Akira, silenced by the Class Rep's continuous barrage of benefits, not only didn't show excitement but instead sighed.
He admitted that these benefits were all very attractive. If Akira were truly a fifteen-year-old boy, he would surely be nodding vigorously by now, completely hooked.
Unfortunately, his mental age had to be multiplied by two; he was no longer innocent.
Even if it was good intentions, he would be suspicious.
"Is the Literary Club that important? Worth you investing so much?"
"The Literary Club is very important, but precisely because it's Kuroba-kun, I will go all out to invite you to join."
"Ha…"
Akira sighed again. The Class Rep's words were full of emphasis on Akira, but they only made him smile bitterly.
Because he knew very well that behind sweet words lay only self-interest.
Ordinary students might not have much on their minds, but clearly, Anri Hitomi was much more mature than her peers, and her words were all highly purposeful.
Talking with the Class Rep was quite interesting; she probably didn't have any ill intentions, she just excelled at reading people and would say pleasant things to cater to others.
But this kind of conversation style, which included emotional manipulation, made Akira uncomfortable. It reminded him of his black-hearted boss from his previous life, who spoke more beautifully than singing but would still turn his back on you in the end.
"Class Rep, you don't need to say such flattering words to me anymore. Others might feel good hearing them, but for me, they only have the opposite effect."
"…"
Instantly, the atmosphere seemed to change.
Even though it was a hot summer day, Akira felt a chill run down his spine.
Akira tilted his head in confusion and saw the Class Rep, standing in front of the vending machine, lower her head. The shadow of her bangs covered her face, making her expression unclear.
"Class Rep?"
"It's really hot today."
She looked up again, a smile still on her face. However, Akira noticed that her current smile was more formulaic than before, like the business smile of a convenience store cashier, devoid of any emotion.
Anri Hitomi pulled out a black-and-white striped coin purse from her pocket, took out a folded, brand-new one-thousand-yen bill, and inserted it. The indicator light was already on, but she didn't select any drink.
"Kuroba, the Literary Club is my only place to breathe, so I don't want it to disappear."
The Class Rep's address for Akira suddenly changed from '-kun' to '-san,' which perhaps indicated that she had dropped her pretense and was no longer deliberately trying to please Akira.
And she also directly stated her reason for painstakingly working for the Literary Club.
It seemed that while Anri Hitomi had no academic pressure, she had pressure from other areas.
Akira guessed it was mostly from her family. After all, teenagers at this age are in their rebellious phase, probably fighting and having conflicts with their parents, feeling like they no longer have a place in their homes.
If the Class Rep weren't an honor student but a delinquent girl, she might have run away from home on the spot.
However, Anri Hitomi, who was more mature than her peers, ultimately couldn't be completely willful and chose to hide her emotions, instead finding a place to breathe at High School, which was the Literary Club.
That's why she valued the Literary Club's existence so much.
In short, it was the troubles of a teenage girl.
Although he had guessed almost everything, Akira didn't bring it up because he wasn't very keen on getting involved in her family issues.
Every family has its own difficulties, and outsiders cannot interfere, and it's best not to.
"Currently, all the Literary Club members are girls. They are all good kids and can get along with me naturally, so I don't want them to be exposed to danger."
"Oh, oh…"
Akira responded distractedly, the high temperature already close to making his brain shut down.
And to be honest, he had no interest in student interpersonal relationships whatsoever.
After all, as someone who had been there before, Akira knew very well that even the best friends during student days would gradually lose touch after graduation due to busy lives.
In the end, everyone would still become strangers… That's why he felt it didn't matter to be alone.
Suddenly, he felt a strong pull, and his entire body was yanked out of the side shadow of the vending machine, stumbling several steps before steadying himself without falling.
It was the Class Rep. She had directly grabbed Akira's collar and pulled him in front of her.
In the extremely close eye contact, Akira's first thought was… her eyelashes were so long.
The girl's exhaled breath brushed across his face, feeling ticklish.
He seemed to smell a faint floral scent. Was this the legendary natural body odor of a High School girl?
That thought was too virgin-like; it should just be the smell of shampoo.
"Hoo—!"
"Ugh! My eyes!"
Anri Hitomi puffed out her cheeks and blew a breath towards Akira's face. The floral scent rushed over, filling his nasal cavity, but Akira's delicate eyeballs couldn't withstand the impact of the airflow.
He squeezed his eyes shut tightly, and the stinging sensation made tears well up in the corners of his eyes.
"Please listen to me carefully."
"I am listening! Don't launch a surprise attack!"
"Then listen carefully. I don't want any disgusting scumbags whose brains are occupied by their reproductive organs, or any vile, lowly sluts, approaching my adorable club members with their dirty thoughts. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"..."
When Akira reluctantly reopened his eyes, he saw Anri Hitomi's ruthless face, no longer adorned with a smile.
Wow, such a terrifying gaze… Even the curve of her lips had vanished.
If the Class President until just now was a gentle and lovely Princess, the current Class President was a venom-tongued, sadistic Queen.
"If you heard me, please answer my question. You said you weren't mute, Kuroba."
"Yes! I understand completely! Class President!"
"Very good."
Anri Hitomi released her hand, helped Akira straighten his collar, then raised her hand to caress his cheek, wiping away the tears from the corners of his eyes with her thumb, and also using her palm to wipe away the sweat beads from his forehead.
After doing all this, Anri Hitomi took a step back and spoke as if nothing had happened.
"Then let's continue our discussion, Kuroba-kun."
The address had reverted to Kuroba-kun, and the smile on her face had returned, but a strong impression was already seared into Akira's mind.
It's best not to defy the Class President… Becoming her enemy would lead to a very miserable death.
Akira wasn't truly afraid of a High School girl, but her sudden change of demeanor made him take things seriously.
"Class President, you don't want boys with impure intentions joining the Literary Club, so were those words just now a test?"
"The testing part was already over. When Kuroba-kun refused my underwear, I already knew that Kuroba-kun was a pervert with good boundaries."
"A pervert with good boundaries" – what kind of strange evaluation is that…
In short, it means he gained the Class President's trust, right?
Because of that trust, she invited Akira.
Since it was an exchange of benefits based on trust, for Akira, this was a 'business transaction.'
So, since it's a transaction…
"Then let's talk about the reward."