Chapter Twenty-Four: The Promise

After the little episode in the bathroom, what should have been a particularly warm breakfast passed in silence.

After the meal.

Anhe watched Amamiya Sayu clearing the plates in front of him and parted his lips, hesitating for a moment. He couldn’t bring himself to explain his earlier behavior, so he shifted the topic instead.

“It seems it snowed all night yesterday.”

Sayu paused in her movements when she heard him, then turned to glance out the window. All she saw were rows upon rows of tall buildings, so she withdrew her gaze and continued to tidy up the dishes, murmuring softly, “In Tokyo, even if it snows, it never piles up.”

Sensing the disappointment in her voice, Anhe asked curiously, “Sayu-chan, have you never left Tokyo?”

“No,” she replied quietly, carrying the plates toward the kitchen. Seeing this, Anhe followed her in two quick steps.

In the kitchen, Sayu placed the plates in the sink and started washing them. Anhe leaned against the doorway, watching silently.

Her arms were as soft and pale as lotus roots; even from behind, one could glimpse the delicate curves of her figure—her slender waist, her rounded hips, and those straight, snow-white legs, all testifying to Sayu’s nearly perfect physique.

Like an hourglass?

The thought struck Anhe suddenly, and he nodded in agreement.

After watching for a while longer, boredom overcame him, so he walked over and stood behind Sayu.

Yesterday, it was right here that Sayu had surprised him; today Anhe intended to reclaim the moment.

He reached out and wrapped his arms around her slender waist, resting his chin on her fragrant shoulder.

“Sayu-chan smells so nice.”

He buried his head against her neck, savoring the subtle, fresh scent she always carried, soothing to the senses.

Feeling the warm breath against her neck, Sayu’s expression remained calm, but her cheeks and even the tips of her ears had turned crimson.

“I… I still have to wash the dishes,” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

Hearing her soft, gentle tone, Anhe replied in a muffled voice, “Don’t worry, you do your thing and I’ll do mine.”

As he spoke, his hands around her waist started to wander, slipping under her shirt after a gentle caress, gliding up her smooth stomach, and—

“Stop~”

Sayu let out a soft moan, her face flustered. Regardless of the foam still on her hands, she pressed his hand through her clothes.

“Not now… I have to go to school soon.”

Caught in the act, Anhe sheepishly returned his hand to her smooth stomach, but leaned in to whisper by her ear with a playful smile, “Not now, so does that mean it’s okay tonight?”

He only meant to tease her, but to his surprise, after a brief hesitation, Sayu nodded lightly.

Well then!

Joy blossomed in Anhe’s heart, and the little disappointment from being refused vanished instantly. He kissed Sayu’s flushed cheek with gusto.

“It’s a promise then!”

“Mm.”

…

Kinami Middle School.

With Sayu’s promise, Anhe was in excellent spirits all day.

Even when he saw classmates he usually avoided, he greeted them with a cheerful smile.

“Good morning, Kaedehara.”

He looked at Kaedehara Ryosuke, dressed in a white cat-ear hoodie and quietly mopping the stairs, and for once took the initiative.

Ryousuke, startled from his daydream by being called, quickly lifted his head.

When he saw it was Anhe Yuusheng greeting him, surprise flickered across his face before he bowed deeply in response, “Good morning, Anhe-kun.”

It’s just a greeting—why so formal…?

Watching Ryosuke bow nearly ninety degrees, Anhe couldn’t help but think, “The boy’s got a good back,” and continued toward his classroom.

Today, Ryosuke wore his usual above-the-knee shorts, but unlike before, his slender legs were wrapped tightly in long white socks.

Recalling Ryosuke’s face, which was even cuter than most girls…

Anhe shivered unexpectedly and quickened his pace.

Soon, the bell signaled the start of class.

During roll call, Serizawa Reina was still absent, much to the teacher’s helplessness.

Having lived another life, Anhe understood the importance of education and had studied diligently since childhood, always topping his class back home.

But in Tokyo, a sprawling metropolis, his knowledge seemed somewhat lacking.

At the very least, the content and problem-solving methods the teacher introduced recently were entirely new to him.

The lesson passed quickly.

After class, the bald, middle-aged teacher strolled leisurely out of the room.

Anhe closed his notebook, filled with a page of notes, leaned back in his chair, and stretched.

“Did Yuusheng-kun not sleep well last night?” came Kitajima Keiko’s voice beside him.

Anhe turned to see her resting her head on her arm, watching him sideways from her desk.

Her words brought Sayu’s image and their promise to his mind, curling his lips into a smile.

“Not at all—in fact, I slept very well.”

“Really?” Keiko narrowed her eyes in disbelief, then broke into a smile. “I thought you didn’t sleep well last night, Anhe-kun.”

“Thanks for your concern,” Anhe replied with a smile. Noticing her hand pressed to her stomach, he pondered for a moment before asking, “Kitajima-san, is your stomach upset?”

Keiko’s face showed surprise at the question, then realization dawned, her cheeks coloring as she shook her head and replied softly, “No, it’s just… the usual thing girls have.”

Just as I thought.

Anhe nodded knowingly and headed out of the classroom.

Outside the teachers’ office.

He knocked on the door, and a cool, clear female voice responded from inside.

“Come in.”

Upon entering, Anhe frowned.

The small office was thick with smoke, its pungent odor overwhelming.

His gaze swept the room, finally settling on a striking woman behind a desk, her head bent over documents.

She wore a gray blouse under a black women’s suit; between two slender, pale fingers was a half-burned cigarette.

“Ms. Itou.”

Anhe deliberately raised his voice.

She flinched noticeably at his greeting, but quickly regained her composure, lifting her elegant face to regard him with a playful smile. “Well, well, Anhe-san. You’ve only just enrolled and already dare scold your homeroom teacher.”

“No homeroom teacher smokes in front of students,” Anhe replied, stepping up to the desk and reaching for her cigarette.

Itou Shin’ei quickly turned aside to evade his hand, arching a brow in protest.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking your cigarette, of course.”

Anhe spoke as his left hand reached for her again. She tried to dodge, but he swiftly seized her wrist with his other hand.

Unable to escape, Shin’ei struggled briefly before giving up.

Anhe successfully snatched the cigarette and released her.

Rubbing her wrist, which now ached, Shin’ei glared at the annoying boy, displeased. “What do you think you’re doing? Daring to take your teacher’s things?”

Anhe rolled his eyes, then pulled a lollipop from his pocket, unwrapped it, and held it out to her.

“If you like having something in your mouth, try this.”

Staring at the lollipop offered to her, Shin’ei was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter.

Seizing the chance, Anhe quickly popped the candy into her mouth.

Shin’ei’s laughter stopped abruptly. She stared, dumbfounded, at the lollipop now in her mouth and at Anhe, its owner.

Anhe let go, stepped back to the water dispenser, grabbed a disposable cup, filled it, and snuffed out the cigarette, tossing it in the trash as he said with a grin, “Alps milk flavor—enjoy it at your leisure.”

With that, his water was ready, and he hurried out of the office.

He feared that if he lingered a moment longer, Shin’ei would recover and he wouldn’t be able to leave.

Bang!

The closing door jolted Shin’ei from her stupor.

She looked at the lollipop stick in her mouth, tasting its rich sweetness on her tongue, her brows furrowing tightly.

“I don’t eat sweets,” she muttered indistinctly, but didn’t remove the candy, instead lowering her head to resume her unfinished paperwork.