Tokyo Soft Rice King.

"..." A private harem?

Squad leader, are you a succubus who understands men's hearts?

Is your club really legitimate?

Doesn't this sound like a brothel in a red-light district?

Chapter Four: Your Highness the Class Monitor

Kuroba Akira, who was silenced by the class monitor's series of perks, not only did not show any excitement, but also sighed.

He admitted that these benefits were very attractive, and if Kuroba Akira were really a fifteen-year-old boy, he would definitely be nodding his head in agreement by now and have been hooked.

Unfortunately, his mental age is twice that of his childhood; he is no longer innocent.

Even if it's well-intentioned, he'll still be suspicious.

"Is the Literature and Art Department really that important? Is it really worth investing so much in?"

"The Literature Club is very important, but it is precisely because it is Kuroba-kun that I am going to do everything I can to invite you to join."

"what……"

Kuroba Akira sighed again. The class monitor's words were full of concern for Kuroba Akira, but they could only make him smile bitterly.

Because he knew very well that behind sweet words lay only self-interest.

Ordinary students might not have much on their minds, but it's clear that Anri Hitomi is much more mature than her peers, and her words are all very purposeful.

The chat with the class monitor was quite interesting. She probably didn't mean any harm; she was just very good at reading people, so she would say nice things to please them.

However, this emotionally manipulative way of speaking made Kuroba Akira feel somewhat uncomfortable. It reminded him of his heartless boss from his previous life, who spoke sweet words but ultimately turned his back on him.

"Class monitor, you don't need to say such flattering things to me anymore. It might make other people feel good, but it will only have the opposite effect on me."

"..."

In an instant, the atmosphere seemed to change.

Despite the sweltering summer heat, Kuroba Akira felt a chill run down his spine.

Kuroba Akira turned his head in confusion and saw that the class monitor, who was standing in front of the vending machine, had lowered her head. The shadow of her bangs covered her face, making it impossible to see her expression.

"Squad leader?"

"It's really hot today."

She looked up again, still smiling, but Kuroba Akira noticed that her smile was more formulaic than before, like the sales smile of a cashier at a convenience store, devoid of any emotion.

Hitomi Anri took out a black and white striped coin purse from her pocket, took out a folded, brand-new 1,000 yen bill and put it in. The indicator light was already on, but she did not choose any drinks.

"Kuroba-kun, the Literature Club is my only place to breathe, so I don't want it to disappear."

The class monitor suddenly changed her way of addressing Kuroba Akira from "kun" to "sang," which may mean that she has dropped her pretense and is no longer trying to please Kuroba Akira.

Furthermore, she directly stated the reasons for her tireless efforts for the Literature and Art Department.

It seems that although Hitomi Anri doesn't have academic pressure, she does have pressure from other aspects.

Kuroba Akira guessed that it was mostly from the family. After all, teenagers at this age are in their rebellious phase of adolescence. They must have argued and had conflicts with their parents, feeling that they no longer had a place to belong at home.

If the class monitor wasn't a top student, but a delinquent, she might have run away from home on the spot.

However, being more mature than her peers, Hitomi Anri ultimately couldn't be willful to the end. Instead, she chose to hide her feelings and found a place to breathe at school: the Literature Club.

That's why she attaches so much importance to the preservation of the Literature and Art Department.

In short, it's about the troubles of teenage girls.

Although he had guessed most of it, Kuroba Akira didn't bring it up because he didn't really want to get involved in her family's problems.

Every family has its own problems, and outsiders shouldn't interfere.

"The current members of the Literature and Art Department are all girls. They are all good girls and can get along with me naturally, so I don't want them to be exposed to danger."

"oh oh……"

Kuroba Akira answered absentmindedly; the high temperature was almost causing his brain to shut down.

And to be honest, he has absolutely no interest in the interpersonal relationships among students.

After all, as someone who has been through it, Akira Kuroba knows very well that even the best friends from school days will gradually lose contact after graduation due to busy lives.

In the end, everyone will still be like strangers... That's why he felt it didn't matter if he was alone.

Suddenly, he felt a strong pull, and his whole body was pulled out of the shadows on the side of the vending machine. He staggered several steps before he regained his balance and didn't fall.

She was the class monitor; she grabbed Kuroba Akira by the collar and pulled him in front of her.

When their eyes met at such close range, Kuroba Akira's first thought was... her eyelashes are so long.

The girl's breath tickled his face.

I can almost smell a faint floral fragrance. Is this the legendary natural body odor of a high school girl?

