Tokyo Soft Rice King.

After all, Shion has 3S-level talent, but it's a waste of her talent to just be a voice actress.

However, Akira Kuroba didn't want to force Shion to do something she didn't want to do, so he had no choice but to compromise for the time being.

In fact, it is precisely because Shion is pursuing a career as a voice actress that this is not a strong enough support system, which is why Kuroba Akira 'ficklely' clings to the coattails of other talented individuals.

Now he no longer needs to think of ways to change Ziyin; he only needs to play the role of 'comforter,' because the class monitor will take his place as the threat that forces Ziyin to make changes.

Kuroba Akira saw the class president across from him put his index finger to his lips, uttering a silent whisper.

"No one will know about our relationship behind the scenes, so I can play everyone's rival and become a catalyst for their dreams."

"Then you support their dreams, take the opportunity to possess their bodies and minds, and manipulate their lives as you please."

“Wise ruler, I am your accomplice and your co-conspirator.”

It was despicable, but quite effective.

Although it was very immoral, Akira Kuroba couldn't refuse.

Since he has already had a relationship with the class monitor, if he doesn't agree, the class monitor might resort to more extreme methods.

Besides feeling uneasy about his conscience, Kuroba Akira also inexplicably felt a twisted sense of excitement.

To put it bluntly, isn't this just the class monitor building his own harem?

Every man has the absurd dream of having multiple wives and concubines, indulging in a life of debauchery, but from a realistic perspective, it's very difficult to achieve.

Even if a harem were to be established, it would only be a fake one maintained by money, with no emotional connection whatsoever.

If you want to build emotional connections with your harem, you either have to keep it a secret from everyone and make the women unaware of each other's existence, or you have to find a way to get them to get along harmoniously.

However, the former is too difficult to operate. Not only do you need to be extremely aware of the crisis, but you also need to know how to please women, handle multiple tasks, and... become a master of time management.

The latter, without having gone through life and death together, find it difficult to form a deep affection that can suppress jealousy, especially in this peaceful era where there is even less of a chance.

Unless it's a stroke of luck like being stranded on a deserted island with plenty of food with a group of girls... that's just wishful thinking.

In short, the reason why Kuroba Akira didn't want to have too many emotional entanglements with women was because he was self-aware. He knew that building a harem was unrealistic and could easily lead to trouble...

He couldn't control himself when it came to Ziyin.

He couldn't resist the urge to be with the class monitor.

Okay, I guess I'm just too inexperienced... I can talk a good game about theory, but when it comes to actually doing it, I keep failing...

Who told Kuroba Akira to be a high-ranking magician in his previous life with little emotional experience?

However! Having a squad leader to assist you makes all the difference! By having a smart squad leader secretly coordinate with you, the chances of getting hacked to death will be greatly reduced!

Others would only see Anri Hitomi as a 'competitor' like themselves, but they would never suspect that she was actually a 'mole'.

The best way to unite people is to create a common external enemy; if there is no enemy, then create one yourself.

Hitomi Anri played the role of the 'enemy of all women'.

In this way, the other women will unite and target her.

Then Kuroba Akira takes the opportunity to win people's hearts, making them want him, unable to bear losing him, and unable to leave him.

It's basically a pair of cunning husband and wife working together to trick women into the harem.

However, if things really do go according to plan... what will become of Anri Hitomi, who is rejected by the other women and unable to join the harem?

Is she going to sacrifice herself for the benefit of others?

Is this proof that you like me?

That's a bit too... heavy.

Kuroba knew perfectly well that the reason the class monitor had acted without consulting him and provoked Shion was probably because she had already anticipated that he would not agree.

He really wanted to have a serious talk with the class monitor and hoped she wouldn't be so reckless as to push the plan forward on her own, but because Ziyin was there, he couldn't bring himself to speak frankly.

After giving Shion ample time to calm down, Anri Hitomi continued her soul-searching interrogation.

"Shion Murasaki, what exactly do you want? What right do you have to stay by his side?"

"..."

Ziyin broke free from Kuroba Akira's embrace, turned to face Anri Hitomi, raised her hand to untie the hair ties on both sides, took off her glasses, and revealed her true face.

"There are still things I can't do."

This is her answer.

"I will shine for him."

Chapter 244 A Cultural Sacrifice Amidst Tumultuous Times, Part Sixteen

After an inner struggle, Ziyin did not choose to beg and plead, but instead chose to break free from her cocoon.

She now clearly understands that some things cannot be asked for; they must be earned.

Anri Hitomi did not press Ziyin further about what she meant by "shining for him," because she seemed to have already understood.

Therefore, there is no need for further words; one only needs to prove the truth of one's words through actions.

So what can we use to prove it?

At that very moment, the sound of the school broadcast came through the window directly behind Anri Hitomi.

"Ahem... Urgent notice! Students and tourists, please be patient. Due to an urgent change in the band's lineup, the performance will be postponed by half an hour. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause..."

The east wind has arrived.

Anri Hitomi revealed a knowing smile, as if she had everything under control.

