-243- Just as you wish
With Hori's understanding of the human body and knowledge of assassination—how could he not see how severe that scar was, one that had once been a deeply serious wound?
This isn't a scar that can be explained away with "bullying" as an excuse.
This deep scar, unless it was cut open by a very sharp blade, would never have formed.
Hori can be certain.
This was an injury severe enough to endanger one's life.
Only an injury of this severity would cause Karuizawa Kei's inner self to collapse, turning into an enduring psychological trauma.
In this light, it's not difficult to understand why Karuizawa Kei would spare no effort to gain status.
For survival, she forcibly gathers those around her, willing to be disliked by people, just to avoid being hurt again. This forms the image of Karuizawa Kei in people's minds: strong-willed and arrogant.
Therefore, there are no secrets left for Karuizawa Kei in Hori Nanaya's eyes.
Everything this girl wanted to hide has all been uncovered by Hori Nanaya.
"Ugh..."
Karuizawa Kei opened her mouth as if to say something, but nothing came out except meaningless sounds of distress.
Until Hori's voice sounded again.
"Come here, lie down on the bed."
This sentence dragged Karuizawa Kei out of painful memories once again, facing the reality in front of her.
Watching Hori's unwavering demeanor, Karuizawa Kei looked confused.
"W-what... what do you intend to do to me?"
Despite saying this, Karuizawa Kei, as if unable to resist, followed Hori's instructions and lay down on the bed.
A beautiful young woman, completely unclothed, obediently lying on her own bed—wouldn't this situation excite and arouse any man with desires?
Except Hori isn't like that.
It's not that Hori lacks desire.
In that regard, Hori is perfectly normal.
It's just that Hori's desire isn't driven by carnal desires.
Even with Karuizawa Kei lying like this, completely unclothed, Hori's eyes showed no desire, only opening the bottle of herbs and applying the prepared herbs to the scar on Karuizawa Kei's side, bit by bit.
"Ah..."
Karuizawa Kei felt a chill on her side and couldn't help but make a sound reflexively, attempting to resist.
Unfortunately, all resistance disappeared under Hori's indifferent voice.
"Don't move."
With such a short and simple command, Hori effortlessly halted Karuizawa Kei's movements.
Karuizawa Kei could only endure silently, looking at Hori with confusiob.
This girl simply couldn't understand what Hori intended to do.
Until Hori's voice sounded again in the room.
"Unlike Western medicine, which acts quickly, traditional herbal medicine generally takes longer to take effect."
Hori's gaze didn't linger on Karuizawa Kei's wonderfully fair body but naturally began to explain.
"It's fine for things like colds and fevers, but it mainly adjusts the body internally. When taken orally, the medicine is easily absorbed. For herbs used topically, like this scar-removing herb, it'll take at least a few months for the effects to show, let alone completely remove the scar."
This was why Hori called Karuizawa Kei here.
"If combined with massage on acupuncture points to promote blood circulation and metabolism, the medicine's effects can be absorbed more quickly."
While explaining, Hori continued to apply the herbs and massage Karuizawa Kei's side with his fingertips.
"For this scar, as long as you continue to apply my prepared herbs daily and promote absorption through massage, it should fully recover in about a month."
If not, Hori could just give Karuizawa Kei a bottle of herbs without needing her to come here and apply them personally.
This left Karuizawa Kei dumbfounded, hesitantly speaking.
"You... you're not..."
Hearing Karuizawa Kei's words, Hori glanced at her.
"Not what?" Hori said with a smirk. "Do you really think I'm interested in your body?"
Certainly, Karuizawa Kei is very delicate, and purely in terms of appearance, she's no less than Horikita Suzune, Kushida Kikyou, Sakayanagi, or Tachibana Akane.
Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki have always been saying that while Karuizawa Kei's personality is very annoying, her looks alone are impeccable.
If Karuizawa Kei could show a conduct as convincing as Kushida Kikyou or Tachibana Akane's, she would instantly gain tremendous popularity.
But Karuizawa Kei didn't come to this school to be popular but to stop being bullied.
Whether or not she's disliked is simply not within Karuizawa Kei's consideration.
As long as Karuizawa Kei can make herself someone whom people won't easily bully, that's enough.
It must be admitted, though, that Karuizawa Kei is indeed very attractive.
However, just being attractive isn't enough to pique Hori's interest.
If it were someone like Sakura Airi or Ichinose Honami, perhaps Hori wouldn't be so calm and composed.
In Karuizawa Kei's case, Hori isn't like that.
"T-then... why did you ask me to undress?"
Karuizawa Kei finally realized, unable to help but sound astonished.
The response she received was Hori's indifferent remark.
"Aren't you thinking I'm going to do something like that to you? Well, then, I'll give you a little surprise, just as you wish."
A surprise?
This is a surprise?
Isn't this just frightening!?
"You... you jerk..."
Realizing she's being played, Karuizawa Kei's complexion no longer pale but rather extremely embarrassed.
If it weren't for her usual display of strength and arrogance being just an act, Karuizawa Kei might have already exploded.
In essence, Karuizawa Kei's true personality isn't very prominent, similar to an ordinary girl, not particularly gentle but still considerate and gentle.
However, this side of her has never been seen by Hirata Yousuke.
Hori still doesn't know he's become the only person in this school to see Karuizawa Kei's true nature.
Hori continued to apply the herbs, making the surroundings quiet.
Once she understood that Hori had no such intentions, Karuizawa Kei became somewhat unsettled.
She couldn't be indifferent while exposed in front of the opposite sex.
Thus, Karuizawa Kei pulled over the nearby blanket, covering herself, leaving only the side of her abdomen exposed.
Then, looking at Hori who was ignoring her actions and calmly applying the herbs, Karuizawa Kei fell silent for a while before asking.
"Why are you helping me?"
If Hori isn't here to bully Karuizawa Kei, then his actions can only be described as "helping."
Karuizawa Kei felt puzzled by this and couldn't help but ask.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone