This borderline harassing remark instantly shattered the gradually warming atmosphere.

Karuizawa Kei stared at Kaoru Mitoma in shock.

He... didn't seem to be joking?

"Why... why do you want to see down there?" Karuizawa struggled to comprehend his intentions.

"The answer is simple. Why should I help you?" Kaoru noticed the lingering tears at the corners of her eyes and gently wiped them away.

"Because there are many things I desire from you. Just like I told you before - let me touch your breasts and I'll help you deal with Manabe and her friends."

Karuizawa Kei recalled their previous conversation, her expression stiffening.

"Are you going to bully me too?"

It sounded like Kaoru Mitoma was taking advantage of her vulnerable state, shamelessly extorting her.

Just considering this possibility made the tears she thought she'd suppressed threaten to spill over again.

Stubbornly, Karuizawa Kei stared into Kaoru Mitoma's eyes, searching for what she truly longed to find.

"Wasn't it you who just asked if I still wanted to touch you?" Kaoru averted his gaze and patiently smoothed her hair.

His gentle treatment made Karuizawa Kei narrow her eyes slightly, her lips trembling as she murmured.

"...I already said that was just a joke."

"Don't make jokes like that next time. You're a girl with a boyfriend." Kaoru Mitoma's words carried deeper meaning.

"Touching your breasts before was just a transaction, devoid of any emotional involvement."

Though somewhat confused by his words, Karuizawa Kei caught the mention of "boyfriend."

"I don't acknowledge him as my boyfriend at all! He can't do anything right, just nods along to whatever anyone says like some spineless nice guy. He's the worst!" Karuizawa grew agitated.

If not for Kaoru Mitoma, she would have suffered unimaginable consequences earlier.

"Hirata isn't that bad, is he?" Kaoru actually had a favorable impression of him - he seemed like a male version of Kushida Kikyo.

"He is! Absolutely terrible!" Karuizawa suddenly grabbed his hand. "But you're different. You actually came to save me. If I had to choose again, I'd definitely pick Mitoma-kun as my boyfriend!"

Kaoru was slightly surprised she'd say something so close to a confession.

Faced with a beautiful girl's expectant, pleading gaze, even Kaoru found it difficult to refuse her outright.

"Mitoma-kun would never bully me, right?" Seeing his silence, Karuizawa redoubled her efforts. "If Mitoma-kun would go out with me, I'd agree to anything - whether it's touching my breasts or looking at my panties!"

When presented with such a stark contrast, it was only natural to choose what best served her own interests.

For Karuizawa Kei, Hirata Yosuke could no longer protect her.

And at this very moment, Kaoru Mitoma had appeared before her.

Before today, if someone had said they were interested in her body, Karuizawa Kei would have found it utterly disgusting.

Yet after what had just happened, only one thought consumed her mind.

"Hey, isn't this the kind of moment where you shouldn't overthink things?" Her chest felt tight, her heart pounding uncontrollably.

She knew it was reckless—but she also knew that if she didn't take this risk now, she might regret it forever.

Kaoru shook his head.

Under her puzzled gaze, he spoke softly, "I'm sorry, but I actually have a girlfriend."

Karuizawa froze as if struck by lightning, her entire body stiffening in place.

She stared at Kaoru in disbelief, her small, delicate lips parting slightly, but no words came out.

The emotions surging in her chest rapidly cooled.

Her expression twisted into something strained, her skin prickling with goosebumps from the sheer abruptness of it all.

"...What's her name?" Karuizawa lowered her brows, her tear-stained cheeks still glistening.

Her voice was so quiet it felt suffocating.

"We're keeping it private. Without her consent, I can't tell you." A flicker of surprise passed through Kaoru's eyes—because a wish had just been fulfilled.

[Ding! Partial Wish Fulfilled—Ichinose Honami is the Main Love Interest!]

[Reward Granted!]

This counted as fulfilling a wish?

He had always assumed he'd have to publicly announce their relationship.

Yet simply telling Karuizawa—without even revealing a name—was enough.

Unaware of his reaction, Karuizawa forced a weak smile.

"Is your girlfriend Sakayanagi-san?"

It seemed most people assumed he and Sakayanagi Arisu were practically inseparable.

"No."

"Then… is it Kamuro-san?"

"Also no."

"Someone I don't know?"

"I remember telling you before—momentary emotions can easily make you mistake things. You might think I'm interested in you, or that you're interested in me. What happened today was just repayment for back then. You don't need to dwell on it."

The moment he finished speaking, Karuizawa abruptly lifted her face.

Her eyes gleamed with an icy sharpness—like a gaze from the abyss, ruthless and desperate, clinging to any lifeline within reach.

"Yeah, I know. But you also said you were interested in my body, didn't you?" A faint smile played on her lips, as if her earlier expression had been nothing but his imagination.

"Mitoma-kun, you have a girlfriend, yet you're lusting after another girl. That's cheating, isn't it?"

Though her smile was angelic, her words carried an unsettling edge.

"Touching doesn't mean I'm cheating."

"Pfft—ahaha, of course that's what a scumbag would say." Karuizawa suddenly leaned forward, locking eyes with him.

"I wonder what your girlfriend would think if she heard that?"

Ichinose probably wouldn't get jealous right?

Noticing his reaction, Karuizawa's lips curled slightly.

She took a few steps back, then placed her hands on her skirt—slowly lifting the hem.

"Hey, Mitoma-kun… if your girlfriend saw us doing something indecent in a place like this, what do you think she'd feel?"

With her voice, the white pleated skirt slowly revealed a glimpse of fair, supple thighs.

Such a sight was rare, especially from Karuizawa Kei.

Unlike her usual haughty demeanor in Class D, her face was flushed crimson as she stared fixedly at Kaoru Mitoma.

Even with her cheeks burning red, Karuizawa Kei still glared at him with unmistakable malice.

"Mitoma-kun, you wouldn't want your girlfriend to find out about today, would you?"

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