"If you feel anything is wrong, notify me immediately." Hikari spoke.
"Mm!", Haruno Kasumi nodded gratefully in acknowledgment.
By this time, Hikari had almost reached the apartment building she had mentioned.
Just as the two were about to part ways downstairs, a familiar short figure happened to be walking toward them from the other side of the sidewalk.
This was a small, delicately featured boy.
Despite wearing a high school uniform, his build and face were about the same as an elementary school boy's.
It was none other than Haruno Kasumi's distant cousin, and Hikari's classmate, Haruno Ayato.
Soon the delicate Haruno Ayato also spotted the two.
Upon seeing his beloved cousin Haruno Kasumi's pure and pretty face, Haruno Ayato instinctively broke into a smile and raised his hand to greet her.
But the next moment, his smile froze.
Because he noticed that today Haruno Kasumi wasn't walking home alone like usual.
Instead, there was a boy beside her.
And he recognized that boy, it was his classmate, Hikari.
He was also the only one in the class who surpassed him in both height and looks, a handsome guy so fine it made him jealous.
Seeing Haruno Kasumi walking home side by side with someone like Hikari, and so close together, Haruno Ayato's heart immediately felt blocked.
The small shota's delicate face twisted slightly, and the sourness of jealousy made him ignore Haruno Kasumi's gesture of greeting. He turned on his heel and dashed straight into the apartment building.
"Ayato-kun…"
Haruno Kasumi had barely opened her mouth to greet him when she saw Haruno Ayato disappear up the stairwell in a flash of anger, leaving only a fleeting silhouette. She showed a helpless expression.
Though she could vaguely guess why Haruno Ayato had suddenly been so rude.
Today, Haruno Kasumi had already gone through too many troubling things.
First, she was betrayed by a good friend and nearly assaulted.
Then she tried to report it to the police, only to have the perpetrator turn the tables on her.
These matters had already left Haruno Kasumi exhausted, so the usually gentle girl had no energy left to deal with Haruno Ayato's unusual reaction.
Haruno Kasumi could only turn to Hikari and say apologetically, "Hikari-kun, I'm sorry. Ayato-kun was rude today. Normally he's very polite."
"It's fine," Hikari didn't mind much. After staring at Haruno Ayato's back for a while, he simply reminded her, "Politeness doesn't matter. But there is one thing that just came to mind."
"Aside from being careful around that guy Anjou yourself, Kasumi-san, you should also warn Ayato-kun to be careful as well," Hikari said.
"Eh?", Hearing Hikari's words, Haruno Kasumi was momentarily startled.
"That guy, could he really be deranged enough to go after people around me? It's not impossible," Haruno Kasumi murmured to herself.
"It is indeed possible. In any case, both Kasumi-san and Ayato-kun should be careful," Seeing Haruno Kasumi's slightly puzzled expression, Hikari knew she had probably misunderstood something and still had some things she hadn't figured out.
But that wasn't surprising.
If he hadn't had the experience of watching countless works in his previous life, it would be hard to imagine that Haruno Ayato could very well become one of the tragic direct victims himself.
But recalling Haruno Ayato's small build and delicate shota face, even the way he'd gotten angry just now at seeing him and Haruno Kasumi walking together looked like a stubborn brat.
Then it didn't seem so strange that he'd fall prey to the cuckolder's clutches.
Although Hikari wasn't into that at all.
To someone with certain peculiar tastes, though, that kid was definitely top of the must-eat list.
That was why Hikari reminded Haruno Kasumi to warn Haruno Ayato to be careful too.
Haruno Kasumi naturally took Hikari's words to heart right now.
Although she had misunderstood his warning somewhat, she also felt that Anjou Takaya really might go after Haruno Ayato, so she nodded seriously in agreement.
After exchanging a few more words and swapping contact information, Hikari turned and left the apartment building.
And watching Hikari's silhouette receding into the sunset, Haruno Kasumi stood in the stairwell for a long while before reluctantly looking away.
