"Heh…"
Kuroha Akira let out a cheerful laugh, thoroughly amused by the turn of events.
He suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to say something incredibly chuunibyou—something like, "If you want it, I'll give it to you! Come and get it! Everything I own is right here!"
But he held back. Barely.
Either way, this proposal was pure profit with zero downside for Kuroha Akira. Shirai Shiori had the potential to become a legitimate, well-known author—maybe even a great literary figure whose name would go down in history. And Kuroha Akira had originally planned to seek out more geniuses and nurture them anyway.
Although Shirai Shiori didn't have raw writing talent, her passion for creation and her powerful memory alone were enough for Kuroha Akira to consider her a new… let's call it a "soft-rice source."
"Alright! I accept!"
Kuroha Akira snapped his fingers with theatrical flair, then pressed all eight fingertips beneath his chin in that classic pose. "As for how the royalties get split, we can hash that out when you actually get published. But don't worry—I'll only take what I'm owed."
"Okay. It's a pleasure working with you, Akira-kun."
Not that I was worried about that anyway… Shirai Shiori added silently.
She'd never dreamed of getting rich from writing novels. Her parents had told her they'd already set aside enough money for her to live a stable, comfortable life. She could do whatever she wanted with her time. Shirai Shiori was deeply grateful for their support.
It was precisely because she was born into such a privileged family with such open-minded parents that she could wholeheartedly immerse herself in novel writing without any distractions.
Kuroha Akira stood up and stretched, then checked the time on his phone. 8:30 PM already.
The time spent exchanging and reading each other's works had really added up. If he'd just come over to appreciate Shirai Shiori's full-body dogeza, he probably would have been out the door hours ago.
But this trip had been incredibly valuable. Not only had he feasted his eyes, but he'd also mended his relationship with Shirai Shiori—and even gained a reliable future meal ticket.
"Well then, let's call it a day." He slipped his phone back into his pocket. "I should get going. Your parents are probably almost home, and it'd be pretty awkward if we ran into each other."
"Okay. I'll see you out."
Shirai Shiori nodded. She also didn't want her parents catching her bringing a boy home. If her gossip-loving mother found out, she'd definitely tease her mercilessly and start pestering her about potential grandkids…
It's just… just being seen naked… i-it's not a big deal…
Alright, it was still very embarrassing.
In ancient times, being seen naked meant your purity was ruined and you'd have to marry the other person… but this wasn't that era anymore! Kuroha Akira had also said that good friends sometimes drew nude portraits of each other, so… SAFE!
Shirai Shiori frantically invented excuses for her humiliating behavior, trying desperately to rationalize it all.
"Oh, by the way, Shiori." Kuroha Akira paused at the door. "Can you lend me some money? I don't have fare for the subway."
"Huh…" She blinked. "So that's why you asked me to buy two tickets when you came. Akira-kun… are you really that tight on money?"
Kuroha Akira spread his hands and put on his best pitiful expression.
"Can't help it. I'm currently staying at someone else's place. I don't have any pocket money at all right now."
"Staying at… someone else's place…"
So that's how it is. No wonder he was so desperate to earn money from writing novels. His family must be struggling financially.
Unlike her… he was having a hard time.
In that moment, Shirai Shiori's mind flashed with images of famous authors who'd struggled financially but still persevered in their writing. Her respect for him skyrocketed. Her initial impression of him as greedy transformed into admiration for someone striving for success. She felt, deep in her heart, that he was truly an amazing man.
Moved by emotion, Shirai Shiori pulled a 1,000-yen bill from her wallet and pressed it into his hand.
"Take this for the subway, Akira-kun. You don't need to pay me back. After all, I'm the one who dragged you home with me."
Kuroha Akira scratched his head, feigning embarrassment.
"That's too much… It's just subway fare. A few coins would be plenty. There's no need for a thousand yen."
He knew coins were used constantly in Japan. Buy a drink from a vending machine and it'd spit out a pile of change. Almost everyone carried a coin purse. So there was no way Shirai Shiori didn't have coins on her.
Shirai Shiori, of course, had deliberately taken out a bill.
"The rest is a thank-you gift." Her voice was soft but sincere. "Today, you reviewed my work, pointed out my shortcomings, and even agreed to let me help improve your novel. Giving you just this much money… I still feel like it's too little."
"Oh-ho…"
"Besides, I kept you here until now and made you miss dinner. The rest is for you to buy a bento."
Kuroha Akira felt a warm rush of satisfaction.
Let me count the ways: Today, he'd seen her naked. Criticized her work. Taken her on as a ghostwriter. Agreed to share her future royalties. And now he was even getting paid.
Good things really did keep happening!
He'd previously thought Shirai Shiori was a cold, harsh young girl—difficult to get along with. But now? He just wanted to say… she was an absolute angel of generosity!
Misunderstanding! All of that before was a complete misunderstanding!
Shiori, we've always been best friends!
"Hehe, then I won't be rude and will gratefully accept." He pocketed the bill with a grin. "See you tomorrow at the Literary Club."
"Okay. See you tomorrow."
Kuroha Akira chuckled, clutching the money in his hand, and turned to leave the room.
But just as he was about to walk out, Shirai Shiori's gaze fell to the floor—following his departing footsteps—and she noticed a small piece of fabric lying there.
Upon closer inspection…
It was her own discarded underwear.
How did I even forget to put my underwear back on?!
Was she really that engrossed in their conversation? No wonder her skirt had felt so breezy down there…
Which meant… she'd been talking to him completely commando this whole time?
Ugh…!
Instantly, Shirai Shiori's shame meter nearly exploded again.
But then she thought about it more carefully. He'd already seen her entire body. Not wearing anything down there didn't seem like that big of a deal in comparison…
After experiencing the shock of the full-body dogeza, Shirai Shiori's shame meter had been thoroughly shattered.
And then—a different feeling surfaced.
She suddenly remembered what had happened the first time she met Kuroha Akira in the Literary Club room. She'd been so angry that she'd taken off her indoor shoe and thrown it at him.
But he didn't just catch it. He'd picked it up and smelled it.
So… he likes to smell things like that, huh?!
A twisted desire for revenge curled through Shirai Shiori's heart. She walked over, scooped up the underwear, and then suddenly called out to him.
"Akira-kun! Turn around!"
"Hm?"
The moment he turned, Shirai Shiori crumpled the pure white underwear she'd worn all day and hurled it directly at his face.
Bullseye.
The unprepared Kuroha Akira plucked the white garment from where it hung on his nose. His expression was somewhere between bewildered and amused.
"Uh… Shiori, you…"
"It's for you!" Her face was crimson, but she lifted her chin defiantly. "Take it as proof of your victory! And proof that I fulfilled my bet!"
"…"
Winning gets you a girl's underwear? Kuroha Akira stared at the fabric in his hands. Is this some kind of hentai game plot…
After getting the class president's underwear, this was officially the second pair of fresh, worn JK underwear Kuroha Akira had obtained.
He wasn't sure whether to feel proud or deeply concerned for his future.