[Invasion I]

The next day, Nishino went to school with an absence letter in hand. 

He did not receive any word from Francisca or Gabriella last night. On the other hand, he was afraid to go to school any more when he thought of the shooting he had received on his way out of the school. He was a Futsumen who decided to leave the country for a while starting tomorrow. 

Apart from those thoughts, there were some disturbing changes on campus. 

On the same day, the Chairwoman and her group of close friends were all absent. 

The school did not seem to have been notified, and during morning homeroom, the homeroom teacher checked with their classmates to see if they had any idea what was going on. After recalling yesterday's after-school incident, the faces of the students denied this with an annoying look on their faces. The faculty member was escorted off to the staff room. 

Then, a short break before the first period. 

Nishino gets up from his seat to head to the staff room to submit his absence letter. 

Then Risa walks toward him. 

"Nishino-kun, can I talk to you for a second?" 

"What's up? Risa." 

"Do you know anything about the Chairwoman absence? You're getting along so well with her lately, aren't you? " 

"Well, if that's the case, I'm sorry, but I don't have any information." 

"I see......" 

Risa nodded her head, not seeming to care about Nishino's annoying mannerisms. Apparently, she is so concerned about the Chairwoman that she does not care about the cynicism in front of her. Her heart is still overflowing with love for Shimizu. 

The Chairwoman close group of friends who had to be shamed in class may have attempted to retaliate against her. Such a common view was painted in the minds of everyone who caught a glimpse of yesterday's incident. Risa is no exception to this. 

"Why don't you try contacting her?" 

"My messages aren't getting answered and my phone calls aren't getting answered either." 

" ... I see." 

Risa's worried mutterings naturally shifted Nishino's attention.

"Then I'll head to the Chairwoman house now."

"Eh ... "

"For various reasons, I was planning to leave early today in the morning. There is nothing wrong with being a little early. I will contact Risa as soon as I find out something. A lot happened yesterday, so she might be sick in bed." 

"Oh, if that's the case, I'll be with you ... " 

The two exchanged words while receiving attention from their classmates. 

As they were doing so, the phone started to shake in Nishino's pocket. 

Checking the screen, he saw the name of the host club.

"Sorry, do you mind if I take a call?" 

"You don't have to check with me or anything......" 

Even the quintessential Risa was a little annoyed by the word call. 

On the other hand, Nishino, recalling his exchange with Ohno, immediately accepted the call after he saw her nod. 

What came through the speaker was, as expected, a thick, dusky male voice. 

"Mr. Nishino, this is Ohno ! " 

" ... What happened ? " 

"I have some urgent news about your schoolmate! " 

"What are you talking about? ......" 

Immediately, the Chairwoman name almost leaks out, and Nishino swallows this in a panic. 

Considering the presence of his classmates who were listening around him, he was afraid to mention Shimizu's name in a phone call from a yakuza. In any case, he is a Futsumen who cannot afford to ignore these two words concerning his schoolmate.

"No, I get it. I'll be on my way. Do you mind if I meet you at the shop?" 

"No. I will send a message to this number." 

"I understand" 

The call lasted less than a few minutes. The words exchanged were extremely vague and fragmentary. From the perspective of those who were listening, it is doubtful that he actually received the call. It was like a monologue by a group of annoying people. 

The call always comes at an odd time.

"I'm sorry, but I have an urgent matter to attend to. I am sorry that this is a one-sided conversation after I made the proposal, but could you please go to the Chairwoman's house alone, Risa? I'll make it up to you someday." 

While putting his phone away in his pocket, Nishino speaks to Risa. 

He does so with a somewhat more crisp expression on his face compared to earlier. However, it is also not tight in any way when done by Futsumen. It is as if he is enduring a sudden stomachache. He is quite serious, but his true intentions are not easily conveyed to those around him. 

"That's fine, but what is going on......" 

"If you have any problems, I'd like you to contact me at this number." 

The Futsumen tore up the notebook in his hand and wrote his own number in it. 

To his classmates, the exchange appeared to be nothing more than a small play to give Risa his own number. In fact, most of the students who watched the exchange between the two gave white eyes to the idea. 

The reaction from the male students in particular was remarkable. 

Starting from her virginity revelation through her talk with Matsuura-san to her confession to the Chairwoman, Risa-chan has been blessed with several events in recent days that have been popular with the opposite sex. Her support from female students has remained unchanged, while her favor from male students has been on the rise. 

"Well then, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to leave you now." 

After stuffing the contents of his desk into his bag, the Futsumen rushed out of the classroom. 

◇ ◆ ◇

After escaping first period class, Nishino headed for a building district in the city center. 

Following Ohno's instructions, he was seated in a cab for a while. The neighborhood, lined with high-rise buildings, is one of the most expensive areas in Tokyo. The major hotels located in the neighborhood are all rated above a certain level. 

