Overnight Stay and White Shirts / Kushida's Story: I Really Must Be Sick!

He picked up the warm water on the table and took a sip. The warm liquid flowed down his throat, and the tension in his heart gradually eased. Perhaps, true maturity is not about resisting instinct, but about learning to understand and treat those around you with gentler ways.

The conversation in the room continued, occasionally punctuated by soft laughter, which mingled with the sound of the wind outside the window, creating a peaceful afternoon melody.

It's already in, can't be changed, so be it. ┭┮┭┮

First Semester of First Year:

Chapter 87, Section 82: Staying Overnight and the White Shirt

"Kushida, you're talking a bit too much."

On the other side, Karuizawa Kei, completely naked, looked at Kushida Kikyo lying in the corner of the bed, her face so cold it seemed to freeze the air.

"Even though you're in another man's room, you still can't keep your mouth shut. This is going to get you into big trouble, Kushida."

You have no right to lecture me like this, even though you were naked in another man's room!

Although she really wanted to explode at the other person, in order to maintain her "pure and kind" persona, Kushida Kikyo could only show a "belated realization" expression and thank the other person for reminding her like a naive and innocent girl.

Just as Kushida Kikyo was being pushed back by Karuizawa Kei's verbal onslaught, Enishi Hoshino, lost in Hoshino En, suddenly remembered that there was a naked blonde girl here.

"By the way, Kushida, could you go back and get one of your clothes for Karuizawa? She might catch a cold if she goes down naked any longer."

His words immediately interrupted the girls' standoff. They looked at him almost simultaneously, one slightly flustered, the other with a mixture of confusion and relief.

"Hoshino-kun, where's my white shirt?"

Karuizawa Kei bit her lip in frustration. The Matoba her lying in bed with Hoshino Enoki, wearing only a white Hoshino En shirt, was something she had imagined for so long. Today, it was finally about to come true, how could it be interrupted like this?!

"... Didn't we just happen to run into Kushida? Now that you can move around again, why not just ask her to lend you some clothes, and then have her take you back to your room? Isn't that perfect?"

Not good at all!!!

Seeing that her original goal seemed impossible to achieve, she quickly climbed onto Hoshino En's bed, wrapped herself in his blanket, and pushed Kushida Kikyo, who had repeatedly gotten in her way, off the bed, as if in a fit of pique.

"Ouch--"

"Then I won't wear it. We're going for morning exercise together tomorrow anyway, so I'll sleep here tonight."

"As long as I wash and dry the clothes later, they'll be wearable tomorrow, which is just right!"

Wrapped in the blanket, she shuffled to the inside of the bed, leaning against the wall like a silkworm, leaving Hoshino En a space that could barely accommodate one more person.

"Well then, Hoshino-kun, I'm going to sleep now. Goodnight."

She spoke while facing the wall, then fell silent, as if she had truly fallen asleep.

It seems she's made up her mind not to go back with Kushida Kikyo.

Hoshino En was speechless. How did this child suddenly become as willful as Kushida?

But... never mind, she did a great job in that fight with Ibuki, so let's consider this bit of willfulness a reward for her.

Ignoring the blonde girl who was pretending to be asleep, Hoshino En turned around and looked at Kushida, the Kushida the Little Fool was slumped on the ground, rubbing his bottom and complaining of pain, and asked.

"And you Kushida? Is there anything else you need? Or are you looking to mooch another late-night snack?"

"Ouch, ouch, ouch... Ugh, a midnight snack? No way! I gained two kilograms after eating it last time, it's terrifying!!!"

Upon hearing Hoshino En mention that tempting option, the girl, who was holding onto the edge of the bed with her left hand and rubbing her bottom with her right, immediately refused with a "spirited" expression, shaking her head frantically as if she were running away from something.

No, no, no, it's clearly because you ate too many desserts while socializing with your [good friends], right?

Hoshino En refused to admit that the problem lay with the food he prepared.

"Furthermore, I have said everything I wanted to say, so I will take my leave now."

Kushida Kikyo quickly said her goodbye, then immediately stood up as if to show off, but the pain still made her stagger.

"Are you alright like this? Should I take you back...?"

"No need, you should still keep an eye on Karuizawa."

Firmly refusing Hoshino En's offer to help, Kushida Kikyo stubbornly stood up and limped towards the entrance.

After changing her shoes, she pushed open the door without looking back and then slammed it shut.

Clang--

Hoshino En: "..."

Kushida sensed something was off. Didn't she realize Karuizawa was just pretending to be asleep? Why wasn't she even acting anymore?

Just then, his phone rang; it was a message from Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka: [Yuki, Yamauchi, Ike, and Sudo are having a celebration tonight, and they want me to invite Kushida and Horikita too, so I can't go tonight.]

Hoshino En: [I understand, I also happen to have something to do tonight.]

[Horikita, you should try your best, but as for Kushida, forget it. She seems a bit strange today; I think she might be angry.]

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka: [...] Okay, I understand.

After a brief exchange, Hoshino En placed her phone on the desk and then looked at the caterpillar on the bed.

"Karuizawa, I happen to be free tonight, feel free to stay if you want."

Karuizawa Kei remained unmoved, continuing her "reflection in silence."

Is the child really asleep?

Is she upset because the promised white shirt didn't come through?

Hoshino En: "..."

"I'm going to take a shower. The white shirt is in the closet next to my desk. You can take one if you want to wear it."

"Really!!!"

The caterpillar has emerged from its cocoon and become a human.

