Romantic Troubles of Duanmu-kun

“What is it?”

Kaori-san didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she turned around and closed the door behind her.

Eh? What’s this about?

“Misao just denied that you’re her boyfriend. Is that true?”

She asked softly without turning back.

“Yes.”

The Novelist answered without hesitation.

“Actually, this afternoon was the first time I met Fujishima-san.”

“I see…”

Kaori-san seemed somewhat disappointed.

“Misao doesn’t seem to have many friends at school. Only Maho-chan stays by her side. When I heard she had a boyfriend, I was surprised… but also a bit happy. Misao has been avoiding contact with outsiders for a long time. Having a close relationship with someone of the opposite sex might have helped her change.”

“Is that so?”

This comment certainly sounded like something a proper mother would say. Though thinking about it carefully, Fujishima-san’s attitude toward that unnamed “boyfriend” was far less concerned compared to how she treated the Class Rep. The influence would likely be quite limited.

“Then, are you and Maho-chan a couple?”

Kaori-san’s face returned to its smiling expression.

“Uh… no.”

“So you’re just regular friends. But why did Liang-chan come along? Is it purely out of eagerness to help others?”

“That’s right.”

The Novelist answered with an unchanging expression.

“How wonderful! What a good child.”

Kaori-san seemed to believe his words and, as if giving him a reward, placed her hand on the Novelist’s forehead, gently stroking his hair.

“Even if you’re not her boyfriend, please look after Misao at school from now on. Especially when I’m not around anymore, please work together with Maho-chan…”

“Ah… I will.”

He’d thought she was going to say something important. But this was their first meeting with Kaori-san today. It couldn’t possibly be what he was thinking.

How troublesome.

This thing called human interaction. It doesn’t correlate with time spent together, and it might even contradict what’s said. Just as lying is human nature and instinct.

After their superficial conversation ended, Kaori-san opened the door and leisurely walked out. Come to think of it, was there any need to close the door for that kind of talk?

“Oh, Kaori-san.”

As if remembering something, he called out to stop the blonde woman.

“Hmm?”

Fujishima Kaori turned to look at him questioningly.

“I must apologize in advance. But I have to tell you something.”

The Novelist spoke calmly.

“Fujishima-san can’t say this due to certain concerns. The food you make is actually quite terrible.”

“Eh…?”

Kaori-san’s smile froze on her face.

“It’s not just a matter of being too salty or bland, but simply inedible. I doubt anyone with normal taste buds could enjoy it.”

“Is… is that so?”

“There are major technical deficiencies in cooking time, seasoning usage, and heat control. I believe you should start learning from the basics.”

“Uuu…”

“For the sake of both your and your daughter’s health, this matter of dark cooking must be corrected. By the way, tonight’s dinner and the pre-dinner cookies were really awful…”

“Uwaaaa!”

She ran away crying—!

After finishing his evening routine, he prepared to go to bed.

After Kaori-san left, an imposing Fujishima Misao burst into his bedroom along with Itou Maho, who held her friend’s hand to prevent any rash actions.

Misao-san said things like “How dare you make Mom cry!” – phrases that could easily be misunderstood – and prepared to give him a beating. What a concerning choice of words.

By the way, he had the fortune of seeing both girls in their sleepwear. As for Misao, he had already (accidentally) seen everything before, but it was his first time seeing the Class Rep in pajamas.

Unlike Misao’s light, thin dress, the Class Rep wore cute black and white hooded pajamas with fluffy cat ears on the hood, and her hands were wrapped in thick cotton pads.

“I want to hug her and squeeze her” – it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that anyone, regardless of gender, would have such perverted thoughts upon seeing the Class Rep at that moment.

Unfortunately, only Misao could do that right now. Moreover, she deliberately showed off in front of the Novelist, demonstrating ear-pinching, pad-squeezing, and general cuddling until the Class Rep’s face turned bright red and took her down. How envious… and truly, truly regrettable.

He shook his head, forcing the image of the Class Rep’s blushing face from his mind. Gazing out at the night engulfed by endless rain.

“The rain shows no sign of letting up…”

The Novelist casually turned off the room’s lights.

Without light, the dark narrow space with the endless sound of water in his ears felt like being at the bottom of the deep sea.

Oh right, he forgot to ask Fujishima-san. After discussing with Kaori-san, what did they decide to do about the Building Three resident? If he went to ask now, he’d probably just get angrily beaten up.

“What an uneventful day.”

Just kidding.

However, the Novelist was trying hard to think in that direction. Even if he was concerned about the fugitive killer, there was nothing he could do with his abilities as an ordinary male high school student. He could only wait for Yayoi’s response.

—Tomorrow would surely be a sunny day with fresh air.

The next day.

The Novelist, lying in bed, was pulled from his deep sleep by the heat and light penetrating through the curtains. He furrowed his brow and placed his hand on his forehead to block the sunlight.

With drowsy eyes, his gaze emptily fixed on the unfamiliar ceiling.

After a while, his head cleared somewhat. He slowly crawled out of bed, drew the curtains closed, and picked up the mobile phone from his bedside table.

“It’s already seven.”

The driver Yayoi mentioned in her email would probably arrive in about an hour to take him and the Class Rep to school.

According to last night’s arranged time, they should all be up by now, right?

After getting properly dressed, he stumbled out of the bedroom and walked along the hallway to the living room.

“Huh…?”

It was quiet.

The only sound in his ears was the light noise of his slippers hitting the floor as he walked, with no other human voices.

He reached out to steady himself against the wall. Instead of calling out for Kaori-san or anyone else, the Novelist cautiously stopped in his tracks.

“Strange…?”

Near the entrance, there was an area where the floor color differed from its surroundings. The water had mostly evaporated. However, there hadn’t been any water stains there last night.

Without any hesitation, the Novelist picked up a vase and walked toward the other end of the hallway.