"Yo, Class President, good morning."
After Kuroha Akira came out, he greeted the class president cheerfully, his mood still buoyant from the morning's events. The class president, however, forced out the smallest possible smile and replied,
"Good morning… Akira-kun, is your room facing south?"
"Hmm? Oh, yes, it's facing south. You should be able to see it from here—that window right there."
When Kuroha Akira turned and looked up at his room window, Shion had already retreated. Anyway, her show of superiority was complete, and she didn't want to make Kuroha Akira feel awkward by being caught in the act of gloating.
After confirming that the window where Shion appeared was indeed Kuroha Akira's room, Asato Hitomi began to wonder: had she deliberately snuck into Kuroha Akira's room to 'provoke' her, or did she actually live in that room permanently?
Judging from her smug smile just now, it didn't seem like she was bluffing—it was more like she was showing off her achievement after gaining the upper hand. The kind of grin that said "I won, and you lost."
This indicated that she had very likely made significant progress and was already living in the same room as Akira-kun.
She wondered what she was so smug about. I never even thought about dating Akira-kun… Is she treating me as a love rival? How boring…
But Asato Hitomi still felt an unusual irritation coiling in her chest.
Cohabitation… Sharing a bed!
When these words appeared in Asato Hitomi's mind, she realized a suffocating feeling had formed in her chest—like a weight pressing down on her lungs. This caused the usual smile to completely disappear from her face, replaced by something far more unreadable.
Then, a sense of unease tugged at her nerves, making her ask a strange question.
"Akira-kun, do you still remember our promise?"
"Promise?" He blinked, confused. "Do you mean the promise to visit the stalls together at the Cultural Festival?"
"No, it's an even older one."
An older promise… Kuroha Akira immediately thought of the promise to 'graduate' from each other at thirty—the one they'd made what felt like a lifetime ago.
"Oh… you mean that thirty-year-old promise. Is there a problem?"
"Nothing. It's good that you still remember."
After saying that, Asato Hitomi turned and got into the car. Kuroha Akira also noticed that the class president was in a bad mood today, so after getting into the car, he didn't try to provoke her further. Silence was the safest option.
...
Throughout the journey, Asato Hitomi remained silent, organizing her thoughts and analyzing the situation like a chess grandmaster reviewing a complex position.
Asato Hitomi could not detect a hint of panic in Kuroha Akira's tone, which meant he was still a virgin. It seemed they hadn't reached the final step yet. But it should be only one step away—a single door waiting to be opened.
That guy just now had a 'victory in hand' expression; if she didn't have such an overwhelming advantage that no one could catch up, she wouldn't have been so arrogant as to show up and provoke.
After all, when they met at the door a few days ago, she was still on high alert… It must have been recently that her offensive against Akira-kun achieved significant results. As expected, the advantage of living together was too obvious—close-quarters special attacks could be launched at any time.
But if Akira-kun and she had already developed to the point where only the window paper needed to be poked through, why didn't they just go all the way? Was there some reason… cherishing the other person? No, Akira-kun wasn't that kind of person. He had a gentle side, but he wouldn't suffer a loss in this regard.
Judging by Akira-kun's way of doing things, it was likely that his expectations hadn't been met yet. In other words, eating Shinomiya Shion would do more harm than good. What he wanted to get from Shinomiya Shion was not just her body—or rather, it was never just her body from the start.
From the latest information she'd received, Shinomiya Shion shouldn't have been adopted by the landlord. She actually didn't have the right to live in that house, but she still moved in… This meant she was able to get temporary residency as Kuroha Akira's accessory because of his 'pleading.' And it was precisely because of this that she could share a room with Akira-kun.
And the reason why Akira-kun absolutely wanted to keep her by his side… was actually easy to guess, because Akira-kun only curried favor with talented people. It seemed Shinomiya Shion was not just a pretty face, but also possessed some exceptionally outstanding talent—something valuable enough to warrant such investment.
Not only is she beautiful, but she also possesses rare talent, comes from a good family, and even lives with Akira-kun…
She really has everything.
An unpleasant woman, but she certainly has reason to be proud. Her natural advantages have given her a significant lead early on.
But ultimately, the fact that Akira-kun hadn't made a move yet indicated that he hadn't fallen for her to the point of 'can't live without you.'
