Chapter 82 The Ambushing Duo
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Kyouka-senpai, even just a little is fine,” Miyabi said, tilting her head slightly. “Please come by the club. Ever since you stopped showing up, everyone’s been feeling really lonely.”
”Hmm… sorry,” Kyouka replied with a small shrug. “See, it’s that time… I’m really busy right now with exams and all.”
”I understand you’re busy with studying, of course,” Miyabi said, her expression serious. “But since Kyouka-senpai stopped coming, the mood in the club’s gone completely quiet…”
”Miyabi,” Kozue said softly, stepping closer. “You shouldn’t pressure Kyouka-senpai too much.”
”But Kozue, you’d be happy if Kyouka-senpai came too, right?” Miyabi said with a teasing smile.
”Well, yeah,” Kozue admitted with a nod. “But Kyouka-senpai can’t keep spending all her time on the club forever, can she?”
”I know that,” Miyabi said, frowning a little.
As the two girls began to argue lightly, Kyouka stepped between them with an awkward smile, trying to ease the tension.
”Alright, alright, both of you, I get it,” she said, raising her hands. “I’ll try to come by the club if I can make time. But I probably won’t be able to stay long, okay?”
”Yay! That’s a promise, alright?” Miyabi said, beaming.
”Thank you so much,” Kozue added with a small bow. “Everyone will be so happy.”
* * *
On the way home.
Just like always, we left the school building together. But right as we stepped outside, Kyouka got stopped by a couple of girls from the swim club.
It wasn’t that same guy, Tsuzuki, who had bugged her on the way home before. This time it was two girls.
From the way they smiled when Kyouka responded to them, it was clear they looked up to her. Their expressions were full of joy.
The one called Miyabi looked kind of like Kyouka. Or rather… maybe she was copying her?
Their faces had a similar feel. She had very short hair and tanned skin. Unlike Kyouka, her chest was a little smaller, but she had the kind of look that would still get attention.
The other girl, Kozue, had long hair and a calm, gentle aura. She had a bigger chest and was cute in a softer way.
Not that I was thinking about hitting on them or anything.
We were just on our way home, and these two girls happened to stop us.
Every now and then, I noticed their eyes flicking over to me, like they were trying to guess something.
Still, I didn’t feel any hostility from their looks.
If anything, it was just curiosity.
Actually, in Kozue’s case… I could almost feel a light bit of interest in her gaze. It showed in her expression, her aura, even.
But this should be the first time we’ve met.
Unless she somehow knew about me already, she shouldn’t be acting like that.
Well, I do walk home with Kyouka almost every day. It’s not strange if her underclassmen already know what I look like…
”That’s it for now, okay? Miyabi, Kozue, keep up the good work with practice,” Kyouka said gently. “You’ve got the prefectural tournament coming up soon, right?”
”Yes, it’s at the start of next month,” Miyabi said with a proud nod. “We’ll try our best to get good results, so please do your best with your exam studies too, Senpai.”
”Haha… I’ll try my best,” Kyouka replied, forcing a laugh.
Maybe she remembered how little studying she’d actually been doing lately, with how often we’d been… together.
Looking a bit uncomfortable, Kyouka turned to me, like trying to escape the conversation.
”Shuu-kun, sorry to keep you waiting,” she said, stepping to my side. “Let’s head home, okay? Oh, and, like they just said… I might drop by the club now and then. Is that alright with you? If you’re not okay with it, I’ll say no.”
”Do whatever you want,” I said, glancing at her.
”Thanks. Sorry, Shuu-kun, you might have to go on ahead without me sometimes,” she said, looking apologetic.
”I don’t mind waiting in the classroom for a bit,” I said casually.
”No, it’s okay,” Kyouka said, shaking her head. “Once I’m done, I’ll hurry over to your place right away.”
She said it like my place was hers too.
The old Kyouka would never say something like that so casually in front of others.
She’d changed.
The way she said it without shame, even with her underclassmen right there watching… it had to be because our relationship had changed so much.
After that short exchange with Kyouka, we started walking again, side by side.
From behind us, I could hear the two girls giggling, their voices floating through the air.
They were whispering about whether or not me and Kyouka were… physically close.
Of course we were.
* * *
As soon as we got home, Kyouka hugged me with a spoiled look on her face.
There was a soft warmth in her eyes—an expression she only showed to me.
But that wasn’t all.
Kyouka leaned close, her breath shallow, her eyes filled with quiet longing.
The way she acted, I could tell: this had become our new normal.
We’d started doing things almost every day. Kyouka, who used to be innocent and proper, now held a kind of gentle craving in her gaze.
When we’re alone, it’s like something inside her switches on, even if I don’t touch her.
She starts to lean into me, her cheeks flushed, her breath catching softly.
Kyouka didn’t need to be told anymore.
She often took the lead—slowly, carefully—like it was natural.
That day was no different.
”Chuu… But I’ve been studying hard too,” Kyouka murmured, nuzzling against my chest. “Actually… my last test didn’t go so well.”
”That can’t be helped,” I said, stroking her hair. “There’s been a lot going on.”
”Yeah. But I feel like things are finally settled,” she said with a small nod.
”Did you talk to your parents?”
Kyouka’s face twitched, just for a second.
Her parents were divorced, but she never really showed how she felt about it.
