Arriving at the entrance of the location Ren had sent her, Kikyō Kushida clasped her hands together, silently boosting her confidence.
It's fine. At worst, that bastard will take advantage of me again.
It's not the first time anyway. I'll just treat it as being bitten by a dog!
Having made up her mind, Kikyō Kushida resolutely walked into the tea house. After telling the waitress the name of the private room Ren had reserved, she was led to the room door.
Knock knock knock...
The person inside quickly responded to the knock: "Please come in."
The waitress pulled open the private room door for Kikyō Kushida and gestured for her to enter. After Kikyō Kushida stepped inside, the waitress closed the door and quickly left.
As Kikyō Kushida walked into the room, many pairs of eyes turned toward the girl, seeming confused about why Kikyō Kushida was there.
"..."
Kikyō Kushida, who had expected only Ren to be in the room, was stunned by the sight.
Several seniors were standing in front of Ren, all looking at her.
No… Katsuragi is playing this big?
This was Kikyō Kushida's first reaction. She had said she would pay the price, but the payment could only be made to Ren alone…
"If there's nothing else, please leave. I won't keep you seniors for tea."
Ren hadn't expected Kikyō Kushida to arrive so quickly. Since the business was finished, he began to dismiss the older students.
"No problem, Katsuragi."
"Alright, we'll be going then, Katsuragi."
"If you need anything, Ren, just give me a call."
Seeing Ren dismiss them, the seniors didn't linger, greeting Ren again as they left.
Only two people remained in the room:
Ren, sitting leisurely at the main seat and drinking tea, and Kikyō Kushida, standing by the door, still trying to process what had just happened.
Seeing Kikyō Kushida still spaced out, Ren said helplessly: "Why are you standing there? Come sit down."
"Oh, oh, oh…"
Kikyō Kushida, startled back to reality by Ren's prompt, cautiously moved toward the seat opposite Ren.
What is going on? Why were those seniors so respectful toward Katsuragi?
Am I still in Japan? Where did he take me?
The hierarchical system in Japan is quite strict. Kikyō Kushida had truly never seen a scene where seniors were so deferential toward an underclassman.
"Sit next to me!"
Kikyō Kushida moved the chair opposite Ren, but just as she was about to sit down, she heard Ren's slightly cold voice.
Startled, her posterior lifted immediately, and she stood ramrod straight.
Looking up, she saw Ren wearing a playful smile. Kikyō Kushida instantly became displeased: "Bastard, why are you yelling!"
Despite verbally opposing Ren, Kikyō Kushida's body was honest; she obediently went to the seat beside Ren and sat down.
Ren said nothing. He simply pushed the freshly poured tea toward Kikyō Kushida.
Kikyō Kushida, unsure how to react, braced herself and drank the tea Ren offered in small sips.
As soon as Kikyō Kushida finished, Ren immediately poured her another cup.
Kikyō Kushida continued to drink, and Ren continued to pour.
This repeated several times until Kikyō Kushida's stomach began to slightly distend.
Kikyō Kushida truly couldn't drink anymore. Seeing Ren about to pour her another cup, Kikyō Kushida quickly covered the teacup with her hand: "Stop! I can't drink anymore. Bastard, don't pour any more!"
"You aren't stating your business, and you aren't drinking tea. What do you intend to do?" Ren stopped pouring tea for Kikyō Kushida, placing the teapot back on the table and speaking calmly.
Kikyō Kushida's eyes widened. What do you mean I'm not stating my business? Didn't I already tell this bastard on the message!
That was what she thought, but she couldn't say it.
Until I get the points, Katsuragi is Daddy… But after I get the points… Hmph! Katsuragi still seems like Daddy… Thinking this, Kikyō Kushida instantly felt deflated.
So annoying! Sometimes she really wanted to give up this damned persona and be a deadbeat in front of Ren just once.
Kikyō Kushida flashed a fake smile at Ren and said pitifully: "Katsuragi, please lend Little Kikyō 30,000 points~"
Ren placed both hands on Kikyō Kushida's face. He used his two thumbs to forcefully pull up the corners of her mouth, making it impossible for Kikyō Kushida to drop her smile.
Seeing Ren forcing her to maintain a fake smile like a clown, Kikyō Kushida felt an unprecedented surge of hatred for someone.
Her eyebrows furrowed sharply, and her eyes grew colder, but she couldn't lower the corners of her mouth.
Kikyō Kushida stared at Ren with hatred: "Ren, you…"
Releasing his hands from Kikyō Kushida's face, Ren looked at the girl and nodded with satisfaction: "Little Kikyō, I still prefer your rebellious look."
"Ren, you are insane."
"There's no need to force a fake smile for me. It's truly ugly. Little Kikyō is much cuter like this." Ignoring Kikyō Kushida calling him insane, Ren reached out again, meeting Kikyō Kushida's hateful gaze.
Kikyō Kushida instinctively tried to dodge.
Pinch~
Release~
Ren precisely pinched Kikyō Kushida's cheek and immediately let go. The flesh bounced back with a duang, utterly adorable.
"Ren!" Kikyō Kushida was furious.
"You must be tired, Little Kikyō." Stopping the teasing, Ren pulled Kikyō Kushida up to sit on his lap, facing him: "You really must have worked hard."
Looking seriously at Kikyō Kushida's disgusted expression, Ren gently stroked the girl's brow: "Having to endure the malice of Class D and still put on a façade of being fine."
Feeling Ren's gentle touch, Kikyō Kushida felt a stirring of emotion: "I…"
The radically different attitude compared to the previous two times confused Kikyō Kushida. She felt she couldn't understand Ren.
Perhaps Kikyō Kushida herself felt too dirty. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
So, even without that fake smile, I can still face others normally…
And someone still says I'm cute even when I show my true face…
And… someone knows I'm tired…
Ren embraced Kikyō Kushida, resting the girl's head on his shoulder. He lightly patted the girl's back.
He said nothing, just patted her quietly.
Without any resistance, Kikyō Kushida naturally hugged Ren, burying her head tightly into the young man's shoulder.
...
Kikyō Kushida, whose emotions had calmed down, spoke in a slightly hoarse, broken voice: "B-bastard… lend me… 30,000… points."
Without stopping his hand movement, Ren simply uttered a single word: "Fine."
Lifting her head from Ren's shoulder, Kikyō Kushida boldly pulled aside Ren's shirt, which was now slightly damp, and bit fiercely onto his exposed, muscular shoulder.
Ren moved the hand that was gently stroking Kikyō Kushida's back to the back of her head, stroking her hair and silently permitting the girl's actions.
Releasing her bite, Kikyō Kushida stared intently at the tooth mark on Ren's shoulder, which was now bleeding slightly. She hesitated for a moment, then stuck out her tongue and licked the blood away.
After licking the blood clean, Kikyō Kushida looked softly at Ren: "Bastard, it's time for you to collect your compensation."
Ren gently pressed the hand behind Kikyō Kushida's head forward, making their foreheads touch. He smiled lightly.
"Compensation… I've already received it."
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