Stepping into the peak of summer, escaping into an air-conditioned library is a truly blissful experience.
Hoshino Jun certainly enjoyed the cool air conditioning during the heat.
But the delicate beauty sitting opposite him was clearly not feeling well.
"Vice Chairman, I wanted to ask, why do you insist on reading in the library?"
Hoshino Jun observed the steaming tea on the table and Saionji Ayako, wrapped in a white goose-down coat, behind it.
Though it was summer, she gave off a feeling of early winter.
"Don't say unnecessary things."
Saionji Ayako took a sip of hot tea, her pale fingers turning the page of "Pang Huang" in front of her, reading intently.
This was a book Hoshino Jun had borrowed, a pure Chinese edition, by Lu Xun, a great literary figure from a neighboring country.
The beauty read her favorite book with concentration, while Hoshino Jun intently watched the beauty. In the quiet library, the two seemed to form a picturesque scene.
Hoshino Jun let out a soft laugh: "I didn't expect Vice Chairman to actually understand it."
"That remark of yours is also quite unnecessary."
"How is it unnecessary?"
"If it's not unnecessary, do you think I'm a boring person who would put on airs and pretend to understand?" Saionji Ayako retorted.
Hoshino Jun shook his head, looking out the window, where he could see climbing ivy covering the walls on both sides of the path, glowing with a faint green light under the warm sun.
And Saionji Ryuichi, summoned by Hoshino Jun via text message, was walking towards that green light.
When he saw Hoshino Jun and Little Aunt Saionji Ayako sitting opposite each other, his mood brightened considerably.
'Hoshino Jun, this guy, he's not bad at all. He's consciously keeping his distance from Little Aunt.'
Just as this thought emerged, Saionji Ryuichi's brow furrowed instantly.
He saw Hoshino Jun's fingers, like a small person walking, slowly, slowly climbing onto Little Aunt's palm.
He squeezed it, then smiled.
It seemed he was deliberately provoking him.
"baka, what is this bastard doing? Is he going to break his promise?"
Saionji Ryuichi's anger surged. What he could least accept was anyone daring to defile his sacred Little Aunt.
Now, after accepting Kachiko as a gift, Hoshino Jun dared to place his sinful hand on Little Aunt's hand.
It was unforgivable.
"Hoshino Jun, you are looking for death!"
Hoshino Jun saw Saionji Ryuichi's fury, but he was contemptuous and disdainful.
"Ding!"
"Detected malicious insults from Saionji Ryuichi!"
"Choosing not to pursue will grant a C-rank Friendship Debt."
Hmm, a daily flirtation.
Acquired the eighteenth debt related to Saionji Ayako.
"It has been determined that Saionji Ryuichi is unable to repay this Friendship Debt. The debt has been automatically transferred to his aunt, 'Saionji Ayako'."
"Is it someone sent by the Chairwoman again?"
Her palm had been held the entire time, and even the cool literary beauty couldn't help but show a hint of unusual emotion in her gaze towards Hoshino Jun.
"No, I just felt Vice Chairman's hand was very cold and wanted to help warm it."
"Hm?"
Saionji Ayako frowned, about to withdraw her hand.
Hoshino Jun quickly changed his words, squeezing her hand that felt like ice: "Just kidding."
"Don't talk nonsense next time."
Clearly, Saionji Ayako was not a person who enjoyed jokes, and after some time spent together, Hoshino Jun felt that this outwardly delicate woman...
was actually colder than the seemingly icy Chairwoman.
The difficulty of capturing her was very high, but fortunately, Hoshino Jun's main target was not her; she was just an accessory.
On this bright summer noon, Hoshino Jun no longer disturbed Saionji Ayako's reading. He simply watched her serious expression quietly, his warm large hand melting the bone-chilling cold from her palm.
Only Saionji Ryuichi, not far behind them, grew increasingly anxious, staring intently at Hoshino Jun's hand, his back molars almost ground to dust.
"baka yarou, that should have been my seat, I should have been the one reading with Little Aunt."
"Hoshino Jun, what exactly are you up to?"
Saionji Ryuichi clenched his fists, cursing Hoshino Jun in a low voice, again and again.
He swore that if Hoshino Jun dared to break his promise, he would explain everything about Hoshino Jun and Takagi Kachiko to Yamada Kaoru.
Even if...
