Girls Talking! / Roar!!

"Okay..."

Kushida Kikyo instinctively agreed, but she quickly raised an objection.

"Wait! What does 'next' mean? Since Sakayanagi has no good intentions, why not just send her back to the Cruise Ship?"

For her to say such a thing meant she had been completely led astray by Hoshino En; but given her abilities, Hoshino En was very dissatisfied that she would say such a thing.

"These are all just my guesses. I can't be sure if she's lying. Besides, I promised her I'd take her on a good trip, so don't overthink it. Just keep an eye on them for me." (Temple)

As soon as he said that, Kushida Kikyo understood.

"... So you're using the class's authority to make me deal with your personal problems? This is abusing your power for personal gain! Abuse of authority!"

She hadn't really thought that Hoshino En would actually be this kind of person. This boy with short purple hair and bangs covering his eyebrows had previously given the impression of being a harmless and law-abiding character.

"But we signed an agreement beforehand that the rest of us would have full authority over my arrangements, and 'guarding potential spies' is in the best interests of the class."

Hoshino En directly produced the previously signed agreement to vindicate herself.

"The agreement doesn't say I can't use class authority for personal matters."

He has unlimited authority, so even public power can be exercised according to the rule of "anything not prohibited by law is permitted".

Kushida Kikyo was speechless.

"By the way, the 'them' you just mentioned, could it be...?"

"Oh, that's exactly what I was going to tell you."

Hoshino En turned to the side and released the Silver Fairy that had been hiding behind him.

"I found this on the street, and because it was so cute, I brought it home."

Hearing Hoshino En's suddenly nonsensical explanation, Shiina Hiyori blushed, but then she seemed to remember something, and her pale, disheveled face mixed with the shimmering blush, making her expression extremely complicated and confused.

First Semester of First Year:

Chapters 159 and 150: Girls Talking!

Upon seeing Shiina Hiyori suddenly appear, Kushida Kikyo's face turned deathly pale.

"You, you... she..."

She glanced at Hoshino En, then at Shiina Hiyori, and a feeling of betrayal suddenly welled up inside her.

Didn't she just completely ruin the persona she had cultivated in front of students from other classes?

Why didn't Hoshino remind her?

"Kushida, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

But Shiina Hiyori didn't notice her unusual behavior at all. She thought she was unwelcome, and her expression became even more downcast.

"That's true. Our Class C attacked your Class D so much before, it's normal for you to have a problem with me, someone from Class C."

"But I just want to talk to Classmate Sakayanagi, and then I'll leave, so could you—"

"No, no, you can stay, we'd love for you!!"

Kushida Kikyo quickly agreed to Shiina Hiyori's request and rushed forward to push her into the room.

"Classmate Sakayanagi is inside. You two can chat as long as you like."

The door was slammed shut. Shiina Hiyori looked at Sakayanagi Arisu and Karuizawa Kei sitting at the head of the long table, a feeling of unease washing over her.

But in the end, she bravely charged towards the "Demon King".

"Classmate Sakayanagi, about your situation—"

"Oh dear~ I hadn't heard that one of today's visitors was a shameless Stealing Cat." (Sigh)

But before Shiina Hiyori could launch her "first strike," she was interrupted by Sakayanagi Arisu, who wore a cold, mocking expression.

She looked at Karuizawa Kei beside her and asked.

"Karuizawa, is this your friend?"

"I don't know, I'm not very familiar with her. She must have been brought by En-kun, right?"

Karuizawa Kei echoed her sarcastic remarks, her gaze never lingering on Shiina Hiyori, who was standing in the doorway, for even a second.

"After all, he's a very kind-hearted person, and he can't bear to see homeless stray cats getting soaked in the rain outside. I can understand him occasionally bringing one or two home."

"Yes, kind-hearted En-kun is also very cute. But—"

Sakayanagi Arisu changed the subject, her gaze fixed intently on Shiina Hiyori.

"This is our 'home'. It's enough that En-kun show affection to stray cats outside, but what's the point of bringing them home?"

"What if this stray cat has some bacteria or disease on it? Wouldn't that infect our home?"

The two exchanged pointed remarks, which made Shiina Hiyori's face turn pale, as if something was blocking her heart.

This indescribable tightness in her chest made her abandon her previous gentle and soft-spoken manner.

"Classmate Sakayanagi, I... I don't want to leave En-kun, I can't leave him!"

She couldn't help but loudly and resolutely reveal her innermost thoughts.

Hearing her retort, Karuizawa Kei showed a hint of smugness, but the sharpness in Sakayanagi Arisu's eyes became even more pronounced.

"Then I'll ask you one more time, do you like En-kun?"

Do I like En-kun?

This difficult question once again weighed heavily on the mind of Shiina Hiyori.

She wasn't unaware of her own feelings; she knew that Hoshino En was special to her, and she wanted to stay by his side forever. This was perhaps what was called "liking" and "love," but she didn't dare to make a decision.

Because... right? No matter how indifferent Classmate Sakayanagi may seem, deep down she definitely doesn't want to share her lover with other women.

Besides, her health is so weak, she might not even be able to have children in the future—if she accepts Classmate Sakayanagi's kindness and gets together with En-kun, they will eventually want children, wouldn't that cause Classmate Sakayanagi even more pain?

