You Will Regret This Ichinose! [17]

"God, this is so annoying! She thinks she can do whatever she wants just because she's cute!"

Bang! Bang!

"Annoying! So annoying!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Why doesn't Horikita just drop dead? That bitch!"

Oh?

What a dramatic scene.

Uesugi Gen, standing nearby, reached for his phone. Might as well record this.

Not far from him, a short-haired girl with chestnut-colored hair was furiously kicking a railing. With each kick, she cursed Horikita Suzune's name.

It was none other than Kushida Kikyo, the seemingly sociable girl from Class D whom Uesugi and Himeno Yuki had encountered not long ago.

As expected…

From the very beginning, Uesugi had found something strange about her. Someone who was as adept at making friends as Ichinose Honami shouldn't have ended up in Class D unless she had some glaring flaw that completely overrode the school's evaluation system.

And now, the truth was in front of him.

Kushida's drive to make friends wasn't born from genuine intent. Even if she despised someone deep down, she forced herself to smile and engage with them every day.

This dissonance between her true feelings and her outward actions created a tremendous psychological burden on her, leading to what Uesugi was witnessing now.

At this moment, Uesugi felt a strange sense of relief.

See? She's so normal.

Forcing yourself to smile and interact with people you dislike—what could be more normal? It was something countless people in society did every day.

Just like when you compliment your boss, even though they're an ugly bastard.

In contrast, Ichinose was a completely different story. It had been weeks since school started, and he still hadn't found a single crack in her perfect façade. It was downright absurd.

But now that he had discovered Kushida's weakness, there was no reason not to take advantage of it.

In the shadows, Uesugi rubbed his chin, quietly formulating his plan.

Kushida, unlike the sharp and unyielding "Phantom Thief," Masumi Kamuro, deeply cared about her classmates' opinions. She was willing to endure humiliation to maintain her friendships.

In other words, Kushida is far easier to manipulate.

That said, Uesugi had no intention of using the same underhanded tactics twice.

The more he resorted to schemes like blackmail, the greater the risk of exposure. If even one person discovered his identity and made it public, everything would fall apart.

This time, Uesugi decided he would personally step into the spotlight.

As for how to win her over?

Simple, Uesugi thought with a grin. If she wants to make friends, I'll help her make friends—and in the process, I'll get the information I need.

The sound of Kushida's furious kicks and curses filled the air.

Clearing his throat, Uesugi stepped forward.

"Ahem, ahem."

Hearing the sound, Kushida immediately turned around.

Their eyes met.

As she paused, Uesugi confidently approached, preparing to speak.

"Kushida-san, I—"

Before he could finish, Kushida suddenly charged toward him, her face twisted in fury.

What?!

This isn't how I imagined this going!

Why does she look like she's about to kill me?!

Her clenched fists and murderous glare left no room for doubt—she was coming straight for him.

Unlike the upperclassmen Uesugi had encountered before, Kushida wasn't holding back.

Everyone knew that once someone lost their temper, reason flew out the window—and Kushida was no exception.

Realizing the danger, Uesugi took a cautious step back before turning and breaking into a sprint.

First things first: RUN.

There would be time to negotiate later. If he got into a physical altercation with her, whether he won or lost, the outcome would still be humiliating.

Behind him, Kushida's long legs carried her forward in hot pursuit.

...

As they raced through the campus, Uesugi tried to reason with her.

"Kushida-san, please listen to me!"

"Shut up! You saw, didn't you?"

"I did, but just hear me out—"

"Shut your mouth!"

Desperate, Uesugi called out, "I can help you make friends!"

Her response?

"Stop running, or I'll scream sexual assault!"

At that moment, Uesugi came to a profound realization:

Never argue with a woman. Women are inherently unreasonable.

With that in mind, he ran even faster.

After what felt like an eternity, the two finally stopped in front of a building, both out of breath. They now stood on opposite sides of a bench, using it as a makeshift barrier.

"Hah… Kushida-san… let's call a truce for now."

Uesugi was utterly exhausted. Why am I always running into girls like this? First Kamuro, and now this.

Kushida, her face flushed and chest heaving, still glared at him, though she didn't have the energy to keep chasing.

"Fine. Speak," she snapped.

"…How about a deal?" Uesugi said, still catching his breath.

"In exchange for keeping your secret, you'll give me information about your classmates."

Kushida narrowed her eyes. "Go on."

"You know plenty of secrets, don't you? If you share them with me, we'll become accomplices. If you're exposed, I lose my source of information, so it's in my best interest to protect you.

"Likewise, if I'm exposed, your secret will also come out, so you'll have to protect me in return."

For a moment, Kushida's hostile expression melted away, replaced by the friendly smile she was known for.

"Oh, Uesugi-kun, what a silly thing to say! I'd never do something to threaten you."

She's back to her usual self. Uesugi breathed a sigh of relief.

But then, out of nowhere, Kushida grabbed his right hand and pressed it against her chest.

"What are you—?!"

Her dark side resurfaced as she leaned closer and whispered menacingly, "I accept your deal. But if you ever reveal our arrangement, I'll accuse you of assault. With this, I have evidence."

Feeling the warmth and softness under his hand, Uesugi sighed.

"…You really are something else."

In one swift motion, Uesugi wrapped an arm around Kushida's waist and pulled her into his arms.

Their sweat-soaked bodies pressed together as Kushida froze in shock.

"W-what are you doing?! Let go of me!"

Uesugi leaned in close, his lips almost brushing her ear.

"Relax, Kushida-san. You should know that this fabric doesn't hold fingerprints, so it can't be used as evidence."

"W-what does that matter?! Let go, you bastard!"

"But sweat does. Right now, our sweat is mixing together, and it'll leave traces on your clothes. That's evidence enough."

Kushida stopped struggling, her body going limp in his arms.

They stood there, entwined, like lovers locked in an intimate embrace.

"Let… let me go," she muttered weakly.

"From now on, we're accomplices. I won't betray you, and I trust you won't betray me either. Right, Kushida-san?"

"…Right."

Kushida's voice was soft, almost inaudible. She clung to Uesugi's shirt, her flushed face buried in his chest.

Her ears, previously a pale pink, now glowed a deep crimson.

"The deal is sealed. As proof of our partnership, don't wash this shirt. It's our evidence."

"…Okay. I'll keep it safe," she murmured.

Watching her act like a shy kitten, Uesugi's thoughts took a turn.

I take it back, Kushida. Compared to Kamuro, you really are the easiest woman to deal with at Advanced Nurturing High.

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T/N: im kinda glad theres no ayanokouji in this story it seems like! I would always root for him...