Chapter 2: A new life

The deadline for the answer soon arrived.

After school, a car was sent to the school, picking Saito and Akane up to Tenryuu’s mansion.

In the room full of luxurious hanging scrolls (google search kakejiku), Tenryuu and Chiyo were sitting in the middle, opposite to each other. Meanwhile, Akane was wearing an expression for a funeral.

“So you both have decided, yes?”

Asked Tenryuu.

“”Yes””

The two nodded.

“Then I’ll ask. Which path do you plan to take your life on? The idiots’ path, or the wise’?”

“I… “ “I….”

Saito and Akane took a deep breath.

“”Will marry.””

The simultaneous answer echoed throughout the room, stunning him for a brief moment.

“Is that fine?”

He thought that even if he agreed, the chances of Akane turning it down would be high – and he was anticipating that – but her answer made Saito surprised and looked at Akane.

“Th, there is no other choice… Marrying or whatever is fine, I’ll do it! But it’s not out of love! Definitely not!”

Akane trembled and bit her lips, her face was blushing to her ears. 

“Amazing!”

“Congratulations, Akane. I am relieved now.”

Tenryuu made a victory pose like a victorious war general, while Chiyo wiped the tears from her face with a tissue.

“It is decided then. After graduating from university, we will prepare to register for marriage.”

While Saito was standing up, Tenryuu laughed.

“What are you talking about? You two would marry right here and now. I already prepared a new house for you two.”

“What did you just say….?”

Saito wasn’t sure of what he just heard from his grandfather.

“Wait a minute! Put me down~! Forgive me~!”

Akane slammed her fists into the limousine’s window.

“Stop it Akane. Don’t hurt your cute hands anymore.”

Chiyo held Akane’s hands and consoled her.

Akane and Saito were imprisoned by Tenryuu’s bodyguards in the limousine, and were now heading towards the new house. The windows were locked, and were not harmed at all.

Saito was glaring at Tenryuu, who was leaning one the opposite row of seats.

“At least let me go home once. I currently only have a school bag.”

“There’s no point in running. All of your luggages was moved to the new house.”

“Since when…”

“While you two were still in class. Youth is limited, so the sooner we do it, the better.”

Chiyo gave a kind smile.

“You students are busy right, so I already submitted your marriage registration on behalf of you two.”

“You are an IDIOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT~!”

Akane kneeled down in defeat.

—-We’re now husband and wife, with this girl here….?

This situation made Saito really confused. There was no love, no confession, no dating, no nothing. And somehow there was marriage. His heart definitely was not prepared for this.

After a while, Akane sat up and she opened some videos on her smartphone. She looked at some cat videos with her dead eyes.

“Aah…. Cute cats…. So soft and hairy… the world is filled with cats… there are no humans on this world, just cats…..”

“Don’t run away from reality.”

Understanding her emotions, Saito felt sad as well.

“I’m not running away from reality… Hey, isn’t the cat sleeping on my thighs…. Keep quiet, don’t let it wake up…. Fufu~”

“There ain’t any cats. Wake up.”

His suggestion fell on deaf ears, Akane kept looking at her smartphone and mumbling. Apparently this was what would happen to youngsters sentenced to a lifetime in prison.

—-Damn it, I can’t take it. Even if it’s just me alone, I have to keep my calm…

Saito turned on the strategy game on his smartphone and played. Using his head for stuff irrelevant to reality made him feel a bit more relieved.

The place the limousine stopped at was a completely new house.

It had 2 floors, a parking lot, and blooming flowers planted in the backyard garden. 

Saito and Akane held their bags tight, and looked up the house after getting down from the car.

“Th, this useless house looks pretty nice….”

“This, no way…”

Getting stared at by Saito, Tenryuu affirmed his suspicion.

“Sparkling new. I build it for you two love birds.”

“What if we declined the marriage?”

“I would do everything to make you accept it. No matter what kind of scheme I have to employ.”

“Kuh~…”

Saito gritted his teeth.

He was angry at being treated like that by his grandfather, but there was no choice for him now aside from obey his words. He decided internally that after he got his hand on the company, he would immediately kick his grandfather out of it.

“What an amazing house. Tenryuu and I discussed the layout of the house. We also imagined what two youngsters just starting to live together would need and designed accordingly.”

Chiyo opened the door with an excited mood.

The first thing greeting them after stepping through the gates was the new wood smell.

The kids were led by their grandparent, into the corridors.

There was a living room, connected to the kitchen, but separated by a counter.

The thick carpet was laid over the floor, and a sofa placed on said carpet, seemingly comfortable. Sitting on a luxurious and heavy table was a big-sized TV, fully equipped with surround speakers.

“Wow~….”

All of those made Akane’s eyes sparkle.

“What makes you excited all the sudden?”

“W,who is excited! I’m dreading my new life in hell! If this was a place for me living alone then it would be amazing! But with you by my side, it ruined this perfect home for me.”

“Aahh, that so. I’m also envisioning a dreamy single lifestyle!”

Saito and Akane again quarrelled, sparks flying between the two.

Seeing the scene, Tenryuu and Chiyo giggled. Saito, meanwhile, did not understand what was so interesting about this, and wanted them to stop.

Leaving the bags in the living room, the two followed their grandparents to tour the house.

“This is the bathroom”

The room Tenryuu opened the door to was a bathroom, gorgeous to the point no one could think it was something built for a two-storey house. The bathtub was built onto the floor, with an array of water taps lining up on the flat and perfectly smooth surface.

“Incredibly huge….”

Tenryuu raised his thumb at the stunned Saito.

“With a bathroom this big, there would be no difficulties if both of you entered right?”

“B,both~?”

Akane’s shoulders shook.

Chiyo happily flicked a switch on the wall.

“If you turn this switch on, the bathtub will be filled with bubbles~. This one changes the light all the way to red. I recommend purple, for the romantic atmosphere.

“I don’t need that kind of atmosphere! There will definitely not be a situation where we enter the bath together!”

Akane waved her hands with a crimson face.

“I also prefer my baths alone….”

Saito’s face was also heating up.

The goals the grandparents are setting for the youngsters were way too overbroad. He wanted to say that if they wanted to relive their youth, then they should do this themselves, but in reality, they did so much that even their grandchildren were affected, so he just gave up.

Tenryuu crossed his arms and said.

“It took a lot to convince 2 younglings like you to live together, yet you chose to bathe alone. That’s the peak of idiocy. Washing each others’ bodies, hairs, making babies, there were many better choices you could have took.”

“M, making babies….”

Akane started stuttering. This was the pinnacle of embarrassment.

The next place Saito was led to was the bedroom.

A large, luxurious bed was installed inside, along with a clock. The windows were covered with curtains, and along the walls, there was a small fridge to hold water bottles, and a water dispenser. 

It was a nice bedroom… but the issue was, there were no other bedrooms.

Saito had a bad premonition.

“Erm… why do I only see one bed….?”

Akane said while trembling.

Tenryuu nodded his head.

“Of course, you two sleep on the same bed. It’s something obvious for a married couple right?”

“No way!”

