Chapter 290: It’s Only a Kiss, but It’s Still a Kiss
<span> ◇ ◇ ◇<span>「Grrrr…. I’m so jealous of Moribe <span>」<span> Ui-chan gritted her teeth as she looked at the two of them taking amemorative photo across the water aquarium.<span> I can’t help but chuckle.<span>「That’s so fresh. Ui-chan can take a picture anytime <span>」<span>「Idiot! The only time I can be alone with the Confinement King is on the bed. That’s not a photo shoot <span>」<span>「Well… <span>」<span>「I-I want a photo of myself with the Confinement King! I mean, I want to go on a date with him! <span>」<span>「… <span>」<span> I averted my eyes.<span> As I’ve already had a date with Kijima, this is very awkward.<span>「Why don’t you just say it? You want to go on a date <span>」<span>「Oh, isn’t it a little embarrassing when a woman asks for a date? <span>」<span>「No, I don’t know what that would feel like <span>」<span>(After demanding to be held and made love to in bed so many times, what are you saying now, you piece of junk? <span>)<span> When I was taken aback, Ui-chan showed a sudden sign of thinking.<span>「By the way, Shima, Confinement King seems to like Moribe a lot, why didn’t he let her join his harem? <span>」<span>「Well, that’s… because he wants to take good care of her. He even treats her like a little sister <span>」<span>「Hmm? What do you mean? You’re making it sound like she isn’t important to him <span>」<span>「No, it’s not like that… I don’t know how to exin it… but I think it means he’s not in love with her <span>」<span>「Umu… I see, that means we’re higher than her, is that it? <span>」<span>「No, I’m not talking about higher or lower… I think it’s more like a separate category <span>」<span> Then, Ui-chan raises her eyebrows and on her face look like there is the word “I don’t know” written in bold gothic letters. <span>「… Well, whatever. When you get into college, Ui-chan will be Kijima’s girlfriend, right? Then you can date all you want, date everyday <span>」<span>「Date Everyday? <span>」<span> Ui-chan looked surprised and pleased for a moment, then looked troubled.<span>「That’s… well, won’t he get bored? <span>」
<span> ◇ ◇ ◇<span>「Grrrr…. I’m so jealous of Moribe <span>」<span> Ui-chan gritted her teeth as she looked at the two of them taking amemorative photo across the water aquarium.<span> I can’t help but chuckle.<span>「That’s so fresh. Ui-chan can take a picture anytime <span>」<span>「Idiot! The only time I can be alone with the Confinement King is on the bed. That’s not a photo shoot <span>」<span>「Well… <span>」<span>「I-I want a photo of myself with the Confinement King! I mean, I want to go on a date with him! <span>」<span>「… <span>」<span> I averted my eyes.<span> As I’ve already had a date with Kijima, this is very awkward.<span>「Why don’t you just say it? You want to go on a date <span>」<span>「Oh, isn’t it a little embarrassing when a woman asks for a date? <span>」<span>「No, I don’t know what that would feel like <span>」<span>(After demanding to be held and made love to in bed so many times, what are you saying now, you piece of junk? <span>)<span> When I was taken aback, Ui-chan showed a sudden sign of thinking.<span>「By the way, Shima, Confinement King seems to like Moribe a lot, why didn’t he let her join his harem? <span>」<span>「Well, that’s… because he wants to take good care of her. He even treats her like a little sister <span>」<span>「Hmm? What do you mean? You’re making it sound like she isn’t important to him <span>」<span>「No, it’s not like that… I don’t know how to exin it… but I think it means he’s not in love with her <span>」<span>「Umu… I see, that means we’re higher than her, is that it? <span>」<span>「No, I’m not talking about higher or lower… I think it’s more like a separate category <span>」<span> Then, Ui-chan raises her eyebrows and on her face look like there is the word “I don’t know” written in bold gothic letters. <span>「… Well, whatever. When you get into college, Ui-chan will be Kijima’s girlfriend, right? Then you can date all you want, date everyday <span>」<span>「Date Everyday? <span>」<span> Ui-chan looked surprised and pleased for a moment, then looked troubled.<span>「That’s… well, won’t he get bored? <span>」
