."

"As for why I helped you and had you come along—I should have answered that question already, shouldn't I?"

Do you remember what I said when we first met and chatted?

"'Anyway, there's still plenty of time, and you don't need to rush into the class competition. How about enjoying this hard-won school life first?' That's the sentence, isn't it?"

How could Sakayanagi Arisu forget such an important memory? She answered almost instantly.

"That's right, that's exactly it."

Hoshino En withdrew the hand that had been groping Sakayanagi Arisu's head, and instead began to attack her cheeks.

It's soft and feels amazing.

"Even though this is just a malicious exam disguised as a trip, even though this is your family's Cruise Ship, and you may have even been to that artificial island before—enjoying it with friends and having fun together is completely different from traveling alone or with family."

"This is also part of campus life. Wouldn't it be a shame to worry too much about your illness and give up on everything else?"

Besides--

He crouched down, bringing his gaze to the level of Sakayanagi Arisu, and their eyes met.

"This is the first time you've cried in front of me. How could I possibly leave you all alone in that cold, impersonal school?"

Hoshino En took out her phone and showed off the photos she had taken yesterday.

"But to be honest, I actually like you more when you have red, teary eyes and a face full of grievances—in a sense, my reaction is very similar to yours when you're 'strong to everyone'."

Upon hearing this, Sakayanagi Arisu's cheeks instantly flushed crimson, and she looked dazed, as if she were on fire.

"To say such blunt things in front of someone... En-kun, you're going too far!!"

"What foul? I was just stating the facts."

He led Sakayanagi Arisu, who suddenly seemed unable to muster any strength, into the Cruise Ship.

Following the location information sent by the person on the other end of the phone, Hoshino En led Sakayanagi Arisu into a restaurant on the Cruise Ship.

The restaurant was nearly empty; most students had never seen such a luxurious Cruise Ship before and were currently exploring Cruise Ship various parts. Almost no one would wander into the restaurant, especially this one in such a secluded location.

Aside from the internal staff, there are only Hoshino En and Sakayanagi Arisu here, as well as the "caregiver" that Hoshino En had arranged for Sakayanagi Arisu.

"Ah, En-kun, here, here!"

Seeing Shiina Hiyori greet Hoshino En with an affectionate expression, and then jog up to him and take his other arm when she saw him, Sakayanagi Arisu's face stiffened.

"Shiina, I'll leave Sakayanagi to you from now on. I think you can take care of him for a day or two."

Hoshino En solemnly placed the left hand of Sakayanagi Arisu, which she was holding, into Shiina Hiyori's hand.

"No problem, leave it to me!"

Holding Sakayanagi Arisu's hand, Shiina Hiyori carefully supported her as if she were taking care of a kindergarten student, and gave Hoshino En a encouraging gesture, as if to say, "Leave it to me, big sister."

"Have a lot of fun with her!"

After giving her repeated instructions and confirming that she was alright, Hoshino En finally left.

However, he knew that relying on Shiina Hiyori alone was not enough, so he sent messages to the other two.

Hoshino En: [Ichinose, could you please keep an eye on Shiina and Sakayanagi on the ship? I have something to attend to and can't leave for the time being.]

He sent the same message to Kushida Kikyo again and quickly received replies from both of them agreeing.

To be honest, if it weren't for the sensitive nature of Ichinose Honami the "Class B," and if it weren't for the fact that Kushida Kikyo had so many "good friends" that she had to "spread her love evenly," he would have already directly entrusted Shiina and Sakayanagi to them. Why would he need to go through all this trouble now?

As for why he didn't ask Karuizawa Kei or Kamuro Masumi —the former needed his help and couldn't spare the time himself, and the latter... he couldn't possibly bother Sakayanagi every time Kamuro needed something, could he? He had to give her a break, couldn't he?

Controlled by a message from Sakayanagi Arisu, who demanded that he find Hoshino En and follow him Kamuro Masumi, all talk and no action! If you really care, then go stop Sakayanagi and make her stop ordering me around!!!

As for what Hoshino En was supposed to do... it was actually to figure out the internal structure of this Cruise Ship.

Yesterday at noon, when he asked the Secretary Senior about the Special Exam in July, in addition to telling him that "the exam will be held on an Uninhabited Island," she also subtly hinted that "there will be more than one exam in July."

The first exam was held on Uninhabited Island, so the second exam, needless to say, must have been held on Cruise Ship.

Although it's unclear whether the exam will focus on intellectual thinking or physical abilities, given that Chairman Sakayanagi initially had no intention of letting Little Sakayanagi participate in the exam, and even refused to let her board the ship, the second exam is very likely to be related to physical abilities.

Therefore, it is very important to understand the internal structure of the Cruise Ship and the location of cameras in each area beforehand.

