Tokyo Soft Rice King.

They're obviously here to cause trouble.

Kuroba Akira also remembered this boy; he was also a member of the popular group in Class 1-1 and the most active boy in the class.

By observing the students' positions in the classroom during breaks, it becomes clear that the distribution of 'popularity' within the class is different.

The area where Kuroba Akira was located was like an isolated zone, deserted and ignored. Other small groups were evenly distributed around the perimeter like planets orbiting a star, while the central area of ​​the classroom behind Anri Hitomi was the liveliest place in the class.

A lively group of boys and girls were laughing and joking around, occasionally exchanging meaningless chatter like "Hey~ buddy?" "Red bean paste?" "Oh, Moses Roy!" But it always managed to elicit cheerful laughter, filling the classroom with a joyful atmosphere.

This boy is the key figure among them. It is probably because of his class status and influence that he is able to prevent others from joining the arts and literature department.

He told his friends things like, "I've got my eye on Anri Hitomi, you're not allowed to make a move," so everyone in the class knew he liked Anri Hitomi. He didn't join the literature club to avoid getting into trouble for himself.

The boy had dyed his hair blonde and was rather handsome. He seemed like a sunny and cheerful young man who knew how to make girls happy, but Kuroba Akira still didn't know his name.

However, he still had some impression of this boy.

When Anri Hitomi ran for class monitor, he was the first to vote and actively campaigned for her. As a result, she was elected class monitor without any suspense. Although Kuroba Akira felt that Anri Hitomi would still be elected class monitor without him.

And when Kobayakawa-sensei asked everyone to applaud for Kuroba Akira, after the class president applauded first, he was the first to respond, even whistling and cheering. He certainly wasn't really concerned about Kuroba Akira, but rather wanted to leave a good impression on the class president.

Therefore, Kuroba Akira considered him in his heart as the 'class president's number one sycophant'.

I'm the fake dog, you're the real dog.

Chapter Forty-Four: Who Are You to Me?

To be honest, Kuroba Akira didn't want to have a conflict with him; just thinking about it was troublesome.

This kind of well-known blond guy must have a bunch of good brothers. Going against him is like going against a whole group of people.

Threats, exclusion, bullying... to be honest, none of that matters. Kuroba Akira just doesn't want to waste his energy and time on such childish things. Making money is the most important thing right now.

But since I've already accepted the class monitor's commission and promised to resolve the personnel crisis in the arts department, I should do something practical since I'm obligated to do what she says.

At this point, Akira Kuroba finally understood why the class president had brought him the bento box.

You want me to deal with this simp, right?

As expected, living off a woman isn't so easy; if you want to eat a bento box, you have to deal with the guys who come to 'steal' your food first.

Thinking of this, Huang Mao also walked to the vicinity of Kuroba Akira's desk, but because Anri Hitomi stood next to Kuroba Akira's seat as if protecting him, blocking his way, he could not get any closer.

He glanced at Anri Hitomi with a complicated expression, then pointed at Kuroba Akira and said.

"Hey, you, come out with me for a bit."

It sounds like the tone of a delinquent thug challenging someone to a fight.

Once we get out there, it'll probably come to blows.

Ugh, I don't want to fight, I'm afraid of getting hurt.

So Kuroba Akira started picking his ear with his little finger while acting like a scoundrel.

"What? You want to confess your feelings to me? I'm sorry, my sexual orientation is normal, I have no interest in that kind of thing..."

Fujiyoshi looked at Kuroba Akira in disbelief. Not only was he not flustered at all, but he was even lying through his teeth. Was he really not afraid of getting beaten up?

"Kuroba-kun is amazing..." Fujiyoshi Michio, who was usually timid, looked at Kuroba Akira with a newfound respect.

Kuroba Akira's words successfully provoked the other party, causing the blond-haired man's anger to rise even higher.

"No! I want to talk to you about something else!"

"No, it's lunchtime now, and I'm hungry. I want to go eat lunch first."

How dare you eat?! I'm so angry I'm about to burst!

Huang Mao was getting really anxious. He couldn't just drag this shameless guy out in front of his classmates; the teacher would definitely find out, and he might even be suspended...

Suspending his studies was an outcome he could not accept.

However, he was unwilling to see the opportunity he had painstakingly created be snatched away by others.

Where did this guy come from?! Why did he join the Literature Club first?! And it was Xiaotong who personally invited him!

"By the way, who are you? Tell me your name first, okay?"

Huang Mao took a deep breath, suppressing his urge to explode, and with the last bit of patience, said his name and his purpose.

“...My name is Sumitomo Ryota. I just want to know how you got into the Literature Club.”

Ryota Sumitomo, Akira Kuroba memorized his name.

Kuroba Akira initially only had the impression of him as a sycophant, but now, seeing that Kuroba could suppress his anger and speak to him properly in the face of his shamelessness, his opinion of him has changed slightly.

It seems he's not just some toad dreaming of eating swan meat.

