Chapter 310 Can Humans Truly Go Against Their Own Hearts and Instincts? / See You on the Rooftop!
"The class meeting concludes here. During the winter break, please maintain your self-awareness as students of this school, arrange your daily schedule reasonably, and spend your holidays with moderation. That is all."
As Sakagami Kazuma's voice fell, a long-suppressed cheer erupted in the Class D classroom.
"Great! I can finally relax!"
"The holidays are finally here; I'm going to clear all the games I've hoarded!"
"I finally survived this!"
Amidst the noise, Shiina Hiyori slowly and methodically packed her textbooks into her bag. She silently calculated the length of the break: from December 22nd to January 3rd, exactly thirteen days—roughly two weeks. Compared to the one-month summer break, it was indeed much shorter.
Given Shimizu Akira's occasional lack of familiarity with local common sense, he would likely complain that the break was too short. But as a native-born Japanese, Hiyori was long accustomed to it.
Winter break in Japan was always like this; rather than a "winter holiday," it was more of a festive break connecting Christmas and the New Year. Once those two major holidays passed, it was time to get back to the classroom.
The rest of the meeting consisted of Sakagami's routine instructions: stay warm, stay safe while traveling, don't completely abandon studies, and set aside some time daily to consolidate knowledge. It was no different from previous years.
Hiyori had already planned her own break: one hour of fixed study time every day, with total rest on Christmas and New Year's Day.
"Damn it! Shimizu Akira! I'll remember this debt, Ryuen Kakeru will remember this!"
Just as Hiyori finished packing, a fierce curse echoed from the corner of the classroom. Ryuen Kakeru kicked a desk leg.
Ever since returning from Class C with his tail between his legs, he had been in this state of explosive rage.
Ishizaki Daichi and Komiya Kyogo were sighing and reviewing the events nearby. Hiyori listened to a few sentences and pieced together the story.
Apparently, Ryuen had tried to ambush "X" and "Anonymous," but Akira had been well-prepared and counter-attacked, leaving Ryuen to retreat in disgrace.
This was Class D, filled with dilapidated desks and chairs. Even if he broke a few, it wouldn't result in class point deductions like in other classes. The other students were used to it; no one stepped forward to stop him, letting him vent his fury.
Ishizaki even had the foresight to drag a broken table with a missing leg from the back of the room, placing it in front of Ryuen.
"Boss Ryuen, kick this one, it's sturdy!"
Ryuen panted heavily, glared at the table, and delivered another kick as if it were Akira himself. 'Hiss! That felt good!'
"Damn it! I didn't lose to Shimizu Akira, I lost to myself!" Ryuen panted, leaning against the wall after the final kick.
"My thinking was wrong from the start! Ruining someone's reputation isn't something I'm good at!"
He wasn't the type of fool who only blamed the world when he lost.
During the hour-long class meeting, his mind hadn't been idle.
He had replayed the farce in Class C over and over, finally identifying the key to his fall. Manipulating reputation required a prerequisite: you had to have a reputation to rely on.
You needed a solid track record like Ichinose Honami or a convincing mask like Kushida Kikyo for people to believe your words or for the "dirty water" you threw to actually stick.
What about him? Since enrollment, he had been labeled a "delinquent." He threatened, framed, and played dirty. His reputation was already in the gutter.
With a reputation like his, accusing the school's "Angel," Kushida Kikyo? He was destined to fail from the start.
"Boss! You finally figured it out!"
"Exactly! I thought from the beginning that this didn't fit your usual style!"
Ishizaki and Komiya hurried over, their tones sycophantic.
"Get lost! Stop flattering yourselves!" Ryuen's eyes widened, and he kicked both of them.
"You did whatever I told you to do, obedient like dogs! And yet, back in Class C, who was it that secretly suspected I was lying again?"
"Th-that wasn't me!" Ishizaki waved his hands frantically.
"Ahem... me neither! It was him who started muttering first!" Komiya immediately shifted the blame.
