Living Together

In the area near the entrance.

Takebayashi put on her shoes, opened the door, and said, "For lunch, Akira-kun just needs to heat the bento box in the microwave. For dinner, you don't have to wait for me; I'll be home late because the professor asked me to assist with her research."

She cupped her hands and smiled apologetically.

"The professor is a woman, right?"

Compared to the neatly dressed and graceful Takebayashi, Akira was only wearing a plain T-shirt and shorts, his hair disheveled, and he looked like he had just woken up.

"Akira-kun, don't worry. If it were a male professor, I wouldn't agree to help. You're too possessive."

"No, no, no. You should always be cautious, Miyako. Men are wolves in sheep's clothing. Moreover, there are men who like Netorari, they prefer women who have boyfriends or are already married. It gives them a sense of achievement that can't be provided by single women. So, you might be targeted by such men."

"You know a lot, Akira-kun. Could you be one of them?"

"Of course not. But only men understand the minds of other men. Anyway, if you encounter any problems, call me right away, and I'll come to rescue you."

Akira has been living with Takebayashi for six months in the apartment. Initially, he wanted to rent an expensive apartment like the one used by the Nakano quintuplets' family, but Takebayashi refused and asked to rent a cheap apartment.

To respect his girlfriend's request, he rented a mid-range apartment.

They had gotten used to living together, but Akira still kept his identity and powers a secret. He feared that Takebayashi's attitude would change after knowing everything.

He planned to tell her everything after finding the Jewel of Four Souls or after Takebayashi graduated.

"Um. If that happens, the first person I'll call won't be the police, but Akira-kun. Are you satisfied?"

"Sure. I'm much more reliable than the police."

"Haha... Don't say that casually. What if there are police officers listening? You'll be in trouble."

Takebayashi found it amusing to see him pat his chest and look confident.

"Then I'm off."

"Wait, Miyako. You forgot something."

"Hm?"

Tilting her head, Takebayashi recalled that all her lecture materials were already packed into her bag. Then, she understood when she saw him pointing to his lips.

"Akira-kun hasn't brushed teeth."

"That's a simple matter. Wait for 30 seconds."

Without waiting for her to reply, Akira ran to the bathroom. After a while, he returned after brushing his teeth and washing his face.

"No more excuses. Kissing is a common thing for husbands and wives when the wife sees off her husband at the door." Akira said reasonably.

"We're not married yet. And also, our roles are reversed." Takebayashi complained.

After that, both of them started kissing at the door.

Although this wasn't the first time they did such a thing, Takebayashi still wasn't used to kissing Akira in front of the door. She worried that someone else might see. However, the uneasy feeling gradually disappeared as she immersed herself in the kissing session.

Unconsciously, her hands wrapped around Akira's neck, and their tongues entwined like snakes.

She completely forgot and enjoyed kissing her boyfriend. Only after the door of the neighboring apartment opened, Takebayashi realized and quickly distanced herself.

"Good morning, Yamada-san."

When Takebayashi's face turned as red as an apple from embarrassment, Akira wiped his lips and greeted the neighbor politely.

"G-Good morning. Excuse me..."

Yamada returned the greeting awkwardly, carrying a trash bag in his hand. He walked past them, but his eyes secretly glanced at Takebayashi's buttocks, who was wearing a skirt.

Akira noticed this, but he let it slide. After all, his girlfriend was a beautiful woman. It was normal for normal men (Except gay) to be interested in Takebayashi.

He couldn't harm every man who just glanced at his girlfriend.

As long as they didn't commit sexual harassment, he wouldn't do anything.

Moreover, he had investigated the backgrounds of the people renting rooms on the 10th floor.

The recent neighbor was named Shijo Yamada, 32 years old, a NEET relying on his parents for a living.

The Japanese NEET culture is a phenomenon that is increasing in this country. NEET is an acronym for Not in Employment, Education, or Training, referring to individuals aged 15 to 34 who are neither working, nor attending school, nor undergoing training.

The lives of Japanese NEETs who still depend on their parents can vary. Some spend their time playing video games, watching anime, or just lazing around in their rooms. Some also try to develop their hobbies or interests, such as writing, drawing, or playing music. However, for most NEETs, their lives are often filled with loneliness and despair. They feel unproductive and lack a sense of future.

"Akira-kun, is there something wrong?"

Seeing him lost in thought, Takebayashi asked with concern.

"Ah, nothing. I just remembered today is trash day." Akira said with a smile.

"I leave this matter to you. I'm going now."

"Be careful on the road."

Waving his hand, Akira watched Takebayashi enter the elevator, then closed the door and began sorting the trash, putting it into plastic bags according to waste categories.

While sorting the trash, he kept an eye on Takebayashi through [Universal Sense]. He was afraid that a neighbor named Yamada would harass her.

The sound insulation in this apartment was not that good. As a result, Akira realized that Yamada would eavesdrop every time he had sex with Takebayashi.

After that, he learned that Yamada would use Takebayashi as the object of his perverted fantasies when masturbating.

At that time, Akira almost lost control and killed Yamada. Fortunately, he managed to control his anger.

No matter what, it wasn't a serious crime.

He was sure that many students at the University of Tokyo imagined Takebayashi while masturbating.

Akira couldn't kill them all, right?

So, he made a consensus. As long as they didn't cross the line, he would tolerate such behavior.

Even so, Akira was a paranoid man. He was always cautious and protected Takebayashi from the shadows. Especially from Yamada.

Yamada had the highest chance of harassing Takebayashi. Moreover, he was a NEET without a future.

The most frightening people were those who were desperate and didn't care about life. Therefore, people of this type could do anything without thinking about the consequences.

Akira didn't want to become a victim of NTR like the doujinshi he read.

Better safe than sorry.

"It's good. He knows his limits."

When he saw Takebayashi greet Yamada, who had just returned after throwing away the trash, he nodded in satisfaction because the other party didn't do anything that might endanger his life.

"Finally done."

After putting all the trash into plastic bags, Akira carried them and headed towards the garbage disposal on the lower floor.