Ayano's Forced Love Triggers Kiyoharu's PTSD

Kiyoharu's challenge had simple rules: each student had a time limit to draw his portrait, with no restrictions on style.

After time was up, all the drawings would be photographed and sent to Airi, so Kiyoharu's fiancée could pick the best one.

"What's the reward?" asked the girl who had previously been suspected of coveting Kiyoharu's sneakers.

"My after-school tutoring. You can pick any weekday club activity time to receive it."

Kiyoharu said this without a blush or a skipped heartbeat.

At first glance, the prize seemed like, "Dad rewards his good son with study materials (real study materials)," but it was anything but.

Even the time for after-class Q&A required queuing. Please don't question the popularity of a star teacher!

Ayano had expected the students to laugh, but they didn't. In a surprisingly short amount of time, within the two minutes Kiyoharu had set on his phone timer, the students present quickly became engrossed in their passionate drawing.

This scene reminded Ayano of when she first started learning to paint. Back then, she was very, very young, and the art studio was filled with children from wealthy families like hers, filled with laughter, play, and chasing each other in the lush courtyard after class.

Years later, Ayano felt the breath of youth again, though she never expected the occasion to be such a strange "competition."

Kiyoharu served as the model, and the classroom was so quiet that only the sound of brushes could be heard. Ayano felt restless and went out into the hallway for some air.

A moment later, Airi's message arrived.

[Airi: Is Kiyoharu-kun with you?]

[Ayano: Yes. I'm in the art club, entertaining the kids.]

[Airi: Okay, this guy is always entertaining kids, and he doesn't even get tired... Tell him to message me back when he's done.]

Did she have to tell him herself?

Three years was enough time for the Young Lady to tame anyone into an obliging existence. Ayano didn't think Kiyoharu was the type to be tamed, but he maintained a serious attitude towards their engagement. She figured he would definitely reply once his modeling work was finished.

Ayano sensed something unusual in Airi's message... a hint of resentment?

Or perhaps dependence. That's hilarious, could Airi really be dependent on Kiyoharu?

Airi seemed a bit vexed and wanted to chat with someone. Since Kiyoharu was busy, she spoke with Ayano. She said she had found some unusual financial activity. After carefully peeling back layers of shell companies and accounting maneuvers, she confirmed it was her second uncle causing trouble, the younger brother of Gen'ichiro.

[Airi: Department Head Kuroda is a loyal dog of my second uncle's faction. Combined with his previous dissatisfaction with the supply chain segment I manage, it's likely they're planning to target that area. I don't know how they'll do it yet, tsk, so troublesome.]

[Ayano: Aren't the suppliers for the Chihaya Conglomerate family-supported businesses? They can't be easily replaced, can they?]

[Airi: Regarding that, there have always been disagreements within the family, for example...]

[Airi: Never mind, never mind. Let's talk about it after Kiyoharu-kun is done.]

Every time they touched upon similar topics, Ayano could feel Airi's inherent condescension towards her. This was understandable, as Ayano also looked down on Airi. People with different temperaments naturally looked down on each other; it was difficult for people to truly understand one another.

Airi was talented and ambitious in business management, while Ayano preferred to quietly tinker with her own work. She believed it was merely a difference in personality—until the family upheaval after she graduated from junior high.

The crisis that the Kitahara family faced that year shaped Ayano into who she was today, making her deeply aware of her own unusual nature.

"Thank you all for your hard work!"

"Not at all, Teacher Chihaya, you're the one who worked hard, sitting there providing us with material..."

"Teacher, I have a question!"

"Please ask."

"If I draw you as too handsome, won't your fiancée get angry?"

Kiyoharu looked at the girl who had previously seemed to covet his sneakers, thinking to himself how dramatic this girl was. He smiled and said, "Of course not. It's just a normal study piece, a sketch, not a candid photo. Alright, submit your drawings with your names on them, and you can all disperse. Remember to send the photos to my work email."

After the students left, Ayano finally returned to the classroom and looked at Kiyoharu, who was tidying up the desks and chairs. "Thank you for helping me out, Kiyoharu-kun."

"It was nothing," Kiyoharu paused, then said earnestly, "Miss Kitahara, you're really not suited for school work. Instead of suffering under the students' judgmental eyes every day, it would be better to focus on your creative work."

"With Kiyoharu-kun's help, it's no problem."

Damn it, you're clinging to me now, aren't you?

Kiyoharu gritted his teeth in annoyance and couldn't help but glance at the system interface. His current Energy Points balance was 110 points, 10 of which were earnings from giving Airi a foot massage, demonstrating the professionalism of Kiyoharu's technique, which had brought Airi's pleasure level to its maximum.

