What does this mean?
Asking him for pocket money?
Fujii Itsuki had no blood relation or official familial ties with Shimizu Aimi and her mother. He was merely being cared for on behalf of Momonogi Eiko. For convenience's sake, Shimizu Aimi called him "Nii-san" (big brother).
Fujii Itsuki narrowed his eyes as a vague memory surfaced in his mind.
Every payday, Shimizu Aimi would find various excuses to demand half of his salary. Given the original Fujii's timid personality and virtually non-existent status in the household, he naturally complied with Shimizu Aimi's every whim, not daring to utter a word of protest.
So...
Was he supposed to hand over half of his hard-earned 80,000 yen before it even had a chance to warm his pocket?
Fujii Itsuki's eye twitched involuntarily.
Why should he? This was nothing short of bullying an honest person!
Seeing Fujii Itsuki's silent, unresponsive demeanor, a flicker of suspicion crossed Shimizu Aimi's pretty face. Usually, her pushover "Nii-san" would cower like a quail, anxiously handing over the money.
"Hey, it's not just half this time, you know. I want all of it!" Shimizu Aimi didn't bother with pleasantries. She lifted her dainty chin, her snow-white jaw jutting out as she impatiently urged him.
"Get lost," Fujii Itsuki snapped, his face cold as he irritably swatted away Shimizu Aimi's hand hovering before his eyes.
"Slap!"
"You..." Shimizu Aimi instinctively withdrew her slender hand after the solid hit.
'Did this guy take the wrong medication today?'
'He actually dared to hit me!'
Hearing the fire in Fujii Itsuki's voice, her expression turned sour. With an angry face, she spat, "Fujii Itsuki, just because I call you Nii-san doesn't mean you're really my brother!"
"Hmph!"
She snorted coldly, taunting him with reckless abandon, "Don't forget, I still have dirt on you!"
"Working at the convenience store without the school's permission – I'll report you tomorrow if you're not careful."
"You'll not only lose your job but face severe disciplinary action from the school!"
Report me?
Fujii Itsuki raised an eyebrow at her words.
Right, there was that.
In Japan, students could work part-time jobs, but they needed permission from their school. This was because if an accident occurred during off-campus work, the school would bear some responsibility.
The original Fujii had started working without applying for permission from the school, which was how Shimizu Aimi had gotten this leverage over him.
"What now, scared?"
Seeing Fujii Itsuki's furrowed brow, Shimizu Aimi extended her delicate hand again, speaking proudly like a victorious general, "Come on, be a good boy and hand over the money!"
'What a small fry of a brother, actually daring to talk back and tell me to get lost!'
'This month's salary will just have to be compensation for me.'
'He's such an easy target to bully~'
"Slap!"
Her response was once again the crisp sound of a slap!
Fujii Itsuki swung his hand, swatting away Shimizu Aimi's hand as if shooing a fly, and spoke nonchalantly, "Go ahead and snitch if you want. I've already applied for permission with the school."
'How can this be?'
Hearing Fujii Itsuki's words, Shimizu Aimi bit her lower lip with her pearly teeth, feeling the lingering pain in her palm while glaring at him fiercely.
'No wonder this small fry is acting so out of character today, daring to defy her.'
'Damn it, don't get too cocky!'
"Fujii Itsuki, you actually dared to hit me!"
Shimizu Aimi steeled herself, untying her ponytail and letting her hair cascade down. She mussed it up, putting on a pitiful act. Then she forcefully tugged at the sleeve of her pink t-shirt, revealing the snow-white skin of her shoulder and the faintly visible bra strap.
"You're finished!"
"I'm going to tell Mom and Sis that you bullied me while they were out!"
"If you don't want trouble, hand over the money right now and get on your knees to apologize!"
This girl before him was nothing but a spoiled brat!
Fujii Itsuki felt a surge of anger rising in his chest.
Knowing his so-called aunt's personality, if she found out about this, she would undoubtedly side with Shimizu Aimi, favoring blood over reason.
He frowned, reaching for the envelope by his pillow.
Seeing this, Shimizu Aimi thought he had chosen to compromise. The corner of her mouth curled up, "That's more like it..."
"But don't think handing over the money will get you off the hook!"
"Don't be so full of yourself!"
Fujii Itsuki suddenly interrupted her.
"Who said this money was for you?"
Saying this, he smirked, and to Shimizu Aimi's astonishment, he pocketed the envelope.
"You bastard..." Before Shimizu Aimi could finish her insult, she saw an arm reach out towards her, grabbing her wrist and forcefully pulling her onto the bed.
"Thud!"
Fujii Itsuki was, after all, a male college student. Subduing a little girl like Shimizu Aimi was child's play for him.
He tightly gripped Shimizu Aimi's wrists with both hands, pinning them above her head and pressing her firmly against the bed.
This sudden turn of events left Shimizu Aimi flustered, her composure crumbling.
"You bastard Fujii Itsuki, what are you trying to do?"
"Let go of me, let go right now!"
Her long, slender legs flailed about aimlessly, like a fish out of water, her legs randomly hitting the bed frame, producing a "thud, thud, thud" sound.
Shimizu Aimi used curses to mask her inner panic.
"Bastard, scum, lowlife!"
"Aren't you afraid I'll call the police?"
"Go ahead and call them then."
Fujii Itsuki loosened his grip slightly, looking down at Shimizu Aimi's terrified face.
"It'll be perfect for you to turn yourself in and let the police arrest you for extortion!"
"W-what do you mean?"
The words "police" and "extortion" linked together made Shimizu Aimi's mind go blank.
"Shimizu Aimi, over the past three months, you've threatened to 'report me to the school' and taken over a hundred thousand yen from me in cash. That exceeds the minimum amount for a fraud case, constituting the crime of extortion!"
Fujii Itsuki snorted coldly, then slowly curved his lips into a smile: "It means you've broken the law. Get ready to repent in juvenile detention."
"Over a hundred thousand yen might not seem like much, but it's enough to get you locked up for two or three months at least."
"I hear juvenile detention is full of delinquents who don't follow the rules. You'll fit right in!"
Fraud?
Prison sentence?
Juvenile detention!
Shimizu Aimi's pretty face turned pale in an instant, her eyes filled with terror.
No!
She didn't want to go to any juvenile detention!
She was only 18, an excellent student, and a well-known beauty at school.
If she were convicted of extortion, her life would be ruined!
"Fu-Fujii Itsuki..."
Shimizu Aimi stopped struggling, allowing Fujii Itsuki to pin her wrists down as she meekly whispered, "Don't... don't call the police..."
"What did you call me?" Fujii Itsuki raised an eyebrow.
"Nii... Nii-san..."
"That's so formal. It's like I'm coercing you or something."
"O-Onii-chan, please, I'm begging you not to call the police."
"Now you're changing your tune. I preferred your defiant attitude from earlier," Fujii Itsuki said with a smile.
Shimizu Aimi bit her lower lip until it turned white, her large, watery eyes seeming to glisten with unshed tears.
'Damn small fry!'
'How dare he threaten me like this!'
At that moment, a "ding" sounded in Fujii Itsuki's mind.
[Ding!]
[Successfully initiated revenge against Shimizu Aimi!]
[System activating!]
[Character: Shimizu Aimi]
[Age: 18 years old]
[Attribute: Spoiled brat]
[Revenge progress: 10%]
...