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

After Kazusa uttered those words, she showed a look of deep regret, but that look vanished instantly, as if it had never existed.

After staring at Kazusa for a long time, she finally gave in, turned her head away, and said, "I'm sorry... I've really caused you all trouble today."

"It's nothing, but you'll have to apologize to Sister Lingzi afterwards."

"Um..."

"I won't press you about what you're looking for. I'm just glad you're alright." Himeko smiled knowingly, gently ruffling Kazusa's nearly dry hair. She immediately turned her head away, preventing him from touching it, and stuck out her tongue, making a face at him. "Hehe—"

You crashed a car worth over 20 million yen... You should feel a little guilty!

"Himekoji".

The two of them nestled close together on the sofa, neither turning on the TV nor speaking, remaining in that position until Kazusa spoke first.

"What do you want?"

"Can't I call you if I don't have to do anything?"

"..."

"Himekoji".

"..."

"Himekoji!"

"..."

"Hey, Himekoji, I want to hear you play the piano. Play the piano for me now—no, play the guitar. I suddenly remembered that Kitahara Haruki is a terrible guitarist. Come to think of it, it seems like I haven't heard a decent guitar piece in ages. Hurry up and go."

Seeing that Himekoji wasn't responding to her, Kazusa started nudging him with her elbow.

"That's no problem, anytime is fine, but are you really not planning to come with me to the fireworks festival in mid-August?"

If Kazusa were to go, Himekoji would immediately cancel his appointment with Kawasaki Saki. However, it wouldn't be good to do that, as he would definitely get a scolding if his mother found out.

"No, I don't want to know who you're going with."

Kazusa's attitude remained firm. Of course, Himekoji thought that if he forced her to go, she would probably give in. However, Himekoji was afraid that his mother would beat him to death when they got home.

Have you been to school recently?

"I don't need tutoring, so what would I do at school... Do you perhaps want me to go to tutoring?"

"That's impossible. I hope Kazusa can do what she likes."

"Now look what's happened, my hand hurts terribly. After putting on the band-aid, my hand is not flexible and I can't play the guitar. Hurry up, the guitar is waiting for you."

Author's Note:

PS: Fourth update, please give me some criticism.

Chapter 133 Watching Fireworks, [Kawasaki Saki] is at a loss

"This is all your own doing..."

"I'm going to kick you."

"Ahem—okay, I'll go play the guitar."

Himekoji shook her head, rubbing her forehead, before sitting up from next to Kazusa. Kazusa also slowly got up, and the spot where the two had just been lying became a deep nest.

"Hehe~"

Watching Himekoji's departing figure, Kazusa quietly followed, secretly smiling to herself.

As for the notebook, it was lying on the balcony waiting to dry. After Sa arrived, she separated the pages that could be separated before taking a shower. Otherwise, it would be impossible to separate some pages once the notebook was dry.

Summer vacation continues, and Himekoji Haruto's busy schedule will continue. Meanwhile, a rosy prospect is quietly unfolding at the Hikigaya Hachiman household. One August noon, Hikigaya, who had just helped Komachi with her research report assignment, heard the doorbell ring. While wondering whether it was his neighbor or an Amazon delivery, he walked to the door and turned the doorknob.

"Yay, hello~"

Yui Yuigahama, with her hair in a light brown bun and dressed in summer clothes, stood blankly at the door, holding a tote bag in both hands, as if wary of her surroundings.

"Oh... hello."

Hikigaya responded somewhat bewilderedly. Yuihama showing up at this hour was such an unexpected plot twist that even the worst playwright wouldn't be able to come up with.

"Um, Komachi... are you there?"

"Komachi, your friend is here, come over here quickly."

Sure enough, without even thinking, she was definitely looking for Komachi, Hachiman thought to himself.

So Yuihama was invited into the house and stayed with the brother and sister.

"Oh, so you want to send this dog to my house for a sample? No problem, my family has experience in raising pets."

Komachi happily agreed, while giving Hachiman a meaningful look. Hachiman simply scoffed, glanced at Yui's outfit, and muttered, "Peach..."

"Don't call me Pinkie Pie!"

"Humph."

"Alright, alright, both you, brother and Yui-nee, stop!" Komachi stood up and made a stop gesture between the two of them. Then she sat back down on the sofa, tapped her forehead with her index finger, and shook her head from side to side, saying, "When I came across this pet boarding issue, it reminded me of Yukino-nee. When did she become so close to that student council president named Himekoji?"

"Who knows what happened under the snow?"

"Well... I haven't been in touch with Yukino lately. I only saw her once during summer vacation, and I didn't even have a chance to ask her what happened, but—"

"But what? What?!"