No, this is too slow. I need to find some tasks to get out of this state of being dominated by the Canvas Devil as soon as possible.

Kiyoharu pondered for a moment and suddenly noticed that Ayano had drawn the curtains of this cool, oval classroom.

"Miss Kitahara, what are you doing?"

"Do you require hand-holding service?"

Though phrased as a question, her actions were to directly lock the classroom door, turning it into a "secret room" invisible to the outside world. The light inside suddenly became ambiguous. Ayano pushed several stools together to form a row, elegantly sat at the end with her knees together, and gestured "please" towards Kiyoharu.

"From now on, during club activity time every day, I can provide service for Kiyoharu-kun. Of course, if Kiyoharu-kun wants to unlock more private services, that's also possible~"

"What if I refuse?"

Ayano didn't answer. She unzipped her back on her own, took off her one-piece tight-fitting dress and inner layer, and threw them on the floor. She was left with only two thin pieces of fabric, her beautiful figure unexpectedly revealed to Kiyoharu's eyes.

Her gaze towards Kiyoharu held a hint of frantic determination.

Here we go again. This girl seems to completely disregard her reputation and uses this to threaten Kiyoharu without hesitation. In a way, does she have a bit of a self-destructive tendency?

There was no choice. Kiyoharu had to brace himself and lie down on Ayano's smooth thighs.

Unlike Airi's bold and vibrant scent, Ayano's scent was like... a coffee shop in a flower shop?

It was a scent that easily put one at ease and relaxed them.

As if noticing Kiyoharu's slight sniffing, Ayano suddenly smiled, "Kiyoharu-kun, do you know about Kampo?"

"I know a little," Kiyoharu replied modestly.

This was indeed a modest statement. In fact, one of his girlfriends in his past life was a top student from a university of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and he had learned quite a bit from her.

Later, when Kiyoharu was murdered with a hatchet, he unknowingly took a special medicinal soup prepared by that girlfriend. She had told him it was a health tea, but in reality, it was a custom prescription designed to render him unable to resist, while making specific parts of his body exceptionally strong.

Kampo, it's quite peculiar, isn't it?

"When I was very young, my mother strictly regulated my diet and made me take Kampo medicine daily to improve my constitution, so I would develop a… well, a 'scent' that men find very appealing and that is suitable for a wife."

"…What kind of scent is that?"

"Don't you feel very comfortable right now, Kiyoharu-kun~" Ayano said with a hint of pride. "Your nose and mouth are working harder than an old smoker's."

"It's quite nice."

Kiyoharu offered a somewhat dry compliment… he couldn't exactly criticize it, could he?

But he also found it hard to praise genuinely, because it sounded like something normal parents wouldn't do. It felt less like raising a daughter and more like cultivating a prized pet.

Now Kiyoharu understood Ayano's rebellious phase a little better. If he had been raised by parents with such extreme methods, he probably would have done something crazy in his youth too.

Ayano's fingertips brushed near Kiyoharu's ear.

This particular finger-stroking technique was Kiyoharu's favorite part. As long as he temporarily forgot the Canvas Devil's demonic nature, he could experience ultimate gentleness.

However, Kiyoharu's willpower was extraordinary, and he hadn't forgotten to check his system panel.

The last time Kitahara Ayano's quest appeared was during the leg pillow and finger-stroking session. Should he try to trigger another one this time?

In comparison, the service this time was an upgraded version. After all, Ayano was wearing less clothing, and the enjoyment of resting directly on her thighs was indescribable.

If Kiyoharu just shifted his gaze slightly, he could admire Ayano's flat abdomen, free of any excess flesh, up close. Her figure was slender but not unnervingly bony; the parts that should have had a bit of softness were just right, and her navel was clean and cute.

Looking upwards, he could see her girlish, white bra supporting her delicate mounds. Actually, a B cup (using the former Heavenly Dynasty's sizing) suited petite and slim girls well. Combined with her overall image, it easily evoked a man's desire to protect her.

However, Ayano didn't exude an aura of needing protection. She only wanted to accomplish what her heart desired, no matter the cost.

"What are you thinking about, Kiyoharu-kun?"

"I'm thinking about dinner tonight."

"I've always been curious, what do boys think about during the slow-paced parts of intimacy… Your answer is very unusual."

"Unusual?"

"It's rare for boys to cook, unless they're professionals," Ayano said, revealing that confident yet teasing expression again. "Culinary skills were also something I was required to master from a young age."

"Then let's have a sparring session sometime."

"Sometime later. What's important now is to enjoy yourself, Kiyoharu-kun~ Stop thinking about your responsibilities serving the Young Lady. Here, you'll be treated as an equal."