In one of several such places was Futsumen's destination. 

Dressed in his uniform with his bag down, he entered the front entrance. He headed for the elevators without a glance at the front desk. Adults passing on the floor glanced at the out of place boy, but he was never approached. 

101

Happily, Nishino went to the top floor. 

The room number was listed in a message from Ohno. 

When he finally arrived there, he found that it was a rather luxurious room.

It was a luxurious room that should have been called a suite. The fact that there is only one door to the guest room on the same floor, across the elevator from the other one, gives you an idea of the quality of the room. 

At the entrance and exit of the room are several yakuza men on guard duty, who seem to have been attached by Ohno. 

The layout of the room confirms one bedroom, a study and a reception room each, plus a spacious kitchen and living/dining room. The floor plan is no less luxurious than Rose's old residence, with over three white square meters of space. 

The person we were looking for was in that living space. 

"Oh, Mr. Nishino! We've been waiting for you." 

Ohno stands up from the couch and starts walking toward Nishino. 

"Chairwoman, are you all right? Are you hurt?" 

"N, Nishino-kun ... " 

Ohno looked back at them with a lonely look on his face. 

In front of him, Nishino talked to Shimizu. 

"The man there told me that it was an emergency. Please, I need an explanation. " 

"I don't know, I mean, I don't know what's going on either......." 

"Is it the incident after school, that's still lingering?" 

"......."

In response to Nishino's question, the chairman looked pouty. 

This is finally an unsettling development for the Futsumen. 

"...... I guess that happened."

"Ummm, yeah, about my friend..." 

It was the Chairwoman, who had gotten involved with her schoolmates after school, even involving Risa and Takeuchi-kun. Perhaps recalling the scene at the time, she nodded dejectedly. Since Shimizu is known for her pleasant words and actions, this seemed to Nishino to be an unexpectedly lonely moment. 

When she thought that the cause of this was herself, her remorse grew. 

"I was on my way to her house to deliver something she had left behind when I found that she was about to be taken away by an unknown group of people. We were unable to find out who they were, so we contacted you." 

Quickly, Ohno gave additional information. 

He has been conspicuously wearing a black shirt so far, but today he is wearing a blue shirt and a brightly colored tie. His suit, however, is still pure white. His shoes are the same color and of a luxury brand. 

"Oh, now I understand the situation. "

"What the hell was that all about? I'm wondering the same thing." 

"It's my problem. Perhaps the Chairwoman got caught up in it. " 

"And by that you mean, because of your work.........." 

"That's what I meant." 

Turning from Ohno to the Chairwoman, Nishino bowed deeply. 

He bowed as if he was about to get down on his knees.

"I'm sorry, Chairwoman. This incident was caused by an inadvertent error from my side." 

"You apologize out of the blue, it's as if I know what you're talking about." 

102

"I won't bore you with the details, but they have been after me for the last week for a reason. The people we are dealing with are no doubt those who tried to abduct you. The issue was originally supposed to have already been resolved, but the progress has not been good."

"...... You're being chased, Nishino-kun?" 

"Yes." 

" ......... " 

In the brain of the bright Chairwoman, this and that from the past is going round and round. 

Until just a few months ago, he was just one of the many people in the classroom for her. Shimizu knew from recent events that such a person actually had a rather diverse background and friendships. 

And that is an annoying for Shimizu, who is only a high school student. 

"I thought this at the festival, but you, Nishino, are so good at getting people into trouble." 

"I'm really sorry. I have no words to return."

"...... But oh well, what's got to be done, I guess." 

Her relationship with Nishino must have also begun the moment he tangled with Rose in the schoolyard stall on the day of the festival. With this thought in mind, Shimizu embraced a feeling akin to resignation that had developed in her chest. Like maybe this was a punishment for interrupting their love affair. 

These thoughts were more pronounced because of her rejection of Risa's confession yesterday, and they tingled the mentality of the Chairwoman. When I think back, I haven't done anything wrong either, said Shimizu, who was in a bit of a remorseful mode. 

"But please rest assured. I will protect you even if it costs me my life." 

"........"

When she thought so, what was given immediately afterwards was a confessional like line. 

From the Chairwoman point of view, this caught her off guard. 

Shimizu was a little annoyed by the foolishness of the Futsumen. 

This is annoying. 

She wondered why Nishino-kun wasn't wearing make-up or doing his hair today, and then she thought, Well, it doesn't mean he's hot if he's wearing make-up or anything like that. 

Because she knew. 

She knew that the man in front of her was strangely more righteous than other boys of his generation, and that he was also very dynamic. Shimizu had experienced being saved from a close call as a result, so regardless of what she thought, his words resonated unexpectedly strongly and shook her to the core.

