As the last person to leave the casino, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka leisurely locked the door. After strolling around the campus for a while, he returned to his hotel room.
After eating some takeout, he sat in front of his computer, playing games while waiting for his "guest" to arrive.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka wasn't sure if the guest would come; after all, a verbal agreement had too little binding force.
Besides, she only said those words in the heat of the moment; perhaps she would regret it after she sobered up?
Nevertheless, Ayanokoji still waited with a glimmer of anticipation.
At ten o'clock at night, the other party still hadn't arrived, and Ayanokoji felt a bit disappointed.
Just as he took off his shirt, preparing to shower and go to bed, the doorbell rang.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka opened the door, and standing there was Hanatemari Kazura.
"Ayanokoji-kun, I apologize for the intrusion…" she said softly.
She was wearing her school uniform, waiting at the door with her head down, holding a bag containing another clean school uniform.
Hanatemari Kazura looked up and saw Ayanokoji, who had his abs exposed, and her face instantly turned red. A hint of nervousness and panic flashed in her eyes, and her gaze instinctively darted away.
But soon, she shifted her gaze back, continuing to look at Ayanokoji with a determined expression, as if she had made some kind of resolution.
She really came… It seems her words yesterday weren't a joke.
Ayanokoji welcomed Hanatemari Kazura inside.
"You're a bit late. I've been waiting for you for a long time," Ayanokoji said, feigning a relaxed tone.
"If I came too early, some friends I know would wonder where I went at night instead of staying in the dorm, so I had to come late."
After saying that, Hanatemari Kazura blushed and lowered her head.
For a moment, neither of them spoke, and the silence was so profound that Hanatemari's hurried breathing could be heard.
"I'm going to take a shower. Do you want to wait for me here for a bit?" Ayanokoji broke the silence, incidentally explaining why he had taken off his shirt.
"No."
Hanatemari actually refused, leaving Ayanokoji speechless.
She came to his room so late; what did her refusal mean now? Did he misunderstand? Did she want to play a night of Ludo with him?
But very quickly, Ayanokoji realized he had misunderstood.
"What I mean is, I didn't shower when I came either. I can shower with you…"
Hanatemari Kazura's face was flushed with shyness, and she lowered her head, slowly taking off her clothes in front of Ayanokoji.
...
Compared to their first time, which was unrestrained and lasted almost until dawn, both of them had more experience this time.
They huddled together, diligently studying under the dim light. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was like a patient teacher, guiding Hanatemari to review the content they had previously learned.
Hanatemari Kazura was no longer clueless; she learned to proactively handle key problems hand-in-hand and quickly grasped the crucial knowledge point of "differentiation."
Ayanokoji also understood her body, knowing her weak points, and fully dedicated himself to helping her tackle difficult and important areas, even personally demonstrating and guiding her.
They enjoyed this friendly atmosphere of "mutual assistance."
However, Hanatemari Kazura's body was still too delicate. Although she gritted her teeth and persisted in "studying" for over two hours, she couldn't continue. Her body was too exhausted to move and required the help of Ayanokoji, her "teacher."
Ayanokoji originally wanted to continue, but seeing her state, he decided to prioritize her feelings and call it quits.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka felt a bit regretful that many tools suitable for learning "new knowledge" in the system hadn't been used yet…
But since there was a second time, it meant there would definitely be a third.
He didn't force it. He carried Hanatemari back to the bathroom, personally helped her clean up, and then lay back down on the soft, spacious bed in the bedroom, which was large enough for three or four people.
Although Hanatemari Kazura had been exhausted for half the night, she had something on her mind and wasn't sleepy enough to fall asleep.
They had seen everything there was to see and done everything there was to do, and Hanatemari Kazura no longer avoided Ayanokoji.
However, once she realized they were lying together, Hanatemari Kazura still felt very shy.
She hid her body under the covers, only revealing half of her head, feeling the lingering afterglow, and secretly observed Ayanokoji Kiyotaka beside her with a flushed face.
Entering the sage's time, though still embracing Hanatemari Kazura's smooth, delicate shoulder, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka didn't tease her anymore, only gently stroked her hair.
"Hanatemari, are you really sure you want to maintain this kind of relationship with me?" Ayanokoji asked softly, "I'm very happy, but are you truly willing?"
Hanatemari buried her face in Ayanokoji's embrace and snuggled into him.
"…I've already given you everything. Don't say such things."
She spoke softly, as if wanting to forget all bad memories.
Ayanokoji smiled, said nothing more, and recalled what had happened a day ago.
One day ago.
He was worried that Meari might hide her gambling losses due to pride and embarrassment, so he found her best friend, Hanatemari Kazura.
Ayanokoji hoped Hanatemari could be his informant and tell him the results of Meari's gambling sessions so he could better help her.
During this time, Ayanokoji used coercion and enticement, and with great difficulty, he managed to get Hanatemari Kazura to agree to be his informant.
Before Ayanokoji could be happy for long, Hanatemari suddenly asked him a question: "If I lose in gambling and am unable to repay my debts, will you help me?"
This question was, of course, not difficult to answer. Ayanokoji replied without hesitation: "You are my friend. As long as you need help, I will always extend a helping hand."
"Just friends…?"
A bitter smile appeared on Hanatemari Kazura's face, and she suddenly confessed her feelings to Ayanokoji.
"Ayanokoji, if I actually like you, will you still only see me as a friend?"
Yes, the first person to confess to Ayanokoji was not Kurume Laiwei, nor Saotome Meari, but Hanatemari Kazura.
She confessed to Ayanokoji right after he had just said he liked Meari.
It wasn't Ayanokoji boasting, but he believed he had some charm. He could feel that the girls around him had some degree of affection for him.
However, he truly hadn't expected it would be Hanatemari Kazura who would confess to him first.
Oh, Ikishima Midari aside, her confession to Ayanokoji was purely for "thrills."
"Hanatemari, are you serious? Do you really like me?" Ayanokoji asked, frowning.
Facing the confession, Ayanokoji, though feeling happy and joyful, had deeper doubts in comparison.
Hanatemari Kazura was, after all, the first girl he had had close contact with, so Ayanokoji naturally harbored a special affection for her.
He had always liked this delicate and charming young lady, who, despite coming from an influential family, had no airs whatsoever, living her life completely like a working-class person.
However, Ayanokoji was well aware that Hanatemari Kazura also harbored a special affection for Saotome Meari. She admired Meari greatly, and this feeling sometimes made Ayanokoji feel a lily blooming quietly.
Compared to him, she should care more about Meari, even willing to sacrifice her body for Meari. Why would she confess to him at this moment?
Could it be that just because he also said he liked Meari, she felt that he was someone with common aspirations?
Ayanokoji wanted to know her reason for saying this, but at that moment, she suddenly brought up her family.
"Ayanokoji, do you know why my father sent me to this school?"
Ayanokoji shook his head: "I don't know. Perhaps to give you a better education?"
"If he wanted me to receive a better education, why send me to this gambling-infested school instead of any other private school, and not even give me enough gambling money?"
Ayanokoji remained silent.
Hanatemari Kazura smiled helplessly, her expression a bit sorrowful, and began to speak to herself.
"Most of the students attending Hyakkaou Private Academy come from prestigious noble families, including children from financial conglomerates and ancient, thousand-year-old aristocratic families.
Although my father is a deputy director, and in the eyes of ordinary people, he holds a high position of power, compared to their status, the difference is truly vast."
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