Tokyo Soft Rice King

Although the starting point of this goal is distorted, the value pursued is also distorted.

He became the second person, besides Asato's mother, who had a significant influence on Asato's personality.

Even Kuroba Akira's words are more important to Hitomi Asato than her mother's words. When there is a disagreement with her mother's words, Hitomi Asato will choose to listen to him first.

And this influence will continue to affect her future life...making what is right no longer right.

The right path in life that Anri Hitomi had been taking all along has now led to a wrong and twisted fork in the road.

Chapter 95: One thing is another

After a while, Moe Aisono and Shiori Shirai walked into the literature club's activity room together.

When Moe Aizono saw Kuroba Akira, she was stunned for a moment, and then secretly observed the reaction of Shiori Shirai beside her.

She was a little afraid that Shiori would go berserk like she did yesterday and even throw her shoes at her. It was the first time she saw Shiori so angry and she was shocked.

As for Moe Aizono herself, she didn't have any bad feelings towards Kuroba Akira. Although she was startled when his hand was held yesterday, she was still a little moved when Kuroba Akira invited her to draw illustrations for the light novel. After all, it has always been Moe Aizono's dream for her paintings to become official works.

But I didn't expect Shiori to dislike him so much... maybe it's because she thinks Kuroba-san is lying?

However, Kuroba-san was someone Hitomi-chan brought here... so he should be someone trustworthy, right?

Moe Aizono really couldn't figure it out, but she was self-aware and knew that she was not good at judging people's hearts, so she simply stopped guessing and left it to Hitomi and Shiori to judge.

But what surprised her was that Shirai Shiori did not get angry. She just kept a stern face as usual, walked over, put down her schoolbag, looked at the pile of books on the table and asked.

"Are you... sorting books?"

Hei Yuming had just taken the comics and novels he wanted to borrow from the bookshelf and had not yet put them into his schoolbag. After all, he still had to get the owner's consent. It would be too rude to take them away directly.

However, he deliberately did not answer Shirai Shiori's question, but smiled at Aizono Moe who was still standing at the door, and asked very friendlyly.

"Oh, Aiyuan, you're here just in time. Can I take these comics home and read them? I promise I won't get them dirty or damaged."

"S-Sure! Please feel free to use my comics!"

Perhaps because she was too excited, Aizono Moeie omitted some key nouns in her words, which turned out to be a bad line that could be misunderstood.

Hei Yuming almost couldn't help but tease, but when he thought of the squad leader's angry back as he walked away at noon, he quickly shut up and swallowed his saliva, and then he resisted the urge to say anything frivolous.

At this time, Aizono Moeie also noticed that she had said the wrong thing. Being shy, she really couldn't just laugh it off, so she waved her hands to explain her slip of the tongue.

"Ah, no, that, I mean... those comics, Kuroba-kun, you can use them as you like... um..."

Aizono Moe was halfway through her explanation when her shame level exceeded her limit. She raised her hands in front of her face and made an embarrassed sound.

If it were a cartoon, her face would probably be as red as a tomato and white smoke would be coming out of her head.

Hei Yuming was not very good at dealing with this extremely introverted girl, mainly because he could not use his three skills of 'complaining', 'teasing' and 'ridiculing', and could only speak like a serious person, which was really a bit depressing.

"Haha... Anyway, thank you, Aisono-kun."

In the end, Hei Yuming could only laugh dryly, thank him politely, and then quickly change the topic to the novel on the other side.

"And Shirai-san, can I borrow these novels too?"

When it comes to Shirai Shiori, Kuroba Akira is rather blunt, ending his sentences with "right?" instead of "is that right?"

This wasn't even asking for her permission, it was declaring, "I want to borrow these books today, and you decide whether to give them to me or not!" It was simply a rogue attitude.

However, Shirai Shiori still did not get angry. She just took a look at the books that Kuroba Akira had borrowed and said coldly.

"...It doesn't matter. Take it if you want. I brought those books to the activity room to share with everyone. You are considered a 'temporary' member of the Arts Club, so you are eligible to borrow these books."

