People say high school is a time of "pink roses." Full of love, friendship, and youthful sweat. For me, Itsuki Renji, high school was just a boring transition period before I could get a job and move out of my aunt's house.
I don't hate my aunt. She's a good person who took me in after my parents... well, decided that pursuing a career abroad was more important than raising their only child. But still, I know myself. I'm a burden.
So, my strategy is simple: Be smart, don't cause trouble, and graduate as quickly as possible.
But it seems that the God of Romantic Comedy is bored and has decided to trample on my peaceful life.
Part 1: Broken Routines
"Renji! If you walk around daydreaming like a zombie, you'll crash into a utility pole again like you did in first grade!"
The voice was shrill, familiar, and unfortunately, very comfortable to my ears. I turned my head slightly. Next to me was a girl with short bobbed hair, a school bag full of noisy key chains, and a melon bread in her mouth.
She is Aina. My neighbor. My childhood friend. And the only female living creature who can tolerate my expressionless face.
"That was ten years ago, Aina. And you were the one who pushed me back then," I replied without stopping.
Aina laughed, bread crumbs stuck to the corners of her mouth. "Hahaha! That's true. But look on the bright side, thanks to that, you became smart because of the bump on your head, right?"
"The medical theory behind that..." I sighed, then reflexively reached out to wipe the crumbs from the corner of his mouth. "You're a mess. We're in high school now, don't eat like a hamster."
Aina's face flushed instantly. She gently pushed my hand away, but she wasn't angry. "B-brat! You... sometimes act like my older brother, even though you're just Renji."
We're the same age.
Mentally, you're a 40-year-old man trapped in a teenager's body.
Our relationship is just like this. No more, no less. To Aina, I may be a substitute for family. To outsiders, we may look like a couple. But I know my limits. I don't have the energy for romance.
At least, that's what I thought until I arrived in class and met my only male friend.
"Good morning, Renji-kun~"
Sitting at my desk with her legs crossed was Yuuki. Her skin was smoother than Aina's, her eyelashes were long, and she wore strawberry-flavored lip balm. If only she hadn't been wearing boys' uniform pants, 99% of the school population would have thought she was the prettiest girl in her class.
"Good morning, Yuuki. Get off my desk. You're attracting attention," I said as I put down my bag.
Yuuki chuckled, his baritone voice contrasting with his face always surprising people. "It's so cold. I wanted to take you to lunch at the cafeteria. They have a new menu."
"Sure. I brought lunch. I want to eat at the usual place."
"Behind the old gym?" Yuuki propped her chin up, staring at me intently. "You really are antisocial, aren't you? Be careful, though. Dark, quiet places in school are usually where the main events happen."
Don't talk as if life is an anime. It's just an old warehouse.
I should have listened to Yuuki. Her "Trap" instincts turned out to be razor sharp.
Part 2: The Incident at the Old Warehouse
The bell rang for recess. I avoided the crowded cafeteria and walked to the back of the school. This old gym was rarely used, the electricity often went out, and rumors of ghosts made it deserted. It was the perfect place to eat lunch in peace.
I opened the slightly rusty side door. Krieeet.
Dark. Only a little sunlight came in from the overhead vents. The air smelled of dust and... expensive perfume?
Wait. Perfume?
My eyes adjusted to the darkness. In the corner of the room, on top of a pile of old gym mats, there was movement. Someone was standing there. A girl.
He was bending over, trying to pull something out.
And that's when my smart brain experienced a blue screen.
The girl was wearing our school uniform top. Her beautiful long black hair fell down her back. But on the bottom... she wasn't wearing a skirt. Only her long legs were exposed and... her light blue underwear was very, very clearly visible in the darkness.
She was holding her soaking wet skirt in one hand, and a small portable hair dryer in the other.
He turned his head. Our eyes met.
Time stopped for three seconds.
"Huh?" My voice escaped without permission.
The girl froze. Her beautiful face—wait, it was Himeno Karen. The idol of the next class. A model student, head of the discipline committee, daughter of a school donor. The girl nicknamed "Ice Princess" because of her perfection.
