19. The Former Sister-in-Law Was Terrifying Beyond Measure

Friday, June 28.

A drizzly, overcast day in the middle of the rainy season. The slope leading to the school gate was alive with the chatter of girls discussing their weekend plans.

Shimizu Matsudaira, carrying his bag, walked through the gate under the watchful eyes of a group of elegant upperclasswomen.

“Huh?” Akizuki Yanae let out a surprised sound.

“What’s wrong?” Shimizu looked ahead.

Beneath the giant oak at the entrance, four members of the Debate Club, each with "Letter of Reflection" hanging from their necks, were enduring the criticism of their peers.

“The Debate Club next door apparently got into a fight with the Student Council yesterday,” Akizuki said with a sigh. “They’re brave, but it’s hopeless against the Student Council’s iron grip.”

Shimizu cast a sympathetic glance at the upperclassmen. Luckily, he had run fast enough yesterday—otherwise, he too would be standing there, forced to make a public apology.

Just past the oak, the path was blocked. Peering through the crowd, Shimizu saw that every student entering was being made to open their bags for inspection by the Student Council.

The girl leading the inspection looked familiar—wasn’t she the one he’d seen at the Debate Club yesterday, the Student Council Vice President... Hanashiro, something?

“That’s Ayaha Hanashiro from Class 1-A,” Akizuki recognized her with a long sigh. “Looks like they’re targeting us again.”

“Targeting us?” Shimizu was puzzled.

“They’re searching for the Literature Club’s contraband.”

“But why?”

“Why do you think?”

“...Did you sneak BL novels into the school again?” Shimizu’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Congratulations, you guessed it!” Akizuki patted him on the shoulder, grinning. “Now you’re an accomplice, too.”

“Sorry, I’m not,” Shimizu insisted, taking a step to the side to distance himself.

“Heh, you can’t escape this,” Akizuki replied with a triumphant look. “Don’t forget, your family’s publishing house specializes in content for women—the bestsellers are BL novels and comics.”

“That has nothing to do with school!”

Shimizu’s conscience was clear; he had nothing to fear. Still, it was best to avoid the Vice President’s gaze.

As he reached the inspection point, he opened his bag for the Student Council and walked through the gate.

“Excuse me, please wait a moment.”

A voice called him to a halt.

Without turning, he replied calmly, “I’ve already been checked. Is there a problem?”

“I’ll decide if there’s a problem after I check myself,” Ayaha Hanashiro said, displeasure flickering in her eyes as she approached.

Akizuki stopped as well. None of the other students had been singled out—it was obvious they were targeting him.

Had he been recognized?

This was bad—he had no desire to perform a public self-criticism in front of the entire school.

“Sorry, but I need your bag,” Ayaha Hanashiro said, taking it from his hands. “Personal item checks are routine for the Student Council. If we’re not vigilant, the Literature Club will sneak indecent books into the school—”

Shimizu said nothing.

The girl rifled through his bag without looking at his face. If she really did recognize him, he’d have to immediately put on his “Leader” mask.

“Tsk.” Ayaha frowned, her voice crisp and disdainful. “Caught the second one. You, come to the Student Council office after school.”

“Wait, what’s going on?” Shimizu protested. “There’s nothing but textbooks and regular novels in my bag—are you sure you’re not mistaken?”

“This is a regular novel?” Ayaha held up a book from his bag.

The cover depicted a bikini-clad young girl with outstretched arms. The title read, “After Marriage, She’s Not My Little Sister Anymore—You Have to Call Me Wife!”

He stared blankly for two seconds before remembering: last night, after watching “Fate X Sky” with Koyuki, she’d offered him a book as a gift. It must have ended up in his bag.

Now it had been discovered—an awkward situation indeed.

Students passing by craned their necks to see what sort of book had been flagged as contraband.

Akizuki slid over to block their view, casting a look of deep sympathy toward her ex-boyfriend.

...His ex-fiancée really did go to great lengths to cultivate her brother’s “little sister complex.”

“Explain the plot of this book, or I’ll have to confiscate it!” Ayaha’s tone was cold, her gaze sharp with recognition.

“...Please, just confiscate it,” Shimizu replied, stepping back.

“What?” Ayaha was taken aback.

“Just take it. I’m leaving!” Shimizu made his escape.

“Hey, your book!” Ayaha called after him, holding it high.

“Hanashiro, please don’t!” Akizuki quickly pressed her hand down, protective as a mother hen, fierce and unyielding. “He’s got social anxiety and thin skin—are you trying to ruin him? I won’t allow it!”

‘You’re awfully protective of him, aren’t you?’ Ayaha considered this, then fell silent. But as she looked again at Shimizu, a flash of recognition struck her.

A moment later—

“Ah, it’s that bastard from yesterday! You just wait—”

As the Vice President bellowed behind him, Shimizu slipped off his shoes at the lockers and hurried to his class, 1-F.

There were still ten minutes until class began. Amid the noisy classroom, he propped his chin on his hand, half lost in thought, listening to the cheerful clamor.

Yesterday’s TV shows, baseball games, unfinished homework, and the couples flaunting their affection in front of the single crowd—ordinary, everyday conversations.

No need to think too much; just accept those around you and daily life rolled on as usual.

“Morning!” Akizuki sauntered in, radiating energy.

As the class’s most popular girl, she was the center of at least three cliques. The moment she greeted the room, several people waved back at once. She responded with laughter and easy charm, her warmth and friendliness evident to all.

So energetic, even this early. Clearly, eating well has its benefits.

Catching Shimizu’s gaze, Akizuki turned from the front row and flashed him a gentle, affectionate smile. Though they were close, the two rarely spoke in the classroom. There was no effort to avoid each other, but neither felt the need to broadcast their relationship to the class.

Suzune Sakura entered from the front and glanced toward the back where Shimizu sat.

Her eyes were large and brimming, as though she might burst into tears at any moment while gazing at his impassive face.

Clearly, her attempt at flirting last night had failed, but today she was back with renewed determination.

She was resolved to seize victory in one fell swoop!

That delicate face, those soft, watery eyes—so pitiful, so endearing.

Unfortunately for her, Shimizu’s heart was made of sterner stuff.

Deciding it was better to ignore what he couldn’t see, he turned instead to the window.

At the window seat, classmate Lin Xue noticed his glance and lifted the corner of her mouth. “What are you looking at, loser? Keep staring and I’ll come over there and give you a kiss…”

Shimizu quickly averted his eyes.

At the front, Suzune Sakura glared at him, cheeks puffed in frustration. She looked ready to storm back and demand an explanation.

At that moment, laughter erupted from the classroom next door. No doubt, the absent-minded Yumeko Shimamoto had wandered into the wrong room again—something that happened about three times a month.

The class took it in stride, everyone returning to their seats for homeroom, and Suzune had no choice but to sit down as well.

An ordinary day, yet the only one of its kind, had quietly begun.