Amasawa ichika's POV

If I may, I would like to pose an interesting question:

What would you do if your rival seized your prey like a hostage within a castle?

Imagine with me the following scenario: You're standing far away from an enemy castle, on your base. There is a considerable distance between you two, and you're exchanging glares with their leader.

You cannot come any closer since constant surveillance surrounds you. You also cannot flee, since you must retrieve the hostage they've taken.

So what would you do?

Raid it?

The first thing that comes to mind is this relatively simple and direct strategy. It heavily depends on your manpower and whether you can beat your opponent despite the strategic disadvantage, so you'd need magical work with your timing.

It works pretty fine. However, it is out of the question, as your strength is insufficient to overpower the gate's security. That calls for a different strategy, therefore.

Negotiate with the opponent?

Certainly! There is a motive behind their leader's continual surveillance of you; he or she is upset that you are here! As a result, many negotiation options are now available, including potential psychological assaults.

Additionally, they have been trying to be friendly toward you, so you know they'd get persuaded easily.

However, it isn't that simple.

That person is latching onto your prey like a magnum, clinging to him as if their lives depended on it, and remaining close by at all times, just like an overprotective girlfriend.

In which case, it is very true hehe~

"You're really planning on staying here, aren't you?" That sweet, serious, and antagonistic voice came from the strawberry woman situated right at the end of the bed, with her arms crossed and scrutinizing me with a glare while sitting on top of a certain somebody's lap, seizing his control and obscuring his attention.

Please don't be ridiculous; she thinks she is doing something, but I can tell. That jerk is more than happy; he actually likes all of this.

As if unironically supporting my notion, Ayanokouji-senpai's head poked through Ichinose-senpai's shoulder as he sneakily observed this contact unfold with discerning amusement on his apathetic face.

He is really very annoying; He has never spoken a single word ever since I offered him a threesome, and left me to duke it out with his angry girlfriend, all while spectating with novelty in his eyes. Who taught him to ghost a woman's feelings in such a way?!

"So are you gonna talk or not?"

Here she goes.

"Wellllll..." I rolled on top of the bed and trailed off pensively, and Ichinose-senpai's brows rose optimistically, to which I quickly donned a smirk. "Nope."

Her face was momentarily crestfallen before she adopted an even angrier expression, which spilled a glee within me.

"Alright, both of you, calm down." Before she could do anything, Ayanokouji-senpai finally intervened and patted her head, resulting in her pivoting back at him with a curious look. He calmly moved out from below her lap and exclaimed while looking at her. "I never knew you could treat a guest this horribly."

"Wha–?! Kiyotaka! She came here meaning harm! How do you expect me to keep my cool?!" Ichinose-senpai yelled out defensively, with a betrayed look on her face. Ayanokouji-senpai however, smiled thinly.

"Don't jump to conclusions too quickly; maybe she's just joking." He stared at me with his golden orbs for confirmation.

"I was completely serious." I grinned.

"You homewrecker!" Ichinose-senpai's fuse snapped again, then proceeded to grab a pillow next to her and throw it at me. I dodged it by rolling out of bed and falling to the floor. The pad was on its way to hitting the TV, but Senpai quickly caught it.

"O-Oh my god, I'm sorry!" Ichinose-senpai quickly got shaken up and apologized for almost breaking the plasma, which Senpai dismissed. He tidied the pillow in his hand and gave me a blank stare in the meantime; a message I understood the whole meaning of.

"Okay! I was just kiddin' please relax!" I decided to come out clean with it and raise my hands in the sky like surrendering. Ichinose-senpai scrutinized me with a hurt look before pivoting her gaze with a pout.

Although I really hated to admit it, it was probably for the best this way.

"Hey, Senpai." I turned my gaze to look at Senpai as he moved to return the pillow and then gave me his attention. "There is something I wanted to discuss with you in private, so do you mind if we step out for a little bit?"

"Can't you delay it for later?" He quickly retorts with an inquisition. "As you can see, I'm quite occupied now."

"No, I believe this is the perfect opportunity." I grinned as I strongly asserted my conviction of this idea, which he didn't fail to see. He quickly glances around the room and then returns to my gaze again.

"We still haven't had dinner, so how about we discuss it while I fetch some ingredients?" He suggests.

