Chapter 163: Like?

On this day, when Himekoji finished copying his self-reflection essay, school was already out…

Time flies so quickly.

Or rather, the word count for this damn essay was just way too high!

This felt like a punishment harsher than physical labor!

Himekoji tried to shake the numbness out of his completely stiff right hand, grumbling angrily.

By the way, if each character was paid at his current manuscript rate, after writing so much, he’d have earned enough bride price to marry Hiratsuka-sensei in grand style!

Curious about how much Himekoji “earned”?

Well, it actually didn’t matter how much.

Because an older single woman like Hiratsuka-sensei, meeting a top-tier guy like him with such amazing qualities, would definitely be the one paying instead!

So, “marry her in grand style” had no issues at all.

Of course, “move in with her” would fit the situation even better.

Alright, enough fantasizing.

After refusing Yuigahama’s invitation to go to the Service Club again, Himekoji slung his bag over his shoulder and ran off to Mizuki High all by himself.

Why did he feel like he had an incompetent daughter to look after?

Walking halfway, Himekoji couldn’t help but feel a wave of weariness.

He had to pick Mashiro up from school because, even though the trip was only about ten minutes long, Mashiro just couldn’t remember the way.

When Himekoji reached Mizuki High, he found Mashiro’s class completely empty, with no sign of the girl.

He had no choice but to search the whole campus. He finally found Shiina Mashiro wandering around the sports field like a lost lamb.

Totally expected…

“What are you doing?”

He strode over, rolled his eyes, and asked weakly.

“Go home.”

Mashiro seemed entirely unaware she was lost.

“Home isn’t this way! You’re heading in the completely opposite direction! If you keep going, you’ll only get farther away!”

“I know. I was just about to go home.”

No, you clearly don’t know.

Himekoji couldn’t be bothered to say that out loud.

On the way home…

“Akito.”

Mashiro, who had been silent all this time, suddenly tugged gently on his sleeve and called his name.

“Hmm?”

“Aren’t we in the same school?”

“Nope.”

“Oh.”

Mashiro whispered softly, her mouth open a little.

Seriously, don’t look like this is brand new information! We even wear different uniforms!

“Why?”

“Why? ‘Cause you’re going to Mizuki High and I’m attending Toyonoshi Academy. That’s pretty much it.”

“Toyonoshi? I want to go to Toyonoshi too.”

“Just stay at Mizuki High!”

Himekoji rolled his eyes dismissively, brushing it off.

“No.”

“Reason?”

“I don’t like them.”

Mashiro glanced around.

Groups of students in blue and white uniforms walked together in twos and threes.

Many girls, either shyly or boldly, were staring at Himekoji with intense interest.

“Huh? Isn’t that a Toyonoshi Academy student?”

“He’s so handsome!”

“Why is a Toyonoshi guy all the way over here?”

“Looks like he’s picking up his girlfriend after school.”

“I want an out-of-school boyfriend like that too! A super handsome one who picks me up every day!”

…

Himekoji had good hearing, but hearing all this just made him wonder if he’d misheard his ears.

Those girls… were calling him handsome?

Of course, logically speaking, the whole world knew it. But meeting someone who actually admitted it out loud was a first for him!

His foundation was strong to begin with, plus the System had enhanced his charm countless times.

So, someone as good-looking as him should have been treated like the protagonist at Toyonoshi Academy.

Unfortunately, that impossible-to-shake “Pervert” label had caused him endless grief…

Never expected that, here at Mizuki High, he’d finally get the kind of treatment his level of handsome deserved.

All displeasure about coming all this way to pick up Mashiro instantly vanished.

“They… aren’t they all pretty nice?”

Himekoji felt almost floaty with satisfaction and couldn’t help but compliment.

Listen! Where else could you find such honest kids? Much better than the prejudiced bunch at Toyonoshi!

“Don’t like them.”

But Mashiro simply replied like that.

“Then what do you like? You want to transfer to Toyonoshi… you like me then?”

Himekoji pursed his lips helplessly and said casually.

“Like.”

“See? In that case, why are you even coming to Toyonoshi… Hey, wait, what did you say?!”

It wasn’t until midway he suddenly realized something was wrong.

“Like.”

Faced with his shocked expression, Shiina Mashiro only looked at him, puzzled, then calmly repeated it again.

“Because Akito helps prepare my food.”

Shiina Mashiro said as she pulled a Baumkuchen out of her bag. She tore open the wrapper and took a small bite.

Himekoji had put several of them in her bag that morning.

Helps prepare her food?

Ah… So that’s how simple her definition of “like” was?

Shiina Mashiro’s “like” was just her likeness for “food”… Or her feeling for her “owner” — nothing more.

Makes sense. A total airhead like her, what could she possibly understand about “like”? Besides, they’d only just met yesterday.

Himekoji breathed a sigh of relief. Still, deep down, he suddenly felt… kind of hollow.

It was probably the first time someone had ever “confessed” to him, wasn’t it?

He chuckled, then shook his head, deciding not to dwell on it.

“Akito, I want to transfer to Toyonoshi.”

Mashiro brought up her request again.

“Well, you’d need your family’s permission for that…”

“They won’t mind.”

“Oh… oh. Fine, suit yourself.”

Himekoji eventually agreed.

It definitely wasn’t because he heard her say “like”… It was just to make it easier to take care of this forgetful girl, that’s all.

Otherwise, he’d have to travel this huge distance back and forth every day?

That’d be exhausting!

[Ding!]

[The first 24-hour assessment of cohabitation is complete!]

[Assessment Score: 60!]

[Please keep working hard!]

[Reward received: 600 2D Points.]

[Friendly Reminder: Falling below the passing score of 60 will result in penalties. Wishing you good luck in your upcoming cohabitation days.]

Friendly reminder? Hah! What kind of “friendship” do I have with this stupid System anyway?

Though… having daily assessments was something Himekoji hadn’t anticipated at all…

Wasn’t this just giving him a great new avenue to farm 2D Points?

Hold on—let’s not jump to conclusions. Maybe it was actually a new avenue for farming penalties instead?

He’d worked so hard all these 24 hours… and was only barely given a score of 60?

That had to be wrong!

Not acceptable! Looks like getting Mashiro transferred needed to happen fast!

Otherwise, he’d inevitably fall short sooner or later!

[Ding!]

[The Perverse Choice System’s “24-hour Beginner Cooldown” period has ended!]

[To extend it, please pay 10,000 2D Points.]

……