Chapter 2: The Villain Stumbles Over Ero-Manga World Logic

When I woke up, Erika’s sleeping face was right in front of me.

“…Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve seen her sleeping face,” I realized.

She always fell asleep after me and woke up before me, so I’d never seen her this unguarded.

“If she feels safe enough to let me see this, I’m glad,” I murmured, brushing her hair.

Her soft breathing tickled. I couldn’t help but smile as I gazed at her.

“Nn… Akio-kun?” she mumbled.

“Morning, Erika,” I greeted.

“Morning…” she replied, still half-asleep, snuggling into me before her breathing steadied again. Apparently, she was going back to sleep.

“Hey, if you sleep like that, we’re in trouble. We’re going out to have fun today, right?” I said.

Unconscious temptation is the worst kind. Her alluring figure was causing all sorts of problems—like dealing with something that had woken up.

“Nn… Right. I’ll make breakfast…” she mumbled sleepily, trying to get up… only to flop back down. She was clearly exhausted.

To let herself be this vulnerable… Instead of finding it a hassle, I felt happy.

“It’s fine. Be a sleepyhead today,” I said.

“Nooo… I wanna take care of you, Akio-kun…” she protested, but her breathing soon turned to snores again. I hadn’t known she had such a childish side.

Tucking her in, I got out of bed. On the floor, Himari and Haya were sleeping on the spare bedding, cuddling closely. Naked, by the way.

“Looks like the aftermath… Well, it is the aftermath,” I chuckled.

Neither showed signs of waking. Last night was intense, after all.

Still, waking up refreshed was thanks to Gouda Akio’s cheat physique. Handling three girls and still feeling this energetic? No wonder I was the lead in an adult manga.

Still naked, I started getting ready for the morning.

◇ ◇ ◇

“Studying all the time’s bad for you! Let’s all go to the pool tomorrow!” Haya declared, clutching her head, fried from yesterday’s study overload.

She might seem like a gyaru just itching to play, but she was suggesting this to lift Erika’s spirits, who was still troubled by her fiancé situation. …Right?

“Totally agree! It’s summer vacation—we’d be missing out if we didn’t have fun!” Himari cheered, raising both hands, even more excited than Erika. Come on, Pink, remember your honor student persona.

And so, today was a pool date.

As expected during summer vacation, the place was packed with young people.

Among them, my girls’ swimsuits were, to put it mildly, stunning.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Akio! ♪” Haya called, waving as she ran over, her impressive chest bouncing with each step.

Her colorful bikini suited her blonde gyaru vibe perfectly. Despite the revealing cut, her carefree attitude made it more vibrant than seductive.

“Does my swimsuit… look good?” Erika asked, glancing up at me shyly. Her cleavage was dazzling.

The blue-haired lady’s black bikini was sexy yet elegant, with cute frills that radiated allure—pure poison for any teenage boy.

“Hehe, hope you’re swooning over my swimsuit, Akio-kun ♪,” Himari teased, puffing out her chest, her curves practically spilling out.

Her white bikini screamed “pure,” but on this pink-haired honor student, paired with her killer figure, it was undeniably provocative.

Under the blazing summer sun, three busty beauties in swimsuits at a pool? That’s practically a terrorist act.

Guys were frozen in place, ogling; others got scolded by their girlfriends for staring; some even passed out with nosebleeds. It was a battlefield—and an embarrassing one.

“This is only gonna cause more casualties. Let’s get in the pool quick… Huh? Why’re you all staring at me?” I said.

To prevent more victims of my girls’ swimsuits, we needed to dive in fast.

But then I noticed all three staring at me intently.

“Akio’s swimsuit… Too cool…” Haya murmured.

“Your muscles look even more intense outdoors. It’s a different kind of sexy than when you’re naked…” Erika added.

“Hah… Hah… I want Akio-kun to bleep me right now!” Himari panted.

“Calm down, all of you!” I said, especially to the lewd pink one. Getting worked up in a public place? Even an adult manga villain would be shocked.

I was worried she might have heatstroke with how red her face was. I won’t nitpick since I was just as captivated by their swimsuits.

To cool off, we did some proper warm-up stretches.

“Ahh, it’s cold!” Haya squealed.