“Even if you don’t want to, you have to listen. Using the sofa or sleeping on the floor is forbidden. You two absolutely have to sleep together at night. This is your condition for marriage.”

“How did it come to that~….”

Those unforgiving words made Akane shiver.

Chiyo pressed the switch at the tray near the bed head.

“This isn’t just a normal bed. It can move around with a press of just one button, and mirrors are also included. There are also a list of background songs to choose from to make your couples’ night more festive.”

“I don’t need that functionality!”

“It’s important. It’s something memorable for both you and Saito here, so try your best.”

“What do you mean try my best~!”

After getting her hands grabbed and hearing those words, Akane looked like she was ready to burst out of the window and make a run for her life.

This kind of thoughtful service weirded even Saito out. Don’t talk about doing it with anyone else, he couldn’t even think about himself doing it with Akane.

After that, the grandparents turned cupid continued to introduce them around the house.

The design of the house would no doubt bring joyous tears to any normal newly weds. But, unfortunately, our couple here wasn’t exactly normal, on the opposite, they are like oil and water. The more tricks employed to strengthen their love, the more terrifying it is for them.

After guiding the two around, it was time for the old people to leave.

The limousine that drove them here was no where to be seen, in its place stood the convertible that Tenryuu usually used. The mansion’s driver must have driven it here.

Just sitting into the car, Chiyo giggled.

“There’s just you youngsters now so take it slow”

“Wait! Grandma! Don’t leave me here! Don’t leave me behind~!”

Chiyo swiped the hand that was grabbing her away and left her alone on the streets.

“I told you to give up. So stubborn.”

The gentle expression was nowhere to be seen, standing in her place now was a demon. Negative aura radiated off of her.

Tenryuu sat into the driver’s seat and held the steering wheel. The sun was setting, yet he was still wearing his sunglasses, and parked his legs on the car’s body.

There was the sound of engine revving and romantic songs, and the convertible carrying the old people left.

(Yes, if you’re like me and you hate those grandparents, that’s the last time you’ll see them in the next 3 chapters wooh)

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaa…..”

Akane whimpered and could barely form a word, she kneeled down to the road and reached her hands out. That hand could not reach her grandma. This was an unfair would.

They couldn’t just stay outside forever, so Saito and Akane stepped into the new house.

Right after closing the door, Akane leaned her back on the wall.

“D, do it…….?”

Her teary eyes looked at Saito.

“Huh….? Do what?”

“You will do it right….? Ignoring my pleas and cries, you would follow your sexual instincts and do it with me right!? You’ll do me so hard we can’t go to school the next day!”

“Like I’ve said, do what?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know! Th-the perverted stuff! Do you think I didn’t realize that you were looking at me with a lecherous gaze since the beginning!?”

Akane trembled and held her body.

“You are completely imagining it! I absolutely have zero interest in you.”

“I, know… in situations like these, boys just think about one thing…. They just think about perverted stuff… That will not happen…”

Akane took a defensive stance with a pencil as if it was a sword.

Her defensive power wasn’t that high, but her conviction got through to Saito. Saito had never seen Akane pushed to the brink like this before at school, which gave him a sense of pride and accomplishment. Which was precisely why he wanted to try and threaten her a bit.

“…..You know it well. I am also considering not letting you sleep tonight.”

“NO_———————————!!”

The pencil Akane was gripping exploded to bits. It seemed his attack was more destructive than imagined.

Saito felt a chill down his spine.

“C,calm down. I’m not a person who would coerce others like that.”

“You are a human being?”

“You are retorting from that!? Do I look like anything but a human to you?”

“Who knows… there’s a chance you might be a shapeshifter….”

“So I am a fox or tanuki then?”

No matter how convincing Saito might be, Akane didn’t relax her vigilance. Leaning her back against the wall, she slowly moved to the living room.

If the first day of their marriage was like this, he didn’t want to think about the future. Saito fell into a deadlock

Just as Tenryuu said, Saito and Akane’s luggage were delivered to the new house. The carton boxes were packed tightly and placed along the hallway and the living room.

Thankfully, there were separate study rooms for the two on the second floor so both had space to organize their own belongings. They had no choice but to listen to their grandparents. Even if they returned to their old houses, it wouldn’t be their homes anymore.

When they were done, it was already late. Saito was so tired, he didn’t have the mood to make food, so he opened the fridge in the kitchen.

There was delivered food inside. It seemed that Tenryuu predicted that the kids won’t have time to do housework on the first day. His grandfather was troublesome, but he was very observant in small matters like this.

Saito put the pizza in the oversized microwave to heat it up. He sat down on the counter and was about to eat the pizza… when Akane’s figure entered his sight.

Akane was hiding behind the door to the corridor, put her hands on her mouth and looked at the pizza. He could even hear her stomach growl.

It would leave a bad taste in his mouth if he was the only one satisfied. There was no other choice so Saito started the conversation.

“….If you don’t mind, let’s eat?”

“I don’t want to do something that’s like being husband and wife!”

‘Husband and wife my ass’ – Thought Saito, but he didn’t want to retort so he stayed silent.

“Even if we’re not, at least sit down and eat something.”

“Even if we’re not a couple, you still want to eat me? You’ll undress me naked right here and now!?”

Akane trembled.

“Are you trying to twist my words?”

“I’m not twisting your words. I heard it very clearly.”

“I don’t know where you are hearing those sound waves.”

“From a world without you!”

“Unfortunately, that world isn’t real.”

“I’m about to make it real.”

“Please don’t. This is enough, else, you’ll starve to death.”

Saito clicked his tongue “tsk tsk tsk” then he placed a slice on the plate and directed it at her.

Akane’s eyes shone. She darted to Saito’s place, grabbed the plate and bolted out of the living room. Her footsteps echoed from the stairs.

—Are you a stray cat that is afraid of humans or what?

Saito felt exhausted.

Even so, the truth was he felt more comfortable without Akane around. He put the Glatan and pasta into the microwave to heat it up, and dug in alone.

—Nice. This is made by a quality store.

He thought of leaving half behind for Akane, but greed won the internal battle, so he finished it all by himself.

He quickly took a bath, and after preparing for school tomorrow, he went on the bed.

Akane still wasn’t there yet. Did she intend to sleep in her own study room?

Saito would have preferred sleeping alone if possible, but it would be dangerous to underestimate Tenryuu. It would not be strange if this bed was to be installed with a weight sensor, or a camera surveillance.

And, if he didn’t fulfill Tenryuu’s condition, the dog will become CEO.

He must avoid that at all costs. It was Akane’s problem if she ignored the condition, but at the very least, Saito had to follow it.

What was placed on the bed was a Yes-No pillow. However, both of its sides were printed with Yes.

“……………”

Due to the inability to imagine the future where he uses “Yes” with Akane, Saito stripped the pillow case and threw it in the bin.

He placed the smartphone near the bed top, and plugged it in. Electrical appliances were covered to minute detail so he could understand Tenryuu’s and Chiyo’s seriousness.

He lied on the bed and closed his eyes. Immediately, the drowsiness assaulted him.

A lot happened today. Including one of the most important events in a lifetime, and he didn’t want to revisit this day ever again in the future. While he was thinking about it.

