Just as Yoshizawa Takeo charged behind Hikari and threw a savage punch, convinced he'd immediately knock the brat down and, after beating him up, he would go back to enj*y Miyuri, he suddenly found, to his shock, that the high-school kid he'd been looking down on had spun around in an instant.
Then, with lightning speed, the boy lifted his hand and, quick and precise, grabbed his fist with his palm.
Smack!
Yoshizawa Takeo's fully committed punch went as if into a mud bank, it didn't move Hikari an inch, and was clamped tight in his palm.
Then Hikari switched hands and threw a punch back at him.
BAM!
The world seemed to tilt; Yoshizawa Takeo was sent flying by that one blow.
Teeth and blood sprayed from his mouth as he crashed to the ground.
Yoshizawa himself was a little dazed that a single lightning-fast punch from Hikari could knock him flat.
Miyuri, who had worried Hikari might get beaten, looked equally astonished and watched the scene in disbelief.
'Isn't Hikari-kun just an ordinary high-schooler?'
'He fights that well?'
Miyuri stared with wide eyes at Hikari's retreating back.
On the other side, rubbing his throbbing head, Yoshizawa Takeo struggled to get up.
Seeing the boy still standing steady beside Miyuri, Yoshizawa knew he had run into a hard nut this time; his lecher*us plan was utterly ruined.
But it didn't matter, he had a gaggle of underlings, money and influence, and his father was the hospital director.
"This time you got me! Next time… AHH!"
Still seething, Yoshizawa was about to spit a few threats to intimidate the blond brat who dared to lay hands on him, when suddenly one of his legs was stamped hard in the crotch. Pain shot through him, making him writhe as if in ecstasy and agony.
Hikari, who'd heard the muffled crack of eggs, slowly withdrew his foot.
He looked down from above at Yoshizawa Takeo, the blond-haired sleaze.
Faced with Hikari's terrifying gaze, Yoshizawa felt the rumored murderous aura wash over him; his spine chilled and his body trembled.
This time he didn't dare talk back, perhaps the killing intent had frightened him.
He somehow gritted his teeth against the searing pain, scrambled to his feet, and limped away.
Hikari watched Yoshizawa's fleeing back but didn't give chase.
Although he did want to finish off the yellow-haired creep who'd been c*veting Miyuri and threatened to "cripple" him. Miyuri, the familiar aunt he cared for, was right there watching, so he couldn't very well kill someone in front of her.
Not to mention he'd been thinking of giving Yoshizawa a proper "lesson" later, big hot dogs and ultimate humiliation and the like, so he might as well let him live a few more hours.
After Yoshizawa fled, a system prompt sounded in Hikari's mind.
[Ding! Detected host successfully thwarted the vile deeds of yellow-haired Yoshizawa Takeo, saved Mrs. Miyuri, and promoted the spirit of pure love!]
[Reward obtained: Pure Love Points +200!]
Indeed, in this world even the countryside couldn't escape the presence of yellow-haired jerks.
They were all prime sources of pure-love points.
Hikari was feeling pleased as he checked the system message when he suddenly heard a soft, breathy m*an.
"Ah!"
He turned his head and saw Miyuri's fair, smooth, beautiful melon-shaped face crease in pain; her delicate brows were tightly furrowed.
He immediately asked, "Aunt Miyuri, are you okay?"
Miyuri shook her head in pain, "N-no… not really. I twisted my ankle and it's getting worse, it might be partially dislocated."
"Um, I can't walk right now. Could you please take me home, Hikari-kun? I'm a bit immobile."
Hikari lowered his gaze and saw Miyuri sitting on the ground with her skir*t slightly lifted, exp*sing a smooth thi*gh and white calf; her jade hand pressed against the swollen ankle under that pale leg.
Her shoes had come off; the ankle was red and swollen, definitely twisted.
"Of course. Come on, I'll support you and take you home, Aunt Miyuri."
Following Miyuri's instructions, Hikari took the hand she offered, ready to help her up and escort her back.
But the moment she stood, Miyuri immediately sat back down with a pained thud.
With the heavy sound of her rounded bott*m hitting the ground came a painful groan.
"Ow!"
"No… I can't! It hurts too much! Auntie can't do it!"
"My foot hurts so much I can't stand up!"
Clutching her ankle, Miyuri's forehead beaded with sweat; her face was full of pain.
Seeing her in such agony, Hikari thought for a moment and said, "Shall I go get a stretcher and bring people to carry you back?"
"N-no… that's unnecessary! I don't want to be left here alone, and that would be too troublesome," Miyuri hurriedly shook her head.
Trouble wasn't the main issue, she had just been secretly meeting with Natsuki Akito in this very spot and felt guilty; she dared not have too many people come or the secret might slip out.
"So what should we do?", Hikari spread his hands, looking at the picky, indecisive Miyuri.