"B-Wait Kiyotaka! We already have ingre-"

"Sounds good! As long as you'll prepare the meal~" I seductively propose.

"Okay, but don't expect too much." A tasty meal made by the hands of Senpai? That's something I'll die for!

"Alright bet!" I give him a thumbs-up as my grin widens.

"I'll be back shortly, Honami," Ayanokouji-senpai says as he picks up his jacket.

I expected Ichinose-senpai at least to say something in the form of an objection, but she just sat there on the bed with a mixed expression.

"B-Be safe..." She wishes that, although a little forcefully. Hesitancy and uncertainty were written all over her face.

What a weird woman...

I thought that as I observed the girl combat all of her nerves to stay silent on top of the bed as she watched us leave the room. Her expression had complex emotions that even I had difficulty discerning.

"Did I push things too far?" When we exited, I posed that question to Senpai.

"A little bit." He replies briefly, with an apathetic expression.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be; you managed to trigger a new side of her that even I didn't know existed." He jokes with a slight chuckle while pressing the button to call for the elevator.

"Is she usually like this? If so, then what a character she is!" I inquired, then exclaimed in awe, which Senpai quickly silenced.

"No, she isn't; she was just agitated by your shenanigans and didn't know what to do," Senpai explained, and then proceeded to eye me and speak with reassurance. "Don't take her actions the wrong way; she doesn't hate you; she is a woman with a big heart."

"Wait, are you for real?... She doesn't hate me?" I exclaimed, surprisingly, and he responded by shaking his head. "Why?"

Was she just too nice of a woman that she couldn't bring herself to hate me?

"You'll figure it out eventually." He vaguely emitted, answering my internal pondering about my failing observations and increasingly raising my curiosity. "So what's this thing you wanted to discuss with me?"

The elevator arrived, and Senpai snapped me out of my notion.

"I think you already know it; it's the favor we already discussed." We both hop into the elevator and press for the bottom floor.

"I know, but wasn't the favor about annoying Honami until she went mad?"

"No! That wasn't it, Senpai!" I instantly retorted.

"It looked like it to me." He deadpanned.

We were standing too close inside the elevator, with our shoulders nearly brushing each other. I have never been this intimately close to him, and those tingling feelings made me a little frisky.

"You know~ this won't cause harm to you in any way, Senpai; I can assure you of that." I disgorged my full honesty with a stifled grin, as he stared at me. "So would you let me have this one? Pretty pweaaaase~"

The elevator was still moving when silence erupted between us until the door opened for the bottom floor, where Senpai moved out and released his response.

"You already had fun a little while ago; don't expect I'll let you go for free." He calmly responded, and I gave him a wholehearted nod. "So what is it that you want from me?"

Hearing Senpai's agreement, I let out a satisfied smirk.

"If it is fine with you, Senpai, I want you to..."

———————————————————

"Wait... so you wished to speak with me instead?" A bewildered look appeared on Ichinose-senpai's face when she listened intently to my reason.

"Mhm~ that's right!"

"O-Oh, okay..." She fidgeted her legs on the bed and then crossed them. "So... what did you want to talk with me about?"

She cast me a downward, curious look as she mumbled her question loudly.

"Anything really; I just want to get to know you!" I crossed my legs and struck a pose similar to hers, a bright smile.

Senpai has agreed to let me talk with his girlfriend privately for a couple of short minutes, I cannot let this time go to waste.

Now, it is essential to mimic the other party's behavior to some extent to get them to like you since people tend to be drawn toward similar people.

Although I would have doubted that any sweet notions would remain on Ichinose-senpai's mind after seeing me, I'll trust Senpai's word on this one.

"You want to know me...? Okay, what do you want to know about me?" She inquires calmly.

"As I said, it can be anything: whether it's your favorite food, songs, places you like to go... And even the reason why you have low self-esteem..."

"Hey! I don't have low self-esteem!" Ichinose-senpai fires up in rebuttal to my statement, purging any somber vibe around her and regaining what I assumed was her usual spirit.

"...Or if you're comfortable with more: we can discuss the random thoughts you have during or at the shower~" I chuckled at her reaction which was a confused face before I faked a sudden realization. "Gasp. Don't tell me you're the girl who always has showers with her boyfriend?! I'm sorry for being so insensitive!"

"That's it..."