She deliberately emphasized the word "temporary" to indicate that even if others had already accepted it, she, Shirai Shiori, had not yet accepted Kuroba Akira's joining the club, which was her last act of stubbornness.

Hei Yuming didn't react much, instead he thought she was quite generous.

Originally, he wanted to take this opportunity to anger Shirai Shiori again, but it seemed that she was not the kind of person who was petty and calculative.

So she treats books very preciously, it's just a personal habit, similar to mysophobia. It doesn't mean that these books are really important... I mean, if they were really important books, she wouldn't have brought them to the art department activity room.

A book-loving literary girl like her would usually buy three sets of books, namely "for viewing, for collection, and for preaching". The books she brought to the literature and art department should be for preaching.

If he really wanted to make her angry, he would probably have to tear up these books in front of her...but Hei Yuming couldn't do such a beastly thing.

After all, Kuroba Ming himself is a person who likes to buy books. Although he was used to reading e-books in his previous life, he would still buy physical versions of some works he particularly liked to fill his bookshelf. However, the collection value is greater than the practical value, just like buying action figures.

Do you feel a sense of accomplishment when you see your bookshelf slowly filling up?

"But remember to return the books after you finish reading them. Those books are now the property of the Literature and Art Department and cannot be your personal property."

"Isn't that natural? I can't possibly sell it, can I?"

"If you dare to sell it, I will tear you apart and sell you off."

Shirai Shiori glared at him and issued a vicious death threat.

"Ha... It seems that even for my own health, I can't treat these books carelessly... So, is there a return deadline?"

"...I'm just reminding you that you can look at it as long as you want, but if anyone else wants to see it, you need to return it as soon as possible."

"no problem."

Although she hated Hei Yuming's attitude of looking down on creation, one thing is one thing, and when it comes to books, she still trusts Hei Yuming more.

After all, Hei Yuming came to the library to read books throughout the entire semester, and he would put the books back to their original places every time, unlike some students who would just throw the books on the table after reading them.

Moreover, Hei Yuming never borrows books, so there is no need to worry that he will forget to return the books. He is much better than those forgetful students who borrow books from the library and never return them when they are due.

What made Shiori Shirai most angry was that when she went to find those students and asked them to return the books, they had the audacity to say, "Sorry, I forgot I borrowed these books... Haha, can you help me extend the period? I still want to finish reading..."

At that time, Shirai Shiori wanted to slap him.

How does your brain grow?

Can’t you even remember the books you borrowed?

And I haven’t watched it for such a long time, what have you been doing?

Those children (books) are crying!

Shiori Shirai also knows that not everyone treats books as valuables. She wears gloves when reading, but she cannot ask others to follow her example. But at least they should have basic respect for books, right?

It's common sense to read something as soon as possible after borrowing it and return it on time after finishing it, right?

From this perspective, Hei Yuming at least has basic common sense.

If he and Tong didn't have a close relationship, but applied to join the literature club normally... maybe I would be willing to let him join.

Unfortunately, it seems that his main purpose is to pick up girls... Humph, all men are the same! A collection of Xingyu!

If you join the Arts Club just for women... then forget it!

Chapter 96: Shirai Shiori's Delusion Time

But putting aside the fact that Kuroba Akira's motives were impure, his love for reading should not be fake, and the books he chose also surprised Shirai Shiori.

Wow...you actually chose those books...you have quite good taste.

She thought that Hei Yuming would read the youth novels that she used to fill her bookshelf.

Those books were actually reference works that Shiori Shirai used to learn and imitate the writing style of popular novels.

Mainly the description is pretty good, the words used are quite flowery, but the content is really... I can't say it's boring, I can only say it's extremely boring.

I bought it, read it once, and after copying down some sentences, I didn't want to read it a second time. It's not even worth collecting.

I originally wanted to sell them at a used bookstore, but when I thought about how the literature club that Anri Hitomi took over didn't even have a few books, I decided to take them to the club office to fill the bookshelf.

In the end, it was just used to fill the library, and no one read it, not even herself.

Although Shiori Shirai believes that works are not divided into high and low categories, aesthetic tastes are divided into high and low levels.

