April 25th.
Wednesday.
Clear weather.
When the morning mist dispersed, Asu Mei didn't hear the familiar call for breakfast and stayed in bed until the dazzling sunlight hit her face, prompting her to reluctantly get up.
"How did it get so bright so quickly today?"
Her plump, pale legs stretched out from under the covers. Asu Mei sat up and stretched lazily. Her perfect figure was clearly visible through her sheer black nightgown.
She picked up her phone from beside her pillow, and the first thing she saw plunged Asu Mei into deep confusion.
"8:20?"
That's not right. Jun-chan hasn't even called me to get up for breakfast yet.
How could it be 8:20?
She looked again; it was still 8:20.
She quickly got up and changed into a suit, then put on black pantyhose. Walking to the dressing mirror, she grabbed a hair tie, bound her hair, and after confirming her appearance was proper, she left the bedroom.
There were no notes on the dining table or coffee table, and no breakfast in the microwave.
Asu Mei, fuming, was about to open Little Piglet's door but suddenly stopped.
'Could it be that Jun-chan...'
'...did that?'
'So, he couldn't get up this morning.'
After thinking about it carefully, it was indeed possible. After all, that little rascal had secretly stolen Asu Mei's first kiss last night.
It was normal for a boy to lose control.
Thinking of this, Asu Mei's pretty face flushed crimson, and she finally decided to go and remind Hoshino Jun.
"Knock, knock, knock."
"Jun-chan, it's time to get up for school. Just buy something for breakfast; I'm leaving now."
When she put on her high heels and left the house, she noticed the door to the neighboring Takayanagi Family was open.
She instinctively glanced inside and saw a pair of white sneakers at the entrance, identical in style and size to the pair she had given Hoshino Jun for New Year's.
"Did Yuki-nee also give her son a pair of these shoes?"
"Probably. It can't be that Jun-chan slept at her house, can it?"
Cherry blossoms fell, wave after wave. Without much thought, Asu Mei quickly left the apartment complex.
At this moment, inside the bedroom of apartment 403, pantyhose, a suit, and a shirt lay scattered on the floor.
The panties were by the headboard, and the boxers were at the foot of the bed.
Hoshino Jun and Takayanagi Yuki were wrapped together in the quilt, quietly staring at each other.
"Good morning, Yuki."
Yawning, Hoshino Jun's arm passed over her snow-white shoulder, pulling the beautiful woman in his arms even closer.
He was still sleepy.
He had been truly overworked recently. If he hadn't added two points to his stamina, Hoshino Jun wouldn't have known if he could handle such high-intensity physical exertion.
No one understood him.
Even the system could only see Hoshino Jun's efficiency in debt collection but couldn't see the exhaustion he felt from playing cards with beautiful women every day after collecting debts.
Takayanagi Yuki, tightly embraced, had a flushed face. She blinked without moving, carefully listening to the sounds outside the bedroom door.
She remembered what happened last night.
She knew she had been drunk and confused last night, thinking she was in a dream, and had pulled Hoshino Jun, calling the neighboring boy, who was now embracing her, "husband" over and over again.
So she didn't have the heart to blame Hoshino Jun, nor did she dare to look at him. She could only bury her face in Hoshino Jun's chest, temporarily escaping reality.
"Click—!"
It wasn't until the sound of the door closing in the living room that Takayanagi Yuki's anxious heart finally settled a little.
But her heart was still in turmoil.
"Jun-kun, what if Jo-kun finds out?"
Hearing the beautiful woman's muffled voice, Hoshino Jun's lips unconsciously curved slightly. He reached out to caress the beautiful woman's smooth, tender leg.
"Why aren't you calling me husband anymore?"
"Mmm."
The neighboring boy's sudden 'teasing' made Takayanagi Yuki incredibly shy, her face covered in beautiful red blush. She pouted and whispered softly:
"Jun-kun, I'm being serious with you. If Jo-kun finds out, it'll be terrible..."
It was clear from her tone that she was genuinely panicked.
Although she did have some affection for Hoshino Jun, that was true.
And she had been disappointed with her son, Takayanagi Jo, recently, that was also true.
Takayanagi Yuki also hoped they could get along well, that was true.
But...
Under these circumstances, could they really get along well?
Takayanagi Yuki was very afraid they would fight.
If they really fought, whose side would Takayanagi Yuki take?
Regarding these questions, even if Takayanagi Yuki didn't explicitly say them, Hoshino Jun was self-aware.
So, he still needed to work hard.
"Yuki!"
Seeing the neighboring aunt's flustered expression, Hoshino Jun leaned closer to her, lifted her chin, and met her gaze.
Then he tightened his embrace.
The sensation on his chest was too soft, making him want to lean in even closer.
"Don't be afraid. I'm here for everything. Just like yesterday, as long as you need me, I'll always appear to protect you."
"I mean Jo-kun..."
"It's the same with Jo-kun. I'll protect you and be good to both of you, mother and son."
