My deskmate is actually my yandere reader.

But what he didn't know was that he would soon come to understand the true meaning of those words.

……

After returning home, Shiraishi Chiren went to her room to pack her clothes and take a shower, while Kurose Izumi made a phone call to Hirasawa Masato to explain the situation.

"Is that so... Then I'll go find Captain Kurosaki after school tomorrow afternoon and ask him to give up on Tsuda."

Hirasawa Masato's tone wasn't particularly excited; it had a calmness that seemed expected.

After all, we're all men.

The fact that Kurosaki Tetsuya turned down Tsuda Yoshi's invitation to have dinner with other girls speaks volumes.

Furthermore, this girl is not the same one I met at the barbecue restaurant last time.

"Can you manage on your own? Would he be willing?"

"Don't worry, this is my business. Izumi, you've helped me enough. Just leave the rest to me."

"Okay, if you need any help, just let me know."

After a brief chat, Kurose Izumi hung up the phone and sat on the sofa in the living room, looking thoughtful.

He was thinking that if Hirasawa Masato went, he would most likely end up arguing with Kurosaki Tetsuya.

At that point, it might escalate from a verbal argument into a violent incident.

After all, when it comes to love, men have an instinctive, bloodthirsty nature and are easily swayed.

As Izumi Kurose pondered these things, the bathroom door opened, and Chire Shiraishi, dressed in a shirt and shorts, stepped out.

She brushed her wet hair aside, walked over to Izumi Kurose, and asked softly, "Izumi, what are you thinking about?"

Kurose Izumi, who was deep in thought, was immediately brought back to her senses by the gentle voice beside her.

He looked up at Shiraishi Chiren and smiled, "It's nothing, I was just wondering if I should go with Zhenwu tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Shiraishi Chiren did not answer his question, but instead asked, "Izumi, could you help me dry my hair?"

"Okay, sit down, I'll go get the hairdryer."

"Okay, I'll wait for you." Shiraishi Chiren nodded and sat down on the sofa.

Kurose Izumi got up and went back to the bedroom. After taking out the hair dryer, she sat down next to Shiraishi Chire and started drying her hair.

He held strands of her hair, still damp with moisture, in his hands, and with each breath, the fragrance of Shiraishi Chirei's hair filled his nostrils.

As he patiently dried his hair, Shiraishi Chiren suddenly spoke up: "If you're worried about Hirasawa-kun, I have a plan. Would you like to hear it?"

"Well, you said."

"Tomorrow, Hirasawa-kun will go to see Captain Kurosaki. There's bound to be an argument and a fight, right?"

"Yes."

Arguments were inevitable.

Since Kurosaki Tetsuya dared to do such a thing, and even boasted about it on Twitter, he certainly wouldn't think he did anything wrong. Instead, he would blame Hirasawa Masato for ruining his plans.

In that case, the task becomes very simple.

That is--

“Inari is in the same class as Tsuda. I will have Inari call Tsuda over so that we can hear their conversation and let Tsuda see the true colors of Captain Kurosaki.”

"That way, we can improve Hirasawa's impression on her, right?"

The method to deal with Hirasawa Masato is not to use force, because of his special status. If something happens to him, the entire Tokyo will be turned upside down.

Therefore, after everything is over, Shiraishi Chiren plans to take the initiative to find Hirasawa Shinbu and confess that she is Kuchiki Touko.

Then, he would say that Kurose Izumi owed him a favor, and that he was already dating Kurose Izumi, so if he didn't want Kurose Izumi to be sad, he should keep this secret.

Although Hirasawa Masato might not acknowledge her favor, he would certainly consider the relationship between Shiraishi Chiren and Kurose Izumi.

It's also impossible that they wouldn't consider whether Kurose Izumi would break down if they told the truth.

It's a big gamble.

But Shiraishi Chiren had no choice but to gamble.

Moreover, she was confident she could win the gamble.

She will persuade Hirasawa Masato, show him her determination, and prove to him her feelings for Kurose Izumi.

In this way, Hirasawa Shinbu would compromise and obediently keep the secret.

This is good for everyone.

