Actually, her situation was a bit similar to China's. Both had fathers who held the economic lifeline of the family, just that their fathers' personalities, status, and benefit demands were different.
"You think China will ultimately refuse or agree?", Hachiman gently stroked Ichinose Ayano's smooth, glossy cheek and asked in a low voice.
"This... China didn't want to tell me about this, and instead went to you, the President, for a solution. I think the possibility of her agreeing is greater…", Ichinose Ayano thought for a moment, hesitating as she softly answered.
"If President helps China make arrangements, she might gradually accept it, but if we don't help her, with her submissive personality, it's very difficult for her to reject her stepfather's unreasonable demand."
Normally, when she interacted with China, China always followed her lead. Though China seemed cheerful and lively, it was only on the surface; she'd always ask for her permission before doing anything.
"Then it's troublesome. Even if we want to help her, we can't. If it were haras*ment by a stranger crossing the line, we could just eliminate the stranger, but now the person is China's stepfather. We're the outsiders. If we directly eliminate her stepfather, would she thank us or hate us?", Hachiman shook his head after hearing that. This commission really wasn't easy to handle.
Horigome China's situation was actually very similar to Shion's family incident.
Although Shion no longer wanted to return to that broken home, in the end, Shion's biological father had once been a good father, he wasn't a stranger.
That's also why he didn't go trouble Shion's father, just gave Shion a warm home.
Shion and her father never seeing each other again and dying without contact was the best outcome.
However, Shion's biological father was only a regular abu*er, it hadn't escalated to a worse stage. But Horigome China's stepfather's intentions were already very clear. If Horigome China was willing to accept him, then he wouldn't act as the bad guy.
"That does make it more troublesome… President, can you leave this commission to me? I'll handle China's request," Ichinose Ayano fell silent for a while, then suddenly raised her head, eyes staring straight at Hachiman, speaking seriously.
"Ayano, you have a good idea? Then I'll leave this commission to you. Let's see whether you've improved during this time," Hachiman was stunned for a moment, then patted Ichinose Ayano's head with a smile.
He had originally only intended for her to be a vase. After all, she had a tendency to act irrationally due to romantic thoughts and lacked discretion. But now, it seemed Ayano wasn't willing to just be a vase.
"Mm! If handled well, China should be able to break free from her stepfather's control and won't agree to such outrageous demands," Seeing Hachiman agree to her request without hesitation, Ichinose Ayano nodded hard, a bright smile appearing on her fair, rosy face.
China had a rather submissive personality, lacked assertiveness, and liked to rely on others. She was the obedient type, even if she fell into an abyss, it would be difficult for outsiders to pull her out.
But looking at it from another angle, lacking assertiveness wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
———
Ichinose Honami, after hearing the two's conversation, couldn't help but look at Horigome China, who was sitting at the front of the classroom, head down taking notes, outwardly showing no unusual signs.
Even though he was a stepfather, he made such absurd demands of his daughter, Horigome China. And even when she didn't want to, she couldn't refuse and might very well agree.
If not for overhearing Hikigaya and Ayano's conversation, she might never have known that such outrageous things were happening right beside her.
But... her own situation might not be much better.
Ichinose Honami suddenly thought about her own predicament, and her gaze dimmed slightly.
Compared to Ayano and Horigome's family problems, her family just had to worry about having enough to eat.
All along, just surviving had taken all their effort, they simply had no spare energy to think about anything else.
Her mother worked alone to raise her and her younger sister. Tuition, living expenses, rent, everything was crushing her mother.
If it hadn't been for being called to Sobu High by Uncle Ichinose, after the disbandment of the Advanced Nurturing High School, she might have already been working part-time, helping to shoulder the burden for her mom.
But if she couldn't fulfill Uncle Ichinose's instructions and successfully build a good relationship with Hikigaya and the others, getting the elf princess to support Uncle Ichinose, this happy school life would just turn into an illusory dream.
"Pfft!", Ichinose Honami was still sorrowfully dwelling on her difficult dilemma when she suddenly heard a strange sound from the neighboring seat. Instinctively turning to look, she immediately blushed and looked away.
'Isn't it over already?'
