Offensive and Defensive Shifts

"Click."

Shortly after, the door was pushed open by Shimizu Aimi, who had just gone downstairs.

She walked over with an expressionless face, holding a cup of instant noodles that hadn't fully softened yet.

"Here's your dinner, as requested," Shimizu Aimi said with obvious disdain, slamming the cup noodles onto the desk with a "bang."

Fujii Itsuki's mouth twitched. "I asked you to cook a meal and bring it up, and you just went down to make cup noodles?"

"You're lucky to even get cup noodles - I can't cook!"

"From your tone, it sounds like you're blaming me?"

Fujii Itsuki picked up the plastic fork stuck in the noodle cup and lifted the lid, releasing waves of steam.

"Phew—"

"In that case, you can be in charge of making my lunch box for school tomorrow too."

He blew on the noodles before eating them leisurely.

"Hey you! I already told you I can't cook!"

Shimizu Aimi bristled, her cheeks puffed up in anger as she shouted.

"That's your problem." Fujii Itsuki sipped the hot soup.

"Oh, and not just tomorrow - every day from tomorrow onwards."

He turned to give Shimizu Aimi a look that brooked no refusal.

"You..." Shimizu Aimi was grinding her teeth, her chest heaving with anger as rage surged from her feet to the top of her head.

'This is infuriating!'

'He used to be just a worthless nobody, and now he's ordering me around!'

But there was nothing she could do about Fujii Itsuki.

The situation had completely reversed - now he had leverage over her.

'No way!'

'I absolutely won't just sit here and take this!'

Plotting internally, Shimizu Aimi turned away and reluctantly mumbled an "Oh."

After quickly finishing the cup noodles, Fujii Itsuki felt warmth in his stomach and his work fatigue melting away.

Glancing at Shimizu Aimi, he said softly: "Why are you just standing there? Hurry up and clean this up - I'm going to bed."

"...Fine." Though seething inside, Shimizu Aimi responded quietly, picked up the empty cup and left the room.

Back in her own bedroom, she tossed the cup noodles in the trash.

Shimizu Aimi lay on her bed, rolling back and forth wrapped in her blanket like a caterpillar.

"Jerk, jerk, JERK!"

"He used to be such a nobody, and now he's acting all high and mighty over me!"

She grabbed a stuffed animal and imagined it was Fujii Itsuki from across the hall, repeatedly punching it with her small fists.

"Hmph—"

"Just you wait, I won't give in so easily!"

That night, Shimizu Aimi lay scheming with a head full of plots.

The next morning, after Fujii Itsuki got up, finished his morning routine, and changed clothes, he went downstairs with his backpack.

The first-floor living room was empty except for Shimizu Aimi sitting beside the breakfast table.

It seemed Aunt Momonogi Eiko had already left early for work.

As for his rarely-seen "Big Sis Rin" - Shimizu Aimi's older sister Shimizu Rin - she attended a private boarding university and only came home on weekends once a month.

Usually, only Fujii Itsuki, Shimizu Aimi, and Momonogi Eiko were at home.

"Hey, here's the lunch box you wanted."

At the dining table, Shimizu Aimi took a bite of toast and pushed a packed lunch box towards Fujii Itsuki.

"I told Mom I'm growing and need more food, so she made an extra portion."

At just over 150cm tall, her slender legs in white socks couldn't even reach the floor while sitting.

"Have you forgotten what to call me after just one night?" Fujii Itsuki walked over and stuffed the lunch box in his bag.

"Fine, Onii-chan..."

Pouting, Shimizu Aimi shot him a look of contempt.

'Hmph, getting cocky with a little power!'

Unlike Momonogi Eiko who spoiled her, Fujii Itsuki wouldn't let her attitude slide. Seeing Shimizu Aimi's impatient expression, he immediately grabbed a peeled boiled egg from her breakfast plate.

"Fuji... Onii-chan, that's my breakfast!"

"I know, but now it's mine."

"You're so shameless you're even stealing my breakfast now!" Shimizu Aimi protested in her high-pitched voice.

"Well said..." Fujii Itsuki took a bite of the egg, maintaining a calm expression. "I take one egg and you get this upset."

"Your family of three has been occupying my house for years - shouldn't I be the angry one?"

"You..."

Knowing she was in the wrong and couldn't argue back, Shimizu Aimi just snorted and said threateningly: "Anyway... don't get too full of yourself!"

"Heh, I'm just reminding you..." Fujii Itsuki stuffed the rest of the egg in his mouth and drained Shimizu Aimi's freshly-poured glass of milk in one gulp.

He reached out and gently pinched her cute cheek, looking down at her as he spoke to her bewildered expression: "Don't treat me like that pushover from before who let you three bully and isolate him without fighting back."

Fujii Itsuki's lips curled into a slight smile: "From today on, the tables have turned!"

He gave her cheek another firm pinch.

"Bye, see you tonight."

Releasing her, Fujii Itsuki shouldered his bag and pushed open the front door of the Fujii residence.

Shimizu Aimi sat frozen, mouth slightly open, the image of Fujii Itsuki's parting smile lingering in her mind.

Was he declaring war on their family?

He actually looked kind of cool and manly...

"Ouch—"

Shimizu Aimi suddenly drew in a sharp breath, belatedly rubbing her reddened cheek.

"FUJII ITSUKI!!!"

[Ding!]

[Successfully executed revenge against Shimizu Aimi!]

[Reward: 100 Revenge Points!]

[Ding!]

[Character: Shimizu Aimi]

[Age: 18]

[Attribute: Bratty Girl]

[Revenge Progress: 35%]

...

Carrying his bag, Fujii Itsuki walked along the street out of Minami-Senju Town.

He attended Arakawa University, a district college.

Being a district school, the academic standards were predictably low, with most students just going through the motions.

Though the learning environment wasn't great, with the system backing him, Fujii Itsuki might still achieve success in other areas.

Japanese junior colleges were like a combination of community college and university, typically lasting two to three years. Besides teaching specialized courses, basics like Japanese, English, and advanced mathematics were also mandatory.

It was the second semester of college, just after the start of term. The September morning was still cool, with students walking in small groups around campus.

Fujii Itsuki headed straight for the Social Studies Year 1 building, turning at the second-floor stairwell to enter Class 1-B.

He walked to an empty window seat and sat down, stuffing his bag under the desk.

Back row by the window - traditionally the "king's seat."

But due to family circumstances, Fujii Itsuki had developed an introverted and timid personality. Far from being "king-like," he projected a weak image at school and was often bullied by delinquent students.

...