Tokyo Soft Rice King.

Seeing Kuroba Akira's stunned expression, Anri Hitomi turned to Fujiyoshi Michio, raised her hand, and gave him an apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry, Fujiyoshi-kun. Thank you for your kindness, but Kuroba-kun and I already have an appointment."

The tone was like a wife apologizing to her husband's colleague: "I'm sorry, he can't go drinking with you today. We agreed to go home for dinner together tonight." It was a tactful but undeniably representative rejection.

"Huh? Uh, ah... oh... yes, please go first..."

Fujiyoshi Michio never expected that the high and mighty class monitor would speak to him, or even apologize. He became so nervous that he stammered and unconsciously used honorifics.

Although Hitomi Anri is kind to everyone and doesn't look down on otaku from the bottom of society, she treats every classmate equally.

But that's because she's the class monitor.

Aside from being the class president, how could someone as beautiful, academically outstanding, and skilled in interpersonal communication as Hibiya High School's newest beauty queen, so deserving of everyone's praise, possibly talk to her?

They're clearly not from the same circle!

What about Kuroba Akira?

Fujiyoshi Michio cast a curious glance at Kuroba Akira. Could it be that he was a hidden master at flirting, who had secretly snuck away during summer vacation to win over this top student and school beauty?

Kuroba Akira himself also wanted to know what the hell was going on.

Squad leader, what are you trying to do?!

As the class monitor, how dare you lead the way in disrupting discipline and stirring up interpersonal conflicts within the class!

Logically speaking, if Anri Hitomi didn't want to bring the interpersonal relationships in the class into the literature and art club, then she shouldn't have approached me so hastily and directly.

Kuroba Akira didn't think the class president was stupid enough to forget that.

So, she doesn't care about being misunderstood?

Or is she trying to use herself as a shield...?

Anyway, they definitely don't really want to date me.

Yesterday's conversation with the class monitor was very pleasant, but Kuroba Akira didn't sense any romantic feelings from her. Kuroba Akira believed he had the ability to judge this.

Moreover, even if the class president really had that intention, Kuroba Akira didn't want to date Anri Hitomi. Dating the top genius school beauty in the grade, even if it was just a rumor, would attract a lot of hatred and make him the number one hunting target of the omnipresent FFF group.

Moreover, Akira Kuroba has never liked the feeling of being in the spotlight. He feels pressured for no reason, and if he doesn't handle it well, he will become the scapegoat.

Savvy adults are good at being patient and won't invite trouble.

Therefore, Akira Kuroba is thinking about how to deal with this crisis.

On the other side, Fujiyoshi Michio watched as Anri Hitomi, who had come to invite him to dinner, and Kuroba Akira, who had been invited, did not exchange a single word. Unable to suppress his curiosity, he took the initiative to ask.

"Um... Anri-kun, um... are you dating Kuroba-kun?"

Fujiyoshi Michio regretted asking the question as soon as he finished. He quickly covered his mouth and revealed a somewhat frightened look in his eyes.

He wasn't afraid of the class monitor getting angry, but rather afraid of someone who cared a lot about the class monitor getting angry.

Instead of answering immediately, Anri Hitomi looked at Kuroba Akira with a smile.

Kuroba Akira really wanted to roll his eyes. Class monitor, don't look at me like that now! It's too ambiguous!

So Kuroba Akira conveyed his confusion to the class representative with his eyes: 'What on earth is going on here?!'

Anri Hitomi maintained her smile, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, as if she were toying with Kuroba Akira's emotions and enjoying his flustered appearance.

It seems the class monitor wants him to decide 'what exactly our relationship is'.

What a troublesome problem...

Anri Hitomi didn't just want to tease Kuroba Akira; she genuinely came with the idea that 'it's okay to be considered as dating.'

However, her main purpose was to see Kuroba Akira's reaction: would he explain and avoid suspicion, or would he...smugly admit it?

This will allow us to see his true character more clearly.

To put it bluntly, this is just a continuation of yesterday's underwear test.

Since Kuroba Akira is still silent, does that mean he has decided to accept his fate and be 'forced to become her boyfriend'?

Hmm... since that's what Kuroba-kun thinks...

Hitomi Anri decided to accept this relationship that was about to be established without even a confession; she had come prepared for it.

"Actually, Kuroba-kun and I are..."

"I'm the class monitor's dog!"

Just then, Kuroba Akira spoke first and resolutely dropped another bomb.

The class erupted in an uproar, everyone looking at Kuroba Akira with the eyes of someone looking at a monster.

After the initial shock, most of the girls looked at them with disdain and disgust, while the boys mostly looked at them with a hint of admiration... Going all out like this, I admire you as a real man!

Use even more shocking words to cover up the commotion in front of them, and thus divert everyone's attention.

This is the self-destruction tactic inherited from Master Da!

