Tokyo Soft Rice King.

So while Makoto's bento was a novel experience, it still tasted better to eat what you're used to and love.

Yes, I'm talking about bento boxes, not people...

Makoto never intended to win against Hitomi Anri through cooking; the bento boxes were merely a means for her to get closer to the two of them.

However, seeing how much more deliciously Kuroba Akira ate Anri Hitomi's bento, her competitive spirit was also triggered, and she wanted to try more of it to see what flavor made Kuroba Akira so fond of it.

So when Hitomi Anri put the food into Akira Kuroba's mouth, Makoto seized the opportunity and suddenly moved close to Akira's mouth, trying to snatch the piece of meat away.

As a result, the quick-thinking Anri Hitomi immediately withdrew her chopsticks and dodged the attack.

"No, this is the hamburger patty that the wise ruler likes the most. I can't give it to you."

Makoto, who failed to snatch the food, pressed her chest against Kuroba Akira and licked her lips as she complained.

"You're so stingy. Wouldn't it be okay if I had a taste? Weren't we good friends and partners before?"

"You yourself said 'in the past,' which means you also feel that 'now' is no longer the case, right?"

“We can start rekindling our old relationship 'now,' right? Besides, we’re practically 'best friends' sharing a man, aren’t we? Hehe…”

"You really dare to say that! I never said I wanted to share with you. It was you, shameless woman, who was the one who stole it, wasn't it?"

"Even if it was cheating, it was a consensual affair. I never forced him, did I?"

Kuroba Akira felt the softness on both sides, but he couldn't relax at all.

Ugh... I'm sorry, it's all my fault, I was too greedy...

"Besides, you already have me, so why did you choose me? Doesn't that mean that you, Xiaotong, aren't charming enough to make Ming completely fall for you?"

"..."

Anri Hitomi was somewhat touched on a sore spot.

The main reason was that Makoto Hikawa's words reminded her of Shion Murasomiya.

In terms of looks alone, he certainly can't compare to that woman.

However, she thought again that even Shion Murasaki couldn't monopolize Akira Kuroba just by relying on her outstanding appearance, so there was no need for her to feel bad, right?

"The fact that you can say something like that shows that you don't understand Mingjun enough. Mingjun is not the kind of foolish man who would be infatuated with a woman who is only good-looking, and he doesn't only like one type. He is with you just to 'change his taste,' just like the bento you make."

"...!"

Now it was Makoto Hikawa's turn to twitch her eyebrows and the corners of her mouth, because her relationship with Akira Kuroba was indeed just a 'casual' one.

However, Makoto had already fallen completely for Kuroba Akira, otherwise she wouldn't have gone to such lengths to steal him away.

However, a casual relationship is not enough to shake the position of Hitomi Anri as his official girlfriend.

Anri Hitomi knew this too, so she continued to counterattack.

"You're still as awful as ever, aren't you? You only feel happy when you steal things that other people like, right? And you even dare to challenge me at school. Are you not planning to continue maintaining your 'aloof persona'?"

"Hmph... Anyway, since you and Ming already know about my secret with Makoto, there's no need for me to pretend to be your little sister anymore, right?"

"That's true, you're not the kind of woman who cares about what others think of you at school."

"Only a woman like you, who's used to putting on a show, would care about such things."

"I don't care anymore, but as Mingjun's girlfriend, maintaining my image is also about saving face for him. I don't want people to think his girlfriend is a bitch... On the contrary, what you're doing now is causing Mingjun's reputation to keep declining, don't you think?"

That's right, the scene of the three of them eating lunch together will probably soon be written into the campus news by the newspaper club's paparazzi. Kuroba Akira is practically the newspaper club's hot material.

Then Kuroba Akira will truly solidify his title as a 'scumbag playboy'.

"But Ming doesn't care about this kind of thing at all. You're just thinking you're considering Ming's reputation, right? Do you really know your boyfriend well enough? You don't know as much as I do, do you?"

Anri Hitomi was not deterred by these words. Instead, she looked down at Hikawa Makoto as if to say, "You're the one who's shallow."

Of course I know Akira well enough... and I also know that 'Hikawa Makoto and Kuroba Akira are very similar in personality and style'.

Yes, Hitomi Anri knew that Akira Kuroba and Makoto Hikawa were very compatible, otherwise they wouldn't have gotten along so quickly.

She knew that even Kuroba Akira wouldn't lay a hand on just any woman.

Furthermore, the poetry and painting duo from the Literature Club haven't even had a chance to eat each other yet, but they've already taken Makoto, a woman they've only known for a short time, which is enough to show how compatible Hikawa Makoto and Kuroba Akira are.

