Tokyo Soft Rice King.

"you……"

"So you're finally interested in me? My name is Kuroba Akira, I'm a member of the Literature Club, and..."

Kuroba Akira pointed at the light novel in Hikawa Makoto's hand and said.

"Actually, the novel you're holding is a collaborative work of our Literature and Art Department, Bingchuan."

"..."

Was this light novel written by the Literature Club?

Hikawa Makoto looked down at the novel cover and saw the author's name: Shirako. She immediately thought of another well-known member of the Literature Club, Shirai Shiori. It seemed to be a work written by her.

But I never expected that the aloof library committee member, who has a personality so similar to mine, would write such a popular work...

No, that's just personal bias, just like liking pop music.

No one stipulates that traditional literary authors can only write traditional novels, just as no one stipulates that classical musicians cannot play the guitar.

I see. No wonder he came over to talk to me; he must have wanted to ask for my thoughts on the book.

Then he realized he had mistaken the person for someone else, so he changed the subject to ease the tension.

In other words, as long as I tell him my thoughts on the light novel, he won't bother me anymore.

Hikawa Makoto immediately understood the situation and was no longer so resistant to Kuroba Akira. At least he wasn't some thug who would hit on her just because she was good-looking.

The iceberg finally melted a little bit, and Kuroba Akira noticed that the other party's attitude had softened, so he pressed on while the iron was hot and asked.

"So, how was that light novel? Was it interesting?"

"...It's alright."

"I see. So, would you buy a copy to read?"

"No, I won't spend money to buy books. I came here as a clerk because I can read the books here for 'free'."

"The school library must have a lot of books, right? I've never seen you go there."

"The books I want to read are not there."

Actually, the book Makoto Hikawa wanted to read wasn't a novel, but rather a music theory tutorial book. These kinds of professional books aren't available in regular libraries, and she had already finished reading the relevant books in the city library. Only by coming to a bookstore could she find the latest music-related books.

In addition, she also enjoys reading novels, which provides her with inspiration for melodies and lyrics.

What attracted her most to Kuroba Akira's light novel was actually the element of 'siblings'.

Since Hikawa Makoto was also a younger sister, she was captivated after watching just the beginning.

She wondered what her dejected brother would think after seeing his 'genius sister's' masterpiece.

What methods will the younger sister use to help her brother get back on his feet?

Actually, she did want to buy it and finish watching it, but she was too proud to admit it and said she wouldn't.

"So, Bingchuan, did you work at the bookstore just so you could read books for free?"

"Are you an idiot? What do you think is the main purpose of working?"

"Oh, so it's all about money after all? Is there something you want to buy?"

"This is none of your business."

What she actually wanted to buy was a musical instrument.

Another reason why Makoto Hikawa agreed to perform in his place was that she could make full use of that nice guitar.

Actually, a guitar alone wouldn't be that expensive, but what she wanted to buy wasn't a cheap guitar for casual play, but a good guitar with a more accurate sound that could better play the melodies she wanted. That kind of guitar was something that most students couldn't afford with their allowance.

After her parents divorced, her mother struggled alone, and she didn't want to add to her mother's burden, so she decided to work and save money to buy a good musical instrument.

"It's not entirely unrelated... If you're short of money, I can help you out."

"what?!"

Hikawa Makoto looked puzzled, mainly because she didn't understand the purpose of Kuroba Akira's sudden words.

Does this guy think he's some kind of divine maiden you can just take home for a little money?

Damn it...!

However, just as she was about to lash out, Kuroba Akira said something.

"The light novel you have is a formally published work, which means there will be royalties. A portion of those royalties will go as the club's funding. If you join the club, it's not unreasonable for us to allocate some of that funding to you."

This is Kuroba Akira's true purpose.

He just remembered that the arts and literature department was short-staffed today and was worried about not being able to find a suitable candidate.

Then, by chance, she met Hikawa Makoto from the same school.

Not only does he work at a bookstore, but he is also interested in the light novels he writes and even helps the future. He is a kind person who is "cold on the outside but warm on the inside".

Isn't that a coincidence?

The fifth member of the Literature and Art Club... it's you! Hikawa Makoto!

Chapter 284 An Inescapable Past

Can I buy the guitar I want just by joining the Arts and Literature Department?

No... don't let this level of financial offensive fool you!

