During the class, in the end, Akatsuki didn't feel good, and she went to rest in the infirmary.
Watching her friend, who went to rest in the infirmary, Reina and Yume were worried. Still, Mizuto also wanted to help, but Akatsuki stopped him.
"It's okay. I will be fine with Yume-chan, Reina-chan, and Mizuto-kun."
"Okay."
Still, Yume raised her brow when she heard Akatsuki call Mizuto by his given name, but when she looked at weak Akatsuki, she held the urge to ask and just helped Akatsuki to go to the infirmary.
Sitting in his seat, Mizuto thought about the new job that he had chosen. This might have been cold of him since it felt like he didn't care about Akatsuki, but Akatsuki had told him that she was okay with how he was, so he wouldn't change or bend. While he might give special treatment to Akatsuki, it felt so wrong when he thought he would give up everything for Akatsuki.
They might have had sex, and she had given him her virginity; even so, it just didn't dwell with him if he would give his life for her due to this situation. Instead, he felt that she was something exclusive to him, his woman. He knew that this thought was toxic and even wrong as no one had a right to own others, yet a feeling was like this: selfish.
Yet, at the same time, he also hated this feeling when he was trapped by various feelings. It felt like... he hesitated when he did something. He wasn't like before, who was brave and did what he wished like the world was his.
While it was subtle, Mizuto knew that by using psychology knowledge, Akatsuki manipulated him. Frankly, this wasn't bad since he knew that she just wanted him to be only hers, yet he didn't want to be manipulated like this.
It was the same case as Yume, who acted like he was hers, something exclusive for her.
There was also Nami, who thought that as long as she used her body, he would be obedient and be by her side.
Yet, like how he had his own selfishness, they were also their own selfishness. They were living beings; they were human, and it was impossible for them to become mindless dolls who would follow his whims and accept how he wished to be greedy with the matter of feelings.
'Should I get a girlfriend?'
Somehow, this thought appeared in his mind.
If he had a girlfriend, then he could break away from all the shackles on him, returning everything to a zero. Yet, at the same time, if he really did this, it meant that he dated his girlfriend not because of love but with the purpose of using her. He would also hurt his girlfriend and other girls in the future due to his selfishness.
'If I can control myself better...'
Yet, at the same time, he realized how mysterious the realm of feelings was. There was no doubt how complex this type of feeling and even the first human in the universe, Adam, was also troubled by it.
At the same time, he thought that a woman was really such a troublesome creature since if it wasn't for a woman, all humans would be living in heaven with an easy life instead of living on earth with a hard time.
However, this also made him realize that no matter how special human beings were, they were still vulnerable to their emotions. This wasn't something that could be taught with logic, and it was illogical, yet even if he knew that it was complicated, troublesome, and even annoying, he just couldn't help but be drawn to it.
Even Adam would leave Heaven so he could be with Eve, who had fallen to earth.
Even angels, the perfect beings created by god, also fall due to the beautiful women on earth.
So, Mizuto knew that even if he had a system, he wasn't immune to women, troublesome yet beautiful beings that would mess up his life yet also make his life vibrant.
As he was in deep thought, Yume and Reina returned to the class. While Reina didn't notice anything, Yume stared deeply at Mizuto's back, but she said nothing. It was hard to ask, especially when they were in the class, but he asked her instead.
"Is she okay?'
"Um." Yume nodded. "She's just a little tired."
"Is that so?"
Hearing that Akatsuki was okay, Mizuto didn't bother to ask anymore, but watching his reaction, strangely enough, Yume felt better, yet she had to say, she wondered why they started to call each other by their given name.
Was it because of Akatsuki's upbeatness?
Or was it because of Mizuto's nonchalant?
Either way, she hoped that those would be the reasons so it could give her peace of mind, so she was glad when it was time for lunch, Reina, who had been oblivious, somehow asked a question, "Is it me or you two call each other by your given name now?"
Yume glanced at the two curiously, but her eyes became sharp.
Still, Akatsuki's smile was slightly stiff, but Mizuto was calm. "Yes."
"Huh? Why?"
"Is that not okay?"
"No, I mean..." Reina wasn't sure how to describe the feeling in her heart. Oh yeah, being left out! She felt like she was being left out.
