Makoto Nishikado: What to do when you're too popular?

"Correct."

Makoto Nishikado nodded and knocked Amikura Asako unconscious.

Is this what a young boy and girl's romance is like?

Why is it so different from what she read in books?

"Two-timing isn't really okay, right? You think so too, Yuki Himeno, don't you?"

Amikura Asako wanted to condemn such excessive behavior.

But she was clumsy with words and tried to drag Yuki Himeno into the fray.

"It's not a big deal, is it? Kamuro Masumi even took the initiative to help Sakayanagi deliver a bento. The two of them have a very good relationship."

Yuki Himeno stood by and helped her boss explain.

If Makoto Nishikado said such things himself, most people certainly wouldn't believe him.

But coming from Yuki Himeno, an onlooker, the credibility was very high.

"Huh? That bento was delivered by one girl to another?"

Amikura Asako was shocked once again.

She hadn't heard the exchange between Kamuro Masumi and Makoto Nishikado clearly just now, but was this really the truth?

This is too bizarre!

Besides, isn't this wrong?

Even if she hadn't read romance novels, based on her simple view of love, she felt this was far too outrageous.

"Boss is very popular, what's wrong with that?"

Yuki Himeno didn't think there was anything strange about it.

According to her understanding, many powerful and wealthy people have multiple lovers.

With Makoto Nishikado's capabilities, he would surely become a big shot in the future.

With him being such a playboy, he would probably spend money to support quite a few people later on.

Yuki Himeno had no objections to this.

She even hoped that once Makoto Nishikado became a big shot, he would reward her with a cushy job—nine-to-five with a monthly salary of 500,000.

She would keep every detail of Makoto Nishikado's private life absolutely confidential and wouldn't leak a single bit.

Loyalty!

"Could it be that there's something wrong with me?"

Amikura Asako began to doubt her own values.

Makoto Nishikado didn't find it strange, those two girls didn't find it strange, and even Yuki Himeno didn't find it strange.

Could it be that she was the only odd one out for finding it strange?

When did this world become so twisted that she couldn't understand it anymore?

"Ximen, there's another female student looking for you outside."

It was Yonezu Haruto helping to pass the message again. This time, the look in his eyes when he glanced at Makoto Nishikado had completely changed.

The person appearing before them now was surely a god in the field of romance!

Amidst the sour, lemon-scented air, Makoto Nishikado stood up with a feigned look of helplessness.

"Can't be helped, I'm just too popular. Who is it this time?"

"It's not a person, just go."

Yonezu Haruto didn't want to look at Makoto Nishikado's face.

If he could, he would apply to change seats.

Makoto Nishikado was also a bit curious. Upon stepping outside, he saw a figure both familiar and unfamiliar.

When Karuizawa Kei saw Makoto Nishikado walk out, she took a deep breath, bowed, and handed over a letter.

"Ximen-kun, please accept this."

It was a letter sealed with a pink heart sticker.

Anyone who took a glance would surely assume this letter was a love letter.

As for the specific content, it was actually something that couldn't be disclosed to the public.

"What a classic method. And this is our first time meeting, right? How abrupt."

Makoto Nishikado accepted the letter, having roughly guessed what Karuizawa Kei meant.

He just hadn't expected Karuizawa Kei to choose him instead of Hirata Yosuke.

Hirata Yosuke was not only a student of Class D, but he also had a good personality and would basically never refuse Karuizawa Kei's request for a fake relationship.

Perhaps Karuizawa Kei chose him because he looked like he could fight?

"My contact information is written on there, please make sure to give me a reply."

Karuizawa Kei's face flushed slightly as she turned to look behind her.

Her friends were cheering her on.

Watching her leave, Makoto Nishikado returned to his seat and unfolded the letter to take a look.

"What does it say?"

Amikura Asako asked out of curiosity, but she didn't lean in to look.

This was someone else's private love letter; without permission, it naturally wouldn't be appropriate for her to peek.

But she was truly curious!

"Do you really want to know? Should I read it to you? You might even gain some romantic experience points after hearing it."

Makoto Nishikado folded the letter back up and teased her with a smile.

[Triggered Amikura Asako's emotions, obtained 4643 emotional points.]

"No, no, that's a world I'm not ready to touch yet."

Amikura Asako was a little tempted, but she shook her head repeatedly.

She hadn't met anyone she liked yet, let alone had any plans to write a love letter.

Listening to such content would be far too embarrassing.

"That is truly a pity."

Makoto Nishikado put the letter away, keeping it out of sight.

In reality, this was not a love letter at all.

If Amikura Asako had wanted to hear the contents of a love letter, Makoto Nishikado would have had to make one up for her on the spot.

If she knew the truth, she would certainly be disappointed.

Because having Makoto Nishikado fabricate a love letter on the spot was a rather rare occurrence.

In the blink of an eye, break time arrived.

Makoto Nishikado arrived at the location specified in the letter, where Karuizawa Kei had already been waiting for some time.

"H-hello."

Facing Makoto Nishikado alone, Karuizawa Kei felt an indescribable sense of nervousness.

This was truly the first time she had encountered such a situation.

"Why don't we start with introductions? I don't even know your name yet."

Makoto Nishikado asked with a smile.

"My name is Karuizawa Kei, a student in Class D, and, um..."

Under Makoto Nishikado's gaze, Karuizawa Kei felt nervous, and the words she had prepared slipped her mind.

She didn't know whether she should continue to ask him to date her or clarify her own situation first.

A hot-blooded boy like Makoto Nishikado probably wouldn't accept having a fake girlfriend, right?

Realizing she had approached him without thinking things through, Karuizawa Kei became increasingly flustered.

"Don't rush. Just say the most important thing; I won't be angry."

Makoto Nishikado spoke up to reassure her.

Recalling his past life, he had once been a believer in "Karuizawa-ism" for a time, firmly convinced that Karuizawa Kei could overthrow the Great Sound Empire led by Horikita Suzune.

To the current Makoto Nishikado, that was an interesting memory worth reflecting upon.

"Could you please date me and protect my safety from now on?"

Karuizawa Kei took a deep breath and let out the words in her heart.

The weight of a fake boyfriend might not be enough, but she was unwilling to turn and leave.

Compared to having one more boyfriend, what she couldn't accept even more was returning to her previous life.

She truly needed someone to protect her, even if it was only as a parasite.

"The reason? We've only met once, and I don't see any exaggerated affection from you toward me."

Having been confessed to, Makoto Nishikado did not agree on the spot, nor was he even slightly swayed.

He naturally knew the reason why Karuizawa Kei was doing this.

A relationship built on taking advantage of someone's vulnerability would not last.

Makoto Nishikado would not rashly pursue something for a lifetime.

But he also had no interest in pursuing something that couldn't even last for five years.

"It's like this, I was once subjected to severe bullying..."

Karuizawa Kei told Makoto Nishikado about her past.

Perhaps because Makoto Nishikado appeared sufficiently calm and reliable, Karuizawa Kei's nervousness subsided significantly.

Makoto Nishikado had anticipated this and provided the answer he had already prepared.

"I can help you, but you must become my inside agent in Class D."