The two instantly broke into an argument. Ryuen didn't bother with these idiots; his gaze swept the room and landed on Ibuki Mio, who was packing her bag with her head down.
"Hey! Ibuki! You ran off so fast earlier; I haven't settled that debt with you yet!"
"So annoying! I made everything clear!" Ibuki snapped her head up and shouted.
"Stop making me do those disgusting things! I've had enough of you!"
That same old glaring expression.
Ryuen's hands itched; he wanted to punch her on the spot. But he caught the gazes of the students around them and suppressed his anger—this was the classroom, and making a scene would be hard to manage.
For months, he had used Hiyori as an excuse to order Ibuki around. If he truly pushed her too far, Hiyori would be unhappy.
Then he'd be left with only himself and Kaneda as the "smart" ones to get things done, which would be a hassle.
Frustrated, Ryuen took his anger out on the broken table again, kicking it several more times.
Ibuki ignored him entirely. After packing her bag, she walked over to Hiyori, grabbed her arm, and whispered, "Shiina, your prediction was too accurate! Shimizu really cares about Kushida! You didn't see it earlier—the moment Ryuen said something bad about her, Shimizu's face changed. He stood up immediately to defend her... he's so good to her."
When they were at Class C, Hiyori had zero interest in Ryuen's drama about "exposing identities." Ever since seeing that scene at the cinema, her gaze had been glued to Akira almost the entire time.
Listening to Ibuki's sigh, Hiyori smiled faintly.
"Yes, Shimizu-kun has always looked after those around him. But I heard they met on the bus on the first day of school. Perhaps he truly does have a different kind of concern for her."
"How can you still smile?!" Ibuki poked her arm anxiously.
"Do you actually like Shimizu Akira? What do you plan to do next? Are you really going to accept that 'harem' idea of his?"
"I wouldn't say I 'love' him yet, but I definitely have feelings for him."
Hiyori nodded honestly, her eyes carrying a clear sense of helplessness.
"At this stage, he is the male I am most fond of. Of course, I'd like to date him alone—monopolizing his attention would be ideal—but Shimizu Akira would never agree to that. After all, he only has 'fondness' for me; it's far from the level of 'love.'"
Hiyori was more sensitive than anyone to the subtle distances between the sexes.
While Akira's care during their last date was thorough, she hadn't forgotten that just mentioning "Kushida Kikyo" made him look troubled and headache-stricken.
That expression didn't lie—compared to her, Akira clearly cared more about Kushida.
This was realistic logic.
She and Akira hadn't spoken much or met many times, whereas Kushida was his classmate.
They had gone through numerous special exams together; the bond they shared wasn't something she could compare to. Not to mention those two were already together and had reached a consensus on the "harem" requirement.
Wanting Akira to be good to her alone? She was overthinking it.
"And if I were to force such a demand, Shimizu-kun might intentionally distance himself from me just to avoid hurting my feelings." Hiyori sighed softly, then smiled again, her eyes transparent.
"It's better like this—being able to chat normally and spend time together occasionally. It's quite a good relationship."
This was the most stable answer the "Detective Lady" had arrived at after much deliberation.
Don't be greedy, and never mistreat yourself.
Since Kushida, Horikita, and the other girls could accept it, her occasionally inviting Akira for tea and a chat—without crossing the line into intimacy—didn't count as intruding on someone else's relationship. Instead, it maintained a comfortable, natural distance.
"But... but..." Ibuki frowned, unable to understand this "settling for second best" mindset.
"Haha, Ibuki, don't worry about me." Hiyori smiled gently, patting Ibuki's hand.
"I've always been a rational person; I know what I should and shouldn't do. By the way, have you tried the air conditioner I installed for you? Is the dorm still cold at night?"
"Yeah! It's great!"
Ibuki knew her friend was changing the subject, clearly unwilling to discuss Akira further. But she still felt uneasy. Even if Hiyori was rational, can feelings really be controlled by one's self? She remembered clearly that a few days ago, Hiyori couldn't stop talking about Akira, barely mentioning her favorite mystery novels.
