Shuichi Chiba sighed and said early, "I remember you had excellent grades? If you bee a signifit figure in Tokyo iure, I might be ied in adjusting to that."

  This obvious tone of and advice made Tsuki Akiyama's heart flutter, and her gaze softened.

  But soon, she started feeling a bit defiant. They're the same age, so why did he have to talk to her in such a desding, elder-like way? It was infuriating.

  She retorted, "You enjoy pying with strong women, huh? You are such a pervert! But I get it, I'll work hard."

  Chiba rolled his eyes, "What do you get? The rent is cheap because we're all cssmates, and your mother promised I could eat meals for free in your shop. Stop overthinking useless things."

  To be ho, he was getting a bit tired of eating at Yoshinoya all the time. Ramen shops had a 30% taste enha effect, but as the manager, he could enjoy a 300% boost, making the fvor worth looking forward to.

  However, Tsuki's rea was far beyond what he expected. She widened her eyes, looking shocked.

  "You even want to py out your fantasies in front of my family?! That's absolutely not happening! I won't accept it. At most... y a little as long as it’s not obvious..."

  Chiba's forehead twitched in frustration. After expining so clearly, was she just ign him? He couldn't take it anymrabbing her wrist, he snapped, "e with me!"

  Behind him, Tsuki looked faintly expet, though she tio mutter, "So you've finally dropped the act, huh? Men are all perverts."

  Shuichi Chiba acted as if he hadn't heard her, entering the bedroom and sitting down in the chair by the desk. He motioned for her to stand in front of him.

  Without leaving room fotiation, he ordered, "Lift your skirt."

  "What?" Tsuki Akiyama was startled.

  "Isn't this what you were expeg? Lift your skirt. Don’t make me say it a third time," Chiba said with a bnk expression.

  Suddenly, Tsuki felt a bit panicked. Just a moment ago, she had thought he was a det guy, but now it seemed that maybe, possibly, she had pushed him too far?

  "Something like this should... you know, progress step by step, right?" Tsuki hesitated, her gaze shifting nervously.

  Chiba said nothing, simply watg her.

  "I... I get it..." Uhe pressure, Tsuki finally bit her lip and took that step forward. She lifted her skirt which revealed her thighs and panty. Chiba gulped when he saw her pussy line on the panty. Tsuki kept her eyes shut, while waiting for Chiba to take a but Chiba trolled himself. He stopped his hand which was moving toward her thighs. When Tsuki felt nothing happening she opened her eyes and found Chuba staring at her.

  ……

  ……

  ……

  ……

  "You... you jerk..."

  "Already 't hahis?" Shuichi Chiba chuckled, pulling out a marker.

  Tsuki Akiyama started to panic. "You're not do?"

  "What's the rush?"

  Without another word, Chiba wrote a square-shaped kanji ohigh.

  Seeing this, Tsuki was overwhelmed with shame and anger. "You... you..."

  "What's wrong?" Chiba finally allowed a smile to creep onto his face as he crossed his legs, leisurely enjoying her rea.

  "This is exactly what you wanted, isn’t it? Betweewo of us, you know who the real pervert is, right?"

  "Guh... just kill me already..." Tsuki, feeling utterly "tormented," could only tremble from head to toe.

  In truth, this "torment" only made her more excited.

  "Don't wipe it off. You wash it off tomorrow night. That's all. Go home now; you will probably be busy moving these days." Chiba said with a wave, dismissing the slightly unhinged girl. Any longer, and he feared he might actually lose trol of himself.

  "This is it?" Tsuki Akiyama was startled. Aside from her shame and ahere was even a hint of dissatisfa on her face, as if she hadn’t had enough.

  Shuichi Chiba g her, speechless. "Fine, here's one more rule: from now on, you're only allowed to wear blue-and-white striped underwear."

  "Blue-and-white stripes? You actually like such a tacky style?" Tsuki asked, fused.

  "None of your business." Chiba replied, finally uanding the tone he o use with her.

  "I don't have money," Tsuki admitted, looking a little embarrassed. Then, as if expining, she added, "Attending cram school is expensive."

  Chiba pulled out his wallet, took out a bill featuring Yukichi Fukuzawa, and ha to buy some."

  "That's too much. I won't his much."

  "Buy extras for backup."

  "Got it, pervert~" Tsuki snatched the bill from his hand with a huff, pressing her skirt down with one hand as she awkwardly walked out.

  She couldn’t let the wind lift her skirt with the kanji still written ohigh.

  "What in the world just happened?" Chiba leaned ba his chair, half ughing, half exasperated.

  ……

  Oher side, Tsuki Akiyama, still holding down her skirt, left the ma offid went to the newly rented shop door, only to find that her mother and younger sister were o be seen.

  She quickly pulled out her phoo tact them and found out they had left her behind to go eat and would be back soon.

  After waiting a few mihey finally returned. As soon as Mrs. Akiyama walked in, she spped her forehead. "Oh no, I fot t food for Tsuki-. I'll go buy sht now..."

  "Oh yeah, we totally fot!" An Akiyama, gently rubbing her full stomach, responded sluggishly.

  "No need, I’ll go get something to eat ter." Tsuki replied, already used to her mother’s fetfulness.

  "Let’s talk business first. I’ve taken care of everything, so you don’t o worry anymore." Tsuki added.

  "Worry about what?" An asked, pletely puzzled. Iime it took to eat, she'd already fotten the issue entirely.

  "..." Tsuki Akiyama felt a surge of frustration at her sister's clueless rea and immediately grabbed her by the cheeks. "I will just let someorick you iure. I’m dorying to look out for you!"

  "Why are you mad again..." An Akiyama mumbled, her speech slurred from being pinched.

  "Now, now, you two should get along." Mrs. Akiyama chimed in, her focus pletely away from any "serious business." She smiled brightly as she watched her daughters bicker.

  "Mom, you too. ’t you be a little more cautious?" Tsuki sighed, feeling drained by her family’s carefree attitude.

  "Oh, there aren’t that many bad people around. You’re just too nervous, Tsuki-." Mrs. Akiyama dismissed her s with a wave of her hand.

  "That Chiba door isn’t a good person. An, you should keep your distance from him." Tsuki said seriously.

  "Would he really do something weird to me?" An blinked her wide eyes in curiosity.

  "Of course." Tsuki replied, c the thigh where the kanji was still written, her cheeks flushing slightly. She was absolutely certain.