46 Damn! Can you not keep me waiting?

Gakuto returned to his incomplete wall painting with a light step. His hands danced effortlessly as he wielded his paintbrush.

He happily hopped around, clearly savoring the moment, a stark contrast from his previous demeanor.

Today, he made the decision to trust Kiyoshi. There was no other opportunity to acquire the limited General Guan Yu figurine he had his heart set on if he delayed any longer.

He could already picture how he would ask General Guan Yu to join him on his journey. While spending time together, he managed to navigate through 3 years of high school without a girlfriend.

"You damn trash! Look at how you wasted all that paint!"

Meiko stood up from her seat, unable to contain her emotions any longer. Her hand tightly gripped Gakuto's shoulder, but she was taken aback by his smile.

She found the feeling to be quite unpleasant, which made it impossible for her to conceal the disgust evident on her face.

"I apologize, Vice President. I was just really excited."

"If a drop of paint dares to touch the ground, you will make up for it with your meal today, got it!"

Meiko shoved Gakuto forcefully to the ground, wanting to make him see the paint-stained soil surface beneath them.

Gakuto still had a smile on his face, and it was starting to bother her.

Meiko didn't go back to her seat right away. Instead, she wandered around, her eyes scanning the area in search of someone.

It had been about half a day, and everything seemed normal, which made Meiko anxious. She wanted Kiyoshi to focus on Gakuto while she kept an eye on the rest of the group.

As she felt her patience wearing thin, the bushes next to her rustled, and Kiyoshi emerged from behind them.

He started by apologizing for his delay, but Meiko quickly instructed him to prepare.

--***--

Sensing someone coming up from behind, I thought it was Meiko, so I kept painting the higher area on the wall.

I struggled to stand on my tiptoes. Fortunately, my hand was able to reach the brush.

The shadow of the person on the wall grew darker, and when Meiko's icy voice broke the silence, I feigned surprise.

"Vice President-dono, is something wrong?"

I feel like I'm excelling at my job, even more so than before.

Given Meiko's personality, it's no wonder she keeps finding faults with me. Having her here definitely adds another burden for me.

To be honest, when I saw her cleavage so exposed, it brought a sense of freshness to my mind. It even helped alleviate some of my tiredness.

"Just checking in to see how you're doing."

"W-What are you saying, Vice President-dono... I'm very excited to finish my work today, too."

I nearly made a mistake. She totally caught me off guard. However, my stuttering voice went back to normal by the end.

I feel pretty confident in my acting skills.

Did she come to a realization?

Was Kiyoshi get caught?

My smile was on the verge of breaking as my thoughts turned chaotic.

"No, it's just that you're sweating a lot, and your face looks pale... I didn't request for it to be completed today-"

"I'm determined not to let Vice President-dono down. I'll make sure to finish it today! so there is no need to be concerned."

What's going on here?

There's no way this Bitch will suddenly start paying attention to me.

Despite her chilly demeanor, her words had a noticeable impact on me.

This was the first time I found myself focusing on her face as we chatted.

Her radiant face lights up my heart.

"Damn! Can you not keep me waiting?"

I feel my heart racing as I imagine scenarios that seem unreal.

Is she interested in me and hoping I'll notice?

Just as I turned, a darkness so intense it almost blinded me and enveloped my vision.

It's not just about what I see.

It felt like my head was enveloped in a layer of black plastic. I attempted to remove it, but the individual behind me firmly secured the plastic around my neck.

"What the fuck!... What did you do to me!"

Now, I had another reason for my beating heart when the breath I could take became short.

The only way to keep me from running out of breath was to tear the plastic, but then I was thrown to the ground. My hands were firmly stepped on by that person's feet.

Feeling completely powerless, I reached out to Meiko for help.

Despite my slightly muffled voice, I was confident she could still hear me.

My vision was restricted, but I could still make out her figure standing close.

Why is she not saying anything?

"Bitch... You trick me..."

---

When Gakuto fainted on the ground, Kiyoshi passed the black plastic in his hand to Meiko.

He made sure to voice his complaints as well.

"Using this thing was too much. It felt like I was gripping him to death."

"It can't be helped, I can't trust you."

Following Gakuto's revelation, Kiyoshi felt compelled to inform Meiko. Together, they devised a strategy to thwart Gakuto's new scheme.

"But ultimately, he will recognize it was you all along."

"Perhaps, but will he still protest if I give him what he's asking for?"

"Kiyoshi, this will be the last time I agree to your wild idea. If this information reaches others, I will do whatever it takes to have you expelled from the school."

With someone like Meiko in his grasp, Kiyoshi saw numerous opportunities to take advantage, leading him to strike a deal with her. If she allowed him to go out and purchase what the boys desired, he would fulfill one of her wishes.

It's quite a challenge to get her to break the rules, but when it comes to Mari, Meiko is more willing to take risks.

She just had to escort him all the way to the gate.

"I promise I'll return before the sun sets. You can count on me."

"Hmph, you bet."