Cherry blossoms were in full bloom in Tokyo in April.
The moment Takayanagi Yuki stepped out of her room, she paused.
A gentle breeze blew, and the cherry blossoms danced on the trees. A single petal fluttered up and landed on the largest 'conscience' on the fourth-floor hallway.
Hoshino Jun's gaze followed the cherry blossom petal, resting on the button of Mrs. Takayanagi's shirt, which was straining.
He wanted to remove the cherry blossom petal for Mrs. Takayanagi.
Takayanagi Jo's brows furrowed, clearly still displeased with Hoshino Jun, but he couldn't act on it directly in front of his mother.
"Good morning, Auntie Yuki, Jo-kun."
Observing Mrs. Takayanagi, who was wearing long home clothes but whose graceful figure was still hard to conceal, Hoshino Jun smiled and greeted the mother and son first.
A wonderful new day began with an encounter with Mrs. Takayanagi.
And Takayanagi Jo, I really like your expression.
Please continue to find ways to provide me with opportunities to earn money today.
"Good morning, Jun."
Takayanagi Yuki's beautiful eyes glanced at Hoshino Jun's face, and she pursed her red lips as if remembering something.
Hoshino Jun's eyes turned to meet Takayanagi Yuki's. She immediately lowered her head and pushed her son forward.
"Jo, why are you spacing out? Hurry up and greet Jun. Have you forgotten what you promised Mama?"
The naive Takayanagi Jo didn't notice that the atmosphere between Takayanagi Yuki and Hoshino Jun was different from usual.
Under his mother's stern gaze, Takayanagi Jo reluctantly turned his head and said in a displeased tone, "Good morning, Hoshino."
Making him greet the detestable Hoshino Jun was truly a challenge for him.
"What kind of tone is that? Can't you be a little gentler? Is this how Mama taught you?"
Mrs. Takayanagi, who was a little angry and also somewhat embarrassed by Hoshino Jun's stare, pinched her son's arm hard.
Takayanagi Jo cried out in pain and then politely called out again, "Good morning, Hoshino-kun, would you like to go to school together?"
The mature and sexy widow defending him, her little face puffed up in anger, looked especially lovely in Hoshino Jun's eyes.
Cute, I want to...
"Alright, let's go together. Let's use this time to mend our relationship."
Hoshino Jun responded to Takayanagi Jo's invitation with a smile, then walked a few steps ahead. Only then did Mrs. Takayanagi release Takayanagi Jo's hand.
The pain still lingered in his arm. Takayanagi Jo grimaced and quickly caught up with Hoshino Jun, taking three steps at a time.
"Did my mom take the wrong medicine today? She pinched me so hard."
Is she going through menopause? Her temper has become irritable!
Darn it, I haven't even gone through my rebellious phase yet, and Mom's already in menopause.
Takayanagi Jo lamented the unfairness of the world in his heart, and soon walked beside Hoshino Jun.
His peripheral vision caught that handsome face, which always annoyed other boys. Takayanagi Jo snorted, "Don't think that complaining will make me reconcile with you. I never respond to such threats."
That's just great.
If Takayanagi Jo really reconciled with Hoshino Jun, then how could Hoshino Jun continue to use him as a money-making machine in the future?
Hoshino Jun's lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile. "That's truly a shame, Jo-kun. I always thought we could still be good friends."
In the quiet hallway, the echo of footsteps lingered.
"Hmph, friends." Takayanagi Jo scoffed at Hoshino Jun's words. "Your name has long been permanently removed from my friend list."
"Why? Can you give me a reason?" Although Hoshino Jun didn't care, he still had some doubts.
Because he genuinely hadn't done anything to offend Takayanagi Jo, yet he was inexplicably disliked. It felt quite senseless.
Could it really be because of that girl?
Suddenly, Takayanagi Jo stopped in his tracks, his angry gaze fixed on Hoshino Jun.
"Why did you reject Kaoru back then? She liked you so much! Don't you know how heartbroken she was and how much she cried the day you rejected her, you bastard!"
"You've done such a heinous thing and you're not even aware of it. You truly disappoint me, Hoshino Jun."
Takayanagi Jo's sudden roar left Hoshino Jun stunned for a long time, his mind filled with countless question marks.
Huh?
Damn it.
It really was because of that girl.
He originally thought 'simping' was just a joke, but he didn't expect such people to actually exist in the real world.
You like her, I reject her, and instead of secretly being happy, you get angry.
Hoshino Jun couldn't understand such a baffling situation in either of his two lives.
Adhering to the principle of respecting others' destinies and letting go of the urge to help, Hoshino Jun didn't utter the phrase, "A simp will come to a bad end."
Instead, he smiled and asked Takayanagi Jo another question, "Jo-kun, I have another question I'd like you to answer for me."
As the saying goes, don't hit a smiling person.
Even the furious Takayanagi Jo couldn't bring himself not to answer the polite Hoshino Jun.
"Speak!"
"I'd like to ask what conflict there is between Takasaki-kun and me that would make him deliberately frame me."
Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win a hundred battles.
Only by understanding his opponent could he safely plan his next moves.
The simp Takayanagi Jo had a starting point for targeting Hoshino Jun, but Takasaki Yusuke truly baffled Hoshino Jun.
So, on this point, he asked Takayanagi Jo, who had committed the act with him, and Takayanagi Jo should know something.
"No conflict." Takayanagi Jo replied, "Yusuke just purely dislikes you, you scumbag."
Hmm?
Is he deliberately concealing something, or is he truly just acting maliciously?
Before Hoshino Jun could figure it out, Takayanagi Jo added, "A friendly reminder, when you see Yusuke in the future, it's best to walk around him, or you won't be so lucky next time."
Good luck probably refers to someone helping Hoshino Jun report him and Takasaki Yusuke.
After speaking, a hint of mockery flashed in Takayanagi Jo's eyes. Of course, he wasn't giving a friendly reminder.
He just wanted to see Hoshino Jun's helpless expression when faced with bullying.
The morning wind was always strong.
The young man's eyes were slightly closed, his dark hair was blown by the breeze, and his handsome face showed a determined gaze.
Life is like a game of chess. Though I am a pawn, have you ever seen me retreat a single step?
No, perhaps I should retreat now.
I need to go back to the fourth floor to find Mrs. Takayanagi and settle yesterday's debt.
"Since Jo-kun dislikes me so much, I think we shouldn't walk together anymore. You go ahead."
Hoshino Jun's sudden change of demeanor caught Takayanagi Jo off guard, but he quickly reacted.
Perhaps Hoshino Jun was scared.
Thinking this, Takayanagi Jo raised his fist at Hoshino Jun. "Don't go tattling on me to my mom in the future, or I won't let you off easy."
[Ding!]
[Detected a threat from Takayanagi Jo!]
[Choose not to pursue, and you will gain a D-rank favor debt.]
Thank you, Takayanagi Jo.
You are truly a good person.
Hoshino Jun's smile spread to his eyes. He watched Takayanagi Jo's receding figure, silently pulled out his phone, turned off the recording, and whispered:
"I won't pursue it."
[It has been determined that Takayanagi Jo is unable to repay this favor debt. The debt has been automatically transferred to his mother, "Takayanagi Yuki."]
[Reminder: "Takayanagi Yuki" has incurred two debts.]
[Please collect this person's favor debt as soon as possible. Upon successful collection, you will receive a reward.]