Hikawa Makoto, having given herself a wake-up call, struggled to break free from Kuroba Akira's temptation and, guided by her intuition, brought up a place she cared about most.

"The current head of the Literature and Art Club is Hitomi Anri, right?"

"Correct."

"Then I won't join."

"Huh? Why?"

There's no reason why.

No, there's obviously something going on here.

Even if she didn't say it, Kuroba Akira could guess the reason.

Actually, when I mentioned to Hikawa Makoto earlier whether skipping the performance on the second day of the cultural festival was at the class president's behest, her obvious dislike when she denied it showed one thing: she really disliked the class president.

Kuroba Akira felt that given the class president's kind and gentle personality, she shouldn't have had any grudges with her friend's sister, so Hikawa Makoto only had one reason to dislike the class president.

Then he said it to Makoto Hikawa's face.

"Hey... could it be because Hitomi broke off her friendship with your sister and the others, so you've started to dislike Hitomi too?"

"..."

Makoto Hikawa remained expressionless and silent.

No reply usually means they agree.

What a simple-minded person.

And isn't she an exceptionally good younger sister who always thinks of her older sister?

So why doesn't he want his sister to see his performance? Is it really because he's shy?

So you're a shy girl after all, Makoto Hikawa.

However, Akira Kuroba had roughly figured out Makoto Hikawa's personality and knew that she was thin-skinned and wouldn't admit it.

Moreover, if that's the reason, it's unlikely that you can change her opinion of the class monitor with just words. After all, prejudice in people's hearts is a mountain that you can't move no matter how hard you try, let alone in the case of Hikawa Makoto, who is a "party leader who attacks dissidents." Reasoning with her is useless.

Therefore, we still need to solve this problem from the 'source'.

So Kuroba Akira proposed a 'deal' in the way he was most skilled at.

"In other words, if Hitomi and your sister make up, you'll be willing to join the Literature Club, right?"

Hikawa Makoto didn't expect Kuroba Akira to bring up such a hypothesis. She thought Kuroba Akira would defend Anri Hitomi, since he seemed to be the 'legendary' man who dated Anri Hitomi.

Although Hikawa Makoto is indifferent to school affairs, the fact that Anri Hitomi has a boyfriend, not Sumitomo Ryota, and that the two men even fought over Anri Hitomi has caused quite a stir, and Anri Hitomi from the next class has also heard about it.

After finding out, I was speechless. I thought these students were incredibly boring.

Is it such a big deal who dates whom?

Do you all really enjoy talking about love?

Instead of wasting time like this, why not find something you want to do...

Moreover, she strongly disapproved of Hitomi Anri's 'style of doing things', and if it weren't for her, Makoto wouldn't have become 'the way she is now'.

Now that things have come to this, what's the point of getting Hitomi Anri and Makoto back together...?

In the end, 'genuine' and 'fake' goods cannot understand each other.

However... thinking about what might happen later, Hikawa Makoto felt that if she could get Hitomi Anri and Makoto Saionji back together, it would be a kind of 'insurance'.

After all, given her position, she couldn't offer any help to Saionji Mato.

However, she was not entirely at ease with the person in charge of this matter, namely, Kuroba Akira's character.

This guy doesn't seem like the playboy type, but he's surprisingly good at conversation and has a great understanding of people's hearts.

This worried her. What if Kuroba Akira discovered Makoto's 'weakness'? Would he use it to threaten her and treat Makoto as a plaything to be manipulated at will?

So Hikawa Makoto asked.

"Kuroba Akira, what...is your relationship with Makoto?"

"It's like, a friend of a friend, that kind of relationship."

The two women who were closest to Akira Kuroba, Hitomi Anri and Shion Murasomiya, were friends with Makoto Saionji, but that relationship is now in the past.

After leaving school, Shion lost contact with Saionji Machi, who was the student council president.

However, due to future events, the class president and Saionji Machi seem to have re-established 'relationship'.

This is also the source of Kuroba Akira's confidence in getting the class monitor and his childhood friend back together.

Furthermore, Kuroba Akira is currently Anri Hitomi's secret boyfriend, and his desire to recruit Hikawa Makoto is also to resolve the personnel crisis in the Literature Club. From any perspective, the class president will definitely be willing to cooperate with him to reconcile with Saionji Makoto.

It's easy difficulty at all.

Having already handled several disputes, Akira Kuroba felt that this was not a particularly difficult task.