Summer break went by quickly for Isaku, though she felt terrible for Keiya. He had his hands full with the family expanding their business and her grandfather away on a trip. She forced him to do his school assignments, bribing him with another reward if he passed them.

Isaku sat at her desk, gawking at her lover as he jotted down notes.

You almost look like a diligent student for once. It's odd…

Time flew by, and before she realized Keiya was at her desk, looking down at her.

"Isaku-san, here's your bento."

She took the lunch and smiled, "Thank you."

"Should we go to the roof?"

"That sounds good."

Keiya took her hand and tugged her behind him, making more than a few classmates comment on how cute they were together.

They sat across from each other as they opened the containers, "Thank you for the meal."

"Of course."

They sat in silence for a while until Keiya spoke up.

"Isaku-san. Kongo-san will be picking us up at the gate for a while."

"Huh? Why?"

He contemplated what to tell her, not wanting to drag her into anything unnecessarily.

"There's been some discord between the family and Kodan-gumi lately. It's just a precaution for now."

"I see. Alright."

"You're not upset?"

"No. It's inconvenient, but you're just trying to protect us. I'm not a little kid; I can handle it if it's only for a while."

"Right…"

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I'm sorry. I was thinking about how you've grown. Just last year, you couldn't stand the thought of the car picking you up so close to school."

He's not wrong. I still don't like it.

"...Things are different now."

"Different?"

"Yes."

"How are things different?"

"Well, I'm not just the boss' granddaughter anymore; I'm also the captain's girlfriend. So I'm sure things will only be more dangerous for me now."

He was surprised by how calm she was.

"You're okay with that?"

"Yes."

"... Why?"

"Why? Well, that's because… I love you."

"I see. You always manage to surprise me…"

Huh, what is he doing!?

He leaned across their food, placing his large hand at the back of her neck to pull her closer.

"Keiya?"

He planted his lips on hers, and she let his tongue slip in, mewling into the heated exchange as she kissed him back.

The lovers pulled back to look at one another, and she blushed.

"We should get back to class."

They had just put away their bento when Keiya suddenly grabbed her wrist, pulling her onto his lap.

"Keiya!" she protested, still straddling his lap.

"Jeez, you made my skirt flip up."

He always does this!

He held onto her waist, burying his face in the crook of her neck, breathing in her scent.

She looked down at him and patted his head.

"There, there. We need to go back now."

"Not yet, I want more."

"No, any more, and we'll be late for class."

"I don't want to."

"Huh? You should know pouting won't work. We're going back to class."

"Fine." He sighed.

The rest of the day went by quickly, and the two lovers walked up to the car, waiting for them. The driver rushed to open the door for her and the captain.

"Thank you, Kango-san."

"Of course, Isaku-sama."

During the drive home, Keiya made phone calls and smoked cigarettes as usual. She couldn't help but watch him.

My love for Keiya keeps growing stronger. He's amazing. He protects me and loves me… Keiya's love is selfless. I don't feel I've done anything to deserve him.

"Isaku-san, are you alright?"

"Eh? Y-yes. I'm just tired."

Keiya studied her for a moment before patting his leg.

"Hm? What is it?"

"You can rest your head here and take a nap."

"..."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing…" She murmured, deciding to take his offer.

He stroked her hair, lulling her to sleep.

She was having peaceful dreams of Keiya again and was sad to wake up.

"Isaku-san, we're home."

She sat up, rubbing her eyes, and yawned.

He thumbed her lip and pressed his face close to hers.

"W-what is it?"

"You're adorable when you wake up."

She thought he was going to kiss her, but nothing happened.

"I'll be home late tonight, which reminds me. I thought about what I wanted for my reward."

Oh yeah, that's right. Keiya did really well on the summer assignments. It's almost scary how good he's been doing lately…

"Alright, what is it?"

"I want you to move into my room."

"... Move in? "

"That's right."

"As in… it would be my room, too?"

"Yes."

"... Okay."

Keiya smiled and rubbed her head, "Great. I'll see you tonight when I get home then."

Tonight!?

"Huh? You want me to move in today?"

"Yes. Feel free to decorate and bring whatever you want. I don't care as long as I come home to you in my bed."

Where did this come from? It's so sudden!

Isaku blushed and leaned in to kiss him on the cheek, thoroughly shocking the Yakuza, given his expression.

