Chapter 060: Sakayanagi Arisu: My Heart Disease Can Be Cured? / Senpai, I Like You!
The next day, August 6th. 8:00 AM. Sakayanagi Arisu, who was still sleeping in, was awakened by a phone call.
She actually had a bit of a "morning grump" temperament and originally wanted to coldly hang up, not bothering to deal with whoever was disturbing her rest. But when she saw the caller was her father, her expression immediately cleared from cloudy to sunny, and she picked up the phone with a hint of joy.
"Daughter! At this time, you should be resting on the luxury cruise, right? Your old man didn't disturb your sleep, did he?"
"Father! How can you say that! I'm more than happy when you call; how could I feel disturbed?"
"Haha, that's good."
"So, does this mean you're coming back?"
"Exactly! The Board of Chairmans has officially submitted documents proving my innocence. Starting from the second semester, you should be able to see me again."
"That's wonderful." Sakayanagi Arisu let out a rare cry of excitement.
After all, her father was coming back. Between the two of them, they hadn't seen each other for more than half a year. As a daughter, how could she not miss her family? Moreover, she lived in a single-parent household with her father as her only relative.
"Actually, for this matter, we have to thank Mr. Mashima. If he hadn't caught Acting Chairman Tsukishiro violating rules by using electronic devices during the Uninhabited Island Special Exam—forcibly modifying the designated check-in locations for Ayanokouji Kiyotaka and Shimizu Akira, intervening to adjust new tasks, and fighting those two—I probably wouldn't have been reinstated so quickly."
"Hehe, we really should thank the teacher properly."
"By the way, Arisu, I actually have some very, very good news for you. Listen to me first; take a few deep breaths and don't get too excited."
Sakayanagi Arisu said somewhat jokingly, "So serious? Good news for me? Don't tell me you found a stepmother, Father?"
"Alright, listen to me! Arisu, take a few deep breaths quickly!" Unexpectedly, Sakayanagi Narumori spoke in a rare commanding tone.
"Alright, Father!" Seeing him so serious, Arisu didn't dare say more and quickly took several deep breaths.
"I'm telling you, daughter—the heart disease that has plagued you for nearly half your life might be curable, according to current technological means," Sakayanagi Narumori said slowly.
"What?"
Sakayanagi Arisu froze on the spot, the phone nearly slipping from her hand.
"Arisu? Arisu! Are you still listening? Are you alright!"
"Fa... Father... are you... is it true? You're not just comforting me, are you?" After a long pause, Arisu spoke with a slight tremor.
"Silly child, how could I lie to you about something like this?" Sakayanagi Narumori's tone was gentle. "Do you remember I told you last year that our family put a lot of assets into funding medical R&D for heart disease? An authoritative expert in cardiac surgery and their team recently made a major breakthrough in the field of heart valve repair and regeneration. Last month, I specifically flew to Germany and gave them your medical records."
"What did they say?"
"They said that based on your current situation, the surgery's success rate is over 85%." Sakayanagi Narumori spoke excitedly: "Although there is still a certain risk, compared to the previous diagnosis which was almost hopeless, this is a massive leap forward. Moreover, as long as you recuperate well after the surgery, you can live completely like an ordinary person."
Live like an ordinary person.
Since childhood, because of her heart issues, she couldn't exercise strenuously, couldn't get too emotional, and even had to walk half a beat slower than others. She was used to leaning on her cane and watching other children run on the playground, used to staying quietly to the side while others played and joked.
She thought she was used to it.
But at this moment, when she heard the words "live like an ordinary person," her eyes turned red in spite of herself.
"Father... can I really?"
"Of course you can," Sakayanagi Narumori said decisively. "However, Arisu, you have to make this decision yourself. Although the success rate is high, there is still risk involved. As your father, I naturally hope you can regain your health, but if you aren't willing to take this risk, I will completely respect your choice.
Don't worry for now. Steady your emotions and think about it for a few days. It won't be too late to give me an answer after I return."
"Mmm, okay."
After hanging up, Sakayanagi Arisu sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the endless sea outside the window. A smile slowly spread across her lips.
