Chapter 701 - 701: The Turn of Kurasawa Ayana and Takasaki Aika

At the entrance of the Pure Love Research Club activity room, Kurasawa Ayana and Takasaki Aika, who had come with Akane, both couldn't help but widen their eyes.

"Akane-chan, this... this is the Pure Love Research Club?", Kurasawa Ayana couldn't help asking.

"Yeah," Akane nodded.

"This... is this really 'pure love'?", Takasaki Aika also couldn't help asking.

"Of course! How is this not pure love? Such pure, such love! Who says our club isn't pure love?", Akane replied, fully confident and justified.

"Uh...", Kurasawa Ayana and Takasaki Aika were momentarily speechless.

They had applied to join the Pure Love Research Club yesterday.

At the time, the two of them had just been saved by Hikari from Takasaki Souichi not long before. At noon, they'd pulled Hikari along to have lunch together to thank him, and had even taken the opportunity to cop a little feel of him.

Then they'd been caught by Akane.

In Kurasawa Ayana and Takasaki Aika's view, Akane was probably Hikari's girlfriend, so they'd been very nervous and ashamed at the time.

But Akane hadn't been angry with them at all, on the contrary, she'd invited them to join the Pure Love Research Club.

They heard that after joining the club, they'd have more opportunities to get close to the club president, Hikari.

With their already high favorability toward Hikari, compounded by the lingering effects of Takasaki Souichi's hypnosis, Kurasawa Ayana and Takasaki Aika immediately agreed, saying they both wanted to join.

So today, Akane had gone to their class to fetch them, inviting them to tour the Pure Love Research Club's activity room and attend their first club gathering to meet more members. Both of them had agreed.

But Kurasawa Ayana and Takasaki Aika hadn't expected that when they arrived at the Pure Love Research Club's activity room, they would see such a shocking sight.

Watching Hikari take on ten at once, like cavalry on an infantry battlefield, each charge reaping one or two, the two girls were stunned.

As a disciplinary committee member, Kurasawa Ayana couldn't hold back and asked, "This... all these people having a party together like this... isn't that against school discipline?"

Akane replied with a smile, "Countries have their laws, schools have their rules, and our Pure Love Research Club has its own regulations. This is our club's group party."

"Ayana-chan, you signed the membership application in black and white yesterday, you know."

"I... I know," Kurasawa Ayana felt a bit embarrassed, but looking at the armband on her right sleeve, she couldn't help speaking again, "But as a disciplinary committee member, my duty is..."

"Is to maintain campus order, right," Akane cut her off, smiling as she pulled two neatly folded sheets of paper from her pocket, "But it says right here, 'I voluntarily join the Pure Love Research Club and promise to abide by all club regulations and activity arrangements.' Who was it that signed, Ayana-san?"

Kurasawa Ayana's cheeks instantly flushed bright red.

At that moment, Takasaki Aika suddenly raised her hand, her beautiful eyes sparkling, "I'll follow the club rules properly! When can I... join the club party?"

Kurasawa Ayana and Akane turned their heads.

They saw Takasaki Aika's eyes wide open, staring fixedly at the scene of Hikari and the club's group activities.

She practically had "I'm looking forward to it" and "let me join" written all over her face, so she clearly had no objections whatsoever.

"Hehe, I knew Aika-chan was a perfect fit for our Pure Love Research Club~", Akane said with a smile, first pulling Takasaki Aika over to Hikari.

Leaving Kurasawa Ayana standing alone in place, fidgeting anxiously and muttering about discipline and regulations under her breath.

———

[Half an Hour Later]

Watching Kurasawa Ayana sitting up straight, fully devoted to the gathering activities.

Akane, sitting across from her with their fingers interlaced, asked with a smile, "Disciplinary committee member, do our Pure Love Research Club's group activities comply with the rules?"

"Completely compliant! Not a single... mmm... not a single violation... ah!", Kurasawa Ayana stared with wide eyes, her tongue slightly out, her hands making peace signs.

Hearing this answer, Akane revealed a satisfied smile.

After this activity, she was sure Kurasawa Ayana and Takasaki Aika would truly fall in love with the Pure Love Research Club from the bottom of their hearts. Then the club's group activities would have two more capable members, truly a cause for celebration.

Seeing Akane, the self-cucker, looking so smug, Hikari immediately activated his silver tongue to help Kurasawa Ayana, who was still connected to him, get some payback.

"Ah!"

Feeling the sudden movement, Akane let out a soft cry.

"Him... Hikari-kun is so mean!", Akane lowered her beautiful eyes and shot Hikari a reproachful glare.

"Really?"

Not in a position to speak much, Hikari didn't say anything more, instead using his tongue to give the vice president a thorough education.

Soon, Akane was obedient and docile.

Accompanying the Pure Love Research Club members in a complete group party.

As the club president, Hikari personally attended to each person at least twice.

Impartial, fair and just.

And all the members were thoroughly convinced by his instruction and thorough care.

They all said they'd learned a lot, vowing to return and leave no drop behind.

Satisfied with the Pure Love Research Club members' level of awareness, Hikari nodded approvingly.

After comforting each one and leaving a bottle of Pure Love brand nutritional energy drink for each to replenish their expended energy, he finally left the club activity room.

