Tokyo Soft Rice King.

The surname Anri likely represents a prestigious family, similar to the Abe family.

However, Kuroba Akira, who was out of touch with the news, was not quite sure how much power the Anri family actually wielded.

However, if the class monitor also lives in Chiyoda Ward, then he is probably like the children of government officials living in the staff housing complexes, having grown up in the social circles of the power center.

Ordinary nouveau riche will never get a ticket to the next level, because those who are already inside have been inside from the beginning.

However, what surprised Kuroba Akira the most was that the class monitor's mother actually told the class monitor this principle.

Generally speaking, parents in such families would not tell their children about this when they are so young, because there is no need to.

Let the children get along naturally. Even without deliberately arranging any marriages, it is still possible for them to become a powerful alliance in the end.

Because it's said to respect free love, but you've known this group of people since childhood, and your interpersonal relationships as you grow up still revolve around this group. In the end, you might still naturally marry a childhood friend, forming a power-for-power relationship.

In this process, barriers to power gradually form, and class solidification occurs...

However, the class monitor's mother's decision to keep him away from his childhood playmates seemed too deliberate, as if she wanted to 'sever' her next generation from those powerful and wealthy people.

Does this mean that the Anri family is powerful enough to not need to be involved in that circle of power?

Aren't you afraid of being isolated or even targeted?

You should know that choosing the wrong side can lead to being punished.

However, Kuroba Akira didn't want to delve into it. Power relationships were too complicated, and he didn't belong to that circle. It wasn't something he, an orphan from another world, should be thinking about.

In short, the class monitor chose to keep a certain distance because she had known about the underhanded dealings and collusion among these powerful and influential people since she was a child, and she knew that it would be difficult for her to treat her childhood sweethearts sincerely.

No one is wrong; it's just a matter of perspective. This is because Anri Hitomi's surname is Anri, and Sumitomo Ryota's surname is Sumitomo, and both surnames carry their own weight.

So, Ryota Sumitomo, it seems you're not entirely disliked after all.

For Anri Hitomi, her distancing herself from you is actually proof that she considers you a friend.

"Oh, that must be really hard work for you, class monitor."

After listening, Kuroba Akira only expressed concern in a light tone, and he couldn't say anything more. This was a problem caused by Squad Leader Wu's background, and no one can choose their own background.

Anri Hitomi blinked. She didn't tell Kuroba Akira her conversation with her mother verbatim, but omitted some details. However, Kuroba Akira understood it completely after listening to it once.

Moreover, this indifferent reaction made Anri Hitomi feel that what she was talking about wasn't a heavy topic, and she felt much more relaxed.

She initially felt that abandoning her friends was unforgivable, and that failing to make up her mind to protect them was proof of her weakness. That's why Anri Hitomi became even more strict with herself after that...

But it seems that in Kuroba Akira's eyes, it's not a big deal?

Oh... Is it really nothing serious...? Anri Hitomi suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.

Girls' psychology is so strange; they can feel a little angry if they are completely ignored. Even Anri Hitomi is no exception, so she deliberately continued to bring it up.

"To avoid any misunderstanding, let me say this first, Kuroba-kun: I don't only have Sumitomo-kun as my childhood friend. When we were kids, we always played together as a group of five. Of the other four, Sumitomo-kun wasn't my closest friend."

“I know that, and I’ve heard Sumitomo Ryota mention it before.”

However, the class monitor's explanation seemed to imply that he was trying to cover something up, as if he was afraid of being misunderstood.

"Speaking of which, class monitor, your four childhood friends, besides Ryota Sumitomo, weren't the other three also boys, were they?"

Kuroba Akira raised an eyebrow. Could it be that he would have to deal with those troublemakers one by one, just like he did with the Four Heavenly Kings?

My fake boyfriend is desperately defending himself against their advances? Seriously, who wants to watch this?

Unexpectedly, after Kuroba Akira asked the question, the class monitor puffed out his cheeks in a bit of anger.

"How could that be? In your eyes, Kuroba-kun, am I the kind of scheming girl who only plays with boys?"

To be honest, the class monitor does have a bit of a scheming side... after all, she's understood the complexities of interpersonal relationships since she was young.

"Back then, there were three girls and two boys who hung out together. Now, only Sumitomo and Takanashi are still in the same school as me. I heard that the other two went to an all-boys school and an all-girls school, respectively."

"Oh...I see."

After hearing this, Kuroba Akira picked up his chopsticks again and continued eating with peace of mind.

It seems there's no need to fight the Four Heavenly Kings of my childhood anymore; my lunchbox won't be threatened anymore, which is good.

"Actually, the five of us lost contact after graduating from elementary school. I never expected to run into two of them again in high school, and Sumitomo-kun even ended up in the same class as me..."

"It seems your connection with them hasn't completely ended yet."

"Perhaps... but even if we meet again, I can't go back to being friends with them, since I was the one who chose to distance myself from them first..."

"Well... after all, class monitor, you have very high standards for choosing friends."

The definition of a friend is entirely up to the individual.

