What does this mean?
Is she asking for pocket money?
He and Airi Shimizu, along with her mother, Eiko Momoaki, share no blood ties or legal relationship; he's just being looked after by Tamaki.
For convenience, Airi calls him "Nii-san" (big brother).
Fujii Shu narrowed his eyes, a vague memory surfacing in his mind.
Every month on payday, Airi would come up with all sorts of excuses to demand half of his salary. With the original Fujii Shu's timid, submissive personality and almost nonexistent status in the family, he would obediently hand over the money, too afraid to say a word in protest.
So… he was supposed to give away half of his freshly received 80,000 yen before he even had time to warm it up?
Fujii Shu couldn't help but twitch his eyelid.
What's this about? This is just bullying an honest person!
Seeing Fujii Shu fall silent, Airi Shimizu's playful face faltered slightly. Normally, this weak "Nii-san" would be cowering, nervously handing over the money without a word.
"Hey, this time it's not half! It's the whole amount!" Airi Shimizu said, her tone sharp and impatient, her chin tilted upwards as she demanded.
"Get lost."
Fujii Shu coldly rejected her, waving her hand away dismissively.
Smack!
"You…" Airi Shimizu instinctively jerked her hand back after being slapped away.
/This guy must have lost his mind today!/
/How dare he hit me!/
Hearing the anger in Fujii Shu's voice, Airi Shimizu's expression darkened, and she hissed, "Fujii Shu, just because I call you 'Nii-san',you really think of yourself as my older brother?"
"Hmph!"
She sneered and, with a triumphant air, taunted, "Don't forget, I have something on you!"
"You've been working at the convenience store without the school's permission. You'd better watch out—I'll report you tomorrow."
"You'll lose your job, and the school will give you serious punishment!"
Report me?
Fujii Shu raised an eyebrow at the mention of this.
There was indeed such a rule.
In Japan, students are allowed to take part-time jobs, but they need permission from their school. If an accident happens while working off-campus, the school would also be held accountable.
And the original Fujii Shu had never gotten approval before working at the store, so Airi Shimizu had a hold over him.
"Are you scared now?"
Seeing Fujii Shu's frown, Airi extended her hand once more, feeling victorious, as though she were the conqueror, "Hurry up and give me the money!"
/zako, how dare you talk back like that?/
/This month's salary will serve as compensation for Airi./
/Such an easy target to bully.../
Smack!
Once again, Fujii Shu slapped her hand away.
He wasn't in the mood to play around. "You can report me if you want," he said, dismissively, "but I already got approval from the school."
"What?" Airi's face went pale as she realized the situation.
/Why is this happening?/
Airi's face twisted in frustration. She hadn't expected him to resist today.
"Damn you, Fujii Shu!" she growled, pushing her hair back and pulling at the sleeve of her pink shirt, exposing a bit of her fair skin and bra strap.
"You're finished!"
"I'm going to tell Mom and Sis that you've been bullying me when they're not home!"
"If you don't want to cause trouble, you'd better hand over the money and apologize by bowing!"
This girl had been turned into a spoiled mesugaki by her parents!
Fujii Shu felt an unfamiliar surge of anger.
If his aunt, Inko Tamaki, found out about this, she'd definitely side with Airi, no matter how unreasonable she was.
Furrowing his brow, he reached for the envelope of money on his pillow.
Seeing this, Airi thought he had given in and smiled. "That's better…"
"Just don't think you can fool me by handing over the cash, though!"
"Don't get too cocky!"
Fujii Shu suddenly interrupted her.
"Who says this money's for you?"
With a sly smile, he tucked the envelope into his pocket, watching Airi's shocked expression.
"Bastard…" Airi hissed as she realized she'd been tricked. She didn't get a chance to insult him before he grabbed her wrist, pulling her onto the bed.
Thud!
Fujii Shu, being a male college student, easily overpowered Airi, pinning her down with his hands gripping her wrists and his weight on top of her head.
The sudden action made Airi panic, her composed façade breaking down completely.
"Fujii Shu, what do you think you're doing?"
"Let go of me, let go of me!"
Her long, slender legs flailed in a wild panic, pounding against the bed, making a thud thud thud noise.
She cursed, but it couldn't hide her inner fear.
"Bastard, jerk, lowlife!"
"Aren't you afraid I'll call the police?"
"Then call them," Fujii Shu said, easing his grip slightly but still holding her down, looking down at her with an unreadable expression.
"Just perfect—call the police and get yourself caught as a blackmailer!"
"Wha... What are you saying?"
"Police," "blackmail," the words connected in Airi's mind, and her head went blank.
"Airi Shimizu, over the past three months, you've used the threat of 'reporting me to the school' to extort over 100,000 yen from me. That's enough to be considered a felony, and you're guilty of blackmail!"
Fujii Shu snorted and smiled coldly.
"What that means is you're in trouble. Get ready to confess in a juvenile detention center."
"Over 100,000 yen… Not a huge amount, but enough for you to get two to three months behind bars."
"I hear juvenile detention centers are full of rebellious kids. You'll fit right in."
Blackmail?
A sentence?
Juvenile detention!
Airi's face drained of color, her eyes wide with panic.
No!
She didn't want to go to a juvenile detention center!
She was only 18, an honor student, and the most popular girl in school.
If she got convicted for blackmail, her entire life would be ruined!
"Fu… Fujii Shu…"
Airi stopped struggling, quietly lowering her legs and giving in, letting him hold her wrist. She whispered, "Please, don't report me…"
"You called me what?" Fujii Shu raised an eyebrow.
"Ni… Nii-san…"
"Feeling so distant now? As if I'm forcing you," he teased, his smile curling.
"Onē-chan... Please, please don't report me," Airi begged, her tone softening.
"That's more like it," Fujii Shu said, his smile widening. "But I prefer you in your rebellious and untamed way."
Airi bit her lower lip, her eyes filled with unshed tears.
/You disgusting ZAKO!/
/How dare you threaten me!/
At the same time, Fujii Shu heard a notification in his mind.
[Ding!]
[Successfully initiated revenge against Airi Shimizu!]
[System Activating!]
[Character: Airi Shimizu]
[Age: 18]
[Attribute: Mesugaki]
[Revenge Progress: 10%]
...