I am a power!

"How was your study group yesterday, Mizuto-kun?" 

As Mizuto ate his late dinner, Yuni, his stepmother, asked him this question, but it was easy to tell that her eyes were in doubt since she doubted whether he was really studying or not. However, it was hard for her to ask this question, and she didn't want to be seen as annoying by him. Frankly, she wondered what she should do since Yume, her daughter, had always been a good daughter, so facing Mizuto was a new experience for her. 

"It's great." 

"Really?" 

"Yeah, I believe that I can take the 1st rank." 

"..." 

Yuni was a little speechless. She could tell that this stepson of hers was quite naughty, but somehow, she also couldn't say that he was bad since he did well in his studies. 

"Hmph, say that after you have gotten the 1st rank." Yume snorted at Mizuto's words. 

"Oh-ho? Are you going to challenge me?" Mizuto didn't get angry, only surprised by Yume's challenge. 

"Unlike you, I have been studying all the time." Yume narrowed her eyes and said, "I believe that on this placement exam, I will rob the 1st rank from you. By then, don't bawl on your big sister." 

"That's my line. I hope that you don't need my chest to lean when you realize the real gap between us." 

The two stared at each other, and a spark of lightning blitzed between them. 

"...." Mineaki and Yuni. 

Their relationship was good, right?

Yet, at the same time, they also weren't sure how to describe their relationship. 

Frankly, the moment Mizuto went home, Yume was like a dog who wanted to greet her master, but Mineaki and Yuni beat her first, yet she also couldn't blame them since Mizuto stayed out all day yesterday. The two of them were good parents, so naturally, they were worried about him since it was his first time staying out like this.

However, Yume knew the truth: This guy had been out to manage his business. While it was admirable and made her love him even more, she couldn't stand how he could confidently say that he could stand on the throne of the 1st rank of new student like it was nothing when he wasn't even focused on his studies. 

Unlike him, who was busy with many other things, she had been studying all the time, harnessing her knowledge and skill to take away the throne of the 1st rank student!

"Still, if you are so confident, how about we make a bet?" Mizuto suddenly said. 

"A... bet?" Yume raised her brow as she folded her arms, seemingly interested. 

"If you win, then you can ask me anything." 

"An-Anything?" 

"Yes, as long as it is within my capability, you can ask me anything." 

"REALLY?" 

Mizuto felt a bit shaken when her eyes were full of brilliance and excitement, but he gritted and nodded. "...as long as it isn't too much, then yes." 

"Th-That's great!" Yume felt like her blood was boiling, filled with excitement as she thought about what she was going to do with him. 

"But don't forget, if I win, I want you to do something." 

Hearing those words, it was like lightning struck her head. She looked at him cautiously, but somehow, her breathing also became rapid, which made her quickly realize what he was planning to do. "...what do you want?" 

"Onii-chan." 

"...huh?" 

"For a week, you will be the little sister and call me "Onii-chan." 

"...." Yume. 

"Do you dare?" 

Watching his confident expression, Yume gritted her teeth, feeling annoyed at this little brother of hers, who was so cheeky!

But then again, how could she back down? 

"I do. Let's do it! I will take the 1st rank throne from you!" 

"Say that after you become the 1st rank." 

"Huh? Is that a payback?" 

As the two made up their bet, Yuni and Mineaki looked at the two helplessly. Still, it was great to know that their relationship was great. Yet, what they didn't know was that their relationship was more than that. Still, as they had talked for a while, all of them retreated into their room. 

In his room, Mizuto continued studying French as the novel he had read was almost finished. Still, when he finished it, he sighed and thought that the ending was a tragedy and it was so bad. At the same time, he wondered why many women were attracted to a toxic and painful relationship. 

In the novel "Le Diable au Corps," the husband of the housewife is kind and gentle, but the protagonist of this story is manipulative, immature, possessive, and many others, yet somehow, even so, the housewife chooses the protagonist even if all of her family forbid her before dying due to dystocia as she chose to give birth of the protagonist's child, and the protagonist cries in regret, realizing what he had done. 

Even so, he didn't feel surprised since this housewife had been completely manipulated by the protagonist. The protagonist might be young, but he has a talent for seducing women.

Still, due to this, he realized how complicated a feeling was. 

It wasn't that he didn't understand the protagonist since this protagonist had fallen for someone, and he wished to do anything to make her completely raptured, even if the destination of their love could only be hell. 

Yet, at the same time, he realized how crazy a woman was when they had completely fallen with someone. Even if they had to sacrifice everything, they would do anything for the man they loved, even if they had to die. Even in the novel, the housewife dared to walk out during the intense cold rain when she was about to give birth so she could reassure the protagonist. 

Then, could immoral love only end in a tragedy?

Mizuto hadn't thought so since the famous figure in the history of the Three Kingdoms in China, Cao Cao, the famous warlord of Cao Wei, had made many immoral loves with many beautiful housewives and even had a harem, yet somehow he could live well until he was old and became a famous leader that was remembered in history. 

So, why were the endings of Raymond Radiguet, the creator of the "Le Diable au Corps," and Cao Cao different even if they had chosen a similar path in love?

 If Mizuto had to give an answer, it would be the power. 

Yes, power. 

It was as simple as that. 

While Raymond was a teenager without money and lived with his parents, Cao Cao had a country. 

If Raymond had money, was rich, and could take care of his loved one, or if his parents were rich and he was a rich second generation, then would this tragedy even happen?

So, no matter how beautiful a love story was, the element of reality couldn't be erased from it. 

In conclusion, only those who were strong could play the game of dangerous emotions. If they weren't strong enough, they would be swallowed and dwell in regret and pain.

Still, even so, there were no perfect things, so what he could do was just do his best and live alongside the responsibility that he had taken. However, with this, he finished reading the "Le Diable au Corps," so he sent a chat to Yuu, telling her that he wanted to get a new book. This time, instead of the heavy and something immoral, he wanted to get the sweet type of book, like the "Little Prince." 

This time, he didn't leave everything to Yuu as he was afraid that she would give him a strange book, so he did his research before he made a request. 

Nevertheless, as he chatted with Yuu, who teased him and asked about how the "Le Diable au Corps," he wondered whether he should write a book similar to Raymond Radiguet, who wrote down his affair with a housewife; he thought he should write an autobiography or memoir of his messy love life with various women. Naturally, it wouldn't be the same, and he had to make it a bit different. 

Still, when he was thinking about writing his book, the door knocked softly. 

"Come in." 

As the door opened, a figure slipped before the light was turned off so suddenly. 

Mizuto didn't even have time to react and only saw a figure that hid in the dark. Still, due to the light from the laptop screen, even if it was faint, he could see that figure dressed skimpily in dark lace undergarments. 

"You want this, right?" 

"...." 

Watching her walk towards him with legs that were wrapped in garter belts, he could only sigh helplessly and close down his laptop.

"Be proud. You are the first woman who makes me stop working." 

Yume only laughed, then leaped into him and started training for tomorrow's Sports Test. 

---

"I am back!"