Kiyoharu mused that he wasn't exactly treated like a non-person by Airi either. Although Airi had just called him a "piggy" and asked him to lick her feet, their overall relationship was one of harmonious cooperation.

Besides, cooking was a hobby for Kiyoharu, not a burden.

It wasn't as if he was fixated on clinging to Airi from the start. After all, the game's setting included four major families in Tokyo, so there were likely other excellent and powerful women in other families. It just so happened that being Airi's fake husband was a good fit for Kiyoharu.

Kiyoharu wanted to retort a few things, but before he could open his mouth, Ayano suddenly reached out and pulled his head towards her.

A headlock!

Instantly, his face was pressed tightly against Ayano's stomach. It wasn't over yet; Ayano's hand continued to exert force, forcefully pressing Kiyoharu's sharply defined features against her.

"Breathe, yes, breathe… just like last time. Use your breath to make me feel out of control and chaotic. That's right, Kiyoharu-kun~ Try a little harder~ Mmmhmm~"

Ayano's voice took on a hint of madness, and her actions were quite wild. Kiyoharu, caught off guard, found it difficult to breathe, but the more he gasped for air, the stronger the feedback from Ayano's body.

Kiyoharu felt as if he were drowning in Ayano's soft, fragrant stomach.

It wasn't a long time, but for both of them, it felt somewhat prolonged.

Suddenly, Ayano began to tremble uncontrollably, shaking for a good seven or eight seconds before stopping – long enough to cook a hot pot of Chaoshan beef.

Her skin also turned a tender pink, like thinly sliced beef that had been cooked.

"Thank you."

Ayano's chest heaved as she thanked Kiyoharu with satisfaction. Her moist eyes seemed on the verge of overflowing, transforming into tangible ropes that bound Kiyoharu tightly.

Kiyoharu recognized what that was – it was far from "love," but it was already a level of affection bordering on desire.

"Being your boyfriend is very comfortable, Kiyoharu-kun~"

This sentence hit a certain switch, causing Kiyoharu to recall many relationships from his past life. Familiar scenes flashed before his eyes, finally settling on the moment before his death by hatchet, his fading gaze sweeping over a face whose elegance was comparable to Ayano's.

That girl also liked to have Kiyoharu rest his head on her lap, her fingers digging into his hair and stroking it with a slight force, like a gentle mother to a seven-year-old boy.

Some things, he thought he had long forgotten, diluted by the river of time, leaving only faint traces on the riverbed. Yet, when the silt buried beneath the traces surged forth, that familiar, subtle sensation tickled him.

Damn it, PTSD is acting up!

Kiyoharu immediately sprang up and quickly retreated, backing away until he hit the wall, staring at Ayano with horror.

Huh? What's going on?

Ayano tilted her head, a look of confusion on her face.

In her understanding, Kiyoharu was someone with very little emotional fluctuation. His maturity, which far surpassed what was expected for his age, sometimes made Ayano wonder if an old man's soul resided within the body of this beautiful youth.

Yet, he was suddenly so agitated.

Outside the window, sparse insect chirps could be heard, and the atmosphere in the classroom grew eerie.

Just then, Kiyoharu's phone rang with a rousing symphonic piece.

It was an insert song from a famous isekai anime in this world, playing when the great demon lord, the main villain, made his appearance.

It was also the exclusive ringtone Kiyoharu had set for Chihaya Airi.

The Young Lady probably paid no attention to anime at all, never having raised any objections to it.

This phone call truly revitalized the eerie atmosphere. Kiyoharu instantly snapped out of his PTSD state—not because Airi had healing powers, but because, no matter how terrifying his past was, could it compare to the current demon lord?

"Please speak..."

"Why aren't you replying to my messages?"

Good grief, this question almost triggered his PTSD in another direction.

Seriously, sis.

Since when did you transition to a clingy character?

This slightly resentful way of asking was very "un-Airi."

Perhaps it was because they had worked together for a long time and were familiar with each other, so she was much more polite to Kiyoharu. In the beginning, when Kiyoharu didn't reply to messages promptly due to being busy with other things, Airi would call and simply say "Check your messages" before hanging up, like she was saving money on long-distance calls from the last century.

"Sorry, I was busy just now. I'll reply right away."

"Mhm... wait."

"Do you have any further instructions?"

"...Never mind."

"Alright, then I'll..."

"Don't hang up yet."

Who are you trying to play games with?

You're more indecisive than a 3-6-9!

Kiyoharu was amused to the point of anger.

Airi on the other end seemed a bit embarrassed, and after a slight pause, she spoke, "Since we're already on the phone, let's just talk about it now."

"Understood."

Seeing that the call seemed like it would drag on, Ayano blinked her eyes, another mischievous idea popping into her head.