Chapter 107: Better Hurry Up and Confess

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"I'm asking you seriously, don't touch me," Kaede pushed away Hachiman's hand that was pinching her cheeks and said irritably.

'What's so good about this guy Hachiman, anyway? Why do Vignette and the others get along so well with him?'

She felt that Hachiman was full of flaws. If she wasn't his childhood friend, she definitely wouldn't have had anything to do with him.

But now, there was a whole bunch of beautiful girls surrounding Hachiman. It was baffling.

"There are more dishes being made today, so it might take a while. You can have some of the snacks Vignette brought back first to fill your stomachs," Hachiman wasn't bothered by being pushed away by Kaede. He smiled as he distributed some of Vignette's snacks to everyone.

Kaede wasn't stupid. Sooner or later, she would notice his relationship with Iris and the others. But with Suzu acting as a little double agent, even if Kaede got mad and ignored him, he could still confidently walk into Kaede's house and persuade her.

By then, he would make Kaede understand that she and Suzu needed a good sister's help.

For now, though, he was just laying the groundwork, testing how strongly Kaede would oppose it.

Well… if she was strongly opposed, then he'd have to be more persuasive. After all, there was no way he would let Kaede and Suzu escape his grasp.

"Aegis, can I call you that?", Seeing that Hachiman was completely unfazed, Kaede gritted her teeth and turned her attention to the elf princess's guard—Aegis Thea Eaderlindt, a voluptuous and powerful blonde elf.

"No problem, we're in a private setting, so feel free," Aegis was momentarily surprised but then nodded indifferently.

Unlike Iris, she didn't really care about how others viewed her outside of Hachiman and Iris. She also didn't have a princess-like attitude.

In social settings, she never played coy and always bluntly pointed out people's shortcomings. In private, that held even more true.

But so far, the girls around the club leader were all pretty easygoing, and she hadn't had any conflicts with anyone.

"Isn't it a bit inappropriate for Hachiman to make your princess cook personally? I'm really sorry about that. Hachiman is just lazy, not actually ordering Her Highness around," Kaede clenched her fist and gave Hachiman's thigh a strong punch, as if punishing him, before apologizing to Aegis.

Even though Hachiman's behavior was often disappointing, he was still her childhood friend. She had to cover for him, lest the elf princess be displeased with him.

"...", Hachiman looked at Kaede, speechless, 'When have I ever ordered Iris around?'

'Does Kaede not realize that Iris isn't someone who can be bossed around? If she doesn't want to do something, there is no way I can make her.'

But since Kaede was saying this out of concern for him, he decided not to mock her for her hasty and somewhat thoughtless brain this time.

He glanced at Suzu, who was sitting quietly beside him with her head down, and gently took her small hand resting on her smooth, round, snow-white thigh, playing with it discreetly.

"Ordering the princess? You misunderstood. Her Highness is simply expressing gratitude for all the unconditional assistance the club leader has provided. She volunteered to cook; the leader did not command her to do so," Aegis was also momentarily taken aback by Kaede's question. After a brief pause, she slowly explained.

Maybe humans and demi-humans had different standards of appreciation. From their perspective, the club leader was outstanding—a benefactor welcomed by all races. If he weren't from this world, but from theirs, Iris would have long invited him to settle in the Elven Forest.

But as things stood, they were from different worlds. They couldn't very well ask someone who had helped them selflessly to uproot himself and move.

"Oh, oh, so Hachiman did something good? Your princess is so kind—why not just treat him to a meal at the school cafeteria instead of going all the way to his house to cook?", Kaede nodded in half-understanding.

Hachiman had many flaws she disliked—lazy, unambitious, dreaming of marrying a rich woman—but overall, he wasn't a bad person.

He had probably completed some kind of request for the elf princess through the Service Club, helping her out as she adjusted to a completely unfamiliar environment. That must be why she was so nice to him.

But Kaede wasn't worried that the elf princess would fall in love with Hachiman because of this.

The tale of a rich heiress falling for a poor boy only happens on TV, let alone an elf princess from another world falling for Hachiman, a high schooler from an ordinary family.

This guy had so many flaws—only she and Suzu would be willing to tolerate him.

