"Don't worry, I gave him a good beating. Recently… no, from now on, he won't dare to bother you again," Hikari spoke with an easy tone.
"Mm… thank you, Hikari-kun!", Hearing Hikari's words, Katsuragi Sayaka felt a bit more at ease, smiled, and thanked him.
Hikari waved his hand.
Actually, he had originally planned to just report him or call the police, have that Advisor Sato arrested, and solve the matter once and for all so Sayaka could feel at ease.
But thinking about last time, when Shiina Chizuru had decisively reported that fat pig teacher named Tamura, and in the end he was only fired, Hikari didn't call the police.
Just now he had only left a note warning that teacher to behave himself or he'd be reported. As for really reporting him, he had no such plan.
He was going to pick a good day in the coming days and carry out a humane disposal of this utterly immoral garbage..
Being a pure-love warrior, after having hunted down so many cuckolds, Hikari's heart toward them was already as cold as a butcher's knife after ten years of gutting fish at the supermarket.
Once she felt a little more reassured, Katsuragi Sayaka still asked in puzzlement, "Hikari-kun, thank you for saving me, but how did you know Teacher Sato was in the office planning to… do that to me?"
Hikari casually explained, "I waited for you downstairs for a while but didn't see you, so I decided to come up and check. Then right at the door I happened to hear that scum teacher talking to you. His words were so disgusting I couldn't listen anymore, so I couldn't help but rush in. Sayaka-san, he didn't hurt you, did he?"
Sayaka quickly shook her head, "No! Hikari-kun came just in time! He didn't get the chance to touch me before you showed up."
"Today's matter, I really owe you too much thanks."
Sayaka's voice was full of gratitude. After giving Hikari a deep bow, her gemlike beautiful eyes still shone faintly as they fixed on him.
Hikari, as usual, remained calm and waved lightly, "It's fine. It's getting late, let's head back."
"Mm!"
———
Hikari brought Sayaka with him, and the two of them returned together to the Asou Apartments.
When opening his own door, Hikari saw Sayaka standing still for a moment in front of the door next to his, hesitating for a bit. It was a few minutes before she finally pressed the doorbell.
Clearly, her relationship with her stepbrother, Kareki Tsunetaka, was still quite unfamiliar.
Not long after, Hikari heard a knock on his own door. When he opened it, a JK beauty stood there gracefully, it was Sayaka.
"Hikari-kun, my mom and Yuki haven't come over yet. I'll move my luggage over first," Sayaka requested.
"Alright," Hikari opened the door, let her in, and told her where her luggage was stored.
Sayaka at once went to fetch the luggage she'd left earlier, moving piece by piece from Hikari's place to Kareki Tsunetaka's rented house.
"Huff…", After going back and forth three or four times by herself, Sayaka was already dripping with fragrant sweat. Standing at the doorway, her small lips parted as she panted delicately for quite a while.
After all, she was only a slender high school girl. Even using both hands with all her strength, she could only lift one big bag. Having her move the luggage of three people all alone was too much.
Even though the distance wasn't far, after a few trips she was already breathless and drenched in sweat.
Her swanlike white neck was covered in tiny beads of sweat, and her cheeks were slightly flushed.
Seeing this, realizing she would lose too much time like this, Hikari immediately stepped forward and said, "It's too hard for you to move all this alone. I'll help."
"Ah, that's too embarrassing…", Sayaka shook her head shyly, instinctively wanting to refuse.
But Hikari had already picked up several big bags and suitcases in one go, heading out the door.
Seeing that what he carried in one hand was nearly equal to three of her trips, Sayaka could only obediently shut her mouth.
Still, as she looked at his back with gratitude, she couldn't help but murmur under her breath, "Hikari-kun's strength… is really amazing."
Muttering in her heart aside, Sayaka also worked hard herself, bending down and once again lifting up another bag.
With Hikari's help, what would have exhausted her for an hour was done in less than ten minutes.
At Sayaka's invitation, Hikari sat on the brand-new sofa in Kareki Tsunetaka's house, sipping the water she had just poured him.
"Hikari-kun, I really troubled you too much," Holding her cup in both hands, Sayaka's voice was filled with gratitude.
"It's fine, we're neighbors now anyway," Hikari casually waved.
"Not only did Hikari-kun save me this afternoon, you even helped me move all that luggage. I really feel bad… ah, your forehead is sweating," As she was thanking him earnestly, Sayaka noticed a bit of sweat on his forehead, quickly took a tissue, and reached out to wipe it off.
A faint girlish fragrance wafted over. At this close distance, just lowering his gaze let him see her pale neck and the full, rounded peaks below.
Whether out of lack of vigilance or simply expressing her gratitude more intimately, at this moment Sayaka was very close as she helped wipe his sweat.
If Hikari stretched out just a little, he could wrap his arm around her slim waist.
But he didn't act so abruptly, nor did he awkwardly avoid it. He just let Sayaka wipe his forehead, sweat or no sweat.
Her pretty face slightly flushed, Sayaka put down the tissue after a bit.
Then Hikari stood up at the right time and said, "Since the luggage is done, I'll head back."
"Okay, I'll walk you out," Sayaka also rose.
Walking with him to the door, Sayaka suddenly couldn't help blurting, "Hikari-kun, wa… wait a moment!"
"Mm? What is it, Sayaka-san?", Hikari turned back doubtfully.
Suddenly, a fragrant wind swept past.
Next, two soft, warm petals pressed against his left cheek.
"Mm?", Hikari had three question marks floating over his head as he looked at Sayaka, who had just pecked his cheek.
"Sorry, Hikari-kun, you helped me so much today, but I really didn't know how to thank you, so I… I… sorry!", Sayaka had just thought of some TV or movie scene and acted on sudden impulse.
