Chapter 3: Even Angels Need Discipline

On the way home, the thought suddenly came back to me.

No—maybe it’s more accurate to say I finally realized it.

Why the hell am I walking next to Murakumo-kun?

Because we always go home together?
—No. Yesterday was literally the first time we even talked.

Because we live close and head the same direction?
—That’s true, but that alone isn’t a reason to walk together.

Because I might get hit on again, like yesterday?
—Can’t completely rule that out, but he’s the one who attacked me yesterday. That’s way more dangerous.

Yeah, exactly. I was just attacked by this guy yesterday—so why the hell am I walking home with him? He might do it again.

Thankfully, he’s not holding my hand right now, so if I ran, I might be able to get away.

…No, no. With how unathletic I am now, Murakumo-kun’s going to catch me in seconds. He’s way more athletic than I am.

If I want to run, I’ll need the right place, the right timing—somewhere I know I can get away clean.

When I glanced at Murakumo-kun, he seemed to notice and looked back at me. I gave him a forced smile, but he didn’t even twitch a facial muscle. His sharp gaze pierced right through me, his expression completely blank. Terrifying.

“…What is it?”

“N-Nothing at all!”

I blurted that out on reflex.

If I want to escape, I can’t let him catch on. I’ve got to act natural, like nothing’s going on.

When I slowed my pace, he slowed his to match mine.

He always looks blank, like he’s not thinking about anything—but somehow, he’s considerate in weird ways like this.

But right now, that consideration is just getting in the way of me running.

Maybe… I should just bolt into a crowd. With how big he is, weaving through people would slow him down. I’m smaller, so I should be able to slip through more easily.

Yeah, that’s the plan.

We were just about to enter a busy area, the kind where you have to zigzag between people.

If I run now, he shouldn’t be able to grab me in time.

We started drifting apart just a little bit as we each dodged pedestrians.

—This is it!!

I picked my moment, spun on my heel, and dashed off, skirt billowing behind me.

In a crowd like this, someone my size has the advantage. I could lose him in no time.

Thinking that, I weaved through people at full speed, putting as much distance between us as I could.

“Hah… hah… …haaah… haaah…”

How long did I run? Maybe this is far enough.

I’d gotten out of the crowd and turned a corner. I finally stopped, panting hard.

Honestly, I wanted to sprint straight home, but my stamina just couldn’t take it.

I mean, this body has no endurance… Feels like I’ve got less than half of what I used to when I was a guy.

Still, I must’ve shaken him. I should be safe now… right?

Just as I stood up and turned around, there he was.

Murakumo-kun. Not even winded, standing tall and staring down at me.

So that’s the difference in athletic ability and stamina… Is there any area where I can beat this guy?

“…Why did you run?”

His voice had a definite edge to it.

When I met his eyes, that sharp stare pierced through me again. He seemed… angry.

“U-Uh…”

My eyes wandered aimlessly, searching for an excuse.

I couldn’t say “because I thought you were going to attack me again,” so I just froze.

Murakumo-kun sighed.

“—Looks like you need some discipline.”

“Huh?”

I let out a dumb little sound, but he didn’t care.

He just scooped me up bridal style again and took off running toward his place.

I was completely exhausted.

Running full speed had already drained me, but then Murakumo-kun gave me what he called “discipline”—four rounds of it, each one rough and intense, but somehow thorough, deliberate, and… weirdly service-oriented.

From my perspective, it felt like way more than four.

And now the guy who dished out all that “discipline” is in the shower, totally satisfied. Just how much stamina does he have?

Meanwhile, I’m lying face-down and naked on his bed, barely breathing.

If I had any energy left, this would be the perfect time to escape… but I don’t. My stamina is so low I can’t even move without resting.

Not to mention, I’m covered in sweat and all sorts of other bodily fluids. I want a shower more than I want to run. …Not that I could move even if I tried.

While I was lying there like a corpse, trying to recover, Murakumo-kun came out of the shower, drying his hair, and said,

“…It’s free.”

God, I do want a shower—but I still need to rest.

