Speaking Openly

But since she was being so proactive, he wouldn't hold back.

After saying that, Hoshino En turned and walked into the room, intending to change her clothes while Karuizawa Kei was making coffee.

"Understood."

Despite believing her reasons were perfectly valid, Karuizawa Kei smiled with delight upon hearing that the other party had not refused.

She gave a proper salute, then immediately turned around to fiddle with the equipment—if the warm filter paper cooled down, it would absorb the heat of the coffee liquid during extraction, reducing the taste of the coffee.

However, her gaze lingered on Hoshino En Yukino's body.

She had noticed it when Hoshino-kun came out of the bathroom earlier: Hoshino-kun's upper body had very beautiful lines, and his muscles were very well-proportioned. As for the feel... she had already experienced it before, and it was fantastic.

Her upper body is already so outstanding, so her lower body... slurp

Karuizawa Kei's gaze was fixed on the area covered by the gray bath towel, and she swallowed hard.

The towel that had previously wrapped around her body was now wrapped around Hoshino-kun's most intimate area; her scent must have already seeped onto him.

This feeling... is like two people becoming one.

Spalashi~!!

Although her peripheral vision was barely noticeable, due to her past experiences, Hoshino En happened to be very sensitive to things like peripheral vision... and even quite averse to them.

Karuizawa Kei's greedy glance was very noticeable to him, like sharp and cold needles, making his muscles tense and his hair stand on end.

Doesn't she feel ashamed of that undisguised look in her eyes?

Hoshino En felt it was time to update her knowledge base. Who says girls get shy when they see a man's body?

And... wasn't he being too nice to her? Did he really embolden her to take advantage of him like that...?

Hoshino En's expression turned cold.

He walked back from the wardrobe with its doors wide open and Chang Jiu's clothes in disarray, and stood in a blind spot behind Karuizawa Kei, coldly reprimanding her.

"Focus on making coffee, don't waste my coffee beans."

His coffee beans weren't particularly expensive, just average, but because the roasting was just right, the flavor profile was exactly what he liked, so he was quite satisfied with them.

If Karuizawa dares to ruin them, he'll definitely make her regret it, like making her go through [hell] all over again.

"I know that."

Hoshino En stood right behind Karuizawa Kei, and because he was focused on the relationship between the filter cup and the powder cup, he was quite close to Karuizawa Kei, but Karuizawa Kei had no intention of flirting this time.

It wasn't out of fear; she wouldn't have those feelings for Hoshino En. Besides, she knew very well when she could be unrestrained and when she had to be serious.

However, her quick wit never stopped.

Hoshino-kun's gaze is terrifying. Why did he suddenly get so angry?

These coffee beans don't seem to be any particularly rare variety, do they? And he doesn't seem like the kind of person who's particularly concerned with material things. Why did he suddenly become so murderous?

Was it because of the coffee beans? Or because of... my actions just now, that [spying] look in my eyes?

Although the evidence was scarce, there were still clues to follow, Karuizawa Kei quickly confirmed her suspicions.

Yes, that must be it! The reason Hoshino-kun has become this cold and aloof, this way of keeping everyone at arm's length, must be because he suffered trauma in the past!? And it was because he was violently assaulted by someone he considered close!!

He wasn't averse to contact with women, nor did he care about other misunderstandings surrounding him, but he was extremely averse to the rumors of being [mistaken for gay]. No matter the Matoba, he would always speak up to clarify whenever he heard them...

Was she assaulted by her father? So pitiful.

Though preoccupied with her own thoughts, Karuizawa's hands remained firm. She carefully controlled the water, which had cooled slightly from its boiling point, guiding it slowly towards the coffee grounds, making gentle circles from the center outwards.

With each pour of water, the coffee grounds slowly rise and bulge, then fall back down, and the filter begins to overflow the coffee concentrate into the receiving cup.

The aroma is wonderful, almost identical to what Hoshino En makes herself, and Karuizawa even uses a kettle that's difficult to control the water flow... Her technique is amazing! Has she practiced it before?

Hoshino En's expression softened somewhat. (Qi)

During the second pour of water, Karuizawa Kei's arm remained steady; after the water was poured, the coffee grounds were completely soaked, and the coffee concentrate filtered from the bottom of the filter cup was roughly enough for two people.

