Who would have thought?
I could read their minds plain as day.
The moment they saw me, they instinctively shrank back, and like the punks they were, they couldn't stand their own weakness.
So they picked a fight with me on purpose, jerking off to their little "I'm not scared" fantasy.
Tsk.
I could beat them all to a pulp right then and there, but I bowed my head to Ren and apologized.
"Sorry about that, Miss Tsumetai. Were you uncomfortable?"
Ren was a girl who utterly despised violence.
I could settle scores with them later, but in front of her, I couldn't lose control.
I'd come to save my heroines.
I couldn't shatter their affection just to salve my pride.
"...No, it's fine. Hey, you guys, knock it off. It doesn't bother me."
"Tsk.. Hey, you, watch yourself from now on."
The blond punk with his hands shoved in his pockets spat on the floor and turned away.
Ren faced me again.
"Yu, you should be careful not to get tangled up with guys like them."
Her tone was cold, but I could feel Ren's kindness beneath it.
Even though she felt repulsed by me herself, she was advising me out of worry that I'd get hurt by those thugs.
She really was a good person.
"Anyway, since it's your first day as a Practical Committee member, come back here after classes end."
"After school? By myself?"
"Yes."
"Will you be here too, Miss Tsumetai?"
She tilted her head, as if wondering why I'd ask something so strange.
"Of course. Who else would teach you the ropes?"
Alone in an empty classroom, in the evening, just the two of us...!
"Got it."
Volunteering for the Practical Committee really was the right call.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Slide-
After school, I slid open the classroom door and saw Ren sitting at a desk.
"You're here."
Of course. Why wouldn't I be?
This was our first date, just the two of us.
I quietly walked over and sat at the desk across from hers.
"Sorry, but could you move one seat over?"
Because of her innate aversion to men, she wasn't about to let her guard down alone with me.
"Sure thing."
I cheerfully stood and sat at the desk one row back.
This distance was fine.
Even now, her scent wafting with every breath was making me grin like an idiot.
How could a girl smell this good? It was intoxicating; I wanted to bury my face in it.
"Is there something on my face?"
I barely suppressed my smile and replied casually.
"No way. Looking forward to your guidance, Miss Tsumetai."
Ren nodded indifferently and handed me a few sheets of paper.
"These are the supply expense reports. With the festival coming up, we need to sort them out today or tomorrow."
Even these tedious tasks fell under student council duties?
I glanced at the papers, and sure enough, the types of supplies and their purposes were neatly listed.
"Just this?"
She stared at me blankly. Not a hint of expectation in her eyes.
"Sort it in an hour. Think you can handle it?"
Ah, I see.
This thick stack was a test. Piece of cake.
Scribble, scribble.
"No calculator...?"
"This is simple enough for mental math."
Ren frowned.
She probably thought I'd make dumb mistakes and she'd have to fix them because of my bravado.
"Here."
"Huh...?"
I finished in under ten minutes—not even close to an hour—and Ren looked puzzled.
"Take a look."
She set down her pen and examined the papers quietly, ready to point out any errors.
"No problems."
Her voice carried genuine surprise.
"Right?"
I was hoping for a little praise, but she dismissed me briskly.
"You can head out now."
"Already?"
I checked her face, wondering what was wrong, and saw her expression had stiffened more than before.
Staying alone in an empty room with a guy must have been incredibly stressful.
All the previous Practical Committee members assisting her had been female classmates.
Caw! Caw!
Crows cawed outside.
The atmosphere was stacked with triggers for her anxiety.
I stood without hesitation, putting more distance between us.
No need to push on the first day.
That event would happen tomorrow anyway.
Affection would skyrocket if I seized the moment right.
"Well, I'll be going then. Thanks for your hard work, Miss Tsumetai~."
She nodded, steadying her ragged breathing.
"Goodbye.."
Her face looked exhausted. I wanted to pull her into my arms right then, but I ignored the urge and left the classroom.
Slide-
The hallway was already dark, lights off.
On nights when Ren stayed late at school, she'd tremble all the way to the gate, relying on her phone flashlight.
But that wouldn't happen anymore.
No more lonely class president duties.
No more walking dark hallways alone, shaking.
Click.
