Stop Messing Around, Natsuki-chan

Akimoto Yoichi and Nishida Yuki returned to the Suzuran residence.

The two pushed open the main gate, kicked off their shoes, and slipped into the slippers that had been prepared for them.

At this moment, Suzuran Ayano and Kuroo Maya were busy organizing ingredients for dinner; seeing the pair shuffling in, they looked over with curiosity.

"Akimoto-kun, what were you doing? Why were you outside?"

It was a natural question to ask.

Suzuran Ayano had first gone to look for her mother, only to hear Akimoto Yoichi's voice.

By the time she finally found her mother, Akimoto Yoichi had disappeared again.

If Kuroo Maya hadn't come in and mentioned that she'd bumped into Akimoto Yoichi at the entrance, Ayano would have started to worry that something strange or supernatural was happening in her house.

"Oh, I went downstairs when you weren't looking," Akimoto Yoichi replied nonchalantly.

Not offering a detailed explanation was the best explanation of all.

Since Ayano didn't know what had actually happened, there was no need to put much effort into justifying his actions.

Ayano, for her part, didn't dwell on it.

"I see. But your feet are dirty again. I'm so sorry, Mom took your shoes by mistake. There's a hose in the garden you can use to rinse them off; remember to put on shoes this time."

"Hahahaha, Akimoto-kun is just like an elementary schooler! Walking barefoot on the grass," Kuroo Maya, that airheaded twin-tailed girl, provided an assist without even realizing it.

Nishida Yuki, who had sat down on the sofa, let out a soft "hmph" and looked at Akimoto Yoichi with a strange expression, the corners of her mouth curling upward.

"Got it." Akimoto Yoichi glared at the oddly behaving Nishida Yuki.

He knew exactly what that look meant; he had nearly "stolen the house" from under Ayano's nose, and while Ayano remained oblivious, Nishida Yuki knew.

However, there was no need to worry about Nishida Yuki; that girl wouldn't do anything boring.

There was no fun in blowing up the "house-stealing" act prematurely. Akimoto Yoichi hadn't had any deep interaction with Mrs. Suzuran, and Nishida Yuki was already satisfied now that she had traded for the conditions she wanted.

But just as Akimoto Yoichi followed Ayano's instructions and walked toward the sliding glass door to the garden to wash his feet, he caught the reflection of Fukayama Natsuki standing not far away, wearing an "angry" expression.

Strange, why was this little one angry? Had he offended her?

Even if she had seen his interaction with Nishida Yuki earlier, she shouldn't be this upset, right?

Akimoto Yoichi was a bit puzzled as he pushed open the sliding door.

However, the moment he stepped into the garden, he realized he had forgotten to put on the outdoor slippers kept by the door.

Just as he turned around to grab them, he heard the voices of Fukayama Natsuki and Suzuran Ayano through the open sliding door.

"Ayano-oneesan! Why don't you understand?! That blond guy is a bad person!"

"Natsuki-chan, I understand how you feel, but you've misunderstood Akimoto-kun."

"That's right, that's right. I was pretty scared of Akimoto-kun at first too, but who would have thought he could cook! The dishes he described sounded delicious, too!"

"No, that's not it! Why don't you and Maya-oneesan understand?! And you, oneesan, you must know, right? That blond guy is a bad person! I saw him pin you against the wall and grab your phone! And, and he kissed you! You must have been threatened, right?! Right?!"

"Hmm? Not at all. I gave my phone to Akimoto-kun voluntarily. Actually, I quite like being treated firmly."

"...You, you guys!"

It seemed that all of Fukayama Midori's intelligence had gone to his younger sister, Fukayama Natsuki.

Although Fukayama Natsuki's words weren't entirely accurate, there was a grain of truth to them.

More importantly, Akimoto Yoichi could tell that Fukayama Natsuki had clearly discovered something.

Had she noticed his interaction with Mrs. Suzuran? She probably hadn't mentioned it because she was wary of Kuroo Maya and Nishida Yuki being present.

He wasn't entirely sure, but Akimoto Yoichi admired Fukayama Natsuki.

A heroine with the "Learning Ability" trait buff truly possessed higher potential; otherwise, she wouldn't be able to produce such powerful effects, and she was still young enough to be heavily cultivated.

