Chapter 194: Kushida, is your body still that of a virgin?!
Kushida Kikyo lay on her dorm bed, scratching her hair in a fit of irritation. She pulled out her phone and clicked on her chat history with Sudo Ken; the more she read, the tighter her brow furrowed.
Kushida Kikyo: Actually, I put in a lot of effort on my end to find a witness too.
Kushida Kikyo: But unfortunately, I wasn't able to get any useful information from Sakura-san.
Sudo Ken: Oh.
Sudo Ken: And then you said Hirata failed too, right!
Kushida Kikyo: Yes, well, Sakura-san is just too shy, after all.
Sudo Ken: Huh? Then why was Shimizu Akira able to do it?!
Kushida Kikyo: That... I'm not really sure.
Sudo Ken: Looking at it this way, Shimizu Akira really is way better than you two!
Kushida Kikyo: Haha, you're right!
Kushida Kikyo: Oh! Can I participate in your hearing? I actually want to contribute to the class too.
Sudo Ken: Oh, I don't care!
Sudo Ken: Almost forgot, you've helped me quite a bit these past few days. S
udo Ken: I'll transfer 10,000 points to you as a return gift.
Kushida Kikyo: ...I don't need the points. I didn't help you for the points, after all.
Sudo Ken: Oh, you don't want them? Alright then!
Sudo Ken: You're actually a pretty good person! But I feel like compared to Shimizu Akira, you're still lacking something.
Sudo Ken: Though, I can't say exactly what it is that's lacking.
"Just asking, does Sudo Ken speak without a brain? Or is his head filled entirely with muscle?!"
Even though it was yesterday's chat log, reading it again made Kushida Kikyo curse under her breath. She didn't dare be too loud—the dorm walls weren't thick, and it would be bad if the neighbors heard. But the thought that she had schemed and worked so hard to help him, only to be seen as inferior to Shimizu Akira, truly made her snap.
In terms of effort, she had made Sudo's fight her top priority since Monday, spending at least four or five hours every day running to other classes to scout for information—including but
not limited to Class 1-A, Class 1-B, and senpais. When she was busy, she'd still be glued to her phone at seven or eight in the evening.
When she thought about it, she had seriously replied to every single person who messaged her. Even if 99% of the replies were "I don't know," since she had asked, she had to thank them properly. Even though she hadn't turned up any information, her effort was real—adding it up, she had been busy for over twenty hours these past few days.
But what about Shimizu Akira? Until Thursday noon, that man had acted like the fight was none of his business. Just because he got information from Sakura Airi at noon, he suddenly became the only person worth thanking in Sudo Ken's eyes?
Thinking of Sakura Airi made Kushida even angrier. That girl's behavior was nonsensical!
During lunch, she had been monitoring the movements of Shimizu and Sakura the whole time. She had secretly timed them; they hadn't even been talking for five minutes before Sakura Airi, looking like she'd been touched by something, ran out of the classroom with a red face. Immediately after, Shimizu sent her a "Resolved" emoji.
She hadn't demanded that Sakura keep her mouth shut around Shimizu—she knew Sakura probably had a bit of a crush on him, and Kushida wasn't a demon. But to confess to being a witness in less than five minutes? What was that? And running out with that "He's so good to me" expression—where did that leave her and Hirata Yosuke's pride? Are you still that shy, introverted, shut-in glasses girl?
Sakura Airi is only a freshman! If this continues, you won't be able to resist confessing by your sophomore year, and by graduation year, you'll probably be offering yourself to Shimizu Akira on a silver platter.
As the "Angel" of Class 1-D, she really couldn't help but curse the girl! Seriously!
"And what was that about a gravure idol? You really make me laugh! You're that easily handled by Shimizu Akira? You spineless thing!"
"Just go sit at a table with Horikita Suzune! Both of you are embarrassments. 'Love-brain' is so repulsive! Repulsive girls!"
However, after venting for a bit, she remembered that Sakura Airi had sent several messages last night. First asking for help hiding her identity, then mentioning that Shimizu had helped resolve the stalker issue at the electronics store.
Since she held "black history" that could control the other girl, she couldn't be bothered to nag Sakura anymore.
