Shuhei gave a slight nod of his head. He looked pretty intimidating because he was standing directly under the lights.
"Daicchan, you disappoint me." Shuhei spoke slowly. "You broke your promise to come with me after school, even though you said you would."
Daichi shivered at the low sound of Shuhei's voice.
"I... I extended my club activities a little bit, so.."
"Is that so?" Daichi was explaining, but Shuhei cut him off.
"So give it to me."
Daichi didn't get Shuhei's meaning. "Give what, exactly?"
Shuhei didn't answer. He stretched out his legs and came up to Daichi.
As Shuhei approached Daichi, his adorable face was filled with genuine anxiety.
"D—don't come any closer!"
"Why?" Shuhei's gloomy gaze lifted. "I only ask for compensation."
"What compensation? Money?"
Shuhei grabs Daichi's neck and gives him a kiss, not wanting to waste time waiting for him to say any more stupid things!
Daichi's stunned eyes expanded. Despite his attempts to struggle, Shuhei's grip remained firm and unyielding even when Daichi struck his chest.
Shuhei only needed to tighten his grip, regardless of how hard Daichi tried to resist.
His body was locked and his lips kept kissing. Daichi's cheeks began to slowly leak tears. He was embarrassed by Shuhei's behavior, but he was also worried that other people—especially his parents—would witness it.
Daichi's luck seems to be deceiving him for some reason. He could hear someone opening the house's door from where he stood.
"Is that mom or dad? It would be extremely risky for anyone between the two to witness me in this state!" Fear ripped through Daichi's heart. With more force, he struck Shuhei's chest, hoping that he would release him.
"Please, let me go! I'll be done if my parents see this!" Shuhei had sealed Daichi's lips so he could only beg in his heart.
Then there was the sound of the gate lock being unlocked. Daichi heard the sound of a very scary gate being slowly pulled open.
"I've done!" Daichi gives up. He closed his eyes, not wanting to see his parents' horrified expression when they arrived home to find their son being mistreated.
Nevertheless, he didn't receive the things he was expecting. Conversely, Shuhei parted ways with Daichi right away and stood erect next to him as though nothing had happened.
At that moment, Daichi's mother fully opened the door.
"Daichi's already home, why don't you come in? Eh, who is this? Is Daichi's schoolmate?
"He isn't—"
"Hi, auntie. I'm Daichi's schoolmate. My name is Shuhei Yoshimoto."
"Eh, so you are Shuhei Yoshimoto? Oh my, it appears that Daichi has a really handsome friend."
"Hold on, mom. He's not my—"
"Thank you, auntie. Having a friend like Daichi makes me happy as well."
"Okay, don't just stand there. Please enter first. I just happened to make a cake."
"Mom, don't invite him in—"
"Thank you for the invitation."
"Oh, there's no need for hesitation. Come in, please."
Daichi's mother had walked home before Shuhei did.
Daichi, the biological son, was abandoned outside the fence.
"I got wronged, didn't I? And my own mother is ignoring me now! What situation is this in?"
"Daichi! What are you doing there? Come in right away!" Daichi's mother shouted from the doorway.
"Oh, okay."
When Daichi walks inside, he observes his mother giving Shuhei good care. A plate of cake and a tiny pot of hot tea were brought by the middle-aged woman.
"Eat these snacks. Auntie is preparing dinner now. You stay for dinner, okay?"
Shuhei gave a nod. "Yes, auntie."
"Good boy." Daichi's mother turned to face the kitchen, grinning with satisfaction at her "good boy."
Daichi is now the only person left, standing close to the shoe rack while Shuhei is curled up on the sofa.
Shuhei's happy face caught Daichi's attention. It was evident to him that Yoshimoto was acting virtuous.
"Why are you doing this, anyway?"
"I already said I asked for compensation," Shuhei retorted.
Bringing it up once more, the sensation of the intense kiss that had just landed on Daichi's lips returned.
Shuhei ignores Daichi, who has an ugly expression on his face. He reached over to touch the teapot and poured himself a cup.
"Have a drink?" Shuhei extended an offer.
Daichi was irritated by Shuhei's easygoing demeanor. The chunibyo youth walked past Shuhei, stomping his foot in anger.
Still rage filled Daichi's heart. He was going to keep himself cooped up in his room until Shuhei returned later. Just as he was about to shut the door, however, someone unexpectedly blocked it.
"Daicchan doesn't want to invite me into the room?" Shuhei did not seem serious and spoke in a playful manner. But he was not holding the door with little force.
It occurred to Daichi that Shuhei was adamant about going to his room.
"I want to change clothes! Why invite you in, you bastard?" Daichi made a valiant attempt to shut the door.
"I just wanted to see what your room was like. You've seen my room, right, Daicchan? Now it's my turn."
"You didn't hear what I had to say, bastard? I said I wanted to change clothes!"
"It's okay. I would also like to see how you look nak*d."
"You scumbag! Get out of my house!"
Daichi tried everything he could to successfully close the door. There was only a small gap left, which made Daichi even crazier as he pushed the door shut. Shuhei, on the other side of the door, was also attempting to keep the door open.
The two were at a standstill until Daichi's mother's voice could be heard.
"What's all the fuss about?"
Shuhei immediately removed his hand from the door and assumed a 'nothing' posture. The door slammed shut behind Shuhei with a thud.
Daichi's mother was surprised and perplexed. "Why did Daichi slam the door?"
"Ah, it appears Daichi isn't in a good mood." Auntie, I am leaving now."
"Uh, dinner will be ready in a while. "Please stay a little longer."
"Sorry, but I have to work part time now."
"Oh, I see. Alright, be careful on the road."
Daichi could hear their conversation from behind the closed door. Daichi believes Shuhei is finally at home as the voices fade away.
He then slumped to the floor. He was mentally and physically exhausted after fighting Shuhei.
"This maniac even came to my house and pretended to be nice in front of my mother. I am afraid my mother will believe him more than me if he distorts the facts."
Daichi took out his cellphone. After clicking a few icons, a folder with screenshots of conversations and a video appears. It was an indecent video edited exactly to his face, sent by Shuhei some time ago.
"If my mother sees this..." Daichi could not finish his sentence. For a long time, the young man leaned resignedly against the cold door.
•~•
Surprisingly, Daichi didn't run into Shuhei on his way to school the next day.
Even so, he was not overjoyed. Even with a small voice calling him from behind, Daichi remained alert.
"Nishiyama-kun."
Daichi remembers this girl is Suzuno Sonoda, the girl who was caught keeping his photo.
Daichi was left with a bad taste after that day. So when Suzuno Sonoda greeted him, Daichi only responded coldly.
"Would you like to photographing me again?" Daichi asked.
"Uh, no, that's not it..."
"I'm telling you honestly, classmate. You'd better stop doing things like that. You should know that the photos you gave Yoshimoto were misappropriated by him!"
Suzuno appeared stunned. "Why did I give your photo to Yoshimoto?"
Daichi's brow furrowed in response to Suzuno's question. "Isn't that so?"
Suzuno replied by shaking her head.
"So, for what? Don't tell me it's for your collection!" That's no less terrifying!
Daichi didn't finish the last sentence.
"I made money by selling those photos..." Suzuno replied softly.
"Eh???"