Save Natsuki!

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

"Why don't you believe what Fukayama Natsuki said about Akimoto-kun, Suzuran? Maybe Akimoto-kun really is a horrible guy. Why do you completely refuse to believe her?"

Nishida Yuki had already guessed why Natsuki felt the way she did about Akimoto-kun. She knew Fukayama Natsuki wasn't just being difficult.

Ayano, though, didn't know the truth. She hadn't even suspected Akimoto Yoichi.

Of course, that was simply Ayano's nature. Even if she sometimes acted tsundere and refused to admit what she truly felt, she was still a kindhearted idiot who trusted people too easily.

"Don't say that about Akimoto-kun. Ever since the first day I met him, I've seen him work hard, study diligently, and stand up for what's right. He's also very kind. Even when Natsuki-chan dumped curry on him, he didn't say a single word of complaint."

Suzuran Ayano's expression was tense, her face filled with earnestness.

"Natsuki-chan doesn't understand Akimoto-kun. She's only just met him, so she's a little biased because of his appearance."

"But I know him. I'm Akimoto-kun's seatmate, and I've always been watching him."

"Akimoto-kun has never done anything bad. He's cheerful and optimistic, and he always tries to improve himself. How could he be the way Natsuki-chan described? I wish Fukayama Midori would work even half as hard as Akimoto-kun."

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

Of course she wanted Fukayama Midori to put in more effort, but he only found it annoying.

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

"Oh? You think that highly of Akimoto-kun?" Nishida Yuki gazed up at the sky with a bright smile, her hands clasped behind her back.

"Looks like you've misunderstood him, Suzuran. Or maybe you've put him on a pedestal?"

"It just means you don't know the real Akimoto-kun at all. He can be incredibly rough and wild, too."

"Sometimes he's like a mad dog. He's terrifying—and thrilling."

Remembering Akimoto Yoichi emerging from the alley with his face covered in bruises, and the impatient way he'd treated her, made Nishida Yuki feel excited.

After dealing with so many meek, obedient dogs, Nishida Yuki preferred wolves that wouldn't listen.

There was a certain pleasure in figuring out how to tame that fearsome wolf. Or perhaps being tamed by him would be just as nice.

Kuroo Maya spoke up again. "Ayano's always been helping Akimoto-kun, so of course he seems like someone who's hardworking and determined to get ahead."

Suzuran Ayano nodded in agreement.

"But if someone gets in the way of his goals, he can become very scary—just as scary as he looks. That's the Akimoto-kun Nishida sees."

"And because you half-forced him to run for Student Council just to give him a hard time, Akimoto-kun treated you so badly. That's the Akimoto-kun you see, too."

Rather than regret it, Nishida Yuki looked almost proud, as if she'd been praised.

"You two treat Akimoto-kun differently, so you see different sides of him. But the person you're both seeing is the real Akimoto-kun."

It wasn't surprising for Kuroo Maya to say something so levelheaded.

Given her role, Maya was Suzuran Ayano's wingwoman—the supporting heroine.

She was the one who could move Ayano's romance forward. Every heroine had a sharp-eyed "strategist" like her by her side.

But they weren't talking about Fukayama Midori now. They were talking about Akimoto Yoichi, the blond delinquent.

"If people got to know Akimoto-kun better, I'm sure lots of girls would like him—as long as they didn't act like Nishida," Ayano said, voicing the sensible opinion.

Her perspective was the normal one. What ordinary person would deliberately provoke someone the way Nishida Yuki did?

As long as you treated Akimoto Yoichi normally, there was no reason to make him angry.

So, as far as Ayano was concerned, she never had to worry about Akimoto Yoichi's "bad" side.

"But Natsuki-chan has misunderstood Akimoto-kun so badly and keeps suspecting him."

"What she's doing now isn't much different from what Nishida did."

"I just hope she'll know when to stop and won't make Akimoto-kun too angry."

Hearing Ayano's concern, Nishida Yuki, who knew what was happening at the Suzuran Family home, let the corners of her mouth curl up with delight.

She'd only seen Natsuki follow Akimoto Yoichi into the courtyard. But Ayano had gone there and failed to find Natsuki, seeing only Akimoto Yoichi. That was enough for Nishida to understand what had happened.

It was much like the time with Akimoto Yoichi and Mrs. Suzuran. Ayano couldn't find her "family," so all she could find was Akimoto Yoichi.

"Right. But if Natsuki-chan apologizes in time, maybe she and Akimoto-kun will suddenly get along in the most unexpected way. Or maybe she'll keep fighting him until your relationship with him turns sour, Suzuran."

Unfortunately, Fukayama Natsuki wasn't Mrs. Suzuran.

Suzuran Mari had been cooped up at home for ages, at an age when she was craving love. She had no social circle, and her daughter's young, vigorous classmate had caught her in a shameful moment, stirring her long-dormant heart. And she was already preparing to divorce.

Mrs. Suzuran had every possible plot point lined up. A blond delinquent meeting a married woman was a classic setup.

If Ayano hadn't been home, Nishida Yuki was sure she would have gotten to see a full-blown drama.

Now, Nishida Yuki was eager to see what Akimoto Yoichi would do about Fukayama Natsuki.

Her words made Suzuran Ayano sigh.

"Ah, I hope Natsuki-chan will listen. I don't want Akimoto-kun to be misunderstood and hurt like this."

Nishida Yuki's lips curled up in delight as she turned to look back toward the Suzuran Family home.

Hurt? She couldn't imagine Akimoto Yoichi being hurt by any of this.

Akimoto Yoichi had never been the type to let people walk all over him.

Right now, Fukayama Natsuki was probably getting along famously with Akimoto Yoichi~

In the Suzuran Family's courtyard.

Fukayama Natsuki, held in Akimoto Yoichi's arms, was stunned with fear. Her wide eyes brimmed with shining tears.

There was nothing Natsuki could do as Ayano and the others walked away. Even though she was right here, they would never find her.

Now Fukayama Natsuki understood, more than ever, the gap between herself and this blond delinquent.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't fight him off.

Just like moments ago. Suzuran Ayano had been right behind them, and Fukayama Natsuki had struggled with all her strength, trying to tell Ayano she was there.

It had all been in vain.

She couldn't make a sound. Akimoto Yoichi had pinched her little tongue and pulled it upward.

His hand was covered in Natsuki's saliva, which dripped onto the ground.

Akimoto Yoichi had also grabbed both her hands and feet. In front of him, her body was like an inflatable doll, one he could toss around as he pleased.

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

Ayano had even leaned halfway into the courtyard. She could have found Natsuki at any moment, yet somehow she hadn't.

The despair of watching freedom come within reach—of being only a little short of escaping, only to be dragged back into the darkness—terrified Natsuki like nothing ever had before.

She wasn't afraid of thunder or rain anymore, or of horror movies. She was afraid of the blond delinquent in front of her.

"All right. Now we can talk, can't we, Natsuki-chan?"

She felt him lean close and whisper in her ear.

The scent of his hormones, the strength in his arm—there was no way she could resist him.

In Natsuki's eyes, Akimoto Yoichi's smile looked as wicked as a demon's.