Chapter 545: Snapped

Five minutes later, we reached Shizu’s house.

Unlike with Nami, the girl vehemently refused to hold onto my hand or even get close to me. In exchange for clearing things up with Nami, all of her annoyances were transferred to me.

Or rather, she’s punishing me for it. Like Nami, she also had a good grasp of my character so by being that adamant, Shizu was taking a jab at me.

Nonetheless, I took it silently. It’s a lot better than creating a wedge between their relationship.

Before entering the Asakura Household, Hina stepped forward and approached her... to explain her side.

Well, not really explaining, Hina couldn’t hold in her silence anymore and just said her piece.

In her eyes, Shizu wasn’t their feared Shizu-senpai anymore but another sister when it comes to our complicated relationship. For her or for Saki as well, Shizu’s scary persona had been stripped off and she’s now no different from them, a lovestruck girl. A stubborn lovestruck girl.

However, in response to Hina’s words... Shizu did something even I wasn’t expecting.

She turned around to face them and menacingly smiled. Even though I was beside her, I could feel the familiar cold air of the Shizu back when I first met and confronted her for saying how unqualified I was for Nami.

Following that, Shizu stretched her hand to Hina and Saki, who already froze from where they were. She then placed her hands on top of their heads before patting them like children. “You two are already grown up... Loving the same guy. And doing all that with him. Un... I’m proud of you.

Contrary to the content of her sentence, the tone of her voice was nothing short of terrifying.

And due to that, before my eyes, I saw how the two girls shivered in fear. The two girls crossed their arms to their front, hugging themselves. Their legs also started shivering as if they would lose strength at any moment.

In this instance... Shizu exercised that scary persona of hers that even the circle she was part of was dreading to see.

And at this point, Saki and Hina’s eyes searched for me, asking me to save them.

Naturally, upon seeing the two shivered in fear like that, my instinct jerked instantly as I tried to come to their rescue.

However, even if they’re only two steps away and I could embrace them easily, Shizu stopped me.

She grabbed my arm and gripped it tightly, stopping me from moving further and preventing me from approaching them.

True, I could pull my arm out of her grasp but I refrained from doing that.

While still sporting the menacing smile that made the two girls tremble, she coldly commanded. “Hmm? Aren’t you escorting me, Ruki? Stay next to me.”

“Sure. But let me stop their trembling first.”

“Why? I didn’t do anything. I even praised them.”

“Really? This is the first time I see someone shiver from being praised.”

“... Ruki. Will you really go to them?”

“Un. You know me, Shizu. You can be annoyed at me or even hate me. I can take all of that. But I can’t just leave my girls in that state... I’ll be back, alright?”

After saying that, I gently removed her hand and went in front of Hina and Saki, encircling them in my embrace.

As soon as the two felt it, they immediately latched onto me, burying their faces to my chest. Putting my hands to the back of their heads, I began stroking their hair while whispering in their ears, comforting them with both words and actions.

Truthfully this was the first time that I saw the extent of how scary Shizu appeared to her junior or anyone else.

Just feeling how much the two were shivering, they were truly terrified by Shizu.

Perhaps I was underestimating that intense jealousy she showed early. This time, what Hina said made her snap.

“... I am the villain, now, huh? Good night.”

From behind me, Shizu heavily sighed. Following that, even without looking back, I could feel that she’s about to enter their front gate.

That’s why after whispering one more time to the other two, I chased after Shizu and hugged her from behind.

The night was already somewhat deep and from the adjacent street, there were some passersby. If they looked in this direction, they would surely see what’s happening.

However, that’s irrelevant now. Even if their neighbors leave their house and watch us, it wouldn’t matter.

Stopping her from entering their front gate, my arms tightly enclosed around her navel, embracing her.

“Who said you’re the villain? Don’t take my role away.” I started.

Given her personality, this girl would unhesitatingly blame herself. By saying she’s the villain and her attempt to go in without resolving anything was the proof of that.

If I let her go, tomorrow or the day that would pass... she would be going back to that shell of hers. Moreover, she would even stop approaching their circle.

That’s why to prevent that... I have to clear her mind of self-blame.

