Click.
Before long, the door swung open as Shimizu Airi, who had just gone downstairs, entered. She walked over, holding a cup of instant noodles, her face expressionless.
"Here, your dinner," she said, her voice laced with disdain as she placed the cup of noodles on the desk with a thud.
Fujii Shu raised an eyebrow. "I asked you to bring me dinner, and you came back with instant noodles?"
"At least it's something! I'm not a chef, you know!"
"You make it sound like I'm the one to blame."
Fujii Shu picked up the plastic fork from the cup and lifted the lid, releasing a wave of steam.
"Well then, I'll leave tomorrow's lunch for you to handle," he said as he slurped the noodles casually.
"What?!" Shimizu Airi exploded, puffing out her cheeks. "I told you, I can't cook!"
"Not my problem," Fujii Shu said, sipping the steaming broth. "And not just tomorrow, I mean every day from now on."
He turned to her, giving a look that brooked no argument.
Shimizu Airi ground her teeth in frustration, her chest heaving with barely contained rage.
Damn it, damn it, damn it!
He's just a worthless guy, and now he's bossing me around!
But she couldn't do anything about it—things had completely shifted. She had a secret that Fujii Shu was holding over her.
No way! I won't just sit here and take it!
With those thoughts running through her mind, Shimizu Airi turned her head, muttering a reluctant, "Okay..."
After quickly finishing the noodles, Fujii Shu felt warm and content, the fatigue from work melting away.
He glanced at Shimizu Airi and said, "Why are you still standing there? Go clean up. I'm going to bed."
"...Okay," Shimizu Airi replied, her frustration bubbling under the surface. She picked up the empty cup and walked out of the room.
Back in her own room, she tossed the cup into the trash, then lay down on her bed, rolling around like a restless caterpillar.
"Damn him... damn him... damn him!"
He was nothing before, but now he's treating me like this!
She grabbed a stuffed animal, imagining it was Fujii Shu, and started hitting it with her fists.
"Ha! Just wait... I won't let you get away with this!"
That night, Shimizu Airi simmered with anger and plotted her next move.
..............
The next morning, Fujii Shu got up, washed up, and changed into his clothes. After grabbing his bag, he headed downstairs.
The living room was empty, and breakfast was laid out on the table. Shimizu Airi was the only one there.
His aunt, Eiko Momoaki, must have already gone to work. His rarely-seen older sister, Shimizu Rin, attended a private boarding university, and only came home on weekends.
The house was usually quiet, with only Fujii Shu, Shimizu Airi, and Eiko Momoaki around.
"Hey, here's your lunch," Shimizu Airi said, biting into her toast as she pushed a lunchbox toward him.
"I told Mom I was growing, so I needed more food. She made extra for me."
She was barely over five feet tall, and when sitting on the chair, her legs in white knee-high socks didn't even touch the floor.
"Already forgot what to call me?" Fujii Shu teased as he stuffed the lunchbox into his bag.
"Fine... Oni-chan..." she muttered, rolling her eyes and pouting.
So smug!
Fujii Shu didn't let her off easy. He grabbed a boiled egg from her plate and took a bite.
"Hey, that's my breakfast!" she complained, sounding indignant.
"I know, but it's mine now," he said, chewing slowly.
"Seriously? You're stealing my breakfast now too?" Shimizu Airi snapped.
"Well, it's nothing compared to you and your mom taking advantage of me all these years," Fujii Shu responded, his expression calm. "I'm not the pushover I used to be."
He then grabbed the rest of the egg, drank the milk she'd poured, and pinched her cheek lightly as he looked down at her, "Don't treat me like the same guy you used to boss around. From now on, the tables have turned."
Shimizu Airi was taken aback, and her face flushed as he left with a confident grin.
Standing there, she stared after him, unsure whether to be mad or impressed.
Is he declaring war on us?
She couldn't deny that he looked kind of cool... and manly.
Suddenly, she winced, touching her red cheek where he'd pinched it.
"Fujii... Shu!!"
..............
With his bag slung over his shoulder, Fujii Shu walked through the streets of Minamisenju. His school, Arakawa University, wasn't exactly prestigious—more of a community college where most students were just coasting by.
But with his connections and ambition, he knew he could still achieve something.
The morning air was crisp as he made his way to the sociology building for his first class of the semester. He found a seat by the window in Class 1B and sat down, ready to face another day.
Walking towards an empty window seat in the class, Fujii Shu sat down and stuffed her backpack into the hole in the table.
Back row, kings grow.
But Fujii Shu's predecessor, due to family changes, had an introverted and timid personality. Not only was he far from anything resembling a "king," but at school, he also had a weak and easily bullied image, often suffering from the bullying of delinquent students.
...