"May I have a word with you?" 

"What ? " 

"Me, Ohno, I'd like to estimate the size of the other party." 

"What do you do with an estimate ? " 

When the Chairwomanfell silent, Ohno spoke up. 

He was aware of the mood of the place and took the form of a follow-up. 

"I was wondering if I could send someone to Shimizu's house." 

"What are the benefits for you so far ? " 

"Me, Ohno, I have made up my mind to follow Mr. Nishino no matter what. I am not such a lazy person that I would keep my distance over a matter of this magnitude. Please continue to use me conveniently." 

"That being said, I don't think our odds are good this time around." 

"There are things that can only be gained by going over deadly places together, right? Personally, I am betting on you and your future progress. Please, will you take this opportunity to accept Ohno's bet? I will surely be of service." 

103

" ...... "

"What do you think? " 

Standing beside Nishino on the sofa, Ohno stares at their faces. From the perspective of the Chairwoman sitting opposite him, it is a comedic exchange. This is also because the former's face deviation is extremely ordinary. 

However, the people exchanging words are quite serious. 

After a moment of silence, Nishino replied. 

"The other side is not determined to do anything about it. After all, they are in the service of the highest authorities. If they were willing to risk their lives, they would not be so reckless. Since they failed to abduct the Chairwoman in this way, we can assume that their response will be little more than a check and balance for some time to come." 

"What makes you so sure?" 

"We have repeatedly told the person in charge of this matter. If reports are being made to the higher-ups, they must have some idea of what we will do if they cause any more trouble."

In the past, he has repeatedly threatened Francisca. 

In fact, he has the stomach to go after her immediately if the harm is extended to others. The decision was made in the belief that the old lady's boss would understand how much damage could be done to both parties as a result. 

"And if that's the case, is it also the case that this young lady here was targeted?" 

" ... Oh" 

Without taking the professional relationship out of the equation, the person who is in the closest position to the Futsumen, in light of his personal friendships, especially on campus, is the Chairwoman. She is extremely reluctant.

I somehow guessed that this is why he was targeted today. 

I also thought that this one was probably the result of a report by Francisca. 

At the same time, it is an urgent matter that arose within her that its contents should be confirmed. 

In some cases, there may be other targets. 

"I see." 

"Nevertheless, I would like to get some information. For some reason, the police are unreliable this time. If what you said earlier is true, I am sorry, but could you lend me someone? Of course, as soon as the situation settles down, I promise to pay you a reasonable amount." 

"Ohno shines when you can't rely on the police." 

" ... Oh, it helps" 

Thinking of the members of the 2A class that came to mind in his brain, Nishino told him honestly. 

Ohno responds to this with a smile, but his expression is no less suspicious. 

It looks as if a yakuza person is inhabiting him. 

I wonder if this person is really all right, was the honest thought that came to Shimizu's mind. However, after being saved from a dangerous situation just a few minutes ago, the air-headed Chairwoman decided to zip up her mouth and keep quiet. 

"By the way, the Chairwoman left her scarf at the shop...... " 

"Oh, that's right." 

Ohno started running after Nishino's mutterings. 

He headed for the dining room attached to the living room. 

In the corner of the table set up in the center of it, an orange square box with a ribbon hanging from it was placed. Taking this up carefully with both hands, Ohno heads downstairs to the two of them. This is all done with another smiling, an awful smile on his face. 

104

The Chairwoman thought, something is annoying. 

If she remembered correctly, the scarf had been lightly folded and left on a couch in the host club. It was expected to be returned in a plastic bag or something similar, but how could it have been stored in a package? 

Moreover, the logo of a luxury brand can be seen on the box. 

"Miss, sorry to keep you waiting. I have it ready for you here." 

"Oh, the scarf ... " 

"I have taken the liberty of cleaning it. Please check it out." 

" ...... Yes" 

Shimizu doesn't think it's even been cleaned. 

Annoyed, she reaches for the orange box. 

The original instructions had said to hand-wash the garment gently in warm water, but she had put it in the washing machine on a daily basis, thinking it would be fine. For some unknown reason, the clothes were returned to her in a stylish box after being cleaned. 

"Eh ... " 

I took off the ribbon and opened the box. 

It was an item that was no doubt the logo of the brand mentioned on the packaging. 

Even the Chairwoman, who was not well versed in such things, could understand that it was a luxury item. She thought, If I buy this bag at a store, it would probably cost several tens of thousands of yen, or even several hundred thousand yen, and she became fearful and trembled.

In fact, the item is one order of magnitude more. 

If she sells it, she will be able to get two new cars.

"Um, I forgot my scarf......"

"I didn't have a suitable container to bring it to you, so I put it in there. If you don't mind, could you please take it with you? It's not that big of a deal, so I was hoping you could take it."

