After firing back at him so sharply, Kirisu Mafuyu felt a secret little thrill of satisfaction.
But when she noticed he hadn't replied for a long while, worry crept in almost immediately.
This guy.
He wouldn't actually get angry and come over to do something to her just because of a few sharp words, would he?
At the mere thought of a certain scene, Kirisu Mafuyu's heart skipped a beat.
Her delicate face couldn't help flushing pink either.
Kirisu Mafuyu: "What, took a hard hit from a few little words?"
Hozuki Nozomi: "Not at all, I was just thinking—since you've said all that about me, maybe I should just give up and make Mafuyu-Sensei my next target for being a scumbag."
Kirisu Mafuyu was so exasperated she actually laughed.
This guy—slipping his thoughts about her in sideways again.
What an awful person.
Kirisu Mafuyu: "I keep scissors in my bag. Feel free to try."
Hozuki Nozomi: "Terrifying. Don't worry, I'll keep respecting Mafuyu-Sensei properly from now on, and I'll never disturb your ice queen teacher lifestyle!"
Kirisu Mafuyu pursed her small lips.
She kept tapping out messages, grumbling with unmistakable displeasure.
"What ice queen teacher? If I'm not strict, how am I supposed to keep a problem student like you in line?"
Hozuki Nozomi: "I didn't say it was a bad thing, keep it up."
Kirisu Mafuyu pouted, more displeased than before.
Was he saying he really didn't intend to have any thoughts about her from now on?
Even though she was the one who'd demanded it.
Then why did her chest feel so hollow?
She opened her mouth, torn.
She hadn't tasted his cooking in a long while.
She was starting to crave it a little.
Should she invite him over for dinner?
Just as a reward for how seriously he'd been listening to her lately?
The moment she finished typing the message, she deleted it just as quickly.
No.
That kid—he'd been so bold before, hugging her, kissing her.
What if he misread the invitation and did that to her all over again? What was she supposed to do then?
….
That afternoon.
Under Hozuki Nozomi's mildly speechless gaze, Kosaka Daisuke rolled up in a police car and picked him up.
Kosaka Daisuke smiled sheepishly.
"Don't make that face, I've got something serious I need your help with."
"Is it a supernatural incident?" Hozuki Nozomi asked casually.
He didn't particularly care about being seen climbing into a police car. Once he returned, the rumors would die down on their own.
Kosaka Daisuke shook his head, however.
"No, it's a string of home invasion robberies and murders—all targeting teachers. A female teacher at Suimei High School near your Sakurasou was killed just recently."
"What? A teacher at Suimei High? It wouldn't happen to be Shirayama Koharu, would it?"
Shirayama Koharu was Sengoku Chihiro's best friend.
"No, a female teacher by the name of Hashigami Yugu."
"Five female teachers have been killed so far. The victims all share the same profile—wealthy, good figures, own cars, live alone."
"The higher-ups are breathing down our department's neck to solve the case and catch the killer within a week. Not exactly a small ask."
Hozuki Nozomi looked at him, speechless.
"So Uncle Daisuke wants to dump the trouble on me?"
"How is this trouble? You want to watch some female teacher you know end up dead? As long as this criminal is running loose, everyone's life is at risk."
"You're right. I'll take the commission."
Hozuki Nozomi loathed this killer too. Of all the paths available, this bastard had picked home invasion, robbery, and murder.
Hozuki Nozomi went straight to his cheat.
"System, locate the criminal's whereabouts for me, and activate the arrow guidance function."
Time for the golden finger to make its entrance again.
[Ding, guidance function activated.]
Visible only from Hozuki Nozomi's perspective, golden arrows blinked into existence along the road one after another.
He immediately directed Kosaka Daisuke to steer the police car according to the trail.
Seeing him operate with such confidence, Kosaka Daisuke naturally had no objections, and he obediently followed Hozuki Nozomi's instructions.
The closer they drew to the destination, however, the more Hozuki Nozomi's expression darkened.
This direction—why did it feel so unnervingly close to Kirisu Mafuyu's house?
......
Steering her compact little car, Kirisu Mafuyu pulled into her driveway.
After parking, she unlocked the front door with her key.
Suddenly, a sharp blade pressed against her neck.
"Don't move, don't make a sound, or I'll kill you!"
Kirisu Mafuyu's expression twisted into terror, and she nodded on reflex, clapping a hand over her small mouth.
A masked man held the knife flush against her fair neck.
He wore a black stocking pulled over his head, revealing only his mouth—unshaven, jaw stubbled and menacing.
Kirisu Mafuyu's eyes welled up faintly, her chest flooding with sheer dread.