For some people, exchanging a few words is enough to be considered acquaintances and friends, but for others, "friend" is a very serious term. Only those who truly understand them, care for each other, and stay in touch can be called friends.

"So, Kuroba-kun, are we friends now?"

"I don't know what you think, class monitor, but I've already considered you a friend."

For Akira Kuroba, the definition of a friend is very simple: anyone who treats him to a meal is a friend, and anyone who makes him treat them to a meal is a jerk.

The class monitor who makes lunchboxes for himself is undoubtedly the best friend!

"Yes..."

Lu Anli smiled genuinely, because having lost friends before, she believed that true friends were extremely precious.

The current arts and literature club is made up of friends she believes can disregard family backgrounds. After all, they've known each other since junior high, and it took them a long time to become good friends and even attend the same high school together.

As for Kuroba Akira, although he had been concerned about him for a long time, it was only yesterday that he had spoken to him.

They had only known each other for two days, and the guy was no exception. According to Anri Hitomi's definition of a friend, they shouldn't be considered friends yet.

However, we need to make an exception for him today.

She was extremely fond of Kuroba Akira, her 'male confidant' who could completely understand her.

You can talk about anything, you resonate with each other and are very close. If you miss out on someone like that, will you ever meet another one like that in your life?

We can't expect this kind of luck to come twice, so we must keep him by our side and keep him firmly within our grasp...

"I also feel that Kuroba-kun is already my friend, and a very good friend at that."

Because true friends are those who can always be by your side, right?

"So...we'll be best friends for life, okay?"

Chapter 51 I'll Lick Your Hands

Kuroba Akira felt a chill run down his spine from the class monitor's creepy smile, as if he were being stared at by a venomous snake.

How can someone say such terrifying things with such a gentle expression?

"Uh, class monitor, saying something like that after only knowing each other for two days is a bit too heavy, isn't it? You know, lifelong friendship isn't something you can just say; it's about whether the friendship can stand the test of time."

Akira Kuroba never believed that friends could be companions for a lifetime; he thought that family members were the ones who could fulfill that role, and even a wife might not be able to do that.

Moreover, most of the friends you make in school will not be contacted again after graduation.

No matter how close you were before, as long as you are in a long-distance relationship, the relationship will naturally fade.

That's why people say life is like a series of train stops, where you meet different people at each stop, and very few people can get on the train midway and ride with you to the last stop.

However, Kuroba Akira's answer greatly displeased Anri Hitomi. She didn't want to unilaterally consider him her best friend while he didn't feel the same way.

A relationship between two people should be a two-way street, based on mutual consent, in order to last.

"Kuroba-kun, your statement is making me a little angry."

"what?"

Anri Hitomi suddenly reached out and snatched the chopsticks from Kuroba Akira's hand. Kuroba Akira looked at her blankly, his mouth half-open.

What's wrong? They suddenly stopped giving us food...

Kuroba Akira felt that she had done a good job as a listener this time, acting as the class monitor's emotional dumping ground, so she should feel relaxed. Why was she acting upset and sulking instead?

Was it because I contradicted her statement about being best friends for life?

But it's strange to decide someone is a lifelong friend after only two days of meeting them. That's even stranger than love at first sight or a chicken head swap, since the latter is at least an instinctive impulse that's somewhat understandable.

"Since you, Kuroba-kun, don't think we're good friends yet, it means we don't know each other well enough."

"Yes..."

"So now I'll feed you, that's how I care for my friends."

"Oh... huh?"

Want to play feeding game? That's a shameful game only stupid couples do, isn't it?

Even though nobody's watching now, I'm still so ashamed... Ashamed my ass.

The most important thing is to have enough to eat.

So Kuroba Akira shamelessly opened his mouth and waited for the class monitor to feed him.

"Ah~"

Hitomi Anri originally wanted to use the phrase "Come on~ ah~" to make Akira Kuroba feel embarrassed, but he beat her to it.

"I really admire Kuroba-kun's ability to stick to his own principles... So, if you want to eat, you'll have to answer my next question, okay?"

So, you're using this trick...

But if you want to ask, just ask. Apart from time travel and the ability to see through things, I don't have any secrets to speak of.

Yes! Ask me anything! I'll answer to the best of my knowledge!

"I believe that friends should care about each other. So now that I've finished talking about my childhood friends, shouldn't you tell me about your own experiences, Kuroba-kun? You must have had some good friends when you were little, right?"

It turns out she wanted to hear about her past.

But there's really nothing to say about Kuroba Akira.

Before transmigrating, I was a corporate slave; after transmigrating, I have no memories.

"But I don't have any childhood playmates or childhood sweethearts."

Hearing him say that, Anri Hitomi's mood seemed to rise a lot, and she put a fried shrimp into Kuroba Akira's mouth.

However, this answer certainly wouldn't satisfy the class monitor, so Kuroba Akira thought for a moment and then said what he had thought of when he was confronting Sumitomo Ryota.

"Well... if I had to say... I had a crush on a girl when I was in middle school."