Chatting, being alone, drinking tea... this mode of interaction had a limit, didn't it? What happens when they care more and more, wanting to touch fingers, wanting more intimacy? Those are perfectly normal biological instincts.
Can humans truly go against their own hearts and instincts?
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"Hey! Manabe Shiho, Yabu Nanami, Yamashita Saki! You three, come here!"
While Ibuki was worrying for Hiyori, Ryuen's voice boomed again.
"Calling us?! Are we finally going to start the operation?!" Manabe's eyes lit up, an excited smile spreading across her face.
"Ryuen-kun?"
"Coming, coming!"
The three girls ran to Ryuen without hesitation.
"Those three are getting bolder." Ibuki whispered, watching the scene.
"A while ago, they were scared out of their wits whenever they saw Ryuen, acting like he'd eat them alive. Now they're cozying up to him."
"After all, Manabe-san did contribute to the class," Hiyori explained with a smile.
She surprisingly didn't resent the fact that Yamauchi had been expelled; someone like him really wasn't suited for this school.
Hiyori had never framed herself within a mold of absolute justice.
In the mysteries she read, most great detectives had imperfect characters: they were aloof, obsessive, or even walked the edge of the rules to solve a case.
Over time, she had concluded that sometimes, if legitimate means didn't work, certain non-essential "flexible" means weren't necessarily unreasonable.
Despite her soft nature, to achieve her goals, she would occasionally use subtle tricks or tell harmless lies. She hoped that when her "Assistant" found out about these things, he wouldn't think her two-faced or be disappointed in her.
"Alright, you guys go eat first. We're going up to prepare."
"Mhm, got it, Ryuen!"
A few minutes later, the group around Ryuen dispersed. Ibuki saw the irrepressible, malicious intent to cause trouble on Ryuen's face as he packed his bag. She stood up again.
"Hey! Ryuen, are you planning to cause trouble again? Targeting Class C? Didn't you say you wouldn't fail a fourth time?"
Ryuen's expression froze. He roared awkwardly and angrily, "Get lost! Are you ever going to shut up!"
He had indeed boasted about a "BO7" (Best of 7) match with Akira, but as it stood, Akira had beaten him four times.
He had barely clawed back a win during the Paper Shuffle, making it 4-1. While he wasn't "shut out," this result was a humiliating record to be nailed to the wall in any circle.
"Ryuen-kun, I won't stop you if you want to act." At this moment, Hiyori stood up slowly, her voice calm.
"But please do not lose the things you are best at. Otherwise, even you will lose control over the class."
While Hiyori didn't like Ryuen's methods, she couldn't deny that for Class D, this tyrant was an indispensable presence.
Ryuen dazed for a moment. What he was best at... wasn't it direct violence and intimidation?
"Hmph!" He snorted coldly, tossing his bag to Ishizaki and walking out without looking back. "Mind your own business! If you had told me their identities a few days earlier, things wouldn't have ended like this! I'm starting to suspect you did it on purpose!"
"Hmph, Ryuen has his own plans! Losing earlier was just him forcing himself to do something he isn't good at!"
"Didn't we win against Class C in the Paper Shuffle? You have no right to talk!"
"Just be a good NPC and stop trying to give yourself extra scenes!"
Manabe, Yabu, and Yamashita mocked Hiyori before quickly following Ryuen out of the room.
Ibuki saw Hiyori standing there lost in thought and thought she was hurt by their words. She hurried to comfort her: "Hey! Those three women just have loose mouths! Shiina, don't take their garbage to heart!"
"No," Hiyori came back to herself slowly, a soft smile on her lips.
"I just think the word 'NPC' is actually quite nice. It sounds as pleasant as 'book friend.' I must tell Shimizu-kun about this another day."
"Huh?!" Ibuki was stunned. She had almost forgotten that Hiyori was occasionally an airhead who found strange points of interest in unexpected places.