She suddenly, bitterly regretted not inviting Hozuki Nozomi over for dinner.
Wuwuwu.
Why did she have to be the one to run into a home invader?
"Don't make a sound. Hand over everything valuable. You hear me, woman?"
Kirisu Mafuyu nodded rapidly. "I'll give it, I'll give you everything, just don't do anything rash!"
"Heh, if you're smart about it, I won't hurt you. After all… you really are a beauty."
The criminal's leering gaze crawled over her fair neck and the fullness straining the front of her blouse, and he ran his tongue across his lower lip.
Kirisu Mafuyu shuddered head to toe under that gaze.
She was one blink away from tears, but to keep from setting the criminal off, she bit down hard and forced herself to stay composed.
The criminal grinned crookedly, dragging the flat of the knife across the buttons of her blouse, licking his lips again.
"Hand over your phone first, gorgeous. I've been watching you for a while now. Besides that pretty-boy who comes around now and then, there's another beauty who looks a lot like you—your little sister, right?"
"Heh, lucky me, you live alone. And you drive a car, so you must be loaded."
Kirisu Mafuyu's eyes widened, her fear climbing higher still.
"Don't do anything reckless, I—I'll get the money for you."
"Good. Don't try anything cute. A blade doesn't have eyes."
The criminal threatened her, jerking the knife toward the interior of the house to hurry her along.
Kirisu Mafuyu had no choice but to move on trembling legs, gathering every bit of cash and jewelry she had and dropping it into a bag.
She handed over her bank card too.
And told him the PIN.
"I've given you all the money. Can you let me go now?"
Kirisu Mafuyu swallowed down her fear and anger, keeping her voice low.
However.
The criminal licked his lips, then herded her onto the bed with the point of the knife.
"You—what are you going to do?"
Kirisu Mafuyu thought, This is bad, and instinctively wrapped both arms across her chest.
"Hands off. Now."
The man jabbed the knife in her direction menacingly.
Terrified of being stabbed, Kirisu Mafuyu's eyes brimmed with tears, and she reluctantly lowered her arms.
The man's gaze locked onto her graceful figure and delicate face, and a slow smile crawled across his mouth as he rested the tip of the knife against the top button of her blouse—seemingly weighing which one to flick open first for the quickest view of the scenery beneath.
"You… what do you want from me? I gave you everything!" Kirisu Mafuyu was livid, but she didn't dare shout, only glaring at him through humiliated tears.
"Heh, what do I want? You, obviously!"
"Beautiful, let me have a little fun with you!"
With that, he wasted no more time; his broad hand shot out to seize her chest.
Clearly, he was already itching to have his way with the beauty in front of him.
Suddenly.
An arm cut in from behind, clamping down around the man's throat.
Under Kirisu Mafuyu's stunned gaze.
Hozuki Nozomi—materializing seemingly from nowhere—casually flung the man aside and drove a kick straight into his groin.
The man let out an immediate scream, foam bubbling at his lips as he writhed on the floor in agony.
"Ah ah ah ah! It's broken, it's broken! My precious!"
Hozuki Nozomi found him too noisy, so he stomped hard on the man's mouth for good measure.
Crunch.
The criminal's eyes rolled back in pain, and he blacked out.
Only then did Hozuki Nozomi turn to Kirisu Mafuyu, his eyes overflowing with tenderness.
"Mafuyu-nee, don't worry. It's over."
"Mmm… wuwuwu…"
Gazing up at the person who had descended like a god to save her.
Kirisu Mafuyu could no longer suppress the fear and grievance welling in her chest; she surged to her feet and hurled herself into his arms.
Her slender body trembled against him.
She sobbed openly, crying loud and unrestrained.
Hozuki Nozomi's heart ached fiercely—she must have been utterly petrified.
He lifted a hand to brush the tears from her cheek, tilted his head down, and unapologetically claimed her lips.
He wasn't about to squander an opening this perfect.
Kirisu Mafuyu's eyes went wide, and after a stunned beat, she suddenly threw her arms around his neck, kissing him back with fervor. Her lips parted under his, warm and wet, tasting faintly of the salt from her tears, and she pressed the full length of her body against his as though trying to burrow into his ribs. His tongue brushed hers, unhurried but claiming, and a soft nnh slipped from her throat before she even realized she'd made it. Her chest crushed against his, the heat of her seeping through the thin fabric of her blouse, and her fingers dug into the nape of his neck like she was afraid he'd dissolve if she let go.
Kosaka Daisuke stepped in with his gun drawn, caught sight of this whole scene, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
He said nothing, however—just silently cuffed the criminal on the floor and dragged him out of the room like a dead dog.