Damn it. It seems that I was kidnapped.
I woke up, kinda dizzy. My hands were tied behind my back, and as I wandered my eyes, I saw a guy.
It looks like he's the one who kidnapped me.
Wearing glasses, so skinny and pale with long, messy hair... a typical kidnapper indeed.
And the worst part? He's holding a knife.
"Oh, you're awake now?" he said when he noticed me moving.
"What's your problem, dude? You know the consequences of your actions, right? You just literally kidnapped someone."
He came closer and punched me in the face.
What the hell... It hurts.
"Shut up! You stole my Marika-chan!"
Uh oh. A lunatic fanboy of my aunt, it seems.
"Listen to me, boyfriend-kun... I called Marika-chan here... and watch me feel her good in front of you!"
This guy… He's pissing me off!
"Hey, mind if I correct you, but she's not my girlfriend. And if you touch her, you'll fucking regret it."
My family members are all girls—my mom, Nishi, and my aunt Marika—and they're all beautiful, which makes them vulnerable to creeps like this.
That's why I learned some self-defense, just in case.
And to think that the day I'd actually need to use it would come...
---
**Marika's POV**
After reading the threat, I immediately hurried to the place where Haru is allegedly being kept.
This is my fault. I deliberately displayed myself in public, knowing my status. If something bad happened to Haru... I wouldn't be able to handle the guilt.
While rushing to the riverbank, I encountered Shiori.
"Oh, Marika! You look like you're dead, auntie. What's the problem?"
Damn it. Should I ask for her help?
"Listen, Shiori... Haru got kidnapped."
"What?!"
Her mood immediately shifted. It was like she was about to kill someone.
"Did the kidnapper mention any place?"
"Yes, he said he's waiting at the riverbank."
She immediately rushed off. I tried to stop her, but she said:
"Call the police, Marika! Let me handle Haru."
"But Shiori—"
Then she slapped me.
"Do you not recognize that Haru's in danger? At least act seriously, will you? What can you do there alone, huh? Are you an assassin in idol's disguise or what?"
"Just trust me, auntie. I can protect Haru. Just call the police, okay?"
Damn it. I know she's right, but…
I can't erase the fact that because of me, Haru was kidnapped.
---
**Haru's POV**
She clearly wants to violate my aunt. Should I incapacitate him? Can I fight him using just my feet?
No way. He's holding a knife. Besides, I'm not that strong. I can't even fight back when Shiori-san pins me down.
So, I calmly and slowly began untying my hands. Though it's painfully tight, I need to endure it.
I also kept observing him. I had to avoid raising any suspicion.
I felt the rope loosen slightly and managed to slip my hands free.
"Hey, you damn pervert... look, my hands slipped."
"You damn brat!!"
He lunged at me, knife in hand. I intercepted it by blocking his arm, but…
He's surprisingly strong.
I kicked him in the stomach, forcing him to stumble back.
"Damn you! I'll fucking kill you!"
Uh oh. He's pissed.
He charged at me desperately, gripping his knife tightly. I blocked him again, but his force pinned me against the wall.
He's pressing his weight on me.
This is bad. If this continues, I'll run out of stamina, and I'll get stabbed.
The knife was inches from my neck when someone grabbed his arm from behind.
I was shocked to see Shiori-san.
"Oi, don't you dare touch Haru-kun like that."
Shiori-san locked the man's neck with her arms. I jumped in to hold the man's arms, preventing him from fighting back. Together, we restrained him until he lost consciousness.
Afterward, Shiori-san hugged me tightly.
"Haru-kun, are you okay?"
"Uh, Shiori-san, you're hugging me way too tight."
"Oh, sorry. I'm just relieved you're safe."
"How did you know I was here?"
"I saw your aunt running and asked her what happened. She told me, so I rushed here. She called the police, so don't worry."
---
Some time later, Aunt Marika arrived with the police.
The police arrested the kidnapper and checked on us. After explaining the situation and confirming we were fine, they left.
Aunt Marika ran to me and hugged me.
"Haru! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I can handle creeps like that, you know."
She started crying.
"I'm sorry, Haru. This is my fault. I shouldn't have revealed myself in public so easily."
I patted her head and replied, "It's okay, as long as you're fine, Marika nee-san. And Shiori-san came here to rescue me, so you can at least say thank you to her."
Marika turned to Shiori-san and said, "Thank you, Shiori-san, for saving Haru."
"No problem, auntie. I won't let my Haru-kun get harmed, you know~."
"Oh, fine... do whatever you want with Haru. And don't call me aunt. Marika is fine."
At least they're okay now. But to think I had to be in danger for this to happen…
---
After that incident, Aunt Marika and I decided to go back home. Shiori-san still had work to do. Apparently, we were lucky that she had left school to buy lunch, which was when Aunt Marika found her.
While walking, Aunt Marika and I talked a bit.
"Haru, I'm sorry. It looks like I misjudged Shiori-san before. She's not a sexually frustrated shota-con."
"Of course she's not! Sigh… So I needed to be in danger for you to realize that, huh?"
"I'm really sorry, Haru. You almost died because of me. Don't worry. I'll be back at my apartment in Tokyo tomorrow."
Sigh... As if I'd let her.
"No, no. I won't allow you to do that, you know."
"But Haru, I just put you in danger! What if something like that happened again?"
She was crying. The earlier incident had really shaken her.
"It's fine. I'm still alive. Besides, if you live alone, you'll be in more danger, you know? Mom and I will just worry about you."
"Sigh... Haru, you've really grown into a fine young man. Too bad I can't marry you. Cousins can marry but aunt and nephew can't? What the hell Japan?"
"Stop that joke. That's disgusting."
"All right! For the sake of my cute nephew, I'll live with you! But there's one condition..."
"As long as it's reasonable, then..."
"Okay! Help me move my things to your house! And that storage room? It's supposed to be my room, so help me clean it!"
On second thought, maybe I should have let her go back to living alone.