Moreover, you can't call him a toad just by looking at his face. Sumitomo Ryota is definitely an 85 out of 100 handsome guy, not as evil and lewd as the blond guy in erotic comics.

However, it's not that being handsome guarantees a girl's affection. In fact, sometimes being too handsome can create a sense of distance and unapproachability.

Murasaki no Miyako is the best proof of this; she is so beautiful that no one can bring themselves to defile her.

Therefore, the top male escort is not necessarily the most handsome, but he is definitely the most eloquent and the best at manipulating people's hearts.

Kuroba Akira considered himself to have fairly regular features, and as long as he could keep his expression straight, he could be considered somewhat handsome.

In other words, if he doesn't speak, he can barely be considered a handsome guy.

However, if he doesn't speak, he loses his biggest advantage. It's a pity he doesn't have the relevant proficiency in verbal sparring, otherwise he would at least be a level 3.

Moreover, there are different types of handsomeness. Some men are handsome in a reserved way, giving people a warm feeling, which is commonly known as a "warm man".

There are also obedient puppy types, irresistibly charming domineering CEO types, and the adorable, affectionate types, etc...

Kuroba Akira, on the other hand, belongs to the shameless type who just gives up.

"If you want to know this, you should ask the class monitor. What do you want with me?"

That's why he was able to say such things.

Before Sumitomo Ryota could escalate further, Anri Hitomi readily agreed to shift the 'hatred' onto herself.

"Kuroba-kun is right. We're about to go have lunch. Please don't cause trouble in the class, Sumitomo-kun."

"..."

When Sumitomo Ryota realized that Anri Hitomi was truly on Kuroba Akira's side, he broke down completely.

The reason he was so anxious that he came directly to the class was that he knew Anri Hitomi's bento wasn't made for the members of the Literature and Art Club at all.

Everyone in the class might think that Kuroba Akira's explanation was reasonable, but based on his understanding of Anri Hitomi, it was impossible for Anri Hitomi to make bento boxes for the members of the Literature Club.

It should be said that she would never cook for anyone.

Because Sumitomo Ryota knew that cooking was just a forced part of Asuri Hitomi's bridal training, a skill she practiced to gain 'bonuses' when she got married, and she never felt that cooking was a happy thing.

Therefore, Sumitomo Ryota arbitrarily believes that Anri Hitomi was forced to make bento boxes for Kuroba Akira.

Perhaps her parents have already arranged a fiancé for her... It shouldn't be like this! Xiaotong didn't do it willingly!

When a person falls into a cognitive bias, they will assume that what they think is the 'true situation', which caused Sumitomo Ryota to lose his temper and say things he shouldn't have.

"Xiaotong, please stop making lunchboxes for him!"

"..."

Then he saw Anri Hitomi's smile disappear.

He knew all too well what it meant when Anri Hitomi, who always wore a smile, saw that smile disappear from her face.

"Sumitomo, you've gone too far. Who I make lunch for is my business and has nothing to do with you. You're disturbing our lunch. Please leave us right now."

Oops, buddy, you've stepped on a landmine.

The class monitor seems genuinely angry.

Girls hate this kind of chauvinistic talk the most... Good luck, Ryota Sumitomo.

Kuroba Akira silently clasped his hands together in his heart and offered a prayer for him.

The class monitor continued to contribute.

"Who are you to me? Why should I obey you?"

Similar words came out of Anri Hitomi's mouth again, but their destructive power could not be compared with Kuroba Akira's shameless remarks.

This is a knife that pierces straight into your heart.

Clearly, this sentence caused great harm to Sumitomo Ryota. His face turned red, and he squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth.

"Ugh...! I'm yours...!"

He certainly wouldn't be so shameless as to say "boyfriend," because that was something he could never even dream of.

What he really meant was, "Friends."

But the word stuck in his throat, and he couldn't say it no matter what.

Can I still consider myself and Hitomi Anri as friends?

When we were little, we could have said without hesitation, "Friends! Best friends!"

But now, he's not sure.

At that moment, he realized that he and Anri Hitomi might not even be able to be friends anymore.

Chapter 45 Am I the Yellow Hair?

At this moment, everyone in the class was watching the spectacle. It was a love triangle, a chaotic love triangle, with two boys vying for one girl—it couldn't be more exciting.

Such a dramatic turn of events in an otherwise ordinary campus life is truly captivating.

Kuroba Akira was also watching the show from the sidelines.

He hadn't expected the class monitor to step in and solve the problem himself.

He initially thought he was being used as a pawn by the class monitor, but now it seems that she might just be trying to create a breakthrough and get a chance to completely reject Sumitomo Ryota.

Ryota Sumitomo was speechless, his face ashen, and he looked utterly dejected, as if he had been dumped.

With nowhere to vent his anger and unwilling to retreat in such a humiliating manner, he turned his attention to Kuroba Akira.

Kuroba Akira's indifferent attitude only made him more and more annoyed.

You're only able to act so confidently because you're certain that Xiaotong will step in to help you!