Natsukawa promised:
"If you have any problems with your studies, you can come to me, Kushida! I'm pretty good at studying!"
What an idiot. He forgot what just happened so quickly. My gentle side really is attractive.
Kikyo Kushida smiled and said:
"Mm-hmm, I'll come to you for help from now on."
Natsukawa smiled as though he had breathed a sigh of relief:
"Kushida, are you okay now? You were really scary just now. But whether it's the angry Kushida from earlier or the gentle Kushida you've always been, I like you just the same!"
Kikyo Kushida hugged Natsukawa's arm and smiled:
"Mm-hmm, Natsukawa, I believe you! Then, about what we discussed earlier-helping me ask Horikita to come out?"
Natsukawa hurriedly said:
"I'll get it done as soon as possible!"
Kikyo Kushida laughed inwardly:
Hehe, stupid man!
Everything is under control. All I have to do is let him have a little physical contact, and he gets so stupid he can't think straight.
Kikyo Kushida smiled and said:
"Well, it's getting late. Let's head back to the classroom building together, since we're going the same way."
On the way back to the dormitory building, Kikyo Kushida followed behind Natsukawa, probing him incessantly:
"Natsukawa, did you really only hear a tiny bit earlier?"
"Yes, I'd only just arrived too. I only saw a teeny, enormous bit!"
"Of course, it's understandable to let off steam normally. This is an elite school, after all. It's perfectly normal to struggle to understand your coursework."
"Mm-hmm, Natsukawa, I'm so glad you understand! I just couldn't find anyone to vent my stress to."
"After all, you're a good friend of mine, Kushida! I don't mind this sort of thing at all."
Kikyo Kushida watched Natsukawa's back, her gaze shifting uncertainly.
Did he actually see me bad-mouthing people behind their backs?
Is he really an admirer?
He may say all the right things, but what if he sees me getting along with someone else one day and exposes my secret out of jealousy?
No, stupid, eager-to-help people like him are the most likely to do something like that!
I have to take out some insurance!
He's a threat too!
Natsukawa is only slightly less of a threat than Horikita. They're both targets I need to eliminate!
Hmm, the dorm room of a lecherous adolescent like him must be a complete mess...
I'm going to find something to hold over him!
And so, Kikyo Kushida decided to follow him back to his dorm room.
When they reached the floor of Natsukawa's dorm room, he stepped out of the elevator and headed toward his room.
Hearing footsteps following him, Natsukawa asked in confusion:
"Huh? Kushida, why did you follow me? Aren't you going upstairs?" (The girls' dorm floors were above the boys' dorm floors.)
Kikyo Kushida returned to her icy demeanor and said:
"Cut the crap. Go to your dorm room!"
"Ah, o-okay."
Come to think of it, this was the second girl Natsukawa had brought back to his dorm room.
Still, it was fine. He believed Kushida would become a regular visitor here. He had already prepared something for her to vent on.
Kikyo Kushida followed Natsukawa into his dorm room, only to find it clean and tidy, without the crumpled tissues she had been so intent on finding...
A flicker of surprise crossed Kushida's face. Had she misjudged him?
Her plan to find something embarrassing to hold over him had failed too.
It seemed that although he was lecherous, stupid, and innocent-looking, he wasn't that sort of person in private either...
Kushida looked around Natsukawa's room and said:
"I didn't expect your dorm room to be so tidy."
Noticing that Kikyo Kushida no longer used that affected tone when speaking to him, Natsukawa also returned somewhat to his usual way of interacting.
Kikyo Kushida was definitely paying attention to him now, whether she hated him for knowing her secret or was thinking about using him somehow. In any case, there would definitely be more opportunities for contact in the future.
During those future interactions, Natsukawa would have to gradually undo his earlier show of weakness and bring them back onto equal footing.
Natsukawa smiled and said:
"Little Kikyo, sit wherever you like. Want some black tea?"
Natsukawa brewed some black tea, treating her as a guest.
Kikyo Kushida frowned.
He's calling me by my first name now?
Who gave you permission to call me that!
You awful jerk! You're just as annoying as Horikita!
Still, does this mean he thinks we're close?
After all, a girl has come to the room of a lecherous boy like him.
Whatever. I still need to use you to get close to Horikita.
Call me whatever you want, then. I'll let you feel a little pleased with yourself.
After tasting the black tea Natsukawa had prepared, Kikyo Kushida walked over to the punching bag.
She had noticed this freestanding punching bag as soon as she entered.
