Heroine Regret 102

Heroine Regret 102

---

Edited by: Tiny Fan Fiction

---

Hayasaka Ai’s invitation

Kato Megumi saw Kitagami Yoru and Ebina Hina talking happily, her mood dropping as she turned and left.

Her expression was filled with an indescribable bitterness.

“So, how are you planning to handle the situation with Tobe Kakeru?”

“Still acting clueless? Don’t know?”

Kitagami Yoru brought up serious matters.

“I can’t just think about myself, right?”

“I’ll just refuse and decline, otherwise, we won’t be able to gather here.”

Ebina Hina was thinking along those lines.

“Then you’re not friends either; it’s all fake.”

Kitagami Yoru made a sarcastic remark and added in his thoughts: “If I were him, I wouldn’t do this. I really want to mess up that fake posh group…”

“In social interactions, a little lies can be like润滑剂.”

Ebina Hina crossed her arms and leaned slightly forward.

“If everyone always told the truth, the world would collapse, and it wouldn’t be better.”

Kitagami Yoru responded calmly.

“Well, thanks for that, Kitagami-san!”

Ebina Hina laughed, showing her perfectly aligned teeth, and waved goodbye.

“Heh, heh… Don’t be so polite…”

Kitagami Yoru subtly stuck out his tongue while forcing a smile.

“That’s nice. It’s no wonder that Yui is acting like an idiot; she probably really likes Kitagami-san, doesn’t she?”

Ebina Hina hesitated for a moment before waving goodbye with her hand.

“There’s still half the class period left… Matsushita’s…”

She drank some juice and turned to look at the clock tower of Shuchiin Academy’s building.

“Are you trying to trick me into coming back?”

Hayasaka Ai furrowed her brows, her mouth twitching with anger.

A group of girls claimed they were there to buy drinks, but why was Kitagami Yoru here?

Hayasaka Ai couldn’t understand what they meant; did they have a meaningful reason?

“No, not Hayasaka. We don’t know if Kitagami-san is here.”

“Go on… Go ahead…”

The girls pushed Hayasaka Ai from the side, using the blind spot to lightly nudge her forward for a pickup.

These girls weren’t exactly stunning, but they were passable—just barely.

How could anyone compare them to the stunning half-European maid Hayasaka Ai?

Because of her shyness and lack of confidence around handsome men, these girls decided to use Hayasaka Ai as a bridge to approach Kitagami Yoru.

Even if she didn’t want to talk, being forced to socialize—drinking coffee, singing, or shopping—they thought it was a good idea.

Hayasaka Ai resisted slightly, refusing to go along with their plans, but she couldn’t confront the girls directly.

She half-resisted, half-let them push her forward.

“Hayasaka, come on!”

One girl pushed Hayasaka toward Kitagami Yoru while holding onto her companion and stepping back a few steps.

The sound of their footsteps attracted Kitagami Yoru’s attention, who turned around to see Hayasaka Ai struggling to keep her balance before standing up, looking unsure of what to do next.

“Ah, no… Hayasaka-san, are you okay?”

Kitagami Yoru politely looks at Hayasaka Ai, catching a glimpse of the few girls behind her with a sidelong glance.

“Hm… um… um…”

Hayasaka Ai instinctively opens her mouth, thinking about the few girls behind her and unsure how to respond.

“Umm?”

Kitagami Yoru shows curiosity toward Hayasaka Ai.

Her intuition and experience as a volunteer at an old-age home tell her that Hayasaka Ai is strange and has a peculiar relationship with Shinomiya Kaguya.

She must have a secret.

“That… um…”

Hayasaka Ai really isn’t good at this, won’t fight without preparation, and turns to look at her companions.

Her companions frantically use eye signals and micro-expressions, seeming more eager than Hayasaka Ai herself.

These small actions can’t hide anything from Kitagami Yoru’s sharp eyes, who basically understands the girls’ intentions and thoughts.

