Chapter Six: Sagiri Amamiya Is in a Terrible State!

In Japanese high schools, students only need to attend six classes a day: four in the morning and two in the afternoon. After the two afternoon classes, it would be around 2:50 PM, at which time the students on duty for the day would clean the classroom. Once cleaning was done, it was time for club activities, though some students chose to leave school directly.

Anwa Yusheng was among those who left. Since he had only just transferred, his turn for daily duties had been scheduled for the following week, and as for club activities, he hadn’t made any plans yet. After all, he had only just moved to Tokyo and his immediate priority was to earn money.

“I’ll check on Sawu Amamiya in the North Institute first, and then look for a part-time job in the nearby shopping street,” he thought to himself, packing today’s homework into his bag and preparing to leave the classroom.

Previously, he hadn’t brought a bag since he always finished his homework at school. Noticing his movements, Keiko Kitajima, who had just been stretching, paused for a moment as if she were thinking, then called out in a familiar and curious tone, “Heading home so early today, Yusheng?”

Her voice wasn’t loud, but the students around her all heard clearly, turning their heads to look and casting curious glances back and forth between Anwa and Keiko.

Seeing this, Anwa’s plan to pretend he hadn’t heard fell through, and he could only look at her with a helpless smile. “Yeah, I just moved to Tokyo, and there’s a lot to take care of at home, so I’ve been heading back early these days.”

“I see. Need any help?” Keiko wasn’t about to pass up a chance to talk to Anwa. Worried he might refuse, she flexed her arm to show off her muscles and grinned, her white teeth dazzling. “Don’t be fooled by my size—I’m actually pretty handy!”

Hearing her words, you can’t help but give her a once-over: an unremarkable chest, tanned short legs revealed beneath her pleated skirt, and… two sharp little canine teeth at the corners of her mouth? Fangs? The thought startles you—a wild idea pops into your head: what would it feel like to have those fangs graze against…

Startled by the intrusive narration, Anwa quickly averted his gaze from her canines and, with a sincere smile, waved her off. “No need, Kitajima. There are others at home, so it’s inconvenient to bring anyone over, but I appreciate the thought.”

“Is that so?” At his words, Keiko’s excited expression instantly faded to disappointment, but she forced a smile and said, “Then take care on your way home, Yusheng. See you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow!” Anwa replied, walking straight to the classroom door. As soon as he left, Keiko, who had been sitting upright, seemed to lose her soul and collapsed onto her desk.

The girls who had been watching immediately crowded around her, eager to gossip. Most of the talk revolved around Anwa and Keiko. Though Keiko kept protesting, “No, it’s nothing, we’re just friends, you’re misunderstanding,” with a look of annoyance, she was secretly delighted inside—after all, she loved being the center of attention.

Meanwhile—

Unaware of everything happening in the classroom, Anwa jogged to the gate of the neighboring North Institute Middle School as soon as he left the school grounds. Although he’d already confirmed that Sawu Amamiya’s favorability rating had reached thirty-seven in the morning, and she had accepted the key, he still wanted to check on her just in case.

Time passed slowly, and since he had arrived early, not many students were leaving yet. The few who did hurried past, clearly either with pressing matters at home or, like Anwa, busy working to make ends meet.

After several minutes, just as Anwa considered leaving, he spotted a figure in an orange, low-cut sweater vest with a long strip of blue light above her head.

[Name: Sawu Amamiya]
[Current Status: Cold, hungry, in pain, low fever, mentally on the verge of collapse]
[Current Favorability: 38 (friend)—Note: She urgently needs your help]

What on earth was with this string of negative effects!

Anwa was shocked. She had been fine in the morning, and now, after only half a day, she looked like this—and her favorability had inexplicably increased a bit.

“Is this school some kind of den of dragons and tigers?” The thought flashed through his mind, and he didn’t care that there were North Institute students around; he hurried over to Sawu Amamiya.

As he drew near, he saw that she was soaked through, and her gait was awkward—clearly, her foot was injured.

Suddenly, as she trudged along, Sawu found someone blocking her path. Instinctively, she tried to move aside, but before she could, something warm and fuzzy was draped over her neck.

She looked up in confusion and met a pair of eyes filled with concern.

“Are you alright?”

The voice, which she’d only heard that morning, now struck her like a pickaxe, shattering both the frozen surface of a silent lake and the gray glass case that had been suppressing her all day.

A gentle breeze stirred her from her daze. Realizing what was happening, Sawu’s eyes reddened and she quickly turned her head away, avoiding his gaze, but still answered softly. “I’m fine…”

“You’re soaked and you say you’re fine?” Anwa’s tone was gently reproachful, his gaze lingering on her feet clad in black uniform shoes. He turned his back to her and squatted down. “I’ll give you a piggyback ride. You’re limping—you must have hurt your foot, right?”

Hearing the second half of his sentence, Sawu bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, and finally agreed in a whisper, draping herself over his back.

Feeling the soft pressure on his back, more pronounced than what he’d experienced on the morning train, Anwa forced down the strange thoughts that surfaced, straightened up, and reached back to support her smooth, slender thighs as he carried her out of the school grounds.

Their actions naturally drew the attention of other students. Some even pointed at them and whispered among themselves.

Anwa pretended not to notice, and Sawu, clinging to his back, buried her face against him like an ostrich, trying to hide from reality.

After leaving the school, Anwa didn’t head straight home. The notification screen had mentioned not just cold and pain, but also hunger and weakness. So, he decided to take Sawu to the nearest shop to buy her some clothes and get something to eat.

Looking around, Anwa eventually headed for a shopping street.

Meanwhile—

Outside a café, a woman dressed in a black-and-white maid outfit, cat-ear headband, and a skirt with a black tail, bent over and said sweetly to a departing customer, “Master, take care on your way home~ Looking forward to your return~” The next moment, she sensed someone standing before her.

Why is there another customer? I still need to pick up my daughter.

Kurorai Shiko grumbled inwardly but quickly put on a sweet smile and called out in a cutesy voice, “Welcome home, Master~” as she looked up.

But when she saw who it was, her expression froze.

Under a tousled fringe of jet-black hair, a pair of beautiful, almond-shaped eyes gazed out from a fair, handsome face, lips curled in a perpetual, gentle smile that always evoked the warmth of sunlight.

But!

At this moment, those almond eyes were fixed on her in astonishment, as if their owner had just discovered that a childhood friend secretly enjoyed cross-dressing.

Time seemed to stand still as their eyes met.

Recalling the events on the morning train, Kurorai Shiko’s cheeks flushed visibly, the color spreading to the tips of her ears.

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Kurorai,” the boy greeted first, his voice filled with delight. He was clearly surprised to see her here.

Her face reddened even more, and she lowered her head in embarrassment, stammering, “G-good afternoon, Anwa. Don’t you have club activities?”