Idiot, Idiot, Idiot

The study session continued until a little after five in the afternoon.

Akimoto Yoichi, Nishida Yuki, Kuroo Maya, and the others had dinner at the Suzuran family home.

Naturally, Akimoto Yoichi was the chef for dinner, too.

By the time everyone had finished eating, it was already dark. Kuroo Maya and Nishida Yuki planned to stay over at Suzuran Ayano's house. It wasn't their first time, anyway.

Back in middle school, they often had girls' sleepovers.

Although Nishida Yuki and Suzuran Ayano weren't best friends—not even really friends—the kindhearted Suzuran Ayano had invited Nishida Yuki along, too.

Ayano had thought Nishida Yuki would refuse, but to her surprise, Nishida Yuki readily agreed.

Ayano didn't mind, either. They were all fellow members of the student council election team.

While she was at it, Ayano also asked Akimoto Yoichi.

Fukayama Natsuki immediately grew terribly nervous.

Fortunately, Akimoto Yoichi pinched her little cheek before turning Ayano down. Only then did Natsuki breathe a sigh of relief.

Otherwise, who knew what might happen if Blondie stayed over at their house?

"Akimoto-kun, do you have any plans for tomorrow, Sunday? Would you like to come over to my place, too?"

Suzuran Ayano stood at the entrance, looking at Akimoto Yoichi as she asked.

She'd had a great time today. She'd eaten lots of delicious Chinese food, and she'd made far more progress studying than she usually did on her own.

More importantly, Ayano knew Akimoto Yoichi's family situation wasn't great. If he came over, he could eat his fill, she could enjoy delicious food, and they could keep studying together. It would be a win-win.

"No, I have something else to do tomorrow," Akimoto Yoichi said, shaking his head.

Although he'd enjoyed the bonus of having three heroines stacked together, he'd already made plans. He wasn't going to study tomorrow.

Behind Ayano, Natsuki breathed another sigh of relief. By now, Blondie's scent had gotten all over her.

Not having to see Akimoto Yoichi was the best thing that could happen to Natsuki.

"Oh, I see. All right, then. I'll see you at school on Monday."

Ayano looked a little disappointed and waved to Akimoto Yoichi.

"Yeah, see you Monday." Akimoto Yoichi nodded, then walked off with his hands in his pockets, stepping into the light beneath a streetlamp.

After watching Akimoto Yoichi leave, the girls went back to the living room.

Once they'd tidied up after dinner, Ayano took two reheated dishes out of the microwave.

She held one herself and handed the other to Fukayama Natsuki.

"I'm taking dinner to Mom. Natsuki, you can take some to that Fukayama guy, too."

Suzuran Mari had been writing during dinner and hadn't come downstairs to eat.

And Fukayama Midori could probably only have instant noodles at this hour. They'd forgotten about him at lunch, and forgetting him again at dinner would have been a little sad.

"Okay, Ayano-nee." Fukayama Natsuki took the tray.

"I'll go with you, Natsuki. Midori-kun and I are actually in the same class. We're friends, too."

At that moment, Nishida Yuki sidled up to Natsuki with a smile and took the dish from her hands.

"..." Suzuran Ayano was speechless at the sight.

Watching Nishida Yuki offer her help for no reason, she still didn't say anything.

"Hm? Are you close with my brother, Nishida-senpai?" Fukayama Natsuki had already sensed the hostility between Nishida Yuki and Ayano, so she pretended not to understand and asked.

"Of course. Midori-kun and I met at the opening ceremony, which led to a little misunderstanding between me and Suzuran."

Nishida Yuki kept smiling elegantly and said it as if it were nothing.

"Oh, I see. Then come with me." Natsuki blinked and glanced at Ayano's back as she headed upstairs.

The two of them left the Suzuran family home and walked toward the Fukayama family home.

Just as Natsuki was puzzling over what kind of relationship Nishida Yuki had with Suzuran Ayano, Akimoto Yoichi, and her own big brother, Fukayama Midori—

Nishida Yuki's voice suddenly drifted into her ears on the night breeze.