Still, I could feel it in the air—she’d been holding onto something painful for a long time.
Even so, she didn’t seem broken anymore.
That surprised me more than anything.
”Even though I’m just a kid, I can’t avoid thinking about the future,” she said softly. “But you helped, Shuu-kun. With so many things.”
”I didn’t really do anything,” I said, looking away.
”No, that’s not true,” she replied, holding me tighter. “You came all the way to the hotel. That meant so much to me.”
”I see…”
”And now… Mom seems really happy too,” Kyouka added with a warm smile. “Apparently, she met someone else.”
”Someone else? You mean she’s getting remarried?”
”No, not like that. She just said she feels calm when they’re together. I met him a few times… I was scared at first, but now I think he might be a good person.”
”I can’t say for sure since I haven’t met him,” I said, sighing. “But it’s your mom’s choice.”
”That’s true. But, Shuu-kun… mm…” she whispered.
”What? What’s wrong?” I asked.
Without a word, Kyouka leaned in and kissed me.
Her lips were soft, and her breath tickled against mine.
Then, slowly, she reached for my belt with practiced ease.
Her hands moved naturally, like she’d done it many times.
She touched me through my pants, her fingers gentle but sure.
”Didn’t you say you’d start studying seriously from today?” she asked with a teasing smile. “How’s it going?”
”Y-Yeah, I was trying,” I replied, gulping. “But when I’m with you, it’s… hard to focus.”
”Are you blaming me?” she asked, pouting a little.
”I was gonna help you study, you know.”
”I know… But still, I want to do something more with you,” she said, looking into my eyes. “But if we have to study, I’ll try my best too.”
”I was joking,” I admitted. “Honestly, I didn’t plan to study from the start. Not when I’m like this.”
”Geez… Shuu-kun, you’re the worst,” she said with a giggle.
But her cheeks were glowing, and her smile was filled with warmth.
That soft expression—full of trust, love, and quiet desire—told me everything.
Kyouka had given herself to me, both in heart and body.
* * *
Later…
”Yasunaga-san, I’ll be making another deal this month,” I said.
”Thank you, Masuda-san. That would help us a lot,” Yasunaga replied, bowing deeply as I handed over the briefcase of cash.
There hadn’t been any big problems so far.
Yasunaga was a little pushy, but I’d already pocketed nearly 100 million yen.
There wasn’t much risk of the tax office finding out.
I hid the money in the Interdimensional Warehouse, and I didn’t live flashy.
Also, no one could trace anything from James Masuda back to Kaburagi Shuu.
My issues with Kyouka were settled, and the business side was smooth.
Still… I couldn’t shake the feeling that something dark was still hanging around me.
”Then, I’ll stop by again soon,” I said.
After saying goodbye, I stepped outside.
The sun had already set. The neon lights were glowing, drawing people toward bars and distractions.
As I walked, I sensed someone following me.
They weren’t sneaky. I just knew someone was behind me.
I didn’t even look back. And then, before I could speak, a voice came.
”Well, if it isn’t Masuda-san,” said Akuzawa, casually throwing his arm over my shoulder. “What a surprise. Got time for a drink?”
There was no doubt—he had followed me from Ando Finance.
He probably wanted in on something… money or info.
Still, I had my own reasons to speak with him.
I needed to know his connection to Kusunoki Seiichirou.
Could Akuzawa have hurt Kyouka in the old timeline? That thought never left me.
But… that past didn’t exist in this world.
”So, Akuzawa-san,” I said with a thin smile, “what do you want to talk about?”
”Business,” he said, nodding. “I’ve got a solid lead. Might bring in some big profit. But I’m having trouble with distribution. I was hoping you could help, Masuda-san.”
”I see. Middle East route, huh?”
”Exactly. But this isn’t the place for business talk,” he said. “Let’s grab a drink. I know somewhere private.”
”Alright then…”
”Good man. This way,” Akuzawa said, leading me.
He seemed too smooth. I didn’t trust him.
Still, I followed him through the side streets.
”Oh, by the way,” I said, “thanks to you, things with the Amazawa family worked out. They liked my daughter.”
”Really? That’s great,” he replied, sounding bored.
That reaction… too dull.
But I needed to bring up Kyouka to dig deeper.
”Oh, I think it’s this way,” Akuzawa mumbled. “Yeah, down this alley.”
As he stepped into the narrow path, I followed—
”Guh!”
A sharp pain hit my back, knocking me down.
Before I could react, my vision flickered.
I didn’t even have time to feel the pain before the world started fading.
It wasn’t carelessness.
I was just too focused on Akuzawa.
No, that’s just an excuse.
The truth is… I let my guard down.
My knees hit the ground hard.
As I collapsed, I saw it—the grinning face of Akuzawa, and behind him, a young man holding a thick metal pipe.
Notes:
• Kyouka – She is Kaburagi’s girlfriend, balancing exams and club activities, with a changing relationship dynamic.
• Miyabi – She is a junior student, appeared as a club member, resembling Kyouka, popular and assertive, with a modest chest.
• Kozue – She is a junior student, appeared as a club member, gentle and laid-back, with a larger bust and long hair, subtly fond of the protagonist.
• Tsuzuki – He is a boy, mentioned as a previous acquaintance, approached Kyouka before.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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