Attacked

"Yeah, that's right!"

"Ps. Please vote and bookmark. Thank you to everyone who's supported me."

"Also, a preview: tomorrow at eight p.m., there'll be a swimsuit photo of the Student Council President."

"If you want to see it, follow me. Check it out tomorrow night at eight."

"Enjoy it while you can. It'll probably get taken down soon, so be sure to show up on time."

Chapter 41: Attacked

Back to the present.

Kudo Mitsunobu blinked innocently, wearing an expression that said it had nothing to do with him.

"I couldn't help it. A few days ago, Grandpa suddenly called me back to the family estate."

"Then he told me about this, and things ended up turning out like this."

Saegusa Mayumi stared into Kudo Mitsunobu's eyes. His expression as he spoke seemed genuine, so she sighed.

"Fine. I forgive you."

She hugged Kudo Mitsunobu's arm tightly again, burying it between her breasts.

"We'll let the engagement slide for now, but you still have to make up for not confessing to me."

That was what had truly angered Saegusa Mayumi. Of course she was delighted to be engaged to Kudo Mitsunobu.

Before meeting him, she had already given up on finding someone she loved to spend her life with.

So meeting Kudo Mitsunobu had been incredibly fortunate for her.

She was only angry because their sudden change in relationship had disrupted the order in which she had wanted to fall in love.

"Understood. I'll find the right time to prepare something, so look forward to it!"

A recompense like that was only right, and Kudo Mitsunobu readily agreed.

"Good. Let's get going, then!"

"We're almost past the time we're supposed to meet."

The two of them walked to the school entrance pressed close together. Since they had arrived rather late, the bus was already full of students.

Their pose naturally broke the hearts of the boys on board. Even though they had prepared themselves for this, seeing the day actually arrive was still more than they could bear.

"Looks like those two are planning to make it official."

Watanabe Mari said to Ichihara Suzune beside her.

"Who knows?"

Ichihara Suzune still seemed uninterested.

Under the blazing sun, Shiba Tatsuya had stayed outside the bus to check students off the list. When the last two arrived, he silently marked two checkboxes.

"Tatsuya, I'm sorry! We're a little late."

"No, you're both within the allotted time. You aren't late."

"Then I'll head to the back."

Shiba Tatsuya brushed aside Kudo Mitsunobu's apology. Once he had finished his work, he went back to the technicians' bus to rest.

When Kudo Mitsunobu and Saegusa Mayumi got on, they found two adjoining seats free near the front.

Seeing Watanabe Mari smiling at him, he knew she had arranged it on purpose.

He gave Watanabe Mari a grateful look, then led Saegusa Mayumi to the seats.

Not long after the bus started moving, Saegusa Mayumi could no longer fight off her mounting drowsiness. She leaned against Kudo Mitsunobu's shoulder and fell sound asleep.

After what had happened the night before, Saegusa Mayumi had been so excited that she hadn't fallen asleep until three in the morning. Then she had gotten up early so Kudo Mitsunobu could see her dressed in something other than her school uniform.

Saegusa Mayumi slept quite comfortably, but for Kudo Mitsunobu, it was a bit like torture.

They were sitting so close that the slightest sideways glance let him see the loveliness hidden beneath her white dress.

And every breath Saegusa Mayumi exhaled in her sleep brushed against his ear, making it itch.

Kudo Mitsunobu now felt that his self-control was truly impressive. Anyone else in his position would have already lost all restraint!

Carefully, he draped his jacket over Saegusa Mayumi so the bus's overzealous air conditioning wouldn't give her a cold.

"You two should pay a little attention to the atmosphere on the bus!"

Watanabe Mari leaned forward from the back and whispered to Kudo Mitsunobu, clearly trying not to wake Saegusa Mayumi.

Kudo Mitsunobu had noticed the occasional icy glares from the boys on the bus, and even the girls were whispering among themselves.

Of course, the most terrifying glare came from Hattori Hanzo, seated diagonally behind him.

"They'll get used to being jealous."

"Besides, we don't have to accommodate them."

"But what happened between you two? It feels like your relationship suddenly took a big step forward."

When Watanabe Mari asked, the nearby students perked up their ears, curious too.

"I can't say."

Kudo Mitsunobu had no intention of satisfying their curiosity. He cut off the conversation, leaving the students who had been hoping for gossip disappointed.

Seeing that she really couldn't get anything out of Kudo Mitsunobu, Watanabe Mari reluctantly returned to her seat.

At the same time, Shiba Miyuki, seated farther back, began radiating a gloomy pressure for some reason.

All the students turned their attention to Shiba Miyuki, naturally leaving the two of them alone.