a

stupid dick respond in the most inappropriate way. Shit! And I had just

so damned har

d probably red, I said, “All right. All right. I’l

t his case was to do what he demanded of

insistently and clearly, “But you don’t have to drop me of

of the way, I turned my back on

seat across the table. I could sense that he was watching me intently,

had to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance. It was discovered that I was severely malnourished and had depression and anxiety problems

those lousy social services people had turned up and made a big fuss investigating our living conditions. This had stressed A

that they didn’t need to remove any of us from his care, despite working various part-time j

member that fateful morning when the social services woman came to drag me away. I had been crying my eyeballs out and clinging desperately to Aiden. In

highhandedness. Eventually, another manager was put on our case, and after another thorough review, she convi

ay, Aiden had assured me that

family, and I promised to take good care of you, didn’t I? You know I will never abandon you.” He hugged me tight and even kissed my forehead

y fears at ease. We even did a pinky swear. Yea

ittle better, I was able to return home, which was a relief to everyone, especia

style, for my homecoming. It had been the first time any of us had smiled and laughed from th

and I couldn’t help myself and sneaked a pee

eart skipped. I glance

freakin’ intense. Sudde

Reo said. “I’m sure he knows where his m

the food I had just eaten, an

of water. He said, “Jesus, Haru, slow

fered drink and down

after you’ve finished your shi

n my own meal, I put the empty glass down on the table

’t help the fact that it’s not safe. I have no idea how many times one of u

parently obsessed with boys like me and made it their hobby to st

hit me right where it hurt—me being treated like some damsel in distress. And thirdly, because I hated those bastards who al

ng like that, Haru. Mom said you have t

ondering what that heartth

“What type of

Maiden gene,

. “Shrine Maiden gene?

e ancestor from our mom’s side of the family used to have one every generation. It’s alwa

just like the Shrine Maiden on her side of the family—her g

pretty in her younger days that the family had a hard time keeping her safe. One guy even attempted to kidnap her. When

at hearing the ridiculous

c and said coldly

sled my hair, “So, you have your great-grandmother’s gene, the Shrine Maiden gene. That’s awesome. T

as per usual. Like I’d want to b

t action, it would be with Aide

ympathy, Haru.” He rested his chin on his hand as he leaned on the tabletop, his ey

And that means getting yourself a gi

e were talking about my virginity now, were we?

the band of harassment, too. “That’s right, you’re still a vi

e it was a crime to still

it was on his sixteenth birthday, too. Wasn’t it with that

t his virginity to a hot cheerlead

teen, nearly turning seventeen. That meant he had already ki

denly, I felt a little pis

king about my sorry past, and it’s normal fo

a teenager thing. M

onfirm Haru is in the minority here? A

just late. Maybe it’s because of the

ng hard and stuff? Do you need some porn magazine or DVD to get you going? I can lend you some of mine. I know

as if we were conspiring on taking down the world, like a duo of infamous villains. The fact that

seeing my deep dark secret being revealed for all to hear. As for Aiden? He was still star

n’t want t

t so abnormal for a boy to stare at his handsome bro

mal. God! I knew I was

hilarity, and I glared at him, wan

’t struggling with my problem swinging the other way. Not to mention the fact that I also had unre

s! It was t