Perhaps it was because Hikari had saved her at her most desperate and helpless moment today, along with the way he had calmly and confidently stayed by her side.
In any case, after enduring countless troubles today, Haruno Kasumi found herself involuntarily developing a strong sense of dependence on Hikari.
Now, watching him leave, unease immediately began to stir in her heart.
Setting aside her earlier stereotype of Hikari as a playboy juggling multiple women, a complete scumbag she shouldn't get close to, even her own personality had always been quite independent.
She had learned to manage her own life early on and had stopped relying on her parents long ago.
But now, watching Hikari walk away, she felt as if a large chunk had been carved out of her heart.
Her chest felt empty, filled with helplessness and loss.
That gnawing, restless feeling even made Haruno Kasumi want to chase after him.
To beg Hikari to accompany her home today and stay with her the whole day.
But the two weren't related, and before today they'd exchanged fewer than five sentences. There was no way Haruno Kasumi could bring herself to say that.
"It's okay! Hikari-kun also said that whenever I need him, I can reach out anytime, and he'll help me."
Taking several deep breaths, clenching her small fists, Haruno Kasumi, though unable to hide the hollowness in her heart, forced herself to pull it together and quickly walked upstairs.
———
Back in the room, Haruno Kasumi saw Haruno Ayato on the sofa.
And upon seeing Haruno Kasumi enter alone, without bringing Hikari back home, Haruno Ayato let out a breath of relief.
In a slightly better mood now, he took the initiative to greet her, "Kasumi-nee, you're back."
"Mm," Still feeling somewhat hollow inside, Haruno Kasumi replied absentmindedly.
Haruno Ayato sensed something off in her tone and immediately stood up with concern, "Kasumi-nee, what's wrong today? Your complexion looks a bit pale. Are you feeling unwell?"
Haruno Kasumi waved her hand, "It's nothing. I'm not feeling unwell."
"However… I did offend some people because of certain matters."
"Ayato-kun, since you're usually close to me, you should be careful too."
Hearing Haruno Kasumi's words, Haruno Ayato's mind instantly flashed to Hikari's face downstairs, and he asked angrily, "You offended someone? Is this about that guy Hikari?"
At this, Haruno Kasumi grew flustered, "It has nothing to do with Hikari-kun."
Haruno Ayato looked unconvinced, "Then why did you come back together today, and walk so close? You two shouldn't be that familiar, right? Is Hikari trying to do something to you?"
Haruno Kasumi hastily explained, "No! After I offended someone, Hikari-kun was the one who helped me. He's a good person!"
Haruno Ayato sneered, "A good person? How could that flirtatious, frivolous guy be a good person."
"Kasumi-nee, didn't you say before that he's frivolous and playboy, and told me to stay away from him?"
"I bet he saw that you're pretty and have a nice figure, and he's got his eyes on you. Don't fall for his tricks."
Seeing Haruno Ayato using her own past words against her, Haruno Kasumi was momentarily at a loss, but still defended Hikari, "I had some misunderstandings about Hikari-kun before, but Hikari-kun definitely isn't the kind of person you're talking about."
Seeing Haruno Kasumi so staunchly defending Hikari, Haruno Ayato was speechless, "Back then on the field, Kasumi-nee, you and I saw it with our own eyes."
"That guy Hikari was juggling over a dozen girls at once, ridiculously flirtatious and frivolous, and you even warned me not to get too close to him. How come you're speaking up for him now."
Haruno Kasumi said anxiously, "One thing is one thing. In any case, Hikari-kun really isn't a bad person."
Haruno Ayato facepalmed, "I think you've been charmed by that pretty boy face of his. Wake up, Kasumi-nee."
Looking at Haruno Ayato, whose small frame only reached her chest, yet who was now gesticulating animatedly with stubborn insistence, Haruno Kasumi felt a headache coming on.
After this exchange, she was too worn out to say more, "I'm not feeling well. I'm going back to rest. You study on your own today. Anyway… just be careful."