Then Nishida Yuki took her hand.

"Natsuki, I know what happened to you! I completely understand. Akimoto Yoichi, that blondie, treated me the same way!"

Natsuki was a little bewildered. The Young Lady who'd just been so elegant and dignified was now holding both her hands and looking at her with an expression as miserable and pitiful as a slave's.

But Natsuki's gaze fell on the dish Nishida Yuki had casually set on the ground.

It was dinner for her big brother, Fukayama Midori, but Nishida Yuki had put it on the ground—and even nudged the plate with her little leather shoe.

"Um, are you talking about those photos?" Natsuki gathered her thoughts and cautiously answered Nishida Yuki.

She remembered seeing photos of Nishida Yuki and a kimono-clad woman who looked just like her on Akimoto Yoichi's phone.

So Nishida Yuki was probably talking about those photos.

"Yeah, those photos."

So it was about those photos. There were photos of Mrs. Suzuran among them, and Akimoto-kun had used them to threaten Natsuki.

Nishida Yuki now understood how Akimoto Yoichi had resolved his conflict with Fukayama Natsuki. A hint of amusement glimmered in her eyes.

Akimoto Yoichi hadn't taken those photos. She had.

Natsuki had clearly misunderstood Akimoto Yoichi, and he'd chosen to settle things quickly and bring her under his control.

Apart from Akimoto Yoichi, Nishida Yuki was the only one who knew the truth.

But she had no intention of helping Akimoto Yoichi explain things to Fukayama Natsuki. Instead, she wanted to worm her way into the situation.

"From now on, we're in the same boat. I hope we can help each other. If anything happens, you can tell me."

"As fellow victims of Akimoto Yoichi, sticking together is our only way to salvation."

"If you have any ideas, you can talk them over with me, too. We can defeat that awful Akimoto Yoichi together! You haven't seen my photos, have you?"

"N-no." Fukayama Natsuki hurriedly shook her head. Of course she understood that she couldn't admit to seeing Nishida Yuki's photos. "Then, have you seen my photos, Nishida-senpai?"

"No, I haven't. I was one of Akimoto Yoichi's victims before you, so naturally I never saw your photos."

Nishida Yuki put on a reassuring expression as she answered Natsuki's loaded question.

Fukayama Natsuki was clever. She'd deliberately asked that question to test her. Was she worried Nishida Yuki might spread those photos of Mrs. Suzuran?

Unfortunately, Akimoto-kun had taken all those photos for himself.

"I see. Then let's keep this secret together. I don't want to end up trending online," Fukayama Natsuki said with relief.

Even so, she still didn't trust Nishida Yuki.

It was simply because none of Nishida Yuki's photos showed anything explicit, unlike Mama Mari's.

Natsuki wasn't stupid. She wouldn't trust the Young Lady in front of her so easily.

What if Nishida Yuki was actually Akimoto Yoichi's accomplice, here to bait her and deliberately test her?

"Of course. I'm heading back, then. You should hurry back, too, Natsuki." With that, Nishida Yuki waved to Fukayama Natsuki, turned around, and walked back toward the Suzuran family home.

"Huh? Don't you want to see my brother?" Fukayama Natsuki asked, looking at the dish Nishida Yuki had left on the ground.

"I don't want Suzuran-san to become too hostile toward me just yet. That isn't my top priority right now."

Then why had she said in front of Ayano-nee that she was going to take dinner to Big Bro?

Hadn't that already annoyed Ayano-nee?

Why suddenly give up now?

Watching Nishida Yuki return to the Suzuran family home, Fukayama Natsuki could only think that she was a strange person.

Picking up the dish that had been left on the ground, Fukayama Natsuki walked the short distance to her own home.

She reached the entrance and looked at her front door. Only then did she finally let her shoulders relax completely. She'd felt fairly relaxed at the Suzuran family home, too, but Akimoto Yoichi had been there.

