Tokyo Soft Rice King.

I wasn't really planning to do anything bad to someone else's boyfriend...

It's just looking... looking isn't a crime...

Hikawa Makoto's bottom line was gradually conceded, completely forgetting that this was actually a form of treachery.

In short, after a little hiccup, Kuroba Akira successfully bought his clothes.

Next, it's time to buy high heels as compensation for Miss Hongxiang.

The floor down from the men's clothing floor is the women's shoe floor, but since it was close to noon, Kuroba Akira decided to have lunch first and asked Hikawa Makoto what she wanted to eat.

Hikawa Makoto originally came for the meal, but now, because she was unexpectedly 'feasted for the eyes', she has forgotten all about her appetite.

Before coming, she had already decided where to eat. It wasn't a fancy restaurant, just a barbecue place with a decent reputation.

Even if Kuroba Akira made a fortune, she didn't plan to rip him off, since it was just a small favor like sharing her thoughts on the book and helping him pick out clothes and shoes.

But Akira Kuroba didn't intend to just treat them to a meal and be done with it, so when the two were eating barbecue together, he brought up his plans after buying the high heels.

"Hakubo, after you buy the shoes, go buy what you want."

"Huh? What I want?"

"Yes, didn't I ask you before what you wanted? You also said before that you worked at the bookstore to save money to buy things, right?"

"No! That's not what I'm wondering about! I mean, is treating him to a meal enough?"

"That's not enough. This meal will only cost 20,000 yen at most."

"It's not about the amount of money, it's about how I haven't helped you much, so there's no reason for me to accept your gift."

After speaking of Hikawa Makoto, she remembered how Kuroba Akira had previously used money to lure people into joining the Literature Club, so she frowned and emphasized it again.

"If it's about joining the arts and literature department, I've already said that with your excellent results, you can just talk to the student council and they'll make an exception. There's no need to come to me again."

"Even so, we still need to gather five people, since it's a strict requirement. Actually, we have requirements for finding people here, otherwise the personnel crisis would have been resolved long ago."

"Huh... there are even criteria for selecting people?"

Hikawa Makoto raised an eyebrow. What kind of situation is the Literature Club in now? Is there any room for criticism?

But then she thought about it again and felt relieved. With Anri Hitomi's abilities, even if the news department tried to suppress her, she could still break through the blockade...

After all, she is Hitomi Anri.

“That’s right. Our department head doesn’t want any ‘dissent’ within the club, so she hopes that new members joining the Arts and Literature Club are not joining for any ‘impure’ purposes.

"I see... That's very much like her style."

In Hikawa Makoto's memory, Anri Hitomi was a woman who was both very affectionate and very ruthless.

She is loyal because she will unconditionally protect anyone she considers one of her own, but she is also ruthless because she will never give anyone a chance to get close to her if she considers them an outsider.

You could also say it's about having clear likes and dislikes.

She always clearly distinguishes right from wrong, which is why she can always make decisive choices.

"So someone like me, a 'marginalized person,' just happens to meet her requirements."

"Well, don't say that about yourself. Actually, I was the one who suggested to her that you join the literature club. After hearing this, Hitomi also said that you are a very suitable candidate, which is why she said she was willing to find a way to reconcile with your sister."

"..."

Are you willing to... make up?

Does that mean she's willing to take the initiative to apologize?

Was it a promise she made against her will out of consideration for her boyfriend, or did she genuinely regret it...?

"However, one thing is one thing. If you want Hikawa to join the Literature and Art Club, you need to resolve the conflict between Hitomi and your sister. That's our agreement. As for why I said I wanted to buy you something, I have other reasons."

"What other reason could there be? Are you trying to seduce me? To two-time me?"

"Uh……"

Kuroba Akira didn't expect Hikawa Makoto to be so direct, and what's embarrassing is that he was actually already two-timing... or at least a third one.

Makoto Hikawa's teasing was also a cover for her own ulterior motives; she was afraid that Akira Kuroba really had this plan, yet she also secretly hoped for it.

What both comforted and disappointed her was that Kuroba Akira was actually a decent person.

"It's not that I'm trying to please you, but actually I'm drawn to your 'eye' for fashion."

"Whoa..."

"Actually, I also work part-time at a voice actor agency."

"A voice acting agency? You actually work at a voice acting agency?"

"Yes, it's called the Four Seasons Agency. I don't know if you've heard of it..."

"Shiki Office! I know it! Isn't that Ms. Niwa's office?!"

"Yes, do you know Miss Niwa?"

