The next day, Kuroha Akira dragged his exhausted body to school.
Tired. Let's just perish already. Quickly.
Actually, yesterday at school hadn't been that bad. Sure, Kuroha Akira had to deal with a chain reaction of sudden troubles thanks to Moe-chan's "leak" incident, but he'd managed to overcome the difficulties without too much lasting damage.
No, the thing that really wore him out was what happened after.
Last night, the Class Rep said it was getting too late, and Aizono Moe was currently in no condition to move around easily. So she decided to call the family car to take them home.
Kuroha Akira was lucky enough to hitch a ride, getting driven directly back to the Kobayashi residence.
The car was very spacious—more than enough for four people. Probably because the Class Rep specifically mentioned there were four of them, so her family sent a larger vehicle. (The Class Rep usually took a sedan to school anyway, being the young lady of the Asato family.)
Worth mentioning: the driver was actually a female butler in a proper butler uniform. Very sharp eyes. Her gaze toward Kuroha Akira was like a police officer scrutinizing a prisoner—the kind of look that made you want to confess to crimes you hadn't committed.
But after Kuroha Akira mentioned that he was currently staying at the Kobayashi residence, his host family, and gave the address, he felt the female driver's gaze shift from vigilance to respect.
Kuroha Akira had seen this change in attitude once before. Shinomiya's current father—the one whose voice had carried a note of respect when he heard Granny Kobayashi's name over the phone.
So Kuroha Akira knew the female driver's change in attitude wasn't because of him as a person. It was because his background was now tied to the Kobayashi name.
Is Granny Kobayashi a user of the "Face-Face Fruit" or something?
Or is the influence of the transmigrator—Grandpa Kobayashi—still lingering?
No, it's not that they had a change of heart. It's because of who we're connected to—Che Guevara. *I shit you not, it's a real dude.
Conversely, if even the Asato family's driver knew the prestige of the Kobayashi name, then the Kobayashi family must also be a fairly well-known power in certain circles.
But Shirai Shiori and Aizono Moe seemed completely unaware of the Kobayashi family's status. They thought it was just an ordinary host family. They even asked Kuroha Akira curiously how things were going with his host family—which indicated that ordinary people don't know about Kobayashi.
In fact, Kuroha Akira had tried searching online for the Kobayashi family. But the surname "Kobayashi" is way too common. He couldn't find any useful information. He also tried searching for Kobayashi Mika—no mention of that unruly old woman anywhere.
Perhaps the information about the transmigrator had been deliberately hidden. Maybe this was a measure taken by Kobayashi's grandfather before his death.
So did that mean only truly prominent families knew what the surname Kobayashi signified?
A big boss hidden among the common folk, revered by all major families…
Kuroha Akira genuinely wanted to hear about Kobayashi's grandfather's rise to power in his youth. He felt it could be used as material for a light novel—an incredibly satisfying urban power fantasy. Unfortunately, Granny Kobayashi rarely talked about her late husband's glorious deeds. Occasionally she'd mention trivial things, like how Kobayashi's grandfather was very fond of Go.
*Asian chess
Actually, Kuroha Akira was pretty relaxed in the car. He didn't have to walk an hour to get home, after all.
But he should not have agreed to the Class Rep dropping him off first.
Because when the car arrived at the Kobayashi family gate, a terrifying situation immediately unfolded—one that still made his stomach churn just thinking about it.
Even now, he still didn't understand why the atmosphere had been so tense last night.
When Kuroha Akira got out of the car, Shinomiya Shion and Granny Kobayashi came out together to greet him.
Normally, Shinomiya Shion would wait at the entrance. But for some reason, she came out today. And even Granny Kobayashi came out as well.
Later, Kuroha Akira understood why. It was likely because Granny Kobayashi recognized that the car parked in front of her house was a private vehicle from a prominent family, so she came out to investigate the situation.
So then Kuroha Akira saw Granny Kobayashi with a strange expression go over to whisper something to the female driver. Although Kuroha Akira didn't catch what was said, he could tell the female driver was incredibly respectful and deferential to Granny Kobayashi—practically having the word "awe" written all over her face.
After that conversation, Granny Kobayashi turned back toward the front door and extended an invitation that made Kuroha Akira's stomach cramp.
"Since you've come all this way, why not come inside and sit for a bit?"
Upon hearing Granny Kobayashi's words, Kuroha Akira wanted nothing more than to rush over and shut the old woman's mouth.
Let those three people into the house?
Sit at the same table as Shinomiya Shion?
Old woman, are you trying to start a war?!
There was no way those four people could harmoniously play Go together!
Fortunately, the Class Rep seemed to know Granny Kobayashi—or at least knew of her—and politely declined the offer with a smile, stating that it was already late and they wouldn't stay long.
Granny Kobayashi simply nodded, put her hands behind her back, and shuffled back inside.
But Shinomiya Shion didn't follow her.
Through the gate of the Kobayashi courtyard, the three members of the Literature Club looked at Shinomiya Shion—who was wearing a white leotard.
Because Kuroha Akira had already explained that he was currently living with a host family, Shirai Shiori and Aizono Moe didn't question Shinomiya Shion's identity. They naturally assumed she was Granny Kobayashi's granddaughter. (They were a bit confused as to why she was wearing such an old-fashioned leotard, but they didn't pry.)
Then they were struck by her beauty.
It was in that moment that they suddenly understood. So this is why Asato Hitomi chose Kuroba Akira to join the Literature Club.
Because Kuroba Akira lived with someone this beautiful. There was no way he'd joined the club to pick up girls.
Immediately following that realization came feelings of inferiority and jealousy.
With a beauty like that by his side, would he still be interested in other "plain-looking" girls?
But Aizono Moe and Shirai Shiori hadn't yet fully awakened their romantic feelings for Kuroha Akira. So after those instinctive feminine reactions of inferiority and jealousy passed, they instead began to reflect on their relationship with him.
Shirai Shiori believed Kuroha Akira was a kindred spirit—someone who understood her, a teacher in writing. She was still uncertain about her romantic feelings, so she quickly calmed down.
As for Aizono Moe—she had just elevated Kuroha Akira onto a pedestal earlier that day. Now she felt that only someone this beautiful was worthy of him. The idea of someone as inconspicuous as herself being liked by Kuroha Akira? She didn't even dare to imagine such a thing. So she felt... relieved.
Only Asato Hitomi met Shinomiya Shion's gaze without flinching.
Because they already knew of each other's existence.
Previously, through leaving scent marks on Kuroha Akira, they'd already had a series of tests.
And today was their first formal meeting.
But it was only a distant observation through the gate. No interaction. No words exchanged.
The gate of the Kobayashi courtyard was like an insurmountable chasm—isolating two separate worlds.
The women at home and the women at school.
Women from two different worlds, who should never have intersected.
But because of Kuroha Akira—a person who belonged to both worlds—they met each other. They saw each other's true faces.
It was like an offline meetup after chatting online… except this was not a friendly exchange.
The hypothetical enemy had just gained a concrete form.
They understood the moment they met…
The woman opposite was indeed the enemy.