However, Kuroha Akira, being the thick-skinned person he was, naturally couldn't honestly accept the fact that he lost and dutifully fulfill the bet like Shirai Shiori.
This isn't some shounen manga where the protagonist nobly accepts defeat! In real life, a tactical retreat was perfectly valid.
So Kuroha Akira changed the subject, saying,
"Leaving the bet aside, Class Monitor, don't you think I did pretty well this time?"
Asato Hitomi then praised him, following his lead.
"Yes, indeed, you handled things beautifully. Not only did you completely reverse Shiori's perception of you, but you even pulled her into the light novel production. This way, Moe and Shiori also have a common interest, and you've resolved the hedgehog's dilemma as well."
"Mm! Excellent summary!"
"If it were me, I might not have been able to solve it so perfectly. I'm truly impressed with you this time, Kuroha-kun, so how about I pat your head?"
Asato Hitomi extended her hand with a smile. Kuroha Akira immediately knelt on one knee like a knight receiving honors from his princess, bowing his head in anticipation.
"Please proceed."
"Hehe, Kuroha-kun is so clingy. Do you want to see under my skirt again?"
"I really didn't mean that..."
Kuroha Akira only then realized that after kneeling on one knee, his gaze was level with the Class Monitor's skirt hem.
However, he was just playing along when interacting with the Class Monitor, which was why he put on this performance. He truly had no ill intentions.
"Alright, alright, I understand everything. I'll give you some rewards."
But Asato Hitomi gave him an 'I know everything' expression, smiling as she walked forward, right up to Kuroha Akira.
This 'up to' was truly 'up to,' because Kuroha Akira's nose was almost touching the fabric of the Class Monitor's skirt.
She actually spread her legs and stepped into the area where Kuroha Akira was kneeling on one knee.
"Well then, Kuroha-kun, watch closely. The conferment is about to begin."
"Huh?"
Kuroha Akira only felt an updraft in front of him, a pink and white image flashed by, and then his head was completely covered.
The Class Monitor actually used her skirt as a sack!
At this moment, Kuroha Akira was like a character who'd triggered some bizarre event flag, his entire head plunged into darkness.
"..."
He couldn't see anything at all!
Because his head was covered by the skirt, and it was already evening, the light inside the skirt was very poor, like setting the brightness to the lowest at the very beginning of a dating sim.
The good stuff was right within reach, but he couldn't see anything...!
A universe was hidden beneath a girl's skirt... Was this the darkness of the universe?
It was too dark!
Sasuga, Class Monitor... There was actually a 'skirt darkness' method to prevent exposure... Kuroha Akira couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration.
Like how the final boss room is always the safest place to hide the treasure. It was truly a genius idea.
However, Class Monitor, you still overlooked one thing.
Although he couldn't see anything... at this distance, he could still smell it!
Thinking about how he got the Class Monitor's underwear before but didn't even get a chance to smell it before Shinomiya took it to wear, now was a good opportunity to make up for that regret.
So Kuroha Akira took a deep breath, somewhat perversely, and sniffed the secret scent of the beautiful girl—something soft and floral, mixed with clean fabric and warmth.
"Hehe, that tickles, don't sniff around, Kuroha-kun is like a horny big dog…"
"…"
If I were really a dog, I might have already stuck out my tongue and licked… Kuroha Akira stuck out his tongue, but in the end, he didn't dare to really extend it to touch places he shouldn't.
Asato Hitomi then started to stroke Kuroha Akira's hair through her skirt.
"Good boy Good boy Don't move around, okay? If you move, the service time will have to end early, okay?"
"Class Monitor… this really can't be considered welfare for a friend…"
"This is a reward. When I gave Kuroha-kun a lap pillow in the infirmary, I asked you not to bully Shiori too much, and you really did it."
"Oh…"
If it's a reward, then it should be fine… right?
It still felt a little ambiguous.