As for Hachiman's ridiculous dream of becoming a househusband, it would shatter on its own in a few years, forcing him to get a proper job.

Watching Kaede, who was completely unaware of the situation, Komachi and Shion exchanged subtle glances.

They both knew exactly what Aegis meant by 'assistance', but they couldn't just tell Kaede outright.

After all, Shion was secretly involved in the same things as Iris and the others.

And Komachi herself was an accomplice.

They were all on Hachiman's side—why would they expose his good fortune?

Kaede, oblivious to the slightly strange atmosphere, noticed that Hachiman was still sneaking around and teasing Suzu. She immediately glared at him and removed his hand from Suzu's thigh.

Hachiman, seeing this, simply switched targets and placed his hand on Kaede's thigh instead.

Kaede, caught off guard, blushed and quickly grabbed his hand to stop him.

She just wanted to stop him from messing with Suzu, not become his next victim.

"...", Amid the lively scene, Makoto Usui silently observed the interactions between Hachiman and her good friend Kaede, then glanced at the knowing looks exchanged between Komachi and Shion.

She also noticed the cheerful laughter coming from the kitchen, where Gabriel, Vignette, and Iris seemed to be getting along splendidly.

As the only one present who wasn't familiar with Hachiman—merely here as Kaede's friend—she instinctively felt that something was off.

But she couldn't quite pinpoint what.

She had looked into transfer students Gabriel and Vignette, as well as the elf princess Iris. As a discipline committee member, she knew they all had stellar reputations—some were even more popular than Kaede, the student council president.

Hachiman, according to Kaede, was just an ordinary childhood friend. So how had he gotten so close to all these adorable and beautiful girls?

Judging by how natural and happy they looked, they clearly weren't being coerced.

Makoto Usui pursed her lips and decided to have Hachiman walk her home after dinner—to see what kind of person Kaede's childhood friend really was.

"Stop for a moment, Hachiman, stop playing for now!", Kaede and Hachiman had been roughhousing for a while. Seeing that Hachiman had no intention of stopping, she hurriedly called for a halt. She hadn't come to Hachiman's house just to wrestle and fool around with him.

"Hmm? Kaede, what do you want to say?", Hachiman didn't stop his movements, looking at Kaede curiously.

Playing around like this in front of everyone was an extremely intimate act, which indirectly helped this girl solidify her position. What else did she want to stir up?

"Hachiman, stop playing! I'm talking about something serious!", Kaede gritted her teeth, panting heavily as she forcefully pressed down on Hachiman's hand and pulled him outside the living room.

Sitting on the sofa with an expressionless face, Suzu glanced at the two of them, then looked at the others. Since no one made a move, they exchanged glances and began chatting in low voices.

Although Makoto Usui wasn't familiar with anyone here except the quiet Suzu, and didn't know who to talk to, Komachi wasn't that inconsiderate. With her attention, she made sure Makoto Usui didn't end up sitting there awkwardly alone.

"What exactly is so secretive that you have to hide from everyone? Didn't you just come to see Iris and Gabriel?", Hachiman let Kaede pull him to the hallway by the entrance, looking at her speechlessly.

"Don't tell me… you're going to confess to me?"

"Who wants to confess to you? I'm looking for you because of what was discussed at the student council yesterday," Hearing Hachiman's shameless words, Kaede turned away in irritation, flinging off the hand she had just held onto, then crossed her arms in front of her heavy chest, staring at him intently.

"Student council?", Hachiman was momentarily stunned.

"Yeah, isn't Tsubaki leaving? Are you going to join the student council or not? If not, I need to start recruiting people, otherwise, Suzu and I won't be able to handle everything alone," Kaede rolled her eyes at Hachiman, who clearly hadn't taken this matter to heart, and explained.

Although it was Tsubaki who was taking a leave of absence,

Shino, being a maid, naturally followed her. The student council, which originally had four people, suddenly lost half its members. Of course, they needed new recruits. Otherwise, wouldn't she be drowning in student club applications every day?

"Isn't the vice president still here? Try persuading her again. Maybe in a few days, she'll change her mind," Hachiman suddenly understood—it was about this matter.

