Ichinose: Could I Borrow Chihaya-kun for a Bit?

"Don't get the wrong idea; I have nothing going on with Sakayanagi Arisu."

"None of those messy relationships you're imagining in your heads exist, either."

"And one more important thing: I'm not a lolicon."

As they walked out of Chairman Sakayanagi's office, the two girls beside Chihaya Rei kept their inquisitive gazes fixed on him, their expressions hesitant as if they had more to say.

How could Chihaya Rei not notice? He simply spoke up to clarify.

After hearing Chihaya Rei's explanation, Matsushita Chiaki and Sakura Airi seemed to heave a sigh of relief.

Yeah, right!

"Then why did the Chairman give you a childhood photo of Classmate Sakayanagi?"

Matsushita Chiaki asked the question with a curious look on her face.

"Yeah... that's so strange."

Sakura Airi added, her eyes wide, eager to know the answer.

"Well, about that..."

Faced with this question, even Chihaya Rei paused, forced to carefully consider and analyze Chairman Sakayanagi's intentions.

Thinking back to the way Chairman Sakayanagi had treated him—that look of appreciation and his meaningful way of speaking...

And this move of handing over a photo.

After mulling it over, Chihaya Rei concluded that there was only one real possibility.

His eyes sharpened, and he said in a joking tone, "Maybe the Chairman thinks highly of me and wants to recruit me into the Sakayanagi family as his son-in-law?"

Once he said it, Chihaya Rei suddenly felt the 10 million points weighing heavily on him.

Could it be that this also included an attempt to buy him off?

"Eh!!"

The two girls let out sounds of surprise.

The clever Matsushita Chiaki also ran through some analysis in her head, feeling that it was indeed a possibility.

For a family like Chairman Sakayanagi's, if they intended to find a suitable husband for Sakayanagi Arisu.

Then finding a powerful student directly at Advanced Nurturing High School, a school that prioritized ability, would be an excellent choice.

Even though Chihaya Rei was a student in Class D.

Matsushita Chiaki already understood very well that he was the type to hide his true strength, just like her.

However, at this moment, Chihaya Rei shook his head to himself, his expression looking somewhat regretful.

That wouldn't work.

He was a Honami Fan, after all; he really couldn't muster any interest in a white-haired loli like Sakayanagi Arisu.

Besides, Sakayanagi Arisu's frail body was also a cause for concern.

Could Sakayanagi Arisu fulfill the duties expected of a wife?

But setting that aside, becoming the son-in-law of the Sakayanagi family wasn't without its benefits.

Becoming the son-in-law of the Sakayanagi family meant he could inherit Advanced Nurturing High School.

Wouldn't that mean all the extraordinary people who enrolled in this school in the future would fall into his hands, to be tortured at his whim?

Hiss, when you put it that way, it didn't sound too bad, did it?

As the three chatted, they walked out of the office building.

They happened to see a pink figure standing outside.

The person who had arrived was none other than the archangel of the first year, Ichinose Honami.

When Chihaya Rei saw her.

He thought that since they had run into each other, he might as well go over and say hello, otherwise people wouldn't believe he was a Honami Fan.

"Hello there, Chihaya-kun, Matsushita-san, Sakura-san."

Before he even had to go over, Ichinose Honami approached them enthusiastically the moment she saw the familiar faces.

"Good afternoon, Ichinose."

Chihaya Rei nodded in response.

"Eh!"

Ichinose Honami drew out the sound, her tone filled with regret as she said, "Chihaya-kun, didn't we agree that you could just call me by my first name?"

"Alright, then Honami, good afternoon."

A subtle glint appeared in Chihaya Rei's eyes.

He felt that Ichinose Honami's favorability toward him seemed to be quite good.

Although Ichinose Honami had told many classmates that they could call her by her first name, she wouldn't usually go out of her way to correct them if they continued to call her Ichinose.

But she had deliberately corrected how she addressed him just now.

Could it be... that Ichinose Honami was actually a fan of Chihaya Rei?

Beside them, Matsushita Chiaki and Sakura Airi also responded politely.

However, seeing yet another girl appear to greet Chihaya Rei—and none other than the popular Ichinose Honami from the neighboring Class B—their moods turned somewhat subtle after the initial surprise.

"Chihaya-kun, what brings you here?"

Ichinose Honami asked curiously.

The Student Council was holding recruitment interviews in this office building today, so other students were not permitted to enter the office area.

She hadn't seen Chihaya Rei and his group among the students interviewed earlier.

That was why she was confused.

"My terminal device's point display interface was glitching, so I came to consult a teacher," Chihaya Rei explained without changing his expression. "Matsushita and Airi just happened to accompany me."

"I see."

Ichinose Honami blinked, nodded as she took him at his word, and asked with a concerned look, "Was it resolved?"

"Yeah, it's fixed."

After Chihaya Rei answered, he asked in turn, "What about you? Why are you here?"

"I'm here to interview for the Student Council."

Ichinose Honami told the truth.

Chihaya Rei nodded thoughtfully upon hearing this.

To prevent first-year students from getting dragged into his conflict with Nagumo Miyabi, Horikita Manabu actually had no intention of recruiting any freshmen.

Therefore, Ichinose Honami's plan to join the Student Council was destined to fail.

However, it wasn't his place to say that directly right now.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Chihaya Rei intended to take Matsushita Chiaki and Sakura Airi away to go back and split the points.

"Honami, we're heading off. Let's talk again next time."

"Um, wait, could you hold on a second?"

Ichinose Honami suddenly reached out to grab Chihaya Rei's arm, her expression turning slightly nervous as she asked him to stay.

"Chihaya-kun, do you have any free time right now?"

Ichinose Honami asked.

"I do, yes."

A glimmer of light passed through Chihaya Rei's eyes as he glanced at Matsushita Chiaki and Sakura Airi, asking curiously, "Is there something else, Honami?"

"Mhm."

Ichinose Honami nodded, looking a bit embarrassed as she admitted:

"Actually, there is something I'd like to ask your advice on."

Chihaya Rei became curious. "That's no problem at all."

Seeing that Chihaya Rei hadn't refused outright, Ichinose Honami felt a surge of joy.

She looked earnestly at Matsushita Chiaki and Sakura Airi, pressed her hands together, and spoke with an apologetic tone:

"Matsushita-san, Sakura-san, I'm so sorry, but could I borrow Chihaya-kun for a moment?"

Clearly, the matter she wanted to discuss with Chihaya Rei was not suitable for others to hear.

Matsushita Chiaki and Sakura Airi understood this, and although they were curious, they knew it wasn't appropriate to pry.

"Yeah, it's fine."

"We'll just head back on our own."

The two girls replied considerately.

Ichinose Honami flashed a grateful smile. "Thank you! I'll treat you both to a meal next time!"

"..."

As Matsushita Chiaki and Sakura Airi slowly walked away, only the figures of Chihaya Rei and Ichinose Honami remained in front of the office building.

"Honami, what is it?"

Chihaya Rei asked.

Ichinose Honami glanced around to confirm that no one else was nearby.

"Actually, about this matter... I haven't been able to find the right person to discuss it with."

She raised a hand to touch her hair, her expression growing a bit awkward as her voice lowered slightly.

It was rare to see Ichinose Honami acting so bashful, and Chihaya Rei couldn't help but form a guess in his mind.

"Then discuss it with me. I will do my best to provide you with a reasonable solution."

As Chihaya Rei's words fell, Ichinose Honami seemed encouraged and found her courage.

She took a deep breath, raised her volume, and asked:

"May I ask, Chihaya-kun, is your dating experience very extensive?"

Chihaya Rei: "Eh?"