The school bell rang, accompanied by the sound of yogurt dropping from the vending machine.
After leaving the office, Hoshino Jun didn't go straight back to the classroom but went to the restroom first.
Somewhat annoyingly, Takasaki Yusuke kept following him, for reasons unknown.
"Hoshino-kun, this is for you."
"Why?"
"What do you mean, 'why'? Didn't we just make up? So, to celebrate our reconciliation, it's only right that I treat you to a bottle of yogurt!"
Takasaki Yusuke's gentle smile left Hoshino Jun a little perplexed.
Do enemies really change for the better so suddenly?
Hoshino Jun didn't believe it.
But the yogurt came from a vending machine, so it must be fine.
With the mentality of 'don't refuse a freebie,' Hoshino Jun took the yogurt and said, "Actually, Takasaki-kun, you don't have to pretend. Teacher Hamasaki isn't here anymore."
Please, go back to your unruly self.
Takasaki Yusuke froze for two seconds, then chuckled awkwardly: "Haha, Hoshino-kun really misunderstood me. This time, I genuinely want to reconcile with Hoshino-kun."
"Oh, really?" Hoshino Jun turned and walked towards the classroom: "I don't quite believe Takasaki-kun."
Takasaki Yusuke caught up, smiling: "I will prove it to Hoshino-kun with my actions."
Hearing this, Hoshino Jun narrowed his eyes and glanced at him.
Takasaki Yusuke might not have noticed, but while his attitude was indeed sincere, it was overly so, making it seem fake.
Hoshino Jun replied, "Then we shall see."
As he rounded the corner of the hallway, he ran into Takayanagi who had just come out of the office. From his appearance, it seemed he had been waiting there intentionally.
Seeing the two arrive, Takayanagi stepped forward to stop Takasaki Yusuke and asked.
"Yusuke, did Hoshino Jun use some underhanded method to force you to do this?"
Hearing this, Hoshino Jun really wanted to kick this idiot. They were the ones who slandered him first, and now they were calling him despicable.
Opening his mouth in exasperation, Hoshino Jun swallowed his words.
Takayanagi wasn't actually very smart; otherwise, he wouldn't be a woman's dog. Arguing with him was like talking to a brick wall.
Moreover, if this lickspittle were truly persuaded by Hoshino Jun to mend his ways, then Hoshino Jun would have a headache. Only Takayanagi, who hated Hoshino Jun, would be a qualified ATM.
Thinking of this.
Hoshino Jun calmly uttered, "Idiot."
"You scoundrel, who are you calling an idiot?" Takayanagi retorted angrily.
[Ding!]
[Detected malicious insult from Takayanagi!]
[Choose not to pursue, and you will receive a D-grade Favor Debt.]
Takayanagi-kun's temper is as volatile as ever.
But what does it matter?
For Mrs. Takayanagi's sake, Hoshino Jun naturally chose to forgive him.
[It has been determined that Takayanagi is unable to repay this Favor Debt. The debt has been automatically transferred to his mother, "Takayanagi Yuki."]
[Reminder: Please collect this person's Favor Debt as soon as possible. Upon successful collection, you will receive a reward.]
A smile played on the corner of his lips as Hoshino Jun crossed his legs and looked at Takasaki Yusuke.
Now it was Takasaki-kun's turn to show his so-called actions.
Takasaki Yusuke's mouth twitched. He reluctantly grabbed Takayanagi's shoulder and scolded, "Takayanagi, how are you speaking to Hoshino-kun? Apologize to Hoshino-kun immediately."
???
Takayanagi blinked blankly. He had been bewildered several times today already.
He never imagined why Takasaki Yusuke, who shared his animosity, would act this way.
"Could it be that, Yusuke, you and Hoshino have really reconciled?"
"Of course."
Takasaki Yusuke gave Takayanagi a look, but Takayanagi didn't understand.
His gaze shifted back and forth between Takasaki Yusuke and the smiling Hoshino Jun, and he inexplicably felt as if he had been NTR'd.
"Hoshino Jun, why do you have to take everything from me?"
"You knew I liked Kaoru, yet you still made Kaoru fall for you. You knew Yusuke and I were friends, and now you're trying to interfere again."
The enraged Takayanagi finally lost control of his emotions and rushed forward to push Hoshino Jun.
However, the force was very light.
So light that Hoshino Jun wanted to laugh.
He blindly guessed that Takayanagi probably remembered Yamada Kaoru's warning.