At least for now, compared to loving Shinomiya Shion's beauty, he still loved money more. So Shinomiya Shion seemed to be nearing the finish line, but there was still this last step. And this step would probably be even harder to cross than all the previous ones combined.
Because to cross this step, you either had to become more important than money in Kuroha Akira's heart, or you had to bring him so much money that he completely gave in.
However, the first option became impossible the moment a transaction was made with Kuroha Akira.
Because once you became his transaction partner, it meant he would weigh your value and profit from you. Most importantly… he would not give his true feelings to a transaction partner.
So unless an 'object that had never transacted with Akira-kun from the beginning' entered his heart, it was possible for him to value that person more than money… But such an existence would probably only be his family. Maybe boys could also become good buddies or something…
If only I were a boy… Otherwise, I still wouldn't be able to establish a pure friendship with Akira-kun.
After all, even if Akira-kun doesn't fall in love, I have feelings…
"Sigh…"
Asato Hitomi silently sighed, looking out the car window with a melancholic expression. The passing scenery blurred before her eyes as her thoughts churned.
And the second path was exceptionally simple—just like an auction. The highest bidder wins. If Shinomiya Shion were the only bidder, she would probably have the last laugh. But Asato Hitomi had already completely seen through Kuroha Akira's 'principles of conduct' and was also learning how to make money. So, in terms of making money, she was confident that she would not fall behind anyone.
"Even if I ultimately cannot become Akira-kun's partner, I will not let you have your way…" Asato Hitomi's eyes revealed a sharp glint, the kind that promised trouble.
As for why she wanted to hinder Shinomiya Shion's romance… it was simply because she disliked her. After all, a magpie couldn't possibly look up to a dove. Some people just rubbed her the wrong way, and Shinomiya Shion was one of them.
On Saturday, Kuroha Akira played games at Takanashi's all day. Takanashi Akiko and Asato Hitomi were both by his side, watching him play and chatting with him. The living room was filled with the sounds of button-mashing and cheerful commentary.
Takanashi Mirai still hadn't left her room—not even a peek through the crack in the door.
But Kuroha Akira was not in a hurry, nor did he ask about Takanashi Mirai. After playing games for half a day, he left in the afternoon, perfectly content with the progress he'd made.
Because he had an appointment with the class president to accompany her to purchase costumes and props needed for the Cultural Festival on Saturday. That was the main event for the day.
...
After bidding farewell to Takanashi Akiko, Asato Hitomi sighed and said,
"Today, I didn't even get to see Mirai."
"Yeah, after I tricked her yesterday, she certainly wouldn't come out to see me today." Kuroha Akira grinned, clearly pleased with himself.
"So Akira-kun, you already guessed it would be a futile effort…? Will you still come tomorrow?"
"Yes, I'll continue to come and play games tomorrow, but I estimate she still won't come out. Then, from Monday to Friday next week, I won't come to Takanashi—just let her stew until next Saturday. And then Takanashi Mirai will most likely be willing to come out and see me."
"Oh? Why is that? Did Akira-kun use some magic again?" Asato Hitomi tilted her head, genuinely curious.
"Hehe, I used magic that will make people exasperated… By the way, class president, you were there too. Didn't you notice what I was doing?"
"Weren't you just playing games…?" The class president said with some resentment.
It was as if she had forgotten what she had come to Takanashi for. She was having a great time, chatting happily with Aunt Akiko, and had completely lost track of the bigger picture.
Because she had been mocked by Shion in the morning, Asato Hitomi was not in high spirits all day. Most of her time had been spent reviewing the economic knowledge her mother had taught her, running through mental calculations like a student cramming for an exam. So most of the time, it was Takanashi Akiko who chatted with Kuroha Akira, and his relationship with the wife improved considerably.
"That game isn't just a game!" Kuroha Akira said, his eyes lighting up. "It's a super masterpiece that made Aunt Akiko determined to become a voice actor! Demon Sword Chronicle III!"
After actually playing it, Kuroha Akira realized that this was basically Brave O Dragon + Final O Fantasy! This thing was definitely the national RPG of this world—the kind of game that defined a generation.
"Then I deliberately played until a key plot point. Aunt Akiko said that the most exciting part of the game comes after that… That's why I had to temporarily stop."
