Chapter 105: Mistress

“What should we do now?” Kurata Ryoko asked Masashi as she looked at the woman, who was heavily intoxicated.

“Do you know where she lives?” Masashi asked.

Kurata Ryoko shook her head.

“Then let’s take her to a nearby hotel for the night. You go hail a taxi,” Masashi instructed.

“Okay,” Kurata Ryoko said and immediately walked to the roadside to hail a taxi.

After settling the beautiful woman on the hotel bed, Masashi said to Kurata Ryoko, “It’s fine now. Cousin, you should go home. I’ll send Aiko and Murashima home.”

“What about her?” Kurata Ryoko gestured to the woman on the bed.

Masashi thought for a moment and then said, “I’ll come check on her tomorrow morning. Alright, let’s go.”

In the taxi, Aiko suddenly tugged on his shirt and asked, “Masashi, did you help her because she’s pretty?”

Masashi smiled and replied, “There’s some truth to that.”

Upon hearing his answer, Aiko became furious. “I knew it! You’re helping someone’s mistress just because she’s attractive. You had an ulterior motive, didn’t you?”

“It’s because she’s my relative’s mistress. It’s somewhat tied to me by blood. Plus, seeing such a beautiful woman getting drunk and possibly being used for a threesome—it’s not exactly a pleasant sight,” Masashi said nonchalantly.

There was another more important reason he didn’t mention. He could tell the woman was drinking to drown her sorrows, and that’s why he stepped in to help.

Seeing him act so nonchalant, Aiko clenched her teeth in frustration. Murashima, on the other hand, looked at him with a strange expression.

After dropping Murashima off at her home, Masashi continued to take Aiko back to her apartment.

As Aiko quietly unlocked the door, the lights in the living room suddenly turned on.

“Aiko, is that you?” Naoko, dressed in a white silk robe, walked over from the sofa.

“Are you waiting for me, sis?” Aiko asked sweetly, walking over and taking her hand.

“Don’t stay out so late next time. If Dad finds out you came home so late, he’ll make you go straight to bed,” Naoko said with a frown.

“I know, I know. You’re so nagging, sis,” Aiko pouted and complained.

“Well, if that’s the case, there’s nothing I can do,” Naoko said, then paused when she noticed Masashi standing in the doorway, smiling at her.

“Oh, sorry. I forgot you were still here,” Aiko stuck her tongue out at Masashi.

Naoko gave him a complicated look, as though wanting to say something but holding back.

“I was out shopping with some relatives this afternoon and happened to run into Aiko and Murashima. Later, my relatives wanted to go to a dance hall, and Aiko said she wanted to go, so I went with her. We just got back,” Masashi explained slowly.

Hearing his explanation, Naoko relaxed a little, mentally.

“Aiko, it’s really late now. Go take a shower, you have class tomorrow,” Naoko turned to her younger sister.

“Mm, Masashi, sit down and have a cup of tea before you leave,” Aiko said, hoping he would stay longer.

Masashi nodded after glancing at Naoko.

Aiko then happily went to her room to get a change of clothes.

After Aiko entered the bathroom, Masashi glanced at Naoko, who appeared a little uneasy, then suddenly patted his thigh.

Naoko’s face immediately turned red. After a moment, she lowered her head, walked over to him, and slowly sat down on his lap.

Tightly embracing her delicate and beautiful figure, Masashi, as usual, leaned in and gently inhaled the special fragrance on her neck, which was even more alluring due to her recent shower. The scent of body wash lingered faintly, making it all the more enticing.

While he played with her delicate feet, he whispered in her ear, “Wait for me here tomorrow afternoon. I’ll take you somewhere.”

“Mm,” Naoko blushed and replied softly.

Seeing her shy yet obedient demeanor, Masashi felt his self-control slowly slipping away.

Holding the back of her head with his right hand, he kissed her forcefully…

“Sis, where’s that guy Masashi?” Aiko asked as she walked out of the bathroom, towel-drying her hair.