“Pwah!? You got me, Himarin! Take this!” Himari retorted.

Once in the pool, Haya and Himari started splashing each other. Watching two busty beauties play was a feast for the eyes and pure youthful joy.

“Akio-kun, Akio-kun, here!” Erika called, splashing water at my face.

“Oh, you’re gonna get it, Erika!” I shot back, retaliating.

She squealed happily, “Kyaa! ♪” as she took the splash.

“Hey, there’s a lazy river over there!” Haya pointed out.

“They’ve got two-person float rentals. Sounds fun, right?” Himari added.

Haya and Himari exchanged a glance, sparks flying, before turning to me.

“Akio-kun, wanna try the lazy river with me?” Erika asked first, cutting off Haya and Himari.

Erika, who rarely made selfish requests, was asserting herself. They must’ve realized this outing was for her sake, as Pink and Blonde backed off without complaint.

“Wow, it’s so floaty… It’s kinda thrilling,” Erika murmured, resting her head on my chest.

We were on a two-person float, drifting in the lazy river.

“Hey, stop pressing your head into my chest, Himarin! It tickles!” Haya giggled.

“I wanted to stick close to Akio-kun… But this isn’t bad either,” Himari replied.

A calm moment passed. Amid the lively chatter, I caught the sound of a gyaru and an honor student messing around.

The scenery shifted slowly. Despite the crowd, it felt like just me and Erika.

“I’ve never played at a pool like this before. First time on a float too,” Erika said.

“Same here, outside of school pools. Lazy rivers are pretty fun, huh?” I replied.

“Really? I thought you’d be more of a playboy, Akio-kun,” she teased.

“I’m actually kinda indoorsy,” I admitted.

“True. We do spend more time at your place ♡,” Erika giggled, her usual spark returning. Looked like the change of pace worked.

Himari and Haya, full of energy, kept pulling Erika along, and she laughed happily. I watched over them like a guardian.

We grabbed lunch, fended off some wannabe pickup artists with my villainous glare, and handled other small incidents.

“Hm?” I noticed Erika talking to an unfamiliar white-blonde girl as I returned from the bathroom. Himari and Haya were still playing in the pool.

She must’ve noticed me approaching, because the white-haired girl bowed slightly to Erika and left.

“Lost kid?” I asked.

“No, she’s the maid who takes care of me,” Erika explained.

A maid? The unusual word made me glance at the girl. Her white hair was tied in a bun, and her ruby-red eyes stood out. But her small frame in a school swimsuit didn’t scream “maid.”

“Did she tell you to go home? …Don’t tell me you’re being watched,” I said, wary given her family issues.

“It’s fine. She was just here on her day off and got worried when she saw me,” Erika reassured.

If she said so. Though we only met briefly, her expressionless, professional demeanor stuck in my mind.

“Akio-kun,” Erika said, taking my hand.

“Come on, we’ve got plenty of time. It’s a pool day—let’s have more fun!”

Her smile shone brighter than the summer sun. I pushed aside my worries and enjoyed the pool with them until sunset.

◇ ◇ ◇

The next day, leaving a tired-out Erika to rest after the pool, I headed to my part-time job.

This time, it was a traffic volume survey. A one-day gig with decent pay.

“This survey is essential for gathering data for road planning, construction, maintenance, and management. It’s hot, so it’s tough, but please take it seriously,” the supervisor explained, avoiding my gaze when he said “seriously.”

“Working with Gouda-kun again, huh?” a familiar voice said.

“Guess we’ve got some kinda fate, Kuroha,” I replied.

Kuroha was at this job too. I hadn’t expected to run into her twice in a row, so it caught me off guard.

Still, this gig might suit her better than the event setup last time. It’s just sitting and counting—no heavy lifting required.

We were split into pairs for the traffic survey, and Kuroha and I got teamed up. …Is this the world’s correction force at work?

We’re just classmates, friends. But in the original story, I’d be the one stealing her away. Maybe there’s some kind of pull because of our roles.

“Eh, the story’s already off the rails, so it doesn’t matter,” I muttered.

The absence of the original protagonist means the plot I know can’t unfold. Maybe that’s why someone like Saionji Takeru, who never appeared in the source material, showed up.

“Did you say something?” Kuroha asked.

