Romantic Troubles of Duanmu-kun

“Kouhai-kun… so you’re actually a Novelist?”

Asami-senpai showed a surprised expression for the first time.

That said, she didn’t seem particularly impressed by someone who had debuted as a writer while still in high school. Or rather, there wasn’t any development like teaming up with a beautiful female artist, a beautiful female music producer, or a beautiful female voice actress to make an eroge or something like that.

“…”

He nodded.

Naturally, a Novelist was just a Novelist. Nothing more, nothing less.

“That’s amazing! So impressive.”

Despite speaking with an admiring and respectful tone, Senpai’s face showed no sign of sincerity.

“Hmm. That’s good, I see. I understand, perhaps this would be suitable…”

Asami-senpai muttered something in a voice too low to hear clearly.

Though he didn’t understand her intentions, the Novelist instinctively felt an ominous premonition. He decided to leave immediately.

“Since Senpai is now awake, I have no reason to stay here any longer…”

As he spoke, he returned the book in his hand to the bookshelf and picked up his gym bag.

“Leaving already? Won’t you rest a bit?”

“I have something to return to. If I delay any longer, it’ll be too late. The same goes for Senpai; remember to go home early. Also, take good care of your health. Well then…”

The Novelist waved his hand behind him.

“Goodbye.”

Asami Yuko made no attempt to persuade him to stay. After responding with “See you,” she watched as the young man’s silhouette gradually disappeared into the shadow-consumed corridor.

“Haaah…”

The girl yawned, once again showing a weary, spiritless expression.

“No good… no good, I need to properly finish the work at hand tonight.”

She returned to the bookshelf. Ignoring the pile of books scattered on the floor, her fingers touched the book covers, gently stroking along the spines lined up side by side.

The rough texture transmitted through her fingertips, along with the information and traces reflected in Asami Yuko’s pupils.

After a while, the corners of the girl’s lips curved upward significantly, revealing snow-white teeth and a smile that didn’t look like a smile at all.

It was already eight in the evening when the Novelist finished his day’s journey from school to Misao’s house and back to Amazu Manor.

After the internal turmoil within “VMO” had ended, Fujishima Kaori and Fujishima Misao, who had effectively gained personnel authority over the Kanto region, naturally no longer needed to be monitored by the organization’s people. They moved away from their previous suburban residence and settled in the city center, just one slope away from Amazu Manor.

He had initially wanted to joke that “there are actually spare rooms at home”…

Thinking about it carefully, whether or not his goal of living together with the Fujishima mother and daughter would be realized, his life would be in danger, especially since Yayoi, who was the head of the Niwa family, was also present at the time. So the Novelist wisely chose to give up.

Going to Misao’s house along the way naturally didn’t take much time. The main delay came from a certain senpai he had met for the first time.

“…”

Before going upstairs, he hesitated for half a second at the garbage bins outside the door, but still threw away the dinner bento that Fujishima Kaori had personally made for him after he left Misao’s house.

As for the label originally attached to it with the words “Loving Wife’s Bento ♡,” the Novelist carefully peeled it off and put it in his pocket as a collection… no, to hide it, to prevent others from noticing.

After opening his room, Miyagi-san was lazily lying on the tatami playing with her computer.

“Landlord-san, that was someone’s sincere feelings. Isn’t it a bit inappropriate to waste it like that?”

Seeing the Novelist walk in, the girl sat up straight and revealed a mischievous smile.

It seemed that Miyagi-san might have been leaning on the windowsill earlier and saw his actions.

“…If you want it, I can bring it back for you next time.”

Feel free to try if you’re not afraid of death.

“That was something given to Landlord-san by someone else. How could I steal what belongs to you?” Miyagi-san replied with a beaming smile.

“Oh, let me mention something trivial—just now, Landlord-san must have been thinking that I peeped at your actions through the window from upstairs, which is how I knew what happened, right?”

“…?”

The Novelist was a bit confused, not understanding what she was trying to say.

“Actually, while the outcome is the same… the process is quite different!”

Miyagi-san proudly thrust out her ample chest while turning the laptop on the low table around, placing the screen in front of the Novelist.

The screen, giving off a slight electronic glow, was divided into ten equally sized smaller screens. They showed real footage, and judging from the movement of people and the time displayed in the upper left corner, it was a live recording.

…Simply put, it was surveillance footage.

The main entrance of Amazu Manor was one of the locations.

Besides that, streets, alleys, intersections, residential buildings… all the scenes displayed on the recording screens were, without exception, places that gave him a sense of familiarity.

“This is…”

The Novelist had a bad feeling… no, this was no longer just a feeling. The evidence was right in front of him.

“I’ve installed surveillance cameras at all the places where Landlord-san goes to relax on rest days, on the routes to and from school, at restaurants, malls, and bookstores you frequently visit… all of them, without exception!”

Miyagi-san cheerfully explained to him.

“This way, Landlord-san’s whereabouts and daily activities are all in my grasp! How about it, doesn’t it give you a sense of security?”

…

…

…What is she talking about?

This idiot—

“No matter how you think about it, this couldn’t possibly make me feel secure…”

The Novelist couldn’t help but retort.

However, because the turn of events had completely exceeded his tolerance range, he instead felt a peculiar sense of powerlessness, with thoughts of “Ah, whatever, let’s just go with it” surfacing in his mind.

“Is Landlord-san worried that relying solely on me for surveillance might cause me to miss some important events?”

Miyagi-san let out a cute “ehe-hehe~” laugh. She seemed to have completely misunderstood and her train of thought was racing in another direction.

“Don’t worry, as long as it’s a place where Landlord-san appears, I wouldn’t feel tired even if I had to watch for an entire day!”

“That’s precisely what makes you terrifying! It’s not reassuring at all!”

Rather, it was the biggest source of anxiety.

This is completely stalker behavior… no, it should be said that compared to ordinary stalkers, the level of seriousness was more than just one notch higher—

“These are my sincere feelings, you know?”

Before he could react, the Novelist was embraced from behind around his neck. Soft and elastic objects pressed against the back of his head.

Miyagi-san’s fragrant breath by his ear was like a trap of sweetness. Her gorgeous, slightly curled shoulder-length hair fell upon his shoulders.

“Landlord-san… surely won’t refuse, right?”