Akimoto Yoichi was cautious.
To eliminate every accident and potential problem, he had several safeguards in place.
Verbal threats and restrictions on her actions weren't enough. Akimoto Yoichi also needed something tangible that could be used to threaten her.
"These photos look good, don't they? I've kept them all. And these aren't the only ones—I've got even more exciting ones hidden away."
"If you want to see more, I can send you some next time."
"Natsuki-chan, just think about what would happen to your beloved Mama Mari if I posted these photos online."
"I hear she's a famous novelist and screenwriter. But if these photos came out, she'd definitely lose her job. She might even get divorced. She'd be disgraced and left without an income. Her life would be miserable."
"And Ayano would be devastated, too. If something like that happened, do you think she might develop an even worse mental illness? Depression, for example. She might even kill herself."
"You don't want that to happen, do you, Natsuki-chan? But if you dare tell anyone my secret, I'll make all of this come true. And then it'll all be your fault."
Actually, all those photos had been taken by Nishida Yuki. Akimoto Yoichi had only saved them because he enjoyed looking at them.
He hadn't expected them to come in so handy at a time like this.
He really had to thank that guy Nishida Yuki.
"You—you blondie, you're so, so despicable!" As she watched Akimoto Yoichi show off his "trophies," Fukayama Natsuki's mental defenses crumbled completely.
Every word Akimoto Yoichi said struck at her weak points.
There was no doubt that Natsuki absolutely didn't want any of that to happen. Now, even the last of her resistance and reason were snuffed out.
"That's right. I'm exactly that despicable. I love seeing you make that face and look at me like that. It gets me so excited."
Ignoring Fukayama Natsuki's reaction, Akimoto Yoichi added her on the messaging app.
Then, just as he had with Nishida Yuki, he took a look through her phone. He did find some selfies, but like Nishida Yuki's, they were all within acceptable bounds.
What really shocked Akimoto Yoichi was the several hundred gigabytes of pornographic comics on Fukayama Natsuki's phone.
But there was nothing surprising about it. After all, Natsuki's character profile included the trait "precocious brat."
Fukayama Natsuki knew she'd been thoroughly exposed. Aside from turning red with embarrassment, there was nothing she could do, so she could only let Akimoto Yoichi have his fun before he returned her phone.
Against an early-maturing brat like Natsuki, this was the simplest and most effective method.
There was no point trying to reason with her. Simply showing her who had the upper hand was much easier.
"To prevent my phone from getting lost or its data being stolen, I've even uploaded everything to cloud storage and saved it in my messaging app. So don't even think about stealing my phone or anything like that."
"If you make me happy, behave yourself, and do your best to please me while I'm interested in you, Natsuki-chan..."
"Then I won't do anything to Ayano or Mrs. Suzuran. I'm not interested in them. But if you don't behave, who knows what their lives will turn into?"
Putting his phone away, Akimoto Yoichi was pleased to see that Fukayama Natsuki had "completely given in."
When all was said and done, Fukayama Natsuki was only a middle schooler.
If she hadn't been so clever, hadn't figured out what was going on between Akimoto Yoichi and Mrs. Suzuran, and hadn't tried to pump him for information and record him as evidence—
Then she could have gotten along with Akimoto Yoichi just fine. He'd already given up on benefiting from Natsuki's heroine aura.
But Natsuki had walked right into his hands all by herself.
It also had something to do with the fact that Akimoto Yoichi had always kept a mild manner when Natsuki had targeted him.
Even when you had the upper hand, if you always tried to be reasonable, people would think you were easy to bully.
Natsuki had thought that Akimoto Yoichi wouldn't dare do anything to her in the Suzuran Family home, with Ayano and everyone else around. That mistaken assumption had made her lower her guard, and the blondie had seized his chance.
"Th-then what are you going to do to me from now on? If you go too far, Ayano-nee and Mama Mari will find out. Other people would notice easily, too. That would cause you trouble, wouldn't it?"
At last accepting reality, Natsuki looked uneasily at Akimoto Yoichi.
She was clever enough to try to protect herself by appealing to what other people would think.
If things went like the stories in the little porn comics she'd read, then this blondie in front of her would probably do something awful to her next.
But Natsuki had never been through anything like that, so she said what she hoped would make Akimoto Yoichi think twice and help her preserve her innocence.
But she was worrying over nothing.
"I haven't decided yet. It'll depend on my mood."