"Let auntie rest for a bit, maybe the pain will ease. Or… actually auntie has another idea, though I don't know if Hikari-kun can do it…"
Miyuri's gorgeous eyes flickered as she glanced at Hikari's unassuming but apparently sturdy arms.
"Huh? See if I can do it?", Hikari sounded puzzled, "How does this involve me again, Auntie? What's your plan?"
Miyuri's radiant face flushed; shy, she glanced down and said, "Well… could Hikari-kun just ca*ry me home in your arms? Is that okay?"
An elder asking a y*unger one to hold her felt palpably embarrassing, and Miyuri's embarrassment made her awkward.
"If you don't have the strength, never mind. I'm a bit heavy."
She lowered her head, voice growing small.
Then, suddenly, a strong hand slipped under her ski*rt and curled around the back of her knee, while the other arm came under her armpits and cradled her back.
"I thought your plan would be something else, it's just this?"
Hikari, half amused and half exasperated, bent smoothly and scooped Miyuri up into a princess ca*ry.
"Yah!"
Startled, Miyuri let out a cry; being lifted from the ground had caught her off guard.
Only when she realized she was completely off the ground and being carried did she collect herself and exclaim with admiration, "Hikari-kun, you've really grown, you're so strong!"
While being carried, Miyuri recalled how Yoshizawa had been felled by Hikari's punch earlier.
The little boy she once watched grow up had become a dependable man.
Miyuri now clearly realized that her formerly much-shorter nephew had far greater strength than she'd imagined.
Though she'd noticed this, human fear of falling made her instinctively wrap her arms around Hikari's neck.
Hearing Miyuri's unexpected praise, Hikari wasn't overly proud; he just smiled and said, "It's not easy to win Aunt Miyuri's approval. But like you said, you are a bit heavy. Aunt Miyuri, maybe you should consider losing some weight."
Hearing that, Miyuri's smile dropped at once.
She pouted and retorted, annoyed, "What do you mean 'a bit heavy'? Hikari-kun, what are you talking about? I'm not heavy or fat, I don't need to lose weight! I'm curvy, got it?"
When a woman describes herself as fat versus someone else saying it, they're two different things.
For whatever reason, Miyuri didn't want Hikari to truly think she was fat.
Hikari glanced down.
As he walked, he could feel Aunt Miyuri's ample chest he was carrying rise and fall exaggeratedly.
He even felt the great waves of that substantial motion against his chest now and then.
That majestic force was indeed intimidating.
Hikari could only nod, "You're right, auntie, feeling heavy doesn't mean you are fat."
"Hmph! Exactly!", Hearing Hikari, Miyuri flashed a triumphant smile.
But then she noticed Hikari had been looking at her ches*t while answering.
Her fair cheeks flushed crimson.
'Darn it! This brat has an agenda!'
'This naughty nephew actually dared tease his elder aunt?'
'How outrageous!'
Blushing, Miyuri lightly bit her lip; a thin film of m*isture shimmered in her lovely eyes.
Although embarrassed, she also felt some gratitude.
The nephew who used to be little was now so strong.
Hikari's two arms held her steadily; despite his moving steps, she felt no tremor in his hold.
That gave her an indescribable sense of security.
And because she was being carried in a princess hold, Miyuri clung to Hikari's neck and rested her head against his chest.
Feeling the warmth of their skin close together and hearing Hikari's steady heartbeat through his chest, Miyuri felt suddenly warm and safe.
Perhaps because she had been severely frightened by Yoshizawa's shamele*s threat, she was shaken and in need of comfort.
So the warmth in Hikari's arms made her feel comfortable and reluctant to let go.
She slowly pressed her smooth, fair cheek to that solid che*st and closed her eyes, quietly savoring the warmth.
Gradually, a steady breathing rhythm sounded.
———
"Huh? Asleep?"
"Aunt Miyuri, we're home. Wake up, Aunt Miyuri."
Standing in Miyuri's living room, Hikari set her gently on the sofa and looked at the beautiful woman in his arms, her long lashes fluttering as she opened her pretty eyes, with a slightly bemused expression.
Hearing him call, Miyuri slowly opened her eyes. Meeting Hikari's mildly reproachful look, her face flushed; she awkwardly insisted, "I didn't fall asleep! I just didn't react right away."
"P-please put me down!"
At her words, Hikari gently laid Miyuri down on the living-room sofa.
They scanned the house and saw no sign of anyone.
Miyuri's fiance, Natsuki Kazuto, had probably gone to work.
Natsuki Akito had left the bamboo grove and his whereabouts were unknown.
As for the badly beaten Yoshizawa Takeo, he was likely shaken and had maybe slunk back to the hospital.
In short, it seemed the house was just Miyuri and Hikari.
Miyuri turned to Hikari, "Um… Hikari-kun, could you do me one more favor and fetch some liniment? I'm still a bit unable to move…"
Hikari nodded, "No problem. Where's the liniment?"
[T/N: Censored because of Guidelines.]
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