If her heart disease were cured, wouldn't she be able to fall in love freely, just like a normal person? At that time, when she and Shimizu Akira were together, they could do whatever they wanted.
My, my, Father really brought her some heaven-sent news.
However, that 15% failure rate couldn't be ignored. If the surgery failed and she just kicked the bucket, what would happen then!
.
.
.
Shimizu Akira scanned today's daily intelligence.
All third-year students except Nagumo Miyabi are prohibited from privately hoarding personal points. The upper limit an individual can freely possess is basically only 500,000 points; any excess is siphoned off by Nagumo. Ryuen Kakeru of Class 2-C placed 4 "Free Loader" cards from his class on Nagumo Miyabi, earning a significant amount of points. Amasawa Ichika of Class 1-A currently has three amusements: 1. Teasing Kushida-senpai; 2. Viewing Sakayanagi Arisu's crying face; 3. Pestering Shimizu Akira to cook for her.
More intel on Nagumo Miyabi?
By the way, those third-years can't even save up more than 500,000 personal points? That's too miserable. This guy is really black-hearted!
Ryuen, on the other hand, made a decent profit. Nagumo took second place, and the reward was 500,000 points; for seven people, that's 3.5 million. 3.5 million divided by two and multiplied by four is 7 million. That guy Ryuen is making a fortune in silence.
As for the last one... how did Sakayanagi Arisu offend Amasawa Ichika? And she's planning to come find him?
Moreover, she actually considers Kushida Kikyo "amusement"?
Akira had just been "rewarded" by Kikyo yesterday. After seeing this intel, he didn't even eat breakfast properly, stuffing two buns into his mouth before walking out of the cafeteria.
Time to teach Amasawa Ichika a lesson!
He picked up his phone, wanting to check Amasawa Ichika's GPS location.
Huh? Can't find it. This person had also applied to the school to disable her GPS.
Fine, since he couldn't track her, he'd just call her directly. After the phone rang a few times, she picked up.
"Hello? Senpai?" Amasawa Ichika said with some surprise: "How rare, you actually called me of your own accord."
"Where are you?" Akira asked bluntly.
"Eh... so direct? I'm still sleeping. I stayed up late watching dramas last night—we didn't have those in the White Room."
These White Room people are all getting addicted to the internet.
"GPS is off?"
"Mhm, I don't want people checking my location whenever they want. But if it's Senpai, I can make an exception and tell you."
"Then say it."
"Hmm... I'm on the fourth floor, in the lounge near Deck Area B. Are you coming to find me?"
"Wait there."
Akira hung up and headed for the elevator. Deck Area B on the fourth floor was relatively quiet. There were no pools or restaurants here, just a few rows of lounge chairs and umbrellas for people to stare at the sea.
When Akira walked over, he saw Amasawa Ichika from afar, lying lazily on a lounge chair. She was wearing a white spaghetti-strap dress with her hair loose, holding a cup of juice. She looked like she had indeed just woken up.
Seeing Akira approach, she immediately sat up straight and waved at him.
"Shimizu-senpai, over here!"
Akira walked up to her. Ichika tilted her head back, meeting his eyes with a smile while patting her small stomach.
"What is it? Looking for me so urgently this morning—did you miss me? Or did you want to 'cook' with me? Speaking of which, Senpai does owe me a meal."
True. But Akira kept a stern face: "I heard from Kikyo that you went to find her and cause trouble during the island exam? What's that about?"
Amasawa Ichika blinked. "Did Kushida-senpai tattle? I just went to chat with her; I didn't do anything excessive."
"Chatting?" Akira clearly didn't believe her. "Are you sure it was chatting and not intentionally trying to provoke her?"
"Mmm..." Ichika bit her straw, pretending to think. "Maybe I said a few things that made her uncomfortable? But everything I said was the truth! Since Kushida-senpai is your girlfriend, why did Senpai choose to team up with Karuizawa-senpai and Horikita-senpai? Hehe, maybe I accidentally stepped on Senpai's landmine? I don't know!"
Akira looked at her, silent for two seconds.
"Amasawa."
"Yes?"
"Do you know that your way of speaking makes people want to punch you?"
