My deskmate is actually my yandere reader.

"I'll find a guesthouse; that's the only option."

Kurose Izumi's plan is to go to Chiyoda Ward to look for an apartment after school tomorrow, and start moving the day after tomorrow.

As for things from my hometown...

Anyway, there's nothing important, so just take away the computer, clothes, and the like.

"Are you a minor? We won't let you stay here."

"Uh... I'll give it a try, otherwise I can't exactly sleep on a park bench, can I?"

"Why don't you stay at my place for one night?" Shiraishi Chiren suddenly suggested. "I live alone, so it's no problem for me to let you stay for one night."

"ah?!"

Kurose Izumi was startled, and then quickly shook her head: "How can a man and a woman be alone in a room together?"

"...Kurose-kun, do you think what you're saying is convincing?"

Shiraishi Chiren looked at Kurose Izumi with disdain, making him feel awkward.

Indeed, he and "Kushiki Touko" lived together for almost four days. Now, saying that "it's not good for a man and a woman to live together alone" is a contradiction, isn't it?

Although it was forced, the fact is that we lived together for four days.

Moreover, Shiraishi Chiren has already given her permission, so it's really unreasonable for him, a grown man, to still be hesitating.

"...Alright, if you don't mind letting me stay for the night, then please."

And so, Kurose Izumi followed Shiraishi Chiren to the residence near Waseda Toyama Park.

Little did he know, he had fallen into a carefully laid trap...

-

"Sorry to bother you."

Upon entering the foyer, Kurose Izumi greeted everyone somewhat reservedly before glancing around at the interior.

This room is quite spacious, with a living room, balcony, a bedroom, a separate kitchen, a storage room, and a bathroom.

Living here alone is truly luxurious.

Moreover, every part of the room was very clean, and there was a faint, pleasant fragrance in the air.

As Izumi Kurose looked around, her gaze inadvertently drifted to the balcony, but she immediately looked away, her expression somewhat guilty.

There were things there that he shouldn't have seen!

It was a pair of pure white panties and a bra with intricate patterns around the edges, resembling ruffles, along with casual clothes.

After putting down her schoolbag and sitting down on a single sofa, Shiraishi Chiren said, "Kurose-san, please make yourself at home."

"Oh, thank you."

Kurose Izumi sat down awkwardly on another sofa, already starting to fidget.

This is, after all, a girl's home!

Moreover, this girl was his deskmate, the school beauty, and also a proud and aloof ace pilot!

Countless men on campus have pursued Shiraishi Chiren, but they have all been ruthlessly rejected!

Right now, he—Kurose Izumi—is living in the home of such a being.

If those people found out, they would curse him every day and glare at him with sharp, murderous eyes!

While he was lost in thought, Shiraishi Chiren took out two teacups, casually filled them with about eight-tenths full of plain water, and said:

"Kurose-kun, I have a suggestion for you. Would you like to hear it?"

"You said."

"Now that you've escaped, the person who imprisoned you will definitely be resentful. So I suggest you, as the author, post a statement on Twitter saying that you will change the ending. Maybe that will dissuade her from kidnapping you again."

"Ah, this..." Kurose Izumi looked troubled upon hearing this.

If he were to issue a statement on Twitter, wouldn't the original ending be cut short?

This is not the result he wanted!

His idea was to write an ideal ending for "Kuchiki Touko", but the ending released to the public was still a bad ending.

"Kurose-kun, this is the safest way. I'm just giving you a suggestion."

“I understand, but…” Kurose Izumi lowered her head, her face showing a hint of melancholy.

Even though no one accepted his ending, he still wanted to write it.

If the ending he had to announce to the public was a harem... to be honest, he was very unwilling.

In the later stages of writing "The Abyss of Youth," my personal thoughts were completely incorporated, and it had nothing to do with anything else.

Success and failure both stem from this.

Everyone was tormented by the story, yet it still sold incredibly well. The fact that people watched it while criticizing it proves that the plot was well-written.

Despite its problems, it has won people's hearts, hasn't it?

He couldn't suddenly change the ending.

And this was precisely Shiraishi Chiren's original purpose.

She wanted the ending to be published to be her own version, not the original one, which is why she meticulously planned it.

Only by appearing before Izumi Kurose under the identities of "Chire Shiraishi" and "Kikyo Shiraishi" could one possibly persuade him to change the ending.

It's impossible that she would actually force Izumi Kurose to make a statement, right?

Given that, Izumi Kurose would most likely rather die than comply.

He is cautious but principled, and surprisingly stubborn in some ways.

It was precisely because Shiraishi Chiren understood this that she made "Kushiki Touko" disappear.

"Kurose-kun, it's up to you. I can accept whatever ending you announce."

As Shiraishi Chiren spoke softly, her gaze suddenly softened, as if she felt indignant about the injustice of Kurose Izumi's forced alteration of the ending.

—At least, that's what Kurose Izumi meant.

"Thank you, thank you for everything, Shiraishi-kun."

Kurose Izumi was suddenly moved, feeling a pang of sadness in her heart, as if something was about to burst forth.

However, it was forcibly suppressed.

"It's okay, you think about it by yourself first. I'll go cook? Although it might not taste very good."

"How could I trouble you? Let's go out to eat," Kurose Izumi quickly said.

"It's okay. Food can easily spoil if it's kept in the refrigerator for too long."

"Alright, then I'll leave it to you..."

So, Shiraishi Chiren opened the refrigerator, took the ingredients into the kitchen, and began to process them with slightly clumsy technique.

The image she needs to project now cannot resemble "Kushiki Fuyuko"; it must be distinctly different!

Whether it's the wording, demeanor, actions, or any other aspect, there must be differences!

"Kushiki Touko" likes black and sweets, so she likes white—the things on the balcony are intentional.

As for taste, moderate is fine; I won't reveal whether I'm a sweet tooth or a savory tooth.

When cooking, Shiraishi Chiren deliberately made the food much worse, achieving only an average level of quality.

After all, she lives alone, and her image is that of aloof and proud. If she couldn't cook, it would be a bit out of character for her.

So—she has to know how to do it, but her skill level is just average!

Tonight's dinner is a simple meal: pan-fried salmon, clam and tofu miso soup, pickled plums, and rice balls.

As for the taste...

"Not bad, much tastier than what I make."

Kurose Izumi took a rice ball, ate it, and nodded indifferently.

These past few days, his palate has been spoiled by "Kushiki Touko," so he finds this kind of food bland and tasteless.

'If Shiraishi-san hadn't found me, I'd probably be having dinner with her right now, right?'

'I wonder what she's doing now, and how she'll react when she sees I'm not here...'

22. Kurose-kun, can you wear my clothes?

"I'm glad you don't mind."

Chire Shiraishi held the rice ball in both hands and ate it with gusto, looking rather adorable.

At least in Izumi Kurose's eyes, she was quite cute.

At school, Shiraishi Chire always appears aloof and unapproachable, but in private, she also has a normal side.

'Is this what they call the "gap moe" (a Japanese term for endearing contrast between a person's appearance and their perceived lack of charm)?'

He thought to himself.

After the meal, Izumi Kurose offered to help clean up and wash the dishes.

Shiraishi Chiren didn't refuse and followed him to tidy up, going into the kitchen.

They stood side by side by the reservoir, washing dishes and talking:

"Thank you so much for your help today, Shiraishi-kun. I'll be leaving tomorrow."

"It's alright. After all, you're my favorite novelist, and I'll help you if you have any difficulties."

"?!"

Kurose Izumi's hands, which were washing dishes, paused for a moment.