"Meow——"
"Meow?"
The kitten, blocked outside and unable to enter the house, lay on the fence. Though a stray, she possessed an elegant and beautiful posture and was extremely perceptive. Her adorable cat eyes glared at the front door with deep resentment.
She rolled her eyes, scanned her surroundings, and was just about to find a poor sparrow to bully, or check for a bird's nest to steal eggs, when she was startled by sudden footsteps.
Swish—
She leaped nimbly and silently behind a potted plant, hiding her small body. She watched the terrifying, bloated man with the meaty face press the doorbell.
"Mrs. Haruhi?"
"Mrs. Haruhi! Open the door!"
The doorbell and the loud shouts startled not only the cat but also the neighbors next door. The red-haired woman, Natsumi Obata, who was just hanging Alex's clothes on the balcony, frowned and turned her head to see the commotion at the house next door.
"That man again?"
Natsumi Obata was taken aback.
After a quick glance, even though Natsumi Obata had the Silver Mark and wasn't afraid of the man, she still felt a mix of revulsion and heart palpitations. She shook her head in disgust and quickly turned away.
She had constantly heard the shouting from next door during the weekend, especially from that man—it was annoying, and yet no one seemed to stop him.
"That man again?" Mrs. Natsumi, who had just walked off the balcony, heard her daughter complain. Yui Obata seemed to have just woken up, likely due to the noise, and looked impatient. "Mom, is that guy harassing Miss Haruhi next door again?"
"He is, he's yelling at her door right now," Natsumi Obata had a decent relationship with Mrs. Haruhi and propped her chin on her hand, looking worried. "It's too much that Mrs. Haruhi's husband won't even step forward to stop him."
"I ran into her yesterday morning too," Chi Obata, in the living room, chimed in. "Miss Haruhi didn't look well. It must be all the harassment from this man."
"Her husband has no reaction? If it were Alex, he would have already squashed that man," Ai Kitakami said, imitating Alex's tone, a proud expression on her face. Yui and Mrs. Natsumi felt much the same.
"You're right, Alex wouldn't let him be so arrogant..."
This was why they weren't afraid of the man. Sometimes they would even encounter the guy trying to flirt, but they always gave him the cold shoulder, which was why Mrs. Haruhi envied them.
"Mrs. Haruhi's husband really is useless..."
They had met the man named Kinin Azuma, an ordinary man with no temper. He seemed like a gentle man (yasashii), but he couldn't protect his own wife, which was quite pathetic.
In contrast, how lucky they were to have met Alex... even though a lot had happened when they first met.
"What do you think, will Alex make a move on Miss Haruhi?" The topic suddenly strayed.
"That... is highly likely," Yui Obata rubbed her smooth forehead, her eyelashes fluttering. "Or rather, he definitely will."
For that great pervert, there was no such thing as "a rabbit not eating the grass by its own burrow."
For them, the events next door were just gossip and small talk after dinner. Natsumi, too, was unaware that Alex was currently visiting their next-door neighbor.
After the doorbell and the shouting rang out, Mrs. Haruhi in the living room was greatly alarmed. She was genuinely scared; her exquisite face was extremely pale and devoid of color. Alex, standing beside her, clearly felt the young wife's body go limp, as if she were about to collapse.
He quickly reached out to support her.
The soft touch of her delicate body and a strange floral fragrance rushed into his nose—a scent unique to a mature wife. Holding another man's wife in his arms, Alex's eyes flashed with a peculiar excitement.
"Mrs. Haruhi, are you alright? What's wrong?"
His palm touched her waist, which felt soft, warm, and elastic.
"Alex, that, that man..."
"Should I open the door?"
"No—"
Mrs. Haruhi grabbed his hand and shook her head. She seemed unaware of the intimate posture she shared with the young man, with half her body leaning on him. "That man is very dangerous."
"I've encountered him outside several times myself. Mrs. Haruhi, you should trust me more," Alex blinked, his palm subtly exploring her waist. Through the thin fabric of her clothes, he clearly felt the warmth of the woman's skin.
It was hard to distinguish whether he was taking advantage of the situation or simply offering comfort.
"I'm right here, I can protect you," he finally whispered in her ear.
Sigh—
Mrs. Haruhi felt her ear tickle and go numb. She almost let out a moan but managed to hold it in, narrowly avoiding social humiliation in front of the boy. She finally realized the intimate nature of her position with Alex.
Her waist was encircled, her body leaning against his. The scent of the young man constantly assaulted her senses. She knew she should refuse, yet... in this moment of panic and tension, this embrace gave her an infinite sense of security.
She couldn't bear to leave... and even liked it a little.
I am a shameless woman. How can I like this? I can't betray Kinin!
"Although I don't know why your husband doesn't trust you, it's okay," Alex smiled—a comforting smile, right there in front of her, inches away. "I will protect you."
Oh—
Her already conflicted heart was struck once again. Mrs. Haruhi involuntarily closed her eyes, her lashes trembling, and her heart racing wildly. Why did Alex suddenly... suddenly say something like that? It's too unfair!
"Alex, thank you..."
Mrs. Haruhi didn't know what to say. The rush of the young man's presence made her incredibly shy. Her voice was barely a whisper. Her bashful state made Alex blink. He muttered to himself that if he kissed her directly, she probably wouldn't even be angry.
Compared to mere physical manipulation, an attack on the heart (gongxin) was equally interesting.
However, Alex had no intention of kissing her. Instead, he released the hand holding her waist, causing a moment of immediate disappointment in Mrs. Haruhi's heart. When she realized her inappropriate feelings, she shook her head violently.
What is wrong with me... Is it the sense of security Alex brings?
Even so, I can't... She felt like a frivolous woman. While she was lost in thought, Alex had already opened the door.
At the doorway, Gozo Kuraso's face, full of greedy surprise, began to shake with his excess fat. He had been sure the beautiful wife wouldn't open the door, so this sudden, swift success was a complete shock.
Thinking about the woman he was about to get, the wife of his company subordinate, Gozo Kuraso was all smiles.
"Mrs. Haru—"
A man's face abruptly appeared in front of him, not the beautiful wife he was expecting.
Huh?
What is going on?!
"You—!"
"Can I help you?" Alex stood strangely in the doorway, blocking the way with a slight smile.
"I'm here for Mrs. Haruhi. You're the neighbor's..."
"You're looking for Mrs. Haruhi? Sure, come in," Alex's eyes flashed, and he smiled mysteriously. "We were just chatting and joking, so we didn't hear you knock."
Chatting and joking?
Gozo Kuraso looked past Alex and saw the beautiful wife he had been targeting. Her flushed cheeks and exquisite figure made his eyes turn red.
Damn it! What were you two, a man and a woman alone, doing in there just now?!
Did I just get cut off?!