Ichinose-senpai mutters loathingly before she draws her right hand and extends it toward my face.

However, instead of dodging, I remained motionless in my place and closed my eyes, allowing her to push me onto the bed and get between my legs, pulling the ends of my cheeks extensively.

"You think you're slick, huh?" Despite her ruthless voice, when I opened my eyes, I saw a clear streak of a smug smile on her face.

"So, did I nail it?"

"Even if you did, what does it have to do with you?" She inquired.

"Oh... plenty."

In response to her cocky attitude, she attempted to grip my cheeks even more apart, but that's when I put my hands on her wrist.

"Careful' with what you play with, Ichi-Senpai~"

"HuhEeeeep~!"

With a professionally executed wrestling move—that cannot even be seen in WWE—I entangled my legs with hers as I freed my face from her hands and then held them. I then lifted her legs while rolling backward, successfully slamming her on the mattress and emerging on top of her.

Ichinose-senpai looked like she had seen a ghost, but I snapped her out when I grabbed her cheeks.

"Not so pompy now, heh?" I pulled and played with her face as it contorted magnifyingly, and she groaned.

"Letch go!" She tried to command me, but her voice was muffled.

"Hmm... what did you say, Senpai? 'Let's go?'... so you're absolutely loving it~!"

"Nooooo! Let go of me~!" She held my wrists and began resisting while speaking more clearly. I simply remained still while snickering at her reactions.

"Ooooh, so you wanted me to let go of you, huh?" She nodded vigorously while continuing to pull my arms. "But I don't wanna~!"

"Gaaah!" I stretched her shocked face far and wide, all the while giggling amusingly to my heart's content.

It's been far too long since I've had this much fun. Somehow, I have been able to find myself around Ichinose-senpai.

"What are you two doing?" Ayanokouji-senpai finally returned and stopped near the entrance, staring at us grappling on the bed.

"Welcome back, Senpai." I looked back to greet him with a grin while keeping my hands on Ichi-senpai's face. He briefly examined her, then traced his gaze to my eyes with an expression conveying, 'You seriously wanted to do this?' I grinned. "Where is the food, Senpai?"

I looked at his hands; he came empty-handed.

"I ate it." He deadpanned, seemingly as if he prepared the excuse beforehand.

"You ate raw shrimp'? Ew, that's disgusting."

"There's already plenty of stock; buying more would be a waste." He reasoned.

"Thank you... Senpai." He may not have said it out loud, but I was grateful for him fulfilling my wish, and I thanked him in a tender tone. He simply dodged it by subsequently shifting his gaze away and heading toward the kitchen. "No, Senpai, it's fine; you don't have to cook."

"Are you sure?" He promptly stopped right before the door and looked back. I mounted off Ichinose-senpai's and walked past him while rolling my shirt sleeves up and entering the kitchen.

It's been a while since I last utilized my culinary skills...

"Paisen, wanna join me?"

"Eh~? Me?" She somehow understood my address and blurted confusingly.

"Yeah, who else?" I turned my head and looked at her. "Who else is gonna help me prepare a delicious meal for Senpai?"

"...a meal?" Ichinose-senpai remained in her position with the same perplexed expression, trying to process the situation. Meanwhile, Ayanokouji-senpai was close by the door with the same apathetic expression.

"If you don't want to cook, that's fine. You can sit and wait, while Senpai and I will—"

"No, I'll cook." Without even letting me finish, she declared, then stood. "But only on one condition: that you remain by my side and never leave the kitchen. Am I understood?"

"Roger that!" I voiced my agreement. "Let's have a competition on who cooks a more delicious meal for Senpai~!"

Even though I'm undertaking a challenge where I'm at a disadvantage, it is more fun this way.

"Doing this won't bail you out of your troubles, you know?" Ayanokouji-Senpai commented softly, and I gave him a cheeky grin.

"Yea I know~" I picked up the apron and put it on myself. "Say, how do I loo-"

"Alright, Kiyotaka, you stay out." The cockblock Ichinose pushed Senpai out of the way and then locked the door behind her. "It's just you and me, with no way to go."

Ichinose-senpai had a devious grin on her face as she took the key out of the handle and thrust it into her pockets.

"Fufu, I reckon you are the one who is stuck with me here, Ichi-paisen~"

I can list many reasons why such...

