I, the mastermind behind the scenes at Soubu High, refuse to be caught in a bloodbath.

“No,” Kazusa turned to look at the students still coming and going outside the window and said calmly, “Do you know who’s using the first music room?”

The First Music Classroom is listed in the archives as being used by the Light Music Club, which means that Kitahara Haruki has finally started playing the guitar?

"I do know that."

"Then!" She suddenly turned around, grabbed Ji Xiaolu's arm with both hands, and pushed him against the wall in a fit of rage. She looked up at him through gritted teeth and said, "Can you go and tell him to stop playing that lousy guitar while I'm playing the piano? I'm being driven crazy by that guy!"

"...Um, you're standing too close, Kazusa."

Although her face was contorted with anger, her delicate, fair features were inches away, her warm breath escaping from her thin, pink lips. Her well-developed chest was pressed against Ji Xiaolu's chest, and her pure eyes were so close...

"So are you going to help me or not? I can't concentrate on practicing the piano like this!"

She completely ignored Himekoji's words; perhaps they weren't that important to her, given how much physical contact the two had had since childhood.

“I really can’t do what you want by ordering a student not to practice guitar in the music room. Well… giving orders is fine, but don’t you think it’s a bit strange? How about this, I’ll go to the second music room to keep you company every afternoon after I finish my work? Although I don’t have my mom’s amazing skills, at least I can help you concentrate. It’s easy to be distracted by the guitar over there when you’re playing alone.”

Chapter 042 A Little Coincidence: Kasumigaoka Utaha Arrives Just in Time

Although Himekoji's words initially made Kazusa's pretty face increasingly unhappy, she eventually managed to force a faint smile.

"So you'll be an hour late getting home again? Is Aunt Daphne... all right?"

Although she was happy about this, Kazusa immediately became worried, after all, Himekoji's mother was an extremely doting mother.

“Anyway, I’ll practice the piano after dinner when I get home. Since I’m going to practice with you, then I don’t need to practice at home. I can just do other things after dinner.” As he spoke, Ji Xiaolu took out his phone and was about to instruct the housekeeper to pick him up later starting today, but He Sha grabbed his arm, pursed her lips and shook her head, saying, “Let me do what I want.”

She stepped back slightly, took out her phone, and called Ji Xiaolu's mother.

"Moshi moshi, Aunt Daphne, it's me... um, how have you been lately? Actually, I just discussed something with Haruto..."

As she was saying this, Ji Xiaolu heard footsteps coming from downstairs. He subconsciously looked down, and just then, the person below was also looking up.

"Poetry Feather..."

"Inspiration-kun and... Touma-kun?"

Clearly, Kasumigaoka was just as surprised by this encounter.

Kazusa, however, paid no attention to their business and was busy making a phone call while looking out the window. Himeko noticed that Kasumigaoka's expression was strange, and he asked with a wry smile, "Are you taking this staircase to find a certain teacher?"

Taking this side staircase is too roundabout for Kasumigaoka.

"No...actually, I am," she glanced at Kazusa, who was still on the phone, closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and after a few seconds asked, "More importantly than my business, what are you and Touma doing here?"

"I discussed it with her because of some things in the music room."

Himekoji answered truthfully.

"I see..." Kasumigaoka nodded, a little stunned. She noticed that Kazusa was still on the phone, looking very eager, which was completely different from her usual cold demeanor. Although she had questions, she couldn't just ask directly. So she lowered her head, took a step forward, and asked, "Haruto-kun, do you... have time at noon?"

"There is still time to eat."

"Actually, I came to ask if you wanted to have lunch together? But if you're having lunch with Touma-san, then I guess I'll pass..."

She took a detour to come to Class J to find Himekoji and ask him about this, but she didn't expect to run into him at the side staircase, along with Touma who was on the phone.

"Then you must take care of yourself... Oh, and about that painting from before..."

Kazusa had already said what she was about to say to hang up, but then she started another topic, as if she would never stop talking.

"Now that you mention it, I suddenly realized I forgot to bring my lunchbox..."

Ji Xiaolu smacked his lips, his mouth twisted, and his expression turned somewhat unpleasant. This wasn't an act; he genuinely forgot to bring it. Although a servant could bring it over with a simple phone call, he didn't want to cause trouble for others because it was a responsibility he had incurred due to his own carelessness.