Could it be?

Are they planning to ask her out?

“How about after school today? Want to go out together?”

Hayasaka Ai sighs inwardly but forces a smile.

Taking care of Kaguya-sama is no easy task; she finds solace in the struggle.

“Sure.”

Kitagami Yoru nods without hesitation.

If it were anyone else, he’d refuse.

“Uh… okay.”

Hayasaka Ai thought Kitagami Yoru would refuse and is a bit surprised.

“Okay, so exchanging contact information?”

Kitagami Yoru casually looks at Hayasaka Ai’s eyes and her head.

A golden box slowly appears, with an extremely thin progress bar!

He wouldn’t agree to open the golden box unless he does.

“Can I…?”

Hayasaka Ai’s line includes a few girls and some necessary classmates, but mostly Shinomiya Kaguya.

“Uwah… I was just saying Hayasaka is rare and so pretty…”

The few girls cheerfully jump up, glance at each other, and whisper among themselves, as if they’ve been touched by something sacred.

Hayasaka Ai hears the movements behind her and wishes she could punch those girls.

However, she doesn’t consider them true friends; her reality is cold and ruthless.

“Why does Hayasaka Ai have a golden box on her head?”

“Counting Kasumigaoka Utaha, Mafuyu Kirisu, Shinomiya Kaguya, Eriri the hairless fool—only Kato and Hayasaka Ai remain…”

Kitagami Yoru thinks deeply about it but can’t see any surprise in getting a cute mixed-breed girl’s contact info.

He only feels confusion.

One day, or soon, he’ll figure out that Hayasaka Ai is Shinomiya Kaguya’s personal maid, who has been following him, investigating him, and even once considered sinking his entire family in Tokyo Bay.

Will he get angry? And then think about the golden box again…

Only confusion remains.

Until he understands it for himself—either one day or soon.

“You didn’t bring your phone with you?”

Hayasaka Ai unlocks her phone, and the three girls approach him, secretly sizing him up.

“No, could you please give me your phone for a bit?”

Kitagami Yoru thinks about giving out his contact information.

“Just say it.”

Hayasaka Ai silently refuses.

Kitagami Yoru quickly recites a string of numbers, which are his own phone number.

The three girls can’t help but notice him.

“I don’t understand why I’m so popular now.”

Kitagami Yoru mocks them again, asking who could possibly be better?

Eriri?

Well, it’s too embarrassing to even say out loud.

Eriri wet the bed because of it and ended up making things worse.

So, there’s no doubt about the best choice now; he also has modeling at the art club.

“I added you, should I contact you after school?”

Hayasaka Ai asks curiously.

Everything seems normal, just like a regular chat-up.

But both of them have ulterior motives.

“I have something to do after school; I’ll be a bit late.”

Kitagami Yoru looks at Hayasaka Ai, evaluating her with a critical eye.

Hmm… she’s cute and good-looking…

“No problem, no problem. We’ve got plenty of things to do.”

“Kitagami-san, we can wait!”

The girls rush to answer, their expressions even a bit excited.

Maybe they’re the object of some boy’s unspoken crush and countless fantasies.

If those boys saw her not daring to approach or talk to the girl they adored in front of Kitagami Yoru, how much would they suffer?

Her heart would break into pieces.

So, guys, keep your cool.

“See you later.”

Kitagami Yoru smiles at Hayasaka Ai and glances at the three girls before waving goodbye and walking away.

“Hmph, I bet you all made fun of me back then!”

“And in the station, we played games like finger shooting and pinball, teasing me and making me lose face…”

“Hayasaka, you’ve done so well…,”

“I’m so jealous of you…”

After walking away, the three girls surround Hayasaka Ai.

“You want his number? I can give it to you.”

Seeing her companions’ eager looks, Hayasaka Ai lets out a quiet sigh.

She found a quiet spot and waited until almost school time before returning to the track for the lineup.

