Tachibana Yui was a bit anxious, "How can this not be worth getting angry about? Just think about it, Hikari-kun and that Reina-san are so close, that girl is so pretty and has such a good figure. And the two of them, a boy and a girl, leaving together after school, something might happen. You... you're not worried, not sad, not angry?"

"No, I trust Hikari-kun," Akane smiled and shook her head, "Also, with Hikari-kun's charm, it's totally normal that other girls are attracted to him. Just going home together after school, what's the big deal?"

"Uh—", Seeing her best friend Akane's smiling face, Tachibana Yui was speechless, at a loss for words.

'This situation, it's not normal at all, okay? Is Akane's heart too big?'

While Tachibana Yui was silently complaining in her heart, Akane suddenly smiled and said, "Right, Yui-chan, let's talk about you instead of others. Could it be that... you like Hikari-kun?"

"Eh????"

"Akane, yo-yo-you mean I-I-I to Hik-Hik-Hikari-kun...?", Hearing her best friend Akane's sudden question, Tachibana Yui instinctively widened her eyes, pupils contracting.

Then her pretty face instantly turned bright red, and her voice became stammered, unable to form words.

"Like him. Yui-chan, are you falling for Hikari-kun too?", Akane helped fill in the words Yui got stuck on.

"A-Akane, w-why... why are you suddenly asking that?", Tachibana Yui's heart leapt into her throat, so nervous she felt like she was suffocating.

But Akane calmly smiled and said, "Yui-chan, didn't Hikari-kun save you multiple times? Even if it's just the suspension bridge effect, having your heart moved is totally normal."

Hesitating for a moment, hearing Akane's gentle words and seeing the smile in her eyes, Tachibana Yui gathered her courage and nodded, "Mm..."

"Akane, you... you're not bothered?", Then Tachibana Yui nervously looked at Akane and asked. After all, they were best friends, and Hikari-kun was Akane's boyfriend.

"Hmm... maybe, possibly? I don't really know~", Under Tachibana Yui's tense and slightly trembling gaze, Akane smiled and slowly said.

"Alright, let's stop here for now. We'll talk more about it during tonight's pillow talk at my place~"

Seeing Tachibana Yui growing increasingly nervous, Akane directly cut her off and pulled the slightly embarrassed her away from the school.

These past few days, Tachibana Yui had been actively getting close to Akane, continuously strengthening their bond while subtly probing about Hikari-kun. How could Akane not know what was going on?

As for Tachibana Yui's feelings for Hikari-kun, Akane wasn't angry at all. In fact, she welcomed it. But she didn't dare show it too clearly, afraid she'd scare Tachibana Yui away.

After all, as a girlfriend, offering up her boyfriend to her bestie was still a little too weird.

So Akane had always gone along with Yui's act, and now that Reina had appeared today, seemingly triggering Yui, Akane decided to drop a little hint.

Glancing at Yui's pure and adorable face, and that l*wd and full figure totally contrasting the face, Akane's heart also started beating faster.

'That huge bu-st and that pe-rky bu-tt... I really want to see them riding on top of Hikari-kun!'

'Best friends really are meant to share the same guy under the same quilt!'

'Hikari-kun, just hold out a few more days!'

———

Elsewhere—

Hikari had no idea about the best-friend drama between Akane and Tachibana Yui, the two baseball club goddesses.

At this moment, he was walking outside school together with Kurashiki Reina.

Walking next to this school queen who also had many admirers but whose overwhelming aura had kept anyone from ever confessing, Hikari looked calm.

But right beside him, Kurashiki Reina was almost bursting with excitement.

Her lips were slightly curled, her face full of barely concealed joy, like she was about to lose control.

Right now, Kurashiki Reina was truly delighted.

After all, just moments ago Hikari had been walking with two other beautiful girls who weren't inferior to her in looks or figure. And now, he left them behind to go off with her.

That feeling made the prideful and self-centered Kurashiki Reina feel euphoric, like she had just won a battle of womanhood.

She turned to look and saw her best friend Tsushima Rina staring at them with wide, watery eyes.

Seeing the envy and jealousy in Rina's eyes made Kurashiki Reina feel even more elated inside.

If she could just link arms with Hikari right now and rest her head on his chest, it'd be the ultimate finish.

But faced with Hikari's unclear attitude, Kurashiki Reina didn't dare go that far. She just walked very closely beside him.

Under the surprised stares of other students at the school gate, Kurashiki Reina, who usually had high popularity and a strong, untouchable queenly presence, meekly followed behind Hikari like a demure little wife.

Once they left the crowded school gate, the two strolled side by side.

Looking at Hikari walking right beside her, Kurashiki Reina felt a quiet satisfaction.

A slight sweetness welled up in her heart, like the feeling of going on a date as a couple.

Having never dated before, Kurashiki Reina was actually very curious about romance.

Especially with someone like Hikari, who she had liked for a while.

After walking a bit and seeing Hikari hadn't said anything yet, Kurashiki Reina, who nearly forgot their main purpose today, asked proactively, "Hikari-kun, where are we going to hang out today?"

Hikari glanced at her and said, "Somewhere quiet, so I can exorcise the spirit and cleanse you."

"Oh oh! I almost forgot!", Kurashiki Reina patted her head.

"You're not cold?", Hikari looked at Kurashiki Reina, now wearing a long-sleeved dress instead of her usual flashy outfit, and asked speechlessly.