[Ding!]
[Detected malicious shove from Takayanagi!]
[Choose not to pursue, and you will receive a C-grade Favor Debt.]
Hoshino Jun pushed Takayanagi's arm away and smiled, "It's your own fault, don't blame me. I never intended to compete with you for anything."
"Don't get too smug. I already know your weakness. Sooner or later, I'll make Kaoru give up on you."
"What an idiot." Hoshino Jun walked around him: "I am indeed trying to contend with you for someone now, but it's not who you're thinking of."
After speaking, Hoshino Jun left directly, regardless of whether Takayanagi understood or not.
Today, Aunt Yuki was on the early shift and came home earlier.
And Takayanagi had just been kept behind by Teacher Hamasaki, most likely to assign him a new self-reflection essay, so he probably wouldn't get home until very late.
Therefore, Hoshino Jun could go collect debts again this afternoon.
[It has been determined that Takayanagi is unable to repay this Favor Debt. The debt has been automatically transferred to his mother, "Takayanagi Yuki."]
[Reminder: Please collect this person's Favor Debt as soon as possible. Upon successful collection, you will receive a reward.]
One C-grade and one D-grade, 150,000 yen, not bad at all.
However, the main sum still had to come from Takasaki Yusuke. Hoshino Jun still didn't know how much money a B-grade debt would yield.
"Hoshino-kun, wait for me, there's something I want to tell you." Takasaki Yusuke caught up from behind.
Because he had two more collection tasks, Hoshino Jun was in a good mood and asked with a smile, "What is it?"
"Let's go to the cafeteria for lunch together. My treat."
Takasaki Yusuke pulled out his wallet, which contained a good amount of cash, and said, "Don't worry about saving money for me. Whatever Hoshino-kun wants to eat is fine. Consider it a chance for me to atone."
It's just school cafeteria food; how expensive could it be?
How stingy, Takasaki-kun.
"Alright." Hoshino Jun nodded slightly, agreeing to Takasaki Yusuke's request.
A gentle breeze blew, ruffling the handsome youth's hair.
Through the classroom window, Hoshino Jun noticed Takasaki Yusuke behind him. The moment he turned around, he took out his phone and sent a message to someone.
[Ding!]
[Detected malicious disclosure of whereabouts from Takasaki Yusuke!]
[Choose not to pursue, and you will receive a C-grade Favor Debt.]
Hoshino Jun smiled.
You brat.
I thought you had really changed. Just now, I almost felt bad for messing with you.
It's better to maintain hostility. When I mess with you, I won't feel guilty about bullying an honest person.
[It has been determined that Takasaki Yusuke is unable to repay this Favor Debt. The debt has been automatically transferred to his girlfriend, "Kato Nana."]
[Reminder: Please collect Kato Nana's Favor Debt as soon as possible. She already owes one B-grade debt and one C-grade debt.]
Time flew by like a white colt.
Sunlight streamed through the window, scattering across the floor and illuminating the dust motes dancing in the classroom.
On the podium, the balding math teacher, whose youth had long passed, finished the last class of the morning with a voice tinged with the weariness of age.
"Ding-a-ling—"
The bell for class dismissal rang. Hoshino Jun told Takasaki Yusuke that he needed to go to the office to ask Hamasaki Mayu something and asked Takasaki Yusuke to go to the cafeteria first.
Takasaki Yusuke readily agreed.
But what he didn't know was that Hoshino Jun didn't go to any office at all.
"Hoshino-kun, I'm already on the rooftop. When are you coming up?"
This was the message Takasaki Yusuke's girlfriend, Kato Nana, sent to Hoshino Jun.
Honestly, Hoshino Jun hadn't expected Kato Nana to actually go. He had originally intended to use the breach of contract as an excuse to corner Kato Nana.
"It makes no difference."
Hoshino Jun replied to Kato Nana: "Wait, I'll be there in a moment."
"Ding-dong~"
On the rooftop.
The girl in white stockings paced back and forth, the message on her phone greatly troubling her. Her heavy chest swayed with her uneasy mood.
"What's wrong with Yusuke? He suddenly wants to treat me to a meal."
"But Hoshino-kun said he's almost here."
Just as the girl was troubled, the door to the rooftop opened.
Before she could even speak, the boy named Hoshino Jun quickly walked towards her, grabbed her arm, and pulled her into his embrace.
"Nana, I want to kiss you."