And the Ice Princess is currently standing without her entourage in front of the least popular boy in school.
"Y-y-you..." Her voice trembled.
I panicked. Renji's logic, work! Quick! "Sorry! I didn't see anything! The door wasn't locked and I—"
"SHUT UP!"
Her scream echoed. It wasn't a scream of fear, but an authoritarian scream. Before I had time to turn and run, she threw her wet skirt in my face.
Plak!
"Don't move or I'll scream 'harassment' right now!" she threatened.
I froze with my wet, coffee-smelling skirt covering my face. "Wait, Himeno-san. Let's talk rationally. I'll go outside, you put on... whatever, and we'll forget about this."
"Forget? FORGET?!"
I felt his hand grab my collar, pulling me closer. When the skirt fell from my face, his face was only a few inches away. His eyes were teary with embarrassment, but his gaze was murderous.
"You saw it, right? You saw me in this miserable state! I spilled coffee on my skirt, I had to wash it in the toilet sink and dry it here because the changing room was full! And you... you gloomy student..."
"My name is Itsuki."
"I don't care! Listen, Itsuki. If even one person... EVEN ONE PERSON finds out that I'm here without a skirt, or finds out the color of my pants—I mean, my underwear..."
He squeezed my collar harder.
"I'm going to report to the guidance counselor that you trapped me here and forced me to take off my skirt. My father is a donor to the school. Who are they going to believe? The genius Himeno Karen, or a gloomy orphan like you?"
My blood ran cold. Did he know my status? This wasn't just an empty threat. He was actually using his power. This was bad. I could be expelled. My scholarship would be revoked. My aunt would be devastated.
"What do you want?" I asked coldly.
Himeno smiled crookedly. It was a smile she never showed in public. The smile of a manipulator.
"Good. You're smart," he whispered. "Starting today, you are my 'shield'."
What?
"I have a lot of problems that I can't handle on my own because I have to maintain my image. You'll take care of them for me. You'll be my dog, my assistant, whatever you want to call it. You have to be there when I call you. If not..." He glanced toward the door. "You know the consequences."
"This is extortion."
"This is a negotiation, Itsuki. Now, turn around. Guard the door until my skirt dries. If anyone comes, chase them away. Understood?"
I gritted my teeth. My freedom in high school had just ended.
"Understood," I replied briefly.
Part 3: Relationship Breakdown
Two weeks have passed since that incident. That hell is real, and her name is Himeno Karen.
He made me do crazy things. Buying bread at the cafeteria where the line was as long as a dragon, doing his extra assignments, even asking me to secretly throw away the love letters in his locker so he wouldn't look bad for rejecting them.
And because of that, my time is up.
"Renji, let's stop by the bookstore after school today, okay? The new comic we've been waiting for is coming out today," Aina said during lunch break. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. A message from 'Queen of Hell': Go to the roof now. Bring me some orange juice. Don't let anyone see you. 3 minutes.
I squeezed my phone.
"Sorry, Aina. I... have something to do. You go ahead."
Aina's smile slowly faded. This was the fifth time this week I had rejected her. "What's the matter? You're not in any clubs. You also said you don't like hanging out."
"Just... helping out the teacher. Extra work," I lied.
"Renji, are you hiding something from me?" Aina took a step forward, staring intently into my eyes. Her 'big sister' instincts kicked in.
"Nothing. Never mind, I'm in a hurry."
I turned away from Aina. But out of the corner of my eye, I saw an expression I had never seen before on her face. It wasn't anger, nor was it sadness.
That's a jealous look.
As I hurried toward the roof, Yuuki suddenly appeared from behind a pillar in the corridor, leaning casually while twirling a pen.
"You know, Renji," Yuuki said softly as I passed her.
I stopped. "What?"
"Himeno Karen is beautiful. But making Aina cry is a big sin," said Yuuki, his tone no longer joking. He knew. This sharp bastard must have seen me being enslaved by Himeno.
"It's not what you think," I protested.
"I hope so. Because if you keep this up..." Yuuki looked at Aina, who was still standing frozen in the distance. "Someone might take the place of your beloved 'little sister'."