Ultimately, it was those emails that kept me preoccupied with various plans, which is why I forgot my lunch in the car.

"Oh?! That's perfect, I made two portions today."

Kasumigaoka smiled with delight.

"Then...can I ask you for a favor? I forgot to bring my lunch, so I'll just hitch a ride with you this time."

Himekoji clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture.

"Hmph, the responsibility of saving a junior who forgot his lunch is almost as important as saving the world! Well... don't novels always have this kind of plot? Because their junior forgot his lunch, he crossed paths with a senior with magical powers, and the fate of the world was tied to the two of them, and the gears of fate began to turn... But novels are novels, Haruto-kun, you'd better not be so reckless in the future, because I don't bring two lunches every day."

She almost lost control of her words.

"Hahaha... This kind of thing probably won't happen a second time."

Ji Xiaolu was rarely criticized to the point of being convinced, so she couldn't help but smile and lower her head.

"Well then, goodbye."

Kasumigaoka waved to him, then, carrying her brown schoolbag, jogged upstairs with light steps; the senior students were on the floor above.

"Okay, I understand. Goodbye, Aunt Daphne."

At the same time, Kazusa hung up the phone.

"how is the situation?"

“Aunt Daphne is of course very welcoming, need I say more?” Kazusa hurriedly put her phone in her pocket, then looked in the direction Kasumigaoka had left, stared at the corner for a while, and asked, “You’re so familiar with her?”

"Well, not to brag, but I've helped her a lot, so it's impossible for us not to know each other. Plus, she's a member of the student council now, and we all have to work together, so we gradually got to know each other."

Ji Xiaolu, with her hands behind her head, leaned against the wall and began to speak plainly.

"Student council..." Kazusa's gaze drifted to the ground, but when she looked up again, she reverted to her icy demeanor. As she went upstairs, she instructed without turning back, "Don't forget this afternoon."

"I won't forget."

As Ji Xiaolu said this, her phone started vibrating; an email had arrived.

"Respectfully addressed to Mr. Himekoji, Student Council President of Soubu High School"

"I am Seiji Asashima, the student council president of Seaside Comprehensive High School. I am honored to receive your letter. Last year's co-organized community event was truly made possible by your esteemed school's support. We have now basically confirmed the contents of this letter and will provide you with a preliminary response at today's meeting. We will then report it to the school's higher management and contact you again after receiving instructions. Furthermore, we also look forward to co-organizing a large-scale event with your school."

Needless to say, it was still signed by him. The troublesome formalities were always necessary, and even though Ji Xiaolu found them annoying, he still had to reply politely. However, receiving a reply was naturally a good thing. All three parties had received their emails today, and the results would probably be discussed soon, Ji Xiaolu thought to himself.

Seiji Asashima and Himekoji had one encounter, which was when he mentioned "thank you for your help with community activities." At that time, Jun Shiromai had just become the student council president, and Himekoji was still the vice president. The two newly formed student councils were having an awkward chat, which was really enough.

"Moshi moshi, Chairman, ah, that's right, it's me, Himekoji Haruto... I'm planning to bring in another piano to put in... Oh, okay, I understand."

Chapter 043 So cute! [Kido Mariya] has decided to give out some goodies!

Although she already knew this would be the outcome, she figured it was better to make a phone call anyway. So, Ji Xiaolu called home again. As soon as her mother answered, she burst into tears, wailing, "Waaaaah! Haruto, how could you not bring the lunch I carefully prepared for you? Waaaaah..."

"Uh, I'm really sorry, I was thinking about a lot of things when I got off the bus and forgot."

"I'll make a new one and have Reiko send it to you."

"No need, a girl I'm close to brought two lunches today, so I'll just eat hers. It's not good to keep bothering Sister Lingzi."

"Ugh—, could it be poisonous? The prettier the girl, the better she is at lying, Haruto, don't be fooled."

"No! Cough cough... Anyway, Mom asked you to have someone send a piano over. There's only one piano in the second music room, and it's not very convenient for Kazusa and me to take turns using it, since she has to go to a competition."

"That's true... But transporting a piano there is much more trouble than having someone deliver a lunchbox back, isn't it? As expected, Haruto has already grown tired of my 'motherly love' lunchbox, waaaaaah... waaaaah, waaaaah!"

"...That's impossible. Today is just a coincidence, a coincidence."

