Chapter 211: Hmph, Little Bitches

The Book Signing Event ended.

But the aftereffects of the Book Signing Event were still going on.

Pushed by intentional hype from Fujisawa Bookstore, many reports came flooding in overnight—

“Shocking! A new author’s first Book Signing Event had such a wild scene! To keep order, security had to be called!”

“The Book Signing Event was super popular! The bestselling light novel author is just a high school student!”

“Rising idol! The face of the light novel world! Teacher Luqiu!”

“A Book Signing Event or a hugging contest? Did you hug Teacher Koji today?”

…

This effect even reached the school.

“Is it him?”

“It’s him, it’s him!”

“No way, right?”

“Damn, I can’t believe it! But the truth is that crazy and wild!”

“When the hell can a pervert write a light novel?”

“Ugh, totally. The light novel world is really worrying now.”

During the break, thanks to many news reports about the Book Signing Event online, almost every topic around was about this.

All sorts of glances, some sneaky and some open, swept over Himekoji.

“Hey! How dare they talk about Onii-chan like that!”

Himekoji could take it, but Akiko couldn’t.

When she stepped up to argue with some nearby guys and it didn’t work, she stormed off angrily to the office to tattle.

Himekoji pulled but couldn’t hold her back.

So, who was the older brother and who was the younger sister?

As the Onii-chan, he needed Akiko to stand up for him…

…

“… Even if you’re used to it now, people still get upset seeing you like this. You should start seeing that.”

In his mind, suddenly, Hiratsuka-sensei’s words from not long ago flashed again.

…

“Huff—”

Maybe that was really true.

He let out a soft breath.

Himekoji clenched his fist and stood up.

In the Classroom, the loudest voice was Tobe’s.

Himekoji felt he needed to “have a good chat” with that idiot.

Anyway, besides being a Pervert, he didn’t mind adding a violent troublemaker title.

…

“Tobe, that was too harsh. Just say sorry to Mr. Mihara.”

Then, just after Himekoji walked forward two steps and his harsh words were still brewing, Hayama spoke up first.

Say sorry to Mr. Mihara?

Huh?

He didn’t get it wrong, did he? That Hayama dared tell others to apologize?

Well, Mr. Can’t-Even-Get-My-Name-Right Guy, shouldn’t you apologize too already?

“Hayato, you’re not being serious, are you? You want me to say sorry to that… that Pervert?”

Tobe widened his eyes in disbelief.

Mocking and teasing that Pervert was, like, their after-school tradition, right?

“We’re all classmates. That went too far. Well, say sorry and it’s done.”

Hayama patted Tobe’s shoulder with a smile, pushing without being obvious.

Just then, Himekoji also happened to walk right up to Tobe, and he was ready to talk with his fists.

“My… bad, sorry, Mr. Mihara. No harm meant. Just used to joking that way.”

Tobe scratched the back of his head with an awkward grin.

Damn, guess no punch after all…

He did apologize, didn’t he?

“Eh, I was almost used to it anyway.”

Most times, Himekoji was a reasonable and easygoing guy.

So, after dropping that line, he walked coolly back to his seat.

…

“Eh? There’s a video from yesterday’s Book Signing Event!”

“Click and play it! Click and play it!”

“Huh? So many people? Does Himekoji really have that many fans?”

“Wait! What… what is he doing?”

“Groping… groping chests! That Pervert is still like this even at a Book Signing Event, I swear!”

Tobe’s group quieted down, sure, but now a bunch of girls at the front of the Classroom started making noise.

Blame Hayama—he was going to set an example, but the busybody Hayama butted in and messed it all up.

The voices now came from a group of girls crowded at the front of the Classroom.

Unlike with Tobe, Himekoji couldn’t just walk over to yell and stop them. That’d be dangerous.

Who knew if the System might suddenly screw him over?

Every time he was near the opposite sex, he had to be extra careful.

That was Himekoji’s version of a Pervert’s self-discipline.

…

“Wait… wait…”

“Huh?”

“Oh… oh, wow…”

Suddenly, the chatter from the girls got strangely quiet. They covered their mouths and stared wide-eyed, like they were holding back something.

A few glances crept sneakily toward Himekoji.

“Why… why does he look so hot in the video?!”

“This makes no sense! How could someone who’s clearly just a pervert…”

“So gentle! So romantic! Signing autographs on female fans’ chests…”

“I-I want one too… Wait, what am I even saying?!”

…

Himekoji hadn’t expected the “Pervert Charisma virus” could continue spreading its plague through fan-recorded videos!

Utterly terrifying!

Those snotty little btches who were mocking him earlier had their IQs drop ten thousand points in an instant, turning into drooling fangirls!

“Serves you right!”

Himekoji grumbled silently.

…

“Light novel authors are amazing! Himekoji-kun has achieved such incredible success at such a young age. He’s really impressive.”

Now that was a reasonable opinion.

Maybe after catching the “Pervert Charisma virus,” those little btches had gained some IQ points?

“Ah! I get it now! Himekoji-kun’s usual perverted acts must be research material for his novels, right?”

“Exactly! That explains everything!”

Alright, scratch that last thought he had.

These little btches don’t possess a shred of intelligence!

I was forced into all those perverted actions!

What author in their right mind would become perverted just to write a silly novel?!

…

Deciding to ignore those idiots entirely,

Himekoji coolly plopped back down onto his seat.

The moment his backside touched the chair, everything suddenly went dark.

A familiar face blocked the light—no, scratch that—familiar chests blocked the light.

He was nearly startled out of his chair…

Seriously, she was way too close!

See? Large ♂chests♂ like that are completely useless, only taking up space!

“Ya hollo!”

It was Yuigahama’s signature greeting.

“Coming to the club today?”

“Er… yeah.”

Truth was, he hadn’t shown up there for quite a while. Himekoji couldn’t quite bring himself to refuse.

“Great. See you at the club then.”

Yuigahama waved a tiny, secretive goodbye over her chest before skipping back over to Miura.

Miura threw a briefly surprised glance at Himekoji before swiftly refocusing on her phone again.

As expected of the almighty ♚Queen♚ herself. The affairs of mere mortals held no interest for her.

That glance hadn’t really been for Himekoji; she’d just been watching out for Yuigahama.

Huh? This scene felt strangely familiar, like it happened dozens of chapters ago?

Last time, he’d absentmindedly agreed to Yuigahama… only to stand her up…

Ahem, forget it. Better not dwell on that.

Come to think of it… hadn’t he totally forgotten about a whole quest to conquer Miura Yumiko?

【Ding!】

【Quest Review!】

【Make Miura Yumiko kiss you passionately of her own will. (Note: The kiss must come from Miura’s own deeply sincere feelings. Kisses achieved through skills, items, or the System’s aid are invalid.)】

【Time Limit: None.】

Ugh, now the System had to remind him…

Himekoji’s mood suddenly soured.

But—

Thankfully it was a “No Time Limit” quest, meaning he could safely ignore it forever.

…