With that, Haruno Kasumi turned and left the rented room, heading back to her own place.
"Kasumi-nee! I… you…", Haruno Ayato wanted to continue badmouthing Hikari and make Haruno Kasumi see his true colors.
But Haruno Kasumi had already turned and left, returning to her own residence.
Haruno Ayato had to swallow his words, but his resentment toward Hikari only grew.
"Dammit! He's already got so many gorgeous girls around him, yet he still has to compete with me for Kasumi-nee, Hikari, you're cruel!"
Haruno Ayato slammed his small fist on the desk in anger, but his fist, even smaller than Haruno Kasumi's, immediately reddened and swelled, making him wince in pain.
Even so, Haruno Ayato remained puffed up with anger.
He searched around the house with a flushed face and finally came away holding a small hammer.
"Everyone thinks I'm short and easy to push around, huh. Kasumi-nee is my bottom line, no one touches her. Hikari, I'm not done with you!"
Haruno Ayato swung the hammer in the air two or three times, though he was soon panting from exhaustion.
But in his heart, he had already decided: tomorrow he would go find Hikari and make sure he didn't dare lay a hand on his Kasumi-nee.
As for the stranger Haruno Kasumi had repeatedly warned him about, that guy named Anjou, Haruno Ayato had completely forgotten.
Because in his mind right now, his greatest enemy was Hikari, and no one else.
———
[Ding! Detected that host successfully prevented the cuckolder Anjou Takaya's criminal act of assaulting a girl, promoting the spirit of pure love!]
[Reward obtained: Pure Love Points +100!]
[Ding! Detected that host made the cuckolder Anjou Takaya lose everything, striking a blow against the cuckolder's arrogance.]
[Reward obtained: Pure Love Points +50!]
Not long after leaving Haruno Kasumi's apartment building, Hikari received notifications from the Pure Love System.
After nodding in satisfaction at the rewards, Hikari looked at another newly popped-up alert message.
[Ding! Detected that the 'Queen's Society' cult group, which the host has been monitoring, has begun activities. Location: Jindai Park!]
"Queen's Society? That legendary 'lewd cult,' right?"
Briefly recalling the general memories from his previous life, as well as the information that had appeared in the Pure Love Warning Notebook earlier, Hikari put away the notification box and quickly headed toward the Jindai Park mentioned by the system.
He planned to thoroughly investigate this so-called 'lewd cult'.
———
The sunset hung in the clear sky, slowly sinking toward the horizon, and the afterglow gently painted a certain park in Tokyo a light red.
A group of elementary school students just out of class were playing by the playground equipment, while a few nearby mothers chatted together. Occasionally a couple of young JK passed by, making the park's atmosphere quite leisurely, except for a pot-bellied middle-aged man sitting in a corner.
"Dammit! Dammit!", The middle-aged man, Matsumoto Jinpei, looked at the smiles on everyone else's faces and unconsciously muttered the curses he often uttered.
"Why did the company fire me? I worked so hard. Those guys with less seniority and lower rank than me, why do they still get to keep their jobs? Why did the layoffs have to hit me of all people?"
"And why won't they let me stay in my house? Just because I'm a few months late on rent, why does the landlord get to kick me out? How damn unfair!"
"Why can't this world get any better? Why is it so cruel to me, Matsumoto Jinpei?"
Having recently lost his job and now homeless, Matsumoto Jinpei sat on the park bench, blaming everyone and everything.
When he saw the smiling housewives chatting in the park, the embittered Matsumoto Jinpei felt his other desires rising as well.
"These women, all idle and dressed up all fancy, every last one of them needs a good f*cking. Might as well drag one into an alley and have a go."
"And that JK skipping school to go who-knows-where, she definitely doesn't look like a good student. Might as well drag her into a public toilet and teach her a lesson."
With a belly full of pent-up anger, Matsumoto Jinpei swept his lecherous gaze over the women in the park with nice figures or pretty faces.