……

Before she knew it, Kurose Izumi had blow-dried Shiraishi Chire's hair until it was half dry, and her once wet hair became smooth again.

He turned off the hairdryer and said, "I think this is a good idea. It will allow Tsuda to hear the truth and see that Shinbu is working hard for her."

"Okay, that's settled then. I'll have Inari call Tsuda over tomorrow."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Qianlian."

"If you want to express your gratitude, please use something else instead."

"...It's a little embarrassing to suddenly say you like something like that."

"Should we break the contract? We clearly agreed on this."

Shiraishi Chiren looked at Kurose Izumi, who had turned her head away and dared not look at her, and a sly smile appeared on her face.

Kurose Izumi remained silent for a long while before finally saying in a barely audible voice, "...I like it."

"Hmm? Who do you like?"

"Qian Lian."

"Connect them."

"I like you, Qianlian."

"I didn't hear it."

"...I'm going to take a shower."

Finally, Kurose Izumi fled back to the master bedroom, grabbed his clothes, and crawled into the bathroom to escape the embarrassing scene.

Actually, he wasn't embarrassed to say he liked her; he was just afraid that he might end up kissing her while saying it.

If it's just a kiss, that's fine, but I'm afraid it might go on and on...

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

Izumi Kurose, soaking in the bathtub, suddenly shook her head, banishing the distracting thoughts and fantasies from her mind.

He understood that he was now living with Shiraishi Chiren, and he had to be careful to maintain proper boundaries.

Besides, they've only been dating for a few days. Wouldn't it be inappropriate for things to progress too quickly?

Normally, things like dating and kissing would take two or three weeks for a couple in love, right?

They finished it in a day, practically at the speed of light!

After taking a shower, Kurose Izumi and Shiraishi Chire, as usual, studied and did their homework together, and then played some games or visual novels.

At 10:30, the day ended, and everyone went back to their rooms to sleep.

Standing in the hallway in front of the door, Izumi Kurose and Chire Shiraishi stood facing each other, gazing at one another.

Goodnight, Qianlian.

After saying goodnight, Kurose Izumi reached out and turned the doorknob of the master bedroom, intending to go back to her room to sleep.

But at that moment, Shiraishi Chiren grabbed his hand and said, "Goodnight, shouldn't there be a goodnight kiss?"

"..."

Kurose Izumi looked troubled, wondering if he would sleep tonight if he gave her a goodnight kiss.

But there was no way he could refuse his lovely girlfriend's request!

So, Kurose Izumi turned around, cupped Shiraishi Chire's face in her hands, and kissed her cheek.

Then, taking advantage of the moment when Shiraishi Chiren, who had her eyes closed, was startled by the touch on her cheek, he dashed into the master bedroom and closed the door.

Goodnight, Qianlian. That's all for today! Please forgive me!

From behind the door, a hurried, slightly apologetic voice drifted out.

100. Questioning Tetsuya Kurosaki

The following day, during lunch break, inside the Animal Research Department.

Today, the motion research department gathered four people for the first time—the other being Hirasawa Masatake.

As for why he was here, it was Kurose Izumi who asked him to come, the reason being to hold a strategy meeting after school.

He had already told Hirazawa Shinbu about Shiraishi Chiren's suggestion when he arrived at school this morning.

Hirasawa Shinbu also thought it was a good idea, a very good plan.

Moreover, Inari Yuki and Tsuda Yoshi are not only classmates, but also friends!

"Inari-kun, it's nice to see you again." Hirasawa Shinbu greeted Inari Yuki with a smile.

"Yes, yes! We meet again." Inari Yuki nodded her little head vigorously, looking a little reserved.

After all, the three people here were her seniors, and they had such a good relationship with each other.

"We meet again?" Kurose Izumi looked surprised. "Have you met before?"

"I just met her yesterday. Inari-kun was there during the social gathering, so we got to know each other."

"Oh, that's great. Inari friends are relatively few, so it's a good thing to be able to become friends with her. She'll definitely be very happy."

"Kurose-senpai!"

Inari Yuki, who was listening to the conversation between the two, cried out in shame and indignation after hearing Kurose Izumi's words.