Netori: I Shall Steal All Of My Enemies' Women For Revenge!

Haruto sat through the dull lecture, barely paying attention. After all, this was his second time—his first life and now this one.

He already knew everything, from the lessons to the tests.

Of course, he couldn't afford to get perfect scores. That would be too suspicious, considering he had always ranked somewhere in the middle of every semester.

So instead, he let out a yawn, resting his cheek on his hand.

BANG!

The teacher smacked the desk, jolting the class to attention. "Hayase, answer question number two." He gestured toward the blackboard.

Haruto exhaled slowly, standing up with a relaxed posture. Without hesitation, he wrote down the correct answer.

This small, insignificant change reminded him just how much the future had already shifted.

He didn't need to use his past life memories. They were useless now because, this time, he would kill Daiki before Haruka even entered high school.

Everything had to go according to plan. If it didn't, he was as good as dead.@@novelbin@@

'It would've been easier if Daiki was like Ren or Kota—men driven by ego and emotion,' Haruto thought as he wrote.

But no. Daiki was different. The only emotions he has been showing to him were irritation and, at times, intrigue.

"Good. Ranmaru, answer the next question," the teacher said, waving Haruto back to his seat.

As he sat down, his phone buzzed in his pocket. A new message on LANE.

Chiyo: Today's the day. You're coming, right?

Kuro Usagi: Of course. Let's go together.

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Today was the OB-GYN appointment. The thought sent a mix of nervousness and excitement through him.

Not only him, Chiyo has been waiting for it too as her excitement was seen through when she was giving him a bento full of love.

But yesterday's conversation still lingered in his mind.

'Red Fang has many connections… It wouldn't be hard for them to find my family. And if they do…'

He clenched his jaw.

'Should I ask Senior Kikuchi for protection?'

No. Kikuchi wouldn't allow it.

Or… maybe Rin could help?

Rubbing his chin, Haruto pulled out his phone and started typing a message to her.

Recess came faster than Haruto expected. Rin had finally replied to his message—just a single thumbs-up emoji.

"Huh… she's a dry texter, like Asuka?" he muttered.

Before he even realized it, someone answered him.

"Who's she? Your new woman?"

Lifting his head, he found Mari sitting on the desk in front of him, arms crossed, her gaze sharp with suspicion.

"Of course not. Just a friend," he said casually, slipping his phone into his pocket.

Mari squinted at him. "Then why are you hiding it?"

Haruto exhaled. "It's gang-related. Better you don't know—unless you want to end up in jail."

It was a smooth lie. The truth was, he didn't want Mari finding out about Chiyo's pregnancy just yet.

Mari sighed in disappointment but couldn't argue with his reasoning. "Seriously, how many women do you have?"

Haruto smirked, reaching out to ruffle her hair. "Don't worry. Even if there were hundreds, you'd still be my favorite."

She swatted his hand away, cheeks dusted pink. "I bet you say that to every woman."

Despite her words, she didn't seem all that mad. Instead, she set her bento box on the desk, eyes bright with an idea.

"Why don't we eat lunch together on the rooftop? You know, where our relationship begins?"

Her sudden shift in mood—from suspicious to excited—was something Haruto would never get used to.

"Ah… sorry, I already have plans," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.

Mari's eyes narrowed slightly.

Sure enough, just beyond the classroom door, Ayaka was peeking in, waiting for him.

Before he could move, Mari grabbed his hand and grinned. "Then let's all eat together."

And that was how Haruto found himself sitting on the rooftop, caught between two beautiful women on a crisp autumn afternoon.

Both Mari and Ayaka lifted their chopsticks, each offering him a bite.

On the surface, it looked like friendly banter. But Haruto could feel the subtle tension in the air.

And that was no joke.

'This reminds me of Chiyo and Asuka… but those two eventually found their peace. I doubt Ayaka and Mari will do the same.'

"Haruto, why are you spacing out? Come on, eat my tamagoyaki! I woke up early to make this bento!" Mari pouted, she lifted her chopstick close to his mouth and tried to feed him.

Ayaka, not missing a beat, added, "Ah, but I think tonkatsu is better for keeping up your muscles. Mine is my aunt's recipe—you might like it."

The tension thickened.

"Eh? But Haruto's favorite food is tamagoyaki, right?" Mari shot him a sharp look.

