Although Shiho Manabe scoffed inwardly, she proposed a condition just to be safe.

"I'll sign, but you have to promise to delete those photos from earlier."

She wasn't an idiot—the most threatening weapon right now was the photos in Kaoru Mitoma's hands.

If they weren't deleted, even after signing, she wouldn't feel secure.

Kaoru nodded. "Once you sign, the photos will be deleted immediately."

Manabe wasn't entirely convinced, but considering her current predicament and his earlier actions, the dull ache in her wrist made her grimace.

"Fine!"

Manabe picked up the pen, quickly signed her name on the contract and then handed it to her companion.

Once the signatures were done, Manabe impatiently urged, "This is enough, right?"

"Of course." Kaoru calmly collected the contract, a faint glimmer passing through it, signaling that an unbreakable contractual bond had been established.

Then, under Manabe's watchful gaze, Kaoru promptly deleted the photos.

Seeing them vanish completely, Manabe inwardly sighed in relief, though she still put on a tough front.

"Hmph, I won't forget what happened today!"

With that, she and her lackeys hurriedly disappeared from Kaoru's sight.

Now, only he and Kei Karuizawa remained.

For some reason, the girl had been silent the whole time, quietly staring at him.

Kaoru took out his phone and sent a message to Masumi Kamuro.

'Today, Shiho Manabe and her group cornered Kei Karuizawa in the emergency stairwell. They wanted an explanation because Karuizawa bumped into a Class C student while cutting in line. It nearly turned into a bullying incident.'

The moment he sent it, a pleasant chime rang in Kaoru's ears.

[Ding! Conditions for the "Reward Contract" detected—effect confirmed!]

[Duration: Two years, three months, and sixteen days…]

As for the question mark Masumi sent in reply, Kaoru ignored it.

After all, the contract didn't say he couldn't disclose the details.

Just like how he had buried loopholes in past contracts, he had also planted one in this "Reward Contract."

The signer couldn't reveal the terms, but if someone found out, it would be the signer's fault.

More importantly, the penalty for breaching the contract was entirely up to Kaoru's discretion.

In other words, from today onward, Shiho Manabe was firmly in his grasp.

Honestly, while the "Reward Contract" allowed for unfair terms, the signers weren't blind.

Kaoru had considered that being too blatant might tip Manabe off.

So, he had phrased it subtly.

Unexpectedly, Manabe hadn't noticed anything amiss and signed without hesitation.

Kaoru fell into thought—how should he punish Manabe now?

Just then, Kei Karuizawa tugged lightly on his sleeve.

"Don't I have to sign too?"

Kaoru blinked, then gave her a strange look. "No need. They only agreed to sign because they were afraid I'd report them to the school."

Karuizawa let out a soft "Mm," her head lowered so he couldn't see her expression.

Her hair was still a mess from the earlier ordeal.

Kaoru thought for a moment and began rummaging through his clothes.

This action quickly caught Karuizawa Kei's attention, especially when she saw him reaching into his pants pocket.

It seemed to remind her of a certain scene, as her face turned slightly red.

"Are you looking for tissues again?" Kaoru looked at the girl in surprise.

Unlike before, she wasn't flustered—instead, she kept staring at his pocket, her face flushed.

"Sorry, it seems I forgot to bring tissues again."

Hearing these familiar words, Karuizawa touched her cheek.

Not only did she feel something slightly cool, but she could also sense the heat radiating from her fingertips.

Something was swelling in her chest, filling every corner of her heart like cotton candy—both uncomfortable and sweet, leaving her feeling both happy and aggrieved.

Standing before him, gazing up at his tall figure, Karuizawa bit her lower lip hard, enduring the surging emotions inside her.

The shadows of the past melted like ice under the scorching sun, gradually turning into mist in her eyes.

"Th-Thank you… I thought you were… joking back then, that you never meant to help me…" Karuizawa spoke haltingly, but no matter how hard she tried, her voice still trembled at the end, as if she were about to cry.

"Since I touched your chest, it's only natural to take responsibility." Kaoru averted his gaze slightly.

Truthfully, he could have fulfilled a certain wish with Karuizawa just now.

Karuizawa cried for a while, then suddenly let out a dazed laugh.

"Do you… want to touch them again?"

The moment she said it, she realized she'd spoken something she shouldn't have and shyly turned her face away.

"I-I was joking! My chest isn't big at all, it's not fun, and…" Karuizawa grew uneasy, likely recalling the scene from last time, her voice growing quieter.

"You saw that thing… It must've been disgusting, right?"

In truth, her chest wasn't small at all.

Kaoru estimated it to be around a C-cup—just the right size to fill his palm perfectly, allowing him to freely shape it as he pleased.

But of course, he couldn't say that outright.

"I told you before—I'm interested in you, especially your body." Kaoru paused. "So no, I don't find it disgusting. If anything, it makes me even more interested."

Faced with such a shameless remark, Karuizawa would normally have snapped back immediately. But now, she simply blushed deeply and stayed silent.

[Karuizawa Kei: Overthinking, relief, happiness, more overthinking…]

[Suggestion: Confessing would effectively raise the target's affection level.]

After a brief silence, Kaoru gently grasped Karuizawa's shoulders, startling her and making her whole body tense up.

Meeting his gaze, the girl pressed her lips together.

Whether from nervousness or something else, a faint blush spread across her cheeks, her expression slightly awkward.

"Karuizawa-san, may I take a look at your panties?"

"Eh?"

Karuizawa thought she'd misheard him.

Tilting her head in confusion, she stared at Kaoru, who wore an entirely serious expression.

"Can I see your panties?"

Oh, just he just want to see my panties.

Karuizawa had thought she misheard him—it was just looking after all…

"W-wait, what are you talking about?!" The girl flushed crimson, steam practically rising from her head.

"S-suddenly wanting to see... to see... If you say one more nonsense word, I'll... I'll... never speak to you again!"

With just one sentence, he had completely shattered Karuizawa Kei's train of thought, leaving her utterly flustered.

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