"No, oh, that's......... " 

I looked into the bag with a fearful look. 

Indeed, I could find a scarf. 

She wears it on holidays and sometimes to school. It is Shimizu's winter companion, which has come in handy ever since she bought it.

"Is there any mistake?" 

"That's okay, but I can't take the bag." 

First of all, it was Ohno, who definitely had the appearance of a yakuza. The Chairwoman sense of ethics was not so crazy as to accept an expensive gift from such a person. She knew that this was wrong to accept it, and in a great hurry, she took the scarf out of the bag. 

Then, she close the box. 

"Today is warmer than yesterday evening and it will be difficult to spend the night with a scarf around you. It would be too much for you to carry by hand, so why don't you keep it in your bag there? Your bag also looks heavy with textbooks and notebooks, doesn't it?" 

"No, no, thank you! I won't accept such an expensive bag!" 

For the Chairwoman, who lives out her student life on an allowance of a few thousand yen per month, this is a rather frightening event. If she took the bag home and it was seen by her father, he would have no choice but to suspect her. 

I have a few friends here and there who lend and borrow manga and novels, putting the goods in a paper bag with a famous brand's logo on it and handing it over. But it is as different from that. Holding her beloved scarf in both hands, the Chairwoman stubbornly shook her head. 

105

"Rest assured, this is a fake brand. We used to carry them, but recently we've been under tight control and we've had a glut of them in stock. Still, it's not a bad product, and I'd be happy to use it if you'd like." 

" ... Is that so ? " 

"Do you ever see anything similar in Shibuya or Ikebukuro? It's a bit of a joke. The only thing that is real is the box. I brought it to you because it's just the right item to use up on a daily basis. It's something you can buy with a student's pocket money." 

That being said, to the Chairwoman, the bag in question looks like a few thousand yen. 

If that is the case, it would be okay to accept it, or so she thinks. 

She is preparing for an entrance exam and has a part-time job ahead of her, so even a single bag is a hurdle to purchase. From Shimizu's perspective, who knows more or less about her family's financial situation, including the mortgage on her house and whatnot, she is in the position of having to put up with a lot of things on an ongoing basis. High school girls today are in need of something. 

Considering this, it is an attractive few thousand yen. 

At a quick glance, the item looked rather good. 

If something should happen, she would be able to repay it with her own work. 

The Chairwoman thought that if Nishino was the cause of all the commotion, it would be a good thing if she, too, could benefit a little from being involved in the situation. It is a sense of adventure that comes from a life far removed from brand name goods. 

Even if it is a fake brand, she is thrilled to own it. 

Chikako Shimizu, 17 years old, a cheap woman. 

" ... Then, is it okay to have it ? " 

"Please take it. It would be my pleasure." 

"Oh, thank you" 

Looking at the orange box in her hand, the Chairwoman bowed deeply. 

Beside her, Nishino mumbled to Ohno. 

"I'd appreciate it if you'd try to refrain from this sort of thing in the future."

"The young lady, Shimizu gave me the opportunity to meet you again. If you considered it a thank you for that, then I, Ohno, feel rather unsatisfied. Even so, at the very least, I think I'm trying to be respectful."

When you put it that way, the Futsumen cannot come up with a good response. 

Without Ohno's help, the Chairwoman would be in a lot of trouble right now. 

The words that follow would be dreary. 

" ... Do whatever you want"

"Thank you very much" 

 ◇ ◆ ◇

On the same day that the Chairwoman was almost kidnapped, Nishino decided to stay at a hotel with her for the time being. The place was the Royal Suite that Ohno had reserved. It was decided that it would be dangerous for her to go outdoors unintentionally.

Whatever action he would take in the future, the Futsumen decided that it was not too late to wait for Francisca to contact him. With Rose and Gabriella with her, he assumed that it would not happen so infrequently. 

For Shimizu, this was an annoying situation.

However, she understood that herself was in the middle of a complicated situation. 

106

There is no choice but to enjoy the Royal Suite. 

"Miss Shimizu, your tea is ready."

"Um, you don't have to worry about me. ......" 

Ohno is concerned about Shimizu in some way. 

In the living room, she is sitting on the sofa, and a cup of tea is placed crisply on the low table in front of her. The tea cakes served on the side of the table are familiar to the Cahirwoman. They have the logo of a famous confectionery store on them, wherever he procured them from. 

The presence of his strong face is nothing but fear for the Chairwoman. 

To escape this, she approached Nishino, who sat in front of her. 

"Hey, Nishino-kun, can I have a word?" 

"What is it? Chairwoman" 

Normally, it is an act of reluctance to even talk a with a Futsumen. 

However, she decided that it was better than being bothered by Ohno. 

The person in question responded by raising his gaze from the phone in his hand. 