“Nah, just talking to myself,” I replied.

Kuroha looked up at me. Her petite, quiet demeanor sparked a protective instinct.

At the same time, a darker urge stirred—wanting to see this delicate, glasses-wearing beauty cry. That’s probably Gouda Akio’s twisted tastes talking.

This guy’s a mess—does he want to pamper women or torment them? What a complicated villain.

We sat at the edge of the road, counting cars. We split the task by direction of traffic.

Clicking the counter got boring fast. Keeping my eyes on the road, I struck up a conversation with Kuroha.

“How’s your summer homework going, Kuroha?”

“Haha, you’re bringing up serious stuff, huh, Gouda-kun?” she giggled.

Maybe it’s the contrast between my looks and words, but she laughed. What’s wrong with being serious?

“Sorry. It’s just… you’ve changed a lot, Gouda-kun. I thought I got you after working together on the sports festival committee, but still,” she said.

“It’s fine,” I shrugged.

“What about you? How’s your homework?” she asked.

“Making progress. I’m trying to finish by July. Worst case, before Obon,” I said.

Kuroha went quiet. Wondering if I said something weird, I kept counting cars. Click, click.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“Oh, I was just surprised you’ve got a plan. I was thinking I’d just finish before second term starts…” Her voice trailed off, shrinking.

“It’s not a big deal. As long as you finish before summer’s over, it’s fine. I just want to work and hang out, so I’m not that serious,” I said.

“That’s what’s impressive—you’re planning it all out, including for Shiratori-chan,” she said, sounding relieved, like she’d been worried about her friend.

“I hear some dads focus only on themselves and neglect family time. Planning to enjoy yourself with your partner is a good thing,” she added.

“My hanging out is family time now?” I chuckled.

“Haha, just a figure of speech. But you’re working to fund some big plans, right?” she asked.

“Yeah, I guess,” I said.

It’s not that deep. It’s just a long break, and I want to take my girls places.

“…So, Gouda-kun, who’s your main squeeze? Shiratori-chan or Himuro-san?” she asked.

“Main squeeze?” I echoed.

I glanced at her, and our eyes met. Her glasses caught the sunlight, glinting slightly.

“They’re both into you, right? They even make you bentos… So, what do you think?” she pressed.

“Hm.”

Main squeeze, huh? If I’m honest, both are my mains.

But saying that outright would probably earn me some scorn. “Both? Get serious!” she’d snap. Getting chewed out for being honest feels unfair just imagining it.

“Well, Himari and Haya are both charming,” I said.

“Right? Maybe it’s better for everyone if you just date both,” she suggested.

“…Huh?”

“Huh?”

What’s this girl saying?

I mean, I’ve already got both as my girls, but her comment sounded like she was okay with two-timing.

A girl—especially a serious-looking one—saying that felt so off, it threw me.

Did I mishear? If I misunderstood, I’d be digging my own grave.

“Uh, Kuroha, you’re fine with that? Me dating both Himari and Haya… two-timing?” I asked cautiously.

Three-timing, actually, but that’s not the point right now.

Your best friend’s guy dating two girls—how many women would be okay with that? I don’t fully get female friendships, but I figured she’d be mad, so her reaction was baffling.

“Of course, some people wouldn’t like it. But there are guys like that at our school. I hear rich guys often have multiple women, and as long as they can keep them happy, isn’t that fine?” she said.

“…”

Is this just the worldview here? Or is Kuroha just weird?

I thought I’d gotten used to this world, but its norms still haven’t fully sunk in.

Calm down. This is an adult manga world—different from my original one. I knew that.

Click. Even rattled, I kept counting cars. Gotta praise myself for staying on task.

“Huh… So there are guys at our school two-timing. Must be nice to be that popular,” I said, feigning calm to probe further.

“There’s a first-year dating two girls, I hear. Supposedly super nice. And that famous third-year… his girlfriend count just hit five. You’re popular too, Gouda-kun. If you dated both Shiratori-chan and Himuro-san, we’d have multi-girlfriend guys in every grade,” she said.

“Don’t look at me like I’m completing a set…” I muttered.

Maybe Gouda Akio isn’t the worst guy after all? Compared to a senior with five girlfriends, my three seem tame.

