Chapter 102: An Inescapable Law

It was hardly polite to enter someone's home uninvited, but Kanade Natsukawa figured simply leaving the class notes at the door and sending a quick explanatory message wasn't enough. Since he considered Utaha Kasumigaoka a friend, visiting her while she was sick seemed like the right thing to do.

A quick glance around the entryway revealed that Utaha's apartment was nearly identical in layout to his own—likely the work of the same designer.

That wasn't what caught his attention, though.

There, on the floor, lay a pair of men's dress shoes, neatly placed on the carpet.

"…"

The shoes were practically unworn—likely brand new. Judging by their size and design, they probably belonged to someone around 180 cm tall.

But this was Utaha's apartment.

A surge of unease swept through Kanade. He scanned the area and spotted Utaha's familiar high heels from their previous outing in Saitama, where he had helped treat her blistered feet. There was no doubt this was her home.

So what was a pair of men's shoes doing here?

If they belonged to her father or another relative visiting to care for her, surely they would have answered the door after hearing the bell. The way the shoes were placed—on the floor rather than in the shoe cabinet—suggested someone intended to leave shortly. This didn't align with the idea of a concerned visitor staying to look after Utaha.

"…"

A troubling thought entered Kanade's mind.

Could this be a break-in?

While it seemed odd for a burglar to remove their shoes before committing a crime, Kanade couldn't shake the possibility. The unlocked door could have been the result of the lock being picked. And what if the intruder had targeted Utaha, following her home to take advantage of her beauty?

Kanade's heart began to race. Utaha had taken her leave of absence in the morning, meaning she could have been held captive since the night before.

Could it be a stalker? Or worse, an escaped convict?

Kanade hesitated. He considered calling the police but realized that doing so might take too long and escalate the danger. If someone truly had broken in, every moment counted.

He removed his shoes, clutching them tightly in hand to avoid making noise, and crept into the apartment.

The living room was unremarkable—nothing out of place. Kanade picked up a long-handled umbrella, gripping it tightly as he approached the closed bedroom doors.

From one of the rooms came faint noises.

Kanade's pulse quickened. He pressed himself against the wall, straining to listen.

If there was an intruder inside, rushing in recklessly could endanger Utaha. The assailant might use her as a hostage. Ideally, Kanade wanted the culprit to step out so he could ambush them.

But reality often doesn't accommodate perfect plans.

"Help! Someone, save me!" a distressed voice cried out.

Kanade's eyes hardened. Without hesitation, he threw open the door and charged inside, muscles tensed to strike.

What he saw, however, made him skid to a halt.

There was no assailant.

Utaha Kasumigaoka sat on her bed, safe and sound. Her hair was slightly damp, and her thin pajama top lay discarded on the bed, leaving her upper body mostly bare. She held a damp towel, delicately wiping her side.

A small basin of water sat on the bedside table, and a laptop rested on the bed. On its screen, a movie played—the source of the dramatic cries Kanade had heard earlier.

"…"

"…"

"…So," Utaha said, now fully dressed and seated elegantly on her bed. Her sharp gaze bore into Kanade, who was kneeling on the floor, avoiding eye contact.

"Care to explain, dear kouhai, why you suddenly broke into my home?"

Her tone was mockingly sweet, but her words carried the unmistakable sting of disapproval.

"Were you so overcome with desire that you decided to act on your primal instincts and attack a delicate maiden like me?"

Despite her weakened state, the unexpected intrusion seemed to have revitalized her. She pointed at Kanade with an accusatory finger, her sarcasm in full force.

"N-no! That's not it at all!" Kanade stammered, his head lowered. "It's a misunderstanding… I wasn't trying to do anything like that!"

But no matter how he tried to focus, his mind replayed the fleeting image of Utaha's pale, bare skin from earlier. His usual composure shattered, his explanation coming out awkward and halting.

"I-I saw a pair of men's shoes at the entrance. I thought you might be in danger…"

Kanade explained everything, from his initial suspicions to his decision to act.

Utaha's expression softened slightly as she listened, though a trace of amusement lingered in her eyes.

"So, I should be thanking you for your concern, then?"

"In theory…"

"Hmm?" Utaha's eyes narrowed.

"Of course not!" Kanade quickly corrected himself, waving his hands in protest. "It was my mistake for overthinking. I barged in without permission, and I sincerely hope Senpai can forgive my reckless behavior."

Kanade fully expected punishment—after all, he had seen far more than he was entitled to. But the fact that Utaha hadn't taken advantage of the situation to mock him endlessly already felt like mercy.

"Hmph." Utaha huffed, crossing her arms. Despite her dismissive tone, her mood had visibly improved. Hearing Kanade admit to worrying about her had a strangely uplifting effect, though she'd never openly acknowledge it.

Still, she couldn't let him off the hook so easily. He had seen her in an unguarded state, after all.

"Fine. I'll forgive you…" she began, pausing dramatically.

"…But only if you agree to do something for me."

Kanade felt a chill run down his spine.

"…"

This can't be good.