She was quite the eccentric too!
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1:30 PM, on-campus café.
"Thank you for taking the time to guide me, Senpai, even though today is the closing ceremony." Karuizawa Kei lowered her head slightly.
The female senior across from her waved it off.
"No problem! By the way, Karuizawa, if any girls bully you at school and it's inconvenient to tell the President and those guys, just come to me! Though, I can only protect you for one more semester."
Hearing this, Kei blinked, her eyes turning slightly red with emotion. The seniors in the club really looked out for the freshmen.
She was so glad she had joined the Boxing Club.
"No, Senpai, no one is bullying me." She waved her hands, her eyes holding a trace of shyness. She hesitated before speaking.
"Um... Senpai, what do you think of the progress between me and Akira-kun lately?"
"Oh? Tell me the details." The senior looked interested.
"Well, lately when I grab his arm, he basically doesn't refuse me. And occasionally, he even rubs my head or pinches my nose!" Kei's blush deepened, her eyes sparkling.
"Do you think... he's starting to like me?"
"Rubbing your head and pinching your nose?" The senior frowned, sounding hesitant.
"That sounds more like a doting senior-junior feeling... Wait! I told you last time to send him a selfie of yourself after your bath. Did you send it?"
"I did!" Kei nodded immediately.
"How did he reply?"
"He just replied with the word 'Cute'..." Kei pouted, feeling a bit wronged.
"Senpai, I clearly wanted to go for the sexy route. Am I not sexy? Wait, let me show you the photo!"
She picked up her phone, found the photo she had sent Akira, and forwarded it to the senior. The senior looked at it for a few seconds before bursting into laughter.
"Pfft! Karuizawa, this is really cute—pale yellow pajamas with round little bears on them, wet hair draped over your shoulders, looking like an obedient kitten."
But as she laughed, she sighed and rubbed her forehead.
"BUT! Didn't I tell you? Just having your hair down isn't enough! How are you supposed to show a 'gap' (contrast) with such cute pajamas? And the buttons at the neck—why are they done up so tightly? You should at least show a bit of your collarbone! Otherwise, how is Shimizu-junior supposed to feel your sexiness and the contrast of a side he doesn't usually see?"
Kei looked at the photo, then back at the senior's analysis, blinking in realization.
"Ah... so that's it! I was just thinking about being comfortable and forgot about the collarbones..."
"Comfort is fine, but comfort doesn't hook a boy's heart!"
The senior poked her forehead.
"Fine! I'll go over the techniques for pajama selfies from the beginning. This time, use your phone and take good notes."
Kei followed the advice and started recording everything.
First, choose pajamas that are slightly more form-fitting.
Colors shouldn't be too bright—off-white or light pink are good.
Then, don't button them all the way to the top; leave one or two undone to show just a bit of collarbone. Not too much—subtlety is the most teasing.
Your hair should be blown out to be a bit fluffy, not flat against the scalp.
The gaze is important too; don't look directly at the camera like last time. Lower your eyelashes slightly to look shy, or look up at the camera with a soft smile.
According to the senior's experience, boys fell for this the most! 99% of men couldn't resist.
"Shy... teasing?" Kei repeated the words softly, her face turning even redder.
"But... I'm afraid I won't do it well and it'll look too intentional..."
"It's not about acting intentional; it's about letting a side of yourself you don't often show flow out naturally!"
The senior smiled and patted Kei's hand.
"You are already very cute; it's just that you're always thinking about protecting yourself and putting up a front, so you hide your soft side.
The fact that Shimizu is willing to let you grab his arm and rub your head shows he's already let his guard down.
Now you just need to give him a little push to make him realize his feelings for you aren't just a 'desire to protect,' but also a 'fondness' hidden in his heart. Then, everything will happen naturally."
Kei couldn't help but imagine the gentle sensation of Akira rubbing her head, the way he permitted her to hold his arm, and the doting look he occasionally gave her.