"...Alright. It might take me a while to move in fully, but I'll start sleeping there from now on."

Keiya was incredibly happy, "Of course, and oh, Isaku-san?"

She looked back at him, "Yes?"

"I love you."

"... I love you too."

She watched as her lover drove off into the distance, then hurried to her room, slammed the door, and flopped onto her bed.

Jeeze, how am I supposed to work on my homework when I can only think about Keiya!

She sighed in defeat and decided to do her homework on the way to school tomorrow. Isaku sat up on her bed and looked around her room.

Now that I'm looking at everything, there's nothing I really want to take with me other than my clothes, and the dog plushy Keiya won me… Everything seems so childish.

With the plushy in her arms, Isaku took it to Keiya's room and set it on the bed.

It really doesn't look like anyone lives here…

She went to his closet to see how many clothes she could bring.

He's not even using half of it? I guess I can bring more than I thought.

Isaku walked back to her room to get her school uniforms. She repeated that process until she had moved everything she wanted to his room.

She considered what she should do with the clothes and other items she no longer wanted and figured there was no point in worrying about that now. Instead, her mind wandered to what she could do with this room.

I'm thinking about this all wrong. If someone outside the family ever came to visit, it would be hard to explain why I was sleeping in my "guardians" room. I should leave all the unwanted things here, along with at least one school uniform…

Isaku realized moving forward as the girlfriend to a yakuza, at least at her age, would be tricky at best. The last thing she wanted was for Keiya to get in trouble because of her.

I should at least try and get my homework done…

When she finished her work, Isaku decided to take a bath, feeling the tension leave her body as the warmth of the water wrapped around her petite frame.

One minute, she closed her eyes and relaxed in the warm water, and the next, she woke up to a knock at the bathroom door, feeling unusually cold.

"Isaku-san, are you alright?"

Keiya?

"Y-yes, I'm fine!"

"That's good. I was worried. It's unusual for you to be taking a bath at this hour."

"Huh? What time is it now?"

"A little after eleven o'clock."

"Oh? I must have lost track of time. I'll be right out!"

I've been soaking for hours. No wonder I'm all pruney… I must have fallen asleep!

"Alright, I'll be waiting for you."

Isaku flushed, remembering that she would be staying in his room from now on.

The air was colder on her skin than it should have been, and she quickly made her way to Keiya's room, wanting to get in her pajamas and under his covers as soon as possible.

Keiya was already in his bed and watched as she fumbled about, her hands barely able to button up her shirt.

"Here, let me help."

"What? I'm fine, r-really."

Isaku tried to step back from him, but their fingers brushed.

His eyes widened, "Your hands are freezing?"

She laughed nervously, "Yeah, I'm a bit cold. I'm sure I'll warm up after I lay down."

Keiya finished buttoning her shirt before pulling her into bed, smothering her under the sheets as he cozied up behind her, holding her to him.

He pressed his face to the back of her neck.

"You smell nice."

"Hey, don't sniff me. It's weird."

"I'm sorry, I've just missed you."

She noticed his knuckles were slightly bruised and softly pressed her fingers on the joint.

"Your hand… What happened?"

"Nothing to concern yourself with."

She knew better than to delve further and let it go. It wasn't her place to ask questions about the family business.

"Well, I'm glad you're safe."

Keiya turned her onto her back and pressed his lips to hers, the contact growing more passionate by the second.

"Are you really alright?" He asked, frowning.

She gave him a curious look, "Of course, why?"

"... Even your lips are cold. You're not getting sick, are you?"

"I feel fine, just a little chilly. Anyways, we should get some sleep."

"Alright."

The following day, Isaku felt and looked like the living dead.

It's freezing in here!

She had just laid out her uniform when Keiya entered the room.

"Isaku-san, breakfast is ready."

When their eyes met, his smile immediately dropped, and he made his way over to her.

"Keiya?"

He placed a hand on her forehead, and his frown deepened.

"You're warm. You probably have a fever."

She smiled up at him, "I'm fine, really."

Keiya gave her a knowing look, "Lay back down, you're not going to school today."

She pouted at him and started taking her uniform off the hanger.

"No, as class reps, I must help plan for the culture festival. I can't afford to miss school this week."

Keiya rubbed his head and sighed.