I swallowed hard, then ran to the roof. Himeno Karen was waiting for me there.
On one side, there was the devil girl who held the secret to my dismissal. On the other side, there was my childhood friend who had begun to doubt me. And in the middle of it all, there was me, a high school boy who just wanted to live a quiet life.
"It took you long enough!" Himeno snapped as I opened the roof hatch. The wind blew her black hair around. She looked beautiful, haughty, and...
Wait, why isn't he wearing one sock?
"Don't ask," he cut in quickly, his face reddening, before I had a chance to speak. "Find my socks. They blew away in the wind and landed in the tree below. HURRY!"
Damn it. My life is truly over.
Part 4 — Ten Centimeters Away and the Suspicion of a Childhood Friend
(POV: Renji)
"Bring it here!"
"I got it, Princess! Oh my gosh, why didn't you just buy a new one?"
I jumped down from a branch of the cherry tree in the backyard, landing awkwardly on the grass. My hair was full of twigs and leaves, and my uniform was dirty. In my hand, I held a black lace sock that had gotten caught on a high branch.
Himeno Karen stood there, hands on her hips. She had tidied herself up, looking once again like the perfect model student, except for the fact that her left leg was bare.
He quickly snatched the socks from my hand, his face slightly red. "Th-these are limited edition socks. And... don't touch the inside, you pervert!"
"I held it with my fingertips! My fingertips!" I sighed deeply, patting the dust off my pants. "That's it, right? My debt is paid for today. I want to—"
"Wait."
Himeno quickly put on her socks, then looked at me with her chin raised.
"You're coming home with me today."
Silence. The afternoon breeze blew, carrying dry leaves past us.
"Huh?" I stared blankly. "Why? Your house is in an elite neighborhood, mine is in a crowded settlement. We're going in opposite directions."
"My school bag is heavy because of the extra assignments that you should have done but haven't finished. So you have to carry my bag to the station," she said casually, as if it were a law of nature.
"Are you crazy? If people see us walking together, rumors will spread! You said yourself you wanted to protect your image!" I protested. But that wasn't my main reason.
In my mind, Aina's face appeared.
If Aina saw me walking with Himeno Karen—the most popular girl in school—after I had just turned down Aina's invitation to go to the bookstore... World War III might break out. Or worse, she would cry. And I hate to see her cry.
"I refuse. It's too risky. Aina—I mean, my neighbor, she came home using the same route."
Himeno's eyes narrowed sharply. A cold aura emanated from her body.
"I don't remember giving you the option to refuse, Dog-kun," he said coldly, emphasizing each syllable. "A promise is a promise. You must do as I say, or your little secret about 'peeping on girls in the warehouse' will reach the principal's ears tomorrow morning."
Checkmate.
I groaned in frustration. "Fine! But we're taking the back roads. Don't take the main road."
Himeno smiled. An annoying smile of victory. "Good. Bring my bag. Don't walk beside me, walk two steps behind me like a good servant."
"Damn..." I muttered softly, grabbing her expensive leather bag, which was indeed heavy.
(POV: Aina)
The orange evening sky reflected in the windows of the classroom, which was beginning to empty.
I rested my chin on the table, staring at the empty chair next to me. Renji's chair. His bag was gone. He had already gone home, or maybe he was still working on the "extra assignment" he had mentioned earlier.
"Renji, you idiot," I muttered softly.
Something feels strange.
Renji and I have been together since we were in diapers. We know everything about each other. I know he hates carrots, he knows I'm afraid of thunder. I know he hates socializing, he knows I talk a lot to cover up my loneliness.
But these past two weeks... it feels like there's a glass wall between us. He often disappears. He often checks his phone with a panicked look on his face. And most hurtfully, he's started lying.
I know when Renji is lying. His nose wrinkles a little. And this afternoon, when he refused my invitation, his nose wrinkled.
"Hah..." I sighed deeply, got up from my chair, and walked slowly to the cafeteria to buy a drink before going home.
