After entering the dormitory building, Sakura bid farewell to the others before leaving on her own. The day's social activities had already pushed her limits, and she desperately needed some aloime to breathe and recover.

  That left three people—Hikaru, Iose, and Kushida—riding the elevatether. When they reached the third floor, Kushida, knowing this was Hikaru's dorm floor, turoward him, ready to say goodbye.

  But to her surprise, as the elevator doors opened, Iose followed Hikaru out, walking beside him. The two of them casually said goodbye to her aogether, heading toward the hallway.

  What the hell?!

  Before the elevator doors fully closed, Kushida's expression darkened. Her mind immediately fshed back to the se she had witnessed earlier at the grocery store—those two pig out ingredients together, looking just like a newlywed couple, ag intimate and natural.

  Didn't this guy like me?

  When the elevator finally reached her floor, Kushida stepped out, her face expressionless.

  She o find a time to talk to Hikaru again.

  If he had lied to her, she was absolutely not going to let it slide.

  ---

  Meanwhile, inside Hikaru's dorm room, he and Iose stepped in.

  "Just as we agreed earlier, I'll be cooking tonight." Hikaru smiled, watg as the pink-haired girl reached for an apron hanging on the side of his fridge.

  "Mm-hmm! Let me help you tie it."

  Iose's face was bright with a warm smile as she gestured for Hikaru to lift his arms. She slipped the apron over him and carefully tied a knot at the back.

  "Alright, Chef Hashima is now ready for a! I will act as a strid impartial judge, evaluating your ary skills with the highest professional standards."

  L her voice dramatically, Iose put on an exaggeratedly serious expression, pying the role of a high-css food critic.

  "I hope to see your full potential on dispy tonight."

  "I won't disappoint you, Sensei. Please atiently."

  Hikaru tugged at the apron, his expression just as serious, as he rolled up his sleeves and took out the ingredients they had bought earlier.

  "Sensei go wait somewhere else for now—I'll finish quickly."

  "I look forward to it, Chef Hashima." Iose nodded solemnly.

  But as soon as their little rolepy ended, she couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out ughing.

  "Seriously, I didn't expect you to py along so well. We really have great chemistry, huh?"

  "It's not the first time, after all. Didn't you mention that food show before? I watched a few episodes when I had free time—it retty fun."

  "Mm-hmm! Then keep going—don't disappoint me!"

  Iose csped her hands behind her back, walking toward Hikaru's bedroom with the graceful fidence of a noble iing their domain.

  These little skits had bee a routiween them, a fun pastime they had developed over time. Occasionally, Hikaru would py the food critic while Iose cooked.

  After finishing dinner and chatting for a while, Iose eventually left.

  ---

  As Hikaru ged clothes and prepared to take a shower, he suddenly heard a knock at the door.

  "Huh? Did she fet something?"

  Scratg his head, Hikaru walked over and opehe door.

  "Good evening, Hikaru-kun."

  It was Kushida.

  She wore her usual bright, friendly smile, but beh that mask, Hikaru could sense an underlying chill.

  "Ah, Kushida-san. e in."

  After letting her in, Hikaru closed the door behind her.

  "It's pretty te—is something on your mind?"

  Instead of answering immediately, Kushida started looking around his dorm, sing every er as if she were searg for something.

  "…?"

  "Kushida-san, what are you looking for?"

  "Who were you having dinner with just now?"

  The smile remained on her face, but her gaze was sharp, log onto Hikaru.

  "Oh, so that's what this is about?"

  Hikaru remained calm, speaking in a gentle, matter-of-fact tone.

  "It was Iose-san. Since she helped me pick out ingredients today, I made her dinner as thanks."

  "Didn't you already see us earlier?"

  "…Is that so?"

  At his answer, Kushida's expression instantly ged.

  The kind, friendly facade vanished, repced by the cold, calg expression Hikaru had seen that night.

  "Seems like you and Honami- have gotten really close."

  "Well, we're cssmates, after all. It's only natural."

  Kushida suddenly stepped forward, closing the distaween them.

  She was now standing directly in front of Hikaru, close enough for him to feel her breath.

  Her cold eyes locked onto his as she spoke slowly and deliberately.

  "Don't fet the promise you made to me. If you ever leak my secret to Iose…"

  "About that," Hikaru interrupted calmly, his toeady.

  "I have no reason to tell Iose anything. We're just w together for the css—I don't mix personal matters into that."

  "You have nothing to worry about."

  "You'd better not."

  Kushida grabbed the colr of his shirt, tightening her grip for a few seds before finally letting go, smoothing out the wrinkles she had caused.

  "I'll be watg you, Hikaru. Don't betray me."

  Hikaru sighed, brushing his chtly.

  "So, is that why you came? Just to warn me?"

  "Of course not! I actually have some important information for you."

  In an instant, her expression shifted back to her usual cheerful, friendly mask. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone.

  Tch.

  This girl was scarily good at switg faces.

  A true actress.

  "Hikaru-kun, take a look at this."

  Taking the phone from her, Hikaru saw a stunning photo of a model—a girl with long, vibrant red hair, dressed in trendy clothing, posing with a bright, eic smile.

  "This is…"

  "Swipe through a few more."

  Kushida watched Hikaru's expression closely.

  "Don't you think this girl looks a lot like someone we know?"

  "You mean… Sakura-san?"

  With his sharp eye for detail, Hikaru quickly pieced things together. After flipping through several of the modeling pictures, he could see the resembnce.

  It matched perfectly with the information from his [Stoalyzer]—Sakura Airi was secretly w as a model and a blogger.

  "This is her work portfolio, huh?"

  "Bingo. Aside from her appearand figure, check the st photo—the background looks exactly like our dorm building."

  "Now that you mention it… it does."

  Hikaru houghtfully.

  If Sakura was so active online, why was she so timid in real life?

  "That's probably why she was hesitant to help with the case." Kushida reasoned.

  "If she's been hiding this side of herself, she definitely wouldn't want more people notig her."

  "But it's fine now! She just messaged me—she agreed to testify for Sudo-kun."

  Kushida smiled, looking pleased with herself.

  "Seems like today's trip to fix her camera wasn't a waste."

  "That's great to hear. I hope your css resolve this issue smoothly."

  Hikaru nodded, but his thoughts remained on Sakura's secret.

  The System had clearly stated that taking photos with Sakura could increase her stock value.

  Would bringing up this topic help him get closer to her?

  Might be worth testing.

  ~~~

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