But just like drinking hot water to relieve spiciness after eating chili, once the stimulation reaches a certain degree, it gradually fades.
After a brief rise in shyness, Tachibana Yui also slightly sighed in relief, and the blush on her face faded a little.
Looking at Tachibana Yui's still slightly swollen lips, Hikari had no intention to continue the topic and instead returned to normal, as if they were chatting before all this had happened today.
He asked Tachibana Yui, "Do you want me to call Akane-chan over to keep you company?"
"Uh… n-no need!", Hearing Hikari suddenly mention her best friend Akane, Tachibana Yui's delicate body suddenly stiffened, then she quickly shook her head in refusal.
"No need to trouble Akane! I'm not hurt or anything. Hikari-kun appeared just in time, so I didn't get injured."
"I… I'll just go back to class now, no need to bother Akane!"
Tachibana Yui repeatedly shook her head.
Hikari, knowing Akane's inherent personality, didn't think much of calling her over.
But for Tachibana Yui, she really didn't want to face Akane right now.
After all, from her perspective, Hikari was Akane's boyfriend.
And just now, after passionately kissing Hikari, thinking back now felt as if she had been sneaking a taste.
Seeing her best friend Akane again now, she really couldn't take it.
"Then I'll walk you back to class," Hikari casually said.
Tachibana Yui nodded, "Mm-hm! Okay! Thank you, Hikari-kun!"
Once Tachibana Yui recovered a bit, her body no longer limp and powerless, Hikari helped her up, and they headed together toward the school building.
On the way, Tachibana Yui's expression was somewhat awkward, blushing one moment, pale the next.
She had just encountered a series of unpleasant and sudden events, being threatened by Kuwahara, falling out with her childhood friend, which left her emotionally unstable, leading her to do many things she normally wouldn't do.
Like kissing Hikari right in front of her childhood friend Takashi Hikari.
Then afterward, even telling Hikari she wanted more, and even saying it felt good.
These things, now that her emotions had calmed a little and reason had taken over again, made Tachibana Yui's face burn with shame.
You see, Tachibana Yui's usual personality was the gentle, quiet type.
She spoke softly, chewed slowly when eating, never argued or fought with anyone, treated people kindly, and was usually passive in everything.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have almost been threatened by that Kuwahara guy in the first place.
But because of the emotional rollercoaster just now, today she had actually taken the initiative to make a move on her best friend's boyfriend Hikari.
This matter truly left Tachibana Yui with complicated emotions, difficult to describe.
After all, that kiss with Hikari just now… was also her first kiss.
'Hikari-kun… would he think I'm the kind of bad girl who boldly seduces my best friend's boyfriend?'
Tachibana Yui had an awkward expression, and her eyes occasionally glanced worriedly at Hikari beside her.
As for Hikari next to her, he didn't mind Tachibana Yui's thoughts too much, because he more or less understood why she acted the way she did earlier.
And he knew Akane's personality well, so he wasn't overly worried.
So he didn't respond to Tachibana Yui's thoughts.
When they reached the fork in the path where their classes split, Hikari naturally parted ways with her, "I'll leave you here, I'm heading back to class."
Hearing him say so, Tachibana Yui naturally couldn't say much more.
Watching Hikari's departing back, Tachibana Yui suddenly reached up to her towering chest.
She pulled out a pure white, jade-like charm from her chest.
Looking closely, this was the charm Akane had asked Hikari to give her earlier. Strictly speaking, it belonged to Hikari.
Clutching the warm, smooth charm tightly, Tachibana Yui stared at Hikari's tall, retreating figure and fell into deep thought.
Having been rescued by Hikari time and time again, it would be a lie to say she wasn't moved.
Plus, even after sharing an intimate kiss with Hikari just now, even losing her first kiss, she didn't feel uncomfortable or sad—in fact, her heart felt a little fluttery.
These various thoughts slowly helped Tachibana Yui realize her true feelings.
She now knew for sure, she had developed feelings for Hikari.
But Hikari's identity made it all too awkward, as he was her best friend Akane's boyfriend.
Though based on Tachibana Yui's character, she absolutely couldn't bring herself to snatch love away from her best friend.
But once she understood her own heart, she was also very unwilling to give up on Hikari.
"So… so frustrating…", Tachibana Yui didn't want to betray Akane, but also couldn't let go of Hikari.
Suddenly, Tachibana Yui remembered. Besides Akane, Hikari also had other beautiful girlfriends like Natsuha.
Could she possibly think of a way to make her best friend Akane accept her being with Hikari too?
After all, if the other girls could touch him, why couldn't she?
It might be difficult… but if she didn't try, how would she know?
Nothing is impossible in the world, only those who don't try.
Once she thought it through, Tachibana Yui decisively took out her phone and called her best friend Akane.
["Eh? Yui-chan, what's up? Why are you suddenly calling me?",] Akane's confused voice came through.
Tachibana Yui said with a giggle, ["Well, it's been a few days since I saw you, Akane~ Since we're besties, I wanted to catch up and bond~"]
———
Elsewhere.
Hikari had no idea that right after parting with Tachibana Yui, she called Akane.
And even more so, had thoughts about sharing a boyfriend.
But even if he knew, Hikari had no spare energy to think about it right now.
Because at this moment, he had just been caught skipping class.