The cafeteria was quiet, with only the auntie cleaning the tables. I bought a box of strawberry-flavored milk, piercing the straw with a little emotion.
"You look scary, Aina-chan. The milk carton is innocent, you know."
I gasped. At the corner table, a man—well, I mean, someone very beautiful—was drinking bottled tea.
Yuuki. Renji's classmate, and the only male friend Renji has.
"Yuuki..." I sat down in front of him without permission. His relaxed energy sometimes made me jealous. "I'm not scared. I'm just... annoyed."
"About Renji again?" Yuuki guessed correctly. She smiled slightly, brushing her bangs aside.
I nodded weakly, playing with my straw. "Yuuki-kun, you were sitting next to him. You must know something."
I stared intently at Yuuki, trying to find an answer.
"Does Renji... have a girlfriend?"
The question felt heavy as it left my mouth. My chest tightened just imagining it.
Yuuki was silent for a moment. He didn't answer right away, instead tapping his fingers on the table.
"Why do you think that?" Yuuki asked back.
"Because he's weird! He's busy, he avoids me, he often looks panicked," I explained in a high-pitched voice, then my voice trailed off. "But that doesn't make sense, right? Renji... he hates relationships. He always says dating is troublesome, a waste of energy, and inefficient. He's never even looked at any girl. So, there's no way he has a girlfriend... right?"
I looked at Yuuki hopefully. Hoping he would say, "Of course not, Renji is severely antisocial."
But Yuuki's expression was hard to read. It was as if he knew something I didn't.
"Aina," Yuuki called softly.
Yes?
"The world of men is complicated. Sometimes they hide things not because of other people, but because they are stuck in difficult situations," Yuuki replied diplomatically. He didn't say "no," but he didn't say "yes" either.
I looked down. "So... there's a possibility?"
Suddenly Yuuki's hand gently patted my head.
"Listen," Yuuki said, his gaze serious this time, without a hint of jest. "Renji is clueless when it comes to feelings, but he's not clueless when it comes to choosing people who are important to him."
Yuuki leaned forward slightly.
"Even if there turns out to be another girl causing trouble around him... you don't need to worry. The position of 'Childhood Friend' is strong, Aina. You two have a history that no one can fight against."
Yuuki-kun...
"I'm on your side," Yuuki winked, returning to her cheerful mood. "Besides, if Renji ever hurts a sweet girl like you, I'll beat him up with my high heels myself."
I chuckled when I heard that. A little weight was lifted from my chest.
Thank you, Yuuki-kun.
You're welcome. Now go home. Don't daydream on the way.
I nodded and walked out of the cafeteria. Yuuki's words gave me a little courage. That's right. I was Renji's childhood friend. I knew him best.
But as I walked out of the school gate, my eyes caught something in the distance. On a rarely used side street.
That back... that's Renji.
And he wasn't alone. He walked behind a girl with long black hair who walked gracefully. Was Renji carrying the girl's bag?
Renji, who always refused to carry my groceries, is now carrying a girl's bag?
My heart skipped a beat.
Who is that girl?
--
Part 5 — A Fragile Alibi and the Meeting of Two Poles
(POV: Renji)
"RENJI!"
The sound exploded like thunder in broad daylight.
My heart seemed to stop beating for a full second. My legs froze, and the blood drained from my face. I recognized this voice. I knew its tone, its frequency, its vibration.
I turned my head stiffly, like a robot that hadn't been oiled.
At the end of the alley, Aina stood panting. Her face was red, a mixture of exhaustion from running and... emotions I couldn't read. Her eyes stared straight at me, then moved to the expensive leather bag in my hand, and finally landed on the girl in front of me.
I am dead.My life is over.Goodbye, world.
Himeno stopped walking. She slowly turned her body, her black hair blowing in the wind looking very dramatic—in stark contrast to the panic that was overwhelming my brain.
"Who?" Himeno asked flatly, her eyebrows raised slightly. She looked Aina up and down with a judgmental gaze, as if she were looking at an insect that had suddenly entered her luxurious living room.
That's right. Himeno Karen, the 'Queen of the School', wouldn't bother memorizing the names or faces of commoners like us.