“He just left.”

“What? That annoying guy, he clearly said he’d wait,” Aiko complained in displeasure.

“Why, do you need something from him?”

“Well, not really… Sis, I wanted to tell you, today… uh, never mind.”

“Eh? Sis, why is your face so red? Are you feeling unwell?” Aiko asked with concern.

“I… I’m fine, maybe it’s just a bit hot in here,” Naoko said, avoiding her sister’s gaze.

“Well, as long as you’re fine. I’m going to bed now, good night.”

“Good night.”

After Aiko went back to her room, Naoko touched her lips thoughtfully, her heart racing faster than usual.

※※※

When sunlight streamed through the half-open window and fell on her face, Tani Akiko slowly woke up. For a moment, she felt as if her head was splitting apart.

It wasn’t her first time waking up drunk in a hotel room, so she quickly realized where she was. After some effort, she stumbled into the bathroom.

After a simple wash, she gazed at the pale, haggard woman in the mirror and let out a bitter smile.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of a door opening from outside.

Startled, she quickly stepped out to see who it was.

It wasn’t the hotel staff as she had expected. Instead, it was a high school boy in a school uniform.

“Who are you?” Tani Akiko asked warily.

“A relative of Gennai Taro,” the boy replied simply.

Hearing that name, Tani Akiko’s expression darkened.

“Did you bring me here?” she asked, looking at the boy.

“You could say that.” The boy walked over and sat down on the sofa.

“Why would you help me? You must know I’m Taro’s mistress. Every single person in the Gennai family wishes I were dead. Not only have I disgraced them, but Taro also left me a significant portion of his inheritance. Wait—I get it. You want to sleep with me, don’t you? Isn’t that what all men are after?” Tani Akiko said with a slightly hysterical laugh.

“You’re the most self-absorbed woman I’ve ever met. If I wanted to ‘have fun’ with you, I could have done so last night. Why wait until now?” Masashi said lazily as he looked at her.

“Then what do you want?” Tani Akiko asked, disliking the way the boy looked at her.

“Nothing. I just came to see if you were dead. But you seem to be doing well, so I’ll be on my way.” To her surprise, the boy got up decisively and headed for the door.

“Hey, wait a minute,” Tani Akiko called out to him.

“What? Do you want to sleep with me?” The boy turned back with a teasing look.

Seeing the boy’s mocking gaze, Tani Akiko’s temper flared.

“Screw you! I just wanted to pay you back for the hotel room,” she snapped, barely resisting the urge to slap him.

“Just so you know, I don’t take credit cards,” Masashi said, watching her rummage through her purse only to come up with a few loose bills.

“Then I’ll go to the bank and withdraw cash for you right now,” Tani Akiko said, embarrassed and furious.

“Sorry, I don’t like waiting around. Let’s just say you owe me,” Masashi replied, clearly uninterested, and walked out of the room.

“Bastard!” Tani Akiko muttered through gritted teeth, fuming at the boy’s infuriatingly smug attitude.

※※※

“Aiko, you seem to be in a good mood today. Did something happen?” Kogure asked during gym class.

“Not at all. I’m like this every day,” Aiko replied with a cheerful smile.

“Don’t lie. A few days ago, you looked so preoccupied. I don’t believe you. Something must have happened,” Kogure pressed, unwilling to give up.

“Really, nothing happened! Hurry up and get ready; it’s our turn to run soon.”

“Hmph. I’ll get the truth out of you later,” Kogure said, giving up for now as the gym teacher glanced their way. She pretended to be stretching and preparing for the run.

After Kogure ran off, Aiko leaned toward Murashima and whispered, “Mami, do I really look that different?”

Murashima studied her for a moment before replying, “You do seem a bit different—your smile is kind of silly.” She couldn’t help but laugh as she said it.

“Ugh, you’re so annoying! I’m being serious!” Aiko said, trying to keep her voice down to avoid drawing attention.

“Let me guess—it’s about that guy, Masashi,” Murashima said knowingly.