No, stealing girls is what makes it bad. As long as there’s love, the number doesn’t matter? So it’s only bad if you go after someone else’s girl, but having multiple partners is fine?

Ugh, my head’s spinning.

“But cheating’s bad, right?” I asked.

“What are you talking about? Obviously,” she replied.

Obviously… What’s the difference between two-timing and cheating?

Now I feel like the one lacking common sense. Everything I say might come off as clueless.

Calm down. This is an adult manga world with loose morals. I knew that. In the original story, Gouda Akio ended up with multiple girls while still in school.

Himari came onto me herself, not caring if I had other girls. She even wanted to be one of them.

I thought Himari was the outlier, but maybe this world’s more accepting than I realized.

“Hey, Kuroha, one question,” I said.

“What’s up?”

“Going after someone else’s girl—that’s bad, right?”

Kuroha hesitated. What am I even asking?

“…Not just Shiratori-chan and Himuro-san, but someone else you like?” she asked.

“No, not me. Hypothetically. Like, a friend of a friend,” I clarified.

“Hm… Depends on their feelings, right? If you do it right, it’s about whose love they trust more,” she said.

Feelings, huh? If it’s that simple, that’d be easy.

Dating Erika officially wouldn’t solve things… Wait, I’m getting sidetracked. We weren’t talking about Erika.

“Well, I wouldn’t be surprised no matter how many girls you dated, Gouda-kun,” Kuroha said with a chuckle.

Is she saying I reek of sleazy lead-guy vibes?

“You seem like you’d treat women well. I trust you wouldn’t do anything dishonorable,” she added.

“You sure? I might be the kind of guy who’d pounce on any girl, just like I look,” I teased.

“Haha, if that were true, you’d have pounced on me already,” she shot back.

“Ugh…”

She saw through my bluff. Despite my rough face, I’m not that scary, which is a mixed feeling.

“…Or am I not good enough? Not worth pouncing on? Not womanly enough?” she asked, her tone shifting.

“Huh?”

Her voice was different, and I couldn’t help but look at her. Her eyes, gazing up at me, seemed to plead for something.

They were so captivating… For the first time, I really saw her.

“No… You’re plenty attractive as a woman, Kuroha. But don’t say stuff like that to guys so casually. If someone actually went for you, it’d be sad, right? Plus, I’ve got—”

“Pfft!” Kuroha burst out laughing.

“Haha, you’re so serious, Gouda-kun! So straightforward, so pure… It’s super cute! ♪” she giggled.

“What?”

She was doubled over, laughing like she was thrilled.

“You didn’t have to answer so seriously! Since you’re Shiratori-chan’s favorite, I’m just cheering you on. I didn’t expect you to take my joke that seriously,” she said.

“…”

Her voice and expression were too much! Anyone would think she was into me. Sure, my body’s a sleazy villain’s, but my heart’s still half-pure!

This girl… Despite her quiet, glasses-wearing look, is she a little devil? Was she playing me?

“Hey, you mad, Gouda-kun?” she asked.

“Nah… I’m not mad,” I grumbled.

“Of course not! You’re not some small-minded guy who’d get mad over this,” she said, covering her mouth with a sly smile.

I swear I saw devil horns sprouting from her fluffy green hair.

Lesson of the day: don’t trust everything Kuroha says.

Damn it, I’ll get her back someday. As a villain, I hold grudges!

◇ ◇ ◇

Finishing my part-time job, I headed back to my apartment in high spirits.

“Huh?”

A sleek black luxury car, one I’d seen before, was parked right in front of my place.

A bad feeling hit me like a truck. Heart pounding, I broke into a sprint.

“Could you not get in my way? I’m just here to pick up Erika-san as her fiancé.”

“Please leave. Erika-san has no interest in seeing you.”

“What the hell? You come all the way here to play stalker or something?”

“…Defying me? Seems you lot could use some manners.”

Himari and Haya were standing their ground in front of the apartment, blocking Takeru Saionji’s path.

How the hell did he sniff this out? No way a spoiled rich boy like him would show up in a place like this for no reason.

His target had to be Erika. Which means he probably knows she ran away from home. If so, he’s gotta realize he’s not exactly blameless in why she bolted… right?