"I see. You want to whet Mirai-chan's appetite."
"Exactly. And when I was playing, I deliberately made a lot of noise, didn't I? Takanashi Mirai must have been secretly listening to us."
"But with such a famous work, Mirai-chan couldn't possibly not have played it. She must already know the plot that comes after."
"I know. But even if she's played it, it doesn't matter. In fact, precisely because she's played it, she'll 'want others to play the most exciting part even more.'"
When you play it to that point, you'll know why it's a masterpiece! You often hear lines like this when recommending favorite works, right? Hoping to share the shock you felt with others… Kuroha Akira was leveraging Takanashi Mirai's desire to share.
"And yesterday, I also deliberately chose the highest difficulty and made all sorts of stupid mistakes, making the game's progress incredibly difficult. We were wiped out several times… So she should be restless now because of my fishing operation."
She might even dream tonight about "how could he have played that move like that!"
What's most unbearable when watching someone else play a game? Of course, it's watching the player make a stupid mistake and ruin a good situation, making you wish you could take over and play for them.
Just as the old men and uncles watching chess can't help but point fingers at the players, the same rule applies to people playing and watching games. So Takanashi's desire to express herself should now be at its limit. She wants to share her game thoughts with Kuroha Akira, and she also wants to point out his brain-dead operations… But! He just won't give her the chance!
Kuroha Akira won't go for five days straight, and she'll be terribly depressed. Then, when Kuroha Akira goes again next Saturday and makes another brain-dead move, she'll definitely explode like a pressure cooker.
...
After understanding Kuroha Akira's fishing logic, Asato Hitomi also showed a meaningful smile and said,
"I see. Akira-kun really loves to play tricks… Do you really want to win my one-day usage right that badly?"
"Of course I do. Although I haven't decided where to use it yet, class president, you're so excellent—securing it first is definitely the right choice."
Moreover, this thing was much more useful than a one-time wish ticket. A wish ticket could only grant one wish, but with a one-day usage right, you could make her do whatever you wanted for an entire day. The potential was limitless.
Asato Hitomi felt a little better upon hearing Kuroha Akira's desire for her. She took Kuroha Akira's hand and said,
"Hehe, Akira-kun, you can take your time thinking about how to use me… But for today, let me use Akira-kun first, okay?"
Saying it so ambiguously, it really just meant being a laborer… but the phrasing certainly made it sound like more.
"Got it, at your service."
...
First, they went to pick up the props and costumes. The class president seemed to have custom-ordered various outfits, so they just needed to pick them up from the costume shop. At the costume shop, the class president even personally tried on some of the costumes—like a zombie girl. There was no sense of horror, only cuteness.
However, since they were normal costumes, the exposure wasn't very high, as they were for other students in the class and couldn't be too suggestive.
Next, they went to buy some talismans and other props. The class president had mentioned before that they needed to buy these at a shrine. After Rui-san drove the car to Chiyoda Inari Shrine, Kuroha Akira encountered an unexpected acquaintance there.
"Oh? Tomita-chan?"
Tomita Haruka, wearing a red and white miko outfit, was also startled to see that the person who came was Kuroha Akira.
"Huh?! Kuroha Akira?!"
Then she became extremely flustered, not expecting to be seen by him in this state… Wahhh… Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson as she instinctively tried to hide behind a pillar.
Asato Hitomi also looked at the two with some surprise and asked,
"So you two know each other?"
"Ah! Hitomi-chan! You guys…? Huh? Huh huh huh?!"
Upon seeing Asato Hitomi, Tomita Haruka was even more surprised. Both were familiar people, but she didn't expect them to appear together, which completely threw Tomita Haruka into confusion. Her brain seemed to short-circuit as she looked back and forth between them like a confused kitten.
After Tomita Haruka finally calmed down, she explained their relationship to each other.
Kuroha Akira crossed his arms, understanding the reason.
"I see… So Tomita-chan's family runs a shrine, and they've had a good relationship with the class president's family since before. Even the shrine's relocation was helped by the class president's family."
"Yes…" Tomita Haruka nodded, still slightly flustered. "Then Hitomi-chan told me that their class is doing a haunted house for the Cultural Festival, so they need some props from the shrine. I've already prepared everything here… So Kuroha Akira, you and Hitomi-chan are classmates, and also friends from the same club?"