“How did you know?” Aiko asked, startled.

“Please. The old Aiko would never be so moody over a boy,” Murashima said with a sigh.

“Mami, I think Masashi likes me. Otherwise, why would he risk his life to save me yesterday?” Aiko said, her smile turning soft and dreamy.

Looking at the girl completely lost in her thoughts, Murashima didn’t know what to say. Her only hope was that the boy would slowly be drawn to Aiko and eventually come to truly care for her.

※※※

Thinking she would be driving her own car, the young man instead opened the front door of a brand-new black BMW parked outside the apartment building.

“Lei, whose car is this?” Naoko asked, puzzled, as she looked at him.

“You’ll find out in a moment. Get in the car,” the young man said with a smile.

Naoko didn’t ask any further questions and obediently sat inside.

Once she got in, the young man walked to the other side of the car, opened the driver’s door, and sat down.

“Lei, let me drive, okay?” Naoko suddenly suggested as she looked at him in the driver’s seat.

“You think I still drive without a license like last time? I already got my driver’s license,” he replied curtly.

Remembering that night over a year ago, Naoko covered her mouth and chuckled softly. She really missed that time, and maybe it was from that night that she unknowingly began to like this young man.

With those thoughts in mind, her heart softened, and she gently leaned her head on his shoulder.

“Hey, you used to be a high school teacher. Didn’t you know that you need to fasten your seatbelt when in a car?” the young man said as he started the engine.

“Lei, could you fasten it for me?” Teacher Naoko softly asked.

Hearing her speak in such a coquettish tone made his heart race faster.

Half an hour later, the car stopped in a quieter, more picturesque neighborhood near Shinagawa.

Just as Naoko thought they were getting out of the car, the young man drove into a two-story house with a garden, pulling into the garage at the back.

“Lei, who are you taking me to meet?” Naoko asked, looking at the two-story Western-style house with some confusion.

“Your reaction is just like my mom’s. You’ll understand once we get inside,” he said as he pulled out a key and unlocked the front door.

After touring all the rooms in the house, Naoko sat on the sofa in the living room, looking at him in confusion.

“Lei, I still don’t understand why you brought me here.”

Leaning his head back against the chair, the young man smiled. “You really don’t get it? I think you can guess part of it, but you’re not sure. Well, you’re right. This house and the car outside—both are mine.”

“Are you serious?” Naoko asked, her face full of surprise.

“You’re doing better than my mom, you’re much calmer. Next, I guess you’re going to ask me where I got the money, right?”

Naoko stared at him without blinking.

Just like he had explained to Rumiko before, the young man showed her a thick stack of securities transaction records, explaining them slowly while sitting beside her.

Naoko didn’t realize that, for these transaction records, the young man had caused quite a stir in several publicly traded companies.

“How much did this house cost?” After a long time, Naoko finally snapped out of the dizzying stack of records.

“With tax, 140 million yen,” the young man replied briefly.

Naoko didn’t ask about the car’s price. To her family, it wasn’t an enormous sum. But for a boy under 18 with no background, starting with just a few million yen and managing to multiply it by more than 40 times in such a short period—it was unbelievable. However, if it was him, she fully believed he could do it because he was so exceptional.

“Lei, are you going to live here?” After a moment of silence, Naoko asked.

The young man shook his head, suddenly standing up. He walked over to Naoko, lifted her off the sofa, and carried her toward the large floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room.

“You said before you wanted to wait for me at home, cook for me, and take care of me.”

“So, this house is for you. You can wait for me here when you have time, cook for me, and take care of me. How does that sound?”

As he spoke, Naoko, still in his arms, cried nonstop.

After a long while, once she had calmed down, the young man whispered in her ear, “Maybe you didn’t notice before, but now I’ll show you my favorite place in this house.”

When Naoko, still being carried, saw the oversized double bed in the master bedroom, her face turned bright red. She immediately buried her face deeply into his chest, too embarrassed to lift her head.