"Thanks," Ichiro said and paid the taxi driver.
The taxi driver took the money with gratitude and took one final look towards Ichiro.
He recognized him immediately— it was impossible not to.
Ichiro closed the taxi's door and looked at the mansion in front of him.
He has returned to the Azura's and Alena's Residence.
Ichiro opened the gates and walked towards the front door— before he even managed to get there, the door was opened with a slam, and a black-haired girl appeared.
"Ichiro!" Azura leaped and hugged Ichiro's athletic body. She sniffed his scent and hugged his body tighter.
Ichiro wryly smiled and patted his girlfriend's head.
"Hmm…" Azura now felt that something was different with Ichiro's body.
She stopped hugging him and circled around his figure.
Ichiro looked at her with an amused smile.
"You have got taller… And more muscular." Azura said with a pondering expression.
Ichiro smiled and put his hands on Azura's waist.
"Mmm…" Azura put her arms over Ichiro's shoulders and looked shyly at him.
Their lips was about to touch, but then a voice came from the door.
"Oh, Ichiro, you have returned." Alena appeared at the door, but then she saw their situation. Her face changed shades, and she instantly returned to the mansion.
'Those two… So shameless.'
Azura blushed and hid her face in Ichiro's chest.
Ichiro wryly smiled, "Not one moment of peace."
Azura giggled and looked at him, "We should move in together."
Ichiro shrugged, "Maybe in the future." He said and entered the mansion with Azura.
He talked for half an hour about what he did in the Frozen Island with Alena and Azura, but he left out the more dangerous details.
Soon, Ichiro entered his temporary room and lied down on the bed.
He felt like he was lying on marshmallows. In Frozen Island, he lied on the hard ground in some random cave.
*Creak*
The door to his room was opened.
Azura appeared and entered the room.
She closed the door and walked towards Ichiro. She lied down on the bed next to him and looked at the ceiling.
Ichiro was deep in slumber.
Azura kissed his cheek and hugged his muscular body.
Soon, she fell asleep as well.
…
A few days later.
Ichiro and Azura entered the school.
This time, Ichiro will return to school— he has been already absent for over a month.
Their figures caught the attention of the entire student base.
Azura looked lovely with her hair tied up in a ponytail and cheeks slightly dyed in pink. Her face, which looked like a porcelain doll was looking even more delicate and beautiful after trying a few skincare products. She didn't have those previously because of poor living conditions.
Next to that lovely black-haired girl was a familiar black-haired young man who everyone has seen in the news over hundred times by now. His figure was now around 190cm in height with smooth-looking skin and well-defined facial features.
The students looked at the dream couple with envy.
The young men wanted to be Ichiro.
The young women in the yard wanted to be in Azura's position.
Shortly afterward, they entered their classroom, which was half full.
When they arrived, the class went quiet.
Ichiro sat down on his chair under the intense gazes of his classmates.
Azura sat down on his desk and kept talking few more minutes before the teacher came.
Their classmates didn't even dare to breathe loudly.
Soon, the teacher came, and classes started.
Azura returned to her seat and started listening to the classes closely.
The school day went by fast.
Ichiro visited the Martial Arts Club and met with Michael, Sariel, and Rafael.
Sariel had returned from the hospital after his miraculous recovery.
After his visit, he left the school with Azura.
The yard was still full of students crowding, and there was even dozens of reporters on the other side of the gate, waiting to get a glimpse of famous Ichiro!
Azura hid behind Ichiro— she doesn't want her picture to end up in the newspaper— she would be too embarrassed!
Ichiro exited the school, and instantly the camera flashes and noisy reporters assaulted his senses.
He was about to go past the reporters, but then one reporter asked a question.
"Ichiro! We have got information from a trustworthy source that you are trying to use the daughter of the Nightside family to get close to Abyss. Is this true?" The reporter asked loudly and put the microphone in front of Ichiro.
The other reporters also got curious and prepared their cameras for new headlines.
Azura raised her head and felt her heart stop.
Ichiro slowly moved his gaze at the reporter.
The reporter had the face of a stuffed balloon with a sly smile.
"Hmm…" Ichiro hummed and grabbed the collar of the reporter.
"EEEK!" The reporter cried out, and now he was face to face with Ichiro.
"Repeat it," Ichiro said calmly, but his black eyes looked like an endless pit of darkness.
"I-I-Is i-i-it r-real?" The reporter's voice shook and cracked multiple times.
"I-Ichiro, it's alright." Azura touched his arm and said gently, "I don't believe rumors."
Ichiro looked at her and dropped the reporter on the ground.
The reporter took deep breaths, but he now received the headline he wanted.
Kurogami Ichiro assaulted a reporter!
He had a sly smile, but then Ichiro's feet appeared and landed on the reporter's hand.
*Crack*
"ARGHHHHHH!" The reporter cried in agony as his hand was crushed.
The reporters around him went pale as a sheet— they quickly retreated, not daring to film the scene.
"Oops," Ichiro said and leaned closer on his ear.
"Listen to me very closely," Ichiro whispered in his ear.
The reporter started shaking like a newborn baby.
"These kinds of rumors can make Azura sad— if she becomes sad, I become sad— do you get why I am saying?"
The reporter shakily nodded.
Ichiro smiled and patted his cheeks, "Good, get rid of the rumors, or I will break your neck." His dark eyes was printed on the reporter's mind forever.
The reporter nodded and started running away, leaving a trail of urine behind.
Ichiro's dark eyes looked at the running figure of the reporter. He itself doesn't know yet, but the Book of Etiquette either kills his feelings for Azura or makes it stronger than ever before.
Ichiro was already borderline Yandere.
Well… He isn't only yandere in this relationship.
Azura looked at the scene with a blushing face, 'He cares about me so much! I love him… I LOVE HIM! Ichiro…' Her breathing got rough and her pupils had hearts on them.
Ichiro patted his clothing and looked at Azura with a calm smile, "Shall we go?"
"Yup!" Azura said cheerfully and grabbed Ichiro's hand.
The lovely and not so ordinary couple left the school, and towards their next destination.
A smithy.
Ichiro has to get his swords fixed.