"Hah! Such a bold claim, Ichi-san. Especially when you realize I have been Kiyotaka's chef for a disproportionate period, I know what he likes and doesn't." ...But I guess she was speaking about food.

Well, if I attempted something, Senpai would most likely murder me. The glass around the doorframe isn't exactly see-through, but if someone is sharp enough, they'll be able to dissect what's going on. That is excluding easier methods, like sounds and bloodlust...

Although I wouldn't mind getting strangled to death by Senpai, I want to keep living for a while longer.

Putting those fantasies aside, I'll have to respond to Ichinose to keep my dignity.

"There is a simple solution to that; I'll just copy whatever dish you're making!"

"Huh? No, that's cheating!"

"Fufu, everything is fair in love and war." I quoted, and her demeanor quickly took a dip.

"Okay fine." She immediately reconciled with the idea and partially reclaimed her demeanor. "Do whatever you want."

She donned a kind smile as she opened the fridge and began taking out the ingredients.

I am aware of what she is doing; she thinks she has the necessary knowledge to prepare Senpai's ideal supper. She is confident and indifferent because of this.

She was unfortunate because I intended to replicate everything she does, not just the food.

After all, how could you tell one meal from another that was prepared in the same way? Senpai would only have a 50% probability—which is far higher than if I went by myself.

"Let's do our best, Amasawa-san." She spoke with the same kindred tone that masked a vicious challenge.

"You too, Senpai," I replied with a cheeky grin, and thus, a cooking challenge was issued between us.

Ichinose-senpai opted for green tea noodles with sweet chili salmon, a simple, easy-to-make, and nutritious meal from what I assume is a hybrid dish from different Asian countries. It was so simple that it was obvious what Ichinose-senpai's strategy was:

The salmon.

It was easy to boil the noodles and keep them from getting soggy, but the secret lies within the salmon: how long does it need to marinate, and with what spices? At what heat you should open the stove, and at what points you should flip it...

All that was irrelevant.

because I have her beside me.

She started by preparing her piece of salmon in a bowl and accumulating all the necessary spices. Meanwhile, I pretended to fill the large pot with lukewarm water for the noodles while intently focusing on her in my peripheral. I had confidence I could remember the ingredients used and their exact quantities. Falling behind schedule wasn't a problem.

However, Ichinose-senpai quickly stopped moving her hand and looked in my direction, suspecting my watch. I haven't taken my eyeballs off the sink, but her gaze remained on me for a while. She was a lot sharper than I expected.

"Hey, Amasawa-san." Suddenly, she calls out to me. "Do you really like Kiyotaka?"

"Huh? Of course, I like Ayanokouji-senpai." She caught me a little off-guard with that question; I thought that much was obvious.

"I see..." She mumbled before going back and starting to chop some vegetables. "What appeals to you most about him?"

I wasn't sure what was up with her all of a sudden, but her equable demeanor was at least comforting.

"Well, he is handsome and cool, smart, and also very strong." I listed some reasons.

"I see... that's all?" She looks at me with furrowed brows.

"Yeah, that's pretty much it." She kept looking at me with the same confused face, but then she smiled softly and went back to the cutting board.

That genuine smile... I somehow felt that she didn't believe me.

"Why did you ask?" I inquired.

"Nothing..." A short period of silence enveloped us promptly. I used that time to set the water to boiling. "Hey, Amasawa-san, what do you think of our relationship?"

"Where did that come from...?" I reacted.

"Nothing, I just wanted to hear your opinion." She kept the same smile while putting the salmon inside the

I essentially asked Senpai to let me talk with Ichinose so I could figure out what kind of person she is, but apparently, I am the one who is getting tested.

"What do I think of you two, huh?" I took my time to provide an answer. "I haven't been observing you for a long enough period, so don't take it too literally. But I think Senpai is exposed to way too many women."

"Exposed to way too many women? How so?" She asked for elaboration with genuinely curious eyes.

"What I mean is: almost everyone at this school looks like a supermodel, and he is interacting with a lot of females. He is also popular, so those said females already have their sights on him. He is innocent and clueless most of the time. So you gotta protect him from those lecherous nymphos!"

I instructed."I was also able to easily invade your privacy and settle in, so you have a lot of things to work on!"

As I advised her, I started to feel more like a dating coach.

