This could no longer be described as a mere coincidence.
To choose compromise so as not to affect her older sister's college entrance exams—compromise only happens zero times or countless times.
This level of stupidity absolutely belonged to a doujinshi heroine! Though Ito Rin wasn't deeply familiar with the adult (underground) world in his past life, he was certain she was a doujinshi protagonist! If he hadn't happened to pass by today, Hinata and her sister would definitely have become collateral damage.
"If he didn't have a backup copy, that would be fine. But he has already printed the photos, I'm certain he has backups."
"What should I do then?"
Hinata looked at Rin Ito as if grabbing a lifeline. Rin Ito sighed helplessly.
If this were online, Rin Ito would definitely say, "Put down your hero complex and respect other people's fate."
But in reality, facing this situation firsthand, Rin Ito couldn't just abandon his hero complex and respect her fate.
"First, you need to confirm whether you and your sister have done anything more intimate than kissing on the cheek at school." Although he had a headache, Rin Ito tried his best to help her find a solution.
"No, I'm sure we haven't." Hinata shook her head repeatedly. "Not at school, and not at home either."
"That's good. How do you feel about your sister? Do you just see her as a sister, or as someone you love?" Rin Ito continued to inquire.
"I... I don't know." It wasn't that Hinata didn't want to say, but she truly didn't know.
Hinata's father and Saya's mother remarried, making them sisters. Because both of them had experienced the feeling of losing a close relative, they both treated the other as one of the most important people in their lives, as if filling a void. Although they weren't biological sisters, their bond was stronger than that of true siblings; they did everything together.
Was it simply familial love? Or was it affection akin to romance? Hinata didn't know.
"Fine."
If Hinata wasn't lying, the worst-case scenario was that the photos would be made public, causing some gossip. The key now was how to stop him from publishing the photos.
The first method was to destroy all backups, but heaven knows how many copies he saved. That was impossible.
The second method was... if you can't solve the problem, solve the person who caused the problem. Directly eliminate him. But this wasn't the world of Grand Theft Auto, where you commit a crime and the police rating just disappears.
As any seasoned killer knows, killing is easy, disposing of the body is hard.
Rin Ito was just an ordinary manga artist, not some special forces operative returning to the city. He could easily slaughter a chicken, but murder... Tsk, tsk, tsk. Besides, why commit murder for a girl he just met?
However...
While murder was out, getting rid of the problem-causing sea urchin head was actually a good idea. Rin Ito couldn't solve it, but someone else could.
Karen Onjoji, the future heir of the Onjoji family. With the Onjoji family's power, getting rid of that sea urchin head would be easy. Whether it was making him disappear forever or just making him leave, it would be simple.
However, if Rin Ito were to ask Karen for help... he probably wouldn't owe her a favor, but Kaede would definitely acquire a few more hats (being cuckolded).
Hiss... He seemed to have quite the potential for being a sugar baby! Speaking of which, his System Daughter did mention he would have many rich sugar mommies in the future.
Just as Rin Ito was contemplating a solution, Mashiro and the others appeared at the shop entrance, and Kaede quickly ran over to Rin Ito.
"Senior Hinata? What are you doing here? Do you know him?"
"Eh?" Hinata's eyes darted between Rin Ito and Kaede. "You two...?"
"He's my boyfriend. How do you two know each other?" Kaede blinked, her confused gaze moving back and forth between Hinata and Rin Ito.
The Camera System only activated during intimate contact. Although Kaede was certain Rin Ito and Hinata hadn't had intimate contact, she didn't know how they met. Kaede knew Hinata because Kaede was part of the student council and needed to interact with various clubs. Plus, Kaede was very outgoing and had friends in many clubs, and Hinata and her sister were the President and Vice President of the Girls' Archery Club.
"Well..." Hinata hesitated slightly. "I'll tell you two, but don't tell anyone else."
"Mhm, mhm, mhm." Kaede nodded repeatedly. The girls pulled up chairs and sat around. Aside from Mashiro, who looked bewildered, Kaede, Suzu, and Nanami all wore expressions of eager onlookers waiting for the drama.
"Actually, I only just met him..." Hinata slowly recounted everything that had just happened, including the threats she faced.
After listening, Kaede also considered the method of asking Karen for help. At worst, Rin Ito would have to spend a night with her. It was no big deal.
"If he hadn't helped me, I might be..." Hinata paused, then cautiously looked at Kaede.
Facing Hinata's questioning gaze, Kaede tilted her head. "What is it?"
"Um... Kaede, could you... could you lend him to me?"
"Huh? Lend him to you for what?"
"It's... it's just..." Hinata was a little embarrassed and didn't dare look Kaede in the eye. "It's just to lend him to me... to let him be my temporary boyfriend. This way, even if the photos are published, it won't matter and won't affect my sister."
Hinata thought of this method the moment she heard Rin Ito was Kaede's boyfriend. If photos were spread, rumors would arise about Hinata and Saya being lesbians (Yuri). But if she already had a boyfriend before the photos were distributed, how would he respond?
And... there was another layer Hinata didn't tell them.
Hinata wanted to find out what kind of feelings her sister Saya held for her. Did she simply see her as a sister? Or as a romantic interest? Hinata wanted to know. If her sister Saya simply saw her as a sister, she would definitely be gossipy and give her blessings. But if her sister Saya saw her as a romantic interest... Hinata didn't know what she would do. In any case, she should test Saya first.
Hinata held her breath, looking at Kaede with anticipation.
She knew this request was outrageous, but Hinata had no one else to turn to. Although many boys had confessed to her, she definitely couldn't ask them... asking them might lead to other weird rumors later.
"This..." Kaede was dumbfounded.
Last time she lent him to Megumi Jinno, and now Megumi was bragging to all the girls in class about having a boyfriend with a massive dick . Who knows what would happen this time? Frankly, having close contact with Rin Ito in secret, like Karen, was one thing; at least she was publicly still his girlfriend!
"Pleaseee~~~" Hinata pressed her palms together. "I promise I won't do anything inappropriate at all!!!!"
"Fine... I guess." Kaede reluctantly agreed.
It wasn't that Kaede had come around; it was because the System had just issued a Quest, and the reward was generous! Moreover, Kaede suspected that Hinata and her sister Saya had a little "something" going on.
So... lending him out should be fine, right?