Save Natsuki!

On the way to the convenience store, Nishida Yuki asked with a smile.

"Suzuran, why don't you believe what Fukayama Natsuki said? Maybe Akimoto-kun really is a terrible guy? Yet you don't believe a word she says?"

Nishida Yuki had already guessed the reason behind Natsuki's attitude toward Akimoto-kun; she understood that Fukayama Natsuki wasn't just being willful.

But Ayano didn't know; she hadn't even doubted Akimoto Yoichi for a second.

Of course, this was also because of Ayano's personality; even if she sometimes acted like a tsundere and refused to admit her true feelings, she was a kind-hearted fool who trusted others too easily.

"Don't say that about Akimoto-kun. From the first day I met him, the Akimoto-kun I've seen has been hardworking, diligent, righteous, and quite gentle. Even when Natsuki-chan splashed curry on him, he didn't say a single word of complaint."

Suzuran Ayano's face tightened, her expression entirely serious.

"Natsuki-chan doesn't understand Akimoto-kun. She just met him, and she has some superficial prejudices against him."

"But I know. I am Akimoto-kun's desk mate, and I have been watching him all this time."

"Akimoto-kun has never done anything delinquent. He is bright, optimistic, and ambitious. How could he be like what Natsuki-chan says? If only Fukayama Midori were half as hardworking as Akimoto-kun."

Thinking of her childhood friend Fukayama Midori, Suzuran Ayano could only sigh.

She naturally hoped that Fukayama Midori would work harder, but Midori only found that annoying.

Fukayama Midori seemed to have completely forgotten the promise they made as children.

"Oh? You have such a high opinion of Akimoto-kun?" Nishida Yuki looked up at the sky with a brilliant smile, her hands clasped behind her back.

"It seems you have some misunderstanding about Akimoto-kun, Suzuran, or perhaps you're viewing him through some kind of filter?"

"It just goes to show that you don't know Akimoto-kun's true colors at all. Akimoto-kun can be very rude and savage, too."

"Sometimes, he is like a mad dog, which is both chilling and exciting."

Recalling the way Akimoto Yoichi had walked out of the alley covered in bruises, and his impatient attitude toward her, Nishida Yuki felt a thrill.

Having seen enough submissive dogs, Nishida Yuki preferred a wolf that refused to be tamed.

Figuring out how to tame this terrifying big bad wolf was a pleasure in itself, or perhaps being tamed by the wolf was a fine option as well.

Kuroo Maya spoke up at this moment: "Because Ayano is always helping Akimoto-kun, he naturally shows her his ambitious and hardworking side."

Suzuran Ayano nodded in agreement.

"But if someone hinders him from moving toward that goal, he becomes very scary—as scary as he looks on the outside. That is the Akimoto-kun in Nishida-san's eyes."

"Because you, Nishida-san, half-forced him to run for the student council just to make things difficult for him, Akimoto-kun treats you with such hostility. That, too, is the Akimoto-kun in your eyes."

Nishida Yuki didn't feel regret; instead, she smiled proudly, as if she had been complimented.

"Because the two of you have different attitudes and behaviors toward Akimoto-kun, you see different versions of him, but in reality, you are both seeing the real Akimoto-kun."

It was no surprise that Kuroo Maya would say something so rational.

According to her role, Maya was Suzuran Ayano's wingman, the supporting female character.

She was the kind of person who could push Suzuran Ayano's romance forward; every heroine had such a sharp-eyed "strategist" by her side.

However, they weren't discussing Fukayama Midori, but rather the Blondie, Akimoto Yoichi.

"If people just got to know Akimoto-kun a little better, surely many girls would like him, as long as they aren't like Nishida-san," Ayano said, speaking like a normal person.

Her perspective was the common one; what normal person would intentionally provoke others like Nishida Yuki did?

As long as one interacted with Akimoto Yoichi normally, he would never get angry.

