As the sun dipped low, St. Girls' Academy's gates glowed with crimson hues.
The dorms were still under construction, so the 24-hour boarding system wasn't in place. Students commuted as usual.
Su Ze, Miyajima Sakura, Kurashiki Reina, and Obata Yui stepped through the side gate, piling into a taxi.
Unnoticed, two pairs of eyes tracked their departure.
"Ze-kun's slipping further away!" Kuroda Satsuki bit her plump lips, her heart in turmoil.
Since their last date, she'd only exchanged brief messages with Su Ze on chat apps, with no further contact.
Her heart brimmed with unspoken thoughts and feelings, but she didn't know how to start.
Opening her phone, she stared at a hypnosis app, her eyes conflicted. Finally, she gritted her teeth. "This is the only way!"
Click, click.
Shionomiya Natsuka pocketed her phone after snapping photos.
Her gallery was filled with shots of Su Ze paired with others, like evidence of a crime.
Ironically, she was the lawbreaker—candid photography could land her in trouble in Japan.
"Got enough. Time to make my move," Natsuka said, a sly smile curling her lips.
She'd noticed Su Ze on his first day, captivated by his looks and later thrilled by his academic and athletic prowess.
The perfect boyfriend material!
Since starting high school, her hormones had surged uncontrollably, urging her to find a partner.
But her love letter arrived too late—Kurashiki Reina beat her to it, leaving her seething.
She'd seen him first.
A message popped up from Yamano Yuta, her younger childhood friend.
Yuta: "Natsuka-nee, settling into the city okay? Did you get the bellflowers I sent?"
Bellflowers symbolized purity.
Natsuka, who blushed at crude jokes, replied, "Love them, Yuta. Thanks, I'm so happy."
Yuta: "Hehe, next year, I'm heading to Hyakka School too."
Natsuka had promised they'd be together when he came of age. Yuta was counting down.
"Dummy Yuta, Hyakka School's gone!" she thought, but replied cheerfully, "Awesome!"
Tokyo's streets buzzed with life—cars weaving, crowds bustling. The residential area quieted, exuding a cozy charm.
The taxi stopped before a single-family home, a "Obata" nameplate on the fence.
Su Ze had planned this visit when Yui gave him her address.
She'd earned a big reward for her efforts.
Merit must be rewarded, faults punished—his principle.
"Yui-chan, your house is gorgeous," Sakura said, eyes sparkling with envy.
Tokyo girls mastered the art of flattery, but Sakura, raised in a traditional Japanese estate, genuinely admired the modern home.
"Oh, come on, Sakura-chan~" Yui brushed it off, her beaming smile betraying her delight.
As she reached for the door, it swung open, revealing a beautiful woman.
She looked ninety percent like Yui, carved from the same mold, but more mature, radiating a delicate, homely charm.
"Oh, welcome! You must be Yui's classmates," she said, her smile warm and slightly goofy, mirroring Yui's. She bowed slightly. "I'm Yui's mom, Obata Natsumi! Thank you for looking after her!"
[Natsumi's Joy: +22]
[Natsumi's Admiration: +9]
Admiration on first meeting? Su Ze was used to it. His style and looks, amplified by War Demon charisma, made women's attraction inevitable.
Reina grinned. "Mrs. Obata, you're too kind! I'm Kurashiki Reina, Yui-chan's good friend!"
Sakura bowed respectfully. "I'm Miyajima Sakura. Please call me Sakura, Auntie."
Su Ze smiled. "I'm Su Ze. Sorry for the unannounced visit—hope we're not a bother."
Natsumi's eyes widened, surprised. "You're Su Ze? Yui talks about you all the time! Please help with her studies!"
She bowed again.
[Natsumi's Appreciation: +22]
[Natsumi's Joy: +24]
[Natsumi's Admiration: +18]
This lady was generous…
Su Ze praised inwardly, replying humbly, "Yui's part of our study group. We help each other. We might trouble you today, Auntie."
Sakura nodded. "Exactly."
The study group was barely three hours old, but who could deny its academic benefits?
"Come on, Mom, we're studying," Yui said, bouncing her backpack eagerly.
Natsumi stepped aside, fetching indoor shoes.
"Come up to my room!" Yui chirped, leading them upstairs.
Seeing Yui's excitement, Natsumi smiled warmly, happy her daughter had such friends.
"Go study. I'll prep dinner—sound good, Yui-chan?" Natsumi asked, eyes crinkling.
"Ugh…" Yui pouted reluctantly.
Reina smirked, teasing, "Yui-chan's so eager to study~"
Natsumi laughed. Good friends made Yui enthusiastic about learning! "How about dinner first? The sukiyaki's ready."
Yui glanced at Su Ze, her voice drawn out. "Well…"
"Let's do it. Thanks, Auntie," Su Ze decided.
"Such a polite boy," Natsumi giggled, eyeing him like a potential son-in-law.
Yui's father was often away on business, rarely home.
So, dinner was just the five of them.
As students, they couldn't break out the beer, but the table buzzed with laughter.
Yui snagged a prime spot next to Su Ze, her hand sneaking under the table to press his thigh, savoring his warmth.
She was bursting, her nose flaring—not for sukiyaki's aroma, but to inhale Su Ze's scent.
Natsumi, oblivious to her daughter's obsession, blushed as she studied Su Ze's athletic build. "Ze-kun, you're in great shape. Do you work out?"
Her question was genuine—his student status belied a potent, masculine aura.
"I practice kickboxing," Su Ze replied, then grinned. "Auntie, your voice is lovely, and you look so much like Yui—same cute way of talking. Were you a voice actress back in the day?"
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