If the school were to hold a Special Exam to test students' ability to react and move quickly in a crisis, then understanding the layout of the environment beforehand might give him a head start.

Thus, for the sake of three years of peace, Hoshino En began her long-awaited diligent intelligence gathering work.

On the other side, the "child-rearing" group.

Shiina Hiyori led Sakayanagi Arisu to the Cruise Ship's library, found her a picture book, and then took out a classic book she had brought with her to read.

Seeing Shiina Hiyori quietly reading a book after being "settled in" and without any interaction with her, Sakayanagi Arisu Shiina Hiyori dumbfounded.

No... that's it?

En-kun asked you to take care of me, don't you have anything to say in return? Like, mock me, attack me, or start a fight?

Zhong Qun: ["∝?№★ Liu↑'>§"' and--

Sakayanagi Arisu looked at the children's picture book placed in front of her, her eyes showing bewilderment for the first time.

Although many people treat her like a child, they all know that her personality is completely different from her appearance.

This was the first time she had ever seen someone like Shiina Hiyori use a children's book to "humiliate" her like this.

Is this Shiina's "attack"?

... From an offensive standpoint, this move is actually quite cute.

First Semester of First Year:

Chapter 148 Chapter 139 Little Sakayanagi's Test

"Shiina, what are you trying to do?"

Sakayanagi Arisu's question pulled Shiina Hiyori out of her sea of books.

The "Silver Fairy Who Often Appears in the Library" looked at the "Silver-Haired Witch of Class A," who had been drawn by the Creator using the same color as herself, and replied, "Hmm? What do you want to do? Of course, I'll 'take care' of you for En-kun, just as he wishes!"

Her eyes held no other complex meaning, so pure that Sakayanagi Arisu could even see her own reflection in those glass eyes—at least she couldn't discern any other thoughts from Shiina Hiyori.

"So this is how you 'take care' of me? Just throw a book at me and leave me to 'fend for myself'?"

"It's not as bad as you make it out to be! Aren't I sitting right here with you? How could I possibly let you 'fend for yourself'!"

Jiu doesn't deny that she "used a book as an excuse"...

Sakayanagi Arisu was a little tired. Shiina Hiyori acted as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and she didn't know where to begin her lecture.

Unlike Kamuro Masumi, Ba seemed to think there was nothing wrong with her approach, and such "stubborn" people are the hardest to persuade.

However, this was also an opportunity, a chance to test how far her relationship with En-kun had progressed.

Then, Sakayanagi Arisu pressed on to this topic, asking, "So, you used to 'date' En-kun in the library every afternoon. Was that how you spent your time? Just sitting together reading without saying a word?"

"Yes. Most of the time, we sit together quietly reading; sometimes En-kun will recommend books he thinks are good, and he will gladly accept the classics I recommend."

So, when Shiina Hiyori "used a book as an excuse," it wasn't just her way of brushing off a friend, but rather her normal way of dealing with them?

At that moment, Shiina Hiyori noticed the book in Sakayanagi Arisu that hadn't been opened at all. With a hint of self-reproach, she asked, "Classmate Sakayanagi, is this book not good? I'm sorry, I don't really know your tastes... Would you like me to find you another one?"

"It's alright. It's nice to change things up once in a while and read some children's books."

Sakayanagi Arisu casually flipped to a page in the picture book in front of her, leaving it lying open on the table, but her gaze did not linger on it at all; instead, she kept looking at Shiina Hiyori.

"But Shiina, I still don't understand: you pester En-kun every afternoon, is it just to read books with him like we are now?"

Sakayanagi Arisu glanced around at the library-like Matoba and steered the conversation back on track.

"Actually, there are still some differences."

Shiina Hiyori and thought for a moment before answering.

"You've met Classmate Sakayanagi before, right? En-kun and I always sit side by side in the library, not facing each other like we are now."

"No, no, no, that's not what I wanted to ask."

Sakayanagi Arisu a little tired; why couldn't Shiina grasp the key point?

"My question is: Isn't there absolutely no interaction between you two?"

"Interaction? Does exchanging books count?"

"No! It has to be an exchange unrelated to books."

"This...?"

Shiina Hiyori pondered for a longer time, her eyebrows furrowing slightly, her expression becoming more serious, yet also revealing a hint of unwavering determination to find it.

Suddenly, she excitedly raised her head, her eyes lit up, and the corners of her mouth turned up, as if she had found the answer to the Sakayanagi Arisu problem.

"Yes, I remember once, when En-kun was reading, he reached out and ruffled my hair. His hand was warm and soft, and I couldn't help but rub it against him in return."

Shiina Hiyori couldn't help but ramble on, but she quickly realized that the person in front of her, Classmate Sakayanagi, seemed to be dating En-kun, so she quickly apologized.

"Ah, but there's nothing more to my relationship with En-kun, please don't misunderstand, Classmate Sakayanagi."