"It seems your chance has come, Shion Murasomiya."

"..."

"The stage is ready for you. Come and prove yourself (legitimize your reputation), and see if you can truly do what you say... to shine for a wise ruler."

Kuroba Akira was completely speechless at this point.

Because this cannot be a coincidence.

How could the band's performance be suddenly canceled at this exact moment?

Clearly, this was also part of the squad leader's scheme.

However, if even this step was within the class monitor's calculations, then Kuroba Akira found it terrifying.

For a minor high school girl to possess such a mindset... is this the heir to the Anri family?

Ziyin also realized that this was a carefully orchestrated scheme by Anli Tong, and she had no choice but to accept it.

Now that things have come to this, Ziyin has no choice but to go all out.

"You've gone to great lengths to scheme and plot to this point... But I'm not trying to prove anything to you. I only made these changes for the sake of a wise ruler."

Then Ziyin put her glasses back on, took Kuroba Akira's hand, and left the library without looking back.

Anri Hitomi followed with a smile. As the instigator of everything, she would naturally witness the end.

Because of the postponement of the performance, a disturbance broke out among the tourists and students who had gathered together. The playground was crowded with people, who were discussing what was going on, chattering and making a lot of noise.

But thanks to this, the three of them managed to blend in behind the scenes of the temporary stage without attracting much attention.

There were also many people here, including Yomi Myōen, the student council president of Hibiya High School, and Maki Saionji, the student council president of Shirayuri Girls' High School, the executive committee members of the cultural festival, as well as band members and sound engineers.

Myōen-en Yomi seemed to be discussing matters with Saionji Mashō, looking somewhat troubled.

Kuroba Akira had met this student council president of our school a few times, mainly at the opening ceremony and the athletes' oath-taking ceremony at the sports meet, but since they had never spoken, he didn't know what kind of person she was.

However, what is most impressive is her strange surname, Miaoyuan Garden. If you pronounce it in Chinese characters, the last two characters are pronounced "yuan," which is the same as "Yuan" and "Yuan," so it is Miaoyuan Garden, which sounds quite cute.

Furthermore, she herself has publicly stated that her surname is rather difficult to pronounce, and that people can simply call her by her given name, or shorten her surname to the single character '妙'.

However, in Japan, it is considered impolite to call someone by their first name. Only close friends or family members call each other by their first names. So most students would call her "President Miao" or "Senior Miao".

Clearly, among the three of them, Anri Hitomi has the most influence. After all, she is the top-ranked super student, a talent that the student council is eager to recruit, and also a good friend of Saionji Makoto. Therefore, it is more appropriate for her to come forward and inquire about the matter.

Anri Hitomi pretended to know nothing, put her hands behind her back, walked over and asked.

"Zhencheng, and Miao-senpai, what happened?"

Upon seeing that the person who arrived was Hitomi Anri, Machi Saionji greeted her with a smile.

"Hitomi... and Kuroba-san and Murasaki-no-miya-san, you're here too."

She naturally didn't overlook Kuroba Akira and Murasomiya Shion, who were not far behind Anri Hitomi. She smiled at them, and although they had only met once, she had a deep impression of the two of them.

Kuroba Akira asked.

Why is Saionji here?

"I came here on behalf of our school to visit your school's cultural festival. I just heard the announcement and thought your school might be in trouble, so I came to see if there's anything I can do to help."

Well, as expected of Saionji Makoto, she always helps those in need, she's practically a warm-hearted superhero of justice.

Then she gave a helpless, bitter smile and said.

"I just didn't expect it to be my younger sister who caused you trouble... By the way, Hitomi, have you seen Makoto?"

"Has something happened to Makoto?"

“Makoto should be alright. Myoen-senpai said that Makoto is the lead singer and guitarist for this performance, but she disappeared just before the performance was about to start, and we can’t get in touch with her.”

It seems that Makoto Hikawa caused the performance to be postponed.

Kuroba Akira secretly glanced at the class president and thought that the class president must have conspired with Hikawa Makoto in advance to stage this scene of canceling the performance before it was over.

Judging from this, Saionji Mato doesn't know the inside story and thinks that her twin sister's willful behavior caused the performance accident, so she tries her best to make amends.

At this moment, Senior Sister Miao stepped forward and took the responsibility upon herself.

"This is mainly my fault. At the beginning, Makoto said that she would only be a temporary member of the band on the first day of the school festival. However, because yesterday's performance went very well, an encore was added due to the students' requests. I naturally assumed that Makoto would be willing to continue to fill in for the second day as well. I just didn't expect that she would just disappear... I should have talked to her in person beforehand."

"I'm so sorry, Makoto is just a bit willful. She has her own set of principles, and she does what she says she will do..."

"Now that things have come to this, let's find her as soon as possible. I don't think Makoto would run away from school during the school festival."

Just as everyone was struggling with their problems, Anri Hitomi raised her hand and made a suggestion.

"Um... I suggest we find temporary members on the spot?"

"Oh? You mean, find someone to replace Makoto in the performance?"