The boy's hand was hot on her thigh, and his upper body muscles were like a furnace, warming Takayanagi Yuki.
It felt as if a playful fawn was wildly prancing deep within her soul.
Perhaps Takayanagi Yuki herself hadn't noticed that she no longer minded Hoshino Jun's intimate touches.
Even though they were both wrapped in one blanket, even though she could clearly feel the boy's vigorous body heat on her stomach.
"You're still a child yourself."
"..."
Hoshino Jun didn't refute with words. Instead, he fumbled for his phone from the headboard, brought up his account balance, and showed it to Takayanagi Yuki.
Wealth is a man's backbone. Hoshino Jun didn't need to spend too many words to prove that he was no longer a child.
As expected.
After counting the digits several times, Takayanagi Yuki showed the same expression as Asu Mei did last night:
Shock, surprise, and suspicion that Hoshino Jun's money came from an illegitimate source.
"Don't worry, my money is clean money."
Using the Chairwoman as a shield again, Hoshino Jun gently twirled the beautiful woman's hair and then told her:
"So, you don't need to worry about Jo-kun's tuition fees; I'll cover all of it."
This time, Hoshino Jun no longer referred to Takayanagi Jo as "Jo-kun" as he had before. Instead, he called him "Jo," just like Takayanagi Yuki did.
"Jun-kun."
Takayanagi Yuki bit her red lip, her large, watery eyes wide as she timidly said, "Thank you."
The breeze stirred the curtains, revealing the clear blue sky outside.
A smile played on Hoshino Jun's eyes and brows. He took Takayanagi Yuki's slender, delicate hand and placed it against his abdominal muscles.
They were firm and warm.
"It can't just be a light 'thank you,' Yuki."
"Mmm," Takayanagi Yuki lowered her voice, like a mosquito's hum, and shyly said, "Then this is the last time, Jun-kun. We really can't let Jo and Mei find out."
Last time...
You said the same thing.
"Okay, last time." Hoshino Jun nodded, agreeing.
The last time I'll let you call me Jun-kun. Next time, I'll make you call me husband while you're fully conscious.
Thinking of this, Hoshino Jun's heart stirred again. He then flipped over, grabbed Takayanagi Yuki's two bare little feet, and played with them on his shoulders.
The neighboring aunt, it's not just her little feet.
Everything is so smooth.
"..."
At 8:59, Takayanagi Yuki called her boss, Asu Mei, to request leave due to feeling unwell.
Meanwhile, Hoshino Jun, bathed in the morning sun, rushed into the school just one minute before the school gate was about to close.
For the first time in his life, he finally experienced the feeling of an anime protagonist, biting into a yakisoba bun and sprinting at full speed.
Hoshino Jun didn't like this sense of urgency, but occasionally enjoying the thrill wasn't bad either.
Because of his partnership with Saionji Ryuichi, today, besides love letters from secret admirers, there were no strange letters in his shoe locker or classroom desk.
Even Takayanagi Jo, who usually liked to mock Hoshino Jun at every turn, was unexpectedly subdued.
This brought a rare quietness to Hoshino Jun's world.
However, quiet times were always surprisingly short-lived.
As it approached lunchtime, Takayanagi Jo turned around and asked a question:
"Hoshino Jun, yesterday, did you..."
"...see any other men go into my house?"
His expression was very humiliated, and his eyes darted around. He probably didn't want to ask Hoshino Jun this question.
But besides Hoshino Jun, he had no one else to ask.
After all, with such an awkward question, he couldn't just directly ask his mom who his stepfather was.
"No," Hoshino Jun answered truthfully, with a somewhat playful smile.
"Are you sure there weren't?" Takayanagi Jo had heavy dark circles under his eyes. The sounds from last night and his thoughts had been too loud, causing him to stay awake all night.
"Yes, there were no other men." Hoshino Jun nodded with certainty.
"Alright, what I asked you today, you're not allowed to tell anyone, or else I won't let you off the hook. Did you hear me?"
[Ding!]
[Detected threatening remarks from Takayanagi Jo!]
[Choose not to pursue, and you will acquire a D-rank Debt of Friendship.]
Yuki's son, what is there to pursue?
[It has been determined that Takayanagi Jo is unable to repay this Debt of Friendship. The debt has been automatically transferred to his mother, "Takayanagi Yuki".]
Hoshino Jun's eyes and brows curved into a smile, and he looked at Takayanagi Jo with a hint of paternal affection.
"Alright, I definitely won't say anything. You can rest assured, Jo."
"Don't call me Jo. Are we that close?"
Takayanagi Jo glared at Hoshino Jun.
"Pretty much." Hoshino Jun said with a smile.
It's the rebellious phase; a little fuss is fine. What father and son hold grudges overnight?
"Ding-a-ling-ling—!"
The bell signaling the start of lunch break rang.
Hoshino Jun followed the crowd out of the classroom, bought a yakisoba bun at the cafeteria, and headed towards the library.
There were only three days left until the mission deadline.
He needed to speed things up.