After school let out, they each returned to their respective homes. Once it grew dark, Ryuichi headed to Shizuna's house.
"Ah, Shishido-kun!"
"Did you wait out here the entire time?"
"Yes. I'm feeling pretty excited, you see."
The place they were about to head to was a place far too early for a high school student to go to. And it definitely wasn't a place for a serious girl like Shizuna. But Shizuna was looking straight into Ryuichi's eyes. Her eyes told him that she wouldn't take a 'no' for an answer and that she would follow him no matter what.
"…Haaah."
"Heehee! Give it up, Shishido-kun. ♪"
Who's fault do you think this is? Ryuichi glared at her, but Shizuna didn't seem the least bit bothered.
"...?"
Suddenly, Shizuna took her phone out.
"Sohei-kun?"
"What, your childhood friend?"
"Yes. I'll just reply to him later when I get home. Let's go, Shishido-kun."
"S-Sure…"
Ryuichi was surprised to see Shizuna's relative indifference towards her childhood friend's message. In the first place, the manga only depicted the story of Sohei and Shizuna after they were already in a relationship, so the events that led to them getting together were only told in fragments.
…Me getting this close to Shizuna also shouldn't have been possible in the first place.
NTR. One person steals, while the other is stolen from. That is the original storyline of this world.
In the first place, the current Ryuichi had no intention of making physical threats to Shizuna now. After all, this world was no longer fiction, but reality. Even threats could get him in trouble, let alone raping somebody—that would be a one-way ticket to jail for Ryuichi.
"Man, I'd definitely hate getting arrested."
"Huh? Did you do something wrong?"
Shizuna's eyes widened in surprise as she stared at Ryuichi. There was no way he could tell her that there was a world in which he would do something very wrong in the future. Of course, as has been said already multiple times, that was impossible now, but even so, Ryuichi bet that she herself would've never guessed that she would be in the center of it all.
"Hey, Rindo."
"Yes?"
"If a person assaults you, what would you do?"
"Huh? I'd call the police right away."
"…Yeah. That's the normal thing to do. Good girl."
"…What're you talking about?"
Ryuichi's question was natural. Usually, in those kinds of mangas, both the protagonist and the heroine would usually go brain-dead and not consult anybody until the very end. Ryuichi nodded his head in approval, seemingly moved by the fact that Shizuna's thought process was still normal in calling the police.
"…Shishido-kun."
"Hmm?"
As Ryuichi was nodding his head, Shizuna, who was staring at him intently, suddenly asked the following.
"If I do get assaulted by somebody…will you come to save me from them?"
"..."
Of course, Ryuichi couldn't tell her that he was the one who had assaulted her originally. He could just answer vaguely, and Shizuna would probably just smile and not pursue the matter any further. But when he saw her looking at him with a glimmer of hope in her eyes… He chuckled and thought to himself that if he answered vaguely now, what kind of man would he be?
"Well, if you call for me, then sure. I'll save you."
He chose a safe and innocuous reply. Ryuichi started walking before he had time to hear her reply, but soon Shizuna was standing next to him, smiling as beautifully as any smile he had ever seen.
"Thank you, Shishido-kun. ♪"
Seeing her smile made Ryuichi smile lightly in response. The two of them then walked through the city, and eventually they arrived in front of the bar.
"…So this is the place."
"Yep. May look shady to you, but that's just how all bars are."
It was already dark outside, and the figures of people trying to lure customers into their establishments could be clearly seen. Some of them were naturally acquaintances of Ryuichi's; others winked suggestively at him or waved at him. Some were men in suits and some were women in revealing clothes.
"C'mon, let's go inside."
"O-Okay…"
Shizuna was a little scared, but having Ryuichi by her side made her fear disappear completely. She resumed her steps and snuggled up right next to him.
As they descended a flight of stairs that seemed to be taking them underground, they finally came across a lone door. This was the entrance to the city's nightlife, a place very familiar to Ryuichi yet new to Shizuna.
"I knew there'd be quite the crowd here."
"…This really is that sort of place, huh."
