Chapter 153, 154: Don’t Praise Me When I’m a Pervert

Himekoji had a problem. Yep, a big one!

A problem about money!

He wanted money! He really, really wanted money!

The pay from “Risque Jokes” wasn’t bad, but all of it went to the Arisugawa family for his imouto.

Because of this, despite being a best-selling author, he was left looking poor and shabby, just another broke student.

He thought, it was okay if he was poor, but when his imouto arrived, he couldn’t let her be poor too, could he?

An old saying put it well—

No matter how poor you are, you must care for your imouto!

So, right after school that day, Himekoji headed straight to the Fujisawa headquarters. His “money tree,” “One-Punch Man,” had been submitted ages ago with no updates. Wasn’t this killing his income stream?

Himekoji decided to go in person to hurry things along. Leaving immediately after school ensured he wouldn’t miss the editors before they clocked out. He didn’t bother his editor Machida Sonoko, who handled novels, so he went directly to the manga department. He’d visited during a tour before and knew the way.

But the knowledgeable Himekoji stopped dead at the entrance. “Stopped” wasn’t quite right—no one blocked him. He just halted his own steps.

Because right there, outside the door, a girl in a Mizuki High uniform paced silently back and forth. Like a guard patrolling the doorway. Weird vibe.

Approaching now felt dangerous!

The rotten System clinging to him for over a year screamed this warning through his intuition. He cautiously stood still, not moving an inch.

But Himekoji couldn’t help scrutinizing the girl. She seemed like a student from nearby Mizuki High. Her uniform looked brand new, unused to wearing it; she occasionally tugged at the hem with an expressionless yet cute motion. Slightly upturned eyes. A slender waist. Her skin was so pale and translucent it seemed to bleach the air around her. She moved like a solitary wanderer on an ice field. Himekoji had become a prisoner to this illusion before he knew it. Her silent stride, if compared to a cat, was like an Iriomote wildcat—deep, impactful presence radiating dangerous, critically endangered vibes. Looking away felt unwise, like she might vanish, stirring unease.

No. If she lingered pacing at the entrance, Himekoji couldn’t approach. Distance was his only buffer for safety. He could not trigger a Perverse Choice at the manga department entrance. Absolutely not!

So, miss student, what are you doing, loitering and pacing? Go in if you want to! Stop dawdling out here, please!

Maybe Himekoji’s mental complaints worked. The girl finally ceased her endless pacing and wordlessly glided through the Fujisawa manga department door, like a doll. She settled silently onto a waiting couch near the entrance, about 1.5 meters from the main door Himekoji needed to pass. Safe distance! Making a quick assessment, Himekoji hurriedly tried to slip past the main doors.

…

“What color do you want to become?”

Just as Himekoji stepped inside, the girl seated 1.5 meters away silently parted her lips and spoke to him. Soft, faint. At first, he didn’t even realize it was her voice. If not for the System’s alert…

[Ding!]

[Please choose!]

One saying held true—fortune isn’t disaster, and disaster can’t be dodged… What must come, had come. But it could be worse. This time, just a verbally perverted option, relatively mild. Secretly relieved internally, Himekoji reluctantly approached. His gaze accidentally met the girl’s pure white eyes. A strange feeling spiked. He paused, then spoke.

“Me?”

She nodded lightly.

“I want to be the color of your underwear! No, more precisely, I want to be your underwear! Pressed close to your private ♂ parts, offering warmth and protection!” As he spoke, the System forced a gentle smile onto his face. Inside, he wanted to cry. His ‘heroic declaration’, passionate and loud, probably reached half the manga department. Saying such explosive lines to a girl he’d never met? Was he a Pervert? Well, to others, definitely yes! Editors, marketing staff, operators, technicians, support staff—everyone looked up, startled. A collective “Swish!” turned all eyes on Himekoji.

“Who’s that?”

“What a brave soul?”

“Isn’t that the “Risque Jokes” author from next door?”

“Oh… him? That explains it.”

“Who’s he harassing this time? Hey, is that girl even from our manga dept?”

…

Whispers rustled. Intense stares. Himekoji’s face burned like a fever. Wait, why burn now? Where was the thick skin forged by countless battles? He felt he was regressing… no, his perversion was degenerating. This wouldn’t do! Chest out! So what if I’m a Pervert?

I became a pervert by my own skills! Why feel ashamed?

Hmm, even if that’s true, it’s still so embarrassing!

Self-deception didn’t work.

…

“Underwear?”

This girl before him was different from all the other “victims” Himekoji had encountered. She didn’t scream in shock at his perverted behavior, nor did she shout back in angry humiliation.

She just tilted her head slightly, wearing a puzzled expression.

…

\\[Quest Completed!\\]

Hearing this long-awaited System notification, Himekoji sighed in relief and quickly put more distance between them.

But unexpectedly, the girl slowly stood up. Taking small steps, she walked closer to him.

Slender figure, soft voice, quiet and steady movements. Her pale face showed little expression, almost no emotion at all.

It just felt like—

Standing near her was like standing on cracking ice.

Or like being near a delicate glass craft that might break at the slightest touch.

“Impressive.”

The girl’s sudden words caught Himekoji completely off guard.

“Huh?”

Impressive? She said impressive?

This seemed to be the first time anyone had praised him immediately after his perverted act.

But… What was impressive?

His actions were deeply wrong!

He knew that himself.

“Your voice sounds nice. Truly impressive.”

The girl blinked her distinctive phoenix-like eyes and spoke softly.

…

So strange. Even unguarded against bad people.

That was the only thought Himekoji had at that moment.

Luckily, he wasn’t a bad person.

…