Akimoto Yoichi had only taken a few steps when he heard the sliding door behind him.
He turned around and saw Fukayama Natsuki.
What did this middle school girl, who had always been "keeping a close eye on him," want by coming over on her own? However he looked at it, it couldn't be anything good.
And as soon as she opened her mouth, she said exactly what he'd expected.
"Destroy the Suzuran family? Why would you say that? Even I don't like being falsely accused for no reason, no matter how good-natured I am."
He'd long suspected there was some reason behind Fukayama Natsuki's hostility toward him.
It wasn't simply because of her brother, Fukayama Midori, or because she wanted to protect her childhood friend, Suzuran Ayano, from the blond guy, Akimoto Yoichi.
Now it seemed that Natsuki wasn't trying so hard to protect Suzuran Ayano, but Mrs. Suzuran?
"No matter how much you deny it, it won't help! I have proof!" Fukayama Natsuki looked like a little animal with its fur standing on end, her voice trembling but her resolve unwavering.
"What proof? Did you see me with Mrs. Suzuran? Or did you take a picture?"
Back when he'd been in Mrs. Suzuran's room, Akimoto Yoichi had indeed heard Fukayama Natsuki and Suzuran Ayano run up to the second floor.
Natsuki had already been worried that he was with Mrs. Suzuran.
But Akimoto Yoichi had jumped straight out the window of the married woman's room, so she hadn't caught him. She shouldn't have managed to see him, either.
"Because you smell like the curry I made! But that same curry smell was on Mama Mari, too! So you must have been in contact with Mama Mari!"
Fukayama Natsuki stated her case with absolute confidence. She had complete faith in her nose.
She couldn't produce any evidence, but Natsuki had made herself the evidence.
People like this were the hardest to deal with—clever and troublesome.
"You made the curry yourself, so you must smell like it, too. Why do you think I got that smell on you? Couldn't it have come from you?"
Akimoto Yoichi denied it casually.
He looked down at the tiny middle schooler before him, who seemed small enough to swallow in one bite. A naturally intimidating presence radiated from him.
Fukayama Natsuki could feel it now: this blond guy was terrifying.
"No! That's impossible! The open window and the slippers you wore were both in Mama Mari's bedroom, and the way Mama Mari acted around you made it obvious you'd already touched her in secret!"
For the sake of her beloved Aunt Mari, Natsuki was willing to go all out.
Right now, Natsuki was Super Natsuki, fighting to protect her Mama Mari.
Since Fukayama Natsuki's biological parents and Suzuran Ayano's father worked away from home all year round, they barely ever came home.
So whether it was birthdays, holidays, or even New Year's, Suzuran Mari was the one who looked after the children of both the Fukayama and Suzuran families.
When Natsuki was sick, during parent-teacher meetings, and for home visits, Suzuran Mari had always been the one to show up for her.
Suzuran Mari wasn't just the mother of Natsuki's beloved Ayano-nee. She wasn't merely the neighbor or her mother's good friend. In Fukayama Natsuki's eyes, she was nearly as good as a mother herself.
In fact, Suzuran Mari seemed more like a mother to Natsuki than her own mom.
So many times, Fukayama Natsuki had wished she could change her surname to Suzuran.
She liked Suzuran Mari, the neighbor with no blood relation to her, far more than her biological mother, who worked overseas.
But Fukayama Natsuki had never expected this blond guy to show up.
His arrival had not only shattered the peaceful days of the Fukayama and Suzuran families, but had also crossed Natsuki's bottom line by making a move on Mama Mari!
"Mama Mari didn't tell me the truth. You must have threatened her, right?"
"You blondie must have sneaked into Mama Mari's room while she was taking a bath. That's why the door to her bedroom was open, and your slippers were beside her bed."
"I'm right, aren't I, Akimoto Yoichi?"
Well, the kid really was clever.
Akimoto Yoichi had to admit Fukayama Natsuki was smart and quick-witted.