"As long as you do things well, I will naturally pay you. Of course, the same goes for bets. When it's time to pay, you still have to pay on time, or there will be an additional 'penalty' for overdue payments, okay?"
"Uh…"
I see, first the dere, then the threat… The Class Monitor's debt collection method was straight out of a yakuza manga.
Kuroha Akira's head was covered by the skirt at this moment, and he inexplicably felt like a hostage kidnapped by the mafia. The Class Monitor's hand stroking his head also felt like a gun pressed against his temple, so he nervously began to argue.
"Wait a minute! Class Monitor! If we're being honest, I didn't really lose! Although what I said at the time was that Shiori would hate me, you bet that Shiori would worship me, but now it can't be proven that she worships me! Look, although Shiori no longer has hostility towards me, we are just partners who collaborate on writing light novels… at most, it's just respect…"
"Hmm…"
"In other words, although I lost, Class Monitor, you didn't win either!"
Fortunately, when Shiori called him Akira-sensei yesterday, he promptly told her to change it, otherwise, he would have been unable to defend himself.
However, Kuroha Akira also felt that his argument was very forced, and if the Class Monitor didn't agree, he still couldn't renege on the debt.
But the 'kind' Class Monitor actually accepted it.
"In that case… how about we call it a tie?"
"Huh? Then what about the bet? Does it no longer exist?"
"Hehe, isn't it good for both of us to win? That means I will extend the period for making bentos for Kuroha-kun, and I will also provide you with lap pillow service at any time, and I can also gain the right to call Kuroha-kun by his name and not be ignored. Isn't that good?"
This… seems acceptable?
No, it should be said that he earned a lot this way!
Hearing that the bento period could be extended, Kuroha Akira was very happy.
"Yes, I think it's very good!"
"Hehe, then now… Akira-kun, I can call you that now, right?"
Akira. Asato Hitomi had already recited it countless times in her heart.
For others, calling someone by their name might be a trivial matter; slightly familiar people might start calling others by their names from the very beginning.
But for Asato Hitomi, this was a small step unique to her.
She could feel that the distance between her and Kuroha Akira had shortened.
"Of course, your humble servant is always at Class Monitor's command."
"Then, Akira-kun, aren't you going to call me by my name?"
Kuroha Akira, inside the skirt, couldn't see the Class Monitor's expression, but her tone sounded a little resentful, as if saying: 'I've called you by your name, so you should call me by mine, right?'
"Hitomi… while it's not impossible, I always feel that Class Monitor is more natural."
Calling someone by just their given name still felt too intimate—like something out of a romance anime's confession scene.
Like Shion and Shiori were fine, because their names flowed naturally.
So Kuroha Akira still hadn't gotten used to dropping the title, because it felt like crossing an invisible line.
"If Akira-kun feels that calling me this way is more natural, I have no objections. I can't force you to change how you address me."
"If something really important comes up, I'll call you by your name, Class Monitor, because it sounds like a very formal occasion."
"I see… Something important, I'll remember that."
Like a final episode confession...? Hitomi tucked that flag away carefully.
"Maybe it's to borrow money?"
"Then it seems I need to save more money, enough so that no matter how much Akira-kun wants to borrow, I can provide the amount."
"You're really willing to lend me money?"
"Because I trust Akira-kun."
"Then I can't let Class Monitor down… But don't worry, Class Monitor, I won't borrow money from you, because I hate the feeling of being in debt."
"Hehe, I understand, because you, you are the kind of person who knows how to repay kindness…"
Asato Hitomi leaned forward, letting Kuroha Akira's forehead rest against the warm silk of her 'absolute territory,' then gently stroked Kuroha Akira's head, and finally released him from under her skirt.
"Akira-kun…"
The last time Asato Hitomi called Kuroha Akira, she didn't make a sound, so Kuroha Akira didn't hear it, otherwise, he would have been greatly surprised.
Because Asato Hitomi didn't say 'Akira-kun.'
She had said—
'Ming-jun.'