No, no time to overthink this. Himari and Haya are busting their asses to protect Erika. I need to jump in now.

“Saionji…-san, was it? Got some business at my place?”

“You…”

I stepped forward, shielding Himari and Haya. Maybe it was the sudden appearance of a rough-looking guy like me, but Saionji’s face twisted in distaste.

“Akio-kun!”

“Akio!”

Seeing me show up, Himari and Haya called my name, relief washing over them. Dealing with Saionji must’ve been a real pain in the ass.

He collected himself, flashing a smile he probably thought was charming. All it did was make my skin crawl.

“I’ve got no business with you. I’m just here to see Erika-san, my fiancée. Mind stepping aside?”

“Having a big, fancy car like that parked in front of a regular old apartment complex is a nuisance to the other tenants, y’know. And I don’t see Erika anywhere. So, who exactly are you here to meet?”

No sign of Erika around. Probably saw that gaudy car and hid inside while Himari and Haya tried to shoo him off.

Talk about reckless… I asked them to look out for Erika, but I didn’t expect them to throw themselves into a mess like this to protect her.

Even in this kind of danger, Himari and Haya stood up for her. Guess Erika means that much to them, too.

In the original story, Erika was just a background character, barely interacting with the heroines. Who’d have thought a slight change in the plot would make them this close?

And it’s not just them. She’s important to me, too. I locked eyes with Saionji, my gaze burning with resolve to protect her.

“Ugh… Glaring at me like that won’t do you any good! I know Erika-san is in this apartment!”

Saionji fumbled for his phone in a panic, smirking as he tapped at the screen.

“You know what GPS is, don’t you?”

“Yeah, more or less.”

Tracks your location, right? Global Positioning System or whatever it’s called in Japanese.

Wait a damn second… Is this guy—?

“Hmph. In other words, I know exactly where Erika-san is!”

Boom! Saionji struck a pose with the smuggest grin I’d ever seen. Nope, still creepy as hell.

“So, what, you’re saying you put a tracking app on Erika’s phone?”

“That’s right. As her fiancé, I like to keep tabs on her movements.”

I couldn’t help but groan. My chest ached just thinking about how Erika must feel.

“Ugh… That’s gross.”

“Disgusting… Poor Erika-san.”

Disgusted murmurs came from behind me. Not sure if Saionji heard them or not, but he kept going.

“It seems Erika-san’s been staying at this apartment for a few days now. She’s not the type to spend nights away from home unless it’s for a trip. Naturally, as her fiancé, I got worried and came to check on her. That’s only reasonable, right?”

Saionji puffed out his chest like he’d just said something profound.

Does this guy… not even know Erika ran away? From the way he’s talking, it sounds like he just noticed she wasn’t at home via GPS and got curious enough to show up.

That’s creepy in its own way, though…

“Let me confirm something… Does Erika know about this GPS tracker?”

“It’s a token of my boundless love, so there’s no need to tell her. Besides, if she found out… she’d probably fall for me all over again!”

I was speechless, floored by the sheer delusion in his words.

I’m genuinely worried about Erika’s mental state if she learns about this. The thought of being secretly monitored by a guy she doesn’t even like? Gives me chills.

Seems the girls felt the same. I could sense Himari and Haya trembling behind me without even turning around.

“That’s enough, isn’t it? You’re just some college club buddies or whatever, right? Then you’re irrelevant. Stop meddling in the affairs of an engaged couple.”

Saionji flipped his hair dramatically, like he’d just nailed a mic-drop moment. Dude, your hair’s not even that long.

Also, we’re not even college students… I’m pretty sure Haya and I told him we’re in high school when we first met. Did he forget, or just not care?

This Saionji guy… his behavior’s straight-up stalkerish, yet he doesn’t give a damn about Erika’s actual relationships.

No, scratch that—he doesn’t even seem to care about Erika herself.

He doesn’t know she ran away, doesn’t know why she fought with her parents, doesn’t know what she’s up to at college or if she’s even in a club.

He keeps throwing around “fiancée” like it’s a status symbol, but I get zero sense he’s genuinely interested in who Erika is as a person.

Wanting to know more about someone you love? Sure, I get that. But why does he want to know? I can’t see any deeper motive.