If Kuroba Akira had encountered Hikawa Makoto first, then neither he nor Murasomiya Shion would have had another chance...

This is the power of the woman who is the best match for Kuroba Akira.

But this is just a hypothesis; it is not the case.

She was just a mistress who had cheated on her husband twice...

"What else do you know about Mingjun? He loves the contrast between my 'dignified in public, carefree in private' personality. Do you know how many happy memories we shared at school?"

"Have you ever seen how awkward Mingjun was at the beginning? Do you know how he became more and more skilled? We progressed together, got to know each other, and grew together. He knows what I like, what posture, what speed, and I know his preferences in the same way..."

"And what about you? Does he know you as well as I do? You know absolutely nothing!"

Don't get too arrogant!

That was the message conveyed in Anri Hitomi's terrifying, unsmiling gaze.

Under immense pressure, Hikawa Makoto felt only...

Cool!

This is fantastic! This is exactly what I wanted! It's precisely this kind of Hitomi that excites me so much!

Hikawa Makoto trembled all over, her face flushed with excitement, and she even couldn't help but smile with excitement.

She hadn't experienced this feeling of "going all out" with Hitomi Anri, her "best friend and rival," in a long time.

The twisted nature that had been suppressed for so long burst forth as if a seal had been broken.

And this is different from the childish game of fighting over snacks and toys; this time it's about fighting over men... even more exciting!

I really want to... play with Ming to my heart's content right in front of Xiaotong!

Hikawa Makoto deliberately kissed Kuroba Akira's cheek and teased Anri Hitomi.

"Xiaotong, you've really trained your boyfriend well! He lasts so long! You've really put in a lot of effort; it makes me feel so good~"

This is deliberately trying to annoy the other person and make them more defensive.

However, Anri Hitomi did not continue to erupt; she simply continued feeding Kuroba Akira while speaking calmly.

"Really? I'm glad you like it."

Seeing that Hitomi Anri looked completely unconcerned, Makoto Hikawa felt like she had hit a brick wall.

If it were the old Xiaotong, she would definitely fight to the end and wouldn't allow herself to act wildly in front of her.

Is this... the composure of someone in a position of power?

Or……

Hikawa Makoto looked at Anri Hitomi seriously and asked.

"Hey, Xiaotong, you're not... not planning to 'participate in the competition,' are you?"

Anri Hitomi paused for a moment before speaking.

"...I don't know what you're talking about."

Kuroba Akira was also a little puzzled. If the competition she was talking about meant fighting over men, then weren't they already fighting over men right now?

"Stop pretending. You seem to be rejecting me, but you don't mean to 'kick me out'... I don't want your charity."

"...You should all thank me. If it weren't for me...the wise ruler would never have accepted you."

"Then why don't you just tell him not to accept it? You can enjoy it all by yourself, right? You can't do that, can you?"

"..."

"I see... It seems that you've also encountered a 'high wall' that even you can't completely overcome, Hitomi."

"...So what if it is?"

"But is this how you do it?"

"You have no right to judge my actions."

"Tsk..."

After eating the last piece of tamagoyaki she had exchanged, Hikawa Makoto put away her bento box and stood up, saying...

"How boring. I won't come here again. Since you think 'this is fine,' then you can continue to 'stay put' and hold onto the advantage you gained by 'going first.'"

"That suits me perfectly. Please don't bother us anymore."

"Xiaotong, you... have become weaker... no, I should say you haven't changed much, you're still the same as before."

"..."

"But doing things the same way as before won't work, and you probably know that in your heart."

"..."

"Your starting point is very high, but if you keep 'standing still,' you'll be surpassed sooner or later."

"..."

"Even if that person isn't me, she'd still be a 'good woman' who could make Ming completely infatuated."

"There won't be a woman like that."

How will you know if you don't try?

"Because I won't allow it."

Although I won't fight you for it...

But I won't let any of you have the opportunity to have it all to yourself.

A wise ruler belongs to everyone.

Chapter 333 The Women in the Literature and Art Department Are All Extraordinary

The commotion that occurred during lunch break quickly spread throughout the campus, and Kuroba Akira and Anri Hitomi, who returned to class, became the focus of attention, with everyone immersed in a strong gossip atmosphere.

So, you students are really free?

I should have eaten lunch in the Literature Club's activity room... The weather was nice today, sunny and warm, so we ate in the courtyard as usual. But then Makoto showed up, and everyone witnessed the much-anticipated love triangle...