I flipped the hallway light switch on the landing.
The corridor lit up instantly.
Honestly, I wanted to wait and walk her home, but doing that after just one day would only scare her more.
This was enough for now.
Slide-
Right on cue, Ren finished up and opened the door.
"Huh...?"
Her puzzled voice from outside the classroom.
"The lights are on.... Nice."
I confirmed she was heading home safely and returned to the dorm.
I'd need to use some strength tomorrow, so early to bed.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
In NTR academy stories, there's one cliché scene that pops up endlessly.
A few punks surround the heroine, trying to lure her into "having some fun" with them.
-"Please stop.... I said I'm not interested."
-"Aw~ Come on. Huh? Let's hang out."
I'd stepped away briefly, and sure enough, the event was underway.
The wimpy canon protagonist had ignored it and walked by.
But I'm different now.
I could intervene.
-"I'll be going then-"
-"Ren-chan~ Don't be so stiff. Come to karaoke with us? Huh? Acting like a statue won't win you any guys~ Or how about a beer?"
The blond stood, draping an arm over Ren's shoulder to pin her down, while the bald one slipped between desks to block her exit.
-"Noo~ Always dodging us. You know how hard we've tried to get close to you, Ren-chan. You rejected us every time. It's been a year now—time to get friendly."
Grope, grope.
The punk smirked sleazily, his hand slyly caressing her shoulder, inching toward her side.
-"Stop... it."
Swooping in at the dramatic peak would maximize impact, but regardless, I couldn't watch anymore.
Slide!
I opened the classroom door, and Ren looked at me, her face deathly pale.
She was feigning composure, but her ragged breathing and dilated pupils gave her away.
..Pisses me off.
"Who the hell are you?"
I didn't answer.
I just walked quietly between them and Ren.
Ren looked up at me, eyes wide with surprise.
Confusion.
Trapped by two guys demanding she hang out, now another man joins.
She was probably weighing it in her head.
Was this transfer student suddenly assigned to the committee here to help her?
Or was he teaming up with these scum to mess with her? Opportunists like that were everywhere.
Yeah. Hard to judge right now.
I understood why she looked at me with fear, but something boiled inside me anyway.
"Who asked you to butt in? You trying to get a piece too? Huh? Wait your turn."
"Shut up."
It infuriated me to be lumped in with these vermin.
Crack!
I grabbed his wrist without a word, crushing it viciously.
"You little... Let go!?"
He struggled futilely against my grip, but a booze-and-smoke-riddled punk's body was no match.
"Ugh..! What.. strength!?"
I twisted his hand like a child's, yanking it off Ren's shoulder.
That's when a fist shot up from below.
"Die!"
The punch whistled past my face.
..You started it?
Crunchhh!
Grind...
My overwhelming strength misaligned his wrist bones, twisting his face in agony.
"Agh!? Let, let go!"
Swing! Swing!
His flailing punches were like cotton swabs.
I dodged them effortlessly, and the stunned bald punk shoved my chest with all his might.
'As if I'd budge...'
Size difference is a killer.
I'm a head taller; no scrawny punk like you is pushing me.
I'd planned to go easy, but groping her side? Unforgivable.
Crush them.
Payback.
That was all that filled my mind.
Kill them.
Drip, crack..!
A bit more pressure, and his wrist would be ruined for good.
Couldn't even hold chopsticks after.
"Gaaaaah!!"
Just as I was about to wreck his wrist completely, a sharp voice rang out.
"Stop it!"
Ren's voice.
"Hoo...."
Tch.
Maybe making him disabled was overkill.
Couldn't help it.
I'd seen this dog's game ending.
My heroines suffered, so I got a bit broken too.
That's how bad NTR sticks with you.
Thud.
I glared into his eyes a moment longer, then released his hand. The two punks, looking rattled, spat clichéd third-rate villain lines as they backed off.
"Ugh... F-fucking psycho, you'll regret this."
Slide!
Clatter!
Their footsteps faded.
Now, just Ren and me in the classroom again.
"Haa... haa...."
She always kept a straight face, but now her emotions were raw.
Her dazed eyes stared into space, lips pale, face gripped by fear.
"It's okay. They're gone. Take slow, deep breaths."