Ichika leaned her face a bit closer instead. "Is Senpai going to hit me? I can't beat you anyway, so go ahead, I won't hide."
Akira reached out and flicked her forehead.
"Ow!"
Ichika covered her forehead but couldn't help but snicker. "Senpai is truly gentle. You call that a 'lesson'?"
"I'm not finished."
Akira withdrew his hand and said word for word: "Kikyo is my girlfriend. You bullying her is bullying me. Don't target her again, or next time it won't be as simple as a flick to the forehead."
Amasawa Ichika looked into his eyes and slowly retracted her smile.
"...Senpai is serious?"
"When am I not serious?"
Ichika lowered her head, thinking for several seconds.
"Fine," she said helplessly. "Since Senpai says so, I won't look for amusement with her anymore."
"So, besides Kikyo, do you have anyone else you want to bully?"
"Hmm... if I have to say, Sakayanagi-senpai counts as one."
"Reason?"
"She sent someone to tail me—it seems to be that Yamamura-senpai. When I ran into Sakayanagi-senpai at breakfast yesterday morning, she didn't even hide it and told me directly. To be honest, I wanted to break her cane right then. Don't you think it's interesting when those high-and-mighty people cry?"
"..."
This is way too sadistic. How are you even more wicked than Kikyo used to be?
Akira twitched the corner of his mouth: "You know Sakayanagi has heart disease. Besides, her father is the Chairman and is coming back soon. Aren't you afraid of him giving you a hard time?"
"So, is Senpai worrying about me? Worried I'll be expelled?" Amasawa Ichika's attention clearly wasn't on the Sakayanagi family, but she shouted with some excitement.
"No, that's not it. It's just a suggestion; it's up to you whether you listen or not," Akira countered almost instantly.
"Senpai really is stubborn. But fine, fine, I'll listen to you; I won't go looking for trouble with Sakayanagi. Sigh, seeing as Acting Chairman Tsukishiro is leaving soon, I'll have to return to the White Room. You won't give me any amusement, you won't cook for me... little Ichika feels like she's going to die of boredom." Ichika slumped back onto the chair, looking devastated.
Hmm? Tsukishiro hasn't notified her that she can stay at this school?
Speaking of which, Akira hadn't given her that enrollment contract yet. Should he tell her now?
He quickly shook his head. With a girl of Amasawa Ichika's personality, if he was suddenly too good to her, she'd probably push her luck. However, she had agreed to so many of his requests, plus her expression really did look pitiful. After being the boxing club's female manager for a few months, there were some feelings there.
"Who said I wouldn't cook for you?"
Amasawa Ichika sat up abruptly, her eyes wide.
"Senpai, what did you just say?"
"I said, who said I wouldn't cook for you," Akira repeated. "But there's a condition."
"What condition, what condition?" Ichika leaned in, almost pressing herself against him. "As long as Senpai is willing to cook, I'll do anything!"
"Get away from me."
Ichika backed off obediently, but the excitement on her face hadn't faded at all.
"First, you have to help while I'm cooking. Washing vegetables, chopping, and washing dishes are all on you."
"No problem!"
"Second, no wasting food. You eat whatever is made."
"Of course!"
"Third... in the future, you are not allowed to talk about Kikyo's past, nor use it to threaten her."
Ichika's smile stiffened for a moment.
"Senpai really protects her."
"She is my girlfriend."
"Got it, got it." Ichika waved her hand. "I promise. Anyway, I didn't actually plan to do anything; it was just... for amusement."
"Anything else?"
Akira waved his hand. "That's it for now."
"Then shall we go cook now?" Ichika stood up. "Let's go, let's go. I'm starving."
"Go change your clothes first," Akira said, speechless.
"Oh, right..." Ichika looked down at her spaghetti-strap dress and stuck out her tongue. "Then Senpai, wait for me. I'll be right back!"
With that, she jogged off the deck, turning back after a few steps to shout: "Don't sneak away!"
About ten minutes later, Amasawa Ichika returned in a new outfit. A white T-shirt paired with denim shorts, her hair tied in a high ponytail. She looked much more refreshed.