The bedroom door was opened, letting the light from the hallway in.

“S, sorry to intrude…”

Akane was wearing her pyjamas and stood in the hallway.

Warmness radiated from her after taking a bath, and her hair was glossy due to wetness.

Her cheeks were crimson like this was something unbearably embarrassing for her, and she was wiggling around restlessly.

“Er, erm…”

Saito immediately widened his eyes.

This was a rare state not normally seen from a female classmate who’s now sharing the bedroom with him. Even if they argued like cats and dogs normally, this kind of offensive power is still unchanged. Especially for this young lady, whose outward appearance radiated perfect cuteness.

“The bed, is pretty cramped huh…”

“Those two must have bought the smaller one on purpose….”

The bed was barely big enough to fit two adults lying face up. It seemed like the grandparents had come up with this to force the two to stick together, the more the better. There’s a limit to how much of a worrywart they could be.

Akane took some awkward steps to the bed and got on it. The bed springs made some noise from her weight, making Saito nervous to the point he edged toward the edge of the bed.

The aroma from her shampoo was fruit scented, blended with the sweetness smell from Akane’s body, and entered Saito’s nose. That smell made him stuffy.

—This girl is dangerous…

Even if he understood well in his head that she was the girl he despite, his body wouldn’t.  Even if he monopolized the number one position in his grade, it couldn’t get rid of the raging hormones from a boy in puberty.

Akane lifted the futon and snuggled in the bed. She turned away from Saito. The distance between them was so close, a tiny wiggle would end up with their backs touching. The warmth from the freshly bathed young lady was transmitted to him through the blankets.

Akane whispered with a fading voice.

“I, if you do anything weird, I will be really mad. Even if I agreed to marry, I didn’t agree with the perverted stuff.”

“…I understand.”

Saito realized his tone was also an octave higher than usual.

“You seriously, seriously can’t okay? I, have never done the perverted stuff before, and have never had a boyfriend before …. S,so I’m still a virgin you know…”

And Akane whimpered in embarrassment.

“No worries… I’m also a virgin.”

Saito didn’t know what he himself was saying. He didn’t have the confidence to reply if asked what “no worries” meant.

“I, if so, then it’s fine.”

Akane was convinced by him for no reason whatsoever.

Both leaned on each other’s back, unimaginable of a wedding night.

He could hear his classmate’s soft breathing noise right next to him. It seemed Akane was also nervous and couldn’t sleep, since her breath was not rhythmic.

“….You, why did you agree to marry me.”

When Saito asked, Akane held her breath.

“…….Not telling.”

“I’ll tell you my reason so it’s best if you tell me yours right?”

“I’m not asking you to tell me.”

“That’s true, but….”

He knew that he wasn’t trusted by Akane, but he wasn’t satisfied with it.

“First of all, I have to marry you, and you have to marry me. Even though it’s on paper only, we need to act properly.”

“It would be troublesome if our grandparents are suspicious.”

“Yes. Even though I don’t like it, there’s nothing we can do but try our best. For my dream, I can take it.”

It seemed just like Saito, she got into this marriage with the hopes of realizing a dream.

“But….What if our grandparents added the condition of having kids?”

“H, having kids~!? That~…..!”

Akane wriggled around, letting her body touch Saito’s hand.

—What’s this soft feeling….

A round soft sensation, that fitted his hand perfectly. Following his reflexes, Saito squeezed that curvy feeling. This was…. The behind of his classmate.

Akane shot up while trembling.

She held Saito’s hand with tears in her eyes.

“You dare to touch my b,b,b,b,butt!? How about I snap your fingers!!”

“There’s no helping it, the bed is too tight!? And you were the one who touched me—!!”

Their first night together started with the screams in pain of the newly wed husband.

Now let’s return to the beginning.

The early morning’s atmosphere was stressful along the highschool’s corridors.

While the sun was shining on her sparkling hair, Akane glared at Saito.

“First off, the fact that we are married is not to be told to any of your classmates. I will snap your head off, not just your fingers.”

This was the ultimatum the morning after the marriage night. A sweet and romantic marriage life is still nowhere to be seen.

“I told you I understand. Yare, I’ll keep my words.”

“Moreover, no mentionings of marriages at school in general. It would be troublesome if we were overheard.”

“You were the one who started this.”

When Saito criticized her, Akane choked up.

“….urk, that’s my bad! But watch out from now on!”

“Especially you. Since you are such an idiot.”

“I’m not an idiot! Aren’t you much more so than me?”

“Not according to our academic abilities.”

Saito laughed.

“J, just sit on your throne without a care in the world, one day you’ll fall! Right… like at exactly midnight today for example….”

Akane’s eyes were filled with darkness.

“Can you be any more specific about when you’re going to do me?”

“Don’t dare me. We sleep on the same bed every night, I can erase your existence whenever I want.”

“Didn’t we just agree not to talk about it at school?”

Saito hurriedly looked around.

“Ah~……..”

Akane covered her mouth.

This young lady was serious to a fault, but she was also clumsy. Last night in the new home, she almost fell down the stairs god knows how many times. There wasn’t any point in meeting in the corridor here in the first place, they left at different times so no one would find out they were living together.

Both stepped into the 3A class through two different doors.

Himari, who was already in class, called out to Akane.

“Morning, Akane. What did you talk about with Saito?”

“N, nothing important.”

“Eh~? Didn’t you get so angry you pulled on Saito’s tie?”

“I’m not angry. It’s just my normal expression.”

“Ah, Akane’s face always looks scary huh~”

“R,really? Where?”

Akane hurriedly touched her face.

“How to say it, basically you’re wrinkling your eyebrows. Looking just like a demon.”

“Isn’t it too much to call me a demon!?”

Akane received a massive shock. Himari used her smartphone’s front camera to replace a mirror and gave it to Akane. Akane then tried to erase the wrinkle in her brows by poking at it. Those two were close as always.

Saito had never seen these two argue with each other, so he thought they would never argue, ever. It was a stark contrast to Akane’s and Saito’s relationship.

After Saito got in his seat, Shisei came over.

She didn’t greet him, but suddenly brought her nose close to Saito’s head, then she sniffed it.

“W, what’s wrong….?”

Saito froze.

Shisei brought her nose away and stared at him.

“Bro, your shampoo smells different today. Where did you sleep last night.”

She was too sharp. Saito tried to find ways to reply to her.

“Erm… My father bought a strange shampoo.”

“Not just the shampoo.”

Shisei held Saito’s chest and brought her nose to his neck.

The tip of her nose brushed with Saito’s neck, making him ticklish and curl up.

“…And there’s a smell of a woman.”

And Shisei bit Saito’s neck.

“Ouch~!? Don’t bite!”

“If you’re dating anyone, I want you to tell me clearly. As your sister, not hearing your daily report on your lovey dovey mating makes me flustered.”

“What’s more flustering is having my sister ask about my love life.”

Moreover, Shisei’s face showed no hint of flusteredness. As expressionless as always.

“….Liar. Bro married, right?”

“~…….Why…..”

Before he could ask how she already knew, Shisei said.