I coaxed her gently, and her trembling shoulders gradually relaxed.
"...Thank you."
Her voice was calmer now.
Regaining her composure, she fixed me with a stern look.
"But.... Resorting to brute force like that was wrong. Forget morals—if you get suspended, or worse, if the police get involved, what then? You're an international student, Yu."
Someone might think she was nagging the guy who just saved her, but I was pleased.
This was her way of worrying about me, giving her all.
And everything she said was spot on.
Prison would end any NTR reversal plans. She really was wife material—solid support.
"Got it. Won't happen again."
Honestly, the same situation would flip my switch again, but... words are words.
"...Okay."
Still tense, she wiped sweaty palms on her skirt.
Good thing I brought the perfect remedy.
Rustle-
I rummaged through the convenience store bag dangling from my hand.
"What's that? You've been holding it since earlier."
"Bread."
"...No eating in the classroom. Especially crumbly stuff like bread."
Oh? Really?
Even your favorite?
"Aw, too bad. I got it in case you were hungry, Miss Tsumetai."
"I'm not hungry. I skip dinner anyway-"
Rustle rustle.
Ignoring her, I pulled out the bread, and her eyes widened slightly.
"Th-that's...?"
Melon bread studded with chocolate chips.
And that's not all.
"Man, what a shame~ Got banana milk too~"
Ren's two ultimate favorites.
Gurgle~
A cute rumble from her stomach.
Skipping dinner every night? Not healthy.
"Hm? What's that noise? Frogs croaking outside?"
"..!"
Her tension shattered into embarrassment.
Blush....
Her ears turning faintly red.
Seeing it for real.
In the game, touching her flushed ears with a finger made her jump like a startled cat.
My mouth watered inexplicably. If a finger got that reaction, what about my tongue?
"Anyway, I'm not hungry, so I'll toss this bread."
I pretended ignorance and moved to dump the melon bread and banana milk, but Ren stopped me in a panic.
"Wasting...! ...food like that is wrong."
"Huh?"
"Ignoring your gesture isn't polite either. So...."
She's asking for it.
Aware of her own embarrassment, Ren turned to look out the window.
I swallowed my bursting laughter and unwrapped it, handing it over.
"..Thank you."
Her expression softened as she bit into her favorite bread. Midway, she thumped her chest.
"Here."
I helpfully stuck in a straw, and she gulped down the banana milk eagerly.
Feeding the heroine...
This was prime eye candy.
"Thanks, that was good."
Her face had much better color now as she expressed her gratitude.
All thanks to nailing the first step.
Starting the semester on the committee gave me a reason to return after school, and saving her wasn't suspicious at all.
"...Well then, please take care of me again today."
"Likewise."
The paperwork proceeded in a much warmer atmosphere than yesterday.
I finished quickly again and stood first.
Had to leave first to turn on the lights before going.
"I'll head out first today too."
"Ah, yes. Good work, Yu."
As I reached the door, her voice came from behind.
"Um... Yu."
"Yes?"
"I was too flustered earlier to thank you properly... Thank you. Really."
Sincere gratitude from my beloved heroine.
Heh heh heh..
Thrilling.
So this is the joy of helping someone.
But I turned away without lingering, just like before.
Like befriending a stray cat.
Like taming a fox at four in the afternoon.
That's how you ease into Ren's heart—calmly.
Pulling "How cool was that? Saved you, right? Sexy, huh?" would tank her affection instantly.
"See you tomorrow~"
"..Yes, take care."
We bowed lightly, and I left the school building with the lights on.
Crisp air.
I'd saved a heroine for the first time.
The night breeze felt especially good.
Step- step-
"Hm?"
On the way back, my pants pocket felt empty. Wallet was gone.
Damn... Must've dropped it tussling with those punks earlier.
I hurried back up to the second floor, and coincidentally, Ren was just leaving the classroom.
"Tsumetai-"
I raised my hand to greet her, but oddly, she headed not for the stairs, but the opposite way.
What?
Toward the homeroom teacher's office.
A lone girl heading to the faculty room in an empty school.
"No way...."
Not the punks—the kindly teacher was the real culprit...?
Impossible.
I killed my presence and tailed her quickly.