Chương 26: The Contract

"Ah...Hahaha, we don't have much time left for lunch, so we should finish eating." I awkwardly tried quelling the sparking atmosphere.

"Yeah, you're right. Plus, you still have to make it to the library in time." Akira tried his best to be unfazed by Ryuu's threat, but he was clearly still shaken from it.

"Library?" Ryuu asked, his anger from before dissipating and replaced by curiosity.

"Yeah, he basically works for the Ice—I mean, our class rep." Akira answered for me as I was busy shoveling any left over food into my mouth.

"Tch." Ryuu's displeasure was not something he held back, huh? "So that's what you do."

"Hm? You noticed?" I was surprised. He was never in the classroom when I left for the library. How would he know?

"You always came back to class looking exhausted on days you weren't with me." Ryuu succinctly explained.

I felt Yuu tense up.

Hm?

"Woah, that could sound misleading." Akira chuckled awkwardly. "You could've just said when you were tutored."

Oh, that's why.

"Haru, aren't you almost done tutoring Yama-kun?" Yuu asked with upturn eyes. "You said that with his progress, you'd be done soon."

The air suddenly felt heavy.

Huh? Why do I feel like something just got triggered!?

"Yeah, maybe just a few more weeks and, Ryuu-kun, you'll be up to speed." Why did it feel wrong saying this to him?

I mean, from the start, wasn't that the plan?

Suddenly, Ryuu grabbed my hand, hard. Like, I felt my bones painfully rub against each other hard.

"Ow." I flinched. "Ryuu-kun?" I looked to him as I used my other hand to try and loosen his grip.

Ryuu leaned down. My heart sped up.

"That's not allowed." Ryuu hissed in my ear.

Now my heart was pounding against my ribs.

Next thing I know, Yuu pulled me back, and Akira reached over Ryuu to push my head back.

...

I need to leave.

But also, I need to disperse these boys. I feel like blood's gonna spill soon if I don't!

Everyone's so scary! Ryuu's anger looked to be burning hot. Akira wasn't smiling at all. And Yuu's hold was starting to hurt.

This was a bad idea. I should've known putting three potential yanderes together was a bomb!

Luckily, the bell decided to ring right then.

"Oh, would you look at that! I gotta go now!" I said that, but no one moved or let me go. "Er, guys, you should also leave. Haha..."

"Yeah, come on, guys. Can't have Haru being late to work." Akira's regular smile returned as he backed up. "Time to let go."

I looked at Ryuu. When his eyes met mine, his hand loosened. I smiled as I patted his hand before removing it. Yuu, seeing Ryuu let go, also released me.

"Okay, I'm gonna go now. I'll see you guys later." I smiled but looked at everyone cautiously.

Akira was just being Akira. So, nothing to worrying about. Ryuu and Yuu looked ready to leave each other's presences.

Haha, they may be opposites, but, in a way, they're similar.

I gave Akira one last look that hopefully conveyed that I wanted him to make sure there wasn't any bloodshed when I left. Akira blinked before giving me a thumbs up.

I don't know how I feel about leaving it to him, but I've got no other choice at the moment. The bell already rang, and Tatsuya usually expects me to be there the next second. In a way, I'm already late.

Not a good start when negotiations are in bound.

"I'm...sorry...I'm...late." I huffed in between each word when I arrived at the usual table.

Tatsuya leered at me in disgust.

"Hurry up and catch your breath." Tatsuya spat with a scrunched eyebrows.

"Yes." I sat down across from him and leaned back in my chair, breathing in as much oxygen as I could.

After a minute, my heart rate settled, and I propped myself up.

"Once again, sorry I'm late." I spoke after wiping some sweat off my forehead. Tatsuya looked irked.

Ah, I'm probably not doing the best in terms of his cleanliness standard.

"You didn't need to run here. Running late is better than coming sooner looking wretched." Tatsuya didn't hold back his thoughts, and, wow, did that hurt!

"U-Understood. It won't happen again." I looked down in shame. I heard Tatsuya sigh.

"As long as you remember." He sounded resigned.

I peered up and saw him pull out a folder from the stack of files surrounding him . He placed it in front of me before leaning back and crossing his arms.

It's the contract, right?

With nerves, I reached for the folder and opened it.

"Read over it, and tell me your thoughts." Tatsuya calmly ordered while observing me.

The contract was surprisingly short. Just one page. That alone made me relax.

"Let me say this now. Just because a contract is short doesn't mean you can feel at ease." Tatsuya didn't even let my body chill for a second. "If anything, I'd be more concerned."

Now that he said that, I tensed right back up.

There were only a few terms. In short, there were five conditions.

One: Our relationship is to remain the same. However, my pay will be cut by a dollar, and I am to assume the duties mentioned before.

Two: Within reason, Tatsuya has the right to order me around.

What's within reason? Apparently, that's up for interpretation and will be discussed when it happens.

Three: Tatsuya is to be my priority.

What exactly that means? Well, the example given was a situation of hanging out with friends vs. helping Tatsuya. So, I guess he takes priority over my personal life? Something like that?

Four: I have to inform him of any others that know my true gender.

He left some lines for me to fill with names. I left it blank since he was the only who knew besides myself. I didn't count grandma because she basically thinks of me as a male at this point, so there was no point.

Five: Love is forbidden. If I start to have any romantic feelings, I am to report it to him.

...Oh? He forbade it himself? That's gotta mean I'm in the clear, right!?

"Well?" Tatsuya gauged my expression when I finished.

"For the first condition, I don't think there's a need to cut my wage." I started slowly. "Isn't giving me more work enough?"

"Hmm, I suppose you do have a point." Tatsuya easily conceded, making me think he wasn't planning on that sticking around anyway.

"I'm not so sure about the second condition. Isn't it a bit much and too vague?" I couldn't help looking over it again with furrowed brows.

"I think it's fair game. A secret you want no one to know about weighted against a few measly orders. Also, I wouldn't command anything too extreme. The "within reason" is there to protect you if I do." Tatsuya pointed out as he fixed his glasses, clearly prepared for some lash back.

So, he's not gonna let that one go, huh? I mean, I guess that's fine?

"I'd at least like to define that it'll be within my reasoning." I didn't back down. "If it's there to protect me, that should be fine, no?"

"Hmph, very well. Make a note next to the clause." Tatsuya accepted.

"Also, don't two and three go hand in hand? Is there a reason to specify?" I asked while I wrote down the adjustment.

"Well, three is there to consolidate two. I can give you orders, but that's doesn't mean you'll do them right away, correct?" I nodded to show my understanding. "Then, you know why it's there."

"Okay." I just agreed. I don't think there's much I could do about it, honestly.

"Er, I'm asking just to make sure, but is the fifth condition there to keep our relationship professional?" I watched his reaction.

Tatsuya nodded.

"I know teenage females tend to be emotional and at the peak of wanting to find a partner. I don't need any of that at the moment. Rather, it'd be a too much of a bother." Tatsuya coldly explained. "Though I don't know why you dress as a male, you are still susceptible to female hormones and puberty. This is a measure to be safe."

Ohhh, so he really doesn't have any feelings for me. That's good! I don't have to worry about him!

"Hm, I agree. I will say, I'm currently not looking for any romance, so you won't have to worry too much. Actually, I'm glad to have this reminder for the both of us." I smiled as relief flooded my veins.

"Is that so?" Tatsuya said with disinterest.

He didn't seem to believe anything I just said.

My eye twitched.

"Then, after the adjustments, I'll have you sign the contract." Tatsuya took the folder from me and put them away. "Now, we can work."

I rolled my eyes.

Well, this is better than getting locked up, I guess.