Chapter 2385: Comeuppance


    ?


    Like always, Hitomi drove me to school after sending Otoha to their school gates. Apart from the uing dinner with Otoha''s family, I also got to hear about what''s happening on


    Hitomi''s side.


    Her grandfather, the entric old man''s butler, was somehow forced by us to ept our rtionship. Her direct family, who also served different members of the Kaneko, eventually learned of it. Obviously, their reaction was pretty much the same.


    They hold such an emphasis on being servants of the Kaneko Family, so when they found out that she was also involved with the boyfriend of her youngdy, they immediately told her to drop it.


    However, Hitomi had already made her decision. She''s one stubborn woman too so even with their objection, she won''t budge. Her loyalty to her family was unquestionable but her love for me was something she had decided on her own ord.


    "See you tomorrow, Hitomi."


    "Yes. Be well, Ruki-sama."


    "You still won''t call me with just my name."


    "This is only proper... I hold you in high regard like ojou-sama." Hitomi''s expression didn''t change except for the hint of amusement in her tone.


    "You know, I''ll be more energized if you say ''I love you""


    "Don''t push your luck... There''s a proper ce for that."


    "Is there? Oh... Your bed." I meaningfully nodded as my lips curved up into a shameless smirk.


    Hitomi sighed as she finally loosened the stiffness of her face, switching to the face of someone unburdened by her role of being a Mihara. "... Yes, I''ll say those words to you three times more than you want me to in my bed. Until then..."


    As her voice trailed there, she grabbed me by my cor to initiate another kiss. One that conveyed her affection for me.


    When I stepped out of the car, Hitomi didn''t drive away until she watched me enter the school gates.


    Really... outside of our usual interactions, she''s gradually warming up to me more than she possibly intended to.


    I mean, while our rtionship had long solidified ever since that meeting with her grandfather, the woman was still reserved in expressing herself most of the time.


    The few instances where she became unbridled, like when she drove us before and after our trip to Tokyo, was because she witnessed me getting fawned over by Akane, Miho and Yua. It sparked some jealousy within her. She was possibly unaware or didn''t recognize it as such.


    In any case, that''s an adorable part of her.


    Entering the school, I warmly greeted Ryouko-san, got a little rendezvous with Sachi at the shoe locker area and then spent the remaining time before the 1st period pampering my girls.


    I even went out to look for Maaya, Misaki and Rae. And if only I had enough time, I''d also go upstairs for the other girls.


    When Shio arrived at the ssroom, she only did a lecture for half the time allotted for our 1st period before letting us, the five representatives for the uing workshop, brainstorm again with the whole ss.


    Right. It will be happening today.


    Now that reminds me, Mami deciding to visit must''ve been to show her support to her boyfriend, no?


    What a dedicated girlfriend.


    But well,pared to my girls who already had a nid out for that workshop through the help of everyone in the ''Ruki Hub'', it''s not up to scale.


    Anyway, it''s nice of her to be that supportive. If Ogawa still messed it up, I''d really shit on him so much that I might just torment him by telling him about my rtionship with his Aneki.


    "Onoda-kun, I''ll be in your care again."


    Dragging me back to the present, Shimura whispered from behind me as we walked towards the front.


    I nced back at her and smiled, "Same, Shimura. Let''s win thister for our ss." "You sound confident."


    "Well, we have capable girls in our midst. All we need to do is to support them well."


    "You mean... Andou-san and Harada-san have already prepared something for the workshop?"


    "Mhm. Something like that. Of course, don''t let that hold you back in pitching up your ideas. We''ll never know, you may just be our lucky star."


    "Pfft. Your ttery is so exceptional, it never gets old."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Just being honest, really." I shrugged and then stepped aside, letting walk past me as we reached the front.


    Shimura blushed slightly but she quicklyposed herself.


    And then, I felt a lot of sharp gazes stabbing at me. There was no need to find the sources, those were from my girls who watched that interaction between me and Shimura.


    Upon standing next to Nami, she nudged me with her elbow before saying, "Ruu, should we expect another girl to fall on your crutches?"


    I chuckled in response before saying, "As much as I want to say no, it''s probably already toote."


    Time quickly passed and the workshop brainstorming ended on a great note.


    With the lead of Nami and Chii, everyone except an insignificant few joined again in helping to pitch more ideas.


    Ogawa stepped up as well and since there was no reason to stop him, I let him try to regain some of his reputation in the ss. Too bad though, with Shimura also doing her absolute best to be more relevant, the three girls pretty much took all the attention.


    As for me, my role in it was pretty much the same, I was merely their assistant, writing the suggestions on board.


    Ah. Of course, even with such a minor role, the moment the girls turned to me, I instantly became the center of attention.


    As there was no escape from that, I just shamelessly took my ce in between them as we dered our intention to win whatever prize was waiting for that workshop.


    After that, Shio also announced that we''ll be holding our selection for the ss''s cultural festival theme tomorrow.


    And with that announcement, the 1st period ended.


    Doing my job as her Student Assistant, I escorted her to the next ss and somehow, the mood within the ss next to us was the same.


    Yeah. Looks like the festive atmosphere leading to the uing cultural festival was already


    starting.


    Am I as excited as everyone? Of course, this year will be the first time I''m taking a really active role in this kind of event. Not to mention, I''ll be able to do it with my girls. Seeing them having fun is all that matters.


    Upon returning to our ssroom, the next periods leading to the lunch break also passed without any problem cropping up.


    Ah. There''s one tiny update that Marika delivered that made me chuckle. Apparently, to escape getting suspended, Ichihara Jun was assigned to make a public apology to everyone he inconvenienced. On top of that, he''s going to do a month ofmunity service -- the scope of that isn''t just in our school, it is for the whole city.


    To ensure that he''s not going to cheat. Someone will monitor and record him to make it a humbling experience.


    Of course, Ichihara Jun was not at all happy with that decision, he tried to bribe even Ryouko- san but Hayashi-sensei took over and it became hiseuppance.


    The thought of him sweating and apologizing to everyone wasn''t really going to bring me satisfaction, but for Marika and those he wronged, it was something they had long deserved. I wonder how Marika''s Aunt or the entire Kujou Family will react when they hear about that. Ah. That''s right. It will also create ripples within the internal structure of the Ichihara Family.