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

"Hmm...that's good."

A tender expression flashed across Yang Nai's face for a fleeting moment, which was quite out of character for her.

However—or rather, as expected—the next moment, she switched to a demonic gaze.

“Everyone praises her at first, but in the end, they all become jealous, hateful, and ostracize her, no longer associating with her... I hope you won’t be like those people.”

Her smile was so poignant that anyone who saw it would feel sorry for her, except for Himekoji.

"I..."

Yuihama was stunned by Haruno, and her words became hesitant again.

Author's Note:

P.S.: Starting today, I will update twice a day. I will try my best to avoid taking leave. If there are any popular readers, I will add many more chapters. If there are any events, I may also open bounties. That's about it. Thank you for your support.

PS2: Yesterday I saw a review of my book on YouShu.com, and it said that "the male protagonist of this book likes cross-dressers for some reason, which is a major flaw." To that, I can only say: Hahahahahahahahahahaha.

PS3: Remember to enable custom subscriptions when you're leveling up your books!!! I'll keep the quality high and won't post any filler content!

Chapter 140 The Road Home, [Kawasaki Saki] Staggers Home

"And what about you, the famous Haruto-kun?"

"Don't talk to me like I'm Harry Potter. I'm not the savior who killed Voldemort while I was still a baby."

"But you also share similarities with him, like the part you inherited from your parents?"

"You talk as if you're not like that. Without your parents, could you have reached this level? Wealth, fame, connections, and power are all accumulated generation after generation, making it easier to grow stronger."

"...Well, getting back to the point," Haruno's expression remained perfectly straight as she continued with a bright smile, "Haruto-kun, do you like Yukino?"

"Is the only standard by which this world judges someone, besides liking them, to dislike them?"

"Oh wow, it seems you have some profound insights to share. I'd like to listen attentively."

Yang Nai was taken aback for a moment. She rested her chin on her hand on the small round table and gently shook the small round fan in her hand. Looking from her neckline, her neck was slender and fair.

"No comment."

After whetting Haruno's appetite, Himekoji gently pushed up her glasses and gave her this very blunt answer.

Yukino Yukinoshita, that girl... is just too weak.

"Sigh, what a pity. I thought I could help Yukino get rid of her troubles sooner."

"Your way of relieving worries and solving problems is quite unique."

"I had no choice in the matter."

Yang smiled wryly and shook his head silently.

"So, does Hachiman like Yukino?"

"My mother told me not to say out loud whether I like or dislike something."

Yang Nai laughed happily upon hearing this.

As the night deepened, the fireworks display continued in grand style.

The grand finale was a dazzling golden waterfall. A golden curtain descended from the sky, met with thunderous applause from the audience.

Miss Reiko had already taken the things Himekoji bought for Kazusa and left for the parking lot to get her car. She never needed anyone to remind her; she always left quietly, and before anyone noticed, the chair diagonally behind Kawasaki was already empty.

"Let's go, it'll be very crowded later. If we go this way, we'll basically never have to worry about crowds."

Himeko stood up and said to Kawasaki, who was still somewhat unsatisfied, "I'll stop here." She immediately stood up, straightened her clothes, and followed behind him.

Next to the ticketed viewing area, there is a small path leading to the parking lot. Leaving the venue via this path will allow you to avoid the massive crowds.

Meanwhile, the trio of Haruno followed behind Himekoji and the other two. The two girls' conversation consisted mostly of things like, "Ah~, this is so enjoyable." and "That heart-shaped firework was so big!"

Kawasaki walked with a slightly awkward gait, as if he was struggling to keep up with Himekoji's pace. He turned around and asked, "Are your feet okay?"

"No...it's nothing."

Kawasaki stammered, fiddling with the hem of his yukata with his fingers, as if trying to hide his feet inside.

"Take a short rest. You look like you're working very hard."

Himekoji didn't want to get involved with Hinano and Hikigaya's Rolls-Royce crashing into Hikigaya, so she stood with Kawasaki on the side of the path and waved to Hinano and the others, saying, "You guys go ahead."

"Hey—, on such a dark and quiet path, you two don't need to give us such obvious hints if you want to do something."

"If you really want to do something, there's no need to rush to do it here."

"Hey!"

Startled by Himekoji's words, Kawasaki instinctively shouted.

Yōno then walked forward with Hikigaya and Yuihama, leaving Himekoji and Kawasaki behind.

After they walked a short distance away, Himeko squatted down and used the light from her phone to check Kawasaki's injured left foot. It looked like Kawasaki was about to kick Himeko in the chin. She desperately resisted the urge. Himeko said with a bit of guilt, "I'm so sorry... I was running around with you and I didn't even know when you got a cut on your foot."

Her neat and clean toes were painted with blue oil paint, and her well-maintained skin appeared white with a rosy glow. Only a single wound punctured this alluring beauty.

It's not a serious problem, but if you wear wooden clogs, the torn part will keep rubbing against the straps, and the pain will continue. Actually, you just need to clean it, disinfect it, and apply some medicine.

"fine..."

Kawasaki sighed and answered, rubbing his forehead.

"Speaking of which..."

"ha--?"

"Your feet are beautiful. Have you ever considered becoming a foot or leg model? I have connections I can recommend you to."

"I guess I should just kick you to death, you pervert!!"

The moment Kawasaki kicked out, Himekoji had already jumped back. She missed her kick and almost got kicked away by the wooden clogs.

"Well, well—I'm telling the truth," Himekoji said, turning her back to her and pointing to her back. "Do you want me to carry you?"

"No need, we'll be at the parking lot soon, I'll just get in the car there..."

Kawasaki shifted his legs awkwardly a few times, his wooden clogs making a "clack-clack" sound.

