Akane was in the bedroom, carefully folding clean clothes—a mix of men's and women's clothing. A small smile decorated her lips as she realized how domestic this activity was.
"It seems I'm already like a newlywed wife. Good grief, why am I thinking like this? But, it feels... comfortable." Akane muttered to herself, her cheeks reddening at the thought.
After finishing her task and arranging all the clothes in the wardrobe, she heard the front door open. Her heart immediately pounded—Azlan had come home. In this world without thieves, she didn't need to lock the door.
She hurriedly tidied her hair in front of a small mirror, making sure her appearance was fine before rushing to the living room to greet him.
"Welcome back, Azlan-kun—"
The greeting sentence she had prepared stopped on her tongue. Azlan wasn't alone. Beside him stood a flamboyant middle-aged man with black glasses and a thick gold necklace.
On the other side, before Azlan could say anything, Tomaru had already moved forward, his face displaying the sweetest and friendliest smile he could create. He extended his hand with polite gesture.
"Good day, sweet Miss. So pleased to meet a beautiful woman in this strange world. My name is Sawagoe Tomaru, owner of Snow Radish. May I have the honor of shaking hands with you?"
On the surface, Tomaru put on the persona of a kind gentleman, but in his heart, he assessed Akane's figure as if appraising goods.
(Wow, I didn't expect there would still be a gem like this in such a strange world.) He thought inwardly, his eyes hidden behind black glasses observing Akane from head to toe.
(So beautiful... She's far more beautiful than Kagura, and her body shape is above the average high school girl. Her body curves are so tempting, she'll be the perfect mother.)
(That well-shaped ass will become plumper after giving birth to dozens of my children, like what I did to my daughter Kagura. And her breasts... ah, I'll definitely make them bigger after I grope them and they produce milk after giving birth to my children.)
Tomaru was very confident in his skills at seducing women. In his experience, high school girls tended to be more interested in established adult men than men their own age.
He was sure, once he fucked the girl in front of him, the girl would never leave him. This could be seen from the women he had already fucked, both through sweet seduction or despicable methods with drugs.
(I'll make this woman mine. I've never failed. That brat? He doesn't know who he brought home. I'll take his place, and he'll thank me afterwards.)
Tomaru swore in his heart, his evil and dirty intentions dancing behind the black glasses.
"..."
Akane felt a strange unease. Her intuition as a woman screamed that the man before her was very dangerous. But seeing his seemingly polite attitude and the fact that he was brought by Azlan, she felt it wasn't appropriate to be rude.
Akane forced a thin smile, extending her hand and shaking Tomaru's hand.
"I'm Kurokawa Akane. Pleased to meet you, Sawagoe-san."
The handshake only lasted briefly, but for Akane, it felt like an eternity. When releasing the grip, she almost pulled her hand roughly, trying to suppress the urge to rub the hand that had just been touched by that strange man.
"..."
Azlan observing this interaction with sharp eyes, felt increasingly certain that bringing Tomaru home might have been a mistake. But for now, he had to give him a chance, hoping his suspicions were unfounded.
He then explained the situation to Akane.
"I found him at the mall when I was getting solar panels. With all the dangers outside, leaving him alone would mean sending him to his death. So I brought him here. I plan to let him stay on a floor of this building."
Akane nodded, her smile remaining friendly. "Azlan-kun is indeed kind-hearted. I don't mind."
Seeing an opportunity to improve his image, Tomaru suddenly put his arm around Azlan's shoulder with a pretentiously familiar attitude.
"Exactly! This young man is my savior! We're like family now!"
Azlan brushed off the middle-aged man's shoulder with a quick and smooth movement. He then returned the 4D Pocket to Akane after taking out a large folding solar panel, battery, and related tools from it.
"I've gathered everything you asked for. Seeds, fertilizer, and garden equipment are there. You can start gardening now." Then Azlan pointed to the pile of equipment. "I'll start installing solar panels on this house's roof. We need electricity."
"Thank you, Azlan-kun! I'll start gardening in the greenhouse right away." Akane exclaimed with a bright smile.
Seeing an opportunity to get closer to Akane, Tomaru immediately stepped forward to offer himself.
"I'll help you, Akane-chan! I might be a businessman, but I know how to hoe. Let me help with the rough work. I'll be your garden assistant!"
A bit uncomfortable being called by her first name by the other party, Akane hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded.
"Thank you for your help, Sawagoe-san."
So the three of them separated to do their respective tasks. Azlan went up to the roof with his solar panels and tools, while Akane and Tomaru headed to the greenhouse.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Azlan brought his electrical equipment to the edge of the roof, beginning to assemble the solar panel. With his technical knowledge and super strength thanks to Senjutsu, the process was much faster than it should have been.
On the other side, Tomaru and Akane entered the greenhouse beside the main building. Tomaru reluctantly picked up a shovel and began hoeing the frozen and dusty soil. Of course, he didn't miss the opportunity to chat.
"Akane-chan, what are your hobbies? Besides gardening, of course. Do you like traveling? I often travel abroad, we could talk about beautiful places."
"I like acting." Akane answered briefly, while spreading fertilizer on the soil Tomaru had just hoed.
"Ah, acting! Very fitting with your beautiful face and body. By the way, what's your favorite food? I can make sure that young man finds it for you. Don't be shy." Tomaru continued, his tone full of veiled seduction, trying to dig for personal information.
Akane only answered perfunctorily, maintaining emotional distance.
"I like regular Japanese food. And no need to bother, Tomaru-san. Azlan-kun has already done more than enough."
Akane could sense that the man in front of her was a playboy accustomed to playing with many women. Her response was neither warm nor cold, just functional, polite enough to maintain peace, but cold to prevent Tomaru from taking further steps.
(Wow, a difficult little girl, huh? Damn bitch, just wait! Just watch, I'll turn you into a woman who can't live without me!)
Clearly, Akane's distancing attitude annoyed Tomaru. Behind his smile that remained displayed, his mind was filled with dirty and horrifying fantasies.
(Standing so high, huh? You'll also kneel before me like the others)
Tomaru secretly observed Akane's body curves as she bent down planting seeds.
(I'll make you addicted. Once you feel my touch, you'll beg for more. You'll bear my children. I'll make you plead with me, make you beg to be touched, like all the women at Snow Radish.)
Tomaru's frustration surged in his heart.
(I'll make sure you never see happiness except what I give. That innocent smile of yours I'll replace with an expression of obedience. Those beautiful breasts will become a milk factory for my children. You'll forget that brat's name, and only know your uncle, Sawagoe Tomaru, as the only man in your life!)
(And for that brat...)
His eyes hidden behind dark glasses glanced toward the roof where Azlan was working.
(...I'll eliminate him once I get you. Or maybe I'll make him a spectator? Watch how I treat his woman!)
Tomaru smiled thinly at Akane who was busy with her plants.
"You're very skilled, Akane-chan. Surely you'll be a great mother someday."
That sentence sounded like an ordinary compliment, but the intent behind it made Akane's skin crawl. She only nodded briefly without looking at Tomaru, trying to focus on her work.