"Then, should I call you by your given name too?" Mizuto asked casually.
"Eh?" Reina was surprised, but Akatsuki and Yume were speechless.
Yet, before they were able to say anything, he called Reina's name softly.
"Reina."
His voice was husky and low, which somehow made Reina blush, and she felt her body was so hot!
"Can I call you that, Reina?"
"U-Um..." Reina nodded. "I-I don't mind, Mizuto-kun."
Mizuto only laughed, and Reina felt shy since it was the first time the opposite gender had called her given name.
Only Akatsuki and Yume were speechless since this guy was such a bastard!
Yet, somehow, the two girls sighed in relief for different reasons.
Still, there wasn't anything special during the day, and Mizuto would leave for his driving class as usual, but this time, there was something different.
"Is it okay for you to send me off? You have a driving school, right?"
"It's okay. I know everyone well. Even if I am a little late, it doesn't matter."
"Is that so?"
Mizuto decided to send Akatsuki back to her home since he knew that she was so sleepy and exhausted. Frankly, she was forcing herself to go to school, and it was also because of this he was worried for her to go home by herself.
Still, due to this, she smiled and leaned on his arm like before, but she didn't fall asleep. Instead, she asked, "By the way, are you interested in Reina?"
"No."
"Huh? Really? Such an instant answer!"
With Reina's beauty and boobs, Akatsuki felt like it was normal for anyone to fall for Reina, but that didn't seem to be the case with this guy. She raised her brows, trying to see whether he was lying or not, but that didn't seem to be the case.
"Except for lust, I don't feel anything else."
"...you are really honest." Akatsuki was speechless, then sighed. "Well, it isn't bad, though."
"Right?"
"I don't praise you!"
Akatsuki sighed helplessly, then leaned on his arm again. "I want to sleep, but somehow I am not sleepy."
"Then, don't sleep."
"By the way, what are you reading?" Akatsuki looked at the novel in Mizuto's hands curiously. She knew that he was learning the French language, but it seemed he was reading a novel, so she was a bit curious.
"Le Diable au corps."
"...what?"
"Le Diable au corps."
"I mean, tell me the Japanese language, please?"
"The Devil in the Flesh."
"Oh? Is it a horror?"
"No, it is about an affair between a young man and a housewife."
"...." Akatsuki.
In the end, due to the story of the novel that was read by Akatsuki, she didn't even fall asleep during their trip to her home as she kept asking him what the novel was really about.
Yet, Mizuto never lied, as this was the story of this novel, causing her to look at him speechlessly. Still, as it was a way to learn the French language, she thought that it was a necessary process.
As the two talked, they arrived at the station, and he sent her to her home.
"You don't need to send me home, though."
"Even so, I want to."
Akatsuki smiled and rubbed her face against his arm, holding her hand like how Yume had done in the morning.
"Oh, wait for me here. I need to get something."
"What's wrong?'
"Just wait."
Akatsuki saw that Mizuto had gone to the nearby convenience store. She didn't say anything and just waited for him, but she wondered whether he was going to buy that "thing." Her expression was subtle but also determined. Her body might not be as strong as his, and she was exhausted, but it was impossible for her to give up.
Yet—
"Did you buy a bento? Are you going to eat that?"
Akatsuki saw that Mizuto bought a bento, drinks, and some snacks.
"It's for you. Take it."
"Huh? Why?"
"So, you don't need to get out of the house when you want to get food. Just eat this after you have woken up or become hungry later. It's just something from a convenience store, though."
"....."
Akatsuki looked at Mizuto in a daze; her eyes were wet from her tears, and she called his name softly, "Mizuto-kun..."
"What?"
"I love you."
"I know that."
"...."
Akatsuki wished to bite this bastard up, but her heart was all fluffy and sweet due to his care. Still, it was also because of this that she didn't want to stop him any longer since he had many things to do, and when they arrived at the entrance of her apartment building, he excused himself after she gave him a deep kiss.
"See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
Leaving Akatsuki, Mizuto returned to the station once again in a hurry, but when he was about to enter the train, he noticed his classmate somehow. However, he didn't say anything and just left since if he was in a hurry, he wouldn't be late for the driving class. Though he had to say, this young man's profile was evasive and helpless, as if he had stolen something important from him.