"You're not acing every subject?!"
Though Hirano Natsume had only been at the school a week, Su Ze's reputation as an all-around academic prodigy was inescapable—after all, he was the campus's hottest topic.
"Mafuyu-chan, listen, it's already done…" Natsume began, her face a mask of awkward laughter, trying to play peacemaker and lay out the stakes.
Her timing, however, was off.
The "charge" was still in full swing…
Orihara Mafuyu bit her lip, head turned aside, too occupied to respond.
Stakes? What stakes compared to matters of the heart? Su Ze plunged deep into her soul.
Morning light crept in.
Mafuyu, leaning on the doorframe, returned home.
The bruise on her face had been healed by that scoundrel's ointment, but it brought her no joy.
At the entrance, she swapped her shoes and stepped into the living room.
"Mom, you're back!" A small figure dashed over, beaming.
Mafuyu froze, forcing a smile. "Sho, you're up early today. Good job."
"Haha!" Sho's face lit up at the praise. "Mom, what's wrong? Where were you last night?"
He noticed her flushed cheeks, as if she'd just run a marathon, and her glasses-framed eyes shimmered with a strange mist.
"Oh, nothing!" Mafuyu shook her head, flustered. She hadn't expected Sho to be awake so early. Changing the subject, she asked, "Where's your dad?"
Your dad felt odd to say, somehow.
Scratching his head, Sho replied, "Cooking."
Though her marriage was strained, Mafuyu's husband was dutiful, a rare Japanese man who cooked—likely tied to her respectable job.
"Is that so? Did Dad's cooking wake you?" Mafuyu asked.
"Yup!" Sho nodded, his puzzled gaze lingering on her face.
Mafuyu knew she needed a shower. Smiling, she said, "Sho, go see what Dad's making, okay?"
"Weird," Sho muttered, squinting but not answering. He trailed her a few steps, then felt something odd underfoot, like wet earth after rain.
Blinking, he lifted his socked foot, revealing a sticky white blob. He reached to touch it.
Mafuyu caught his movement, startled. She grabbed his hand, her foot "accidentally" covering the liquid. "Sho, what are you doing?" she scolded.
"Mom, you stepped in something gross!" Sho exclaimed.
"Even if it's dirty, use a tissue, not your hand!" Her panic morphed into anger as she lectured him.
"Got it," Sho mumbled, shrinking back.
Mafuyu stormed off to shower, her steps hurried.
Sho watched as more familiar white liquid dripped from under her skirt, feeling wronged.
It was Mom's fault.
Sighing, he grabbed a tissue to clean the floor.
Dad was making udon today, and he wanted to eat in peace, not deal with Mom's temper.
By coincidence, another household was also having udon that morning.
"Ze-kun, how's the taste?" Aunt Miyuki sat beside Su Ze, her smile tender, her body occasionally trembling.
"Well-balanced saltiness, perfectly timed scallions—fresh, sweet, fragrant," Su Ze critiqued meticulously.
One hand ate noodles; the other harvested nectar from her "garden."
"Mmm, as long as you like it. I'll cook more if you want," Miyuki said, squirming.
A flush had crept onto her face.
"Stay right here," Su Ze teased with a grin.
Suddenly, Miyuki's soft thighs quivered rapidly.
Nectar gathered, Su Ze smiled, satisfied, withdrawing his hand. To Yamashita Yutaka, he said, "Yutaka, head to school alone today. I'm taking a half-day off."
"Something urgent?" Yutaka asked, curious.
"Yeah, not something I can share," Su Ze replied bluntly.
"Alright," Yutaka nodded understandingly.
He slurped his noodles, bid farewell to his friend and mother, and headed to school.
"Yutaka's got more spark now," Su Ze remarked.
"Haha, ever since you came around, his grades have soared," Miyuki said happily.
Su Ze flashed his fingers. "Aunt Miyuki, how were your grades in school?"
She blushed, looking down. "Pretty good."
"Let me tutor you today. I want to try something… new," Su Ze whispered, nibbling her glistening earlobe.
Skipping Ms. Shirakawa today would cost some desire points, but he couldn't help it—he missed Miyuki.
Always gentle, never saying no, rarely asking for anything.
Who wouldn't love such a woman?
"Eh?!" Miyuki's face reddened as she processed his words. Nervous but compliant, she nodded. "Okay, but I've never tried that before. I might be clumsy."
Her frame might struggle with his intensity, but with the system, it'd be fine.
Su Ze lifted her soft, pliant body, kissing her as he carried her to the bedroom.
A week apart, and he realized he loved her even more.
By mid-morning, Su Ze returned to his stronghold, St. Girls' Academy.
After trying new "techniques," he considered visiting the Kurashiki household.
Oyakodon was irresistibly addictive.
But through the invisible dragonflies, he saw Reina at school and Reika at work.
Was the War Demon blessing too potent? Their stamina was unreal.
Strolling the campus's tree-lined path, Su Ze idly pondered, glancing at the distant construction site, the rumble of machinery in his ears.
No wonder students wanted to leave—the noise was disruptive.
"Wow, so romantic!"
"So hot!"
"Ms. Shirakawa's so lucky!"
"Say yes!"
Nearing the teaching building, Su Ze saw a crowd of girls forming a circle, cheering loudly.
Under the blazing sun, pink roses formed a heart on the ground. A man, sweating, knelt at its center, holding a rose, gazing earnestly at Shirakawa Miwa.
"Miwa, please go out with me!" he declared, his nervous voice trembling.
Miwa bit her lip, flustered, as the crowd's "Say yes!" chants grew louder.
Students loved a spectacle.
The pressure weighed heavily on Miwa.
"Miwa, since college, I've loved—" The man's words were cut off as a tall shadow loomed over him.
Su Ze glared down, his voice low. "How'd you get into the school?"
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