Ayanokoji's Crisis

Ayanokoji watched Kushida walk farther and farther away. Rather than hurrying after her, he followed out of curiosity.

Shinomiya was still watching the location on his phone, keeping a proper distance.

Kushida arrived by the artificial lake. Ayanokoji hid behind a tree and was about to step out when Shinomiya spotted him and moved forward to pull him away.

Before he could, a loud bang rang out.

Kushida had started!

"This is so annoying! What's Horikita acting all high and mighty for, that trashy bitch?!"

Shinomiya quickly covered Ayanokoji's mouth and hid with him in the shadows beneath the tree.

Ayanokoji was stunned by the coldness in Kushida's voice and cooperated, hiding with Shinomiya.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Kushida kept kicking the iron railing by the lake.

"It's disgusting! Horikita's act disgusts me! Those idiots like Yamauchi actually believed her! Hahaha!

Disgusting! Disgusting! Disgusting!"

Ring!

The phone in Ayanokoji's hand suddenly rang.

Kushida immediately turned around and called out, "Who's there?"

Ayanokoji and Shinomiya looked at each other.

Shinomiya generously shoved Ayanokoji out.

Although Shinomiya knew about Kushida's problem, being discovered following her would be detrimental to his future plans.

So Ayanokoji, go on ahead!

Selling someone out came naturally to Shinomiya.

With no other choice, Ayanokoji could only face her calmly.

"It's me, Ayanokoji."

Kushida strode quickly toward Ayanokoji. He was about to fall back on his usual evasive tactics. "Kushida, you forgot your phone—"

Before he could finish, Kushida snatched the phone away.

"You heard that?" Kushida asked coldly.

"If I said I didn't, would you believe me?"

Watching from behind, Shinomiya felt an ominous premonition as Kushida approached.

Kushida would definitely make Ayanokoji keep it secret. Her usual way of dealing with this kind of situation was through threats, just like on the first day of school.

Wait, no!!

Wouldn't that let Ayanokoji take advantage of her?

"If you dare tell anyone, I won't let you off," Kushida said as she reached for Ayanokoji's hand.

Shinomiya blocked Kushida at the speed of a hundred-meter sprint.

Kushida's expression darkened when she saw Shinomiya dart out.

Why was there another one? Still, it was Shinomiya, so that was fine.

Ayanokoji also wanted to know what his situation would be like from now on.

"What if I tell someone?"

Before Kushida could speak, Shinomiya hooked an arm around Ayanokoji's neck with a smile.

"Ayanokoji, I don't want to do this either, but I do have one of your secrets. Don't forget that."

Ayanokoji was helpless. "Fine. I understand."

Seeing Ayanokoji yield, Shinomiya still warned him.

"If you dare betray us, I won't forgive you."

Kushida also wanted Ayanokoji to swear an oath.

"Ayanokoji, I only want to hear one thing. Can you swear that you won't tell anyone anything you heard here?"

Ayanokoji nodded.

"I understand. I believe you."

Kushida let out a long breath, composed herself, and returned to her usual self. She smiled sweetly, her fingers pressed together before her chest, looking obedient and adorable.

"Good. Now we have another secret between us." Her voice was so sweet it could make anyone's heart melt.

Kushida's sweet smile and Shinomiya's gentle smile were both reflected in Ayanokoji's eyes.

For the first time, he felt that he had never truly seen through his classmates.

He recalled Kushida's usual friendliness and Shinomiya's usual inconspicuousness.

"Shinomiya, Kushida, tell me. What are your true faces?"

Back in his dorm, Ayanokoji felt like he had terrible luck.

To run into strange people like Kushida and Shinomiya.

Since childhood, he had studied all kinds of knowledge and skills, casting aside everything worldly.

He had come to Advanced Nurturing this time to see what the worldly life he had abandoned was truly like.

It was only the first semester, yet it had already opened his eyes. The worldly world was far too complicated.

But he was still trying to understand and learn everything about it.

After Kushida returned to her dorm, she calmed down as well.

When Ayanokoji had discovered her, her mind had been a little muddled, so she had acted the way she used to.

Thinking back on it now, it seemed a little inappropriate. She was somewhat resistant to others touching her now.

Kushida placed a hand over her chest. Remembering the scene where she had threatened Shinomiya at the start of school, she could still feel the sensation of Shinomiya's touch on her body.

Kushida's face flushed slightly.

Shinomiya returned to his dorm.

He could not help but sigh. Ayanokoji had nearly gotten his hands on her.

Luckily, he had stopped it in time.

Although he had been discovered following her, he could make up for it elsewhere.

Shinomiya took out his phone and began sending Kushida emails.

He laid bare everything about Ayanokoji, then praised Kushida as well, clearly stating that he thought her performance just now had been excellent.

Kushida needed recognition from others, preferably recognition that belonged to her alone.

Shinomiya knew her true face and would still approve of her like this.

This was something Shinomiya had thought of only after learning from his past failures.

The old Shinomiya had been too arrogant, the kind of person who had no one in his eyes.

That was why he could not give Kushida what she wanted. The current Shinomiya had evolved; at the very least, there was one person in his eyes now.

When Kushida saw Shinomiya's email, she wanted Ayanokoji expelled.

Shinomiya felt that was unrealistic. If Ayanokoji were expelled, he would be taken away before long.

How could they use the White Room to threaten him into dropping out?

Making him keep the secret was already the limit.

Kushida did not reply.

Shinomiya felt that she was definitely thinking of another way.

Then another email arrived.

[Kushida: You think of something too!]

One sunny day.

Shinomiya invited Kushida to his dorm to paint her portrait.

Shinomiya sat before an easel, while Kushida sat across from him, eating a banana.

Over the past few days, Shinomiya had persuaded Kushida not to rush into expelling Ayanokoji.

He was the White Room's greatest masterpiece. Petty tricks would have a hard time succeeding against him.

After learning about the White Room, Kushida had temporarily set aside the idea of expelling Ayanokoji as well.

Now Kushida had a new worry.

"Shinomiya, what do you think I should do to become friends with Sakura?" Kushida took another bite of her banana.

Shinomiya's brush never stopped moving. "I think she has serious social anxiety and has cut herself off from the outside world. But humans are social animals, so she's probably very active online." Shinomiya dipped his brush in watercolor paint and continued painting.

"Is that so? Should I talk to her about internet-related topics?" Kushida leaned back against the chair, which spun with her movement.

"By the way, can a model move around however she wants?" Kushida tossed the banana peel into the trash can and looked at Shinomiya curiously.

Shinomiya's movements remained smooth, uninterrupted by Kushida's question.

"I've already remembered what you look like. I only need a few details."

Shinomiya removed the painting from the board and handed it to Kushida.

The painting showed Kushida eating a banana. The colors were vivid, and the lighting was soft and bright, perfectly capturing her adorably blank expression.

The watercolor rendered Kushida's skin beautifully, moist and lustrous. Even a beauty filter could not compare to this painting.

Kushida looked at the painting in her hands, delighted beyond measure.

"This painting is for you, Kushida." Shinomiya looked at her with a doting expression.

"Thank you, Shinomiya!" Kushida said happily.