Chapter 43 You're a Real Dog

What an interesting development, Anri Hitomi thought to herself, her acting skills allowing her to conceal her amused smile.

She was quite curious to see how Kuroba Akira would break the deadlock next, so she simply went along with his words and reached out to pat Kuroba Akira's head with a smile.

"Hehe, good doggy, I made lots of delicious food for you!"

This made everyone even more shocked.

The class monitor actually openly admitted to treating her classmates as playthings?!

Is the kind and friendly school beauty Anri Hitomi actually a sadistic queen?!

This would definitely make the headlines on campus news.

Maybe the news department will come over soon, drawn by the smell.

But Kuroba Akira wasn't out of his mind, spouting nonsense like a madman. He had already prepared his explanation.

The newly detonated bomb has already neutralized the aftershocks of the previous bomb. All that's left is to go down the steps and lower the temperature in the classroom.

So Kuroba Akira moved the class monitor's hand away, spread his hands, and explained in a lighthearted tone.

"Just kidding. Actually, this bento wasn't made just for me. It was made by the class monitor for all the members of the arts and literature department. And the portion size is clearly not for one person, right?"

A luxurious three-tiered bento box, if made for just one person, is almost tantamount to a confession, just like saying "The moon is beautiful tonight," clearly carrying affection.

But if it's a bento box meant to be shared among 'everyone,' then it's not surprising that so many were made.

This aligns perfectly with the class monitor's established persona; she is someone who always puts others first.

At this moment, the others also remembered that the class monitor's other identity was the head of the arts and literature department, and they immediately showed expressions of sudden realization.

If Kuroba Akira were to include himself in the category of "everyone," he could remove all the targets that were focused on him.

"I just happened to join the Literature and Art Department, so I benefited from it, right, class monitor?"

What a reasonable explanation!

Call me the master of saving the day!

So, class monitor, please don't pull this again! Don't turn this into a romantic comedy in the classroom!

Anri Hitomi maintained her smile, and a hint of appreciation appeared in her eyes as she looked at Kuroba Akira.

As expected of Kuroba-kun, he is indeed cunning... or rather, shrewd.

Although I already knew about it during yesterday's transaction, he still has a level of experience in dealing with people that far surpasses that of inexperienced students.

They are the same kind of people as me.

Anri Hitomi said this with a happy heart.

"Yes, Kuroba-kun is a new member of our Literature and Art Club. I invited him to join the club."

"I see... Kuroba-san joined the Literature Club."

Fujiyoshi nods knowingly, and the other students have similar reactions. Then they all look at another boy in the class.

The misunderstanding has been cleared up, but the trouble is clearly not over yet.

Kuroba Akira had worked in a large company workplace that was far more complex than his class. Even though he hated interpersonal communication, he was forced to learn the passive skill of reading the room.

The tense atmosphere has not yet subsided, indicating that more events are likely to occur.

The older one hasn't arrived yet.

Upon hearing that Kuroba Akira had joined the Literature Club, some people were about to break down.

At this moment, Kuroba Akira had also figured out the whole picture of the incident in his mind.

Logically speaking, given the class monitor's popularity, even if she didn't issue a call to action, there should have been people who wanted to join the Arts and Literature Department and filled out application forms.

And even without a class monitor, is there really not a single person in this school who is simply interested in literature and wants to join the arts and literature department?

However, the reality is that no one really wants to join the Literature and Art Department.

In other words, joining the Literature and Art Department is 'dangerous' and you'll be seen as a 'scapegoat'.

Therefore, it is quite natural to think that the current crisis of insufficient members in the Literature and Art Department was artificially created.

It's most likely that they're being targeted, and it's probably not the Literature and Art Club, but rather Hitomi Anri herself.

Some people are secretly restricting people from joining the arts and literature department.

Of course, it shouldn't be because of any personal grudges or bullying. There's a very simple explanation... This person wants to pursue Hitomi Anri.

After all, the class monitor is so beautiful, academically excellent, and gentle. There must be many boys who have a crush on her, including some who think they have a chance to officially date Anri Hitomi.

He prevented others from joining the Literature and Art Department so that he could be the first to join.

After all, being close to the water tower gives you an advantage. Joining the literature and art club where the class monitor is already a huge head start over other competitors. Then, with some gentle persuasion and gradual increase in favorability, how could I not win over Anri Hitomi in three years of high school?

That's probably what this person was thinking.

However, Anri Hitomi did not agree, resulting in a stalemate. She herself could not join the Literature and Art Club, and she would not allow others to join, which is why the Literature and Art Club is currently in a situation of insufficient personnel.

It's likely that Hitomi Anri also felt it was her fault that the Literature Club was ignored, which is why she tried to find a solution and thus approached Akira Kuroba.

And this person has finally had enough.

The boy sitting in the middle of the class slammed his hand on the table and stood up, walking seriously toward the corner where Kuroba Akira was.