Aina stepped closer, ignoring Himeno's cold stare, and focused entirely on me.
"Renji..." Aina's voice trembled. "You... you said you had urgent business. You said you had extra work. So... this is the 'work' you were talking about?"
Aina's index finger pointed straight at Himeno's face.
My brain is spinning at 1000 kilometers per hour. If I say I'm being blackmailed, Himeno will spill my secret. If I say we're dating, Aina will go berserk. I need a middle ground. I need a believable lie!
"I-it's..." My throat went dry. "It's a group assignment! Yes, that's right! A group assignment!"
Aina frowned, confused. "Group assignment? But you guys are in different classes."
"Th-that... um... Cross-Class Project!" I blurted out random words. "It's a new program from the school! Problem students—I mean, regular students like me are paired up with model students to... to raise the school's average grades! Right, Himeno-san?!"
I looked at Himeno with a pleading gaze: Just say yes, or we'll both die here like fools.
Himeno was silent for a moment. Her blue eyes flashed slyly. She seemed to enjoy seeing me suffer, but she also knew that the commotion here was not good for her image.
She tossed her hair, then smiled—a perfectly fake smile.
"That's right," Himeno's voice turned soft and polite, her 'Model Student' mode activated. "The principal asked me to tutor Itsuki-kun. Because his grades... well, need a little attention, so we have to study together after school."
I almost choked on my own spit. My grades need attention? I'm always in the top 10, damn it! But I couldn't argue.
Aina's mouth fell open. She stared at Himeno, then looked at me, as if trying to process this absurd information.
"Wait..." Aina took a step back. "You... Himeno Karen, right? Head of the Discipline Committee? The daughter of the school's benefactor?"
"I'm glad you recognize me," Himeno replied briefly, her tone implying: Of course you recognize me.
"But..." Aina looked at me again, her eyes full of disbelief. "Renji? With Himeno-san? You guys... study together?"
For Aina, it must have been like seeing a cat and a dog drinking tea together. It didn't make sense. Renji, who was antisocial, gloomy, and hated rich people, was suddenly walking side by side with the bright and cheerful Himeno Karen.
"And..." Aina's eyes fell on my right hand. "Why are you carrying her bag, Renji?"
Second checkmate.
Cold sweat ran down my back. "Oh, this..."
"I sprained my wrist while writing the report earlier," Himeno quickly interjected, raising her right hand with a feigned pout. "Being the gentleman that he is, Itsuki-kun offered to carry it for me. Isn't that right, Itsuki-kun?"
She emphasized the words "Itsuki-kun" in a tone that sounded like a threat: Answer yes or you die.
"Y-yes! That's right! I'm just... doing good deeds. Charity," I replied quickly.
Aina was silent. She looked down, her hands clenched at her sides.
The atmosphere became awkward and heavy.
"I see..." Aina muttered softly. She lifted her face, staring at Himeno with a look that was difficult to interpret. It wasn't fear, nor was it admiration. It was a defensive look.
"In that case," Aina said suddenly, stepping forward and standing right next to me. She wrapped her arm around my free left arm.
My body tensed. "Aina?"
"If it's just studying together, I can join, right?" Aina smiled sweetly, but her eyes challenged Himeno. "I'm Renji's childhood friend. I often help him study too. Three heads are better than two, right? Besides, I don't want Renji to bother Himeno-san all by himself."
What the heck is this?!
I saw a dangerous glint in Himeno's eyes. She didn't like being challenged. She didn't like any "bugs" interfering with her plans (read: her enslavement).
Himeno smiled crookedly, a cold aura beginning to emanate from her.
"I'm sorry, what was your name again?" Himeno said softly but pointedly. "My learning method is very... special. And I need to concentrate fully on Itsuki-kun. Outsiders will only get in the way."
"My name is Aina. And I'm not an outsider," replied Aina, tightening her embrace around my arm. "I'm family."
Duar.
I feel like I'm standing in the middle of a minefield.
On my left, my possessive and suspicious childhood friend. On my right, the manipulative Queen of Devils who holds my trump card.