"Let's go!" she ran up to Akira and said with a smile. "Senpai, what do you plan to make today?"
"What do you want to eat?"
"Hmm..." Ichika tilted her head and thought. "Tom Yum Goong! I've wanted to eat it for a long time. I asked Ayanokouji-senpai to make it for me, but he just fooled me with stuff bought from a shop!"
"Because Ayanokouji can't cook!" Akira shook his head. "Fine, let's go buy the ingredients."
"Alright!"
The two went to the ship's self-service ingredient area. It was filled with various fresh ingredients: vegetables, meat, seafood, seasonings—everything was there.
Ichika pushed the shopping cart while Akira walked ahead, picking things out.
"Tom Yum Goong needs lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, lime, fish sauce, coconut milk..." Akira muttered while putting items into the cart, "plus shrimp, mushrooms, tomatoes."
"Senpai, you're so professional." Ichika watched from the side, stunned.
"Someone made it for me before."
"Was it Kushida-senpai?"
"It was Suzune. By the way, why do you have so many questions!"
"Alright, alright, Senpai, don't be angry. I won't ask so specifically."
After gathering all the ingredients, they went to the self-service kitchen. Akira put on an apron and began processing the ingredients. Ichika stood by, holding a kitchen knife, staring blankly at a piece of lemongrass.
"Senpai, how do I cut this?"
"Smash it, then cut it into segments."
"Oh..." Ichika clumsily smashed the lemongrass, nearly sending it flying.
Akira sighed and took the knife from her hand. "I'll do it. You process the shrimp first."
"How do I process shrimp?"
"Peel them and devein them."
"What's a 'shrimp line' (vein)?"
Akira glanced at her, suddenly feeling that agreeing to cook for her might have been a mistake. "Come here, I'll teach you."
He stepped behind Ichika and taught her hand-over-hand how to devein the shrimp. Ichika's body stiffened slightly, but she obediently followed his movements.
"Like this?"
"Mhm. Use lighter pressure; don't tear the shrimp meat."
"Okay."
After more than an hour of work, the Tom Yum Goong was finally ready. The red soup base emitted a rich aroma, and the sour-sweet scent filled the entire kitchen.
Ichika took a deep breath. "It smells so good—!"
She couldn't wait to ladle out a bowl. After one sip of the soup, she froze there.
"What is it? Not good?" Akira asked.
"No..." Ichika's eyes turned slightly red. "It's too delicious... Senpai, how can you do everything?"
"You learn by watching and practicing more."
"Then can you make it for me often in the future?"
"No."
"Why!"
"I don't have that much time." Akira ladled a bowl for himself too. "Besides, you aren't my girlfriend."
Ichika pouted.
The two sat at the small dining table, quietly drinking the soup. Ichika drank bowl after bowl, finally leaning back against the chair contentedly, patting her stomach.
"Senpai, I'm stuffed."
"Who told you to drink so much."
"Can't you say something nice?"
"The dishes aren't washed yet. Go ahead!"
Ichika sighed and stood up to clear the dishes. "Senpai, you really don't know how to make a girl happy."
"I'm not trying to make you happy."
"Then can you try to make me happy?"
"I cannot."
"But maybe after this luxury cruise, we'll never see each other again. I've been in the White Room since birth. I'm a test-tube baby; I've never seen my parents, and no one cares about me. Returning to that cold White Room, Mr. Shiba has a fire in his heart, and I don't know how he'll punish me. Senpai, if you don't know how to comfort people... just hold my hand once. Maybe then, I'll be able to pull through."
Akira looked at her back, silent for a few seconds. Ichika was washing dishes with her head down, her shoulders slightly tensed as if she were enduring something. She usually laughed and joked around, speaking with no sense of propriety, making people sometimes forget she was also someone who came from that place. She didn't even have parents; in a way, she was more pitiful than Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
"Amasawa."
"Yes."
"Turn around."
Ichika turned off the faucet and turned around, leaning against the sink with a rag still in her hand. Her expression hadn't changed much—still that lazy look—but the light in her eyes was dimmer than usual.
Akira stood up and walked over to her. "Hold out your hands."
