Karuizawa unconsciously held her breath.
This was the first time in her life she had confessed to a boy.
The moment those embarrassing words left her mouth, her earlobes were already burning red.
Although she flaunted a gyaru appearance, strutting around, in reality, she hadn't even held a boy's hand.
This clumsy confession was her first, made with all her courage.
Of course, it wasn't out of any romantic affection.
She knew better than anyone that she was merely seeking a powerful sanctuary.
As long as she could get Akira's protection, those bullies, those harms, would never come for her again.
She had to survive in this high school.
'Will he agree?'
Karuizawa bit her lower lip uneasily.
She knew she wasn't bad-looking. It was just...
Her chest, while not flat, compared to those overly developed girls in her class—
Whether it was Hasebe Haruka's impressive curves or Sakura Airi's voluptuous figure, she couldn't even compare to that aloof Horikita.
This feeling of inferiority, at this moment, was like tiny thorns pricking her heart.
"Honestly, regardless of your original intention, being confessed to like this by you does make me a little happy," Akira said candidly after a slight pause.
As a healthy male, being confessed to by a beautiful girl like Karuizawa, who was outstanding in every aspect, it would be a lie to say he wasn't pleased.
But then, the declaration of a relationship "under the premise of protection" sounded strange no matter how he looked at it.
"By the way, do you really like me?" Akira spread his hands helplessly. "I think you're just after my body."
As soon as the words left his mouth, he himself was stunned—he never expected such a line to come out of his own mouth one day.
But the truth was right in front of him! This cunning woman was clearly attracted to his well-built physique!
"I..." Karuizawa was speechless, her cheeks visibly flushing.
She couldn't refute it.
The clear outline of his abdominal muscles, and the biceps subtly visible under his uniform, were indeed one of the important reasons she chose Akira.
"I don't mean to blame you," Akira shrugged and said frankly. "Everyone is more or less a bit looks-oriented, and so am I."
"...Really?" Karuizawa's eyes suddenly lit up.
This boy was unexpectedly honest, completely different from the image of a deeply calculating person she had imagined.
This straightforward personality, on the contrary, made her feel inexplicably at ease.
"But one thing must be clear," Akira suddenly said seriously. "Since it's a formal relationship, as a boyfriend, I will definitely want to kiss, touch, and even..." He paused. "It's also normal to progress to the final step. Are you sure you can accept these?"
He wasn't looking for a girlfriend just for show.
If there couldn't be intimate contact, he might as well go after a 2D wife.
"This..." Karuizawa was speechless again, her cheeks burning red.
Only then did she realize she hadn't considered this issue at all.
But then, weren't these things normal between couples?
"For now... I don't want that..." Karuizawa lowered her head, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
"So," Akira narrowed his eyes slightly, "do you ultimately need a protector, or a boyfriend?"
"Protection," she blurted out almost without thinking.
"Then why are you so fixated on a relationship?" Akira frowned in confusion.
"Because..." Karuizawa twiddled her fingers. "Only then will others be wary. Isn't it natural for a boyfriend to protect his girlfriend?"
"...Are your grades usually not very good?" Akira suddenly sighed, rubbing his temples helplessly.
"Wh-what do you mean!" Karuizawa bristled like an angry cat. "My grades are at least average! Besides..." Her voice suddenly trailed off. "This way... it can also avoid other boys pestering me..."
Akira thoughtfully observed the girl in front of him. "How about joining any sports club as a manager? That way, no one would dare to bully you naturally."
"Do you think I haven't tried?" Karuizawa wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Those upperclassmen in sports clubs—their gazes are like they want to devour people alive..."
"Then come to the boxing club as a manager. I'll talk to the club president and ask everyone to give you special attention," Akira said with certainty. "I can look after you when I'm there. I'll also cover for you in class—after all, you're our club's 'mascot' now. This way, others will have to consider the boxing club's reputation and my presence, so no one should dare to touch you."
"This..." Karuizawa's eyes gradually brightened.
She bit her lip and thought for a moment, realizing that this plan was indeed feasible—it avoided a forced relationship and provided substantial protection.
"Then... thank you, Shimizu-kun!" Karuizawa bowed solemnly.
"No need for thanks," Akira waved his hand casually. "Just pay in points."
"Eh?!" Karuizawa suddenly looked up, her eyes wide in disbelief.
"What?" Akira, instead, showed a puzzled expression. "You didn't think I'd be your bodyguard for free, did you?" He said as if it were obvious. "This is a fair trade. Besides—if you don't pay anything, wouldn't you feel uneasy? What if I stood by and did nothing one day? Wouldn't you be uneasy?"
Karuizawa opened her mouth but found herself speechless.
This guy's way of thinking always precisely hit her most hidden worries.
Indeed, for someone like Karuizawa, who severely lacked a sense of security, being able to exchange points for protection brought her a sense of relief.
"Eighty thousand points... a month, is that okay?" She hesitated for a moment before cautiously stating a number.
After a quick calculation, this was 80% of her monthly income.
"Deal," Akira nodded readily, then raised his index finger to emphasize. "But I'll state this upfront—I will only intervene if you're bullied without cause. If you provoke others intentionally, or try to use my name to throw your weight around, I won't be responsible for the aftermath."
Eighty thousand, to be honest, was neither too much nor too little. If Karuizawa got into trouble with an upperclassman, the price he might have to pay would be far more than that amount.
But judging from the girl's uneasy demeanor, this was probably the limit of what she could offer.