My Girlfriend is an Evil Woman

Fukuzawa Naotaka taking over this matter, regardless of his intentions, was indeed a gesture of goodwill. Kitahara Hideji couldn’t do much to stop him, and he ended up owing a favor. Fukuzawa Naotaka had quite a network of friends, having previously run a dojo and worked as a doctor. Now working as a chef, he had maintained excellent relationships, both in the world of the Yakuza and in law enforcement. He appeared to be a formidable individual, considering he had consumed over two decades of fine rice. His actions didn’t seem to bear any malice towards Kitahara Hideji. Still, Kitahara Hideji knew he needed to be cautious moving forward.

As he walked, he pondered the situation and decided to stop by a 24-hour convenience store to purchase some anti-inflammatory and bruise-healing medication. Japanese convenience stores were truly magical places, selling just about anything one could need. He then returned to his apartment, only to find that the door was latched with a security chain. Hyakujirou had just stuck his head out from the partially open door, his tail wagging eagerly, seemingly excited to see Kitahara Hideji.

“Onii-san, are you okay?” Ono Yoko anxiously asked as soon as he entered. She hadn’t even let him take off his shoes.

Kitahara Hideji chuckled, “I’m fine for now. I told you not to worry, Yoko. Don’t be so nervous.”

However, Ono Yoko didn’t release his sleeve and continued to express her concern, saying, “I’m relieved then, really relieved.” She took a moment to calm herself and, realizing that Kitahara Hideji had returned safely, sighed with relief. Then, she asked with genuine care, “Onii-san, have you eaten?”

Kitahara Hideji’s heart warmed at her worried expression. He reached out and gently ruffled her hair, saying, “Yes, I’ve eaten. The police station provided meals. How about you?”

Ono Yoko looked slightly embarrassed as she replied, “Not yet. We have food at home, but I didn’t have a chance to get it… Please wait for me, Onii-san.”

She rushed out of the apartment and headed back to her own home, leaving Hyakujirou behind with an amusing grin on his face. He continued to follow Ono Yoko, his tail wagging happily. To Kitahara Hideji, the sight of Hyakujirou, who was the “second master,” all fresh and adorable, was a welcome change compared to his own bloodied appearance.

Kitahara Hideji stood by the door, listening for any sounds from next door. However, Ono Yoko returned with a large lunchbox, looking quite serious about security. She quickly locked the door, attached the chain lock, and seemed ready to defend the apartment against any possible threat. Kitahara Hideji couldn’t help but shake his head inwardly. Despite the proximity of their homes, he wondered if she ever worried about him getting any ideas with such security measures in place.
At ordinary times, as long as Ono Yoko is here, he always tries to keep the door slightly ajar, but now Ono Yoko doesn’t care anymore. He really has nothing to say. He can’t just say, ‘Yoko, leave the door open, we need to avoid suspicion.’ He can only change his clothes quickly.

Ono Yoko didn’t rush to eat the food she brought. Seeing Kitahara Hideji changing clothes without paying much attention to him, she carefully examined his body and found a faint bruise. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly thought about going behind him to see if there were any injuries on his back. She felt a strong sense of self-blame. She had been too preoccupied with worrying about whether Kitahara Hideji would go to jail and almost forgot to check if he was injured.

Except for his mother, Kitahara Hideji actually didn’t have much experience changing clothes in front of other women. Being seen like this by Ono Yoko made him feel a bit embarrassed. He said awkwardly, ‘Yoko, you don’t need to look. I’m fine.’

Ono Yoko shook her head and said seriously, ‘This is the injury Onii-san suffered for me, and I must remember it!’

Kitahara Hideji chuckled and said, ‘You’re exaggerating too much, aren’t you? Alright, Yoko, stop looking. I bought some medicine for you. Go to the bathroom and apply it to your face!’

Her little face was still swollen, and it had been several hours. There was little improvement.

‘I’ll apply the medicine to Onii-san first!’ Ono Yoko said as she went to get the medicine, her tone full of concern.

Kitahara Hideji was still waiting to change his pants, but he really didn’t have the courage to take off his pants in front of a ten-year-old girl. He quickly said, ‘It’s just a minor injury. I’ll do it myself in a while… You go to the bathroom and apply the medicine first, and I’ll change my clothes.’

Ono Yoko was very obedient. After thinking for a moment, she went to the bathroom, probably planning to apply the medicine herself as quickly as possible and then hurry to apply it to Kitahara Hideji.

Once she went to the bathroom, Kitahara Hideji felt a bit more relaxed. He quickly changed his pants and didn’t rush Yoko. He lifted a tatami mat and took out the money he had saved, hesitating about what to buy for Fukuzawa Naotaka tomorrow. Fukuzawa Naotaka obviously liked alcohol, but he looked frail. What if he got sick from drinking?

Giving alcohol was definitely not an option. So, what should he give?

He had to give something. Being a person meant being grateful. Fukuzawa Naotaka wasn’t obliged to help him, but he did it anyway. Maybe Fukuzawa Naotaka was a person similar to Song Jiang, a character from the world of martial arts, known as a ‘timely rain.’ But that didn’t mean he could accept it without showing his gratitude. Even if his abilities were limited right now, he had to show his attitude, letting the other person know that he appreciated the favor. This was a matter of character. One must never act like an opportunist when benefiting from someone else.