He had already registered his marriage with Takagi Kachiko today.
"You scoundrel, I will not let you off."
"This time, prepare to face my even more violent wrath."
"Ding!"
"Detected malicious insults from Saionji Ryuichi!"
"Choosing not to pursue will grant a C-rank Friendship Debt."
As the system prompted him again and again, Hoshino Jun seemed to hear Saionji Ryuichi's indignant voice ringing in his ears.
The more anxious and angry he became, the happier Hoshino Jun was.
From the moment he dared to threaten Hoshino Jun, Hoshino Jun would not let him have an easy time.
However, the time was not yet ripe, and the Sword of Damocles had not yet fallen.
"It has been determined that Saionji Ryuichi is unable to repay this Friendship Debt. The debt has been automatically transferred to his aunt, 'Saionji Ayako'."
After collecting the twentieth debt, Hoshino Jun released Saionji Ayako's hand.
"I'm going to the restroom."
"Mm."
Saionji Ayako glanced at him, a touch of unusual expression on her face, like spring melting snow.
"Remember to wash your hands."
"Pfft~!"
Hoshino Jun couldn't help but laugh: "You tell me not to joke, but Vice Chairman, you're quite humorous yourself."
Humorous?
Saionji Ayako's thin lips moved. She wanted to say that she wasn't joking.
She really would be disgusted.
Watching the boy's receding back, Saionji Ayako ultimately couldn't bring herself to utter such crude words as 'if you get pee on them, don't hold my hand'.
She lowered her head and continued reading, her gaze unconsciously darting a few times to the hand the boy had just held. The rare warmth still lingered on her hand.
A very comfortable temperature.
If only it could always be that warm.
"..."
The restroom seemed to have been sprayed with some special perfume, which effectively eliminated any unpleasant odors.
With the wind blowing in from the window, carrying the scents away, there was little difference between here and outside.
After Hoshino Jun entered the restroom, he simply washed his hands and then waited for Saionji Ryuichi, who had followed him in.
"baka yarou, what exactly do you want, you bastard!"
The enraged Saionji Ryuichi closed the restroom door, then fiercely grabbed Hoshino Jun's clothes and roared angrily.
"Ding!"
"Detected malicious bullying from Saionji Ryuichi!"
"Choosing not to pursue will grant a C-rank Friendship Debt."
"It's only C-rank, so I'll decline this time."
"What did you say?"
Before Saionji Ryuichi could react, a violent impact struck his abdomen. The intense pain almost paralyzed him, causing him to directly kneel before Hoshino Jun.
Before he could speak, Hoshino Jun pulled a letter from his pants pocket and forcefully slapped it across his face.
"What the hell do you want to do?"
Hoshino Jun squatted down, grabbing Saionji Ryuichi's hair:
"Didn't we talk nicely yesterday? And today you're going back on your word?"
"So you're playing with me, huh?"
Meeting Hoshino Jun's icy gaze, Saionji Ryuichi's anger gradually turned into bewilderment.
"What happened?"
"Why don't you look for yourself, you bastard, asking me?"
Hoshino Jun released him, pointing down at the letter on the ground, as if he were the bully tormenting a classmate.
Saionji Ryuichi, clutching his aching stomach, blinked innocently, then bent down to pick up the letter from the ground and slowly opened it.
Then his face instantly changed.
Because the content of this letter was identical to the one he had someone write yesterday to spread insults about Hoshino Jun, and several sentences in it were his own ideas, so he remembered them clearly.
"How could this be? I didn't do this."
"Not you?" Hoshino Jun said angrily: "If it's not you, then am I cursing myself, you damn idiot?"
"Oh, I get it. You want to be a fence-sitter, right? You want me to help your Little Aunt fight against your Great-Aunt, and you also want to help Yamada Tsukasa deal with me, right?"
"But have you ever considered that there's no such thing as a free lunch?"
"Did you think one Takagi Kachiko could control me?"
"I'm telling you, at most I'll make Yamada Kaoru cry one more time, but can you bear the pain of the Vice Chairman being captured by someone else?"
As Hoshino Jun spoke, his anger grew stronger and stronger. He slammed his fist against the wall, and the plaster instantly fell to the floor.
Saionji Ryuichi watched, his heart pounding, his hand holding the letter trembling.