Now that she was back home, with Akimoto Yoichi gone, Natsuki suddenly felt like crying.

When you were hurt outside, you didn't dare tell anyone. But the moment you got home, it seemed as if all that pain came rushing back.

"Big Bro, I'm home." Fukayama Natsuki opened the door and held back her emotions.

But as soon as she walked in, she saw Fukayama Midori in the living room, holding a controller.

A game was playing on the screen, and he was in the middle of a boss fight.

Even though he heard Natsuki behind him, Fukayama Midori didn't turn around.

Natsuki had been hoping for comfort, but she immediately stomped over to Fukayama Midori and deliberately set the dish down hard on the table covered in instant noodle cups.

"I'm home, Big Bro!" This time, Natsuki raised her voice.

Fukayama Midori didn't so much as glance at her, and it made her feel miserable.

"I know, I know. You don't have to be so loud, Natsuki." Fukayama Midori kept his eyes fixed on the boss's health bar.

He'd been gaming all day, and this was the final level.

If he cleared it, he might get a pretty rare legendary weapon. Fukayama Midori paid no attention to Natsuki beside him.

"You! Big Bro, you idiot!" Natsuki suddenly erupted.

All the anticipation she'd felt standing at the door had instantly turned to ashes.

Stomping her feet and biting her lip, Natsuki looked like a child with nowhere to vent all the hurt she'd bottled up.

"What is it now? What do you want? Don't interrupt me right now, okay? I'll talk to you later. Five minutes, just five minutes, and I'll beat it!"

Fukayama Midori still hadn't noticed anything was wrong. His hands moved in a rapid series of inputs, and the game character on the screen unleashed a special attack.

Unfortunately, the next moment, the plug was pulled.

Natsuki held the unplugged cord and glared at Fukayama Midori, tears filling her eyes.

"I'm going to stay at Ayano-nee's! I'm done with you! Idiot, idiot, idiot! I'm never talking to you again!"

She flung the plug at Fukayama Midori's face, turned, and ran out of the house, leaving him completely dumbfounded.

She'd tried to get Fukayama Midori's attention. She wanted him to care about her, wanted at least a little comfort from her own big brother.

She'd been through too much today.

Akimoto Yoichi had pulled her tongue. Ayano hadn't found out, but then he'd threatened and coerced her into sitting on someone else's lap and meowing.

It had all been a blow to Natsuki, but she hadn't dared let her feelings out at the Suzuran family home or show how vulnerable she was.

She was afraid Ayano would find out, and afraid Akimoto Yoichi would notice.

So Natsuki had tried to get a little concern and support from Fukayama Midori, even though she didn't expect him to rescue her from Akimoto Yoichi.

At the very least, Natsuki had hoped Fukayama Midori would notice her.

But Fukayama Midori hadn't noticed anything was wrong with her. Now Natsuki could only feel heartbroken.

"What was that about? Doesn't Natsuki know I'm about to beat this level!?" Fukayama Midori grumbled as he watched her run off.

Then he saw the dish Natsuki had just set down, put his controller aside, and scratched the back of his head.

"Why was Natsuki so upset? Did something happen?"

"Oh, well. It probably wasn't anything important. Akimoto-kun was at the Suzuran family home today, so he probably wanted to say something about not letting that shrew Suzuran get stolen away again. Who cares about that violent woman who slaps people?"

"I'll apologize to Natsuki tomorrow. I need to get to bed early tonight. I've made plans to meet Nagase tomorrow."

He took out his phone and looked at his email exchange with Nagase Kumari.

She was a gyaru, but Nagase Kumari was surprisingly gentle and considerate. They even shared an interest in anime and manga, unlike Suzuran Ayano.

Come to think of it, this was the first time he'd ever gone out alone with a girl since he'd grown up.

Could this count as a date?

An eager smile appeared on Fukayama Midori's face. He could hardly wait for tomorrow.