The screen glanced into Shimizu's field of vision, and English was lined up in rows. Apparently, he was looking at a foreign website. Each of these casual gestures surely stimulated her sense of inferiority. 

Somehow swallowing this, the Chairwoman continued her words. 

"I wonder if Rose and Gabriella are in more trouble than me if they a target like me? Those two are much closer to Nishino-kun than I am. Are they okay with it? " 

She tries to talk about them as if she is worried about them. 

A strategy to distance herself from Ohno by talking about an annoying topic. 

Shimizu is not worried about Rose, at least not in the slightest. However, she is more or less concerned about Gabu-chan. 

"Those two have a very special background. They probably won't be attacked." 

"Oh, really? Then I'm relieved. ......" 

"But I appreciate the concern. I'll check with them just to be sure." 

Nishino uses the phone in his hand. 

The person on the call is Francisca. 

Initially, the Futsumen decided to wait and give priority to the girls, as they would be busy in the field. However, after receiving a reminder from the Chairwoman, he decided to call her immediately. 

After pressing the call button and waiting for a dozen or so calls, the line connects. 

"Hi. Can I help you?"

"Are you busy?" 

Normally, she is able to respond to Nishino with only a few calls. Today, however, it took her a little longer, and moreover, there were gunshots being heard in the distance. So, a word of confirmation leaked out of the Futsumen's mouth. 

"I'd appreciate it if you could make this quick." 

"In that case, I'll call you back later." 

"That's fine. I just want to be quickly as possible." 

"I confirmed the attack against the Chairwoman over here. I figured there would be some movement there as well, but what's the status? We are considering moving the location if necessary. But we don't have enough information at this point." 

107

"Oh ? Maybe you were worried?" 

"The Chairwoman was worried" 

"That's what's so weird. Give me a little more time, please." 

"I see" 

"If Shimizu was attacked over there, then it seems that the person in charge has been looking over the report I gave. Yeah, in that sense, other than her, you probably don't have to worry about much else." 

"What do you mean ? " 

"It's a mundane story about a bullied child being saved by the class chairman." 

"You ......... " 

"I know, because it's not true. There's no other way to explain it." 

".......... " 

He is an adolescent who is always concerned about the 2A class, but his classmates are always against him. Nevertheless, if one were to look for a connection between the two, the person who naturally emerged was Shimizu. 

An objective assessment of this fact seems to have led to today's abduction. 

Combined with the reason why Chariwoman was targeted in the first place, Nishino could guess the contents of the report given by Francisca. It was a Futsumen that didn't think that the circumstances of his descent into the lower caste would come in handy in such a situation.

"I'm also raising a report that if they harm others, they are likely to get into the main circle with the inevitable crushing of their balls. Still, something else to watch out for is a boy in the same class that you care about." 

"Takeuchi-kun ... " 

"I will contact him and tell him to join you."

"You're going to contact him?"

"I'm sure he won't listen to you if you contact him." 

"That would be the same for you." 

"Not as annoying as Shimizu, but I'm connected to the hospital thing." 

"I see." 

"I remember I mentioned his name in my report  because of that one incident. Other than that, I've sent you a list of people who are related to me, but not enough to give them priority in terms of your relationship with them." 

"I understand. I'll send you our location via Marquis later, just to be sure." 

Regardless of the circumstances, the answer from Francisca was exactly what the Futsumen had expected. First of all, he breathed a sigh of relief at the thought of the safety of the 2A class for that fact. Otherwise, he would have been in more trouble by now.

"Is that all you have to say? I'm busy, too." 

"Oh, excuse me for this." 

"It's quite refreshing to see you in such good humor." 

"Keep talking." 

Returning Francisca's remark shortly, Nishino ends the call. 

The Chairwoman looks at him as he puts his phone away in his pocket and raises her voice. 

"How'd it go?" 

"I hear they're doing fine. I don't see the problem." 

"I see... " 

The Chairwoman had no idea what was going on . However, frustrated with the cynicism of the person in front of her, she decided to refrain from pursuing the matter further. I'll take the words you've given me positively.

However, it is not good to interrupt the conversation.

108

When the two are quiet, Ohno, who is attentive, talks to him about something. 

So the chairman decided to ask what he had been interested in. 

"By the way, why did Nishino didn't talk about my friends ? " 

"Friend of the Chairwoman ? " 

"You didn't say what happened about the after-school incident when I first met here." 

"Oh, that's because three of the girls who are close to the Chariwoman were absent from school today. I thought that perhaps she was involved in some kind of disturbance with them. But it seems the problem was rather on my side, and I am just really sorry." 

I remember that the school was in a lot of pain, and I was the Chairwoman, which had somehow slipped past my memory. When Nishino told me, once again, the blurring returned to my heart. However, that is also a margin of error when I think of the attempted abduction. 