In the end, he’s probably just satisfied with the surface-level idea of having a beautiful, accomplished woman. He’s not thinking about a life together as equals—he sees her as a trophy, an accessory. That’s why he doesn’t care about her inner world.

“Nah, no way.”

“Huh? What’s ‘no way’ supposed to mean?”

“I’m saying you don’t deserve Erika.”

I glared at him, hard. Saionji flinched for a moment but quickly regained his smug composure.

“Heh, heh heh! Showing your true colors at last, huh? Having a delinquent like you around is clearly a bad influence on Erika-san. Hey, teach this ignorant punk a lesson!”

With a snap of his fingers, a man in a black suit stepped forward.

I hadn’t even noticed the guy until now. Blending into the background like some kind of ninja?

This dude’s good.

“You two, stay back.”

“Aki… you okay?”

“Akio-kun, you got this!”

Haya sounded worried, Himari cheering me on. Man, I’m not exactly a fan of violence, you know.

A quick glance behind me caught a glimpse of a shadow. Let’s keep this clean, I thought, taking a deep breath.

I faced off against the man in black.

Black suit, sunglasses, built like a tank—guy could probably go toe-to-toe with Akio Gouda in sheer presence.

That intimidating aura alone would make most people quake. And since he’s stepping up like this, he’s probably got some real combat skills.

“Hah! Hahaha! Defy me, and you’ll learn your lesson the hard way!”

With a reliable heavy at his side, Saionji was cackling like he’d already won. Maybe he could already picture me getting pummeled.

Intimidation’s one thing, but if he’s actually siccing this guy on me, there’s no talking my way out.

“You sure about this? Trying to silence a high schooler with violence? If word gets out, you’re gonna be in deep shit.”

“What? There’s no way a high schooler looks like you.”

“Wait, you didn’t forget—you just didn’t believe us?”

Okay, yeah, it’s kinda rude, but I get it. A high schooler like Akio Gouda? Hard to swallow.

Still, this is reality. I’m chasing the teenage life I never got to live properly. Looks aside, I’m Akio Gouda, high schooler, hormonal teen, the whole deal.

“Hmph. Beg for mercy, and I might consider letting you off. Get on your knees, say, ‘I’m sorry for defying Takeru Saionji-sama,’ and I’ll think about it.”

…

Every word out of this guy’s mouth is so over-the-top, I keep freezing up. What do you even say to that? Beg for my life? Is he planning to beat me to death or something?

“Even if you grovel, I won’t forgive you. A crude thug like you daring to cross me? That’s a crime worthy of death!”

Saionji laughed—a slimy, malice-filled smirk with zero charm.

“I’ll show you the difference in our class. Go on, discipline this insolent peasant!”

“Yes, young master.”

Egged on by Saionji, the man in black spoke for the first time. Damn, that’s a gritty voice. Sounds strong as hell.

The obedient suit didn’t waste words, charging right at me. Big guy, but fast. He closed the distance in a blink, slipping into my guard.

Probably trained in some kind of martial art. My Akio Gouda instincts were screaming as much.

“Hmph.”

With a sharp exhale, the man threw a heavy punch.

Solid form, weight behind it—a serious blow.

“Gah!”

I took the punch square to the face.

My head snapped to the side, nearly twisting off. I could see Himari and Haya’s eyes widen in shock from the corner of my vision.

“Akio-kun!”

“Aki…!?”

I could hear them gasp as I got hit. Sorry for letting you see me like this.

“Hmph.”

The suit came in for a follow-up, aiming for my gut this time. His fist sank in, folding my body in half.

“Guh!”

“Hah! Hahaha! What’s that? All bark and no bite! Keep going—show him my power!”

Saionji was practically giddy, reveling in my beatdown.

Your power? You’re just yelling from the sidelines, asshole. I thought hazily as the suit kept swinging.

“Stop it! You’re gonna kill Akio!!”

Haya’s tearful scream rang out, but it only made Saionji’s grin widen.

“No way. I’ll make sure no one ever thinks of crossing me again. This purge isn’t over until he’s broken.”

“Tch… no way…”

Haya clenched her fists, tears welling up, unable to bear it. Damn, did I let this go too far?

“Hmph.”

“…That’s about enough.”

“What!?”