“Are you blind? I snapped at them.”

“So? What of it? In the end, I’m the trigger to it. Besides, I told you I’ll be back, why are you going in?”

“... Unbelievable idiot. Why aren’t you mad at me? You see it. I’m acting childish!”

Shizu tried to squirm her way out of my embrace but still, I held on and kept her in place. If someone heard that shout of hers... I might be mistaken as someone assaulting Shizu. Fortunately, that didn’t happen.

“I already told you the reason why I’m not.”

“...”

“Have you calmed down?”

“...”

“I guess not. Then I’ll keep holding you like this.”

Faced with her silence, I kept the calm in my voice and continued trying to scoop the blame out of her cup.

And along with that, I gradually loosened my arms, to let her catch her breath.

But minutes passed and Shizu’s breathing stabilized. Her earlier outburst also calmed down.

However, even after loosening my arms to the point that she could easily get out of my embrace, Shizu remained standing, with her back slowly leaning towards me.

After a while, Shizu broke her silence, worry apparent in her voice.

“... What about Hina and Saki?”

“What about them? Why don’t you look?”

After calming the two down before I chased after this girl, I only whispered to leave it to me. Although vague, I received their answer earlier.

That’s why when Shizu turned around, she found out that the two girls had been calmly watching us.

“Shizu-senpai, we all love the same guy... He said it. If you’re jealous, he will make it up to you. You know how much of an idiot he is. Also... I got scared of you because it’s been a while. The next time... I’ll make sure to stand bravely.”

“Me too.”

Hina declared and Saki seconded.

Saki was kind of a yes man this time again. But that’s an issue for later. In the end, the most important thing was that they’re now standing on two feet again.

Erasing the impression that they would continue being scared of Shizu.

“Hina, Saki, can you wait for me there? I’ll be with you soon.”

Upon hearing my words, the two instantly nodded.

Shizu’s house is already near the end of the street so I pointed them near the adjacent street, there’s an old payphone booth there and a bench. Moreover, it’s only around 10 paces in distance. I could still see them and I could reach them quickly.

However, before they could even take three steps, Shizu called out to them “... Wait. Don’t go.”

With a candid apologetic expression on her face, she slightly bowed her head “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’s understandable. We’ll wait for you, Ruki. Don’t take too long.” Hina replied, neither accepting nor rejecting her apology before pulling Saki with her.

And as Shizu watched their backs, she quietly muttered, sadness apparent in her voice. “... Did I just lose a friend?”

Before she could go into full despair mode though, I moved to her front and had her stare straight at me. “Lose what? Stop assuming, will you?”

“But...”

“Idiot Shizu. Do you want me to call you this? Let’s say you snapping at them is kind of wrong but are you seriously mad at them? No, right? Who are you mad at?”

“... You.”

At this point, her mask had already fallen once more. Who’s in front of me was the bare Shizu, the woman who was too afraid to leave her bubble. Just like the two girls earlier, she started trembling.

Fortunately, I was just in front of her. Pulling her into another hug, I began whispering in her ear. “See? Here’s your villain. You can hit me, hurt me and vent all of what you’re feeling, release it from your chest. Don’t worry about consequences, I’ll take all of it.”

Instead of answering, doing what I said, I could feel her arms moving and finally circling around me as well. As she clutched tightly on my clothes, Shizu whispered. “... That’s not the kind of venting I want to do.”

“Then what?”

“This...” Raising her head to meet my gaze, Shizu pulled my head down. Compared to before, Shizu aggressively grasped my lips with hers. Her arms also moved to the back of my head, clutching clumps of my hair.

At first, I let her do what she wanted, biting my lips, sucking them hard and entangling my tongue inside my mouth. Shizu's aggressiveness reached another height when she slowly pushed me to the short pillar holding their gate.

With my back against it, she went deeper with her kisses. And at this point, I began responding to her.

While holding her tightly, I lifted her body to level with mine. As soon as she felt her feet leaving the ground, Shizu’s legs naturally circled to my back, clutching tightly.

Taking in the same aggressiveness she had, we’re now like two snakes entangled under the dim light, with one trying to one-up the other.