Karuizawa Kei, flowing golden hair, knelt on the bed, looking at him with shining eyes. The blankets were scattered to the side because of her movements.

So that's why...

Hoshino En was a little speechless. Why was this guy suddenly acting so childish?

Well, at least everyone's alright.

He picked up the bath towel that Karuizawa Kei had placed on the back of the chair and turned to go into the bathroom.

But he suddenly stopped at the doorway.

"Oh, right."

He turned to look at the girl, a troubled look in his eyes that seemed to say, "I hope that kind of thing won't happen," and warned her.

"Take any of the clean white shirts you like, but don't touch the one I'm going to take off later."

"You're not the kind of weirdo who's obsessed with smells, are you?"

"How could that be! While I don't deny my infatuation with you, I'm not the kind of brainless nymphomaniac who would be interested in dirty clothes covered in grime and sweat!"

She spoke with absolute certainty, and her face even showed a rare expression of disgust towards Hoshino Aya.

But, but, shochu... the fleeting interest you showed in your eyes when you first heard about it couldn't fool me.

Do you really have those kinds of thoughts?!

A bit chilly...

Hoshino En walked into the bathroom with a sour face, and Karuizawa Kei, who watched him close the bathroom door, cheered silently after he went in.

Marvelous!!!

She immediately darted to the wardrobe, opened the door, and then pounced on it.

Huff~ Huff~ Huff~

The clothes were clean, but they smelled of the closet and had a faint other scent.

Yes, it was the same scent she had just smelled— En-kun's scent!

Huff, huff... I feel like I'm melting...

Hoshino En peeked out through the crack in the bathroom door. "..."

Karuizawa, you should have waited until the shower started to run before pushing the door open to make sure I was actually in the shower before doing this. You were careless.

Moreover, your current behavior is that of a pervert!!

First Semester of First Year:

Chapter 88, Section 82.5: Kushida's Chapter: Oh my god, he really is sick!

After leaving Hoshino's room, I leaned against his door, lost in thought, and didn't leave immediately.

On the one hand, my butt really hurts a bit, and I can't appear in front of others in that weak and ugly state— Kushida should be [Everyone's Kushida], [the perfect Kushida], not a [loser] who gets knocked off the bed by the class's mean hot girl, whose butt hurts so much, and then slunk away—so I need to recover a little longer.

As for the deeper reason... it's that I discovered something about myself seemed a bit off.

For example, in the situation just now. I should have said goodbye to Hoshino -kun in a kinder and cuter tone, but I didn't. Instead, I ran away from him in a harsh and aggressive tone.

I didn't want to do that... I was supposed to thank him... How strange...

As a result, all the gratitude I had planned beforehand was shut down by his questions, and I couldn't even bring up the idea of becoming "real friends" with him...

Doesn't this mean we've accomplished absolutely nothing?

I leaned against his door, slid down, and slowly squatted down.

With my hands wrapped around my knees and my head bowed, I felt like a woodlice curled up in a gutter.

What am I even here for?!

My thoughts drifted back to the morning...

Listening to Chabashira-sensei 'Sudo -kun, a sad expression appeared on my face, but my heart remained calm and undisturbed.

While Yamauchi and Ike are far more disgusting than him in this respect, his personality is too fiery, and he simply cannot tolerate anyone whose views differ from his own; even I find it hard to stand him.

He's done for this time, that's his fate. Anyway, I've done my best, and I have a clear conscience towards my friend.

Buzz--

Just then, a message from Hoshino -kun came through on my phone.

Hoshino En: [Let me ask Chabashira-sensei if we can use our Private Points to buy the point Sudo is missing; if so, let's encourage the rest of the class to help Sudo collect points, since someone must have some saved up.]

His message left me completely stunned.

Private Points are equivalent to [Japanese Yen], yet he proposed using [Private Points to buy points], which essentially means [buying points with real money], doesn't it?

This is a government-supported school! How could such fraudulent behavior be accepted?!

Furthermore, if I make such a suggestion and then am told it's unacceptable, it will damage my reputation. What exactly is Hoshino trying to do?

[By spending points to protect Sudo, the Class Points will be secured, leading to even more income next month. No normal person would refuse such a deal.]

[And you, who made this suggestion, will receive everyone's gratitude and support.]

As I read the text he sent, my blocked thoughts suddenly cleared up.

What he said seems to make a lot of sense!

However, when I looked around, I found that most of the other students were in low spirits, and many of them were even staring at Ken Sudō with resentful eyes.

Their gazes made my brow twitch.

I've seen those kinds of looks before, back in junior high. Those guys gave me similar looks when they found out I was secretly venting my frustrations by writing short essays online.

Ugh, I'm getting a little irritated. Why do I have to think about bad things?!

Damn it... No, no, this can't be! This is a classroom, not Hoshino -san's room. I can't [Henshin] yet. I have to be patient. Deep breath, deep breath...

For some reason, ever since I accepted Hoshino's help, I seem to be less able to hold back as much as before. My true nature, which I can't let others know, always comes out on its own like this now.

Shouldn't releasing stress make you more resilient? Why is it the complete opposite in my case?

Suddenly remembering this, the negative reaction I had previously experienced due to other people's stares gradually subsided.

Ahem... Anyway, I feel like if I stand up for Sudo right now, I'll definitely become the next target of everyone's criticism.

Moreover, because of my reputation, the backlash I'll face will only be more severe.

So, yes, although the reward afterward is tempting, the risk is too great, and I've decided to... leeks.