"I really didn't, I really didn't put this letter there, I swear, okay?"
"Not really you?" Hoshino Jun's expression was cold.
Saionji Ryuichi was as humble as a grandson, repeatedly agreeing: "It's really not me, I'm not a pig, how could I not know what's more important?"
The summer wind was silent for a moment.
When it blew again, Hoshino Jun took a deep breath, then once again put his hands into the sink to wash them.
"It's best if it's not you. If you want to mess with me, I'll mess with you first."
"My actions towards Vice Chairman outside just now were a warning to you. If I find you not following the rules, don't blame me for breaking my word."
Casually shaking off the water droplets, Hoshino Jun left the restroom expressionlessly, not even sparing a glance for Saionji Ryuichi, who was kneeling on the floor.
"baka, damn Yamada Tsukasa, he actually didn't trust me and found other people to do these petty tricks."
Saionji Ryuichi stood up, trembling, cursing somewhat exasperatedly:
"I already said to leave everything to me. Since you don't trust me, then don't blame me for not treating you like a brother."
Today, it could be considered a blessing in disguise, perhaps.
If not for Hoshino Jun's outburst this time, he wouldn't have known that Yamada Tsukasa, that scoundrel, was also secretly plotting against his own cousin.
In comparison, although Hoshino Jun had a bit of a temper, at least he kept his promises and didn't do anything excessive to Little Aunt.
Every time he thought of Hoshino Jun's face, Saionji Ryuichi was afraid, afraid that Little Aunt might really be won over by him.
To him, Little Aunt was the goddess who brought him the only ray of light, the most important person in the world.
Her importance even surpassed his parents.
Saionji Ryuichi didn't care who Hoshino Jun went after; he might even be excited.
But Little Aunt absolutely could not be defiled by anyone.
Even if, deep down, Saionji Ryuichi had an indescribable point of excitement, he could suppress it for Little Aunt.
"Damn it, that bastard Hoshino Jun seems genuinely angry. He hits hard, my stomach hurts so much."
"Later, I'll have Kachiko go apologize to him."
"As for Yamada Tsukasa, you just wait. This punch I took today, I'm counting it against you."
Inside the library, the sound of turning pages continued as usual.
Hoshino Jun took a deep breath, adjusted his facial expression, and walked towards his seat with a somewhat dejected look.
The cool Vice Chairman still sat by the window, the breeze entering through the window, stirring her dark long hair. In the quiet environment, she was like a flawless goddess.
Pure, elegant.
Noble in temperament.
When Hoshino Jun looked at her, there was no impetuous youthful spirit, only a lingering appreciation for beauty.
If only she were a little more foolish.
Preferably as easy to deceive as that simpleton Saionji Ryuichi; he believed him just by giving him a letter from yesterday.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Saionji Ayako noticed the newcomer's dejection and couldn't help but ask curiously.
Hoshino Jun shook his head and chuckled: "Nothing."
Saionji Ayako's gaze fell on Hoshino Jun's clearly tugged collar: "Did you get into a tussle with someone sent by the Chairwoman?"
"If I said yes, would Chairwoman help me?"
"No."
"Then that question is very boring." Hoshino Jun mimicked her tone and laughed.
"If they think you're not intimate enough, you can sit closer."
"Ah?"
Hoshino Jun's expression froze, looking at Saionji Ayako in disbelief.
Her face remained the same calm and cool expression, without the slightest change.
"Anyway, to fool the Chairwoman's eyes, some relatively intimate actions will happen sooner or later, so I don't care. But if you don't want to, then forget it."
Willing.
Too willing.
Hoshino Jun coughed lightly, and said earnestly: "Then I shall accept with gratitude."
"Oh, it's Hoshino-kun! May I sit next to you?"
Just as Hoshino Jun was about to stand up, a cute girl in a pleated skirt suddenly entered his line of sight, smiling sweetly at Hoshino Jun.
'Hoshino-kun, when you weren't replying to my messages, you were actually getting cozy with so many beautiful girls.'
'You're not being good, are you?'
Kato Nana's smile was very, very sweet, but for Hoshino Jun, it wasn't sweet at the right time.
Just as he was about to hint for Kato Nana to leave, Kato Nana, without waiting for permission, plopped down beside him.
And her soft little hand directly reached for Hoshino Jun's thigh.
Attempting to unbuckle his belt.