Kitahara Hideji was lost in thought there, and Ono Yoko, in the bathroom, couldn’t wait any longer. She asked, “Onii-san, have you finished changing your clothes?”

Kitahara Hideji casually replied, “Yes, I’m done.”

“Then let me apply the medicine for you, Onii-san!” Ono Yoko immediately came out. She really wanted to help in some way.

“No need, I can do it myself,” Kitahara Hideji smiled and said, pushing aside the matter of buying a gift for Fukuzawa Naotaka. He carefully examined Ono Yoko’s face and found that she had applied the medicine well. He reached out to take the ointment.

Ono Yoko refused, hiding the medicine behind her and said earnestly, “Onii-san, please let me do it for you. It would make me feel better… I don’t have much to offer, and this is the only little thing I can do for you.”

Kitahara Hideji hesitated for a moment, looking at Ono Yoko’s small, expectant face. He sighed and said, “Alright, you can do it.”

The taste of owing someone a favor wasn’t pleasant, but if it eased the discomfort in the child’s heart, it was worth it. Besides, the injuries were on his upper body, so it wasn’t too embarrassing. In the northern city where he had lived in his previous life, it was common for men to expose part of their back when cooling off in the summer evenings, and about a third of their back would usually be exposed. Once he accepted this, it didn’t seem like a big deal.

He sat down obediently, and Ono Yoko poured some ointment into her hand. She started by applying it to the bruise on his shoulder, then moved to his back, tending to the two areas of bruising. He hadn’t been injured much; there were just two spots where he had been caught in the chaos, and one where he had bumped into something while rushing up the stairs.

Ono Yoko was very gentle and careful, as if afraid of causing him pain. Her touch was softer than when she applied the ointment to her own face, and Kitahara Hideji found it quite pleasant. Ono Yoko’s small hands lightly pressed and massaged his back, feeling as soft as a kitten’s paws.

There was a moment of silence between the two. As Ono Yoko continued to apply the ointment, her face gradually turned red. Even after finishing, she didn’t want to stop.

For Ono Yoko, Kitahara Hideji was like a ray of sunshine in her otherwise bleak life, radiating warmth and brightness. She was still young and not very good at expressing her emotions, but everything that had happened these days was etched in her heart. Whether it was Kitahara Hideji’s indulgence and gentleness or his thoughtfulness and care, she held onto it tightly. She felt that in this world, there was only one person who truly understood her and loved her. Now, in this moment of their first intimate contact, her heart swelled with emotion. She wished time could stand still forever.

“Is it not done yet, Yoko?” Kitahara Hideji felt like it had been more than ten minutes since she started applying the ointment and found it a bit strange. He didn’t feel much from the injuries, and the ointment was even bought for Yoko, so it shouldn’t take this long to apply it. Although he couldn’t see the injuries, they shouldn’t be too serious. What was going on?

As soon as he finished speaking, Kitahara Hideji felt Ono Yoko gently embracing him from behind. He heard her murmuring, “Thank you, Onii-san.”

She pressed her small face against Kitahara Hideji’s back, feeling his breath and her own burning cheeks. She couldn’t tell if it was Kitahara Hideji’s warmth or her own thin skin causing her face to heat up. She was deeply grateful to Kitahara Hideji; no one had ever done so much for her. But now, she had nothing to give except this embrace.

This hug represented all her gratitude, or rather, all her appreciation.

Kitahara Hideji, feeling the smooth touch of her hands on his back, smiled and said, “You’ve already thanked me many times, Yoko.”

Yoko’s voice was as soft as a whisper, “No, Onii-san, even saying it ten more times wouldn’t be enough.”

Kitahara Hideji lightly patted her small hand, feeling somewhat helpless. To be honest, these two fights he had been in were mostly for Yoko, driven by his genuine anger. When he saw Yoko being bullied, it brought back a lot of unpleasant memories, and he couldn’t help but feel extremely upset. If he hadn’t kept his composure, he might have ended up hospitalizing Ota Tateyo and his gang – Ota Tateyo was just unlucky, a substitute for the troublemakers from his previous life who had targeted him. It allowed him to vent some of his frustrations.

So, he genuinely felt that Yoko didn’t need to keep thanking him repeatedly.

But he also sensed that Ono Yoko was a thoughtful child, probably more thoughtful than kids her age – growing up in this neighborhood and this family, he didn’t believe her heart was a blank slate. But when it came to judging people, he preferred actions over intentions. Judging by her actions, Ono Yoko hadn’t done anything to harm others, as long as a person had some moral standards and didn’t go down the wrong path, she was still a good kid.

He could only make a playful remark, “I don’t need so many thank-yous, Yoko. If you really want to repay your big brother, you can keep a tally. Each fight counts as ten thousand yen, and you can pay me back double in the future.”

He was joking, and after saying it, he couldn’t help but smile, feeling quite content. But Yoko took it seriously, rubbing her small face against his back and earnestly saying, “I will keep a tally, and I will never forget everything Onii-san has done for me.”

Her voice was so serious it sounded solemn, “I will never forget!”