What troubled Akira the most was this—
For once, he genuinely couldn't figure out Class Rep's true intentions.
If, up until recently, he'd been firmly convinced that this was just another one of her tests of his humanity…
Then after all those "benefits," especially the last time—when she'd actually let him see under her skirt and even smell the worn-scent of JK panties—he could no longer grasp where the line was supposed to be.
Maybe, in Class Rep's slightly warped worldview, it really was acceptable to offer such outrageous perks to a close friend…
No way.
Absolutely no way.
Class Rep wasn't some ultra-innocent girl with zero health-ed knowledge. She was a seasoned driver who knew exactly how easily something could happen.
Or was it that she'd already started seeing herself as his girlfriend?
If she were a girlfriend, then this kind of teasing would make sense. But the problem was—she'd previously said she was fine with him getting a girlfriend.
How much of that was true, and how much was just talk?
Akira had thought he'd more or less figured out Class Rep's personality and boundaries. But this sudden escalation—open enough to make him uneasy—completely shattered his confidence in reading her.
Facing her now felt like facing an unknowable entity again. Nothing was certain.
I can't tell. I really can't tell.
Fine. If he couldn't tell, he'd treat it as nonexistent.
Overthinking things you can't understand only leads to self-inflicted misery, so Akira decided on a clean-cut approach.
Besides, if he thought about it carefully, "looking" and "touching" weren't even that rare as rewards to him anymore.
He'd already seen Shiroi Shiori's naked snowy landscape, and as for touching—he got to freely knead Shion's silky feet every day.
There was no real need to seek those same perks from Class Rep. Using her as a substitute would be way too extravagant.
And this was a one-day usage right. Using it just for lewd stuff felt like a waste, didn't it?
Wasn't this the perfect chance to squeeze her brainpower and labor instead?
So that's how it was…!
That sly Class Rep—she'd deliberately lured him toward the horny route!
Because whether it was looking or touching, she barely had to do anything at all. At most, she'd just change clothes. It was the easiest job imaginable—and she'd even get enjoyment out of it!
Hah…
Thank goodness he'd realized in time. Otherwise, he'd have fallen straight into her trap, blinded by a bit of skin, and wasted such a precious chance to exploit—no, utilize—her.
Breaking free from the triple mental deadlock of should I touch, can I touch, and is it appropriate to touch, Akira returned to the real core question: what should I make Class Rep do?
He decided to shelve the specifics of the one-day usage for now.
"Let's talk about it later. It's not like I have to make H-requests, right? Class Rep, you really don't need to keep tempting me with your body."
Hitomi tilted her head, poking her cheek as she replied,
"Well, I don't have enough money right now to properly pay you, Akira-kun. So selling my body is the only thing I can offer."
Recently, Hitomi had started taking private lessons from her mother, filling in gaps in her foundational business knowledge—and she was already making visible progress.
If Akira checked her proficiencies now, he'd see several new lv1 entries appear in her left hand.
Her growth speed was no slower than Shion's. In fact, thanks to her [Academic Ability A], she was accumulating theoretical knowledge even faster.
"If you can't pay now, you can always pay later. I also accept installments, you know."
"I hate the feeling of being in debt, just like you do—especially owing a close friend. It really weighs on me. So I'd rather settle it all at once."
"I see… By the way, why are we even discussing the reward already? Whether I can actually convince Takanashi-san to return to school is still an unknown, right?"
Hitomi stood up, picked up her bento box, clasped her hands behind her back, turned to face him, and smiled with narrowed eyes.
"I just feel that if it's Akira-kun, then no matter what it is, it'll work out."
"Wow. That's a lot of trust."
"Hehe. At this point, I trust you more than I trust myself."
It was an exaggerated statement, but Akira didn't take it literally—he treated it as the highest form of praise.
"Then I guess I'd better work even harder, so I don't let that trust go to waste."
They'd talked long enough. It was about time to head back to class, so Akira stood up and asked,
"So, are we visiting Takanashi-san's place today?"
Hitomi shook her head and explained the plan.
"No need to rush. Today, I'll contact Takanashi-obaasan first and get permission. Tomorrow, we have a class meeting to decide the Culture Festival program. After that, I won't have much else to deal with, so I'm planning to take you to visit Mirai-chan the day after tomorrow."
"So… Friday, then?"
For Akira, this would be his second time visiting a girl's house—the first had been Shiroi Shiori's.
"Yes. Over the next two days, I also want to look into who exactly Mirai-chan fought with, and why. Mao tried asking before, but Mirai-chan wouldn't say anything. I think that's the real key."
Akira nodded in agreement.
"Makes sense. If she doesn't want to talk about it, there's definitely something there. If we understand the full story, I'll have a better chance of persuading her. I'll leave the intel-gathering to you."
"Mm. I'll handle that. Akira-kun, you just focus on preparing your 'speech.'"
"My speeches are always improvised. No need to prepare anything special. Honest, straight-from-the-heart words are what move people the most."
"I see… That's true."
No wonder even Shiori was completely won over… So it's that mouth of yours, huh.
In that case, if I just shut Akira-kun's mouth… would he be completely 'neutralized'?
Without realizing it, Hitomi had stumbled upon Akira's greatest weakness.
"Then go ahead and think carefully about your reward. I'm quite curious what you'll end up making me do."
"I'll seriously study it when I get home. I'll do my best to… well, fully draw out your value, Class Rep."
He'd originally wanted to say exploit, but that sounded too crude, so he changed it mid-sentence.
Ironically, that word hit Hitomi right in the heart.
Value—it was the word she cared about most.
She'd always been searching for her own value. The value of Anri Hitomi, not just "Anri's daughter."
So if Akira could truly draw out her value, she'd gladly show him everything she had.
"That's wonderful. I'll be waiting with great anticipation for the day you finally exercise your one-day usage right…"
Compared to Akira, the recipient of the reward, it was Hitomi—the one giving it—who was even more excited about the coming "reward day."
And honestly, even if Akira made nothing but shallow, lewd requests, she'd still be happy.
Because that would mean she could show him her naked body.
That way, she'd finally catch up to Shiori.
And if he touched her… she'd surpass her.
The reason she'd proposed a one-day usage right—and deliberately steered the conversation toward H in the first place—was precisely for this.
Hitomi had wrapped an entire dumpling feast just for this bit of vinegar—and was even willing to show him the dumpling skin.
Jealousy makes a girl dangerously scheming.
---
T/N: all the girls around him have something wrong with their heads :sob: the price of non mediocrity
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