Ichika put the rag down and held out both hands. Her hands were still wet, her fingers slightly red from being soaked in the water while washing dishes. Akira took her hands, gave them a gentle squeeze, and then let go.
"Finished comforting."
Ichika froze for a moment, looking down at her hands that had been held, then looked up at him with a look of utter disbelief.
"That's it? Not even half a second?"
"You didn't specify a time."
Ichika opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but swallowed it back. she looked down at her hands, silent for several seconds. Then she smiled. Not her usual playful smile, but a very soft, faint one.
"Senpai."
"Mhm."
"Your hands are very warm."
"Mhm."
"Can you hold them once more?"
"Just once!"
Akira looked at her, reached out, and held them again. This time it was much longer than before—a full three seconds. Ichika didn't pull away, nor did she speak; she just let him hold them.
"Amasawa."
"Yes."
"You won't be leaving this school."
Ichika looked up into his eyes. "How do you know?"
"Because Tsukishiro already promised me," Akira said. "You will stay, transfer to Class 1-A, and finish your three years like an ordinary student. From now on, you won't be a White Room assassin."
Ichika was stunned. Her hands began to tremble slightly in his palms, her eyes widening slowly.
"You... what did you say?"
"You didn't mishear." Akira released her hands, pulled his phone from his pocket, opened the photo of the enrollment contract, and handed it to her. "This is Tsukishiro's signature. It's in black and white; he can't back out. The contract is in my dorm."
Ichika took the phone, staring at the contract on the screen, her finger sliding slowly as she read it word by word. Her expression went from shock to disbelief, and from disbelief to something indefinable.
"Senpai..."
"Mhm."
"When did you... why..."
"Because you helped me," Akira said. "You betrayed the White Room for me; I owe you a favor. This is me paying it back."
Ichika lowered her head, handed the phone back to him, then turned around to face the sink, her shoulders trembling slightly. Akira didn't walk over, nor did he speak; he just stood behind her.
After about a dozen seconds, Ichika turned around. Her eyes were red, but she wasn't crying. She sniffled and forced a smile.
"Senpai."
"Mhm."
"You... really are..."
"What?"
"Hateful. You could have told me sooner, but you had to wait until I was so sad to say it."
"It was quite interesting to see you sad. Who told you to always enjoy teasing others."
"You—!"
Ichika raised her hand to hit him, but Akira caught it as soon as she did.
"Alright," he said. "Food eaten, contract seen, hands held. Happy now?"
Ichika looked at his hand, then at his face, and finally sighed. "...Happy."
"Then give me a smile."
Ichika tried hard to pull the corners of her mouth up; it looked terrible.
Akira spoke the truth: "Ugly."
Ichika was so angry she wanted to hit him: "Don't say I'm ugly!"
"Alright, alright."
Another dozen seconds passed.
"Senpai."
"Mhm."
"Don't tell anyone that I almost cried."
"Okay."
"Especially Kushida-senpai. If you tell her, I'll... I'll spill all your embarrassing secrets."
"What secrets do I have?"
"Like how you're completely whipped by her, like how you secretly taste the food while cooking, like how you peeked at my breasts three times while eating..."
"Enough, enough." Akira interrupted her, speechless. "I won't tell."
Ichika nodded with satisfaction and picked up the rag to continue washing dishes.
"Senpai."
"Mhm."
"Thank you."
"Mhm."
"I said thank you."
"I heard you."
"Can't you reply with 'you're welcome'?"
"You're welcome."
A few more seconds passed.
"Senpai... let's discuss something."
"Speak."
"Should the two of us start dating?"
"No!"
"Why?"
"Because I have many girlfriends."
"I don't care!"
"Fine, then let me say it again: because you're annoying."
"I'm not that annoying! On the contrary, I can even give you 'bonuses.' Senpai, don't you like staring at my breasts? If we date, I can let you touch them every day. But you have to cook for me—three meals a day—and hold my hand for ten minutes every day, tell me you like me, and find different ways to make me happy!"
That sounds like a lot of trouble. Three meals a day and specifically making her happy?!
Akira snorted and turned away. If he were craving breasts, wouldn't it be better to go to his eight girlfriends? Besides, his cute Nanase Tsubasa let him touch them; why would he need her!