The problem of friendship is one that would normally trouble her for three days and three nights. This felt strangely insignificant, and the Chairwoman was perplexed by herown feelings. She was the one who had repeatedly told them that they would always be friends even after they graduated from high school. 

It was as if she had become a cold person, and Shimizu was annoyed. 

◇ ◆ ◇

That day, the atmosphere in the classroom of Class 2A was indescribable. 

The Chairwoman and her group of close friends who were absent from school. Furthermore, Nishino and Risa-chan disappeared into nowhere after this. The sense that something was going on without the classmates knowledge made everyone aware of the empty seats in the classroom. 

One of the most notable reactions to such a situation was Suzuki. 

As soon as lunch break began after fourth period, he said, in a loud voice as well. 

"Takeuchi, don't you know something? I mean, you know, don't you?" 

"What do you mean, I know anything?" 

"Of course it's about the Chairwoman" 

"Oh ... " 

Opposite him is Takeuchi-kun, sitting in his own seat. 

The class has just finished, and there is a textbook on the tabletop. He was just about to put it away on his desk when he was caught in the act. The handsome man greets his schoolmate with the feeling that he has finally reached the end of his patience. 

"I'm sorry, but I really don't know anything this time." 

"Is it true ? " 

"If it wasn't true, I'd probably be on leave right now too, right? Rose and Gabriella are absent in B class too. But this time it's between the girls, so I don't think it's a good idea for the boys to get involved."

"That's true, but it looks like Nishino is making a move too." 

From Suzuki's point of view, it felt as if he had been left out by Nishino. 

He spent the morning classes in agony. 

With the arrival of lunch break, it seemed to have reached its limit. 

"Except for him, right? He got a call and left." 

"It's just the routine, isn't it? The timing is annoying."

" ......... " 

From Suzuki's point of view, it was a complete warning sign. 

However, Takeuchi-kun knows. 

109

The call the Futsumen received had to be genuine. Otherwise, he would not have done anything to separate himself from Risa at the last minute. With that thought in mind, he suddenly saw Francisca in his mind. 

"Risa's not back, and that must be annoying for you, right, Takeuchi?" 

"Of course it bothers me. I mean, she's a classmate." 

"Well, then..." 

Suzuki says, referring to Risa. 

It was easy to imagine the words that would follow. 

Just as Takeuchi-kun began to think about how to dismiss this, his phone buzzed and shuddered with incoming calls. The display on his phone, which he pulled out of his pants pocket, read hospital.

"Sorry, I have to go." 

"Oh, oh" 

Takeuchi stands up with a refusal to Suzuki. 

Leave the classroom quickly. 

Immediately after that, I received a call and connected the line. 

"Yes, this is Takeuchi." 

"May I have a word with you? You're on your lunch break, right?" 

The opponent was Francisca. 

The stiff series of Chinese characters displayed on the screen of the terminal is a consideration of Mr. Takeuchi prepared in case of this case. It was immediately showing results against Mr. Suzuki. Thanks to that, I was able to be alone. 

Unlike any other alarm guy, Takeuchi is always caring for his surroundings. 

"It's okay. I mean, do you know my school schedule?"

"That's not for you, okay? I need it to keep up with his schedule." 

"I see. ......" 

The response from Francisca was dismissive.

It was a far cry from her response to Nishino. As for Takeuchi, it must be an annoying story. The fact that the word he refers to a Futsumen is also annoying.

However, the handsome man did not care about this and continued the conversation. 

"So, um, what do you want to talk to me?" 

"First of all, I need a place where we can talk calmly." 

"It's okay. I'm going to be on the roof soon, so don't worry." 

As he told Francisca, his steps were toward the rooftop. 

He repeatedly climbed the stairs and crossed the steel door, and there was no sign of anyone. The north wind, blowing in a huff, made him feel cold even through his winter clothes. Not a single student could be found in the same place who liked to go outdoors at this time of the year. 

"Then I'll continue, but there is one thing I need you to do for me." 

"Yes, I will help you if I can.?" 

Takeuchi's heart jumped with a thump when he received the unexpected topic. 

The mysterious events that occurred in his own body and the supernatural existence of his position. In the last few days, he has improved considerably in controlling his poison and has reached the point where it doesn't interfere with his daily life. 

At this rate, sex in the near future is his best motivation. 

"For some reason he's being targeted by someone who is hostile to us. And because of that relationship, the traditional way could be a potential week point for him as well. So I'm wondering if you could join him as soon as possible and take cover under his protection."

"Eh ... " 

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But what continued was an unexpected request. 

The casual remark stimulated the handsome man's self-esteem. 

"However, we are keeping it a secret from him that you can use mysterious powers. So please do not tell anyone else about the poison. Do you understand what I mean?" 