“Grandpa was doing some weird stuff so I investigated. I also found out your new home address. The one Bro married with is Sakuramori – mu gu gu~”

Saito used his palms to cover her mouth, and picked her up. Shisei did not resist one bit, and just dangled around in his hand. Saito got to the balcony, put Shisei down and closed the doors behind him.

“I’m kidnapped by Bro. Lolinapping is a crime bro.”

Shisei used both her hands to cover her cheeks.

“So you identify yourself as a loli huh…”

In reality, Shisei’s appearance was indistinguishable from a primary school kid, so if they went to an amusement park, she would only need to pay the kids fee. Worse off, they might even give her the nursery children ticket.

Saito put both of his hands together.

“I’m begging you. Don’t tell anyone about the marriage for me, please.”

“Why? Marriage is a good thing. You should tell everyone in class so they can give you their blessings.”

He pulled Shisei back, who was intending to return to class.

“Shise is imprisoned. This actually is kidnapping then.”

“It’s not kidnapping. If the marriage story leaks out, especially at our age, it’s going to be a big deal. Moreover, it’s with a classmate no less.”

“Shise has no responsibility to remain silent. Bro didn’t discuss with me before marrying.”

“If you’re talking about discussing with you then I did.”

“That’s a scam. Shise needs some silencing fee.”

“What now…?”

Saito felt stressed. Shisei was Tenryuu’s grandchildren, was she amining for half of the Houjou corp’s assets?

Shisei put her index finger on her lips and thought.

“Hmm~….silencing fee… silencing fee… silencing…”

At that moment, a butterfly approached from the garden.

“Wow~”

Shisei clumsily followed the butterfly.

“Can’t come up with anything?”

“I’ll come up with something soon. Bro’s life is in Shise’s hands.”

Shisei opened and closed her palms. Even though she looks like a kid practicing for a school’s performance, it is very hard to read her thoughts.

Meanwhile, Saito was terrified of the aspect of her giving him a terrible condition.

The first period was volleyball, in the gym.

Saito was sitting in the corner, looking at the competing teams.

Shisei was standing in the middle of the field, oblivious to the balls flying around her.

The balls hit her head, her face, her body, as if she was a ball black hole. Every time this happened, her petite body flew without a single scream.

She was silent. A silent, flying young lady, terrifying people around her.

“S, sorry! Houjou! Are you alright!?”

The students from the opposing team worriedly chased after her; however, Shisei was,

“No problem. Not dead yet.”

She said without a care in the world. The one most similar to Tenryuu in the Houjou household had to be Shisei. But, even if she was indifferent, her body slowly accumulated injuries.

—Is it seriously fine…..?

While Saito was worried for her like a brother watching the match, Akane held the ball and approached him. She stood next to Saito, and asked him while averting her gaze.

“This morning, what did you talk about with Shisei?”

“…..Something.”

Saito stuttered. If he told her that Shisei knew everything, it would be troublesome.

“Say it clearly. You didn’t tell Shisei about the marriage, did you?”

“I didn’t”

He didn’t tell her himself, no.

“Really? You can’t be trusted.”

“I’m serious. What do I gain from telling Shise?”

Akane hugged the ball tight and gave a faraway gaze.

“Human beings are creatures that will do meaningless things when bored… It’s stupid.”

“I can’t understand your philosophy.”

“Am I not correct? 95% of humanity puts no effort into their lives, nor try to grow up, but keeps on doing meaningless things everyday.”

“Apologize to the 95% of the population.”

It is true that a lot of people are living inefficient lives, but Saito thought everyone needed some freedom in their own lives.

The P.E teacher gave a red card because Shisei was hit by the ball one little too much – This was the first time he saw a red card being used for volleyball – Shisei was carried out of the field and the match concluded.

“Shisei, try your best.” “There’s nothing scary left.” “Come with us to a safer place.” “Let’s come somewhere silent and protected from sunlight.”

Some girls making the expression of guardians took Shisei away. It seemed Shisei’s petite body awoke their motherly instincts.

Shisei directed her gaze at Saito while being carried away and put up her thumb.

“Bro, the rest, I’ll leave to you.”

“Yeah, rest in the infirmary.”

He didn’t understand what she was leaving him with, but his team’s match was beginning so he stepped into the field. Even though P.E. isn’t his favourite subject, he understood that strengthening himself by exercising during his growth period is very important for business works in the future.

Saito and Akane were the left and central midfielder, respectively, while Himaru was the central defender.

Akane glared at Saito.

“Bring it on. I’ll definitely not lose to you.”

“We’re on the same team.”

“I have never considered you to be a teammate of mine.”

“Consider me one then! At least in this match!”

While they were having that conversation, the opposing team served.

“..~”

Saito was trying to catch the ball, but,

“Kya~!?”

Akane used her entire body strength to tackle Saito. Their foreheads slammed together with great force, making a noise that reminds everyone of the bell rings in churches. Stars gathered around Saito’s vision.

“What the hell were you doing!?”

“That’s my question! It’s my ball!”

“It’s not your ball! It’s mine!”

“Huuuuuuuuuh!? Who gave you the right to decide that? Ever since the beginning of reality, it was already my ball.”

Saito and Akane glared at each other through their tears of pain. Himari called out.

“A, ano-, the ball is not yours~? It’s the school’s~?”

“Now that you mention it….”

Saito facepalmed. He was dragged along Akane’s flow.

He usually was a calm person for his age, yet, whenever he was talking to Akane, he could barely contain his emotions. Moreover, he just didn’t want to have anything to do with Akane.

The ball rolled out of the field, causing a point loss for his team.

Himari giggled like she was having the time of her life.

“You wouldn’t know from his looks but Saito is quite a dummy huh~”

“Kuh~…..”

What a blunder. The one who prided himself as the Top 1 of the grade was now being called a dummy. To not lose his calm, Saito inhales deeply to readjust his emotions.

“Alright, bring it on!”

There’s determination, for sure. However, they again smashed into each other hard trying to reach for the ball.

His stomach got a mouthful, or should I say stomachful, of Akane’s head.

-This chick is like a bullet…

Though his senses were numb, he already flew off the field.

Saito stood up while coughing out blood.

“Do you really want to kill me!? Do you think that you won’t be convicted if you do that while in a match?”

Blood was also forming on Akane’s lips. Both now had injuries all over their bodies.

“It’s just because you were standing in the place that I was heading to! Don’t block my path!”

“The one blocking is you!”

“It’s your fault for standing in front of the bulldozer!”

“Is it fine for you to call yourself a bulldozer?”

It’s not something you would usually use to describe a cute female highschooler.

“Can you please play properly next time? Or else I’d rather be substituted out to pick up balls.”

“Uh grr….”

Akane bailed her fists looking angry. This was her fighting stance. Saito got himself into a defensive stance, since if he wasn’t paying attention, he would be K.Oed by the menace as if this was a boxing ring.

He silently declared that he wouldn’t fail if he got the ball.

He focused all of his senses on the ball, utilized even the sixth sense, calculated the rotational motion of the ball flying from the opposing field.

–Right now!

The second Saito leaped up, his knee kissed Akane’s chin. The two got tangled together and fell down to the gym’s floor. Akane was lying face up, while Saito was on top of her. Their PE clothes were all wrinkled up, exposing her female softness. Her hair was all over the floor, while her breasts were moving up and down.

