But with his timid and hesitant personality, he still didn't dare give rise to the slightest thought of competing with Hikari, just held a faint trace of jealousy and unwillingness.
Just as Nishida Hajime was secretly searching online for a few pure JK-style short films, a figure suddenly walked into the clubroom.
Hearing footsteps, Nishida Hajime, who was just about to download the movies, hurriedly turned his head with a red face.
When he saw it was a yellow-haired, bruised and battered figure, he let out a breath of relief.
"Oh, it's Matsuoka-kun…"
"Nishida-kun, good morning," Covered in wounds, Matsuoka Reiji greeted warmly.
"Matsuoka-kun, you… what happened?", Looking at the injured, limping Matsuoka Reiji, Nishida Hajime couldn't help but ask curiously.
"Accidentally tripped, it's nothing," Matsuoka Reiji brushed it off casually, then quickly said to Nishida, "Nishida-kun, don't you feel that Kanade-san is acting strange today?"
Hearing this, Nishida empathized deeply, forgetting Matsuoka's condition, and quickly replied, "Matsuoka-kun, you think so too? Ever since yesterday's club movie activity, I've felt Kanade-san's been really strange…"
Matsuoka cut in, "Do you feel like she suddenly got a lot closer to that guy named Hikari?"
Nishida nodded rapidly, "Yes, yes, yes! I don't know why, but today it feels like Kanade-san suddenly got much colder toward me, while toward Hikari-kun she's become… so warm, really strange…"
Looking at Nishida lowering his head gloomily, Matsuoka's lips curled up, smiling, "Actually, there's a hidden truth behind this. Do you want to know?"
"Yes! Of course I want to know," Nishida nodded quickly.
Matsuoka started putting on an act. He pulled out the chair next to Nishida, sat down, and said in a serious tone, "Don't you think Kanade-san's sudden change of attitude today is because she fell for Hikari? Don't you think it all happened suddenly?"
Nishida nodded again and again.
Matsuoka suddenly continued, "Actually, saying Kanade-san fell for that guy Hikari isn't entirely wrong."
Hearing this, Nishida's heart ached.
But Matsuoka quickly added, "Don't worry, I know you like Kanade-san. Let me tell you the truth. Actually, the reason Kanade-san seems to like Hikari-kun is because of another hidden reason."
By now Nishida's emotions were fully hooked, and he hurriedly asked, "What hidden reason?"
Seeing Amakawa Kanade so close to Hikari today had almost crushed Nishida's hope, but now Matsuoka suddenly handed him hope again, he was naturally agitated.
Looking at the excited Nishida, Matsuoka sneered inwardly as he said, "Actually, Kanade-san doesn't truly like Hikari. Don't be fooled by appearances, it's just fake feelings."
Hearing this awkward line, Nishida was stunned, "What do you mean?"
Instead of answering directly, Matsuoka asked back, "Do you remember yesterday's club movie outing?"
Nishida nodded, "Of course, I was the one who organized it. But something came up last minute, so I didn't go."
Matsuoka sighed and shook his head, "What a pity."
"What pity?", Nishida asked anxiously.
"With that decision, you handed Hikari the perfect stage. Let me tell you the truth of what happened yesterday."
"The reason Kanade-san suddenly seems to like Hikari today is because yesterday, during the movie, that guy suddenly f*rced a kiss on her, and under threat, she agreed to be his girlfriend."
"Actually, Kanade-san originally liked you, Nishida-kun. But after Hikari forced that kiss, he took a picture and used it to blackmail her. Saying if she didn't date him, he'd expose it to the whole school and even show you. So Kanade-san was forced to agree to go out with that despicable scum."
"What?", Hearing this, Nishida was shocked, his face shifting through regret, sorrow, hatred, anger, sadness.
Not the slightest hint of doubt. Because he already found it unbelievable that Amakawa Kanade would suddenly like Hikari, deep down he thought there must be another reason. So Matsuoka's "perfectly reasonable" words were instantly believed.
After waves of regret, Nishida first expressed gratitude, "Thank you, Matsuoka-kun, for telling me!"
Seeing Matsuoka's satisfied smile, Nishida quickly asked, "Then… what should I do now?"
Matsuoka feigned confusion, "What do you mean what?"
Nishida grew anxious, "Of course, how to rescue Kanade-san, free her from Hikari's clutches."
Matsuoka shrugged indifferently, "I think Hikari looks pretty good, and Kanade-san with him seems fine. Maybe we shouldn't interfere."
"No way!", Nishida exclaimed, "Kanade-san was tricked and threatened by that guy. He's frivolous, vile, shameless. How could such a pure, sweet girl be with someone like him?"
Hearing this, Matsuoka pretended to be moved, his face growing serious, "Are you sure? You want to fight Hikari and rescue Kanade-san?"
"I'm sure! Absolutely!", Nishida answered instantly.
Matsuoka clapped his shoulder, as if touched, "So you're the man who truly loves Kanade-san!"
As Nishida smiled sheepishly, Matsuoka's lips curled up again. He asked, "Do you trust me?"
Nishida nodded repeatedly, "Of course! Without you, I'd still be in the dark, not knowing how despicable that Hikari really is."
"Matsuoka-kun, I must rescue Kanade-san. Please help me!"
At this moment, Nishida fully trusted him.
Looking at Nishida gripping his hands in agitation, Matsuoka suppressed his glee, smiling, "No rush. First, tell me how you plan to rescue her? Do you have a plan?"
Nishida froze.