"Don't tell me you are going to use my poison to deal with him?" 

"Then there is no need for me to tell you. All you would have to do is to let the enemy take you prisoner and send him there. No need to get your hands dirty, you can handle him with ease." 

"You don't think that's..." 

"I think it's absolutely ridiculous. He cares about you."

"............"

"He can afford to live comfortably for the rest of his life even after he has given up everything and run away, but he is going out of his way to get himself involved in this kind of trouble. And the fact that the reason for this is for the sake of a schoolmate with whom he doesn't even interact as far as he's concerned is just plain annoying." 

"Don't tell me that's what happened at the hospital the other day?" 

"I'll send you the location later. Get ready while you still can.” 

" ... I understand." 

Takeuchi's questions remained unanswered, and the call ended unilaterally. 

◇ ◆ ◇

That evening, Nishino and Shimizu, who were spending the day at the hotel, had a visitor.

They were Yukky and a black gal. 

It was up to the former, who had learned of the Futsumen's situation via a host club under Ohno's jurisdiction, to visit them with the latter. They visited the hotel room, and as soon as they recognized a familiar face on the living room sofa, they shouted and strode over. 

The awareness of the Futsumen and the Chairwoman was also directed toward them. 

"Yanagida and Yamanobe? What are you doing here?"

"Because of Shimizu-chan's case, we had to send someone out from the store as well. The owner heard about you and asked Mr. Ohno for a favor. You know, you took care of me before, so I'd like to thank you for that or something."

"You've been holed up in a hotel room all day, haven't you? I bought you a gift!" 

Yukky and the black gal responded with a smile. 

A white plastic bag was placed down.

"You went out of your way to visit me. Sorry." 

Rising from the couch, Nishino responded in a straightforward manner. 

The Chairwoman follows his lead and sits up in a great hurry. 

Incidentally, no one else could be seen within their sight. Ohno, who had been bustling about in some way, had also excused himself out of concern for Shimizu since finishing eating lunch. He is currently holding back in a separate room with a group of men who appear to be his subordinates. 

"Shimizu, can I ask you to come with me for a minute?"

"What? Me?" 

"As a girl, you must be in need of something, even if you're staying cooped up in a place like this, right? I've brought some stuff with me, so could you please check it out? I've got Nishi and Yukky with me here, and I don't think they'd want to be seen in this kind of situation." 

"Oh, ...... Yes. Thank you very much." 

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The two already knew each other from the abduction fiasco in the abandoned building to the sales competition at the host club. The Chairwoman nodded his head and followed her, aided by the Kuro gal annoying personality. The two men saw her off to another room. 

The destination is one of the two bedrooms. 

There, they both look at the souvenirs spread out on the bed. 

"I bought a lot of stuff, but let me know if I'm missing anything!" 

"Oh, you even brought cosmetics?" 

"Shimizu, you're just plain cute, and I guess I didn't need it. Well, keep it." 

Starting with sanitary products, there were deodorants, wet wipes, makeup remover, and, as the Chairwoman voiced, even cosmetics such as eye makeup and lipstick, all arranged in a row on the sheets that had been made up. 

All of them were brand new. Not a single one of them had been opened. Perhaps she had purchased them on her way to the hotel. Even if it was for a close friend, the Chairwoman did not remember going this far in the past, nor had she ever been taken advantage of. 

The choice of each item is quite thoughtful. 

"Sorry for everything. Um, sh, I'd like to pay you......" 

"It's nothing really. I mean, this is a gift from me and Yukky." 

"But this is a pretty expensive purchase, isn't it?" 

"I'm so grateful to Nihi for all he's done for me. Don't worry about it." 

" ..... " 

The Chairwoman was speechless, purse in hand, when she heard a casual kuro gal remark. 

Shimizu was surprised that a girl who would do so much for Nishino existed, albeit outside the campus. Moreover, the other peron is a rather lovely person. Her flashy outfit and lighthearted personality also seemed to be incompatible with the character of a futsumen. 

For the Chairwoman this is an annoying turn of events. 

It is an emotion that he had held in her heart even at the host club. 

Why would such a girl do this to someone like Nishino-kun?

"Oh, and in addition to the gifts for Shimizu, I also bought a change of clothes for the two of you. This one was requested by someone named Mr. Ohno, but may I ask you to check it as well? I think Yukky told Nishi about this, too." 

"Oh, a change of clothes?" 

"It's annoying to walk around in uniform, isn't it?" 

For her, the on campus scene was what was natural. She strongly believes that it is natural for her, too. For the Chairwoman, it is a rule that is more important than anything else, and is equivalent to an absolute rule that governs the principles of her own behavior. 

It is an activity that she has continued not only during her high school life, but also ever since she entered elementary school. 