Kushida's gaze involuntarily fell back to her phone's chat history. Oh, right—there was also that 10,000 points Sudo Ken sent.
"Does this guy have a hole in his head? What's the point of giving me 10,000 points?"
It was fine to give money, but since she said she didn't want it, he actually just took it back—who does that? Wouldn't a normal person insist a few more times? This guy, as soon as he heard her say no, simply didn't plan on giving it anymore.
She, Kushida Kikyo, didn't expect to make money off this, but she just couldn't get over it! It's one thing for her to refuse; it's another for him to just stop giving! And in the end, this guy compared her to Shimizu Akira, saying she was "lacking something" but couldn't say what.
Was that a subtle hint that she had some weird smell?!
Kushida knew perfectly well she wasn't some pure, kind person; that angelic facade was just a performance to be liked. But Shimizu Akira wasn't some saint either—everything he did required a reward, always talking about "equivalent exchange." She had even paid the price of a lap pillow just to get him to help.
The frustrating part was that she couldn't tell anyone. Once it got out, even if it proved Shimizu wasn't a saint, her own image would definitely collapse.
Everyone knows that by default, idols can't be in relationships. If she forced it, she'd have to be prepared for a massive loss of fans. If it were her, the boys who used to worship her would definitely stop praising her like before.
That was a future she absolutely, positively had to avoid.
Meanwhile, that blockhead Sudo actually showed an expression of: "Shimizu Akira is so good to me, he's a real man's man, I want to learn from him."
'Doesn't this mean I'm working for Shimizu Akira in secret!'
She poked her finger hard against the screen, and finally, in an act of petty revenge, threw the phone aside and pulled the covers over her head.
It was stifling under the blanket, and her anger, wrapped in cotton, felt like a small flame burning brighter and brighter.
Kushida buried her face in the pillow, but her ears were pricked up, listening to the light thud of the phone hitting the floor—the sound was dull and heavy, exactly like the frustration clogged in her chest.
Why?
She clearly did everything she was supposed to do: she ran her legs off for clues, patiently dealt with Sudo's straight-line brain, and even had to act like she had no grudges in front of Sakura Airi. And the result? All the credit went to Shimizu, and even someone like Sudo started seeing him as a role model.
The more she thought, the angrier she got. she suddenly threw off the covers and sat up, her bangs sticking messily to her face. The phone screen was still lit, staying on the chat interface
with Sudo. Kushida seemed to remember something, curled her lip, and stepped onto the floor with bare feet.
She bent down to pick up the phone. Her finger slid across the screen and accidentally opened the chat box with Shimizu. The latest message was the one she sent at noon: "At 12:30, come to my dorm. I promised you a lap pillow, after all." He had replied with a simple "Mhm."
This man was always like this—lukewarm, seemingly clear-headed about everything, yet always managing to quietly take full advantage of things. She didn't know if it was intentional or accidental.
Kushida bit her lower lip, suddenly remembering the first time she dealt with Shimizu. Back then, she thought he looked easy to manipulate and planned to trick him into doing things for her. She didn't expect him to be a stone she couldn't warm up, yet a straightforward person like Sudo fell for his act.
"I've lost so much!" she muttered, sitting huffily on the edge of the bed.
Last time, she thought this lap pillow was a guaranteed profit—a "five birds with one stone" plan. But looking at it now, she hadn't gained half the expected effect; instead, she had laid the groundwork for him. Not to mention Shimizu seemed to have gained quite a bit from Horikita Suzune—she saw it clearly this noon; that woman specifically made a bento for him.
That guy really takes all the advantages! He makes a massive profit while she's at a total loss. And yet, she still had to fulfill her promise and give him that lap pillow! Who told her to say it in the first place?
Just then, the phone went "ding-dong" with a new message. Kushida wondered who it was—after all, she had asked a lot of people to watch for witnesses over the past few days. It might be someone who just saw the message, or it might be that idiot Yamauchi sending more useless nonsense.
But on second thought, she realized that Ike Kanji had rarely messaged her lately. She couldn't remember exactly when it started, but it seemed to be just these last few days. A few days ago, she had noticed Ike's gaze falling on Shinohara Satsuki several times.