Once they entered, the pair was immediately greeted by a bustling, lively atmosphere. Naturally, most of the people inside were adults, and there were no high school students like the two of them. A number of old men well into their years turned their gazes at Shizuna when she entered, but Ryuichi gave them a little glare and they quickly averted their eyes.
"In a way, it feels like I brought you here as my partner or something. Well, don't worry; I'll make sure to protect you. Nothing bad should happen, but if it does, I'll be right by your side."
"Ah… Okay."
When Shizuna heard Ryuichi's words, she looked down at the ground. Ryuichi couldn't see her expression, so he didn't know what she was thinking. Still, she held onto the hem of Ryuichi's shirt and didn't let go.
Together, they headed for the counter. There, a stern-looking man turned his attention to the pair.
"Yo. 'Sup, boss. S'been a while."
Yes, this man was the bar's manager. He made a displeased expression upon seeing Ryuichi, which Ryuichi was used to by now. Then, he turned his attention to Shizuna and said something similar to what he had said sometime ago.
"Little girl, listen to me and go home now. I'm sure you know what kind of person this man is, don't you?"
"Yes, I do, but thank you for your concern. I followed Shishido-kun here of my own accord."
"Hmm? Well, fine then. The back room's free so go ahead and use it."
"Nope, not here to use it."
Ryuichi refused and sat down. The manager seemed astounded to hear that Ryuichi had come today not to do those sorts of things, but to eat dinner together.
"…I have to say, it feels like something about you's changed."
"You're not the only one to tell me that."
"I mean, that shitty behavior of yours seems to have died down a little…but hell if I know. If food's what you want, then gimme some time to have it ready. You, too, little girl. Have a seat while you wait."
"Thank you very much."
Well, the place certainly did have a dubious atmosphere, but it was fundamentally no different from a normal restaurant. Only a limited number of people—Ryuichi included—knew that there was a room in the back for trysts and other such activities.
"…This place really seems to have a mature and comfortable feel to it."
"Oh my, if you're saying that, then it looks like you're well on your way to becoming a bad girl, Rindo."
"What're you saying, Shishido-kun? The moment I sat down here, I already became a bad girl, just like you."
"Touché."
Ryuichi laughed. Afterwards, they enjoyed their meals that the manager had worked hard at. Shizuna had initially felt a little intimidated because the restaurant looked like a high-class restaurant, but soon, she lost herself in the deliciousness of the food.
"This stuff's really good. Especially this meunière."
"I agree. This soup is also wonderful."
"Haha, you have a good eye, little girl. But seriously, how did somebody the likes of Ryuichi make such a good girl like you his girlfriend?"
Shizuna choked on her food when she heard the manager's words.
"Am I wrong?"
"No shit. We're just classmates."
When Shizuna heard Ryuichi say they were "just classmates", Shizuna pouted a little, but first she had to focus on clearing her throat. After she calmed down, she corrected the manager, her face turning red as well.
"It is just as he said. We are…not going out."
"Oh? Well, if you say so."
Neither Ryuichi nor Shizuna could tell what the manager was thinking as he chuckled.
"Are you okay? Did any rice grains fall out of your nose?"
"Of course not!"
It'd be a disaster for a maiden of her age if she had been exposed in such a manner. She would've immediately been stripped of her "maiden" status. While they were having their meal, a woman came in through the front door.
"Ah, it's been a while since the last time you were here."
"Yes. Nice to see you again, sir."
Ryuichi and Shizuna's hands both stopped when they heard the woman's voice.
"Huh?"
"Wait…"
Both of them looked at each other, their eyes seemingly conveying their doubt. "No way, right?" they seemed to say as they turned to look at the woman. At the same time, the woman noticed their gaze and turned to look at them.
"…What?"
The woman looked at Ryuichi and Shizuna in turn, her eyes widening in surprise.
"M-Mom…?"
"…Shizuna? Why are you here…? And you, too…"
The woman who'd shown up was no stranger to Shizuna and Ryuichi. She was Shizuna's mother, Sakie, with whom Ryuichi had shared a night not long before.
"…Wait, 'Mom'?!"
Of course, Ryuichi was surprised, too, and for good reason. At the same time, his brain instantly came to a conclusion: this situation was the worst possible situation that could have occurred.
God was truly, very cruel.