"Waaaah!!!"
Kushida Kikyo's eyes were full of fury, but she couldn't break free of Tsukishima's grip.
"Okay, okay, I know, I know. Little Kikyo's feeling wronged. Anyone would, having to deal with those idiots every day. Now that you finally have a chance to let it all out, of course you should really let it out."
"But learning to keep yourself in check is important too. You don't have to pretend to be a saint around me, but you can't turn into a witch, either. Try to restrain yourself a little. At least don't tear up my drawings."
"Waaaah!!!"
"Good, I understand, I understand. You're hurting, you're troubled, and there's so much you want to say. But as minors, we should promote the healthy development of both body and mind."
"We should use civilized language, behave in a civilized manner, and be eager to take in new knowledge. We can't indulge our desires or become obsessed with..."
"Waaaah!!!"
"I'm not done yet... Holy shit!"
Tsukishima looked down and saw that Kushida Kikyo's eyes were rolling back.
He quickly let go. Kushida immediately sucked in great lungfuls of air, but before she'd even taken a few breaths, she opened her mouth and sank her teeth into Tsukishima's hand.
"Ah, shit! Let go, let go! I make my living with these hands!"
Tsukishima jerked in pain as he grabbed Kushida's face and tried desperately to pry her off.
"Grrr!"
Kushida Kikyo seemed to have reverted to her primal instincts, growling like a dog.
Tsukishima didn't want anyone finding out about this, so he didn't dare shout. He could only wrestle with Kushida on the bed.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Let go! Let go! Someone's at the door!"
Kushida finally released him. She glared viciously at Tsukishima, then quickly began straightening her clothes.
Even as she fixed her clothes, she remembered to jab him in the kidney with her elbow.
Rubbing his side, Tsukishima called toward the door, "Who is it? What do you want? If the sky isn't falling, come back tomorrow. If it is, come back tomorrow anyway!"
Knock, knock, knock!
This time, the knocking was louder. "Open up!"
It was Horikita Suzune's voice.
"Can't. I'm busy and don't have time."
Tsukishima figured Horikita wasn't in a very good mood, since she'd started banging on the door. "I need to ask you something!"
Tsukishima didn't open the door, but the door next to his did. "Horikita, could you please stop making so much noise? Tsukishima might really be busy."
Horikita ignored the person and kept banging. "Yuto Tsukishima, if you don't want people finding out about what happened tonight, open the door right now!"
Tsukishima rubbed his nose and tried to calm Kushida, whose eyes were glowing red as if she were about to blow up. His voice turned plaintive. "Miss, please just go back for now. I really am busy. I'm not wearing pants, and I'm right on the verge of..."
"You should consider a teenage boy's physical needs, too!"
"If I open the door now, am I going to spray you in the face? Come on, can we talk tomorrow?"
There was silence outside for a few seconds.
Then Horikita spoke through gritted teeth. "...Just you wait."
Her footsteps faded away.
Tsukishima looked at Kushida.
Her eyes were still red, her hair was a mess, and two buttons were undone, exposing her front armor.
There was also a bit of blood on her lips.
"All right, she's gone."
Kushida didn't say anything. She just panted, her chest rising and falling sharply.
Tsukishima pulled out a few tissues and wiped the blood and saliva from his hand. Then he handed her a few more. As he wiped his hand, he said:
"Little Kikyo, you can't go around doing stuff like that. You scared me half to death. You can't get physical just to vent your anger...and biting isn't okay either."
Kushida glared at him, but there wasn't much force behind it.
The room fell quiet for a few seconds.
The two of them lay sprawled on the bed, both in a sorry state.
The bedsheets were all tangled up, with a few drops of red on them—Tsukishima's blood.
The pillow had fallen to the floor, and scraps of paper were scattered everywhere.
Tsukishima reached for the snacks and brought them onto the bed. "Here, have some. I won't ask why you went crazy today. After all that strenuous exercise, you should eat something."
The bed was already a complete mess, so a little more mess wouldn't make a difference. He'd have to clean it up either way.
Kushida picked up a snack and stuffed it into her mouth, chewing in silence.
Tsukishima ate one too, then frowned. "Damn, why are the snacks from the café so bitter too?"
He took two bottles of mineral water from the desk and handed one to Kushida. "Have some water. Take your time eating."
Tsukishima dusted off his hands, picked up the broom, and started cleaning the scraps of paper off the floor.
The drawing had actually turned out pretty well today. He'd found that feeling he'd been looking for. It was just that Kushida had been a little too emotionally unstable.
She wasn't very suitable as a model. Oh well, she could come or not come in the future. It was up to her.
What a shame. He'd been looking forward to dressing her in all kinds of outfits and posing her in all kinds of positions.
The saying about lust being a blade above your head really was true.
Maybe he should ask Ichinose for a photo? Would she agree to a full-body peace-sign photo?
While he was mulling over whether that would work, Kushida got off the bed and began straightening her clothes and skirt.
Tsukishima picked up two buttons from the floor and set them on the desk, then casually remarked:
"Here are the two buttons that popped off. You'd better apply for another set of uniform undergarments. Isn't your chest uncomfortable in that?"
Kushida suddenly spoke. "Today..."
Tsukishima waved a hand. "Nothing happened today. I've thought it over, and I was wrong to make you model for me. I basically threatened you into it."
"From now on, come if you want to. If you don't, then don't."
"As for your videos and recordings, I'll keep them for now. With you in this state, I don't dare trust you."
"But don't worry, I'll keep them secret."
Kushida kept her head down, and Tsukishima didn't pay it any mind. He folded the coat on the bed and put it on the desk. "Your coat's on the desk. Don't forget it. And don't forget your big glasses and mask."
He picked up the bedsheet and put it on the chair, humming some tune he couldn't place as he made the bed.
Kushida gathered her things and walked to the door. "Tsukishima..."
Tsukishima responded with a "Hm?"
"Sorry for the trouble today..."
Tsukishima spread a clean sheet over the bed and answered casually, "It's no big deal."
Kushida stood at the door with her hand on the knob, but didn't move.
Tsukishima paused. "You can come by again if you want. I really do need models."
Kushida turned the doorknob. "Yeah. I'll come..."
Before the last word had even left her lips, she was already gone.
Tsukishima rubbed his chin. "This is going to be a pain. Is she going to treat my place like a refuge? Oh well, I'll just let things take their course."
Before you continue