If Hei Yuming chose the youth literature novels mentioned above, it would prove that he is indeed a superficial person who likes those works that are pretentious and profound without any reason.

According to her observation, many people who are keen on falling in love are particularly fond of this type of work. Perhaps they can resonate with each other in some way. Anyway, she can't understand it.

The following are the books she particularly likes. She usually buys two copies, one for herself to read and collect, and the other to lend to others... although she doesn't have anyone to lend it to.

Tong focuses more on her studies, while Mengmeng doesn't like reading difficult books. She feels very sorry that her two best friends are not interested in the books she likes.

However, there will definitely be new members joining the Literature and Art Department in the future. If there are one or two like-minded people at that time, it would be worthwhile for me to bring these books to school.

But Shirai Shiori didn't expect that this person would be Kuroba Akira.

So at this moment, Shirai Shiori's mood was very complicated. On the one hand, she hated Kuroba Akira's style of picking up girls with frivolous words, but on the other hand, she felt that he and she had something in common when it came to reading...

Why do these people like to read?

Could it be that he is just like Dazai Osamu... people who are passionate about literature are always sentimental and therefore also very romantic?

No way! At least I’m not!

Shirai Shiori quickly threw this damn thought out of her mind. How could she begin to understand him?

If he really is dating Tong, he shouldn't be greedy. Isn't he a scumbag who wants to have two girlfriends at the same time?

The most important thing is to protect Meng Meng! Never let her be persecuted by bad men!

And this can also indirectly help Tong and prevent her from cheating... Having said that, if he is really the man you like, Tong, then you should keep a close eye on him!

Sometimes, Shiori Shirai really finds it difficult to understand Hitomi Asato's thoughts, but she also knows that because of her original family, Hitomi Asato's values ​​are a bit... strange, so it's not easy to say much.

As a friend, I can only try my best to understand and accept it.

"But I advise you not to eat potato chips while reading. If I find out that you have stained your book with snack crumbs, I will make you pay the price."

Hei Yuming spread his hands and said.

"Don't worry about that. I don't even have money to buy potato chips. Now the only food I rely on every day is the monitor's lunch box."

Speaking of bento, Shiori Shirai remembered the gossip she saw when she passed by the news department's bulletin board, and immediately frowned and asked Asato Hitomi.

"Speaking of which, Tong, did you go to the courtyard to eat with him at noon today?"

"Yes, I also told you yesterday that Kuroba-kun and I have an agreement. As a reward for inviting him to join the literature club, I will make a bento for him."

You actually cook for this man. Tong, you are really completely fascinated by this man.

"Didn't you read the school news from the News Department? The pictures of the two of you were all over the place. The pictures... of you having dinner together."

Shirai Shiori was a little embarrassed to say it out loud, but in fact, the photo showed Hitomi Asato using her own chopsticks to feed food to Kuroba Akira...which is commonly known as feeding play.

That's obviously the kind of interaction that only happens between couples!

How can friends feed each other? That's too corny!

Hei Yuming was shocked and shouted with a grin.

"Huh? There are photos? Secret photography is illegal, right?"

"The News Department and the Photography Department are collaborating, and the Photography Department has obtained permission from the Student Union to freely photograph the campus scenery... If you want to blame someone, blame them for not paying attention to the occasion."

"The News Department has too many connections..."

Hei Yuming drooped his shoulders weakly, and felt more and more that the Arts and Literature Club was a really tricky mess, and it could be said that it was at odds with the entire school.

But Anri Hitomi didn't care at all. Instead, she nodded her cheek and said with interest.

"Hey~ My photo was even taken. I'll go to the photo studio and ask for one later."

"..."

Shirai Shiori was speechless.

It's over, Tong is completely hopeless, she has been completely infected with the love virus!

It was really hard to accept, and Shiori Shirai brought up the bad rumor that she didn't want to mention.

"And...I heard you guys went to the infirmary together?"

Hei Yuming scratched his head helplessly.

"It's spread so far..."

Shirai Shiori's eyes suddenly widened...it was actually true!

Did they really go to the health room to do that...that?

Hei Yuming didn't want everyone in the Arts Club to be brainwashed by the rumors, so he explained it immediately.