Reiko walked into the bathroom, her expression clouded with confusion. Standing on her tiptoes, she rummaged through the cabinet and pulled out the hairdryer. She ran her hand over it; it was ice-cold, clearly untouched.
"That's so strange... how on earth did she get her clothes dry?" The young girl stared at the hairdryer in her hand, her face a map of unanswered questions.
"And here I thought you were making something special," Akane Koizumi said, casting a disparaging look at the plate of golden curry set before her. "It's just curry?"
"Either eat it or leave," Hayashi Shuichi replied, not even bothering to look up from his own plate.
"Fine, I'll eat," the witch grumbled. With an air of reluctant obligation, she scooped up a spoonful of curry and shoved it into her mouth.
The moment the rich, savory flavors exploded across her palate, her eyes widened involuntarily.
"...Wait, this is actually good?" Akane muttered to herself, her hand already moving to scoop up a second, much larger portion.
Noticing the faint, knowing smirk on Shuichi's face, Akane's cheeks immediately flushed crimson. She remained as stubborn as a dead mallard, refusing to yield. "It's... it's only slightly better than what you'd get at a decent restaurant!"
As she spoke, she crammed another massive spoonful into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out like a hungry hamster.
Ever since arriving in Tokyo, Akane had relied entirely on eating out because she lacked even the most basic culinary skills. A meal or two at a restaurant was fine, but after a while, the commercial taste became tiring. Shuichi's curry, however, carried a comforting warmth that reminded her of her mother's cooking. Within minutes, the large plate was wiped clean.
"Want seconds?" Shuichi asked casually from the adjacent table.
"...Just half a plate more," Akane whispered, her face burning with embarrassment.
"You're such a pig, eating that much," Reiko muttered under her breath.
Shuichi chuckled and reached over to pinch his sister's chubby cheek. Usually, Reiko was the pinnacle of politeness; her uncharacteristic hostility toward Akane today was clearly a lingering grudge over the witch's earlier "divination."
Once the meal was over, Akane took her leave. Since the shop couldn't open today, everyone decided to call it a night.
Shuichi walked Eri Kisaki home, but to his surprise, Akane—who should have been long gone—was hovering directly over their heads, seated atop her broomstick.
Eri couldn't see her, but Shuichi couldn't help but glance upward every few moments.
When they reached the entrance of Eri's apartment building, she looked at him with a puzzled expression. "You're acting strange today. Why do you keep staring at the sky?"
"Just checking the weather," Shuichi replied with a smile, his gaze sweeping over a certain dark silhouette in the night sky. "It looks like it might rain soon. Someone might end up looking like a drowned rat."
"You're probably talking about yourself," Eri retorted, rolling her eyes. She reached out and playfully poked his chest. "You didn't even bring an umbrella."
"Well, I have you, don't I?" Shuichi seized the opportunity to catch her slender wrist. With a gentle tug, he pulled her into his arms. "How about I just stay over tonight?"
"Keep dreaming!" Eri blushed and pushed him away, though she took a moment to straighten her collar which he had slightly ruffled. "My parents are home tonight."
Shuichi let out a heavy, disappointed sigh.
Eri glanced around the quiet street. Seeing no one else nearby, she suddenly stood on her tiptoes and gave him a lightning-fast kiss on the lips.
The suddenness of the gesture caught Shuichi off guard. Normally, Eri was far too reserved to initiate such intimacy in public.
Recovering quickly, Shuichi wrapped his arms around her waist and deepened the kiss, returning the sentiment with fervor.
A moment later, Eri pushed him back. Her gaze dropped meaningfully below Shuichi's waist, her voice dripping with the triumph of a successful prank. "I'm going inside now. As for the rest... you'll just have to find your own way to deal with it!"
With a mischievous giggle, she turned and sprinted into the apartment building.
Shuichi watched her retreating back, feeling utterly helpless. In his current "state," he wouldn't dare walk down the street—any passerby would mistake him for a total pervert.
Resigned, he found a nearby step and sat down, resting his hands on his knees in an attempt to calm his racing heart.
But the universe had other plans. No sooner had he sat down than the sky began to drizzle.
The cold rain splashed against Shuichi's flushed face, prompting a weary sigh. "Well, this timing is just perfect."
"Heh, looks like someone really is going to be a drowned rat," Akane taunted. She sat on her broom, looking down at him from her aerial vantage point while triumphantly swinging her legs.
"The rain is picking up. I don't believe you can dodge it—"
Before Shuichi could finish, the witch elegantly flicked her finger.
In an instant, a translucent magical barrier enveloped her, sealing her away from the downpour.
Damn it, magic is way too convenient...
Shuichi wiped the rainwater from his face, looking utterly miserable. In just a few seconds, his short-sleeved shirt was soaked through, clinging to his body and outlining the firm definition of his muscles.
"Hey, it's pouring. Why don't you find somewhere to hide?" Akane asked, tapping her chin curiously.
"Mind your own business," Shuichi grumbled, waving her off. "And why are you still following me? It's late—go home already!"
If the witch wasn't hovering right there watching him, he would have stood up to find shelter long ago. But given his current "embarrassing situation," he was forced to remain seated in the rain, praying for the storm to break.
"Don't forget the first condition you promised me," the witch sneered. "Tonight, I am absolutely going to spank you. I'm already giving you face by not doing it in front of the others."
I knew you were still fixated on that...
Shuichi rolled his eyes. Since the witch was so insistent on her "punishment," he decided to stop being polite and stood up abruptly.
"You—!"
Floating in mid-air, Akane immediately noticed the unmistakable, prominent bulge in his trousers. It took her several seconds to process what she was seeing. When she did, her face turned a violent shade of crimson. She jerked her head away in a fit of shame and anger.
"You pervert! What... what on earth are you thinking about while looking at me?!"
"What does this have to do with you?" Shuichi shook his head, exasperated. "Didn't you see my girlfriend just kissed me? This 'flag' was raised by her. As for you..."
Shuichi looked Akane up and down, his eyes filled with blatant disdain.
"Back at your place, you were standing there completely naked. Did you see me having any reaction then?"
"You... I..."
Akane was both humiliated and frantic. She subconsciously looked down at her own slender figure.
That afternoon, when that bastard had seen her body... he really hadn't reacted at all, had he?
Am I really that unattractive?
The witch bit her lower lip, her heart filled with indignation.
Just then, the sound of rhythmic footsteps echoed from behind Shuichi. It was Eri, returning once more.
"I knew you hadn't left," Eri said, looking amused at her "drowned rat" of a childhood friend. "Here, an umbrella."
"What's the use of just an umbrella?" Shuichi grumbled. "It can cover the big head, but it can't cover the little one."
"I told you, find your own way," Eri chirped with a playful laugh. Seeing Shuichi reaching out to grab her, she nimbly dodged him and ran back toward the safety of the apartment.
Fortunately, the drenching cold of the rain helped speed up his "cool-down" period significantly.
Shuichi opened the umbrella and began the walk home. Behind him, the whistling sound of a broom cutting through the air signaled that Akane was still stubbornly trailing him.
"What do you actually want?"
"I told you!" Akane shouted, shaking her fist grumpily. "Tonight, I'm definitely spanking your butt!"
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 70 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
[patreon.com/TripleCrown07]
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"