'Why are Hikigaya-kun and Ayano continuing right after discussing business?'
Ichinose Honami pressed her hands tightly over her ears, secretly gritting her teeth at the two who were acting with no shame.
She didn't even dare to look that way, she felt both embarrassed and incredibly shocked.
Wasn't Ayano supposed to be unwell, often going to the nurse's office lately? Why did she now look perfectly fine?
'And the way Ayano looks now…'
'C-could it be...'
Ichinose Honami couldn't help but sneak a peek at Ichinose Ayano, and found that Ayano's flushed cheeks looked exactly like when she had taken her to the nurse's office before.
Ding~ Dong~
The class bell rang. Ichinose Honami, who had barely made it to the end of class, immediately stood up, her face full of blush, not daring to face Hachiman at all, turned her head and quickly walked out of the classroom.
Luckily there was tennis class this afternoon. Otherwise, if she had to sit through another class, she felt like she'd have to take sick leave and hide somewhere.
"Huh? Was Honami in such a hurry to go to the restroom?", Hearing the sound of Ichinose Honami leaving the classroom quickly, Ijichi Nijika looked puzzled.
"Ehehe, can you guess what little Honami and little Hikki were doing during class?"
Gyaru girl Yuina took out a small mirror and combed her short pink hair, separating the strands that had stuck to her skin from sweat, and playfully winked at Ijichi Nijika.
"Honami too?", Ijichi Nijika was stunned. After realizing it, she glanced at Hachiman still leaning lazily against the back of his chair like in the morning, and her face instantly turned red.
Hachiman's barrier hadn't covered the back of the classroom like in the morning, he had only shared the topic he was discussing with Ichinose Ayano with Ichinose Honami.
However, the barrier didn't affect the synchronized experience of the Empathy Bracelet. Since he gave Ichinose Ayano the Sympathy Wristband, everyone could experience it simultaneously and in real time.
But Ijichi Nijika was still feeling shy about what had happened in the morning and was trying hard to pretend nothing had occurred. She wasn't like Yuina and the others who enjoyed a bit of excitement in class. She wouldn't take the initiative to activate the empathy bracelet, so she naturally hadn't noticed what Hachiman was up to during class.
"Hikigaya-kun's being unfaithful again?", Kitagawa Marin blinked, looked at Yuina and also at Minami and Rin, who were wiping off sweat and tidying their appearance, then suddenly turned to Miura Yumiko.
"Why are you looking at me? What does it matter to me if he's being unfaithful?", Noticing her best friend Kitagawa Marin's strange gaze, Miura Yumiko glared angrily at Hachiman.
'So infuriating!'
'Why does everyone assume I like that guy?'
'That guy is such a womanizer, entangled with so many girls, how stupid would I have to be to like him?'
"Okay okay, it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. We all hate Hachiman just like you."
"Yeah yeah, we'll help you bully Hikigaya-kun later."
Ijichi Nijika and Kitagawa Marin quickly stepped forward to calm the furious Miura Yumiko.
There were already so many outstanding girls around Hachiman, and the competition was fierce, they couldn't let Yumiko keep acting tsundere.
"..."
Looking at her two friends treating her like a child, Miura Yumiko rolled her eyes in exasperation.
Forget it. She didn't expect Marin and Nijika to actually do anything to Hikigaya anyway. Hikigaya was too good at managing relationships, and both Marin and Nijika thought he was a good person.
Better to find a chance to really bully Hikigaya. Otherwise, just satisfying this guy's p*rvy kink with so-called bullying was too one-sided.
"Little Hikki, want to practice tennis together? Since Kotegawa-san's not here today, the four of us can play doubles."
Minami, ignoring what was happening on Yumiko's side, walked over to Hachiman with a big grin and actively invited him.
"Ehehe, little Hikki should team up with me to play against Yuina and Rin," At this moment, hearing Minami's words, Miura Yumiko suddenly had a thought, sprang up and rushed over, pressing both hands on Hachiman's desk, staring at him fiercely with both eyes.
"Hikigaya, want to play a match of tennis with me? Whoever loses has to obey all of the winner's commands for a week!"
There were things she might not beat Hachiman in, but when it came to tennis, she had confidence. She was still confident in her tennis skills.