"Renji," Aina looked up at me. "Let's just go home, okay? Himeno-san will be picked up by her driver. You don't need to take her that far."
"Itsuki," Himeno called coldly. "Remember your responsibilities (read: my threats). You're not going to abandon your duties halfway through, are you?"
They both looked at me at the same time.
"Choose," demanded their gazes.
Oh God, just take my life now.
--
Part 6 — The Promise of Beef and Tears on the Pillow
(POV: Renji)
It feels like having to choose between cutting off your right hand or your left foot.
On one hand, Aina's teary eyes begged me to go home with her. On the other hand, Himeno's razor-sharp gaze reminded me that one wrong move would mean the end of my future at this school.
I took a deep breath, swallowing the bitter taste of guilt. I had to survive first. If I got expelled from school, I would cause more trouble for my aunt and disappoint Aina in the long run.
"I'm sorry, Aina," I said softly.
Aina's grip on my arm tightened for a moment, then slowly loosened.
"I... I really have to finish this. This grade is important for my scholarship," I insisted. The word "scholarship" was a powerful weapon. Aina knew how much I didn't want to burden my aunt.
Aina looked down, her bangs covering her eyes. Slowly, her hand slipped from mine. The warmth that had been there was now replaced by the cold evening breeze. It felt empty.
"But..." I quickly added before she became even more sad. "Come to my house tonight. My aunt said she bought some good beef yesterday. I'll cook you a special sukiyaki. As an apology."
Aina's head lifted slightly. Her eyes were still sad, but there was a glimmer of hope there. She knew my beef dishes were the best. They were our comfort food.
"Promise?" she asked softly.
"Promise," I replied firmly.
Before Aina could answer, Himeno's shrill voice cut through the moment.
"Oh no!" Himeno suddenly looked at her watch with a shocked expression that—to my eyes—looked very fake. "We're running out of time! Our advisor only has a little time left! We have to run, Itsuki-kun!"
"Huh? You said earlier—"
"Hurry up!"
Without warning, Himeno grabbed my wrist tightly. Her manicured nails dug into my skin. She pulled me forcefully, making me turn my back on Aina.
"Bye, Aina-san! See you tomorrow!" Himeno called out without turning around, her voice sounding cheerful but her actions rude.
I was dragged along. My feet moved quickly to keep up with Himeno. I glanced back for a moment.
Aina was still standing there, in the middle of the alley that was starting to get dark. Alone. Her hands, which had been hugging me, now hung limply at her sides.
The sight made my chest tighten.
"Don't look back," Himeno whispered in front of me, her voice cold and flat again. "Focus on the road ahead, Dog-kun. You're walking too slowly."
I gritted my teeth, letting myself be dragged away from the only person who truly cared about me.
-----
(POV: Aina)
"I'm home..."
My voice sounded hoarse as I opened the door to my house. My house was quiet, except for the sound of the television in the living room.
I walked slowly down the hallway, entered the living room, and threw my school bag onto the sofa.
Buk.
"Ara? Aina? Are you home?" Mom appeared from the kitchen carrying a spatula. Her smile immediately faded when she saw my bag lying carelessly on the floor and my gloomy face. "What's wrong, dear? You look so upset. Did you have a fight with Renji?"
That name makes my heart ache again.
I didn't answer. I just shook my head slowly, avoiding my mother's gaze, then quickly walked up the stairs to my room.
"Aina? Dinner will be ready soon!" called Mom from downstairs.
"Later. I'm not hungry," I replied briefly before closing the door.
Klik.
As soon as the door closed, my defenses crumbled. I threw myself onto the bed, burying my face in the soft pillow. The familiar scent of detergent wasn't enough to calm the turmoil in my chest.
Why? Why did Renji choose her? Why did Renji let that girl pull him away like that?
The image of Renji's back walking away with Himeno Karen kept spinning around in my head like a broken record. Himeno was beautiful, smart, rich, and perfect. Compared to me, who was just a noisy neighbor who liked to eat melon bread... I was clearly no match for her.
My tears began to seep through and wet the pillowcase.
