I can’t believe I just called the President—a lunatic. Isn’t that basically an act of terrorism? (Mom, you can be proud of your son.)

  Feeling the atmosphere turn as cold as Alaska, Renjiro let out a resigned smile, a small tear rolling down his cheek. (It’s an honor to die at the hands of your guards, Your Excellency.)

  The President slowly approached Renjiro. (Ah… Looks like he wants to take care of me personally.) Renjiro thought before letting his frustration explode internally. (Damn it… What did I do to deserve getting killed by America—oops, I mean, by the President of America!) By now, tears were streaming down his face, but his resigned smile remained intact.

  The President gently placed his hand on Renjiro’s shoulder, making the boy, shocked, look up at the older man, who was smiling warmly. (I was an idiot for thinking such things… ALL IS GOOD.)

  "Don’t worry, kid. Even though you’ll be sharing an apartment with my daughter, I trust you. I can tell you’re a good person. You won’t do anything inappropriate, will you?" the President said in a calm, reassuring voice. (Now’s not the time to hesitate,) Renjiro thought.

  With a swift motion, he threw himself to the ground, face-first, and shouted solemnly, "Your Excellency! I swear on my humble life that I will even divide the air we breathe to ensure there is never an awkward situation!"

  "Don’t worry, kid. I take your word for it."

  "Thank you, Mr. Pre—" Renjiro started, but something felt off. (Why do I feel like the entire house is watching me?)

  "Enough joking around!" the President suddenly thundered, his voice echoing through the entire house. He had this uncanny ability to manipulate the atmosphere at will—the privilege of the powerful.

  "You will be monitored 24/7. The apartment is already bugged, and so are you. Special agents will be following you everywhere. Even in your school, we already have informants."

  The President glanced at the clock before continuing. "If she gets hurt, even a scratch, or if she sheds a single tear, consider yourself a martyr. If she fails her exams, if she doesn’t make at least five friends, or if her identity is exposed… I don’t need to tell you what will happen."

  At that moment, one could almost see Renjiro’s soul trying to leave his body, only for him to unconsciously force it back in.

  Stolen story; please report.

  Renjiro enjoyed his peaceful, uneventful life. He didn’t really have any friends, but that never bothered him. His mother had raised him to be independent from a young age. But now, he was being forced to live under the same roof as a person who, by herself, represented a potential diplomatic crisis between two nations. And on top of that, he would be under constant surveillance. As if that wasn’t enough, he was also responsible for looking after the "Princess."

  "Hahaha, kid, don’t pass out just yet. The fun part is still to come. Look on the bright side—follow all my conditions, and I’ll give you 'everything.'"

  Renjiro lifted his head upon hearing that. (Everything?)

  With tears still in his eyes, he murmured softly, "An island for myself (an island for my mom), and enough money so I’ll never have to return to the city… (enough so that my mom can stay on her island, prolonging both my dad’s and my lifespan). Can you do that for me? (Please save two innocent lives.)"

  At that moment, Renjiro’s only thought was increasing his life expectancy. That alone showed how terrifying his mother was—even more than America… or rather, the President.

  "Hahaha, you’re quite greedy, kid. I like that. Fine." The man turned and headed toward his room on the top floor of the luxurious villa.

  "Take him away! And kid…" The guards were already moving to escort Renjiro out, but they momentarily froze at the sudden, terrifying aura the President emitted.

  "Kid, I agreed to let her live with a thug like you—the same thug who had the audacity to call the President of a country a lunatic—because I had no choice… But all I need is one excuse to bring her back to me immediately." The man spoke without turning around, yet his terrifying gaze was enough to make even his guards lower their heads.

  "You understand what that means for you, don’t you? Well then, I hope we see each other again soon…" With that, the man lost interest and walked into his room without another word.

  (Hahaha… I hope I don’t see you again until I’m 80, just so I can tell you exactly what I think. Though she is way more terrifying!) At that moment, Renjiro felt like an entire nation was watching him.

  "Ha…" A small sound escaped Renjiro’s lips as the guards approached. (Mom, your son just received his first national mission.)

  As he prayed internally, the guards tied him up—again—and took him to a black car, flanked by two gorillas in suits. After three hours of driving, the car finally stopped, and the guards untied him.

  "Admit it—tying me up again wasn’t an order from the President but your own initiative," Renjiro said, frustrated after spending three hours in silence, alone, when it wasn’t necessary. The guards got back into the car without a word and drove off. (Gone? Yeah right, they’re probably watching me from somewhere.)

  "Ha… it’s already this late, damn it. I need to lie down and process all this calmly," Renjiro muttered to himself.

  He was standing in front of his apartment—the one he would now be sharing with someone… someone very special.

  Renjiro pulled out his keys and unlocked the door. (Ah, I guess she’s already here.) He spotted a pair of women’s shoes, letting out a deep sigh.

  After hesitating for a moment, Renjiro stepped inside. "I’m coming in."

  When does a man use all the adrenaline stored in his adrenal glands? Is it when he fights with rage in a boxing ring? When he confesses to his crush? Or when his mother visits him? No. The moment a man surpasses his natural limits is when he faces a life-threatening danger. (Maybe also when his mom forces him into two years of hellish training… but I think I’m the only one in that category.)

  (What a shitty day!)

  A girl with blue hair was coming down the small stairs leading to her room. By "instinct," "fear," and above all, "a strong desire to live," Renjiro noticed a wet spot on the last step. He moved as if his life depended on it.

  As the girl stepped on the slippery spot, she lost her balance, but it was too late—she was already falling.

  Renjiro moved with almost supernatural agility for someone of his build, catching her just before she hit the ground, landing on his back in the process. He had prevented the worst…

  "That damn brat…" The man watching the scene had an expression of rage.

  (So young, yet already so close to death!)

  Renjiro, having caught the girl, realized his hands were placed directly on her chest…

  With fresh te

  ars in his eyes, he screamed internally, (Damn destiny, I will survive!!!)