Kushida

"Um... Qiuyue, could you do me a favor?"

Qiuyue: (Kushida, huh...)

"Right now?"

"Well, I bought some things at the mall, but it seems something came up and I need to go pick them up myself. Only I can't carry it all on my own... so... Qiuyue, please."

Qiuyue: (Why now of all times, and why me? Ah, whatever. It's just a small thing. If I don't help, it'll just make me look weird.)

"No problem. I can handle a little favor like this."

Kushida's face lit up with a full smile, gratitude shining in her eyes as she said excitedly, "Thank you so much, Qiuyue!"

"Give me a moment. I'll change into something to go out."

Qiuyue went back into his room, grabbed a set of clothes from the wardrobe, and changed. After getting dressed, he casually closed the door and looked at Kushida.

"Didn't keep you waiting too long, did I?"

"Not at all~ I'm the one asking for your help, so I don't mind waiting however long."

The girl's voice was as pleasant as could be, paired with a smile that could score full marks—like the feeling of a first love.

Qiuyue: (...You must be exhausted from all the acting, Kushida.)

"Alright, let's go."

The two arrived at the mall.

Qiuyue felt the sun's heat all the way, as if he were about to be cooked alive, and complained in a grumbling tone.

"It's unbearably hot today. I'm sweating like crazy. Looks like I'll need a shower when I get back."

Kushida beside him wasn't much better off. She took out a tissue to wipe the sweat from her temples, grabbed a few more, and looked at Qiuyue with a hint of apology.

"...Sorry. If it weren't for me today... Here, have a tissue. Wipe your sweat. We're in the mall now, so it won't be as hot anymore, Qiuyue."

Qiuyue took the tissue from Kushida's hand and wiped his face and neck.

Qiuyue: (You'd better actually need my help for something real, or else I'll spill that you're a Pink-Haired Schemer—cut you open and find nothing but bad blood inside. Hmph...)

"Thanks for the tissue... Yeah, the mall's way more comfortable. Ah, air conditioning is the best."

Qiuyue sighed in relief like he'd been saved.

"...Haha... sorry about that. How about we rest here for a bit? That milk tea shop over there looks nice."

Qiuyue followed Kushida's pointing finger and saw a moderately sized shop with a few people sitting inside.

"I'm down for that. Let's grab a drink and take a break."

Qiuyue and Kushida went into the shop and found a seat.

"Qiuyue, what kind do you like? I'll order for you."

"As long as it's sweet, I'll drink anything."

"...Could it be that Qiuyue can't handle bitter things, like bitter melon or green peppers?"

"..."

Qiuyue stayed silent, and Kushida looked like she'd discovered a new continent.

"Heh~ I never expected Qiuyue to be a sweet tooth."

"Aren't most milk teas sweet? I do like sweet things. What's the problem?"

Qiuyue: (...Got a problem with sweet? Seriously. I like what I like.)

Qiuyue said with a hint of displeasure.

"Nothing at all. A sweet, childlike Qiuyue is pretty cute too~"

"..."

Qiuyue: (You're the cute one. Your whole family's cute! ...Wait, did I just compliment her?)

Seeing Qiuyue rendered speechless by her teasing, Kushida went to the counter and ordered two cups of milk tea.

After waiting a bit, she took the cups from the server, returned to her seat across from Qiuyue, and handed one to him.

"Here, Qiuyue. We both got the same thing~"

Qiuyue took it.

"Thanks. How many points? I'll transfer them to you."

"No need, no need. I'm already troubling you to help me carry stuff."

"Alright then."

"You bastard!! Sneaking off to secretly date little Kushida, huh? You're cutting in line!"

"Yeah! How despicable!"

Qiuyue was in the middle of drinking when he suddenly got choked from behind, coughing violently.

"Ike, stop it. You made Qiuyue choke. Let go."

Ike let go, and Kushida took out a tissue to wipe the milk tea off Qiuyue.

Ike and Yamauchi stood nearby, eyes wide.

But after Qiuyue took a moment to recover, he stood up and angrily scolded the two behind him.

"Do you have a fucking problem?! Can't you see I'm drinking something?! Suddenly ambushing me, trying to choke me to death?!"

For the first time since arriving at this school, Qiuyue lost his temper, unleashing a torrent of curses at Ike and Yamauchi for nearly a minute.

"Alright, alright, Qiuyue, calm down. And Ike, you should apologize right now."

Kushida soothed Qiuyue, then pouted slightly as she scolded Ike.

"Sorry, Qiuyue. But you were sneaking off to have a date with Kushida behind our backs! What about the trust between us?! Kushida... this isn't a date, right? Tell me it's not."

Ike's face was full of grief and indignation, but in the end, he deflated a little as he looked at Kushida, his voice trembling as he sought confirmation.

Qiuyue: (Isn't this what they talked about online in my past life—fearing both that your bro suffers and that your bro drives a Range Rover.)

(But this Range Rover is a hidden edition—pink on the outside, black on the inside, full of thorns, no brakes. I wouldn't take it even if it were free.)

Yamauchi ignored Ike, who was still seeking confirmation from Kushida, and directly put a hand on Qiuyue's shoulder, pulling him aside and leaning in to whisper.

"Qiuyue, didn't we agree we'd each pursue our own? You're not going to go after Kushida like me, are you? And Ike's target is Kushida too."

Qiuyue replied instantly.

"Don't worry about that. I'm only with her because she asked for my help with something. I don't have those kinds of feelings for her."

Qiuyue: (You say you're going to pursue her, but I don't see you making a move. All talk and no action—it's honestly frustrating.)

"Really?"

"Truer than gold."

Qiuyue: (Cut her open, and it's all black inside. Even if she were handed to me, I wouldn't take her.)

"Then I'm relieved. We're still good brothers."

Yamauchi's earlier unhappiness vanished, and he hugged Qiuyue with a gratified look.

Qiuyue: (Wait... hmm, aren't these two ready-made tools? Maybe this means I won't have to do anything at all.)

Seeing this, Qiuyue quickly spoke up.

"Actually, Kushida called me today to help her carry some stuff. Since Ike and Yamauchi are here, asking both of them to help would make it even easier, right, Kushida?"

"Sure, sure, I'd be happy to help."

"Kushida, just tell me whatever you need, and I'll do it without question."

"Oh, my friend just texted me saying she's waiting for me in the library, so I'll head off first. Kushida, bye."

Before Kushida could respond, Qiuyue quickly pulled out his phone, pretended to check it, said his goodbyes, and bolted.

Qiuyue: (Shiina, sorry, let me use you as my shield one more time.)

(Hmm... why do I feel a chill? Could it be that the Pink-Haired Schemer is angry? Sorry, forgive me, I promise I won't run next time.)