"... Let's get some medicine for you then."

"Right, thank you, Keiya."

"Hm, what for?"

"... You're always good at supporting my decisions, even when you disagree with them. I'm grateful for it."

He grabbed a strand of her long, messy hair, bringing it to his lips.

"That's not something you ever need to thank me for."

She blushed and looked away.

"Get dressed."

"Right."

After they ate, she took her medicine, and then they went to school as usual. This time, the car drove past the train station, where they were usually dropped off.

She looked at Keiya with surprise, and he stared back at her.

"Remember? Kongo-san will be driving us to and from school for a while."

Isaku nodded, "Right…"

I'm actually grateful I don't have to get out and walk today. I feel terrible.

"Isaku-san, it's not too late to go home if you're not feeling well enough to go to school."

Sometimes, I feel like those beautiful blue eyes can see my thoughts. It's weird.

"No, I'll be fine."

She hesitantly lay her head in his lap and curled up to him.

"What's this?"

"Let me lay here for a while?"

He looked down at her and rubbed her arm.

"This is becoming a habit, I like it."

"Quiet, I'm trying to sleep."

"Right."

She woke up just as Keiya put her folder back in her bag.

"What are you doing?" She grumbled with a groggy voice.

"Nothing."

"Liar. You were copying my homework, weren't you!"

"You caught me."

Isaku huffed and sat up just as the car stopped before the school gate to let them out.

She was miserable all day, and halfway through, she ended up going to the nurse's office to lie down for a bit.

When lunchtime strolled around, so did Keiya, eating with her as he sat beside the bed she was resting in.

"So, did everyone decide what we're doing for the cultural festival?"

"Ah."

"So, tell me about it."

"Mhm, they've decided we're putting on a play again."

"Again! What is it this time?"

"The sound of music."

"Really? That will be nice. I hope I'm a stagehand this time."

"I'm afraid not. You've been voted to play as Liesel."

Eh? No, I don't want to! I was terrible at it last time, and I can't act!

"I refuse." she turned down flatly.

"Oh, but I'm to play Rolfe. If you don't play Liesel, I wonder who will be cast as my love interest? I've read the script up to the part where Rolf kisses the girl…"

Isaku blushed and gritted her teeth, "I'm going to be the best Liesel there ever was!"

Keiya smirked in a teasing manner, "That's the spirit."

He stood up and cleaned up after lunch, "Now then, let's get you home."

"Home? I can't go home."

He gave her a blank stare, irritating her.

"Of course you can. I'll call for the car."

They went back and forth for some time. Her Yakuza lover insisted on calling Kango to pick her up from school early, though she was far from being done fighting him on the matter.

Isaku was getting frustrated with Keiya and growled, "Right, yes, go ahead, call Kango, and interrupt his work, the work that he does on our behalf so that when you are done playing my guard dog, you can take care of yourself even if it's only so you can attempt to manage some sleep before midnight!"

Keiya's eyes were wide. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Instead, he embraced her, nuzzling his head in the crook of her neck. She shivered when his lips lightly trailed up the expanse of her neck.

"As you wish, then." As usual, her stubborn nature had won out over his overprotective instincts.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize how worried I made you." With every word that tickled her ear, he slowly sunk his weight onto her, partially climbing into the bed with her.

With a blush, Isaku struggled to push his heavy frame off of her, to no avail.

"Keiya! We're still in school!" she hissed.

"I don't care."

"I care! What if the nurse catches us like this?"

"I'll bribe them."

"Keiya!"

They were late getting to their next class and scolded accordingly. Isaku was still tired but she managed to get through all their classes.

On the car ride home, she should have rested like Keiya asked her, but she wanted to start reading her lines in the script for the sound of music.

Her eyes widened after reading Act III.

"Hold on, I thought you said it was a play!? This is more like a musical!"

"Is that so?"

"Oh, man! What did I get myself into!?"

Isaku was dropped off at home and got straight into the bath. When she felt her eyelids grow heavy, she quickly got out, not wanting a repeat of the previous night.

As she was getting dressed for bed, her phone sounded off. It was a text from Keiya, reminding her to take some medicine before bed.

She did as told before laying down, curling up in the covers, and hugging his pillow.

It smells like Keiya, his shampoo, and cologne. I wish he was here…