Why is the Demon King like this?

Hoshino's aura is ineffective against Ao Keisuke, but it's torture for everyone else.

As the "summoned party," Ai Komatsu felt it particularly acutely. She nervously stood with her feet together, avoiding Hoshino Fujiko's scrutiny.

"Is it Komatsu-senpai?"

"Ah...yes, it's me, Hoshino-kun, good afternoon."

The waiter came over to take their orders. Keisuke Ao ordered an iced Americano, while Hoshino ordered a cappuccino.

Confused, Ai Komatsu quickly ordered some desserts and cakes.

"Please don't be shy, let me treat you this afternoon!"

Surprisingly, the young lady didn't cause any other trouble, and not a single strange word came out of her sarcastic mouth.

Keisuke Ao smiled, indicating that Ai Komatsu didn't need to be nervous.

"Senior Komatsu, we have received your request to our club. We invited you out today as part of considering your request, and also to learn more about the relevant details."

"Okay." Ai Komatsu looked at Keisuke Ao's captivating face and tried to calm herself down.

She had prepared for today's topic in advance, after all, she was already fed up with the warning letter and probably had a lot to say.

"If your company is willing to help resolve this issue, we would be extremely grateful!"

Hoshino glared at Aokiji with displeasure, clearly annoyed that he had stolen her thunder, but because Aokiji was absolutely right, she held back her anger.

Quietly cultivating members' awareness of taking the initiative to communicate is not a bad idea.

With a slight correction, it should be excellent.

Of course, when it comes to the important matters of club activities, she has to make the decisions herself.

She tapped the table with her finger, her indifferent gaze sweeping over Keisuke Ao and Ai Komatsu.

"First, I need to confirm with you whether you understand our company's rules for making wishes."

"...Yes." Ai Komatsu shrank her neck slightly. "But could you please tell me what the price will be if I make this wish?"

"I will make a decision after I understand the whole situation," Fujiko Hoshino said directly. "Of course, you will have one last chance to refuse after you learn the cost."

"Is that so..."

Ai Komatsu breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. Before sending the letter, she had already inquired about many rumors about "P-Company", but if she could refuse in the end, it wouldn't be a big deal.

Upon hearing this, Keisuke Ao couldn't help but glance at Miss Hoshino—she only said that she had given them a chance to refuse, but she didn't say that her club wouldn't take any other actions, right?

This woman... she's made it so obvious, yet Ai Komatsu still hasn't realized the trap hidden beneath these generous conditions.

He doesn't seem very smart.

Without the contract of desire binding her, who knows what kind of pleasure-seeking criminal this young lady would become?

Fortunately, that's what he was hoping for.

Aokiji's smile grew even gentler, and passersby outside the shop window stopped to look at his smile.

Hoshino Fujiko glared at her with a terrifying look: "Don't give that lewd smile."

Komatsu Ai wanted to stand up for Keisuke Ao. He was smiling so handsomely, how could Hoshino-kun target Keisuke like this!

President Hoshino then laughed as well.

—A thoroughly sarcastic laugh.

She took a notebook out of her bag and placed it in front of Keisuke Ao, indicating that he should write down what they were talking about.

"Alright, let's get straight to the point, the first question."

After the coffee was served, Hoshino used all the polite patience, even though everyone was watching her expression, but she herself never cared about that.

Of course, this includes everyone except for Keisuke Ao.

Komatsu Ai nervously took a sip of coffee, subconsciously straightening her posture as if she were having a three-way conversation with a third-grader.

"Why did you choose to ask us for help after something like this happened?" Fujiko Hoshino's question was as direct as ever.

"Um……"

Xiaosong Ai hugged the cup and shrank back on the cushion behind her, feeling somewhat uncomfortable, but still answered, "Although I don't know who it is, I feel that the person who did this must be someone I know, so I don't want to make things completely irreversible."

The academic pressure in the third year of high school is immense, and the brass band is also aiming for the national competition... At this crucial juncture, whoever did this, I don't want to shatter everyone's lives."

Several names of people she suspected flashed through her mind, but she didn't mention them in the end.

Hoshino Fujiko nodded noncommittally, glanced sideways at Ao Keisuke, and noticed that he had quickly and concisely memorized the answer to the question, so she felt relieved.

Aside from the constant disrespectful thoughts in his mind, Qing Keijie's strong execution ability was a relief to the young lady, showing that she had truly been trained by Qing Keijie.

At least it's not just a nuisance.

"I understand what you mean, senior," she said. "If things progress further, we'll consider that too."

"That's great." Komatsu Ai breathed a sigh of relief.

"Second question: Who has Senior Xiaosong suspected in the past month? Please tell us the reasons and results in detail."

"this……"

Upon hearing this, Aokiji couldn't help but give his boss a look: Is this how you always ask about things?

Fujiko Hoshino ignored him.

"Please understand, I just believe in efficiency." She made up a lie on the spot.

"I understand! I will cooperate with Hoshino-kun's investigation in order to find out the truth!"

As Ai Komatsu said this, far more names than before surfaced in her mind, and a completely different side of her personality was freely expressing her emotions.

Hoshino Fujiko looked at her calmly, listening to all the unbearable sounds.

Komatsu Ai began to speak in a low voice, handing over her suspects one by one to Ao Keisuke to write down.

The scorching afternoon sun seemed unable to penetrate this shop window.

Keisuke Ao's writing is quite cold, and beneath Ai Komatsu's widely respected and popular aura, it seems that not everything is a bright and beautiful flower.

The boys' jealousy, the girls' envy, the competition in academics, and even the competition for seats in clubs are all laid bare before the two of them through Ai Komatsu's descriptions.

—That's really something.

Keisuke Ao tried his best to make his smile look sympathetic and regretful.

This became genuine after he looked at Hoshino Fujiko for a few more seconds.

Only the object of the smile has changed.

President Hoshino, who had been calm and composed, gradually darkened his expression—as if he were sympathizing with poor Ai Komatsu.

Seeing this, Ai Komatsu was also inspired to confide in the two of them.

Amidst a delightful misunderstanding, the answer to this question gradually became the starting point for Paradox Interactive's latest club activity.

The list of those who had doubts, along with the related events, filled three whole pages.

As Aoki Keisuke wrote further, he felt a bit bored, so he wrote three paragraphs on the lower side:

"So-called starlight,

The coldest to the bone,

And also the brightest and most captivating.

After finishing writing, Hoshino Fujiko softly asked her third question:

"Senior Komatsu, in that case, if the real culprit is caught, how do you plan to punish him?"

Although she was asking about Ai Komatsu, her cold eyes were actually looking at Keisuke Ao.