“I heard a crack? Did you break a bone anywhere!?”

Saito was definitely worried, and touched Akane’s chin. Meanwhile, Akane’s eyes were tearing up.

“Y, you’re doing this in public….. Even if we’re hu-”

Akane was going to yell out “Even if we’re husband and wife”, but Saito quickly shut her up.

“Mmphh~! Mugamugamuga!”

Akane squirmed around in shock but Saito didn’t let go. He was afraid of her revenge, but he was more afraid of her leaking their marriage out.

Akane pushed Saito flying aside to escape from her prison. She gasped for breath and glared at Saito.

“Y, you pervert… It’s a crime to engage in lewd activities during class.”

“I didn’t do anything lewd.”

“I was done by you! Just a little bit more and I can’t become a bride anymore!”

Saito wanted to shout ‘Aren’t you a bride now!’ but he held it in. Akane used the volleyball as a shield for her body.

Their classmates were looking from afar and whispered among each other.

“They’re doing it again…” “Don’t they get bored~” “You guys are too close…”

They were giving them warm and affectionate gazes.

“What do they mean by “they’re doing it again?”?”

Hearing Saito’s question, Himari answered.

“You don’t know? Since Akane and Saito always quarrel, you two are now considered an item at school. You are named on the Real Couples list, and won top 2 for the most hilarious husband and wife couple at school.?

“W, we’re not husband and wife——!!”

Akane denied while blushing, but they were obviously husband and wife.

Needless to say, if the two were already playing cat and dog at school, their house lives weren’t going to go well. 

When Saito was reading a book in the living room, he could hear Akane’s shriek from the kitchen.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Saito looked over the counter into the kitchen. Akane had just returned from school so she was still wearing her uniforms and holding the groceries bought straight from the supermarket.

“What’s this! Isn’t this just fruit juices?”

The fridge was stuffed full of fruit juices carton boxes.

“Ah, I bought them. Highly concentrated fruit juices.”

“I can’t place groceries like this! Why did you buy so much, and why fruit juices?”

“Because fruit juices are very good in balancing your nutrients. Full of vitamins, fruit juices are all you need.”

“All you need my ass! You don’t only need vitamin, you need some form of starch”

“Ah, those. I have it all prepared.”

Saito opened the eating utensils drawer to show her. What met her eyes were instant noodles, filled to the brim of the drawer. The brain of the top student in the year was built on noodles.

“Kya—!”

“It’s good to the point of you exclaiming? That’s fine and dandy. Instant noodles are the perfect combination of the three aspects: Cheap, fast, delish.”

Saito looked proud. Meanwhile, Akane made a serious face and hugged her head.

“Let me ask you just this one thing… Where’s the protein?”

“Protein is covered.”

Saito held the protein shake bottle up. He also took some protein powders from the plastic bag on the floor out.

“Take a look. The perfect protein combination between whey and casein. This is the pinnacle of nutritional balance, don’t tell me you don’t know about it.”

“I don’t know anything about this!”

“How about you try some?”

“I won’t!”

Akane turned down his suggestion. Without another word, Saito put some protein and fruit juices into the shaking bottle and gently shook it. Akane shuddered.

“You….do you intend to live with just instant noodles, fruit juices, and protein from now on?”

“This is the most simple meal I can make.”

“This is not a meal, I refuse! Especially the thing you are making right now. It’s like wastewater.”

Saito frowned.

“How rude. Do you know how long it took me to appreciate the flavour of this atrocity?”

“Don’t try to trick your taste sense!”

“I’m not tricking it. I’m just numb.”

He put his hand on his chest and proudly said. Akane crossed her arms, looked on the ground and mumbled.

“The phrase ‘all geniuses have a screw loose’ is true… this is much more dangerous than I expect… If I left him alone he would die… And if he dies I wouldn’t receive the benefit from the marriage contract… that would be bad for me… That’s right! I have to do something! This is for my own good… not for him!”

“Did you just recite a mantra?”

“No?”

Akane looked up. She pointed at Saito’s face and said.

“The thing you are preparing right now isn’t food, but science waste! Let me teach you what real food is! Just sit there and wait a bit!”

“No, I already have my all powerful meal….”

Saito let Akane look at the special drink that had already blended between the green of the fruit juice and the cocoa colour of the protein powder. And it made Akane’s shoulders jerk.

“Don’t put that poison near me! How disgusting, hurry up and dump it away somewhere!”

“How can I dump it… You shouldn’t waste food.”

“That thing isn’t food!”

“How dare you ridicule my invention…”

Saito grinded his jaws, while pouring the protein down the basin. One day, they would also need to clean the pipe that just drained the hatred of a liquid away. Akane wore a cute pink apron over her uniform. She bent over to tie the apron’s straps, tied her hair into a bun and laughed.

“Don’t look so excited.”

“Ah, I’m not excited at all! Just prepare yourself, because I’ll show you real foods that yours can’t ever compare to!”

This seemed actually pretty interesting.

In the kitchen, Akane was enthusiastically beating some eggs and pouring them into the mold to make rolled eggs. Since she had a little sister, she made a lot of nutritional food, so she was confident in her cooking ability. Though she couldn’t win academically against Saito, she was  much better at homemaking than him. Moreover, Saito basically lacked real world survivability. He called it protein, obviously implying he had never cooked seriously before in his life.

Akane twirled her chopsticks to roll the fried egg into shape. Back when she tried it in primary school, the egg became all scrambled, but she was used to it now. The dish was fluffy and good looking. The aroma of the egg and sauce was carried throughout the room. If she used a knife to slice lightly at the tip, the cut would look shiny.

“Alright.”

Akane was satisfied with the result.

She was aware that Saito was stealing a glance here and there. He was making the face of a hungry puppy. Akane felt proud of herself making her archnemesis listen to her and wait. He was waiting for Akane to feed him. Just for today, he was just like a pet dog. No matter how great a man was, someone with a hungry stomach could never bite the hand feeding it.

Akane placed the boiled pork on the plate and decorated the sides with tomatoes and pickles. She also sprinkled some minced turnips, leeks and spinaches on top. Finally, she poured some ponzu sauce over. 

This was Akane’s best dish. A high quality dish, easy to prepare, highly nutritious. It always received favourable evaluations from her sister.  Saito would definitely be flabbergasted tasting this dish. Then he would realize Akane’s amazing abilities, praise her cooking, and thank her from the bottom of his heart. She had lost to Saito time and time again, but this time she’d surprise him for sure.

While daydreaming, Akane leaked out the laughter she’s holding back in her heart.

“Fufufufufu….”

“What are you laughing for, it’s scary.”

“How tackless! I’m just making dinner for you?”

“My last dinner huh…. I wonder if there’s poison inside…”

Saito shuddered.

—This guy always angers me!

Akane braced her shoulders and kept on cooking.

Dinner finally came. Saito was trembling looking at the food Akane presented on the table.

Normally, a girl who considers Saito an enemy would definitely put poison in the dishes. Else, there’s no way she would ever serve her nemesis like this. With that thought, even though he was looking carefully when she was cooking, he couldn’t catch her inserting poison.