Her anxious heart slowly became more steady.
"Just stay the way you are and be yourself. I bet Shimizu-junior will likely be moved by you!" The senior stood up, picking up her boxing gloves.
"I have club business to handle, so I'm off! I already paid for the coffee, so take your time~"
"Goodbye, Senpai! Thank you so much!" Kei quickly stood and bowed, her eyes full of admiration as she watched the senior leave.
The short hair, the bright personality, and that crisp, decisive elegance—this was exactly the kind of person she had always wanted to be.
Only after the senior disappeared from the café did Kei sit back down and take a sip of her warm coffee. She had nothing to do for the rest of the afternoon. Come to think of it, she hadn't gone out with Chiaki and Maya in a long time.
She picked up her phone and called Matsushita Chiaki.
"Hello! Chiaki!"
"Kei? Why the sudden call? Is something up?"
"Nothing big, I just thought we haven't hung out in a while! Do you want to go to Karaoke this afternoon? Just the three of us."
"Karaoke? You have time now? Of course! By the way, Kei, do you want to join us for study sessions during the break? I'm planning to find time to help you and Maya catch up on missed coursework."
Kei couldn't help but laugh.
Among the three of them, Chiaki always loved acting like the big sister, worrying about this and that. But Chiaki's birthday was April 25th and hers was March 8th—Kei was technically the older one. As for grades, they were both about the same; it wasn't certain who would be teaching whom!
"Let's put the studying aside for now!" she explained with a smile.
"The Boxing Club is quite busy lately with handovers. The senpais helped me so much and I owe them a lot, so I want to take this chance to recruit some new members. The club will be short on people next year; if I can recruit some now, the senpais can leave with peace of mind."
"I see, got it!" Chiaki replied immediately.
"Then let's meet at the Karaoke entrance at 2:30 PM. I'll tell Maya."
"Okay! Also, I have a little surprise to tell you both. I'll see you then!"
After hanging up, she put her coffee down, her mind still on recruiting new members.
To be honest, because the President—no, Sato-senpai—hated President Nagumo Miyabi of the second year, as the manager, she had been trying to avoid recruiting second-year senpais.
As she was musing, her phone rang with an unknown number.
"Is this Karuizawa-san?" A girl's timid voice came from the other end.
"It is. How can I help you?" Kei instinctively softened her voice.
"Are you calling about tickets for a boxing exhibition? I'm sorry, but there are no matches scheduled recently."
As the manager, she handled many ticket inquiries. Aside from Akira's high-profile match, the seniors often held friendly bouts. But with the winter break approaching, everyone was busy with dates or holiday prep.
"No, I'm not here to buy tickets." The girl paused as if gathering courage.
"Actually... I'm considering whether to join the Boxing Club as a manager."
"Really? You're more than welcome!" Kei's eyes lit up. This was a godsend! The third-year manager had just graduated, and the club was short-handed.
"To be honest... I'm still hesitating." The girl's voice grew lower.
"I'm a first-year, and I've been bullied. I want to join the Boxing Club mainly because I hope to be protected. But the senpais are graduating next year, right? I'm worried that once they leave, I'll go back to being bullied like before..."
"That..." Kei was at a loss for words for a moment. She understood that helplessness and fear all too well; the shadow of her own past bullying still flickered occasionally.
After a moment's thought, she made a serious promise: "Don't worry, our club has many other members. No matter what, everyone protects their manager. We will never let you be mistreated again."
"Can you... can you come to the rooftop for a bit?" the girl asked cautiously.
"I want to explain the situation to you in person; there are things I can't say over the phone. Also... could you not tell the other senpais? I don't want people to know I'm joining with this kind of selfish motive..."
"Alright, I understand." Kei hesitated briefly but agreed.
As someone who had been bullied, she empathized too much with this hidden cowardice and cry for help. It was indeed more appropriate to discuss such things privately.
Besides, the rooftop was a public area with surveillance; there shouldn't be any problems.
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