———

Returning to the classroom, Hikari had planned to rest a bit.

But he found a figure already waiting by his seat.

He walked over.

"Hikari-kun!", Haruno Kasumi, who had been waiting by Hikari's seat for a while, called out to him in pleasant surprise when she saw him return.

"Kasumi-san, something wrong?", Looking at the excited Haruno Kasumi, Hikari asked curiously.

"Uh... no... nothing...", Hearing Hikari's question, the previously excited Haruno Kasumi calmed down a little, her expression somewhat awkward.

Ever since yesterday, when Hikari had saved her from the KTV and prevented her from being defiled by Anjou Takaya.

Haruno Kasumi had developed an inexplicable attachment to Hikari.

Even in a crowded classroom, she felt as alone as if she were the only person there, completely without a sense of security.

But as long as she was by Hikari's side, Haruno Kasumi felt at ease.

So as soon as class ended, she'd subconsciously come looking for Hikari.

But as for what exactly she wanted from him, she couldn't really say.

In truth, she and Hikari weren't even that familiar.

So realizing she'd just come running over as a girl, Haruno Kasumi blushed a little.

"Umm... Hikari-kun, I-I happened to have an extra bento, if you don't mind, please have it," Haruno Kasumi's cheeks flushed slightly, and to cover up her deliberate intent, she held out the untouched bento box with both hands, her fingertips curling slightly from nervousness.

Hikari looked up, his gaze sweeping over her slightly flustered expression, and understood immediately.

Haruno Kasumi probably hadn't even eaten her own lunch yet.

He spoke up, "Thanks, but I've already eaten. Kasumi-san should have it yourself."

"Oh... okay...", Hearing Hikari's refusal, Haruno Kasumi felt a little dejected.

But she wasn't willing to give up just yet. Her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her skirt as she found another topic, "Um, Hikari-kun, have you finished your homework?"

"Finished, thanks for your help this morning, Kasumi-san," Hikari said.

"I see...", Hearing that Hikari had already eaten and finished his homework, Haruno Kasumi felt a flicker of anxiety in her heart. She just wanted to find a reason to stay by his side a little longer.

"Then... how about some fruit? Eating fruit after a meal helps with digestion!", After thinking hard, Haruno Kasumi pulled out an apple and handed it over.

"Alright, thanks Kasumi-san," Hikari reached out and took it.

Seeing Haruno Kasumi's flustered, scrambling expression, Hikari almost felt embarrassed for her, so he took a bite of the apple.

Seeing that Hikari had finally accepted her gesture, Haruno Kasumi let out a breath of relief.

She then found some excuses to sit down beside Hikari.

But just as Haruno Kasumi was enjoying the peaceful time by Hikari's side.

Suddenly, a small figure walked toward her.

"Kasumi-nee?", Haruno Ayato, who had just returned to the classroom after lunch, saw Haruno Kasumi suddenly in the class and his face lit up with surprise, assuming she'd come for him.

"Kasumi-nee, did you need something?", Haruno Ayato asked happily.

"Uh... this... nothing much...", Seeing Haruno Ayato's delighted expression, Haruno Kasumi stammered.

Perhaps she'd been too focused on coming to see Hikari, Haruno Kasumi had even forgotten that her cousin Haruno Ayato was in the same class as Hikari.

Now that she saw Haruno Ayato had misunderstood, she felt deeply embarrassed.

And noticing the abnormality in Haruno Kasumi's expression, Haruno Ayato also noticed Hikari beside her.

"So... so you weren't here for me after all..."

Seeing Haruno Kasumi sitting close to Hikari, Haruno Ayato's smile froze on his face.

"I... I had something to discuss with Hikari-kun," Haruno Kasumi said awkwardly.

"Hmph!" Haruno Ayato let out a huff, turned around without looking back, and went to his own seat, clearly sulking.

"Hikari-kun, I'm sorry," Haruno Kasumi looked at the awkward scene, lowered her head, and apologized to Hikari.

"It's fine," Hikari waved his hand, not really bothered.

But because of the awkwardness that had just happened, Haruno Kasumi didn't feel comfortable staying much longer.

After greeting Hikari, she hurriedly left the classroom.

Watching Haruno Kasumi's hurried retreating figure and Hikari's indifferent expression, Haruno Ayato's hands, hanging at his sides, quietly clenched.

'Damn it! He's really trying to take Kasumi-nee from me!'

'Why... why are you forcing me!'

'Think because I'm small you can push me around?'

'Hikari, just you wait!'

Feeling that the one he loved was about to be defiled, Haruno Ayato reached into his bag and tightly gripped the hammer he'd specially brought today.

The rough wooden handle was clutched in his sweaty palm, as if it could draw out an illusory courage.

For the next several classes, Haruno Ayato couldn't concentrate at all, the teacher's lecture becoming nothing but blurry background noise.

He didn't know how long he'd been zoning out, each minute feeling like an eternity, until the final bell finally rang.

Haruno Ayato felt as if he'd been granted a reprieve. He shouldered his bag, took one deep look at Hikari, who was still packing his things, and was the first to rush out of the classroom.

He came to a blind spot outside the school gate, crouched behind some bushes, his heart pounding violently in his chest.

Haruno Ayato had already made up his mind.