She, she--

"Arisu, stop scaring Shiina! She's about to cry."

As silence gradually swallowed the air and the atmosphere became oppressive, Karuizawa Kei interrupted Sakayanagi Arisu's continued pressure.

"Shiina clearly likes him, but she has some concerns. If you don't let her explain things clearly, she won't be able to give a proper answer, will she?"

Karuizawa Kei's response was like a timely rain or a charcoal in the snow for Shiina Hiyori. She immediately followed the foundation laid by the other party and built her own ideas on it, one layer at a time.

After she finished speaking, it was Sakayanagi Arisu a sour face.

Am I such a petty person???

Although the direct hostility was gone, her expression was still frightening. Shiina Hiyori explained tremblingly, "But I heard that the students in Class A are going to give you a portion of their monthly school Private Points as protection money so you can go on stage, so I'm worried—"

Sakayanagi Arisu: "..."

"This is indeed true, but it was their own idea; I didn't force them!"

"Besides, how can that be the same thing? Do you think I have some other motive for wanting to be with En-kun?"

"Didn't we want to groom him to be the future Chairman of the board?"

Shiina Hiyori honestly shared her guess.

"I heard that the school's Chairman the board is your father, and you are going to inherit the school. But given your health condition, this kind of thing can only be left to your husband, right?"

Sakayanagi Arisu: "..."

"I'm not so fragile that I need to trouble En-kun with something like this!!!"

Despite some misunderstandings, Shiina Hiyori became a member of the "Paradise Project" for the time being.

However, although she seemed to be greatly affected, having been tormented by Sakayanagi Arisu and Karuizawa Kei, the real loser today was actually—

"Arisu, I won the bet just now. Tonight, En-kun is mine, you can go sleep with Hiyori ~"

Karuizawa Kei made no attempt to hide her smugness, beaming as she boasted to her "good little sister."

"What bet?"

"Oh, that's it--"

Karuizawa Kei was about to explain, a loud noise suddenly came from outside the Small Wooden Cabin, interrupting her.

Why should I take off my mask?!

Judging from the voice, it seems to be Kushida Kikyo's.

The three people inside exchanged glances and simultaneously moved closer to the door, peering through the crack to see what was happening outside.

Let's rewind time a tiny bit.

Snap--Clang--

The door to the Small Wooden Cabin opened and closed again, leaving only... well, zero, until finally only Hoshino En and Kushida Kikyo remained.

Why didn't you tell me beforehand that Shiina was here?

She questioned Hoshino En, her expression instantly turning into that of a "real Kushida".

"Don't worry! I shielded you properly just now, and Shiina wasn't following closely behind me. Your voice wasn't loud either, so she didn't hear me."

"But it's been two or three months already, you should be able to move on by now, right? How can you overcome your fear if you don't face it head-on? I'm helping you with Desensitization Training, you should be thanking me."

"You—you're just making excuses!!"

A few tears welled up in Kushida Kikyo's narrow eyes beneath her true face, and a blush of grievance rose around her eyes.

Hoshino En: "..."

It seems the child was quite frightened... but what he said wasn't entirely unreasonable.

"Are you going to live with a mask on for the rest of your life? If you don't slowly reveal your true self now, it will only be harder for you to take it off later—"

Why should I take off my mask?!

Kushida Kikyo unleashed a loud roar, which was extremely effective against Hoshino En, who possessed a psychic attribute.

"Do you think I'm like you, like Sakayanagi, a genius who can do anything they want?! I can't!!"

"Someone as mediocre as me can only find a little satisfaction in this kind of thing, to know that I am also excellent, and to have something to look forward to each day. Otherwise, I... I... I would have nothing left..."

She collapsed to her knees, hugging her chest, tears streaming down her face like a broken kite string.

"Looks like Kushida is going to be on the track too."

Despite the loud noise outside, Karuizawa Kei remained completely calm.

Rather, she was happy to see this happen; relationships are often built through trials and tribulations.

"But Kushida seems really upset. Is it really okay for us not to go out and help comfort her?"

Shiina Hiyori was a little worried. She originally wanted to rush out immediately, but she was held back by her two younger sisters who had just taken her in, so she could only stop and peek.

"If we get involved, what will En-kun do? We can leave this to him."

That's what she said, but Sakayanagi Arisu's gaze never left them; her focused expression practically screamed "I'm so curious!"

First Semester of First Year:

Chapters 160 and 151: Roar!!

Outside the door, Hoshino En looked troubled as she watched Kushida Kikyo squatting on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

If others saw this scene, he would definitely be attacked by the masses; Kushida's influence is still very significant.

The incident started because of him, so he can't just leave the person there unattended.

"Hey! Stop crying. Just consider it me being nosy earlier. If you keep arguing, your public image will be completely ruined!"

Hoshino En tried to calm Kushida down by talking about what Kushida cared about most.

Upon hearing his words, Kushida's crying paused for a moment, and then—she cried even louder.

She cried while making sounds that were easily misunderstood.

"Hoshino! You! Bastard!"

Her voice was even louder than before, and Hoshino En, who was closest to her, could even hear a slight echo.

Ugh, what a hassle.