All his thoughts were born from impulse. He had no concrete plan at all, no idea what to do.
He could only look pleadingly at this "trustworthy" blond man.
Matsuoka pretended to be moved, nodded seriously, "Alright, let me help you think of a way."
"Actually, yesterday when Hikari did those bad things to Kanade-san, I was there."
"I thought of stopping him, but I wasn't strong enough. I could only watch as he defiled her."
"You see these injuries? All from Hikari," Matsuoka gave a bitter laugh, "I didn't want to tell you, it's too shameful. But I couldn't hold it in."
Nishida was stunned, then even more moved. He gripped Matsuoka's hand tightly, "Thank you… thank you, Matsuoka-kun. You've already done so much. You're such a good, kind person! On behalf of Amakawa, I thank you too."
Matsuoka waved it off with a smile, "It's nothing. Rescuing Kanade-san from Hikari's clutches, that's what matters most."
Nishida hurriedly asked, "What should I do to save her?"
Matsuoka stroked his chin, "Actually, it's simple. Kanade-san's soft nature is why Hikari could force her. To win her back, we must use the same method."
"Hikari used those f*rced-kiss photos to blackm*il her, right?"
"Why don't we take even more shocking photos of Kanade-san? With those, we can use them to rescue her, bring her back to you."
Finally, after all his buildup, Matsuoka bared the fangs of his blond hair, giving Nishida a twisted idea.
Though Nishida didn't catch the "problematic content," he still instinctively felt uneasy.
"This… this isn't good, is it? F*rcing indecent photos of Kanade-san, isn't that a crime? Wouldn't that just make her hate us more?"
Matsuoka smiled, "Listen, w*men are meant to be c*nquered."
"Look, even though Hikari treated her so roughly, isn't she still with him?"
"And I'm not just saying take nudes to threaten her, it also gives us a chance to get close."
"Think about it. If she keeps avoiding us, how can we rescue her? Only if she comes close can we persuade her and free her from Hikari."
"Otherwise, you can't even get near her now. How would she listen to your empty words?"
"As for her hating you… like she doesn't already?"
Acting like an older brother, Matsuoka patted his shoulder, "Sigh, it's a last resort. To save her, we must sacrifice a little of our morals."
"Once she's back, you can explain slowly. Trust me, she'll understand and even be touched."
Hearing his manipulative words, Nishida's wavering eyes grew firm.
Clenching his fists, he gritted his teeth, "Yes, you're right! It's all to rescue Kanade-san from that despicable Hikari."
"As long as I can save her, I'll sacrifice!"
Matsuoka chuckled, slinging an arm around him, "That's the spirit!"
"To save Amakawa Kanade, what's a few nu—de photos?"
"You're still a virgin, right? Think about it, her figure's amazing. Don't you want to see what's under that skirt? Of course you do, hehe!"
Hearing this, Nishida couldn't help but nod.
Images of her curvy JK-uniformed body filled his mind, especially her ample chest, making him swallow hard.
As a normal teenager, of course he wanted more than just a look.
He had fantasized about her plenty before, just lacked the courage.
Under Matsuoka's persuasion, Nishida gradually gave in.
Thus, the two, shoulder to shoulder, began plotting their "rescue plan."
After Matsuoka left with a strange laugh, Nishida remained in the film research clubroom, clenching his fists.
Looking at the seat Kanade usually occupied, he vowed, "Kanade-san, just wait. I'll rescue you, snatch you back from that vile Hikari!"
"I swear it!"
———
Bzz! Bzz! Bzz…
In the classroom, feeling a Pure Love Origami-Crane vibrate with warning, Hikari took it out.
"Amakawa Kanade? As expected, that guy still hasn't given up."
Sure enough, blond punks always needed more thorough physical elimination.
Such parasites only eating food for nothing, keeping them was a waste.
But for now, more important matters awaited.
As the dismissal bell rang, Hikari put away the crane, packed his bag, and followed the long purple-haired figure leaving the classroom.
———
Walking home, Shiina Chizuru seemed in high spirits.
Her steps light, her expression relaxed.
In less crowded spots, she even hummed tunes, skipping a little.
Her cheer all came from Hikari's words today.
Thinking that the one she cared about was secretly paying attention to her, even the overload of homework didn't bother her, she was overjoyed.
But passing a dim alley, Shiina Chizuru slowed back to normal pace.
Even quickened slightly.
Because in that alley were several trash bins swarming with flies.
And more disturbing, by the bins, dirty vagrants were fighting over scraps.
Their ragged clothes, matted hair, and stench were suffocating. The flies around them rivaled those on the trash itself.
As a girl, naturally she disliked such smells.
What unsettled her more, passing by, she felt some of those vagrants' eyes on her.
That weird gaze made her skin crawl, goosebumps rising on her arms.
She tugged her bag straps, quickening her steps, wanting out of the alley fast.
But just as she passed the bins and the vagrants, one of them suddenly stood up, slowly trailing behind her.
Though she had passed, Shiina's heart didn't relax. Without turning, she could hear footsteps behind her.
Not daring to look back, she walked faster.
But the ragged vagrant followed close.
The quicker her pace, the faster his.
Those increasingly rapid footsteps made her glance back.
It was a vagrant of short height but a broad build.
[T/N: 🔥A new book is up— "Emiya in Honkai: Star Rail". I am releasing it from my second account(Ambitious_Guy) as I can't publish more books from this account(Max is 20). Make sure to check it out and support. Have a great read~🙇]
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