Therefore, in Ayano's view, there was no need to worry about Akimoto Yoichi's "bad" side.

"Yet Natsuki-chan has such a deep misunderstanding of him and keeps doubting him."

"What she's doing now is no different from what Nishida-san does."

"I just hope she knows when to stop and doesn't provoke Akimoto-kun too much."

Hearing Ayano's concern and knowing what was happening at the Suzuran residence at that very moment, Nishida Yuki curled her lips in delight.

Although she had only seen Natsuki follow Akimoto Yoichi into the yard, she understood exactly what was happening from the fact that Ayano had gone to the yard, couldn't find Natsuki, and only saw Akimoto Yoichi.

It was similar to the time with Akimoto Yoichi and Mrs. Suzuran; Ayano couldn't find her "family" and could only find Akimoto Yoichi.

"Indeed. But if Natsuki-chan repents in time, perhaps she might suddenly get along with Akimoto-kun in a strange way. Or, she might keep clashing with him, eventually causing your relationship with Akimoto-kun to sour as well, Suzuran."

It was a pity that Fukayama Natsuki was not Mrs. Suzuran.

Suzuran Mari was a married woman who had been left to pine away in her room, at the age where she needed love most, with no social circle, and whose long-dormant heart had been stirred after being caught in a shameful moment by her young, strong daughter's classmate—a woman already preparing for divorce.

One could say Mrs. Suzuran was fully buffed; the encounter between a Blondie and a married woman was a classic script.

If it weren't for her daughter Ayano being home, Nishida Yuki believed she could have watched a blockbuster movie.

Nishida Yuki was now looking forward to seeing how Akimoto Yoichi would handle Fukayama Natsuki.

Her words made Suzuran Ayano sigh involuntarily.

"Sigh, I hope Natsuki-chan listens. I don't want Akimoto-kun to be misunderstood and wronged like this."

Nishida Yuki's lips curled in pleasure as she turned to look back in the direction of the Suzuran house.

Aggrieved? She certainly didn't think Akimoto Yoichi would suffer any grievances.

Akimoto Yoichi had never been the type to be a pushover.

Right now, Fukayama Natsuki and Akimoto Yoichi were probably getting along quite well~

...In the courtyard of the Suzuran residence.

Fukayama Natsuki, held in Akimoto Yoichi's arms, was completely stunned, her wide eyes brimming with crystalline tears.

She could do nothing about the sound of Ayano and the others' retreating footsteps; even though she was right there, she would never be discovered.

At this moment, Fukayama Natsuki deeply felt the gap between herself and this Blondie.

No matter how hard she tried, she could not resist this Blondie.

Just like a moment ago, even though Suzuran Ayano had been right behind them, Fukayama Natsuki had struggled with all her might, trying to let Ayano know she was there.

In the end, it was all in vain.

She couldn't make a single sound; Natsuki's little tongue was being pinched and lifted upward by Akimoto Yoichi.

At this moment, Akimoto Yoichi's hand was covered in Natsuki's saliva, which dripped onto the ground.

Her hands and feet were also held fast by Akimoto Yoichi, and her body was being toyed with as casually as an inflatable doll in front of this Blondie.

Ayano and the others had already left, and Natsuki had lost her chance to escape.

At the time, Ayano had clearly leaned half her body into the courtyard and could have discovered Natsuki at any moment, yet in the end, she hadn't been found.

That sense of despair—seeing her escape within reach, missing it by just a hair, only to be dragged back into the darkness—made Natsuki feel such terror for the first time.

She was no longer afraid of thunder or rain, nor was she afraid of horror movies; she was only afraid of the Blondie before her.

"Alright, now we can talk, can't we, Natsuki-chan?"

She felt his whisper against her ear.

The scent of pheromones radiating from the Blondie, combined with the irresistible strength coming from his arms.

In Natsuki's eyes, Akimoto Yoichi's smile was as evil as a demon's.