So, Himekoji slowed down and walked leisurely with Kawasaki towards the parking lot.

"By the way, you're attending tutoring classes, right? How's it going?"

"I didn't feel anything special..."

"What about your target universities?"

"For now... I don't really need to tell you, do I?"

“It’s okay to tell me, I can’t possibly chase you to that school.”

"If you catch up, I'll really kick you away."

The car was right in front of them. After getting out of the car, Ms. Reiko opened the back door for them. Himeko stepped aside and stood on the other side of the door to let Kawasaki get in first. She nodded and thanked him softly, but just as she was about to step into the car, the strap of Kawasaki's wooden clogs pulled on the wound she had just cut, and she fell backward with a soft cry of pain.

Himekoji swiftly caught her in his arms. Under the starlight, he stared intently at Kawasaki, who was nervously swallowing, and asked, "Hey... are you alright?"

"N-nothing... By the way, you should let me go now."

Kawasaki blushed and gently pushed Himekoji. He released her and let her get into the car. Reiko watched from the side, smiling without saying a word.

They drove in silence. After quickly dropping off Kawasaki, Ms. Reiko got out of the car and asked her to get out. She gently helped her to her door and rang the doorbell.

After seeing off Kawasaki, who was feeling conflicted, Reiko returned to her car, leaned back, and muttered to herself, "Master Haruto, are you playing Cinderella? Just now, I suddenly felt like the glass slipper didn't fit..."

"How could that be? I just hate going out with women I don't know at all."

Chapter 141 Returning to His Hometown, [Himekoji Haruto] Encounters an Acquaintance

"Really...then shall we head back?"

"Let's go back, Mother and Kazusa are waiting."

Well, Himekoji ignored her mother's hints (or hints) and took Kawasaki to the fireworks festival instead of her. As a result, she got a good scolding from her mother when she came back, and in recent days, her training workload has been increased, making Himekoji feel like she's going to die. As for Kazusa, things seem to be calm. She's just obediently eating the sweets that Himekoji bought, and complaining a little that she didn't buy enough honey toast.

By the way, they've already bought a lot!

A week later, Ji Xiaolu was finally freed from her heavy schoolwork. It wasn't that her mother had a change of heart, but rather that Ji Xiaolu's annual routine was about to begin again—going back to her hometown to get married... no, to stay there for a while, to visit her grandparents.

Because there is only one week and one day left before school starts, Himekoji will stay in his hometown for seven days. On the last morning, he will come back to pack his things and prepare for school. At the age when he should be in elementary and junior high school, he has to go back to his hometown every August 20th and stay there for a week.

"Don't call me, I'm not going." Before Himekoji could even offer an invitation, Kazusa coldly refused. Dejected, Himekoji turned to leave, only to hear Kazusa quickly add, "Aunt Daphne... she wants me to stay and practice the piano."

"I see. Well then, keep up the good work! Try to surpass Aunt Yaozi's ranking at the Chopin International Piano Competition."

Himekoji immediately became radiant, smiling as she said goodbye to Kazusa. Kazusa waved blankly, watching Himekoji leave her room.

The Himekoji family originally lived in Kyoto for generations, but later moved out of Kyoto to a small town called Ningyocho in Shiga Prefecture in the east. It takes a long time to get there by train if you don't drive, and it is a very small town. The local high school would have gone out of business long ago if it weren't for their financial support, because the number of students is very small every year.

After packing her meager belongings—mostly just her phone and laptop—Himekoji got into the car driven by Reiko, bid farewell to her tearful mother, and sped away from the gate.

Miss Reiko would return after dropping Himeko off. There were no servants for Himeko to do there. Of course, there would be servants if he went to the main family home, but Himeko usually lived in a detached house a short distance from the main family home. It was not much different from the houses of his neighbors. He had to do everything himself, from buying groceries and cooking to choosing clothes and cleaning his room. However, the room was cleaned when he was not there.

As the car approached the Chiba City subway station, Himekoji, who was idly looking out the window with her chin resting on her hand, suddenly spotted a familiar figure among a group of diverse pedestrians and immediately told Reiko to step on the brakes.

Although her attire was different from what she was usually seen in, today she was wearing a pure white sleeveless dress with black trim, but Himekoji still recognized her at a glance. At this moment, she was running her left hand through her hair, muttering something with a slight complaint, and walking with a man and a woman while carrying a suitcase. Her refreshing gold-trimmed open-toed sandals and the slightly fluttering hem of her skirt brought a touch of coolness to the scene.

Seriously, isn't this outfit supposed to be loungewear? Is it okay to wear it out so openly?

This is Kasumigaoka, who just returned from a family trip. If she hadn't been going on the family trip, Himekoji would have invited her to the fireworks festival with him.

"I'll just go over there briefly, Sister Lingzi, please wait for me."

Himeko asked Reiko to stay in the car and wait for him. Reiko recognized Kasumigaoka Utaha as well. After all, there are very few girls who still wear headbands like that these days. Unlike usual, she wasn't wearing pantyhose, probably because it was too hot.

Ji Xiaolu immediately went to greet them, calling out as she walked, "Shiyu! Long time no see!"

When her name was called, she immediately turned towards Himekoji in surprise, and the complaints that had been escaping her lips disappeared. The two middle-aged people, a man and a woman, beside her also stopped and looked in Himekoji's direction.

Pushing up her glasses, Himekoji approached the three people.

“Rei… Haruto-kun, it’s been a long time,” Kasumigaoka blinked in surprise, not expecting to run into him here. She then immediately introduced him to the middle-aged man and woman who looked somewhat like her: “Mom and Dad, this is the student council president of our Soubu High School, the one who used to take me to study sessions.”

"Uncle and Aunt, it's nice to meet you. Please take care of me."