Although Tomita Haruka knew Kuroha Akira was a Hibiya High School student from his tracksuit, she didn't expect him and Hitomi-chan to be friends. The realization made her heart do a strange little flip.
"Yes, the class president and I are both in the Literary Club, and Tomita-chan, you attend Shirayuri Academy."
That's the all-girls school Saionji Mako attends, and also the school Shion originally attended. A prestigious institution for young ladies.
"Mmm, I originally wanted to go to a co-ed school, but my father didn't agree…"
Tomita Haruka gave a wry smile, her shoulders slumping slightly. She actually wanted to go to the same high school as Hitomi-chan, but her father refused, giving the reason that as a 'Divine Miko,' she couldn't fall in love before becoming an adult.
This reason was quite absurd, but family rules couldn't be violated. Moreover, her father wasn't so unreasonable as to forbid her from free love entirely—he was just worried about her losing her virginity before adulthood, which was a rather old-fashioned concern.
But Tomita Haruka's father didn't realize that even though his daughter attended an all-girls school, she still met someone she liked outside of school… And after meeting Kuroha Akira, Tomita Haruka's resistance to her father's rules grew even stronger.
She had thought more than once that if she had also attended Hibiya High School, she might have been able to commute to and from school with Kuroha Akira… Unfortunately, there were no 'ifs' in life, only what-ifs.
Now, seeing that her good friend Asato Hitomi was also friends with Kuroha Akira, she felt both envious and anxious. The exceptionally beautiful girl who followed Kuroha Akira during their morning run was his live-in partner, and now Hitomi-chan, the Asato family's young lady, was also his good friend… He really had good luck with women.
Facing these powerful rivals, did she still have a chance? Tomita Haruka was becoming increasingly unsure of herself, her confidence crumbling like sand.
Kuroha Akira was completely unaware of the young girl's inner turmoil; instead, he became interested in the shrine itself.
"By the way, Tomita-chan, what deity is enshrined here?"
"Just the usual Inari God."
"Inari God, huh… Oh, right, this is an Inari Shrine… I was being foolish."
The most common shrines in Japan were Inari Shrines, with probably over 30,000 nationwide. Originally, they enshrined a deity that blessed abundant harvests, but now the worship of Inari God had expanded to business and other fields, becoming a shrine for praying for prosperous business and various other blessings. Anyway, no matter what you're praying for, coming to Inari Shrine was always the right choice.
By the way, the Inari God's divine messenger was a fox, so you could see many fox statues. Coupled with the legend of Tamamo no Mae, many depictions of the Inari God were also in the form of fox girls. Fox girls were really great… Kuroha Akira wished they actually existed.
"Meow~"
However, no foxes were seen, but a cat did run out. And it was the cat Kuroha Akira was most familiar with—the same one that had been causing chaos at Kobayashi since forever.
"Eh? Kuroo, why are you here? Is this also your territory?"
"Meow meow meow meow!"
Kuroo meowed a few times at Kuroha Akira with obvious impatience, then pointed her small paw at a nearby stone statue, and then turned her head back to look at Kuroha Akira, with an expression in her small eyes as if saying, 'Are you blind!'
Kuroha Akira followed the direction Kuroo pointed and then saw…
A cat statue.
No! Wait! Why were there cat statues in a shrine?! The Inari God's messenger was a fox! It should be a fox statue! This was a fundamental violation of the rules!
No, this was another world, so deviations were normal, but Kuroha Akira really didn't expect even beliefs to change… He remembered the Inari God being linked to foxes due to a homophone, and also because foxes preyed on rats that were harmful to agricultural production. But actually, when it came to rats, the first predator that came to mind was definitely cats, and it seemed there was indeed a Cat God belief here in Japan, so it made sense for the Inari God's messenger to become a cat.
However, what happened next was completely beyond Kuroha Akira's expectation.
Tomita Haruka also exclaimed in surprise when she saw Kuroo appear.
"Cat God! It's rare to see you come to the new shrine… So, Kuroha-san, you've also met Cat God?"
"Huh? Cat God?!"
This little thing, Kuroo… is she really a god?!
***
Tomita Haruka.
Don't ask about the background!