Chapter 48 

“Look, I’ve already been ‘re‑educated’ by you so much there’s nothing ‘normal’ left in me. So judging me by some ‘average guy’ yard‑stick makes zero sense, right?”

“That’s… admittedly what I’ve been aiming for.” Reika nodded.

“Besides,” Satoru went on, “after watching me scramble to dodge another girl all afternoon, do I really look like someone who’s about to get tired of you?”

“…When you put it that way, no.” A small smile returned to her face.

“And honestly, I’m surprised you ever compared me to ‘normal guys’ in the first place.”

“Oh? So you’re saying you’re so exceptional I shouldn’t lump you in with them?”

“Not what I meant! I’m saying you trained me into this not‑normal state so any ‘normal guy’ scale doesn’t apply!”

At his exasperated retort, Reika finally let out her usual soft laugh.

“It seems I really wasn’t acting like myself a moment ago.”

“Yeah. So quit over‑thinking and just keep being ‘Reika.’ Now c’mon let’s wrap up. We’re running later than I thought.”

“Right. Let’s finish the work, at least,” she said then added under her breath, “for now.”

“‘For now’…?” Satoru muttered, but she’d already turned to the boxes. With a shrug he followed, and together they made short work of the remaining inventory.

“Okay, that’s the last of it,” Satoru said, wiping dust from his hands.

“For today, yes. Quite a pile, wasn’t it? Those other boys dumped everything on your ‘good nature.’ Honestly, someone could have helped. You must be terribly unpopular,” Reika teased, razor edge fully restored.

“Ease up, the sharpness is getting deadly.”

With Reika’s help the final fifteen minutes flew by; alone he’d have been here until six.

“All done. So let’s lock up and head home.”

“No,” Reika said flatly. “We’re not going home yet.”

“Huh?”

“You told me earlier that being ‘ourselves’ is important, yes?”

“Yeah, and?”

“Then I’ll follow my beloved’s sage advice.” She stepped toward him, eyes gleaming. “You fretted all day about Amamiya‑san’s advances, didn’t you? Let me demonstrate right here exactly what might have happened if you’d 

failed your little evasive maneuvers.”

“Sorry, translate that? I caught about half….”

“In simpler terms,” Reika closed the last step, cupped his face, and kissed him hard, pushing him back until his shoulders met the storeroom wall.

“H‑hey! Explaining with words would’ve been enough!”

“Words don’t carry weight,” she breathed against his lips. “A practical lesson is essential.”

“And you’re using my words to justify it,” he groaned.

“Besides…” She smiled, dangerous and sweet. “I seem to have… unusual tastes. A stolen moment with my beloved, in a place like this, always sounded thrilling. Two birds, one stone.”

“Debatable math…”

“So,” she purred, hands sliding to his waist, “you’ll learn firsthand what level of assault Amamiya‑san could attempt and I get exactly what I want. Perfect, don’t you think?”

“Look, that line you said earlier about being shy, I think you’re already way past—”

“Shh.” Reika’s finger pressed to his lips. “From here on, we practice full defense. I’m going to act out every move I expect from her, and you are going to experience them. Then we can go home.”

“…Great,” Satoru muttered, cheeks blazing. “Escape chances are zero, huh?”

One glance at Reika’s determined eyes told him everything: she was absolutely serious and there’d be no running away.