After the extraction in the filter cup was finished, Karuizawa Kei, holding the powder collection cup beneath the filter cup, turned and handed it to Hoshino En, as if to boast.

"How about it?"

The coffee liquid was so smooth it reflected light, and it had a rich aroma; it was of superior quality.

"Very good. Have you studied this specifically?"

"When I was in junior high, I thought you might like coffee, so I specifically learned how to make it."

This is true. At the time, she thought that successful people should all drink coffee, so she specifically learned about it.

Although she later learned that this was just a prejudice and that truly successful people preferred the tea ceremony, when she found coffee beans and a grinder in Hoshino En's cupboard, she was sincerely glad that she had learned how to brew coffee.

If someone didn't truly love coffee, they wouldn't bother buying all that complicated equipment. Hoshino-kun must really love coffee; it's so great that he learned how to brew coffee properly back then!!

"Um... since I made it so well, what's the reward...?"

But the praise wasn't enough for Karuizawa Kei. She glanced at Hoshino Enoki's gray bath towel in Hoshino En of him, her desire for what was inside bordering on drooling.

Hoshino En: "..."

So outrageous!

He couldn't stand that kind of gaze; it gave him goosebumps.

So he immediately spoke.

"Karuizawa, aren't you ashamed?"

"Ashamed? To you? Why?"

"You've seen even my ugliest side, so what is there for me to be ashamed of?"

She was referring to the bullying she experienced in junior high school, a time that was arguably the most humiliating period of her life.

Oh, I see. It's a "what's the point" mentality. That makes sense.

Hoshino En immediately understood. After all, for the six female genders, [ugliness] was always one of the four major enemies, and nothing posed a greater threat than [ugliness].

However, after hearing Karuizawa mention the incident herself, Hoshino En worried that she might have some kind of stress reaction, so she prepared to say a few words of comfort.

However, before he could finish speaking, he heard the other person suddenly say something else.

"Besides, I've already let you see it, and I've even let you kiss and lick it! To be fair, let me see it too, and let me kiss and lick it back. That's not too much to ask, is it?"

Sorry, I don't understand one point. What kind of robber logic is that?

"But that's fair!"

Karuizawa Kei understood his expression and responded immediately.

Hoshino En: "..."

I nm*&%@#￥%W@#$*&...

The logic is sound, but can it actually be calculated this way?

First Semester of First Year:

Chapter 90, Chapter 84 [Open and Frank]

"But I think it's great!"

Karuizawa Kei placed the powder cup back on the kitchen table, pushing it slightly inward to prevent it from tipping over, her fingertips making a soft rustling sound as they brushed against the surface.

Taking advantage of Hoshino En's momentary daze, she quietly took half a step back, her gaze passing over the edge of the bed and landing on the wardrobe against the wall. The light gray wardrobe door was ajar, revealing a narrow crack, as if hiding some secret, piquing one's curiosity.

"You sit down and rest for a while, I'll go see if there are any extra coasters." She made up an excuse on the spot, and walked briskly around to the wardrobe, her fingertips lightly touching the cool metal door handle.

Actually, she didn't need any coasters; she just wanted to look into other people's wardrobes.

Karuizawa Kei held her breath and pushed the door open wider. The closet smelled faintly of laundry detergent. A light blue plaid shirt and a black sweatshirt hung neatly on the left, their cuffs carefully rolled up to the same height, making the casually draped sports jacket next to them look somewhat out of place.

Her gaze wandered among the clothes racks, suddenly drawn to the bottommost storage box. The dark blue box was half-open, revealing a corner of a light gray knitted hat, with a fine cat hair still stuck to the brim—was it from when she fed the stray cats on the playground last time? Hoshino En had frowned and taken off his hat then, and she had secretly picked it off for him.

Have you seen enough?

The chilly feeling in his lower body immediately snapped Hoshino En out of his shock at the other person's twisted logic. He stared at the girl and sneered.

Honestly, Karuizawa Kei's actions had deeply disturbed him, giving him a sense of unease, as if his weakness had been exposed.

But the main reason he didn't push her away immediately was because: being looked at by her with those sparkling eyes, filled with expectation mixed with a hint of fear, and a mixture of fear and longing, he actually felt a sense of inexplicable pride and satisfaction.