He knew that Tsubaki Rurikawa was considering accepting the unreasonable demands of the Poiman family because of her own family affairs. However, he was going to settle things with the Poiman family tonight. By then, Tsubaki Rurikawa wouldn't have to worry about their threats anymore, nor would she need to take a leave of absence to become a maid.

"I already tried, but she won't budge. She's determined to leave school. I can't just wait until she and Shino have both left before rushing to find replacements, right?", Kaede shook her head. She didn't want Tsubaki to leave either, but if even Tsubaki, as a wealthy heiress, couldn't resolve the situation, what could she do?

If she had a solution, she wouldn't just be a student council president.

"Hmm, that's true... So, what standards do you have for recruitment? I'll help you keep an eye out," Hachiman thought for a moment. He didn't mention that he would be resolving Tsubaki Rurikawa's troubles tonight. Instead, he smiled and asked.

Apart from Iris and Aegis, he wouldn't tell anyone about his trip to the Poiman family tonight. After all, he wasn't going there just for fun.

"...Do you really not want to join the student council?", Seeing how Hachiman completely dismissed the idea of joining and went straight to offering recruitment help, Kaede couldn't help but look at him sorrowfully.

She still wanted to work together with Hachiman in the student council. Otherwise, just like now—though they had been childhood friends growing up together and were still attending the same school—there wasn't much time for them to spend together each day.

"The Service Club is running just fine. Why would I go to the student council to work like a laborer?", Hachiman rejected her outright. However, considering their years of friendship, he didn't shut her down completely and added, "Of course, if you can't find anyone, you can come to the Service Club for help."

Joining the student council was out of the question. The student council actually had to work, whereas the Service Club could slack off while claiming it was a legitimate club activity. The difference in treatment was too drastic.

"Help? So, I have to pay you just to ask for help?", Seeing that Hachiman was too attached to his so-called Service Club president's authority to come help her in the student council, Kaede snorted coldly in dissatisfaction.

"If that's how you want to see it, sure," Watching Kaede cross her arms, making her already ample chest appear even heavier, Hachiman stroked his chin and smiled mischievously.

"Although the Service Club helps people without requiring payment, I'm the president, so I decide whether or not to accept outside requests. Hmm, Kaede, you get what I mean, right?"

Yukinoshita Yukino definitely wouldn't allow this kind of shady deal, but unfortunately for her, he was the president. Most of the Service Club members were on his side. Even if he blatantly made deals under the table, Yukinoshita Yukino wouldn't be able to do much against him.

Of course, it was still an unspoken rule. He wouldn't say it outright.

Otherwise, if Yukinoshita Yukino reported him to the disciplinary committee for improper male-female interactions, dealing with the disciplinary committee members would be a headache. While the student council president was his ally, there were still committee members who disapproved of such behavior—like that shameless Kotegawa, and even Makoto Usui, who was serious and meticulous.

"I haven't even asked you to pay me back for the favor of letting you establish the Service Club solo, and now you're demanding compensation from me?"

Noticing that Hachiman was staring straight at her chest, Kaede's cheeks burned. Flustered and angry, she raised her hand, preparing to smack him.

This guy—if he liked her and wanted her, he could've just made it a condition for joining the student council. Instead, he was using the Service Club's help as leverage to coerce her.

He was getting worse and worse.

"Then I'll give you something first, and you can return the favor later."

Seeing Kaede about to make a move, Hachiman struck first—suddenly pulling her into his arms and kissing her pink lips.

"Ptui! Who wants you to use a kiss as payment? I haven't even settled yesterday's score, and now this?", Kaede was stunned. As soon as their lips parted, she saw Hachiman licking his lips. She finally reacted, blushing furiously as she raised her small fists to launch a full-on close combat brawl.

If Hachiman didn't mention it, she would've let yesterday's incident in the student council office slide. But now, he was escalating—coercing her with the Service Club's help and kissing her again.

She had to teach him a lesson.

However, her plan didn't stand up to reality.

Before Kaede could even throw a few punches, Hachiman had already caught her fists and pulled her into his embrace.

"Kaede, if you keep being this tsundere and stubborn, you'll end up alone."

Hachiman gazed at her struggling figure in his arms, then lowered his voice teasingly, "You better hurry up and confess to me, or I really will start hugging Iris and the others instead."

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