Ayaka, unfazed, countered, "Can't someone eat something else besides their favorite?"

Haruto could only chuckle awkwardly before grabbing both their hands and eating a bite from each.

"I like both," he said, still chewing.

The two girls sighed, clearly dissatisfied. But despite their rivalry, they still looked pleased that he enjoyed their cooking.

Mari suddenly clapped her hands. "Now, open your bento, Haruto! You made it yourself, right? Let me try!"

Before he could protest, she popped open the lid—only to be greeted by an embarrassing sight.

The rice was shaped into a perfect heart, adorned with sakura denbu—pink fish flakes—forming smaller hearts.

The strawberries smoked beef, and tamagoyaki were all meticulously arranged into heart shapes, accompanied by ebi furai and a small, romantic note tucked into the corner.

Haruto's heart sank as he quickly slammed the bento shut, laughing nervously.

"Ahh… It seems like I got the wrong bento! Haha. This is for my sister!"

The two girls stared at him, unimpressed.

"So which woman made this?" Mari demanded, arms crossed.

Ayaka's tone was softer but no less probing. "It's even weirder if it's for your sister…"

She trailed off, then smiled sweetly. "It's fine if you tell us the truth, Haruto. We won't get angry."

Haruto groaned internally. He knew better than to believe that. Women who said they wouldn't get angry were usually the ones who exploded the loudest.

He hesitated before opening the bento again, putting on a somber expression.

"I… I rarely make my own bento," he said, voice soft. "My mother passed away when I was little, so my aunt usually makes them for us."

He sighed. "My sister's been studying hard for her high school entrance exams, so she made this to cheer herself up. I grabbed the wrong one."

'Damn,' he thought. 'My lying skills have seriously improved since I started juggling so many women. Not bad.'

His expression turned melancholic, but he forced a small smile.

"Haruto…"

Mari's eyes grew misty. Without warning, she threw her arms around him.

"I'm sorry—I didn't mean to bring that up!"

Then, as if determined to make amends, she blurted out, "I—I'll make you a bento every day from now on!!!"

Haruto stiffened.

He hugged her back and murmured, "Thanks, Mari, but you don't have to. You're busy with university entrance exams."

Inside, he was screaming. 'Your tamagoyaki is way too salty! I'll die from sodium poisoning if I eat it every day!'

But Mari wasn't backing down. "No! I will make it for you every single day!" she insisted.

Haruto could only force a smile while grimacing internally.

Meanwhile, Ayaka sat quietly, her expression unreadable. Her chopsticks were clenched tightly in her hand, her knuckles white.

Haruto noticed the dark look in her eyes, a flicker of something he couldn't quite place.

"Ayaka?" he asked cautiously, his voice breaking the tension.

She blinked, her smile returning as if nothing had happened.

"It's nothing," she said softly, but the grip on her chopsticks didn't loosen as her face turned dark.

***

Haruto was in the middle of texting Chiyo as he walked toward the school gate when a jeep suddenly sped toward him, coming to a sharp stop right in front of him.

He barely had time to react before the tinted window rolled down, revealing a familiar face.

"Oi, get in," Rin said nonchalantly, adjusting her sunglasses.

She was about to light a cigarette when Haruto swiftly snatched it from her fingers and flicked it to the ground.

"You have a serious lung condition," he said, frowning. "At least try to live long enough to get your revenge."

Rin rolled her eyes. "Tch. Just get in already. You're wasting my time."

Haruto sighed but complied, walking around to the passenger side and slipping inside. As he adjusted his seatbelt, his gaze flickered to the rearview mirror—only to freeze.

A woman was tied up in the backseat.

His stomach dropped.

Whipping his head around, he saw Chiyo—her wide, terrified eyes pleading for help. Duck tape covered her mouth, muffling her frantic struggles.

"What the hell are you doing?!" he roared at Rin, his voice sharp with panic.

Rin barely glanced back. "Huh?"

She followed his gaze and blinked. "Oh… That's the woman I was supposed to protect, right? So I picked her up."

She spoke so casually that for a moment, Haruto thought he misheard her.

"What—this is your idea of protection?!"

Rin only shrugged. "Well, let me explain—"

Haruto clenched his fists, barely holding himself back. Whatever her reasoning, she had some serious explaining to do.