“Yui, Kitagami-kun has returned…”

Ebina Hina’s hand sneaks towards Yuigahama Yui’s soft waist, her voice teasing as she attacks.

“Hey, Hina, don’t talk like that. I’m not interested in love affairs.”

Yuigahama Yui blushed and pulled her waist soft flesh.

“Class dismissed!”

After the physical education teacher called out his name, he immediately announced dismissal.

Kitagami Yoru stood in place, having seen through Hayasaka Ai’s application, and then noticed a message from his mother, Kitagami Megumi.

“Dad suddenly got promoted and got a raise again? He just got promoted once at the beginning of the year!”

“No, that’s not right. It’s due to his outstanding performance; he’s almost reached the threshold for upper management.”

While Kitagami Yoru was惊喜 for his father, he himself was still in shock.

Japan and another country are like fish swimming in the same sea…

The message read “One hundred million yen?”

A red dot indicated a single message was missing.

Kitagami Yoru muttered to himself, realizing everything.

Shinomiya Corporation is one of Japan’s four major zaibatsu, secretly leading and controlling a quarter of Japan’s economic backbone, with industries spanning countless sectors.

“One after another, needing your measly money?”

For the poor, money is most important.

But once you have financial freedom and accumulated wealth, your body and dignity become more crucial.

People alive, once they’re well-fed, start wanting to voice their opinions!

Kitagami Yoru thought this way, exhaling a long breath.

“Ugh… Annoying…”

Such obviously out-of-his-control situations are really frustrating.

Without any money issues, you can’t open a harem?

One day.

A man worth a hundred billion yen, with both money and influence, comes after your wife, teases her, and even beats up your parents.

After the incident, he tosses you a few million yen, filled with disdain.

A few million yen are worth more than a car accident that kills a person.

But will you forgive him because of that dirty money, or be even angrier?

“Hayasaka Ai…”

Kitagami Yoru understood; the only way to make Shinomiya Kaguya apologize or pay cheaply like Eriri did was through Sakurajima Mai and opening the treasure chest.

More reliable to rely on oneself than others.

Still your own property, the golden box.

“Call me for dinner tonight?”

The people around her gradually disperse as the bell rings, and Kitagami Yoru replies to his mother’s message.

He collects his phone, glances around, and takes a step forward to leave.

On the way to the combined building of the club, he accidentally meets Eriri.

“Eriri, wait.” Yoru calls out, stopping her.

The familiar devilish whisper echoes in his ear, and Eriri’s body stiffens as if frozen, turning around slowly.

“You’re using that intimate tone again!”

Yoru shakes his head with a calm demeanor.

“I could warn you not to think of any underhanded schemes.”

“You dare to threaten me, and you won’t live long enough to regret it!”

Yoru is confident that Eriri has at least a 70% probability of not acting out.

He taunts her again, even if it means being harsh.

“Do you know why I’ve become so popular all of a sudden?” Yoru asks Eriri randomly.

“What? That’s not making much sense.”

Eriri listens carefully, unable to hold back a sarcastic remark.

“This is some kind of twisted question?”

“You’re asking me this now?”

“Trying to show off again?”

“I don’t think I’ll tell you!”

Eriri turned and walked away.

Mrs. Sayuri welcomed me warmly, so I’ll be visiting your house.

Soon, he calmed himself and overcame his inner demons.

“Oh, damn it! You…”

“Because you’re so good-looking, I mean stunning, I mean so popular, right?”

“And all I can think about is how disgusting.”

She finished her angry statement and quickly walked away.

As a well-known sketch artist, she especially fears that Kitagami Yoru might discover her feelings for Tomoya Aki.

What if…

Kitagami Yoru acted like the sketch book.

Eriri thought that Kitagami Yoru could do anything, just like he used to tease her back then.

“You must not let him know about the secret relationship between Tomoya and yourself.”

“You must stay away from Tomoya…”

---