Damn it, if it weren't for the fact that I couldn't make a racket in my own room, I wouldn't have gone to the doorway to the classroom building's rooftop to vent, and he wouldn't have seen me.
"Hmph! Drop dead."
Kushida kicked the punching bag hard.
Natsukawa smiled and said:
"Oh, Little Kikyo, are you interested in this? I bought it to use for my regular workouts. Feel free to vent on it as much as you like!"
It felt pretty good to hit, so, given that Natsukawa had already seen part of her personality-
Kikyo Kushida stopped pretending and vented fiercely on the punching bag.
Thump, thump, thump!
"Seriously, every last one of them!"
"They make me so damn angry!"
"And you too, Natsukawa! Don't think I'll let you off just because I haven't found anything to hold over you!"
Kikyo Kushida spoke as she struck the punching bag in various ways.
Natsukawa sipped his tea on the sofa, watching Kushida's performance with a smile.
Catching sight of Natsukawa out of the corner of her eye, Kikyo Kushida grew even angrier.
"You jerk, what are you smiling at!"
"Don't think we're that close!"
"Since you've already seen part of it, I won't pretend anymore. I'm someone who vents her emotions however she likes!"
Thump, thump, thump!
Natsukawa smiled leisurely and said:
"Little Kikyo, it's really all right. Everyone has another side. Just be your truest self. I quite like that too."
A few minutes later, Kikyo Kushida seemed to have finished venting, a fine sheen of sweat on her forehead.
She sat down on the sofa without ceremony, only a meter away from Natsukawa.
After taking a sip of black tea, she grabbed Natsukawa by the collar and said in disgust:
"Thanks for your hospitality. Do you still like me even when I'm like this?"
Natsukawa watched her bluffing display. Still, their relationship had now reached an unusual state, such as her certainly hating the fact that he knew her secret...
But that was fine. Winning her over was a long-term process.
Natsukawa looked into her eyes and said:
"It's all right. No matter what you're like, Little Kikyo, I like you!"
Ding! Affection rating +20
Kikyo Kushida released her grip. A flicker of hesitation crossed her face before she said coldly again:
"Hmph! You idiot!"
Stupid, hehe! But that's fine. I still need to use him!
"But Natsukawa, you seem awfully pleased with yourself. Your demeanor and tone are completely different from before, and you've even taken it upon yourself to call me by my first name so intimately!"
Natsukawa replied:
"Ah, about that. Maybe I was too nervous because it was my first time seeing your other side, Little Kikyo!"
"Hmph, whatever! But don't forget the terms of our deal!"
"And fine, you've seen my secret! You absolutely cannot tell anyone else! Otherwise, even if I risk being expelled myself, I'll drag you down and get you expelled too!"
"I know, I know! Little Kikyo, I've promised you so many times. I absolutely won't tell anyone else! It's a secret just between the two of us!"
"A secret? I hope so!"
"Then I'll be leaving!"
Kikyo Kushida prepared to head back.
How strange. What's with this way of interacting, almost like we're real friends!
Still, it doesn't seem safe enough!
If someone is a threat, I have to find something to hold over him.
Kikyo Kushida opened the dorm room door, preparing to leave. Natsukawa followed her to the doorway, ready to close the door.
Then a flash of resolve crossed Kikyo Kushida's eyes again. She abruptly turned around and pulled Natsukawa's hand to her chest. This time, she succeeded!
Hehe, now that's proper insurance!
You really are stupid. Usually, I only exchange a couple of words with you, but this time you let your guard down!
Of course, I won't tell him that I can threaten him with his fingerprints. I can bring out this leverage when necessary!
Natsukawa gave her a squeeze and asked in confusion:
"Little Kikyo, what are you doing?"
A blush flashed across Kikyo Kushida's face, and she replied with a cold expression:
"Don't get the wrong idea! This is your reward for keeping my secret!"
Ding! Affection rating +10 Kikyo Kushida, current affection rating: 50
"Oh, Little Kikyo, you're so nice! I'll always like you!"
Natsukawa thought to himself that her affection rating was back to a normal level.
And after this incident, she would pay even more attention to him. Next, he just had to spend time with her and slowly win her over...
She didn't mention threatening me with leverage?
That felt nice. I could do with good things like this happening a few more times!
After that, Kikyo Kushida left.
Kikyo Kushida:
What an idiot. I've got something to hold over him, and he doesn't even know!
See? He even had to thank me!
Before you continue