—Did she put poison in when I wasn’t looking? No, she was definitely directing my line of sight to a blind spot? Or she might have been using magic tricks…

Saito had zero doubts that Akane was trying to kill him. Though this was his first time eating a girl’s cooking, feelings of happiness were nowhere to be seen. Contrarily, anxiety and fear filled his heart.

“Please dig in… I’ll definitely knock you out today…”

Akane organized the dishes while saying dangerous things with a scary expression.

There was pork with spinach, fried egg, Miso soup and rice.

Saito used his chopsticks to dig around the rice. Though it seemed impolite, his life was more important.

“Nails or bombs… none found, apparently.”

“Of course not! Those are inedible!”

“That means, the poison is designed for consumption….”

“What are you saying? Hurry up and eat.”

“You are rushing me as if you want to kill me off quicker…”

“What do you mean killing!”

Akane didn’t even touch her chopsticks, she was just observing Saito.

—Since it’s poisoned, she didn’t want to eat it…?

Half terrified, half trembling, Saito picked up the pork and put it in his mouth. He half resolved himself for death, took a deep breath and chewed.

“What? Delish?”

Akane supported her chins with both her arms, and looked at him with sparkling eyes. A gaze filled with expectations. 

Saito was surprised. His throat didn’t explode, nor did his tongue sting from pain, and he did not lose consciousness. It was completely normal. This was food made for human consumption.

The boiled pork was okay, and the spices consisting of minced turnip, leeches and spinach accentuated hí tastes. When he bit the tomato, he could feel the sourness and the sweetness of the juice through his tongue.

Though favoured by his grandfather, Saito was neglected by his parents, so he mostly had bento or cup noodles at home. But when he ate out with his grandfather, he was always invited to some luxurious restaurants or stores. There was a huge difference in his eating experiences.

So, to Saito, a “normal family meal” was something very special. Different from his parents’ home where everyone was distant even if they were related, this gave him the atmosphere of a family.

“……….Normal.”

Even if he meant it as a praise.

“Then stop eating!”

Akane was angry and lifted the plate up.

“Why! Why stop me when you have already done all of this!”

It would be hell if he was told to return to that Protein shake after experiencing food like this. Saito’s tastebuds weren’t a robot’s, he also wanted to enjoy some real cuisine rather than that deadly combination of chemistry.

“If it’s not good then you don’t have to eat it! I’ll feed this to the dogs.”

“How wasteful! I didn’t say it’s not good.”

“You didn’t say it’s good!”

Akane took the dish and ran out of the living room, while Saito was in close pursuit. He didn’t understand why Akane got mad. He rarely gave praises like that, but when he did, it wasn’t appreciated at all.

It was like this everyday. Saito and Akane both were outstanding and outlandish students, but always fighting each other tooth and nail ever since joining Highschool. No one knew how it became like this.

Saito grabbed the plate from Akane’s hands and devoured it at max speed.

“Hold up, why are you eating without permission!”

“I will eat everything that you cooked! I won’t leave any behind even if it’s just a grain of rice!”

He didn’t want to waste the home-flavoured food she painstakingly prepared.

He devoured the rice, the egg, and slurped the Miso soup.

Akane pulled on Saito’s wrists.

“Return it! You burglar! You monster~!”

“This was my first time being called a burglar for eating homemade food. Give it up, your luck ran dry the moment you served me food.”

“You bastard~…..! I’ll hate you forever!”

Akane glared at him with teary eyes, looking angry.

This was also Saito’s first time being hated when he finished his food.

“Wake…wake up….”

A cute voice entered his ears, when he was sleeping on a fluffy mattress. The rhythmic but gentle shaking on his shoulders made him even more sleepy. He could feel the sunlight over his closed eyelids. The soft blanket was filled with a lady’s sweet aroma, gently wrapped around Saito’s body.

He didn’t want to let this comfortable period end, so Saito kept his eyes closed and whispered.

“Just a bit more…”

“Can’t. You have to wake up properly.”

The lady slightly slapped Saito’s cheeks. The sensation was also refreshing and comfy.

The only one to ever do this would be his cousin Shisei. Ever since she was small, Shisei kept snuggling into Saito’s bed. With those hazy thoughts, Saito hugged the lady.

“It’s fine. Let’s sleep together.”

“Hya~!?”

The lady froze. 

The sweet aroma entered Saito’s nose. It wasn’t an aroma that he hated. Contrarily, it awoke his instincts. The lady’s body was a perfect fit within his arms, as if she was sculpted exclusively for him.

“Y, you, you….”

The lady was now trembling. Her voice was full of shyness.

Something was off. When Saito realized that, he didn’t have time left to wake himself up.

“I said wake up——————–!!”

Getting pushed by her entire force, Saito fell down from the bed.

“~!? ~!? ~!?”

He rubbed his eyes in a panicking state, and identified the lady’s silhouette.

The person standing there was not Shisei, but Akane in her apron. Her face was red and she was even tearing up.

“T, there’s a rule in this house that states you will be pulled on the bed if you wake someone up…? Aren’t there no laws….?”

“Calm down. I thought you were Shise just now…”

“So you will pull her in if it was Shisei!? That’s the relationship you two have?”

“I don’t know what’s our relationship, but it’s clearly not the one you’re imagining! First off, put the weapons down!”

Did she intend to attack him in his sleep, why was she holding the kitchen knife like that. Saito rolled himself up in the futon to ensure his perfect defense.

“This isn’t a weapon, I was just making breakfast.”

“You said yesterday that you don’t want to make food anymore.”

“I’m not making your portion!”

The knife reflected the sunlight.

“Alright. I’m sorry.”

Saito shrugged his shoulders after he mistakenly expected too much. It’s back to the protein for breakfast for him. It’s fine, scientifically speaking.

Akane turned aside and pouted her lips.

“Uh, erm look? I accidentally made too much. If you said you want to eat it, I can give you some leftovers.”

“I don’t need leftovers.”

“Why!? You want to have my leftovers do you not?”

“No matter whose food it is, I don’t need leftovers.”

This is a matter concerning human dignity.

“But you ate all the leftovers last night…”

“That was a proper dinner you prepared though!?”

Saito felt threatened when he was considered a waste food processing machine. He wasn’t fine with that.

“And, I didn’t think you would even wake me up.”

“AH~, I remembered! I wasn’t here to wake you up, but to get mad at you.”

“Get mad…?”

“Come here, quick.”

Saito obediently followed Akane’s request. He wasn’t so as dumb as to go against his enemy who’s holding a knife in her hands in the morning like that. Especially not while he was barehanded.

He was led to the kitchen.

Sliced turnip and bacon was taken from the fridge and put on the table. A charming scenery. Akane’s phone was playing some background music on the table.

“This!”

Akane pointed at the basin. The dishes used for last night’s dinner were placed there.

“What’s wrong with the basin?”

“It’s not ‘what’s wrong’! Why are the dirty dishes still there!? I prepared dinner last night so you ought to clean it?”

“It’s fine to leave it like that. We have a lot of spares, enough to pile them up to the ceiling.”

