Carrying two bags of freshly bought fruit, Ren stood at the entrance of the villa and took a deep breath.
"Ren, are you nervous?"
Mahiru tilted her head in confusion, looking at the tense Ren. She didn't understand why he, who usually maintained a calm and indifferent expression regardless of the situation, would be this nervous.
Ren nodded and said earnestly, "Mahiru, you must protect me later."
"I understand, Ren."
Mahiru agreed. It's just visiting a neighbor; that's a very common thing in Japan...
Ding-dong—
The doorbell rang.
Sayuri Sawamura, wearing a purple kimono with a large bow tied at the back, opened the villa's door the instant the bell rang. Before Mahiru could even offer a greeting, Sayuri flicked her folding fan, her eyes full of amusement.
"Oh, Ren-chan actually knows to come see his big sister~"
"If Ren-chan didn't come soon, I was prepared to go visit him myself~"
As expected of Yue's best friend, the two women spoke in the exact same teasing, melodramatic style.
"Auntie Sayuri..."
"I really have grown old, haven't I? Ren-chan has started calling me 'Auntie.' Before, he used to call me 'Onee-san' over and over~"
Sayuri's slender hand brushed over her exceptionally well-maintained face, her tone dripping with mock resentment.
"..."
Ren was speechless.
Mahiru noticed Ren's abnormal behavior and understood that he and this lady were old acquaintances. She immediately bowed politely.
"Hello, Onee-san Sayuri. I am Ren's fiancée, Mahiru Shiina. Because we've been busy with the start of school, we haven't had a chance until now. As soon as he had time today, Ren immediately brought me to visit you."
She addressed her sweetly as "Onee-san," explained her identity, and then credited the visit entirely to Ren—a perfect display of a traditional Yamato Nadeshiko.
Hearing Mahiru say she was Ren's fiancée, a barely perceptible stiffness flashed through Sayuri's curved eyes, though it vanished instantly.
Only a fiancée? As long as the shovel is swung well, there's no wall that can't be broken...
One must remember that Sayuri Sawamura was once the sole victor among many suitors; the title of "fiancée" wouldn't scare her off.
"Please, come in."
Sayuri invited Ren and Mahiru into the house.
----
After leaving her club, Eriri was walking home, her mind constantly racing about how she should act spoiled to get Sayuri to agree to negotiate with the school.
If it were something concerning her own interests, Eriri believed Sayuri wouldn't care about the "no adults involved in children's fights" rule and would step in immediately and stand behind her. But the club belonged to Tomoya Aki, and Eriri could clearly feel that her mother didn't like him.
[It'll be fine! As long as I go back and throw a total tantrum, Mom loves me most, she'll definitely agree!]
Eriri clenched her small fists to cheer herself up. Her golden twin-tails, which had been drooping, became lively again. For the sake of her love, Eriri was ready to go all in!
Opening the front door, Eriri—who had already planned her strategy—didn't even bother changing her shoes before running toward the living room.
"Ma... Mom!"
As she burst in, Eriri saw the person she least wanted to see in her own home. In the living room, Ren was sitting obediently on the sofa while Sayuri was clung to his arm, rubbing his cheeks with both hands and muttering incessantly.
"Ren-chan, you've grown so tall. I can't even hold you anymore."
"But your face is still as soft as ever. So fun to squish. Hehehe~"
Eriri, who had never seen her mother act like such a degenerate fangirl, panicked on the spot. Is this still my mother? She rushed forward to pull Sayuri away from Ren.
"Mom, what are you doing?!"
Eriri never dreamed that Ren would not only hang her on a tree at school but also dare to show up at her house. How does he have the nerve?!
Assuming Sayuri had no idea Ren was the one who bullied her, Eriri immediately tried to expose his "obedient" disguise.
"Mom! This is Ren Katsuragi, the tyrant who hung me on a tree at school! He bullied your daughter!!!"
To her shock, Sayuri only gave Eriri a flat glance and replied nonchalantly, "Oh."
This reaction left Eriri standing there in a daze, as if struck by lightning. Facing the villain who bullied her daughter, her mother just said... "Oh"?
"Sawamura, please come and sit here."
Mahiru, sitting on the other sofa, spoke up appropriately to give Eriri a way out.
"Shiina?"
As the "Angel" of Sobu High, Mahiru was quite famous. Eriri naturally recognized her, but she didn't understand why she was also here.
"It's me, Sawamura. Ren and I live right next door. We're your neighbors, so we came specifically to visit today."
Mahiru quickly explained the current situation to Eriri. At the same time, she finally understood why Ren was so nervous at the door.
Enthusiasm—too much enthusiasm. Sayuri was so passionate toward Ren it was as if he were her biological son, leaving Ren completely unable to handle it.
"Is that how it is..."
Eriri nodded, half-understanding, and sat down next to Mahiru. But as soon as she sat, she snapped back to her senses. Even as neighbors, Mom shouldn't be this enthusiastic! She tried to get up to pull Sayuri away again.
"Stay seated."
Sayuri looked at Eriri with a disappointed, exasperated expression—as if frustrated by her wasted potential—and said evenly.
"Oh..."
Eriri sat down obediently. This was the absolute authority of the bloodline; Eriri had no choice but to submit.
"Ren-chan, let me formally introduce you. This is my daughter, Eriri Spencer Sawamura. You can just call her Eriri."
Sayuri pointed at the obediently seated Eriri, introducing her to Ren while simultaneously giving her a "protective charm."
Before a formal introduction, Ren could tease Eriri and pretend he didn't know her if asked. After the formal introduction, Ren would have to restrain himself. It also meant Ren would help Sayuri look after Eriri at school.
Regarding Ren, Sayuri was a hundred percent at ease. Ren's personality might be bad, but he was truly great toward people he considered close.
Understanding Sayuri's intent, Ren didn't mind. A smirk played on his lips as he greeted Eriri.
"Hello, Eriri. Nice to meet you. I'm Ren Katsuragi."
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