The Head of the Household and the Long-Suffering Wife

"Why are we gathering in my room?"

Horikita Suzune ignored the two people behind Kamigami Haruo and questioned him with an icy expression.

"Didn't I tell you during the day?"

Kamigami Haruo casually made up an excuse to brush Horikita Suzune off.

"..."

"Horikita-san, do me a favor."

Kamigami Haruo leaned close and whispered into Horikita Suzune's ear.

How could Horikita Suzune tolerate the warm breath against her ear? She clenched her fist and drove an elbow called Black Mamba into Kamigami Haruo's stomach.

Thud...

Using the impact of the elbow, Kamigami Haruo exaggeratedly flung himself into Horikita Suzune's room.

"I can't walk anymore. I'm injured."

"Do whatever you want."

Knowing she was no match for the shameless Kamigami Haruo, Horikita Suzune sighed and could only compromise. She then turned to the two awkward people who had been standing behind him.

"Excuse us." ×2

Ichinose had already grown used to their way of getting along. She even enjoyed seeing this scene and found it amusing.

Meanwhile, Shiranami Chihiro, who had come along, was so embarrassed her toes curled into the floor. It had already been awkward enough to tag along with Ichinose and Kamigami Haruo, and then she had to witness this.

"Then I'll leave the cake to you two. I need to rest when we get home."

Kamigami Haruo got up, picked up the shopping bag from outside the door and placed it on the counter, then sat down and opened his laptop.

The smiling Ichinose and the awkward Shiranami Chihiro both froze. Didn't you say you'd be responsible?

"Ah, I said I'd be responsible for eating it."

As if he could read their minds, Kamigami Haruo answered their unspoken question without even turning around.

By the time Kamigami Haruo mentioned going home, Horikita Suzune had already gone to where she kept her pencil case and taken out a compass, ready to punish the shameless man.

Compass Thrust!

A mark proving the intimacy of their relationship appeared on Kamigami Haruo's arm.

"Ouch."

"Stop stabbing me, stop stabbing me. I'm just looking up a tutorial online."

After quickly finding a tutorial, he hurriedly got up and joined the other three in making tiramisu.

Kamigami Haruo was responsible for preparing the cheese mixture, whipping the egg yolks and sugar until fluffy before adding mascarpone and mixing it evenly.

Ichinose was responsible for whipping the heavy cream until it had the consistency of yogurt, then waiting to combine it with Kamigami Haruo's cheese mixture.

Shiranami Chihiro quickly dipped the ladyfingers into coffee, then laid them layer by layer across the bottom of the container.

Then the nimble-fingered Horikita Suzune assembled the cake and put it in the refrigerator to chill for several hours.

Once everything was done, Kamigami Haruo checked the time on his phone.

The three had met after class to buy ingredients, and it was already six when they arrived at Horikita Suzune's dorm. Since there were so many of them, they had finished everything by six thirty, but it would need at least two hours in the fridge, right?

"Horikita-san, want to work out?"

While using his laptop, Kamigami Haruo had noticed the time schedule posted on the wall.

Since Horikita Suzune had to make lunch boxes in the morning, she could only schedule her exercise for the evening, and the timing was perfect now.

And so, a rather lovely sight came to be: three beautiful girls in sportswear jogging around the track.

Horikita Suzune and Ichinose looked completely at ease, while Shiranami Chihiro lagged far behind.

Watching her look as though she would chase after them even if it killed her, Kamigami Haruo silently shook his head. Love really was powerful. I'll correct your xp for you.

After doing a hundred push-ups and sit-ups on the spot, he stretched his body and caught up to them.

"Chihiro-chan, do you want to keep up with them? I can help you."

Kamigami Haruo coaxed Shiranami Chihiro as he jogged beside her.

"Yes! Please help me, Kamigami-kun!"

The usually timid Shiranami Chihiro's eyes glimmered as she asked for help.

The instant he agreed, Shiranami Chihiro felt herself taking flight.

When she came back to her senses, Kamigami Haruo was jogging while carrying her in a princess hold.

"Eeeeeeh?!"

Shiranami Chihiro's cry drew the attention of the two people ahead.

"K-Kamigami-kun, p-please don't do this. I'll be v-very troubled..."

Though she said that, the bouncing made Shiranami Chihiro wrap her arms around Kamigami Haruo's neck so she would not be jostled around as much.

At the same time, Kamigami Haruo, who had accelerated right after picking her up, had already caught up with the other two.

"What are those looks for?"

"Pervert."

Horikita Suzune only spat out that one word before continuing to focus on running.

"Kamigami-kun, Chihiro will be troubled if you do that. Chihiro, are you okay?"

After reproaching him, Ichinose checked on Shiranami Chihiro.

"I-I'm fine!"

Because Ichinose had shown concern for her, Shiranami Chihiro's lovestruck mind kicked in and she immediately said it was fine. As long as she could see Ichinose, that was enough.

Since the person involved had said it was fine, no one interfered.

Thus, a stable triangle formed.

Shiranami Chihiro silently watched Ichinose while breathing in the scent drifting beneath her nose.

It was just Kamigami Haruo's sweat. It was neither unpleasant nor fragrant.

Shiranami Chihiro turned her gaze toward Kamigami Haruo and studied him carefully.

If she ignored his previously gloomy hairstyle, he was actually rather handsome.

The scar at the corner of his mouth added a touch of wildness to his handsome face, and those eyes that reflected every image in the world... so handsome!

No, my true heart can only belong to Ichinose. Pure love is invincible. Every NTR bastard should be humanely destroyed.

Since everyone had worked up a sweat, they could only return to shower before gathering in Horikita Suzune's room again.

Room 1201.

Horikita Suzune took out the chilled tiramisu, cut it up, and handed everyone a piece.

"Food you make yourself really does taste better than ordinary food."

Kamigami Haruo scooped up a spoonful, put it in his mouth, and sighed.

Before anyone could reply, Kamigami Haruo took a box out of the shopping bag he had brought earlier.

"Let's settle this once and for all. There are exactly four of us."

The box was a game of Aeroplane Chess.

"..."

The room fell silent.

"Ahaha, sounds nice. Playing a game while eating dessert is a good choice too."

Ichinose scratched her cheek and tried to liven up the atmosphere.

"As expected of Ichinose. You really understand me."

Kamigami Haruo nodded in firm approval.

"This is why you gathered everyone? Then forgive me for declining."

Horikita Suzune crossed her arms, looking like an adult watching a child.

"You're just afraid of the defeat that awaits you. Don't make it sound so righteous, Horikita-san. Right, Chihiro?"

Kamigami Haruo provoked her, then poked Shiranami Chihiro beside him, who had been staring blankly in self-isolation because her heart was wavering.

"I'm absolutely not falling for Kamigami-kun!"

"..."

After a long silence in the room, a loud bang rang out.