Seeing him unmoved, Amasawa Ichika continued to tempt him. "Senpai, won't you really consider it? My figure is very good, and my face is very cute. It gives you a lot of face to take me out."
"No need."
"Then what kind of girls does Senpai like? I can change."
"You can't change."
"How do you know if you don't say?"
"I like the quieter type."
Ichika shut her mouth. About three seconds of silence passed.
"...Senpai, is this quiet enough?"
"Not enough."
She was quiet for another five seconds, then whispered in a breathy voice: "Now?"
Akira looked at her holding her breath and finally couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, stop faking."
Ichika immediately returned to normal, pouting: "Senpai, you're too hard to please."
"It's you who are too annoying."
"I'm not annoying! I'm 'lively and cute'!"
"Lively and cute people don't chase after others asking them to touch their breasts."
Ichika's face turned slightly red. "Then does Senpai want to touch them or not?"
"No."
"Why!"
"Because I have a girlfriend."
"Don't you already have eight? What's one more?"
"Amasawa, stop joking."
"Hmm?"
"You've just come out of the White Room, after all; your understanding of romantic feelings is still very simple. You said it yourself: no one has ever comforted you. I just made you a meal, held your hand, and handed you a contract. If I were to date you at a time like this, wouldn't that be taking advantage of someone's vulnerability? That's actually my main reason for refusing. Of course, the 'annoying' part is another aspect."
"I see... Senpai."
"Mhm."
"Will you still cook for me in the future?"
"Depends on my mood."
"Then can you try to be in a better mood?"
"That depends on your performance."
Akira suddenly stood up and grabbed his jacket. "I'm leaving."
"Eh? Leaving already?"
"Yeah, I have other things to do."
"Oh."
Amasawa Ichika sat in place, watching his back disappear through the door, and finally let out a somewhat helpless sigh.
"Senpai, that idiot... he actually took it seriously!"
Yes, Ichika's claim earlier that "no one had ever comforted her" was an outright lie. While it was true no one comforted her in the White Room, after coming to this high school, she was cute, and many people had actually confessed to her. Those confession letters praised her to the skies, and people often sent her food and gifts. If she were truly that emotionally simple, she would have agreed to someone long ago.
The reason she said that earlier was just a lie she made up so the Senpai would hold her small hand. Unexpectedly, she had shot herself in the foot.
"I really do like Senpai... he completely meets my dating criteria. Handsome, can cook, can fight, is so good to me, provides security, handed me a contract, and is soft-hearted despite his tough words—he's cute to death... who wouldn't like a man like that!
But, am I really annoying? Are those requests really excessive?"
Sigh, Senpai too... what 'taking advantage of vulnerability'... so stupid. I already offered myself up; couldn't he just reach out and touch!"
She shook her head, her gaze falling on the bowl and chopsticks Akira had left behind.
"Things Senpai used..."
Ichika stared at the bowl and chopsticks for several seconds, then as if making a major decision, she reached out and took the chopsticks. She held them, feeling the slight residual warmth on them, and her smile slowly curled up.
"Senpai's chopsticks..."
She rubbed the chopsticks against her cheek, then suddenly realized what she was doing and felt utterly mortified.
"W-What am I doing!"
She quickly put the chopsticks back on the table and covered her burning face.
"Amasawa Ichika, get a grip! It's just a pair of chopsticks! Is it worth it!"
But...
She stole a glance at the chopsticks, then another. Those were chopsticks "used" by Senpai! Very precious!
In the end, she couldn't resist. She picked up the chopsticks, carefully wrapped them in a tissue, and put them in her pocket.
"Senpai doesn't want them anyway... I'll keep them as a souvenir."
Ichika gathered her feelings and prepared to head back. As she turned, her peripheral vision caught the napkin on the table. There was a small curry stain on the tissue, left by the Senpai when he wiped his mouth.
She hesitated for a second, then picked up that tissue, folded it, and put it in her other pocket.
"I'll keep this too."
She patted her pockets and walked out of the kitchen contentedly.
"Ichika-chan has finally found something serious to do!"
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