After a quick tidy-up, Kitahara Makoto and Takamatsu Tomori left the clubroom and returned to their respective classrooms.
Walking into the classroom, Kitahara Makoto immediately saw a blue-haired girl sitting by the window in the back row, propping her chin with her right hand and staring out the window in a daze.
As if sensing Kitahara Makoto's arrival, Togawa, who was looking out the window, suddenly turned her head and looked towards the classroom door.
Their eyes met.
A blush quickly spread across Togawa Sakiko's fair, doll-like face. She quickly averted her gaze and lowered her head to read her book.
"Togawa, good morning."
Kitahara Makoto walked to his seat and greeted her as if nothing had happened.
"…"
Togawa Sakiko held a pen in one hand, diligently reading and studying with her head down, as if she hadn't heard anything.
Outside, the sun was bright.
A beam of sunlight passed through the window and landed precisely on Togawa's right hand.
The girl's right hand had snow-white skin, glowing with a moist luster in the sunlight, with long, slender fingers like spring onions… In short, the more he looked, the more beautiful it became.
Under Kitahara Makoto's undisguised gaze, the blush on Togawa Sakiko's pretty face deepened quietly. She quickly hid her hand under the table and couldn't help but glare at him shyly:
"Are you still looking?!"
Kitahara Makoto said shamelessly:
"It's normal to pay attention to a girl you like, isn't it?"
"Anyway, there won't be a next time!"
Togawa Sakiko lightly bit her silver teeth, her eyes filled with shyness.
"Yes, yes."
Kitahara Makoto nodded in agreement.
In this world, things are either zero times or countless times. Since Togawa chose to help last night, there would definitely be a next time.
However, at a time like this, only a fool would argue with Togawa.
"How's the moving progress?"
Kitahara Makoto asked.
"I just want to study seriously now. Pervert, please don't talk to me."
Kitahara Makoto's tone was innocent:
"How am I a pervert?"
"You know it yourself!"
Togawa Sakiko took a deep breath, puffed out her rosy cheeks, and lowered her head to read.
Seeing curious glances from other students, Kitahara Makoto could only sit up straight and also began to read and study.
With only one day left until the final exams, although the teacher was still lecturing at the podium, hardly anyone was in the mood to listen, just waiting for the exams to begin.
The day passed quickly, and soon it was time for school to end.
Kitahara Makoto picked up his schoolbag and looked at Togawa at the back desk:
"Do you want to come to my place tonight?"
"No!"
Togawa Sakiko refused without hesitation, not even a second of delay.
She had been deceived by sweet words last night and vaguely agreed to help. She knew with her toes that if she went over tonight, she would 100% be taken advantage of again.
"Then I'm going to the library."
Kitahara Makoto sighed regretfully and left the classroom first.
Arriving at the library.
As the final exams were about to begin, the once deserted library was now packed with people. Cramming at the last minute was indeed human nature.
Kitahara Makoto found a seat in the corner, and soon after, Kita and Bocchi-chan came over. The three of them studied together just like last week.
An hour later.
"That's all for today," Kitahara Makoto stretched his body and said softly, "Kita, Hitori, wait for me in the utility room."
"…"
Bocchi-chan and Kita exchanged glances, and both girls' faces were slightly flushed.
They had thought that since Kitahara Makoto hadn't mentioned it, he might have forgotten, but they still couldn't escape it.
"I'm going to the bathroom first."
Kitahara Makoto waved his hand and left first.
"What the heck," Kita Ikuyo couldn't help but mutter softly as she watched Kitahara Makoto walk out of the library, "It's like we're definitely going to agree. It's okay not to go to the utility room, right?"
"Th-that…" Gotō Hitori stammered, her face red, and said softly, "If we don't go to the utility room, Kitahara-kun will definitely take advantage of us even more…"
Kita: "…"
Although she wanted to refute, she had to admit that Bocchi-chan made a lot of sense.
If they stood him up today, they would definitely be taken advantage of even more excessively.
Having no other choice, Kita Ikuyo could only clench her small fists and cheer herself on:
"Today, we must complete the punishment challenge and free Bocchi-chan from her misery!"
"…"
The two girls exchanged glances again, their faces red, and got up to leave the library, quietly heading towards the secluded utility room.
A moment later.
Kitahara Makoto pushed open the door and walked into the utility room, sitting directly between Bocchi-chan and Kita:
"Who's first today?"
Seeing Bocchi-chan start to play ostrich again, Kita Ikuyo could only bite her silver teeth and stepped forward:
"I'll go first! I'll definitely complete the challenge today!"
"Kita-san has admirable ambition," Kitahara Makoto said with a look of appreciation. "Today I bought melon, grape, and mango flavored Pocky. What flavor do you want, Kita?"
"I haven't tried mango-flavored Pocky yet… I'll have that one."
"Wait a moment."
Kitahara Makoto tore open the package, pulled out a mango-flavored biscuit stick, and offered it to Kita's mouth.
"Last Friday there were so many boxes of Pocky, why did you buy more today?"
Kita Ikuyo asked curiously.
Upon hearing this, Hitori's cowlick on top of her head immediately trembled nervously, and her small head drooped even lower.
(Sorry, Kita.)
(Kitahara-kun gave all those boxes of biscuit sticks to me…)
Kitahara Makoto naturally wouldn't expose Bocchi-chan and said nonchalantly:
"I suddenly realized that Pocky is quite tasty, and I unconsciously finished them all over the weekend… Quickly open your mouth and take it."
"Ah…"
Kita Ikuyo opened her small mouth and took the biscuit stick.
Kitahara Makoto then bit the other end.
