[Ding!]
[Successfully initiated revenge on Chiba Shino!]
[Reward:10,000yen]
[Reward:200Revenge Points!]
[Ding!]
[Character: Chiba Shino]
[Age:19]
[Attributes: Sukeban]
[Revenge Progress:50%]
...…
The bicycle sped along the Sumida River embankment.
The scenery around blurred as it passed, and the wind roared incessantly in his ears.
As the effects of the Elixir of Iron wore off, Fujii Shu's pedaling legs paused. He yanked hard on the brakes.
"Screeeech—"
The tires screeched against the ground, leaving a black skid mark half a meter long before coming to a halt.
Exhausted, Fujii Shu slumped over, his strength drained. Pain radiated from the spots where he had taken a few sneaky hits during the fight.
"Ogi... Ogihara..."
"Your turn to ride."
Gasping, he dismounted the bike with his last ounce of strength and collapsed against the railing of the embankment.
"Fujii-kun, what's wrong?"
Saki Ogihara hurriedly supported Fujii Shu from behind, her hands catching his slumping shoulders.
"Clang!"
The bike, left without support, toppled over with a thud.
Saki Ogihara glanced anxiously at the fallen bike and then at Fujii Shu's pale face.
"Blood! There's so much blood!"
She finally noticed the dried blood streaked across his face. Flustered, she reached under her school uniform skirt, pulling out a slightly crumpled, scented handkerchief. With hurried, awkward motions, she began to dab at his face, the faint trace of her personal scent lingering in the air.
"You're hurt..."
Her voice trembled, carrying the hint of tears. "Fujii-kun, I'll take you to the hospital..."
"Nothing's wrong." Fujii Shu let out a sigh of relief, leaning his back against the warmth of Ogihara Saki's embrace. As he settled in, he felt something soft pressing against him, the sensation both unexpected and slightly comforting, adding a subtle ambiguous to the moment.
"It's not my blood—just some that got on me during the fight."
"But... we should still get it checked!"
"No need. A little rest and I'll be fine. My house isn't far from here."
"But..."
"Don't worry, I'm really fine."
Fujii Shu's eyelids drooped slightly.
"Damn it, that stupid system never mentioned how painful it would be after the effects wore off!"
His chest heaved as he lay in her arms, for the first time catching an unobstructed view of her delicate, charming features without his bangs getting in the way.
She was stunning—like a budding idol yet to debut.
Leaning against the railing, the setting sun mirrored on the river behind. A gentle September evening breeze swept by, carrying the cool, delicate mist of the Sumida River.
After lying there for half a minute, Fujii Shu finally regained some strength.
"Ogihara, I'll need you to pedal the bike for the rest of the way."
Bearing the pain, he joked,"I've always been the one giving you rides. Don't you think it's about time you showed some gratitude?"
Saki Ogihara pressed her lips into a determined line, wiped her tears, and nodded solemnly.
She righted the bike and slung Fujii Shu's arm over her shoulder, carefully helping him onto the back seat.
"Ring, ring!"
"Fujii-kun, hold on me."
Straddling the back seat of the bicycle, Fujii Shu wrapped his hands around the slender waist hidden beneath the school uniform. Feeling the fullness from both above and below, he felt completely content.
With a flick of the bike bell, Ogihara Saki pressed down hard on the pedal, her slender legs wrapped in white socks. The bicycle sped along the banks of the Sumida River, cutting through the slightly humid warmth of a September evening.
...
Fujii Residence.
"Is this the spot??"
Glancing at the family name "Fujii" engraved on the nameplate of the house, Saki Ogihara propped the bike on its stand. She then wrapped Fujii Shu's arm over her shoulder again and helped him to the door.
"Knock, knock!"
"Anyone at home?"
"Please open the door!"
She tapped the door lightly, but no sound came from inside. Saki Ogihara turned to Fujii Shu with a questioning look.
"My sister's probably not back yet," Fujii Shu muttered weakly.
That little Mesugaki, Shimizu Airi, wasn't the stay-at-home type. Unlike him, she didn't have to work part-time jobs to make ends meet. At this hour, she was likely still laughing and playing at her school club, fully enjoying her carefree campus life.
"Ogihara, the key is in my pocket..."
"I'm too exhausted to get it myself. Can you open the door?"
Fujii Shu's pale face, drained of all color, looked as though it was under a debuff of weakness.
"Okay..." Saki Ogihara hesitated before slipping her slender hand into his pocket to search.
Rustle, rustle.
"Huh, I can't feel the key."
"Maybe it's deeper inside?"
Her fingers brushed against his thigh as she reached further in.
"Gasp—what are you doing?!"
Fujii Shu sucked in a sharp breath, his ashen face miraculously gaining a hint of redness.
"Idiot, stop fumbling around!"
"If it's not in that pocket, it must be in the other one!"
"Oh, s-sorry..." Saki Ogihara hastily withdrew her hand and apologized.
She hesitated before reaching into the other pocket, finally pulling out a cold, metallic key.
"So it was here!"
"Then... what did I touch just now?"
Her thoughts darted like silver eels vanishing into the depths of muddy waters. The air grew thick with an unspoken tension, and Saki Ogihara's cheeks burned crimson, as if her blush might spill over like molten fire.
"What are you standing there for? Open the door!"
Fujii Shu barely had the strength to scold her.
"Oh, right, sorry..."
Saki Ogihara fumbled nervously with the key, struggling for a while before managing to fit it into the lock.
Click—
The door swung open. Turning her flushed face away, Saki Ogihara hooked Fujii Shu's arm over her shoulder again and helped him into the living room.
"My room's on the second floor."
"Got it."
With her head lowered, face still glowing red, Saki Ogihara supported him up the stairs and into his bedroom.
Pushing the door open, Fujii Shu collapsed onto his bed like a bird returning to its nest. Every cell in his body seemed to scream for rest.
Soon, exhaustion washed over him like a tide.
"How are you feeling, Fujii-kun?"
"Better now?"
"Does it still hurt?"
Saki Ogihara's concerned voice filled the air as she adjusted his pillow and gently placed his head on it. She then removed his shoes for him.
"Much better..." Fujii Shu forced a faint smile.
"Maybe we should still go to the hospital?"
"No need. There's painkillers under the coffee table downstairs. A few of those should do the trick."
Fujii Shu knew his condition was a side effect of the system's concoction. Even a hospital wouldn't know what to make of it.
Once the debuff wore off, he wouldn't instantly bounce back to peak condition, but he'd feel significantly better.
"I'll get the medicine."
"You rest."
Saying this, Saki Ogihara hurried out.
When she returned, she held a glass of warm water and several packets of painkillers.
Breaking open the tablets and capsules, she held them to Fujii Shu's lips.
"Fujii-kun, take your medicine."
"I'll feed you..."
Her words made Fujii Shu shudder instinctively, especially as he glanced at her pure, beautiful face.
Ogihara, you can't feed people medicine like this!
A beautiful girl should never feed someone medicine!That would lead to a big mistake!!!