“Fine my ass! It’s dirty, and negatively affects the aesthetics. Clean it now! We won’t have rice if the rice cooker isn’t cleaned.”

“I didn’t think there’s anything wrong with it…”

Whenever his parents were on vacation or absent from home, Saito brought a lot of pots and cookers to use a different one every other day, then washed them all on the weekend. It’s more efficient than washing individually.”

First off, Saito finished his morning routines, then he cleaned the dishes. He superficially scrubbed the dishes so that he was done with it as soon as possible, then Akane came from the toilet.

“Why did you leave the toilet seat up?”

“Something wrong with it?”

“It’s terrible! Lower it whenever you’re done!”

“Isn’t it better for you to lower it yourself?”

“I don’t want to touch it! Do I have to spell it out for you?”

“No clue.”

“Huh~? Unbelievable!”

Akane displayed utter disappointment.

Even if she said it like that, neither his parents nor Shisei ever complained about the toilet seat, so he couldn’t understand it. Even he got angry, getting yelled at like that in the morning.

“The toilet paper cores are still there, as well as the soap case. Do you plan to make this amazing house into a rainforest?”

“Trash can be cleaned one per month.”

Seeing Saito shrugging his shoulders, Akane glared at him.

“Y, you’re being serious….? Are you even human?”

“I am human. So don’t run away from trash, but to learn to live with it.”

“No, what do you mean live with it! I want a clean, pretty and proper life.”

“Unlucky for you, I’m not as diligent. I’m even questioning the meaning of bathing and cleaning yourself up.”

“I’m speechless of your awareness! There’s nothing to doubt now!”

Akane trembled in fear.

“I finished cleaning the dishes, that’s that.”

“Wait, wait a moment.”

“I’m getting a headache being rambled at in the early morning. Shut up a bit for me.”

“Huh????? That’s not words you use to someone you’re cohabiting with.”

“The cohabitation is for both of our own goods. Do not intervene more than that.”

Then Saito left the kitchen. He heard some stomps from Akane, but his sanity would not stand it if he seriously faced her.

Then Saito prepared for school.

Not just homemaking matters, the two encountered various troubles in their daily activities.

Living with a girl he hated pushed his stress levels to the absolute limit.

The overloaded person, Saito, turned on his console after dinner. Truthfully, only games could dissipate some stress from him.

Fortunately, this house has a large sized television and a set of speakers his parents house could not compare. He was gunning to play games on this monster ever since moving in but got no spare time.

The screen displayed a close-up shot of a zombie army.

Saito used weapons to annihilate those waves of zombies. The zombie’s scream echoed throughout the bloody battlefield. 

After two hours of immersion, he heard Akane approaching when he was following the storyline. Saito felt his stomach burning just from that. He thought of arguing, or being grumbled at by her about some housework. It’s annoying to be interrupted when one was having fun.

He was praying for the evil spirit to go away but in vain, Akane bolted right in the living room.

“How can I concentrate on studying when you’re making such a ruckus! And, what weird game are you playing here!?”

Saito explained clearly.

“This isn’t a weird game. It’s a Community-based Zombie Hunting Action game. In this game you have to kill all the zombies appearing around the country using the public figures of each area. The mayor will guide you through the stages, and the stage locations will be based on the historical figure…”

“I don’t care! You can explain it all you want! It looks disgusting, delete it!”

Akane used her hands to cover her eyes.

“This isn’t disgusting. I lowered the gore level to 40%. Since if it was any higher I wouldn’t see anything through the blood.”

“I don’t care if it’s 40% or whatever, gore is gore. Your taste is disgusting.”

“You also eat animal organs.”

“I don’t want to eat it anymore after seeing this! I can’t understand people playing violent games. Those peoples are essentially criminals.”

Saito felt annoyed.

“Are you being prejudiced? Stop complaining about other people’s tastes.”

“I’m saying stop playing this in my house!”

“This is also my house!”

“You are just a visitor!”

“Excuse me!”

Foreheads grinding at each others’ and glaring straight at one another. If one was to ask about their changes after marriage, the honest answer would be not only did their relationship not improve, but their battlefield only got wider.

“Enough. I’m unplugging it.”

Akane angrily approached the console.

“Oi wait wait wait!”

Saito quickly grabbed Akane’s hands.

“D, don’t touch me! It’s cowardly to rely on violence.”

“You are the one using violence. Do you plan to kill all the data I’ve grinded through in this 2 hours?”

Akane tilted her head and put her index finger on her lips.

“Grinded…data…? No idea, but I’m not killing it.”

“You don’t even understand game data?”

“Are you underestimating me?”

“I’m not underestimating you! Have you ever played a game before?”

“I have. I played the animal grabbing game. I even grabbed a large stuffed toy.”

She puffed her chest out proudly, but this experience wasn’t something she could use to understand gamers.

Akane pushed Saito’s hands away and ran to the console.

“What are you trying to do!”

“I’ll banish it into the drawers. Playing games in this house is forbidden!”

“Are you my mother!”

Saito held the console tight to take it back.

“I have no recollection of raising someone with a problematic personality as this!”

“The one with the rotten personality is you!”

Both fought over the console, not yielding one step, their palms started sweating. It only took one misstep to drop it, so Saito used his fingernails to grab onto the console.

Right that instant, the doorbell rang.

“Ah~, a visitor.”

“Oi kuh~….”

Akane quickly let go, throwing Saito off balance. And off goes the power cord of the console and the screen’s. Saito watched as his game data turned into dust.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA…..”

Looking at the now black screen, Saito cried screams of pain.

The one who rang the bell was the moving company. It seemed there was some belongings left behind in Saito’s parents house.

It was grateful they sent it to him like this, but in reality, they were just trying to erase all Saito’s presence from his parent’s house, making Saito feel hurtful.

—So I can’t return to my parents house anymore….

Once again reminded of that, he opened the newly delivered luggage while sighing. He wasn’t having regrets, but it was still the place where he was born into and grew up, and anywhere was better than this current battlefield. To not see Akane’s face ever again, Saito was willing even to sell his soul to the devil.

A new fierce war was waiting for him tomorrow morning. To mend his wound, Saito would soak himself in the baths.

He stepped out of the room without bringing anything along,

—That’s right. I must bring some clothes to change.

He returned to his room, bringing his underwear and pyjamas along.

Aside from occasions when Shisei dropped by to play, back in his parents’ house, there was no problem if he walked naked from the bathroom to his own room, so he just forgot it. But if he was caught naked by Akane, there would definitely be another lecture.

Thinking such, Saito undressed in the dressing room.

There was light coming from the bathroom, but there’s no sound coming from it.

Whenever Saito forgot to turn off the light, he was scolded “Stop being wasteful of electricity”, but isn’t Akane also being wasteful… He was angry, and opened the door to the bathroom.

“…?”

The scenery inside made him freeze.

Akane was soaking inside the tub, in her birthday suit.

She was lying face up in the large tub with closed eyes.

Her usually modest chest under the uniforms, is now in view, and is frankly …. outside of all imaginations. The shape was accentuated by the waters, revealing the pink bit at the tip.