The suit froze in shock. I’d caught his next punch in my hand.

I tightened my grip. A sickening crack echoed.

“Gaaah!”

The suit let out a guttural scream, clutching his hand in pain when I let go. Seeing a robot-like guy act so human was almost heartwarming.

“What are you doing?! Don’t let your guard down!”

“Saionji-san, you sure you wanna do this so openly?”

“Huh? Don’t get cocky just ‘cause you landed a hit. Hey, he’s on his last legs—finish him!”

“Y-Yes, young master!”

To anyone watching, it probably looked like I was getting my ass handed to me.

Plenty of reason for self-defense now. After taking this much, a little excessive force should be fine, right?

The suit came at me again, throwing a clean, practiced punch. Years of martial arts training radiated from his form.

But it’s not enough to take down the worst kind of scumbag!

“Hraagh!”

“Guh!?”

A counter to his gut dropped the suit in one hit. I spared his face—didn’t wanna break those cool sunglasses.

The guy writhed on the ground, out cold. One punch, and he was down for the count. Not because his abs were weak—Akio Gouda’s just that strong!

…Seriously, this guy’s physical abilities are no joke. Guess you can’t underestimate a scumbag’s body.

“Wha… huh? What happened? Why isn’t he getting up…?”

Saionji couldn’t process it. I started walking toward him slowly.

Keeping an eye on my surroundings, I didn’t sense anyone else. Looks like the suit I just dropped was the only one.

“What!? You got beaten to a pulp… You should be done for!!”

“Yeah, I took a lot of hits. Guess you’ll have to cover my medical bills, huh?”

I drawled sarcastically, closing in on Saionji. His legs shook as he backed away.

The suit’s attacks barely did anything. Akio Gouda’s fighting instincts had dulled their impact. That neck-twist trick from that one boxing manga to reduce damage? Turns out it actually works.

By the way, Akio Gouda has zero formal martial arts training. Just a ton of street fights. Talk about a waste of talent.

“So, Saionji-san, you gonna take responsibility for siccing violence on a high schooler?”

“Eeeek!”

Saionji’s knees buckled, and he fell on his ass. Come on, man, don’t freak out that much. I just leaned in and gave you a little glare.

“Aki—!”

“Huh?”

Haya threw her arms around me, tears streaming down her face. Then she started patting me down. Pretty bold for her, huh?

“You okay? Does it hurt where you got hit? W-We need to get you treated… Aki~”

“I’m fine. Thanks for worrying.”

I patted Haya’s head gently. She started full-on sobbing. Uh, we’re not done with Saionji yet, you know?

“Erika-san!”

While I was comforting Haya, Saionji shouted. He’d ditched his terrified expression, reaching out like he’d spotted a lifeline.

“Takeru-san, you’ve really gone and done something awful, haven’t you?”

I turned to see Erika, who’d been hiding, stepping into view.

She approached with an elegant stride, a faint smile on her face.

“Thanks, Akio-kun. Leave the rest to me.”

“Got it.”

Erika muttered softly. I nodded and stepped back.

She was holding her phone, already aiming the camera. She’d probably been recording the whole exchange.

“Erika-san! Listen, Erika-san, this guy’s a total brute! Look at this—my bodyguard got attacked by him! He’s a criminal, a thug! You can’t be around someone like that. I’ll protect you, so come with me!”

Still on his ass, Saionji spread his arms wide, like he was saying, Jump into my arms. Seriously?

How does he think he can pin this all on me? If anything, explaining this situation properly would put him in hot water.

I’m curious what’s going through his head, but I bet it’s just more nonsense. Keeping my arm around Haya’s shoulder, I backed away from him.

“Yes, I saw everything. The whole mess Takeru-san caused, from start to finish.”

“…Huh?”

Saionji’s jaw dropped, dumbfounded. Erika, still smiling, turned her phone screen toward him.

It showed footage of our earlier confrontation. Even Saionji seemed to realize his screw-ups, his face going pale.

“N-No… Nooo!”

“For an adult to do this to a high schooler… I’m ashamed for you. If this video gets out, what will people think of you, Takeru-san?”

Erika kept pushing, her smile unwavering. Is it just me, or does she look like she’s enjoying this?

