🔥 Can't wait for the next chapter? 🔥
You don't have to! On my Fanfiction Patreon, you can read more than 15 chapters in advance before they're published on Webnovel. 🚀📚
👉 patreon.com/Forbidden_lust
🎨 And if you love the female leads, don't miss out on my Art Patreon, where you'll find stunning, exclusive artwork that brings your favorite characters to life.
👉 patreon.com/PixLust
~~~~~~~~
Chapter 7
"Hello, Senior Yoshida."
Kawasaki Saki greeted politely.
Senior…?
Ryuo Tenshin glanced up. He didn't recognize the man, and judging by his attire, he definitely wasn't a high school student anymore.
"Give me the food, you two go ahead and chat."
Ryuo took the lemonade and German sausage from Kawasaki Saki, then sat down on the nearby stairs and began eating with a calm expression.
"I just got off work from the cram school," Yoshida said, his gaze drifting toward the boy eating nearby. "I didn't expect to meet you here."
The dim light made it hard to see Ryuo's features clearly, but Yoshida could sense that he was somewhat handsome. The way he stood next to Saki suggested a certain closeness, and Yoshida couldn't help but wonder about their relationship.
"Well, I just came out for a bite tonight," Saki replied with a smile.
Her tone carried a slight sense of distance, and Yoshida immediately picked up on it. She didn't bother introducing the boy beside her either, so Yoshida had no choice but to ask directly.
"Kawasaki junior, who is this?"
Ryuo had just taken a sip of lemonade when he heard the question. He smiled easily and answered before Saki could.
"I'm Kawasaki Saki's neighbor. I just came out to grab some food too. Senior Yoshida, right? Would you like a sausage?"
He extended the paper tray toward him.
"Thank you, but I'll pass."
Hearing it was only a neighbor, Yoshida let out a breath of relief. People from the nearby community were usually from ordinary families. He assumed Saki wouldn't seriously consider a boy like that.
"Then I'll be heading back. The cram school I'm working with just opened, so there's a lot to do. Busy days, you know."
Yoshida's words carried an air of casual boasting. Without sparing Ryuo another glance, he turned and walked away.
Ryuo didn't mind in the slightest. But Saki, perhaps feeling the need to explain, spoke first.
"That Yoshida-senpai was the former president of Himena's club. He has a good family background, strong grades, a reliable personality, and no scandals. He's very popular. After graduating from Sobu High, he went to the Tokyo Institute of Technology. Now he's working with Himena's cram school."
"Mm. That cram school has been offering part-time jobs too, like assistant teaching. Free tutoring, decent pay. Himena asked Yoshida-senpai before, and he said he could even save a spot for me."
"So you were planning on working there later?" Ryuo asked, remembering Saki mentioning before that she'd have to get a job eventually and wouldn't be able to take care of Hazuki anymore.
In Japan, it wasn't unusual for high school students to take on part-time work—as long as they had approval from school.
But Saki just smiled mischievously.
"No, I refused."
Ryuo took another calm sip of lemonade. "Why refuse?"
Seeing how his face didn't light up at all, Kawasaki Saki suddenly felt annoyed.
"I just don't like it!"
"I'm going back. Remember to pay me back tomorrow for the hair band, hmph!"
Ryuo sighed, following after her. "Alright, alright, I'll take you home. You were just chased by someone, and now you're acting all proud?"
The girl shoved him aside, glaring. "Go to hell! Who's proud? Just remember to pay me back tomorrow for the hair band!"
Ryuo muttered in irritation, "Why even buy one? Just make it yourself. Didn't you used to do that before?"
"Shut up!" Saki's face turned red in embarrassment.
Of course he knew. She used to make hair bands out of old underwear. She'd take the elastic and sew the fabric neatly over it. The result looked just like any hair band you could buy, and nobody could tell the difference.
"Wait—how did you even know about that?" Saki demanded, flustered.
Ryuo just smiled knowingly and said nothing. The truth was obvious. His room's window faced hers. It wasn't like he spied on her—when you see laundry hanging outside someone's balcony every single day of the year, you start to notice patterns. And when underwear suddenly disappeared only for a new hair band of the same color to show up… well, anyone could connect the dots.
Still, Ryuo couldn't resist teasing further.
"Kawasaki Saki, if you still don't want to change your underwear, I can lend you an old pair of my shorts. The elastic's still good, you can just take it apart and sew it…"
"You're insane! Who would want your shorts as a hair tie?!"
"Really?"
"Of course not!"
"Then maybe I'll give them to Mizuki."
Saki froze. "…Are you seriously sick, Ryuo Tenshin?"
"Do you want them or not?"
"…"
Crossing her arms over her chest, Saki huffed. "Mizuki is a girl! How could you even—ugh, fine. Let me check the condition first. If they're too worn out, I won't take them."
"Don't worry. The handsome man himself wore them. At least 90% new."
"…"
For some reason, Saki suddenly wanted to kill him. But since they were childhood friends, she restrained herself.
…
Later that night, when she returned home, she found her younger brother and sister already asleep. Quietly, she tiptoed back into her room.
She flicked on the small desk lamp, pulled out a little notebook from her drawer, and carefully wrote down: -500.
Then she counted her remaining balance, sighing in frustration.
Suddenly—
Knock, knock, knock! Someone tapped on her window.
Annoyed, Saki pulled open the curtain and slid the window open.
Of course, it was Ryuo Tenshin. He stood across from her balcony, waving a bamboo sword he'd clearly been using to knock against her window.
"Ryuo Tenshin, what the hell is wrong with you in the middle of the night?" she hissed.
Something dropped onto her desk. A pair of men's shorts.
Ryuo waved casually. "No need to thank me. I don't like owing people."
The handsome man himself wore them, 90% new…
Veins bulged on Saki's forehead. She took a deep breath, ready to chuck the shorts back at him in retaliation—
But her hand brushed against something unusual inside the fabric.
She froze.
Pulling it out, she realized there was a 1000 yen note tucked inside.
Saki blinked in surprise, staring at the bill.
"Tonight's supper was only 500 yen. Why are you giving me 1000?" she asked, frowning.
"Tsk. Your dad still hasn't sent money back, right? Just hold onto it."
Saki's fingers tightened on the bill. She looked down, feeling unexpectedly moved.
"…Thanks. I'll give you back 500 tomorrow."
"No need. Just keep it safe for now. If you really want, pay me back next month."
"Alright… next month then," she murmured, placing the bill carefully into her drawer.
"Good. Now that you've accepted it, Kawasaki Saki, your childhood friend expects you to copy tomorrow's homework for him."
Saki: "…"