"...... Um, can I ask you something?" 

"Hmm? What?" 

Perhaps that's why, Shimizu found herself asking the kuro gal. 

Yamanobe, who was laying out the clothes on the bed in a crisp manner. 

She stared at her calm smile and asked her a question with a serious face. 

"Nishino-kun is, you know, a little bit weird, isn't it?" 

"Uh, yeah, yeah, you're right, maybe a little bit weird." 

"So why is Yamanobe-san acting like this ......" 

"But isn't he a nice boy in general? I like, Nishino-kun." 

"Eh ... "

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"Oh, I mean as a person, of course. My boyfriend slot has been taken up by Yukky, so I hope you don't get the wrong idea there. If Rose-chan gets the message, I'm sure she'll be very angry." 

" .... " 

The answer was no longer within the scope of the Chairwoman understanding. 

It was Shimizu who almost shouted out, That's so annoying. 

But it didn't look like the other person was lying. 

"And, this time, if you need me to talk things through, I'll help you, okay? I'm sure your parents would be worried. You can call me anytime if you want. Oh, by the way, did we exchange contact information?" 

"Ah, thank you ... " 

The Chairwoman had no choice but to bow to the favor that was unilaterally bestowed upon her. 

◇ ◆ ◇

Yukky and the kuro gal stayed for about an hour before heading home. 

Apparently, the main business was to provide food for Nishino and the Chairwoman. They left for a while after separating for a change of clothes for men and women, saying apologetically that it would be annoying to Mr. Ohno if they stayed too long. 

The fact that she was saved by Nishino again irritated the Chairwoman. 

She was sent off with an annoying feeling in her chest. From then on, it was just the two of them in the living room again, and both in civilian clothes. 

Whether it was Yukky's sense of style or Kuro gal choice, the Futsumen man who had always been a 10,000-yen man in his private life was dressed from top to bottom in trendy top-brand clothes. 

This again impressed Shimizu with Nishino's presence. 

In her mind, the words given to her by Yamanobe were whirling around and around incessantly. The more she tried to stop herself from being aware of them, the more she thought of the Futsumen's face. It's as persistent as a sticker mark that won't come off, no matter how much she  scrub it off. 

And so she spend a while in agony. 

Ohno came into the living room. 

"Mr. Nishino, I think it's time for dinner..." 

"Oh, is that time already?" 

As the Chairwiman, a minute felt like an hour since she had seen Yukky and the Kuro gal off, she almost felt an unintentional outburst of repulsion. She somehow suppresses this and listens to the exchange taking place in front of her. 

"I'm going to go get ready over here, if that's all right." 

"I'm sorry, but I would appreciate it if you did." 

"Yes, sir." 

Watching their exchange, Shimizu suddenly thought to herself. 

If they were going to stay in the same hotel room today, she wondered if she would have to sleep in the same room with the Futsumen. 

" ......... " 

When she thinks about how she has already enclosed herself in a small bed in the past, she is almost willing to compromise, such as, well, that's about it. But then again, the Chairwoman realized that she has never shared a bedroom with a member of the opposite sex, except with the Futusmen. 

An ungainly sense of irritation floods her insides. 

Her mouth naturally moved to speak to him. 

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"Um, Nishino-kun, may I have a word with you?" 

"What happened ? Chairwoman" 

"I'd like to check on some future plans or something. ......" 

The Chairwoman has confirmed that there are two bedrooms in the guest room. She is the one who thought about whether the two of them could use them separately, in order to get a good concession from the Futsumen. The question would be how far the presence of Ohno and the men who seem to be his subordinates would be echoed. 

Worst case scenario, she could use the couch in the living room, which is not very tough for a girl. 

"I will be waiting to hear from Francisca for a while. We will not make you wait that long, but in some cases we may cripple you for a few days or so. I know I am repeating myself on this point, but I am very sorry."

"Yes, that's right ... " 

"We will need to contact your family. If there is anything I can say to help, I would be happy to help. If it is necessary, I will have Francisca contact them as well. If the Chairwoman has any requests, please don't hesitate to let me know." 

" ....... " 

It appeared that a sleepover was confirmed for this evening. 

However, the accommodation was a royal suite in a luxury hotel that costs no less than three digits of a million yen per night. It's never all bad when you think about it like that, the Chairwoman decided to think positively. If I lived a normal life, I would never be able to stay in this place. 

Let's have fun at the most, she began to think. 

Then, suddenly, there was a roar. 

It was an annoying, gut wrenching explosion. 

"Eh ... " 

"Mr Nishino, this is..!" 

Voices were raised not only from Shimizu but also from Ohno. 

In the face of this, the Futsumen replied.  

"So you've reached out to us." 

The Chairwoman's positive thoughts were not going to be so easily fulfilled. 

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