Her slender shoulders, along with her legs under the clear waters looked so bright it blinded his eyes. Her signature tied hair was untied, letting drips of water flowing down her cheeks.

Saito had to agree she was beautiful. Even if she was arguing with him every day, that was a fact he could not deny. There was no mistaking it, she was a beautiful lady. Saito was so immersed he forgot to return to the changing room.

But, he immediately regained his sanity

—-Crap.

Primal fear radiated from his entire body. He knew he just committed a crime.

That is trespassing his classmate’s bath.

It wouldn’t be strange if he received a death sentence. No, Akane viewed him as a nemesis, she may even give him a punishment worse than death.

However, luckily for him, Akane’s eyes were closed, it seemed she hadn’t noticed Saito yet. This was prime time to escape from the den of the dragon.

Saito tip-toed out of the bathroom.

Must not make a sound, this meant life and death to him.

Even the sound of his foot leaving the sound could reach Akane, making Saito incredibly stressed.

The heat from the bathroom makes his breathing difficult. Not many minutes had passed since he entered the bathroom, yet he’s sweating bullets, and he felt as if time was eternal.

Somehow or another, he reached the changing room, but Saito was exhausted.

He used the last remainder of his strength to slowly close the doors, then tried to run for his life with his clothes.

But.

“…..How strange.”

Saito stopped at the corridor.

Even if Akane was just closing her eyes, her not noticing Saito there meant she was too insensitive to her surroundings.

Was she just simply closing her eyes? It would be severe if she had issues there. If he left her to drown, his wife, no less, would he be convicted?

Naked in the hallway, Saito was seriously worried.

Even if the person was his nemesis, he couldn’t leave her to death like that.

“Damn it~…”

Saito once again approached the den of the sleeping dragon.

Firstly, he tried knocking on the bathroom.

“O, o~i, are you still alive~…?”

No response.

“Oi wake up! You’re still alive! Don’t give up on yourself!”

Even though he didn’t mean it, he couldn’t think of any better words to say, and he kept shouting randomly.

The room responded with an unnatural stillness.

There was no other choice, so Saito opened the door.

Akane was still in her face-up position, closing her eyes. He feared her body seemed to have sunk to a lower position than before. Just a bit more and her mouth would go below the water.

Saito approached Akane who was in the bathtub, and could hear her soft breathing sounds.

—So you’re sleeping!

His worry turned out to be in vain, but the dangerous situation still remained. There were a lot of fatal accidents due to sleeping in the bathtubs.

Akane’s face was usually decorated with scowls, now vanished as if it was all a lie. An Akane without wrinkles on her brows looked so cute there were no complaints. Her lips were wet, and her nape just reflecting from the waters looked upre.

“Wake up… wake up… Wake the hell up!”

Saito approached to wake her up, but Akane didn’t open her eyes.

Mumbles escaped from the cherry pink lips.

“Munya munya… you finally admitted your loss… Good boy… If you kneeled down to apologize, I may be willing to let you live in the dog pen…”

“…Apparently it’s better to leave her here huh.”

Saito made an irritated expression.

It seemed even in her dreams, Akane was picking a fight with Saito. Moreover, she was demanding some outrageous requests. She must hate Saito a lot.

Even so, leaving a girl to drown in his house would leave a bad aftertaste.

Saito shook Akane’s shoulders.

“Okay that’s enough! You’ll die!”

Akane kept sleeping.

—Leaving her like this…isn’t okay.

Saito decided to move Akane to a safe place.

He held Akane’s arms and dragged her out of the bathtub.

The naked part hidden under the water was now fully visible, bringing the offensive power through the roof. Her slender waistline entered his vision, making Saito immediately turn away.

Her softness broke his balance, making Akane’s body lean on Saito.

A soft feeling. His classmate’s breasts were now squished onto Saito’s chest. The sensation of the tips were felt by him vividly.

The two were glued together through bare skin, Akane’s breath transferred to his skin. Akane’s face looked charming up close.

Saito could feel his lower half raring to go.

—This is just biological, this is just biological, this is just biological…!

He couldn’t stand it when he had such a reaction to his sworn enemy, so he chanted such to calm himself down. He wasn’t doing anything wicked, this was to save her after all. However, guilt kept attacking him.

“Uhn~…Saito is… an idiot…”

Akane’s cute voice, and soft breaths, entered his ears.

—-Do you want to kill me!

Saito immediately chanted the integration formula he was taught at school, but no matter how advanced the formula is, he couldn’t win against a girl’s body. Gradually, Saito’s biological phenomenon got in full bloom, filled to the brim with energy enough to change the world.

Right that instant.

Akane opened her eyes.

“Ah.”

Saito frozen.

Akane looked unfocused for a second, but after that, it started focusing until her face was snow pale.

“Eh, wh,what’s this…? Why are we hugging each other naked….? Sexual harassment…? Sexual assault…?”

“I’ll explain this clearly, so please calm down and listen.”

Even if Saito wanted to calmly explain through his cold sweats, it’s hard to calm down to do so to a girl who just woke up in this situation.

Along with a scream that could wake up the entire street, Saito was hit flying out of the bathroom.

And the door behind him was slammed shut with a burning force.

“I can’t believe it! You pervert! Get out of here now! Get out of this house! Get out of this planet———–!!”

“At least let me live on Earth! I didn’t do anything wrong!”

“You are saying that intruding a bathing girl is nothing wrong?”

“That~…..”

The situation was too complicated, he couldn’t immediately explain it.

“You saw me naked right!? You also saw my breasts!? More importantly, the lower part…”

“I didn’—-”

He did, fully. And it reluctantly made him aroused. He couldn’t deny it nor explain.

“You brute! Disappear! Don’t ever come into this bathroom ever again—–!!”

Given a completely unreasonable request, Saito stepped out of the changing room.

After getting out of the bathroom, Akane dried her hair in the changing room with teary eyes.

This was the first time she was seen absolutely naked by a guy, and that guy was her archnemesis, no less. She thought she would die of embarrassment.

Moreover…if she thought clearly about it, it might not have been an assault.

The fatigue from housework and studies made her sleep in the bathroom. So wasn’t Saito trying to help… She was feeling that way.

If that was the case, yelling at Saito would make her a terrible, ungrateful person.

No face to talk with Saito now, she took more time to dry her hair than usual.

Her heavy steps reached the bedroom.

She would feel more relieved if he had slept, but Saito was still awake. He was reading as usual on the bed.

“………..”

Seeing Akane approach, he silently closed his book and covered himself with the futon. He was definitely angry.

Akane lied down next to Saito and faced the opposite way.

“A,ano~…”

She didn’t know whether to apologize, or to offer thanks.

“….What.”

Saito didn’t turn back, and responded with a small voice.

“Erm, so, about …. The accident.. I’m…”

“I’m sleeping.”

“…~!”

Receiving such a cold reply, Akane’s cheeks burned hot.

She was suddenly angry, and could not be honest with herself anymore.

It’s always like this, ever since starting highschool and meeting Saito.

“Oh, that so! Then just go right ahead? Because I wasn’t planning to say anything important!”

Akane ground her teeth, and covered her face up with the futon.