"It's just that I like her singing, her voice is very nice... Ah... Speaking of which, Takanashi Mirai's mother is also a voice actress at Shiki Productions, so you went to work there because of Takanashi Mirai?"

"That's right, so I hope you can come and help me too, Bingchuan..."

Kuroba Akira recognized her talent in styling and design, and combined with Kokoro's makeup skills, they were simply the perfect combination for artist packaging.

With these two as her right-hand women, Ziyin would be even more powerful, raising her potential to new heights.

"Also, I think this is a good opportunity for you, Bingchuan. They seem to be developing a music department over there, don't you think?"

In order to enable Shion to pursue a career as a singer, Fuyumi Saotome increased her investment in the music department.

"..."

Hikawa Makoto remained silent.

She knew she did have a talent for fashion design.

Just by glancing at them, you can imagine what kind of clothes would suit that person best.

But to her, it was just a 'superfluous talent'.

I never expected that he would recognize such talent...

Is this a cruel joke fate is playing on me?

"I'll think about it some more..."

Seeing that she declined, Kuroba Akira did not insist and said he would give her time to consider it.

After lunch, the two went to buy shoes, and fate is a wonderful thing.

Although she successfully avoided the students at school in the morning and avoided a relationship crisis with Kuroba Akira, another relationship crisis with Hikawa Makoto followed in the afternoon.

Moreover, this time it was a direct head-on collision, with no time to dodge.

"...Makoto?"

At the women's shoe store, the two ran into Saionji Machi.

An unexpected encounter between the sisters.

Chapter 293 I Want to Join You Too

As the two entered the shoe store, they saw Saionji Machi sitting on a sofa, bending over to change her shoes.

Then, just as she looked up, she saw Hikawa Makoto enter the store and called out her sister's name.

In that instant, Makoto Hikawa's expression became extremely stiff, as if she had been frozen in place.

If these are close sisters meeting, why does it look like a battleground is about to erupt?

Oh, because of myself?

Kuroba Akira realized that he was the discordant note between them. If he weren't there, the two of them would probably be very close when they met...maybe.

Then Saionji Makoto saw Kuroba Akira next to Hikawa Makoto and was obviously stunned for a moment, as if she had never expected to meet Kuroba Akira here. Then she looked back at her younger sister with her eyes full of doubt.

From the perspective of Saionji Machi, the model older sister, what she was seeing was her younger sister secretly dating her old friend's boyfriend, which she found utterly immoral.

However, Saionji Maju did not immediately question or blame her. Instead, she quickly composed herself, adopted the same kind and friendly attitude as when they met before, and greeted Kuroba Akira first with a smile.

"Kuroba-kun, I didn't expect to see you in a place like this."

"I never expected that even though Tokyo is quite big, I would run into you twice while I was out."

Moreover, Kuroba Akira only went on a long trip a handful of times, and on those two occasions, he encountered Saionji Makoto both times, which can only be described as a coincidence.

It even had a touch of destiny about it.

"Hehe, it seems we are quite destined to meet."

"yes……"

Kuroo told Kuroba Akira that people are connected by 'fate', and those whose talents have been copied by Kuroba Akira will have their connection strengthened due to the shared karma.

Simply put, Akira Kuroba is more likely to encounter people who have copied his talents before, similar to how Stand users are attracted to each other.

However, Kuroba Akira had never shaken hands with Saionji Masaki before, and had no idea what talents she possessed.

So it wasn't because of any ability that he kept running into her; it was just that Kuroba Akira and she were very destined to meet.

However, the timing of this encounter was not ideal. Judging from Hikawa Makoto's expression, she probably didn't really want to see her sister either.

If you don't want to be misunderstood, it's best to explain things clearly as soon as possible.

"Um, Saionji-san, it's not what you think..."

What do you mean?

Saionji Makoto forcefully interrupted Kuroba Akira, the corners of her mouth widening, but her eyes didn't smile, much like that smiling bean expression—the skin didn't smile.

This person is definitely angry.

Because the class monitor also has this expression when he's very angry, he can tell the difference very clearly.

It seems that even the usually gentle Saionji Machi can get angry when it comes to things involving her sister.

The other female passersby in the store, seeing this scene, thought they were witnessing a dramatic scene in real life where a man was on a date with his mistress and encountered the real person, so they all watched the spectacle with a gossipy attitude.

At this moment, Hikawa Makoto also recovered from being acupunctured and crossed her arms to join the conversation.

"We're not on a date; I'm just here to help him pick out a gift for someone else."