Still lying face-down, I mumbled something like “mmph” or “ahh” in response and didn’t move an inch.

Murakumo-kun sat down naked beside me, reached over, flipped me onto my back, and started toying with my chest like it was just some idle way to pass the time.

“You really are hopeless.”

Is that really something you should be saying while groping someone’s chest?

Like most guys, Murakumo liked boobs. He wasn’t even subtle about it—he clearly loved them. He’d been playing with mine for a while now. I got it, though. I used to be the same way back when I was still a guy. But having them myself? That was a whole different story.

They were heavy. They bounced everywhere. And even though they were technically “big boobs,” touching my own didn’t do much for me.

Still, I didn’t have the energy to fight him off. So I let him do whatever he wanted for a while and focused on recovering my strength.

Until, finally…

“You need some ‘discipline’?”

What!?

I looked up at Murakumo. He was the only one enjoying this situation.

Please, no more! I’m really not in the mood right now! Not that I ever was!! You’ve been forcing this the entire time!!

But hearing something like that, I couldn’t afford to just lie there and wait to be attacked again.

“N-No thanks! I’m good!!”

I pushed his hand away, forced my sluggish body to sit up, and dragged myself into the shower.

By the time I came out, Murakumo had, thankfully, changed clothes and looked ready to head out anytime.

This guy… he’s planning to follow me home again, isn’t he…

Honestly, I hated the idea. But I forced myself to think differently.

It’s not like he’s going to do anything—well, after what he already did—but still. Walking alone at night would be way more dangerous. Having Murakumo around, even if he’s technically the most dangerous one, was still probably safer… right? Yeah. Let’s go with that.

So, when he walked me home, we ran into my mom at the front door. She’d just gotten back, purely by coincidence.

“Welcome home! Oh, and hello there… Murakumo-kun, was it? Haru’s not causing you any trouble, I hope?”

“Not at all. No trouble whatsoever. If anything, I should be thanking Haru.”

“That’s good to hear. Take care of her for me, okay?”

“Of course.”

Once again, the two of them completely ignored me as they chatted.

But strangely… it felt nostalgic somehow. Like something I’d seen a lot back in middle school. It reminded me of—

Wait. That was Kiri. Not Murakumo.

Kiri would never do something like this to me. Thinking that Murakumo was anything like him… that’s just plain disrespectful to Kiri.

The next morning, Murakumo came to pick me up again.

“…Are you seriously doing this every day?”

“You’d just run if I didn’t.”

…Hold up. Isn’t that weird?

We’re not friends. Heck, we weren’t even talking before he attacked me. We were just classmates who’d barely exchanged a word. And now, somehow, he’s showing up to walk me to school every morning like it’s the most normal thing in the world.

And what’s this about me running away? Of course I would!!

“Oh, good morning, Murakumo-kun! Another sunny day, huh? I’ll leave Haru in your care again.”

“Leave it to me.”

Completely unaware of the situation, my mom looked genuinely pleased, probably thinking Murakumo was some kind of polite knight who kindly came to pick me up. She started chatting happily.

Mom! This guy isn’t a knight! He’s a raider who stole your daughter’s—no, your son’s—chastity! He’s the worst!

And of course, Murakumo acted all polite and proper in front of her, like he was some model student. Gone was his usual quiet, emotionless demeanor—he actually held a normal conversation, like a completely different person. What a two-faced bastard.

The only thing I could do now was get him away from my mom as soon as possible.

“C’mon! Let’s go, now!”

I wedged myself between them and shoved him outside.

“My, my. I’m not going to steal Murakumo-kun from you, so relax, Haru-chan.”

“It’s not like that!!”

“Anyway, ma’am, I’ll make sure to walk her home safely after school.”

“Okay, thank you. Take care of her, Haru-chan! Have a good day!”

Ah! He said something unnecessary!

Was that a setup? Did he do that on purpose?

And now Mom’s totally misunderstood something, hasn’t she!?

—Thanks to that exchange, in my mom’s mind, it became official: Murakumo would be escorting me to and from school from now on.

To make matters worse, she seemed to think I actually liked him.