"Renji, you idiot..." I sobbed. "I was the one who knew you first... I was always there for you..."
I feel suffocated. My greatest fear seems to be coming true. Renji is leaving. He will find a new world where I don't exist.
I curled up hugging my pillow, ready to drown in sadness all night long.
But then, a voice flashed through my mind.
The position of 'Childhood Friend' is strong, Aina. You two have a history that no one can fight against.
Yuuki's words this afternoon in the cafeteria.
I fell silent, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. Yuuki was right. Yuuki was the second smartest person after Renji in that class, so he definitely didn't speak carelessly.
I woke up, sat on the edge of the bed, and stared at the mirror on the dressing table. My eyes were a little red, but not yet swollen.
"That's true," I muttered to my reflection. "Renji promised to cook beef. He never breaks his promises when it comes to food."
Renji may be "lost" for a while because of his duties or the rich girl's coercion. But in the end, he will come home. And when he comes home, he will eat with me.
Himeno Karen may have money and power, but does she know that Renji likes his meat cooked medium well? Does she know that Renji hates spring onions that are cut too big? No. I know.
I slapped both cheeks hard with both hands. Smack!
"It hurts!" I moaned, but the pain woke me up.
Don't give up, Aina! Crying won't change anything. If Renji is having problems with that girl, I have to be a comfortable place for him to come home to.
I stood up, straightening my wrinkled uniform. My spirits slowly returned.
"Just wait, Renji. You have to cook the meat well, be careful not to make it too salty!"
I smiled slightly, even though tears still lingered in the corners of my eyes. The war was not over yet. And Aina would not go down without a fight.
-----
Part 7 — A Kiss at the Palace Gate and a Warm Welcome at Home
(POV: Renji)
"We're here."
I looked up, my mouth slightly open. In front of me was not a house, but a fortress. The three-meter-high iron gate opened automatically, revealing a rocky path that cut through a large garden leading to a European-style mansion.
"You live here alone?" I asked in amazement, momentarily forgetting my status as a slave.
"My father is busy overseas, and my mother travels a lot. So yes, most of the time it's just me and the servants," Himeno replied flatly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. She took her bag from my hand.
Well, your job is done, Dog-kun.
I breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. I'm going home. Don't call me again tonight."
I turned around, ready to run as fast as lightning to the station. The image of beef and Aina's sad face haunted my mind. I had to go home immediately and atone for my sins.
"Wait."
A soft hand touched my shoulder. Before I could ask "what now," Himeno pulled my shoulder so I was facing her. She stood on her tiptoes a little.
Chup.
Something warm and soft touched my left cheek. It was quick, light, but tingling like static electricity.
I froze. My eyes widened in horror.
Himeno took a step back, her face turned away, but I could see her ears turning red under the light of the gate.
"It's... a reward. Because you didn't complain along the way," he muttered quickly. "Don't get me wrong! It's just... like giving a smart pet dog a snack! Hurry up and go home!"
Blam!
He ran into the gate and the iron door closed right in front of me.
I stood there for ten seconds, holding my cheek. "What the hell is that girl..."
But there's no time to analyze the psychology of this strange rich girl. Aina!
I ran as fast as I could to the station. My mind was racing. Was Aina still angry? Was she crying at home?
Half an hour later, I arrived at the door of my modest apartment. I was panting. I reached for my keys, but my movement stopped when I saw a figure crouched in front of the door.
"Always?"
The girl looked up. Her eyes sparkled when she saw me. Without warning, she jumped to her feet.
"RENJI!!"
Brug!
She slammed into me with a tight hug, almost knocking me backward. The scent of her body wash immediately filled my nose, replacing the smell of Himeno's expensive perfume.
"You're home! You're really home!" she cried into my chest. "I love you, Renji! I love Renji so much!"
I sighed, patting his stiff back. "Yes, yes. Move aside, you're heavy."
"How mean! People miss you too!"
I didn't really think much of her use of the word "love." Aina had been saying that since we were five years old. When I shared my gum with her, she would say, "I love you, Renji." When I helped her with her math homework, she would say, "I love you, Renji."