Akimoto Yoichi released Fukayama Natsuki, whom he'd been holding in his arms.
"...I-I understand." Natsuki watched the blondie uneasily, repeating herself for emphasis.
"Then you can't go after Ayano-nee or Mama Mari!"
"As long as I do what you say, you won't do anything to them, right?"
Akimoto Yoichi hadn't planned on doing anything to Ayano in the first place. As for Suzuran Mari, well, if she came on to him herself, he couldn't be held responsible.
"Of course. Actually, I prefer little girls like you. As long as you behave, I won't go after Ayano or Mrs. Suzuran." Akimoto Yoichi licked his lips and ruffled the cowlick on top of Natsuki's head.
The way he stared at Fukayama Natsuki's flat chest, along with his expression and gestures, was a performance that came naturally to him.
After all, Akimoto Yoichi was a blondie.
Only by acting this way would Fukayama Natsuki feel at ease.
"Waaah, I-I understand." Though she had no idea what she was about to go through, Natsuki had already experienced the humiliation of the heroines in those little porn comics.
She'd probably end up getting taken by the blondie in front of her sooner or later.
But Natsuki would do her best not to let herself be "educated" by this blondie too soon. No matter what, she had to stay rational!
Nervous and apprehensive, Natsuki followed Akimoto Yoichi out of the courtyard.
Just as they returned to the living room, they heard Ayano and the others outside.
Carrying a big bag of snacks and drinks, the three of them had just gotten home when they spotted Akimoto Yoichi and Fukayama Natsuki sitting by the table.
"Natsuki-chan, where did you go? Why didn't I see you earlier?" Ayano asked curiously.
I was in the courtyard the whole time. The blondie was holding me in his arms and even pinching my tongue so I couldn't speak!
Natsuki really wanted to say that, but she sneaked a glance at Akimoto Yoichi.
When she met Akimoto Yoichi's eyes, the little middle schooler swallowed.
She lied. "Oh, I-I ran home for a bit. It was nothing."
"I see." Ayano hadn't thought much of it.
She looked at Fukayama Natsuki, then at Akimoto Yoichi beside her.
Remembering what they'd said earlier—that Akimoto-kun really hated people interrupting his studies—Suzuran Ayano told Fukayama Natsuki, "Natsuki-chan, if you want to keep coming here, you can't cause trouble anymore. Understand?"
"Y-yes, I understand." Fukayama Natsuki was miserable, but she couldn't say anything.
She had sacrificed herself to save Mama Mari and Ayano.
But Natsuki didn't regret it. As long as she could still see Ayano so happy, it was worth it.
"Akimoto-kun, I hope you won't hold it against her, either. Natsuki-chan is a good girl." Ayano turned and said that to Akimoto Yoichi as well.
"It's fine. Natsuki and I have made up. She's already apologized to me." Looking at the well-behaved Fukayama Natsuki, Akimoto Yoichi smiled.
"Come on, Natsuki, sit beside me. No—actually, sit here."
Akimoto Yoichi patted his thigh. Fukayama Natsuki shuddered at the sight, frightened.
But under Akimoto Yoichi's watchful gaze, she obediently took a few steps toward him.
Ayano watched in astonishment. Maya didn't pay it much attention, while Nishida Yuki wore a pleased, delighted expression.
"Huh? Why? What happened while we were out?"
"Secret, right, Natsuki-chan?"
Akimoto Yoichi looked at Fukayama Natsuki, who was sitting on his thigh, and leaned close to her ear.
"Y-yes, Blond—Akimoto-kun."
"Hm? Didn't you call me Yoichi Big Brother earlier? What, are you shy in front of everyone?"
"Y-yes, Yoichi Big Brother."
Ayano looked at the two of them, puzzled, but didn't ask any further questions.
"It's wonderful that you and Akimoto-kun can get along so well now, Natsuki-chan."
Natsuki had been going too far, no matter how you looked at it.
Even if Natsuki-chan seemed to be getting bullied now, it was a lesson for her.
Ayano also trusted that Akimoto Yoichi wouldn't actually do anything to Natsuki. Having Natsuki sit on his lap and call him Big Brother wasn't a big deal.
"All right, let's get started on our studies."
With Fukayama Natsuki on his lap, Suzuran Ayano on his right, and Nishida Yuki on his left, Akimoto Yoichi felt completely satisfied.
Now he had all the heroines' buffs stacked on him. No one could stop him from studying.
Before you continue