“However, a few months ago when I went to Yukino’s house to change into her dress, she seemed to have mentioned that she wanted to get a cat… but she couldn’t. The reason seemed complicated, and I don’t quite understand it.” Yui spread her hands and rested her chin on her hand, saying, “Because you see, Yukino lives alone, so she shouldn’t have any problem getting whatever she wants.”

"So Himekoji was the one who first solved Yukinoshita's problem of not being able to keep cats, and even helped her board so many cats... I'm starting to wonder what kind of price Yukinoshita paid, Himekoji isn't someone who's easy to talk to."

"Stay home! Don't you dare get any funny ideas!"

"That's called generalization! Wouldn't a normal person make the same deduction? And the other party is Yukinoshita and Himekoji, after all."

"But if this continues, Yukino-nee will really be beyond saving..."

Komachi shrank into the sofa with a disappointed look on her face.

"Huh—? What is it?"

Hikigaya stared at her with his mouth agape, while Yui remained silent.

“But it’s okay,” Komachi said with a bright smile again, trying to please Yui Hama, “Leave Sabre to us, Yui-nee can go on her trip in peace!”

"Thank you so much. That's all for now, I have to go, my family is waiting for me."

Yuihama immediately took her leave, but Komachi practically dragged Hachiman to the door before forcing him to see her off. Yuihama's smile was somewhat forced as she left, something Hachiman couldn't fathom.

A few days later—

"It's me, Himekoji. I'll give you two hours to prepare. I'll come pick you up in two hours."

"Huh—? W-what's going on? A fireworks festival? Do we have to start preparing so early?"

"Should there be a speech by the mayor and other relevant personnel before the fireworks display?"

"You're not trying to say you're the mayor, are you...?"

"Use your brain! I just have to attend these kinds of events in place of my dad and shake hands and exchange pleasantries with those people, so as my date, you can't be late, right? Get ready."

"Huh? Hey...you didn't say it was like this! And you said you were preparing...I've never met those important people before, I have absolutely no idea what clothes to wear or how to do my makeup!"

"Just think of it as going to a fireworks festival with your classmates. Don't worry about anything else. As for clothes, a yukata will be fine. Just make up appropriately. I'll be at your doorstep on time."

"By the way... do you know my home address?"

"The student union's information clearly lists everyone's address, so don't keep asking such nonsense."

So, Himekoji hung up the phone, leaving Kawasaki Saki staring blankly at the screen showing the end of the call.

"Who did you invite again? I feel like I need to observe a moment of silence for that girl."

Kazusa, who was playing the piano next to Himekoji, glanced at him with a wicked smile and said.

"So your reason for not wanting to go is that you hate dealing with those people?"

"The reason I don't want to go is simply that I don't want to go; there's no other reason."

"...Alright, I'd better get ready. Phew—I'll wear a kimono then."

Is it really okay not to wear formal attire?

"If I wore it, it would look out of place and awkward walking next to her. Besides, kimonos are actually quite formal, aren't they?"

"You keep talking about her, but who exactly is she?"

"Kawasaki Saki is an ordinary girl. To say she was invited is an understatement."

"Pfft—, fine, go ahead, just stop bothering me."

Kazusa closed her eyes and nodded her chin toward Himekoji. He shook his head and left the basement. His father had previously ordered the construction of a basement and a game room similar to Kazusa's house, but Himekoji had never been inside the game room because he didn't have time.

"Sister...is that Himekoji-nii calling?"

Kawasaki Taishi looked at his bewildered older sister with some concern and said.

"Ah...yes, it was that guy who called."

"I've wanted to ask him for a long time, sister, what kind of help did you give him... to get him such a job and be able to take so much time off?"

Author's Note:

PS: This is the fifth update. Please give me some criticism.

Chapter 134 Reluctantly, [Yukinoshita] must attend.

"Who knows..." Kawasaki sighed and shook his head, then glanced at the time and gasped, "No, I have to hurry and get ready... Ahhh, is it too late to buy a new yukata now?!"

"Wasn't the set I bought last month pretty good?"

"That's from last month! Damn it, damn it, you bastard!" Kawasaki cursed as he grabbed his bicycle and sped out the door, with Daishi chasing after him, shouting, "Sister, wallet! I forgot my wallet!"

Meanwhile, Yukino Yukinoshita was also busy preparing at home. As her father's stand-in, she always had to attend various occasions on his behalf, and today was no exception. Normally, the Yukinoshita family did not need to attend such events, or rather, it was none of their business. But this year was different because Shidou and Himekoji had a small joint venture with the Yukinoshita family. People below them were quick to respond, and her family was naturally included in the list of VIPs invited.

Actually, Yang Nai didn't want to go.

I have absolutely no desire to go; I wouldn't even entertain the thought of it.