In terms of looks, Shinohara was nowhere near her, Horikita, or Karuizawa; at most, she was just pleasant to look at.
'That guy sure knows when to retreat. Good, I'm annoyed enough as it is!'
To Kushida Kikyo, losing Ike Kanji meant nothing. If anything, the fact that he stopped sending those screen-filling messages every night was actually a help.
She picked up the phone to look, and the sender was actually the homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae.
Come to think of it, the last time they talked was the first month—when she transferred the class points to her, the teacher didn't even say thank you or a single word, as if her effort was a given. A heartless wretch.
She always felt that with that personality and lack of ability, the woman didn't deserve to be Class D's teacher.
Chabashira Sae: Kushida-kun, the school has a questionnaire regarding female students' private matters and hopes for your cooperation. Please answer a few questions truthfully.
Chabashira Sae: First question: Do you currently have a boyfriend? If not, would it be convenient to tell me how many people you have been with in the past?
"Huh? What the hell?" Kushida frowned.
"What's with this sudden female private questionnaire? And asking about boyfriends? Does it need to be this detailed?"
The more she thought about it, the more nonsensical it felt. Even if the school wanted to do this kind of survey, there was no need for the homeroom teacher to ask privately, right? But since it was a female teacher and her own homeroom teacher, she hesitated for a moment and replied:
Kushida Kikyo: I don't, Chabashira-sensei. And before entering school, I never dated any boys.
This wasn't a lie. Her standards for a boyfriend were very high: he had to be handsome, kind-hearted, gentle, and understand her emotions—someone who knew how to coax her.
Most importantly, he had to be easily handled by her. As such, in all her years, very few boys had caught her eye. Furthermore, she had no intention of getting a boyfriend—to maintain the "Angel" persona and be liked by everyone, she was destined not to have a boyfriend; she knew this better than anyone.
Chabashira Sae: Second question: Do you have experience in that area? As of now, is your body still that of a virgin?!
"What exactly does this woman want?! What kind of bullshit question is this!" Kushida's brow tightened further, her fingertip almost cracking the screen.
A teacher suddenly asking a female student such a thing—if the other person weren't a woman and using the "questionnaire" excuse, she would have suspected sexual harassment and reported it on the spot.
'What kind of crappy survey is the school running? Can't they just make an anonymous website for voting? This is insane!'
She already clearly said she had no boyfriend, so why was this woman harping on a question with an obvious answer? Did she suspect she was that kind of "easy" girl?!
Despite the curses in her heart, to maintain her persona, she bit the bullet and replied. Her finger paused on the screen for a long time before typing the words:
Kushida Kikyo: That... cough, Chabashira-sensei, I haven't done that kind of thing. Chabashira Sae: Final question: Do you plan on finding a boyfriend during high school?!
Seeing the last question, Kushida's expression softened slightly. Finally, the end, and the question was finally normal—asking about plans for a boyfriend was indeed a common topic among girls.
Kushida Kikyo: Mmhmm! I do have that plan!
After sending it, she sneered in her heart.
Never.
If she actually got a boyfriend, would Chabashira Sae replace the friends she gathered through her "pure angel" persona?
When the notification for the successful message pop up appeared, Kushida immediately locked the screen, as if seeing that insincere line for one more second was torture. She threw the phone back on the bed, turned to the window, and fixed her messy bangs in the glass.
What was Chabashira Sae trying to do? These three questions progressed step-by-step; they didn't look like a proper questionnaire, but more like a probe. Especially the second question—it was incredibly blunt. A homeroom teacher, no matter how irresponsible, shouldn't ask a student something that absurdly private.
Was someone behind this? Or was this "trash teacher" up to some other scheme?
"I can't be bothered with her!" She couldn't figure it out, so she stopped trying. She glanced at the time and found it was already 12:20 PM. In other words, Shimizu Akira would be coming over very soon.
She couldn't let him see her looking like this.
She turned to start tidying the bed—smoothing out the wrinkled sheets from her venting earlier, putting the scattered pillows back in place, and even pulling a small bottle of citrus-scented spray from the drawer to spritz the air twice.
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