Facing the motionless Kiyoharu, completely at her mercy, Ayano wore an excited expression and even pulled out a sketchpad and pencil.
Kiyoharu immediately grew nervous. If Ayano did something outrageous next, Shimaura Hitomi was right beside him. Once the time stop ended, she might misunderstand and report it to Chihaya Airi...
Kiyoharu was still being punished with three days of no games. If he violated their agreement again, it would be punishment piled upon punishment. He did not even dare imagine how high the Red-Eyed Devil's rage would flare!
However, contrary to Kiyoharu's expectations, Ayano did not lay a hand on him. She merely paced around nearby, her pencil moving back and forth across the sketchpad.
"The male lead seriously working and getting along with his colleagues is also something that needs to be portrayed. After all, aside from the thrilling scenes, there needs to be some relaxing daily life to connect them."
"Come to think of it, should I assign Shimaura Hitomi a role too? Hehe, that sounds pretty interesting~"
Kiyoharu became even more certain that whatever Ayano was creating was definitely not a respectable work.
Thinking back on it, Ayano had not mentioned a single detail about her work to Airi during the welcome dinner. At first, he had assumed it was because Airi did not understand that sort of thing, but now it seemed that the work simply could not be shown in public.
Ayano's next actions confirmed Kiyoharu's suspicions.
She bent down beside him, her burning gaze fixed on his arm.
Then, as if suddenly inspired, she reached out and squeezed the muscles there.
"Such sturdy arms. They perfectly fit the male lead's setting of having extensive hands-on experience with countless women. Oh my~ With these hands, lifting Airi into the air and playing with her would surely be effortless. What a shame Airi is such an idiot. She guards a treasure trove yet has no idea how to enjoy it, thinking only about the family's profits all day. What an utterly foolish money-making machine."
Girl, you should become a money-making machine too. Then you wouldn't have time to bother me!
As Kiyoharu complained inwardly, he became even more emotional. So this was what Ayano truly thought of Airi? Their friendship really was plastic.
Airi had clearly said that although Ayano had attended a different middle school, she was her best friend outside school.
At that thought, Kiyoharu could not help gloating. This was what happened when one committed too many wrongs—one would eventually destroy oneself. The Red-Eyed Devil's arrogance had left her abandoned by everyone!
After feeling Kiyoharu's arm, Ayano did not explore any further and instead focused on refining the contents of her sketchpad.
"Time's about up~"
With that cheerful mutter, Ayano prepared to leave. Yet when she reached the door, she suddenly turned back and looked between Shimaura Hitomi and Kiyoharu.
A pleased smile spread across her face.
"Ah, I'll give Shimaura Hitomi a little help while I'm at it."
Quickly returning, Kitahara Ayano moved Shimaura Hitomi's chair closer and adjusted her limbs, making her wrap both arms around Kiyoharu's neck and press her body tightly against his shoulder.
"Now that's more like it. If you're going to sneak a bite, do it properly!"
With Shimaura Hitomi's weight pressing down on him, Kiyoharu immediately felt as though he could hardly breathe.
It was not that she weighed much. Rather, her figure was truly a hidden masterpiece—soft and warm. Even through their clothes, that subtle sensation made Kiyoharu's resolve waver.
Worst of all, even after Kitahara Ayano left, the time stop continued.
That firm, soft, springy sensation awakened a desire from the depths of Kiyoharu's soul.
Still groggy, Shimaura Hitomi only felt that she was holding something dependable.
Subconsciously assuming it was the bear plushie at home, she lazily shifted her body and rubbed herself against it, making soft, muffled sounds between her lips and teeth.
That nearly shattered Kiyoharu's sanity. Good grief, if anyone ever said Shimaura Hitomi lacked feminine charm again, he would fight them.
He coughed twice and reminded her, "Teacher Shimaura... you seem a little sleepy."
"Awuu, mm... Huh?"
Shimaura Hitomi opened her eyes in confusion, quickly realized her situation, and sprang away from Kiyoharu. Her face flushed red as she flailed helplessly. "S-sorry, Senior, I lost my composure..."
She had actually gotten sleepy, leaned against Senior, fallen asleep, and even mistaken him for a bear plushie and rubbed against him several times.
Worst of all, this was the school office!
Shimaura Hitomi hurriedly looked around in panic. Fortunately, there was no one else in the office besides the two of them.
Phew, what a relief!
Seeing Shimaura Hitomi apologize again and again, mortified beyond measure, Kiyoharu comforted her. "Don't blame yourself. Everyone gets muddled sometimes. If anything, Teacher Shimaura's workload has been too heavy lately, which is why you're exhausted like this."
"Senior really thinks so? Sob... If you want to scold me, then scold me. You don't have to go easy on me!" Pitiful tears shimmered in Shimaura Hitomi's eyes.
"Absolutely." Kiyoharu shrugged. "Just look at how much miscellaneous work you've taken on: tracking the use of teaching materials, plus a pile of random analysis reports. That was supposed to be the work of those older teachers, but they saw that you were easy to push around and dumped everything on you! If you ask me, you're simply too kind and don't know how to refuse."
Hearing that, much of Shimaura Hitomi's guilt faded. She sighed. "Sigh, it can't be helped. Whenever the teachers ask me, they always have perfectly valid reasons..."
"Any excuse, combined with a silver tongue and a ruthless heart, can make even the most disgraceful reason sound respectable. Forget it, learning how to refuse is something for later. You've already taken on these tasks, so it wouldn't be good to push them away now. I'll help you share the burden."
"Senior, you'll help me?!" Shimaura Hitomi was startled and hurriedly waved her hands in refusal. "You shouldn't, sob... Senior works very hard too."
"What does it matter? You're the Young Lady's friend, which makes you my friend too. Friends should help each other. Just consider it a favor you owe me."
As he spoke, Kiyoharu picked up the reports from Shimaura Hitomi's desk.
If word of Shimaura Hitomi's work stress reached Airi's ears, Airi would definitely question why he had not helped her.
He might as well eliminate this hidden danger in advance.
Kiyoharu was quite dedicated, after all. Airi paid him so much every month, and he tried his best to handle every aspect of being the Chihaya Family Son-in-Law as well as he could.
Shimaura Hitomi was overwhelmed by the happiness of being so unexpectedly favored. Senior actually cares about me so much...
Though he was doing it for the Young Lady's sake, he was still helping to ease her burden. Few people had ever been so considerate of her feelings. Ever since childhood, Shimaura Hitomi had always been the one bullied within her little groups—not through obvious school violence, but through subtle neglect and contempt.
Looking at the beautiful young man before her and remembering how wonderful it had felt to press against him just now, Shimaura Hitomi's body heated up uncontrollably, and her breathing grew hurried.
Her gaze gradually lost focus, as though an evil voice in her heart were telling her, Eat him. Hurry and eat Senior...
Bang!
Shimaura Hitomi abruptly rose from her chair, the chair scraping loudly as she moved it.
"I-I need to use the restroom!"
Watching Shimaura Hitomi flee in embarrassment, Kiyoharu smiled helplessly. This girl really was like an elementary schooler—she even had to report when she went to the bathroom.
Still, it was precisely because Shimaura Hitomi was so proper that Kiyoharu felt at ease around her. She was so innocent and such a loyal dog to the Young Lady; there was no way she had anything to do with being a Yandere. Aside from the unquestionably unromanceable Chihaya Airi, Shimaura Hitomi was the girl Kiyoharu trusted most in this world. A truly good person.
Before you continue