Japanese high schools let out early, giving students plenty of free time.
Outside, the track field was already filled with students participating in club activities.
Though winter was approaching, the sunlight still carried a hint of warmth, making people feel pleasantly drowsy.
She wore a red blazer over a white button-up shirt, her full, rounded chest seemingly on the verge of bursting through the fabric.
Atop the graceful curves sat a pair of ribbon bows that trembled slightly with her movements—making it hard to tell whether it was the ribbons swaying or her chest threatening to spill free.
Underneath the exaggeratedly ample curves, the girl's slender waist was equally eye-catching.
Her smooth, soft abdomen carried a youthful innocence and vitality, accentuating her delicate and well-proportioned figure—almost as if it could be grasped with a single hand.
Further down, the plump curve of her hips and slightly wider pelvis arched enticingly into a graceful line.
Then, the sway of her skirt revealed a pair of snow-white thighs, their fair skin gleaming under the sunlight.
Black thigh-high socks hugged her legs just below the knees, while her slender, well-shaped calves disappeared into a pair of polished leather shoes, leaving only a hint of her ankles exposed, tinged with a faint rosy hue.
Her schoolbag was currently in Kaoru's hands, and the two stood close enough that occasional passersby cast them curious glances.
No doubt, rumors about them would only multiply from now on.
"Your test questions were so hard. I thought I could get a perfect score, but only English, modern literature, and world history were full marks," Ichinose Honami complained quite naturally about the final exams.
"Losing to your class is one thing, but even the questions we set for Class D were solved by them. I really shouldn't underestimate anyone in this school."
Yet, the more she acted this way, the more uneasy Kaoru felt, unsure of what she had discussed with Asahina last night.
Kaoru humored her conversation, but his mind drifted to Nagumo and student council matters.
Before the official break began, he would inevitably have to visit the council—meaning he'd likely run into Nagumo.
"What's on your mind?" Ichinose suddenly poked his cheek, a small gesture he wasn't sure where she'd picked up.
Kaoru caught her hand, then gently held it in his own, gazing into her eyes.
"I want to officially date you."
Ichinose froze for a moment, her gaze softening as she murmured.
"Wasn't it official before?"
Kaoru pointed at the onlookers stealing glances their way.
"They don't know yet. I plan to make sure everyone knows."
The implication was clear—he was done pretending.
He wanted Ichinose to be his publicly acknowledged girlfriend.
"Am I the only one?"
Instead of letting go, Ichinose tightened her grip on his hand, as if determined not to give him any chance to escape, her eyes locked onto his.
Kaoru had a feeling she and Asahina had talked about far more than they were letting on.
Asahina had even sent him a smiley face that morning.
"I'll introduce them all to you. After all, you're my first girlfriend."
Ichinose didn't seem particularly happy.
She bit her lip lightly—no matter how one looked at it, this was scummy behavior.
Yet, her concern lay elsewhere.
"My only condition is that you must not force anyone."
The girl's face rarely showed such a serious expression.
"Asahina-senpai is Nagumo-senpai's childhood friend. If you do this, you'll definitely incur his wrath."
"Did she tell you everything?" Kaoru asked.
Ichinose Honami shot him a sidelong glance.
Both he and Nagumo were student council members—did he really think he could hide things from her?
Of course, Asahina was well aware of this, which was why she had straightforwardly explained the situation to Ichinose Honami—though she omitted the part about Kaoru forcibly kissing her.
Not only that, Asahina had even curiously asked Ichinose why she had agreed to Kaoru's request.
Well, the details of that night's conversation certainly couldn't be disclosed to Kaoru.
Kaoru held her hand as they walked and chatted for a while.
When they arrived at the student council office, Nagumo was nowhere to be seen—only Tonokawa and Mizowaki were present.
"The semester is ending. After finishing up these last few days of work, you won't need to come to the student council anymore." Tonokawa briefed them on today's tasks.
With the council president absent, the two vice presidents had to take charge.