"Waaah, goodbye, I'll have someone get you a piano..."

My mom hung up the phone in despair. I wonder how long she'll cry by the phone this time.

Sigh, is having a mother like this a blessing or a curse?

The piano, which was originally placed near the rooftop, was moved here at noon. During the move, it attracted the attention of several hundred students, who were all speculating about where the piano would be placed. In the end, the piano obediently went into the second music classroom, which was in the hands of the so-called "privileged students". For a while, there was a lot of complaining and discussion.

However, the announcement was posted in the afternoon. This announcement was signed directly by the chairman of the board. The gist of it was that the two pianos in the second piano classroom were extremely valuable, and the students should not act rashly, otherwise they would be responsible for compensation. After the piano was placed there, even more cameras were installed, which shows how important it was.

"So, may I ask who this new privileged student is: the mastermind behind Soubu High School, the handsome young man who keeps countless female teachers and students up at night, and the womanizing man who once abandoned me, the great student council president Himekoji-sama?"

At noon, Kasumigaoka, having spread the picnic blanket out on the lawn, handed Himekoji the large blue bento box and said this in a very serious tone.

"What the heck is that ridiculously weird prefix and title?! And why is the middle part so strange?! Did I ever abandon you?! Besides, didn't we discuss this issue before?!"

Ji Xiaolu made a series of sarcastic remarks as she took the box from her.

"More than the answers to those pointless questions, I'd like to know who this privileged student, whose true identity remains elusive, is. You must know, right, Inspiration-kun~"

She moved closer to Himekoji, and after saying the last word, she deliberately blew hot air into his ear.

"Eek...!" Ji Xiaolu suddenly shuddered and hissed twice, "What kind of privileged student never sees the true face of Mount Lu? That person is me."

Upon hearing this answer, Kasumigaoka visibly leaned back, her beautiful eyes dimming and lost in thought for a moment before she muttered to herself, "Yes, I should have thought of that sooner..."

"After all, this is what I discussed with Kazusa this morning—accompanying her to practice the piano, well, of course, after we've taken care of the student council work."

Ji Xiaolu opened the lid of the bento box, and a fragrant aroma wafted out. Although it had been sitting for three hours and was long since cold, the taste and the sentiment behind it would not disappear as the temperature dropped.

"Even though Linggan-kun doesn't have time to spend with me, he still takes the time to tutor Touma-san on the piano. Is my place in your heart not even as important as this pitiful lunchbox?"

Kasumigaoka pointed to her small, plain black lunchbox, which had been used for a long time and was showing many signs of wear and tear, and said with extreme sadness.

"What's so pitiful about this bento box..." Himekoji's complaint was still in progress when Kasumigaoka leaned closer, her eyes glazed over. Her little head rested on Himekoji's shoulder, the bento box wobbling precariously in her hands, her chopsticks trembling. She took a deep breath and whispered, "It always makes me feel at ease..."

"Shiyu, get up and eat."

"No... I stayed up all night again last night. There was a small section I kept revising but I wasn't satisfied with, and then before I knew it... phew—"

She fell asleep leaning on Ji Xiaolu's shoulder, her crimson eyeshadow trembling slightly, her soft breathing echoing rhythmically in Ji Xiaolu's ear.

I can't even eat looking like this...

"Hehe... Guhehe..."

Exhausted, Kasumigaoka was talking in her sleep. Turning her head to look at her out of the corner of her eye, she seemed to be dreaming of something good, but for some reason, Himekoji felt that her smile was a little sinister.

"President."

"what!"

Suddenly someone called his name, and Ji Xiaolu had a feeling of being caught red-handed in adultery. He tensed up and looked to his left, only to find—

"Is the student council president secretly going on a date with Kasumigaoka-senpai here?"

Mariya was sitting on the lawn to the left of Himekoji in a duck-like position. She put her right hand to the corner of her lips and blinked curiously, looking like a little devil who had discovered something fun. When she saw Himekoji looking over and staring at her, Mariya gradually became shy. She gently twisted her body and peeked at Himekoji, asking, "President, you... can't be distracted. You have to keep a close eye on Senpai."

*Pfft!* Let me die! Ju is a combination of a little devil and a little angel! Oh, right, she's the kind of fallen angel who specifically tempts people to depravity! Offer your soul to Lucifer's priestess!

"Uh, is there something you need?"