And the one who caught him wasn't anyone else. It was none other than his class teacher, the one known as the Iceberg Beauty Witch, Tsukishima Kyoko.
"Hikari-kun!"
Just as he reached the classroom door, Hikari heard a cold voice call from behind him.
He turned around to see Tsukishima Kyoko's mature and beautiful face, filled with frost and chill.
Clearly also dressed in a teacher's uniform and black stockings, also possessing an impressive chest and a pretty face, Tsukishima Kyoko's popularity was far lower than Shirakawa Miwa's, probably because of her perpetually menopausal-level cold expression, which made students so intimidated they didn't dare to look at her directly.
Looking at Tsukishima Kyoko's face, even darker than usual, Hikari cautiously asked, "What's the matter, Kyoko-sensei? Is something wrong?"
Upon hearing Hikari's words, Tsukishima Kyoko's beautiful eyes flashed with anger, "What's wrong? You still have the nerve to ask me what's wrong?"
"Where did you go last period?"
Hearing this, Hikari reflexively argued, "I was in class last period, in the classroom."
Tsukishima Kyoko sneered, "Heh, really? Then how come I didn't see you at your seat when I passed by during patrol just now?"
Hikari realized he had been exposed.
His eyes drifted over Tsukishima Kyoko's curvaceous figure and looked behind her.
Tsukishima Kyoko immediately cut him off, "Enough, stop looking. Miwa's not here! Don't expect anyone to plead for you today. Now, tell me honestly, where did you go when you skipped class?"
Seeing his intentions were noticed, Hikari could only clutch his stomach and say, "I had a stomachache just now, so I left to use the bathroom."
Tsukishima Kyoko raised the pointer in her hand, waving it up and down while questioning, "Did you ask the teacher for permission?"
Hikari lightly shook his head, "It was too urgent, I didn't have time. If I waited for permission, I would've crapped my pants."
Tsukishima Kyoko instantly grew furious, "You rascal! You have no respect for your teachers! And you weren't going to the bathroom, I bet you were out playing somewhere!"
Hearing her scolding, Hikari felt helpless. He truly didn't go to the bathroom, but he definitely wasn't playing.
He had gone to beat down a minotaur, to execute justice, to rescue an innocent maiden.
But Hikari's silence only made Tsukishima Kyoko feel she'd hit a nerve.
She had seen this kind of student many times. Immediately, she put her hands on her hips and said coldly, "You're writing me a reflection on skipping class tomorrow, at least a thousand words!"
"A thousand words? Sensei, isn't that a bit much?", Hikari said helplessly.
Tsukishima Kyoko sneered, "Don't want to write it? That's fine. I'll just inform your guardian."
Hikari could only nod, "Alright, I'll write it and hand it in tomorrow."
Faced with Tsukishima Kyoko's demand, Hikari could only accept.
Because his guardian was Miss Mira, and he didn't want to worry her.
Once Hikari finally "admitted fault," a slight smile appeared on Tsukishima Kyoko's cold face. That beautiful expression, briefly soft and warm, made her seem much more approachable, if she smiled like that more often, she probably wouldn't be any less popular than Shirakawa Miwa.
After all, even though Miwa was younger, Tsukishima Kyoko had the charm of a mature woman, plus an even more impressive bust. She was honestly a very attractive older woman.
But due to her usual personality, Tsukishima Kyoko rarely smiled.
That slight smile only lasted a moment before it disappeared, her cold face returning as she said, "Go back to class. Study hard from now on. No more skipping, or you'll end up a worthless delinquent, the most detestable kind of trash."
Hikari nodded and didn't say much, turning to head back to class.
After all, Tsukishima Kyoko didn't know what he had actually been doing. Scolding him for skipping was just her doing her job.
It was just that her tone and attitude were cold and harsh, no wonder she was called the Iceberg Beauty Witch and was both feared and respected by the class.
Though writing a reflection was annoying, Hikari now knew several top students, like Natsuha and Chizuru Shiina, asking them for help should get it done quickly.
Hikari calmly returned to his seat.
For the rest of the afternoon, aside from a few thank-you messages from Tachibana Yui (who had just added his contact info) saying she wanted to treat him to a meal, nothing else happened.
But just as class ended, Hikari suddenly received a call.
Seeing the caller ID: "Dean Rikka," Hikari slightly raised an eyebrow.
Hikari pressed the accept button, and the other party greeted first, ["Good afternoon, Hikari-kun."]
"Good afternoon, Dena Rikka," Hikari replied with a smile.
The one calling him was none other than the president of Seika Girls' Academy, Sumeragi Rikka.
["Do you have time right now?",] Sumeragi Rikka asked.
"Let me see… I think so. Why? Got something?", Hikari replied.
["Mm, there's a student who needs your psychological counseling,"] Sumeragi Rikka nodded and said.
"Same place as usual?"
["Same place."]
After receiving Sumeragi Rikka's call, Hikari figured another student at Seika Girls' Academy must need some mental and emotional support again.
Even though Sumeragi Rikka always said no matter how busy she was, nothing was more important than him, Hikari understood her personality well.
She prioritized work. Aside from the occasional workplace "rules" she'd impose on him, she usually only contacted him to deal with issues students at the academy were facing.
After hanging up, Hikari didn't waste time.
He immediately took a cab to that familiar Starbucks café.
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