Now that she'd come back to her senses, seeing the saliva mark on his face, she covered her lips, her whole face as red as an apple.
Because of her sudden rash move, the atmosphere grew awkward. Sayaka's heart was filled with shyness and embarrassment, but faintly also a trace of inexplicable joy.
Looking at her blushing face, Hikari understood that her pure kindness had just acted on impulse. So he didn't mind, casually smiling, "It's alright, Sayaka-san. I accept your gratitude. If anything like what happened at the swim club today happens again, just tell me."
As for hunting cuckolds, he was serious.
But Sayaka naturally thought that sincerity was directed at her, and warmth welled up inside her.
Seeing his concerned gaze, eyes as if containing countless stars, she felt an inexplicable emotion rise.
"Mm! If anything happens, I'll tell Hikari-kun right away!", Sayaka nodded earnestly.
"Good, then I'll go back," With that, Hikari turned and went inside.
Sayaka stood there at the doorway, still dazed for a long while.
Thud!
The faint sound behind her made Sayaka, still flushed and heart pounding, turn her head instinctively.
At once, she was startled.
A pair of tiny bean-like eyes hidden behind glasses was staring fixedly at her face.
From those small eyes radiated a creepy, sinister gaze.
"Tsu… Tsunetaka-kun?", Sayaka softly called her stepbrother's name, feeling strangely afraid, not knowing why he was staring at her like that.
She didn't know that her kiss with Hikari had just been completely seen by Kareki Tsunetaka.
As a shut-in, Kareki Tsunetaka had been deeply displeased ever since Sayaka, her sister, and her mother came to stay.
If not for his father's orders, accept them or lose all living expenses, he never would have agreed.
But even if forced, he absolutely couldn't accept three females invading his home.
So from the start, he wanted to drive them out.
But to do that, he needed special means.
And although he didn't want them in his house, when it came to Sayaka, her sister, and her mother, he had already regarded the three beautiful females as his possessions, his forbidden fruit.
So when he saw Sayaka make such an intimate gesture to Hikari just now, naturally he was furious.
He'd long been looking for dirt on them but never found any, which made him all the more vexed.
Watching him stay silent, only glaring with that creepy gaze, Sayaka felt a chill down her back.
Clutching her chest, she said, "Um, Tsunetaka-kun, if there's nothing else, I'd like to go to my room."
"Wait!", Tsunetaka immediately spoke.
"Mm?", Sayaka turned to look.
"Sayaka-chan, you're back from class," He sounded like he was trying to greet her kindly, but maybe from being a shut-in too long, unused to talking, his tone was extremely odd.
With his sleazy face, it gave a very unpleasant feeling.
Hearing this, goosebumps prickled on Sayaka's skin, but she still politely nodded, "Mm, school's over."
"How was school today, did you have fun?", Tsunetaka asked again.
"St… still okay," Sayaka stammered.
"What did you have for lunch?", he asked.
Listening to his withered, meaningless questions, just asking for the sake of asking, Sayaka couldn't stand it anymore. After perfunctory replies, she quickly said, "Sorry, Tsunetaka-kun, I have homework to do. I'll go up first."
Seeing her trying to leave, Tsunetaka finally spoke directly, "Sayaka-chan, I saw you kissing that boy just now."
"Eh?", Sayaka's small face flushed at his words.
He went on, "I plan to tell Aunt Shouko, unless…"
"Unless what?", Sayaka asked.
"Unless you kiss me too, and agree to one more request," He laughed nastily as his scheme unfolded.
"This…", Sayaka seemed hesitant, but quickly steeled herself, "Actually, I really do like Hikari-kun, and I really did kiss him just now. If you want to tell Mom, go ahead. I don't care."
Although Tsunetaka's wording was veiled, having just been threatened by Advisor Sato, Sayaka was sensitive.
Hearing his words, she immediately sensed something off, realizing he seemed to be trying to threaten her the same way.
Naturally, she rejected him firmly, refusing to accept the slightest coercion.
Her answer left the shut-in Tsunetaka momentarily stunned.
But Sayaka ignored him. After showing she wouldn't play along, she went straight back to her room.
Watching her graceful back as she went upstairs, Tsunetaka could only stew in anger at the staircase.
"Damn brat! So young yet dares be so arrogant toward me, a grown man. No respect for her elder brother. I'll make you learn what's what. Just you wait!"
———
When Shouko returned home, Tsunetaka rushed to tattle, reporting Sayaka's supposed puppy love.
But the mother's reaction was unexpectedly calm, only pondering a little.
Soon, she called Sayaka downstairs.
"Sayaka, do you like Hikari-kun?" Shouko asked her.
"Mm… kind of," Sayaka blushed and nodded.
"Then you must hold on tight. Hikari-kun is a very outstanding boy."
Instead of the scolding Sayaka and Tsunetaka had imagined, Shouko simply smiled and said that.
Seeing their stunned faces, Shouko smiled faintly.
Shouko had been widowed for many years. She knew well how rare it was to like someone, and how good it was to have someone to rely on.
Having already met Hikari before, whether in looks, character, or anything else, he was impeccable. So even knowing her daughter liked him, Shouko had no objection.
She even hoped Sayaka would date him, then she would gain a very satisfactory son-in-law.
Just imagining Hikari calling her "Mother-in-law" made Shouko break into a delighted auntie's smile.
"Sayaka, you've never dated before, right? Let Mom teach you how to pursue a boy…", And so, far from scolding her, Shouko even seemed ready to share some experience.
Meanwhile, Tsunetaka, secretly eavesdropping nearby, heard it all.
He had no interest whatsoever in how to chase men.
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