For him, the word "love" might mean the same as "thank you" or "you're my best friend." There's no romantic meaning behind it. I shouldn't get my hopes up.
We went inside. In the living room, my aunt was fast asleep on the sofa with her mouth slightly open, still wearing her work uniform. The TV was on, showing the evening news.
"Shh, Auntie is sleeping," I whispered.
I headed straight to our small kitchen. I cut the meat, prepared the sukiyaki sauce, and chopped the vegetables. Aina sat at the dining table, propping her chin up with her hands, watching me with a broad smile that never faded.
The sweet and savory aroma of beef began to fill the room.
"Mmm... smells good..."
A hoarse voice came from the sofa. Auntie woke up, her nose twitching at the smell of cooking. Her eyes immediately opened wide when she saw me.
"RENJI-KUN IS HOME!"
Just like Aina, Auntie immediately rushed over and hugged me from behind while I was stirring the sauce.
"My smart child! My diligent child! You really are the best child in the world! It's lucky that Auntie takes care of you, otherwise who would cook such delicious food when Auntie is tired~" Auntie rubbed her cheek against my back.
"Auntie... it's hot... heavy... I'm holding a hot pan..." I complained. The energy of these two women was too much for an introvert like me.
Aina laughed heartily seeing me caught in this excessive affection. "Hahaha! Renji's face is bright red!"
This house is noisy, cramped, and hot. It's a far cry from Himeno's cool palace earlier.
But somehow, the tightness in my chest disappeared.
---
(POV: Aina)
Hot steam billowed from the sukiyaki pot in the middle of the table. The beef looked very tempting, tender and juicy. Renji had kept his promise.
I took a piece of cooked meat, blew on it for a moment, then with a mischievous smile, I directed my spoon toward Renji's mouth.
Renji, aaaa~
Renji stared at the spoon, then looked at me with furrowed brows. "My hands are fine, right? I can eat by myself."
"Ugh! Why can't you be a little spoiled once in a while?" I pouted, but still held the spoon in front of his mouth.
Renji sighed in resignation (he always loses when I force him), then opened his mouth slightly and ate the meat. His face looked annoyed, but his ears were red. It was so cute.
My mood improved dramatically. The meat was delicious. But there was still one thing that stuck in my heart like a fish bone.
I put down my spoon and looked at Renji, who was eating calmly.
"Renji..." I called softly.
"Hm?" He didn't turn around, busy picking up tofu.best
"You and Himeno-san..." I swallowed hard, plucking up my courage. "Are you two... dating?"
War!
Auntie dropped her chopsticks. Her eyes widened, staring at Renji with horror and enthusiasm at the same time.
"WHAT?! DATING?! Renji has a girlfriend?! The girl you said was your study partner?! Who is she?! Is she pretty?! When will you introduce her to me?!" Auntie fired off questions like a machine gun.
Renji choked on his soup. He coughed, pounded his chest, then looked at us both with his usual straight face, even though his eyes looked a little panicked.
"No," Renji replied firmly, his voice without the slightest hesitation.
He picked up the glass of water and drank it. "I told you, it's a school project. We're just friends. Nothing more. Even 'friends' might be too strong a word. We're just... coworkers."
My heart, which had been beating fast, slowly slowed down. Relief. It felt like a 100-kilo weight had been lifted from my shoulders.
"Is that true?" I asked to confirm.
"That's right, Aina. Besides, my type isn't a complicated and noisy girl like her," Renji added as he resumed eating.
Auntie looked a little disappointed. "Well... I was ready to show off to the neighbors that my niece was getting married."
I chuckled softly, taking another bite of meat with a much lighter feeling.
Just friends.Just coworkers.
Renji wasn't lying. His nose didn't wrinkle.
"Thank God..." I muttered softly, putting meat into my mouth.
It tasted much better than the first bite. Tonight, my position as her "childhood friend" was still secure. But I knew I couldn't let my guard down. Himeno Karen was not an opponent to be underestimated.
END OF CHAPTER 1[1]
[1] if you guys like it pls comment