Oh no! Strange desires have arisen again. Do I have to find someone to train me in this?

But you can't just find anyone to train you like that! It looks so weird! And so perverted!!

Hearing his question, which clearly carried a hint of rejection, Karuizawa Kei's eyes lit up, and she made an even further request.

"Can I touch it?"

"No!"

Hoshino En didn't believe the other person couldn't understand her; this guy was actually getting too cocky!

He casually tossed the untied towel onto the back of the chair, forcefully pushed aside the hungry blonde girl, and strode straight towards the wardrobe.

Ignoring his casual clothes, which had been a mess before and were still somewhat disheveled despite being deliberately tidied, he pulled out clean underwear from the drawer below and changed into them without any hesitation, right in front of Karuizawa Kei.

The refreshing and comfortable touch brought him some comfort.

Someone once said, "As long as I have spare change and enough underwear for tomorrow, I can survive."

While Hoshino En can't be as carefree, [wearing clean underwear] definitely makes one feel good!

"Go make some coffee, otherwise it won't taste good once the heat dissipates."

He sent Karuizawa Kei to make coffee, then went to the bedside and changed into his pajamas.

"Okay~"

Despite being refused a handjob, Karuizawa Kei was still in a good mood because she finally saw the amazing treasure she had been looking for.

She skipped over to the counter and began processing the coffee concentrate, which had cooled to a drinkable temperature.

By the time Hoshino En changed into her pajamas, the coffee was ready, and she came over carrying a plate with two cups of coffee, milk, and sugar cubes.

She placed the plate on the desk, handed the iced coffee to Hoshino En Karuizawa Kei, then casually sat down on the bed with her own coffee, which contained sugar cubes and milk.

"Then, En-kun, what do you want to ask? I will answer everything I know."

Although Karuizawa Kei's "host-like" attitude left Hoshino En Yuuki somewhat speechless, since she had brought it up herself, he naturally wouldn't hold back.

Moreover, he must regain control of the dialogue.

"Karuizawa, although other factors are at play, you're already able to hold your own against Ibuki. Your fighting ability, or self-defense ability, is sufficient. Continuing to train won't be very beneficial. You can stop evening training from now on."

"Okay, I understand."

This news was within Karuizawa Kei's expectations; she had guessed it when she received the order to fight Ibuki Mio.

But the thought of losing at least three hours of time together each day still made her a little disappointed... really, just a tiny bit!

"The afternoon tutoring session is also canceled. It was originally a contingency plan to prevent you from failing the Midterm Exam, but judging from your test results, your academic ability is quite good, at least in the upper-middle range of Class D. So I won't worry about it anymore. Just be more careful in the future."

"... I... I understand."

This was also within Karuizawa Kei's expectations. The tutoring was suddenly suggested by En-kun at the end of April, and his purpose was obvious—now that she was alright, it was understandable that he didn't want to waste any more time on it.

Although she had expected it, a hint of melancholy still crept onto her face when she actually heard the news.

"And what about morning exercise?"

She usually had few opportunities to interact with Hoshino En, and her public persona made it impossible for her to approach him in class. If even morning practice was canceled, wouldn't she have absolutely no excuse to replenish her [Hoshino Energy]?!

"Morning exercise? What does your morning exercise have to do with me? Anyway, I'm not going to stop this kind of daily exercise. If you want to give it up, then give it up. What does it have to do with me?"

Upon hearing his words, Karuizawa Kei was overjoyed.

So, our morning "two-on-one date on the playground" can still continue? That's great!

Moreover, seeing that Hoshino En fell into a long silence after that, her smile deepened.

Having spent two months together, she now understands very well that Hoshino En is not the kind of person who creates a messy situation. Unless he intends to trick someone, he always gets straight to the point and dismisses people if there's nothing to say.

Now, after finishing his business, he fell silent, neither asking her to leave nor discussing any other personal matters. This indicates that he is still struggling with his strategy towards her, meaning that, to him, she is no longer a complete stranger.

Thinking of this, Karuizawa Kei couldn't help but ask directly.

"En-kun, you're finally starting to believe me?!"

"... How can I trust you when you say that?"