Kaoru studied Mizowaki's expression and noticed both seemed to have resolved themselves to something.
He already had a countermeasure in mind—he planned to have Katsuragi and Kiriyama spread some rumors.
For example: Nagumo was planning to expel so-and-so; certain people were preparing to rebel against Nagumo out of love-turned-hatred; affairs, cheating, same-sex relationships...
He was confident people would enthusiastically engage with such gossip.
Kaoru was all too familiar with this muddied waters tactic and even considered coming up with a provocative headline.
....
After finishing their work, with still no sign of Nagumo, Ichinose quietly leaned closer to Kaoru and whispered.
"Do you think he's bothering Asahina-senpai?"
Kaoru thought the same.
Compared to him, Nagumo would undoubtedly be more concerned about Asahina.
"Asahina and Nagumo-kun had another argument," Tonokawa suddenly informed them.
"But this time, Asahina seems unwilling to engage with Nagumo-kun. They're giving each other the cold shoulder."
Ichinose looked at him in surprise.
Unaware of the full context, the girl couldn't comprehend why he would share this information with her and Kaoru—it didn't seem like something they needed to know.
"What I want is Asahina-senpai. I won't interfere with whatever's going on between you and Kiriyama-senpai," Kaoru stated plainly.
Tonokawa gave him a long, searching look.
He didn't entirely believe this claim but chose not to press further.
Instead, he asked, "Do you have a way to make us give up on Nagumo-kun?"
"Before answering, I'd like to know why you senpais are so determined to graduate from Class A?" Kaoru countered.
"The school promises Class A absolute privileges—rewards that can't be obtained elsewhere," Tonokawa replied.
At this point, Mizowaki also joined the conversation.
"Didn't you come to this school for the college advancement and employment prospects too?""
Most students attended ANHS for precisely these reasons—only a minority came for other purposes.
"And why do people pursue further education and employment?"" Kaoru asked again.
Tonokawa frowned, while Mizowaki asked in confusion, "Further education and employment are for future security. If we can get into prestigious schools, it'll benefit us whether we're looking for jobs or continuing our studies."
"Benefits like having a higher starting point in life than others?"
"Isn't that the case?"
"Then I'm confident."
Neither of them understood what Kaoru meant, their eyes blank with confusion.
...
After Kaoru left the student council office, Ichinose asked him, "Have you already teamed up with the senpais?"
The sharp-witted girl had picked up on the subtle dynamic between them—somewhat like allies, yet with an undercurrent of mutual wariness.
"Not yet. By next semester, they'll have no choice but to cooperate with me, whether they like it or not." Kaoru gave her small hand a squeeze.
"By the way, have you ever thought about the practical side of things?"
"The practical side?" Ichinose didn't follow.
"Like what qualifications I have to support you and the others, or how I can make everyone acknowledge my relationships with you all." Kaoru said this calmly.
Ichinose watched him quietly.
Unlike in novels, reality demanded that if he wanted to shoulder the futures of so many girls, he needed to provide some kind of guarantee.
"I originally planned to get along with you all peacefully, but now I'm done pretending. I'm laying my cards on the table—I'm a billionaire."
Kaoru's expression was dead serious, not a hint of joking.
Ichinose was about to laugh when she suddenly remembered his previous purchase of Personal Points.
Suspicion crept in.
"You're not lying?"
"No. This is my biggest trump card. I didn't want to play it, but the situation is urgent. If I delay any longer, I might lose." Kaoru's gaze darkened.
"Now I have no choice but to drop a bomb and open everyone's eyes."
Still, he knew that once he played this card, things would inevitably become far more complicated.
Sensing his mood, Ichinose suddenly smiled.
"I won't help you between classes, but for this matter, I'll definitely stand by you."
Kaoru fell silent for a moment.
Though she framed it as helping him overthrow Nagumo, her words were practically tacit approval of his relationship with Asahina.
He couldn't help but wonder what the two had discussed last night.
Could it be that Ichinose didn't actually oppose him having a harem?