———
"All commands?", Hachiman looked at the aggressive Miura Yumiko and shifted his gaze to her upright, exquisitely pretty face, his tone a little strange.
This girl, did she even know what she was saying?
Miura Yumiko's best friends were Kitagawa Marin and Ijichi Nijika, not Yuina and the other gyaru bodhisattvas, so why would she be so easy to give away?
"Hmph, that's right! All commands. If I win, you'll be my lackey for a week, and you're not allowed to keep playing that p*rvy bullying game during that week!"
Seeing Hachiman hesitate and not immediately agree, Miura Yumiko, feeling confident of victory, couldn't help puffing up with pride.
Even though she and Marin and Nijika had personally experienced Hachiman's unbelievably strong drive, and even though a week without that "bullying" might choke him to death.
But if she wanted to correct this guy's p*rverted kink, she had to forcibly take control.
"…Then if I win, do I get to order you around and fully satisfy myself?", Hachiman looked somewhat helplessly at Miura Yumiko, who was acting like a child.
He couldn't deny that Miura Yumiko had a good heart. She wasn't trying to bully him out of malice, she was just angry and wanted to correct him in a "special" way.
But the problem was that he hadn't actually been bullied by Yuina and the others. This so-called "bullying" was just from the perspective of normal physical ability.
Of course, just like Nijika and Marin misunderstood his relationship with Yumiko, Yumiko also couldn't clearly explain their relationship. He couldn't easily explain his unique connection with Yuina and the others either. They only believed what they saw and thought he was making excuses.
"Hmph, just say whether you dare or not. If you're scared, then just admit defeat. It's not shameful to bow down to me," Miura Yumiko pouted. Seeing that Hachiman countered with a question but still didn't state whether he'd accept or not, she became even more confident.
Even if she couldn't make Hachiman bow in their so-called "bullying game," making him bow in tennis would be fine too. Hachiman had never gotten the better of her before, he even dared flirt with other girls while they were "reluctantly" satisfying his kink. Truly infuriating.
"I'm just worried you'll go back on your word. Since we're betting all commands, if I order you to do something shameful, will you accept it?", Hachiman slowly scanned the confident Miura Yumiko from her long, fair legs up to her glossy red lips and said unhurriedly.
If Miura Yumiko really wanted to bet, then he wouldn't go easy on her.
Like lifting her skirt with a disgusted face, or putting on white stockings and a maid outfit and calling him "Master."
A full week. Yumiko would definitely question her life.
"Isn't it just... uh…", Miura Yumiko had just wanted to say that his bullying kink was already embarrassing enough, but when she saw Hachiman's wicked expression, she swallowed her words.
She didn't understand Hachiman very deeply, what if he had even more outrageous, more shameful fetishes?
If that were true, wouldn't she lose face again?
After all, she couldn't go back on her word, Nijika, Marin, and Yuina were all watching.
However, before she could get too tangled up in whether Hachiman might really be that p*rverted, Yuina's voice came from nearby.
"There's no way Yumiko will lose. I heard she even made it to the prefectural tournament back in middle school."
"But little Hikki is a boy, you know. His physical ability is higher. Even if Yumiko's technique is better, if her stamina can't keep up, she might not win."
Rin immediately followed up, refuting Yuina's claim.
"Nijika, Marin, who do you think has a better chance of winning? Little Hikki or Yumiko?"
Minami turned to look at Ijichi Nijika and Kitagawa Marin, blinking at them repeatedly.
"Of course it's Yumiko! Her tennis skills are so strong, even the tennis club captain invited her. There's no way she'll lose!"
"Don't be scared, Yumiko! Even if you really lose, we'll help you!"
Ijichi Nijika and Kitagawa Marin exchanged a look, then joined the gyaru trio in encouraging Miura Yumiko to continue the bet.
It wasn't that they wanted to sell out their good friend Yumiko.
But this wasn't just a simple bet.
Whether Hachiman did something excessive to Yumiko, or Yumiko did something excessive to Hachiman, their relationship would make a clear breakthrough.
Previously, Yumiko had always denied any connection to Hachiman. Now, she was finally taking the initiative.
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