It was just a pity that Fukayama Natsuki didn't understand one thing: Akimoto Yoichi's persona had already been firmly established in Suzuran Ayano's mind.

Suzuran Ayano completely believed that Akimoto Yoichi was a good student who had genuinely turned over a new leaf, was focused on his studies, wanted to get into Todai, and possessed a strong drive to succeed.

Naturally, it was impossible for Suzuran Ayano to doubt Akimoto Yoichi based on a few words from Fukayama Natsuki.

Seeing Fukayama Natsuki still scratching her head, trying to prove he was a bad guy, Akimoto Yoichi decided not to listen any longer.

"Sorry, I almost forgot to put on my slippers again," Akimoto Yoichi said with a smile as he opened the sliding door.

Seeing Akimoto Yoichi appear so suddenly, Fukayama Natsuki was startled.

Looking at the deer-in-headlights expression on Fukayama Natsuki, Akimoto Yoichi felt even more inclined to tease her.

"I thought I heard you guys saying my name just now. You weren't talking about me behind my back, were you?"

"Not at all, Akimoto-kun. Natsuki-chan just doesn't know you very well yet," Ayano stepped in to smooth things over.

Hearing Ayano say this, Fukayama Natsuki looked indignant.

She watched Akimoto Yoichi as he changed into his slippers, but in the end, she didn't refute him.

Through the glass of the sliding door, Akimoto Yoichi took in the conflicted little expression on Fukayama Natsuki's face and felt amused.

"That doesn't matter. As long as little Natsuki-chan spends more time with me, it'll be fine, right? I hope we can get to know each other better in the future."

Akimoto Yoichi cast a meaningful glance at Fukayama Natsuki, causing her to panic and take half a step back.

This gave Akimoto Yoichi a taste of the satisfaction that came with being a "villain."

"That's for sure. Akimoto-kun, don't misunderstand Natsuki-chan; she's actually a good girl. Why don't you join us in cooking, Natsuki-chan? That way, everyone can get to know each other!"

Ayano tried to ease the tension between Natsuki and Akimoto Yoichi, paying no mind to Natsuki's reaction.

On one side was the child of her parents' friends, her neighbor, and a younger sister figure she had grown up with.

On the other side was a friend she had made, a deskmate, and a partner she worked hard with.

From Suzuran Ayano's perspective, she naturally didn't want any conflict between Akimoto Yoichi and Fukayama Natsuki.

"Sure, I'm looking forward to a wonderful day." Akimoto Yoichi agreed readily.

He took one last deep look at Fukayama Natsuki, whose face was etched with fear, before opening the sliding door and stepping back into the courtyard.

Fukayama Natsuki was very useful; just by rubbing against her "Learning Ability" trait buff, Akimoto Yoichi could achieve twice the result with half the effort.

Although Natsuki was resisting a bit now, she was still within the range of being "educated."

"Phew~" Watching Akimoto Yoichi leave, Fukayama Natsuki let out a long sigh of relief.

She became even more convinced that her deduction was absolutely correct.

This Akimoto Yoichi was exactly the kind of villain he looked like!

The way he glared at her just now was clearly malicious—the look of a lecherous beast lusting after her body.

"Aren't you being a bit dramatic? Natsuki-chan, you don't need to be so guarded against Akimoto-kun." Seeing Natsuki's relieved expression, Suzuran Ayano said.

"I'm the one who doesn't understand! Why is Ayano-nee so completely unguarded against this blond guy!"

Fukayama Natsuki retorted.

"Because Akimoto-kun has never done anything bad. We've both been watching him, and we can't find a reason to be on guard against him." Suzuran Ayano looked at Fukayama Natsuki with a hint of reproach.

"Besides, didn't you spill curry on Akimoto-kun this morning, Natsuki-chan?"

"Yet Akimoto-kun didn't complain, nor did he say a single bad word about you."

"Now that you're being so guarded against him, Natsuki-chan, you're judging a book by its cover. That's not good; the Natsuki-chan I know wouldn't do something like that."

Listening to Ayano's reprimand, Fukayama Natsuki felt like an ant on a hot pan, pacing in circles.

She desperately wanted to tell Ayano the truth:

The "good blond guy" you're talking about is the one who touched your mother!