Ichinose-senpai fell silent on my words, slowly cutting on the cutting board with a downcast, absentminded, somber expression as if my words were heavily weighing on her.

In all honesty, she looked pathetic. But it was this strange, pitiful feeling that I felt compelled me to help her.

"Honestly, I said I hadn't made a complete analysis, so why are you getting all gloomy?" I muttered, which regained her attention. "Don't worry, Ichinose-paisen. I will help you overcome your love-life problems."

"You will...!" Her mood immediately skyrocketed, and her eyes began shining.

"Yep! As long as it keeps Senpai's innocence intact, I will help you." I grinned.

And as long as it makes him happy... I suppose.

I really wished, since I was little, that I could spend some time with him. But it was fine if it was going to be this way.

After all, I'm just an outsider who belonged to the same place he came from. Being with me would constantly remind him of who he is, thus, remembering his past.

Still, I'm pretty sure I already fucked him in another dimension, so what's there to complain about?

"Thank you, Amasawa-san!" Ichinose was extremely joyful and wanted to embrace me.

"Not so fast." She halted on the spot at my remarks with a puzzled look. "Not before you serve me some conditions."

"...Conditions?" She parroted, and I nodded.

"Mhm, conditions." I held my finger up. "First, whenever you're seeking advice, you should refer to me as Master. Master Ichika or Master Amasawa would do, preferably Master Ichika."

Ichinose-senpai didn't seem particularly mindful of this condition; her expression didn't shift, so I continued listing off.

"Second: You'll allow me to call you by your first name because I find it way more amusing teasing people that way." She nodded in agreement, and then I raised my third finger. "And lastly, you'll let me go on a date with Ayanokouji-senpai."

"...wait what?" All her reactions had been feeble until that one. "Go on a date with Kiyotaka?"

"Mhm, don't worry though, it'll just be a friend-"

"I refuse!" She rejected hands down with an obstinate expression.

"Well, I expected that much..." I shrugged. "I'll still go through fufufu~"

"You!"

The rest of the cooking session was spent rather peacefully with my new disciple, Honami-chan, as we both finished and perfected our plates separately.

Unbeknownst to her, the plan sailed smoothly, and I created a perfect copycat dish using Honami-chan's measurements to the tee.

Undoubtedly, she was a great person, and I could see why Senpai decided to remain by her side. She wasn't someone who would rely on him all the time, but someone who could complete his flaws.

She wasn't the type to judge; therefore, she is comfortable to be around. I wouldn't be surprised if he already told her about the white room, no matter how risky that is.

Time went by, and it was time for the presentation.

"How about we hold our dishes together so he won't know which is which?" She suggested.

"Ara, are you sure you aren't pulling some trick to steal my dish?" I teased her, which she ignored with a big smile and proceeded to take the lead.

Her long, strawberry-colored hair was swaying as she bounced on her feet while humming a happy tone, an indication of her content and bubbly mood.

However, it was then that something struck my mind like a storm.

Did she distract me with all the sweet talks and pitiful acts to mask her attempt to alter the fridge settings and ruin my salmon?

I took a long look at her back as it maneuvered itself out of the kitchen with complete reassurance.

I'm gonna fucking murder her.

Honami POV

Hehe~ all according to Keikaku!

———————————————————

Yo, it's been a while huh?

There is a chapter worth all your wait, thank you, guys.

Bro this is cringe, I'm so trash at this **missing*** and ***meeting*** talk. Save me the crap pls.

Chads dive straight for the cake anyway.

Partially, the delay was the cause of my laziness. But mostly due to me being busy with school, there are some days where I'm out there for 13 hours, come back home to just head to sleep.

You won't believe how many things I went through these past three months, the 13 hours of study is nothing because I'm used to it. But those months impacted me greatly (dunno if this is a word.)

I took this break to reflect on myself and my writing, so I hoped you enjoyed this chapter.

I've also been reading some 'how to get like Ayanokouji frfr books' by that I mean some stuff about psychology, mainly to just use in this book to at least make it worthwhile.

Anyway, I hope you're all doing well.

I'll try my best to squeeze as many chapters during the free time I have, no specific dates, but I can guarantee it's not another 3 months.

for those who are unaware, my laptop broke for almost the entirety of January (Thanks to some ungrateful idiots and parents, it's fixed rn.)

I missed u all, cya in the next episode!