That's such a naive idea; it's probably just the smell of shampoo.

"call--!"

"Ouch! My eyes!"

Anri Hitomi puffed out her cheeks and blew a breath toward Kuroba Akira's cheek. The fragrance of flowers wafted over and filled her nostrils, but Kuroba Akira's delicate eyeballs could not withstand the impact of the airflow.

He closed his eyes tightly, and the stinging sensation brought tears to his eyes.

"Please listen to me carefully."

"I'm listening! Don't surprise me!"

"So, listen carefully. I don't want those shitty bastards whose brains are occupied by their reproductive organs and those despicable bitches approaching my lovely members with filthy thoughts. Do you understand?"

"..."

When Kuroba Akira finally managed to open his eyes again, he saw Anri Hitomi's heartless face, no longer adorned with a smile.

Wow, what a terrifying look... even the curve of his lips has disappeared.

If the class monitor up until now was a gentle and lovely princess, then the current class monitor is a sharp-tongued and sadistic queen.

"If you heard me, please answer my question. You said you weren't mute, right, Kuroba-kun?"

"Yes! I fully understand now, Your Highness!"

"very good."

Anri Hitomi released her hand, straightened Kuroba Akira's collar, then raised her hand to stroke his cheek, wiping away the tears from the corner of his eyes with her thumb, and also wiping away the sweat from his forehead with her palm.

After doing all this, Anri Hitomi took a step back and said as if nothing had happened.

“Then let’s continue our discussion, Kuroba-kun.”

The address changed back to Kuroba-kun, and the smile on his face returned, but the strong impression was already imprinted in Kuroba Akira's mind.

It's best not to disobey the class monitor... you'll suffer a terrible fate if you become her enemy.

Kuroba Akira wasn't actually afraid of a high school girl, but her sudden change of expression made him take it seriously.

"Class monitor, you don't want any boys to join the arts and literature department with ulterior motives, so were you testing me with those words just now?"

"The probing part was over long ago. When Kuroba rejected my underwear, I already knew that Kuroba was a lecherous but very sensible person."

What a strange evaluation it is to be lustful yet know how to behave properly...

In short, it means that he/she has gained the trust of the class monitor.

She extended the invitation to Kuroba Akira because of her trust in him.

Since the exchange of benefits is based on trust, then for Kuroba Akira, this is a 'business transaction'.

So, since it's a transaction...

"Then let's talk about compensation."

Chapter Five: Handing Over Even Their Underwear

Anri Hitomi noticed that Kuroba Akira, who had been uninterested, had perked up and his eyes had become like those of the snobbish businessmen she had met before.

That's the kind of gaze that can measure the value of everything, including the value of a person.

This gaze reminded her of her mother, but unlike her mother, Kuroba Akira did not instill any fear in her.

She knew that Kuroba Akira was reminding her to renegotiate the price, but Anri Hitomi pretended not to understand.

"What I was talking about just now was the reward, right? I think joining the Literature Club would be a great opportunity for Kuroba-kun. Maybe he'll even encounter some embarrassing and exciting things."

"Class monitor, I'm a very realistic person. I won't treat reality like a dating sim with a pretty girl."

Moreover, even in visual novels, putting the word "heartbeat" before the Literature Club only evokes the fear of sudden cardiac arrest.

"That's true. After all, Kuroba-kun isn't shy around me, and he seems quite used to being around girls."

"shy?"

"Well, I'm not being arrogant, but it's true that very few guys can talk to me without getting nervous. And the ones who aren't nervous often look at me with an uncomfortable gaze."

"After all, class monitor, you are very beautiful."

High school boys are all driven by desires. When they see a pretty and cute girl, they can't help but stare at her, let alone a beautiful girl like the class monitor. They could look at her every day without getting tired of her.

"Thank you for the compliment, but Kuroba-kun's gaze doesn't give me that feeling."

"Squad leader, are you beating around the bush and saying I have dead fish eyes?"

"Hehe, I really like Kuroba-kun's gaze, don't you? It gives me a feeling of being appreciated. This time it's not flattery, it's genuine."

"Thank you for your kindness, so what are you going to use to buy me, class monitor?"

Kuroba Akira, too lazy to beat around the bush any longer, threw out a straight shot.

Realizing that there was no way to bargain anymore, the class monitor showed a look of resignation.

"I understand... wait for me a moment."

After saying that, the class monitor jogged away.

Kuroba Akira stared blankly at her retreating figure, still wondering where she was going.

Then, remembering what she had just said, she realized that she might have gone to withdraw money.