Crunch, crunch.
Kita originally thought her combat power had increased enough to complete the challenge, but the facts proved that it clearly wasn't enough.
In her nervousness, her teeth accidentally broke the biscuit stick. Kita immediately let out a mournful cry in her heart and closed her eyes in 'despair':
"It's over…"
A few minutes later.
Kitahara Makoto wiped the silver thread from the corner of his lips and looked at the panting, misty-eyed Kita. He put his hands together and said:
"Thank you for the meal, Kita-sama."
"Hoo… hoo…"
Kita Ikuyo was breathing rapidly, barely able to support herself, her small face burning hot:
"Th-that was just a mistake! Don't get cocky!"
"Then I look forward to Kita-sama's performance later," Kitahara Makoto's gaze shifted to Bocchi-chan. "Hitori, what do you say today? Do you choose the Pocky Challenge, or like yesterday…"
Before Kitahara Makoto could finish, Gotō Hitori hurriedly interrupted:
"Th-the first challenge!"
Saying she liked him in front of Kita, there was no way she could do that!
"Eh?"
Kita blinked, a hint of suspicion appearing on her small face: "Are you two hiding something from me?"
"N-No…"
Bocchi-chan quickly shook her head, her small head wobbling like a rattle drum, clearly feeling guilty.
Kita Ikuyo: "…"
So guilty, you're clearly hiding something from me!
"Having a little secret is normal." Kitahara Makoto said without any guilt, "Kita and I also have our own secrets."
"Eh?"
Bocchi-chan looked up in surprise.
Kita puffed out her rosy cheeks and instinctively retorted:
"I don't have any secrets with you!"
Kitahara Makoto raised an eyebrow: "Are you sure, Kita?"
Kita: "…"
Sorry.
Completely unable to be sure.
Half an hour later.
Kitahara Makoto walked out of the storage room, feeling satisfied:
"Hitori, Kita, please take care of me tomorrow as well."
Today's punishment challenge once again ended with the two girls surrendering and admitting defeat. If they continued, Kita and Bocchi-chan's lips would swell up.
After a quick wash in the bathroom, Kitahara Makoto took out his phone from his backpack and saw a message pop up on the screen:
"Makoto-kun, I'm coming over to study tonight."
Kitahara Makoto: "Won't your aunt and uncle worry?"
Takamatsu Tomori: "It's fine, I've already told Mom and Dad that I'm going to Anon's house to study tonight."
She even knew to find someone to cover for her. Tomori was unexpectedly adaptable.
Kitahara Makoto: "Alright then, I'm getting ready to go back. Where is Tomori?"
Takamatsu Tomori: "School gate."
Kitahara Makoto: "Wait for me, I'll be right there."
"…"
A moment later.
At the school gate.
"Makoto-kun, good afternoon."
Takamatsu Tomori was holding her backpack with both hands, eagerly waiting.
"Good afternoon." Kitahara Makoto nodded, his gaze turning to the pink-haired girl beside Tomori, "Why is Anon here too?"
"What do you mean, what's wrong with me being here?"
Chihaya Anon puffed out her rosy cheeks upon hearing this, placing her hands on her hips and saying:
"Kitahara-kun, you really have ill intentions, wanting to secretly make a move on Tomori when everyone else isn't around, right?"
"Don't slander my innocence." Kitahara Makoto said without changing his expression, "I have no such thoughts at all. Calling Tomori to my house is just for studying."
Chihaya Anon's eyes showed disdain:
"Excuse me, your words just now clearly showed you wished I wasn't here, right?"
Kitahara Makoto retorted:
"I was thinking that Anon's grades are very good, and she has no problem with exams, so she doesn't need tutoring, which is why I was surprised."
This pink-haired girl was an excellent student with good character and academics in junior high. Otherwise, she wouldn't have become the Student Union president and been able to get into a foreign school through her own efforts. In terms of studies, she was indeed beyond reproach.
"Exams are naturally no problem." Chihaya Anon leaned forward, her eyes vigilant, "But it's too dangerous for Tomori to go with you alone. I need to go and protect Tomori."
Tomori is unwell, so I definitely won't take advantage of her.
But if you come, it's hard to say if you'll be taken advantage of…
Kitahara Makoto kindly advised:
"I advise Anon not to. By then, it'll be too late for you to regret it."
"Tsk." Chihaya Anon raised her delicate chin, "The more you refuse, the more it proves you're guilty. I'm protecting Tomori today, I said it, even if Jesus comes, it won't change!"
"Alright." Kitahara Makoto's gaze was meaningful, "Anon, you better remember what you just said."
"…"
On the way back, Chihaya Anon felt increasingly flustered the more she thought about it, and couldn't help but suggest:
"Since it's a study session, why don't we call Togawa and Soyo too?"
If it was just her and Tomori, she still felt like there would be danger. Calling more people would ensure safety.
"I have no objections." Kitahara Makoto's tone was indifferent, "If Sakiko and Soyo are willing to come, then of course it's no problem."
"Then I'll send the messages…"
Chihaya Anon lightly bit her silver teeth, took out her phone, and sent messages to Soyo and Sakiko respectively.
"Sorry, I'm busy looking at houses with the agent today, so I won't be able to make it."
Togawa Sakiko politely refused.
The girl's sense of shame was still in a red-hot warning state. She didn't dare to go, absolutely didn't dare to go.
As for Anon and Tomori… with two people there, they should be fine, right?
And Nagasaki Soyo's response was even simpler:
"Sorry, I'm accompanying Sakiko to look at houses with the agent. Please take good care of Tomori tonight, Anon-san."
Chihaya Anon: "…"