Her guess was only half right. Akimoto Yoichi had indeed run into Mrs. Suzuran, but he hadn't violently ravaged her.
Still, it was impressive that she'd pieced all that together from the smell of curry, the door, the slippers, and the window.
After all, Fukayama Natsuki was only a middle schooler.
But Akimoto Yoichi didn't want to be saddled with the accusation that he'd gone to a female classmate's house and attacked her mother.
If things went on like this, Natsuki would keep pestering him. And who knew how she might interfere with his relationship with Suzuran Ayano?
Looking at the tiny Fukayama Natsuki in front of him, Akimoto Yoichi suddenly smiled.
"I ran into Mrs. Suzuran on the second floor. I didn't expect you to figure—"
Before Akimoto Yoichi could finish, Fukayama Natsuki jumped up with an excited "Yes!"
She pulled her phone from her pocket. The screen showed that it was recording.
Clutching her phone in both hands, Fukayama Natsuki could no longer contain her excitement.
"You admitted it! You finally admitted it! I'm going to show this recording to Ayano! Then I'll call Ayano-nee's father! You're finished, Akimoto Yoichi! Once this gets out, you'll even get expelled from high school! I won't compromise with you. I'll make sure you can never—"
Akimoto Yoichi narrowed his eyes. As she spoke, Fukayama Natsuki hurried toward the sliding door.
All she had to do was send Ayano the recording.
Then, no matter how much Ayano trusted Akimoto Yoichi, she'd see his "true colors."
Just then, the sliding door between the garden and the living room opened first.
"Akimoto-kun, I thought I heard Natsuki just now. Have you seen her?" Ayano poked her head through the sliding door.
From her point of view, Akimoto Yoichi was standing there with his back to her, bent slightly forward.
"Hm? No, I haven't seen Natsuki."
Akimoto Yoichi's voice came from where he stood. His figure shifted slightly, as if he were airing something out.
"Oh, I see." Seeing that Akimoto Yoichi hadn't turned around, Ayano assumed he was upset at hearing Natsuki's name.
"I'm sorry, Akimoto-kun. I've apologized a few times already, but I'm still sorry. Natsuki-chan is actually a good kid. She's just a little too full of herself. I'll give her a proper scolding."
Akimoto Yoichi still didn't turn around, and Ayano felt guilty.
"She is a little too full of herself. She doesn't know her place. She's not quite a bratty little girl, but she's close. I'm not angry, so you don't need to scold her."
Akimoto-kun really was so magnanimous. Even after Natsuki had behaved so outrageously, he wasn't angry.
"Then we'll head to the convenience store. You can rest at home for a while, Akimoto-kun," Ayano said, a little relieved.
Soon, the sound of the gate opening came from one side of the garden.
Then the girls' voices could be heard clearly.
"Hurry up! I'm getting a little hungry again. I want some snacks!"
"All right, we're coming!"
"Suzuran, where's Fukayama Natsuki? Isn't she in the garden?"
"I don't know. Maybe she went to my mom's room."
"Ohh~"
"What is it, Nishida? If you have something to say, just say it."
"No, it's nothing. I suddenly want to go to the convenience store, too. Let's go together."
"That's strange. Why are you so eager all of a sudden?"
"It's nothing. I just want to get out for a bit and leave Akimoto-kun some space."
"Are you ready? Hurry up! I'm hungry again!"
"Okay, okay. Maya-chan, you're such a glutton."
"..."
The girls' footsteps gradually faded into the distance along with their conversation.
Standing in the garden, Akimoto Yoichi slowly relaxed his grip. He looked down at Fukayama Natsuki, who was cradled in his arms like a doll.
Natsuki couldn't make a sound. Her hands and calves were held in place, and her whole body was suspended in the air.
She stared back at the blond guy in terror. Hearing Ayano and the others' footsteps recede, she looked utterly desperate.
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