"Eh... After seeing Hikari-kun, I felt all warm inside. I really did forget I was cold," Saying that, Kurashiki Reina shivered.

Seeing Hikari made her so happy that even the discomfort from the spirit energy invading her body had faded. It was only now, after he mentioned it, that she remembered.

"It's been days since your last exorcism. The evil energy in your body has spread everywhere. Let's hurry and find a place to do it," Hikari scanned her with his eyes and said.

"Mm mm!", Kurashiki Reina nodded, "Hikari-kun, for the exorcism thing, it needs to be a private and quiet place, right? How about... we go to my house?"

As she said this, her delicate face turned a little red.

She remembered the last time Hikari helped her with an exorcism.

The first time had been under the old school building, it was a creepy place. She'd just been scared by Hanako in the toilet and was so out of it, she didn't even notice what the exorcism involved.

But the second time, she remembered it clearly.

Because the process involved Hikari using his especially warm and hot hands to str*ke her b*dy. So cl*thes basically had to come off.

Back then they couldn't do it openly, so they'd found a rarely used girls' toilet stall and started in there.

That cramped and ambiguous setting... Kurashiki Reina's heart still raced at the memory.

Especially thinking about Hikari's warm hands caressing every inch of her skin—

'Kyaaa!'

Just recalling that tingling feeling made her face flush bright red.

Next to her, Hikari had no idea her thoughts had spiraled so much from just the mention of exorcism.

Seeing her blushing face, Hikari frowned slightly, "Go to your house for the exorcism?"

Kurashiki Reina nodded enthusiastically, "Mm! My house! My mom's not home today, it's convenient."

"Uh... Aunt Reika's not home, huh?", Hearing that, Hikari pictured the older, sexier version of Reina with 70% of the same face.

"Mm mm! It's just me today," Kurashiki Reina lightly pinched her skirt hem, her eyes flickering.

But Hikari didn't notice her odd expression. He touched his phone, thinking a bit, then shook his head, "Forget it, let's go to a hotel."

"Eh? A... a hotel?", Kurashiki Reina froze, then looked both nervous and excited.

"What's wrong? You can't accept it?", Hikari asked.

"N-no! I can! It's just... opening a room and all, I've never done it before, I'm not experienced," Kurashiki Reina said nervously, a little embarrassed.

"It's fine. Just follow me," Hikari said calmly.

"Okay!", Kurashiki Reina nodded quickly.

Hikari hailed a cab and brought the excited and slightly anxious Kurashiki Reina into the car.

———

Soon, the two arrived at a towering, luxurious hotel.

"Wow! Such a tall hotel... must be expensive...", Kurashiki Reina looked up at the giant building named Richter Hotel, shocked by its height.

"I'll pay," Hikari said casually.

"No no no! Hikari-kun, let me pay! You're already helping me with the exorcism, how could I let you spend money?"

"I... I still have a bit of cash!", Kurashiki Reina touched her wallet and confidently puffed up her full chest.

Her family was well-off, and she had saved a fair bit of allowance, it should be enough.

She didn't know why Hikari chose such a fancy hotel just for an exorcism.

This Richter Hotel was one of the top hotels in Tokyo, said to be nearly a hundred floors tall.

But since it was her first time, and Hikari had chosen this place, maybe it showed he cared? A memory worth keeping, totally worth it, right?

Hikari didn't think much of it either. Knowing her family background, he just nodded and went in with her.

Once inside, Kurashiki Reina, just as she said, took the initiative to book the room.

"What? Just one night, and it costs this much?", Kurashiki Reina widened her pretty eyes at the front desk's quote.

"Yes, that's correct, dear guest~", Even though the young couple looked too green to afford it and were clearly shocked by the price, the hotel staff remained polite and professional.

"T-then... I'll book one room! Swipe the card!", Kurashiki Reina handed over her card with pain in her heart.

Her allowance savings would be mostly gone from this one night, 'It hurts, it really hurts.'

But thinking of being alone in a room with Hikari, she felt... it was worth it.

Behind her, Hikari couldn't help but chuckle seeing her pained expression.

After all, when Kurashiki Reina first asked him to be her boyfriend, she even said she'd support him financially. Now she couldn't even handle booking a room? This campus queen's pained expression was hilarious.

But soon, his smile faded.

Because his phone started vibrating in his pocket.

He picked it up and held it to his ear.

Sure enough, a crisp, cute voice that even sounded a little like a clamp came through.

["Hello, I'm Miss Mary. I've left the school now, and I'm coming to find you~"]

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Just like before, the voice only said one sentence and then hung up.

"Hikari-kun, is something wrong?", Reina, who had just returned from the front desk, asked nervously.

The room was already booked and expensive. If Hikari suddenly had to leave, wouldn't that mean she booked a hotel for nothing?

But to her relief, Hikari waved a hand, "It's nothing. Just a wrong number."

"That's good... that's good...", Kurashiki Reina raised the room key, "Hikari-kun, let's go up."

"Alright," Hikari nodded and followed her into the elevator.

If Miss Mary's first call could've been a mistake or a joke, the second one was clear.

This "clamp voice" Miss Mary was definitely coming to find him.

She came from school too. Being another urban legend like Hanako, she seemed connected somehow...

Hikari thought for a moment, then stopped worrying.

Better help Reina with her exorcism first. Judging by Miss Mary's pace, he still had time to prepare.

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