“No… No, no, no, no! You’re joking, Erika-san! You can’t possibly think you can defy me… or my father!!”

His pale face flushed red. Busy guy.

“Oh, really? With this video, I think your father would trust me over you. Especially since you’re the one bringing trouble to his company.”

Saionji’s mouth flapped, but no words came out.

“Wait… That video alone isn’t proof! It could be edited. The audio’s too quiet—it’s not enough to prove I did anything!!”

He shouted desperately, grasping at straws. But the more he talked, the more confident he seemed to get.

“That’s right. This won’t make me a criminal… I don’t fail. My father can sweep any little issue under the rug… So, Erika-san, this is pointless. Wake up! You’re just confused because these lowlifes are poisoning your mind!”

…

Saionji’s logic was a total mess. Lowlifes? That word alone screams how warped this guy’s worldview is.

Even Erika seemed beyond exasperated, her smile frozen in place.

I get it, Erika. His nonsense is so intense, it’s hard to even describe.

“Hey, Akio. I don’t get what this guy’s saying. Am I just dumb?”

“You’re fine, Haya. I don’t get it either. And you’re not dumb—definitely smarter than the guy spouting gibberish in front of us.”

Haya and I stared at Saionji, united in pity. It’s rare to feel this in sync with someone.

“By the way, I recorded a video too.”

“…What?”

Himari grinned, pulling out her phone. Another unexpected blow, and Saionji was left gaping again.

“Heh, heh heh! Showing your true colors at last, huh? Having a delinquent like you around is clearly a bad influence on Erika-san. Hey, teach this ignorant punk a lesson!”

Himari tapped her phone, and Saionji’s voice came through loud and clear, along with the sound of the suit hitting me.

“Yup, audio’s crystal clear. I was close enough to catch every word perfectly. From the very start, of course.”

“N-No…!”

Saionji trembled, his face turning blue again, lips purple. All his bravado was gone, leaving just a scared little man.

“With Erika-san’s video, mine, and the one Haya-chan’s recording, that’s three pieces of evidence. Claiming they’re all edited? That’s a stretch.”

““What!?””

Haya and Saionji both gasped. …Haya probably didn’t even think to record anything.

Saionji was too shocked to notice her reaction. Realizing he couldn’t talk his way out with this much evidence, he clammed up.

Desperate, he tried to turn the tables.

“That’s low! This is a setup to frame me! This is why scum like you have such rotten minds!!”

“Who’s the one who showed up uninvited, causing trouble? We’re just defending ourselves.”

“Grr… You filthy lowlifes!!”

Saionji’s face contorted like a demon’s as he screamed, but Himari stayed cool as ice. She’s got some serious guts—probably thanks to dealing with that Nosaka mess before.

“Thanks, Shiratori-chan.”

“Erika-san?”

Erika tapped Himari’s shoulder and approached Saionji, who was still sprawled on his backside. Crouching before him, her face had gone eerily blank.

“If you were someone who could hold a proper conversation, I might’ve opened up to you. But now that I know you’re not that kind of person… I’m demanding you end our engagement.”

“Wha… Erika-san… what are you saying?”

Ignoring Saionji’s stammering, Erika continued coolly.

“If this video goes public, someone as clever as you can probably guess what’ll happen, right? If you don’t want things to get messy, agree to break off the engagement. That’s all I want.”

Even for a creep like him, Erika was showing some mercy. She’s just that kind of woman.

But Saionji? He was too dense to notice her compassion.

“Listen, Erika-san! I fell for you the moment we met! I only ever cared about you. If I went too far, I’ll apologize. But please, reconsider ending our engagement. I’ll fix my flaws—I promise. I just want you, Erika-san—”

“Be quiet.”

“Uh…”

Erika shut down his frantic rambling with a single phrase.

Silence hung heavy. None of us could move, caught in the icy tension that filled the air.

“Young… master…”

The suit must’ve recovered enough to stand. Clutching his stomach, he staggered toward Saionji.

If that guy came at me again on his orders, it’d be a pain. I motioned for Haya to step back and moved forward myself.

“…We’re leaving.”

“Are you sure, sir?”

“Shut up! Don’t question me!”

“My apologies!”

Propped up by the suit, Saionji stumbled into the car. Just before the door closed, he turned to Erika.