Kushida came calling

After Friday afternoon classes ended.

Natsukawa parted ways with Hiyori, who was going to her club activities, and headed toward the dormitory.

As he approached his dorm room, he heard noises inside.

Puzzled, Natsukawa opened the door.

Inside, Kushida Kikyo was venting her frustration on the punching bag, cursing and complaining with every blow...

"Idiot! What kind of moron was that? Looking that stupid, and he still wanted to hit on me..."

"And Kojima Hana... inviting me to another boring get-together! So annoying!"

Natsukawa interrupted her engrossed venting and asked:

"Little Kikyo? How did you get into my room?"

Kushida Kikyo paused for a moment, then turned toward Natsukawa.

"Oh, you're back, Natsukawa!"

"Well, you know. Anyway, didn't you say I was welcome to vent in your room? Personally, I think this place is a little safer, too."

It seemed Kushida was still dwelling on Natsukawa discovering her secret...

Since she had not answered his question, Natsukawa said helplessly:

"So, how did you get into my room?"

Kushida Kikyo said nonchalantly:

"Oh, that. I asked the dorm supervisor for your room key, so I let myself in."

"That easily?"

"That's right."

"Little Kikyo, aren't you going to your club activities?"

"Shut up! Let me vent a little longer!"

All right, it looked like the dormitory was just as unreliable as in the original story. That meant I could visit other classmates' rooms like in the original story, too...

Kushida Kikyo really did have a distinctive way of getting fierce.

Having gotten his answer, Natsukawa nodded without much concern and replied:

"All right, Little Kikyo. Carry on."

Once she finished venting, she would probably settle down.

Natsukawa took off his jacket, lay on his bed, and leisurely browsed his phone.

Kushida kept kicking the punching bag.

"Stupid pig! Bastard!..."

"What an annoying bunch!"

"And... insisting I help over the weekend! Can't take a hint!..."

Natsukawa watched with interest as Kushida Kikyo cursed her classmates, and decided it might be nice to record this scene. Once Kushida changed in the future, showing it to her should be pretty entertaining.

Click!

Oh no! The camera shutter sounded...

Kushida Kikyo turned her head and glared fiercely at Natsukawa.

"What are you doing?"

"That reminds me! You're another disgusting creep!!"

"It's already Friday. Another week has passed. What about the deal you promised me!"

Natsukawa hastily recorded a little and said with a sheepish smile:

"Hear me out, Little Kikyo. Give me just a little more time."

"Bastard!"

With an angry curse, Kushida Kikyo pounced on Natsukawa like a fierce little leopard.

Natsukawa had been reclining on the bed, watching her. Before he could even think about whether to dodge, she had already pounced, and he felt a heavy impact against his stomach.

"Calm down, calm down! Little Kikyo!"

Kushida Kikyo pressed her left leg against Natsukawa's thigh and braced her right arm against his chest as though holding a plank.

The two faced off in this strange position.

Looking down at Natsukawa beneath her head, Kushida Kikyo said fiercely:

"Natsukawa, what about our deal? You said you'd ask Horikita out for me. Aren't you going to explain?"

Kushida was very light. Aside from the initial impact, he now only felt as though a throw pillow was resting on him.

She was soft, and he could even smell her distinctive fragrance.

Of course, Natsukawa could not look as though he was enjoying himself. He could only put on an innocent expression, trying to get her to let him off, as he said:

"But, Little Kikyo. Sure, I'm pretty close to Horikita, but I don't have her contact information."

That was a lie.

The last time he checked, Horikita's Affection Rating seemed to have still been zero...

Ding! Affection Rating +10

Kushida Kikyo found that whenever she faced Natsukawa, she could never keep her emotions in check and always showed him a more genuine side of herself.

Maybe, after he discovered my secret, I've just decided I might as well let everything go... Kushida Kikyo thought.

Still, she had to admit that she could vent in his room without worrying about anyone seeing her, and some noise coming from the Boys' Dormitory was nothing unusual.

Kushida's face reddened slightly. She had noticed their position was a little indecent, but she resumed her fierce expression and continued pressing him:

"Bastard! A whole week has passed, and you've made no progress at all! How am I supposed to trust you!"

Kushida Kikyo reached out with her left hand, pinched Natsukawa's side, and said:

"You wouldn't want anything happening here, would you? You jerk, you'd better give me a satisfactory answer!"

Damn you, Little Kikyo. I haven't even used that threatening trick myself, and now I'm the one being threatened.

Natsukawa decided he would definitely make her pay for this someday.

But she seemed very tense, because she was pinching him very hard.

As someone strengthened by the system, Natsukawa felt no pain whatsoever.

Then Natsukawa grew tense himself, afraid of an unusual reaction, and hurriedly agreed:

"All right, Little Kikyo. I promise I'll ask Horikita out this week."

Kushida gave a dissatisfied snort.

"Hmph! No! You have to get her contact information today before I'll believe you!"

Natsukawa stared at her.

"I know, I know, Little Kikyo. I'll get Horikita's contact information today! And I promise I'll ask her out this weekend!"

A blush flashed across Kushida's face. Only after swiftly moving away did she say quietly:

"Hmph! That's more like it!"

Then Kushida Kikyo opened Natsukawa's refrigerator with practiced ease, as though this were her own territory.

She took out the ingredients for black tea and began brewing it.

Ding! Affection Rating +5

Natsukawa spoke with a smile:

"Hey, Little Kikyo, aren't you going to make me a cup of black tea?"

Leaning against the table with her cup in hand, Kushida took a small sip to hide her blush, then said fiercely:

"Hmph! In your dreams!"

"You'd better come up with something soon. I'll be watching you!"

This is my room, you know. What a difficult woman. That's another offense on your list.

I've decided I'll team up with Horikita someday...

Of course, Natsukawa only thought that to himself. He did not really mind her attitude, since the changes in her Affection Rating said it all.

"Little Kikyo, I know you're anxious, but don't be anxious just yet!"

Kushida Kikyo threatened:

"Bastard, do you want me to hit you?!"

Natsukawa made a canceling gesture and replied with a smile:

"Let me think. I'll have a solution soon."

Natsukawa got up and went over to her, taking out a cup and pouring himself some black tea while mentally checking his system items.