<span> ◇ ◇ ◇<span>「Grrrr…. I’m so jealous of Moribe <span>」<span> Ui-chan gritted her teeth as she looked at the two of them taking amemorative photo across the water aquarium.<span> I can’t help but chuckle.<span>「That’s so fresh. Ui-chan can take a picture anytime <span>」<span>「Idiot! The only time I can be alone with the Confinement King is on the bed. That’s not a photo shoot <span>」<span>「Well… <span>」<span>「I-I want a photo of myself with the Confinement King! I mean, I want to go on a date with him! <span>」<span>「… <span>」<span> I averted my eyes.<span> As I’ve already had a date with Kijima, this is very awkward.<span>「Why don’t you just say it? You want to go on a date <span>」<span>「Oh, isn’t it a little embarrassing when a woman asks for a date? <span>」<span>「No, I don’t know what that would feel like <span>」<span>(After demanding to be held and made love to in bed so many times, what are you saying now, you piece of junk? <span>)<span> When I was taken aback, Ui-chan showed a sudden sign of thinking.<span>「By the way, Shima, Confinement King seems to like Moribe a lot, why didn’t he let her join his harem? <span>」<span>「Well, that’s… because he wants to take good care of her. He even treats her like a little sister <span>」<span>「Hmm? What do you mean? You’re making it sound like she isn’t important to him <span>」<span>「No, it’s not like that… I don’t know how to exin it… but I think it means he’s not in love with her <span>」<span>「Umu… I see, that means we’re higher than her, is that it? <span>」<span>「No, I’m not talking about higher or lower… I think it’s more like a separate category <span>」<span> Then, Ui-chan raises her eyebrows and on her face look like there is the word “I don’t know” written in bold gothic letters. <span>「… Well, whatever. When you get into college, Ui-chan will be Kijima’s girlfriend, right? Then you can date all you want, date everyday <span>」<span>「Date Everyday? <span>」<span> Ui-chan looked surprised and pleased for a moment, then looked troubled.<span>「That’s… well, won’t he get bored? <span>」<span> It was the end of summer, thest rays of the sun.<span> The heat of the evening sun is not as intense as that of the daytime, but rathernguid and dull, creating a murky, uncertain atmosphere.<span> Currently, Saori-chan is holding my index finger.<span> I followed her steps as we slowly made our way through the streets to the banks of a river running through the rice fields.<span> By this time, she had lost much of her timidness.<span> Anyway, she is really like a small animal, getting shy even to me just because we haven’t seen each other for a few days after the radio gymnastics.
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<span>↓ ↓<span> As we walked in silence, I could hear her humming faintly.
<span> The ribbon on her chest flutters slightly against the wind. Her arms, exposed to the red light, are as white as light snow even though it is summer.<span>「Ahhh, the summer vacation is over today… <span>」<span> I said, and Saori-chan smiled slightly and spoke.<span>「Maybe… I’m happy <span>」
<span>「Really? <span>」<span>「Yes, because tomorrow I’ll be able to go to school with Onii-chan every morning again <span>」<span> I’m so happy that she likes me so much that my cheeks naturally rx and I smile.<span>「I’ll pick you up tomorrow, too <span>」<span>「Yes, I’ll be waiting <span>」<span> From that point on, we were silent again. We didn’t say a word to each other, just kept walking together.<span> Finally, we entered a neighborhood and arrived in front of Saori-chan’s house. In a nter next to a hedge, a pale purple pentas was swaying faintly.<span> As Saori puts her hand on the gate, she slowly turns around.
<span> The ribbon on her chest flutters slightly against the wind. Her arms, exposed to the red light, are as white as light snow even though it is summer.<span>「Ahhh, the summer vacation is over today… <span>」<span> I said, and Saori-chan smiled slightly and spoke.<span>「Maybe… I’m happy <span>」
<span>「Really? <span>」<span>「Yes, because tomorrow I’ll be able to go to school with Onii-chan every morning again <span>」<span> I’m so happy that she likes me so much that my cheeks naturally rx and I smile.<span>「I’ll pick you up tomorrow, too <span>」<span>「Yes, I’ll be waiting <span>」<span> From that point on, we were silent again. We didn’t say a word to each other, just kept walking together.<span> Finally, we entered a neighborhood and arrived in front of Saori-chan’s house. In a nter next to a hedge, a pale purple pentas was swaying faintly.<span> As Saori puts her hand on the gate, she slowly turns around.
<span> The ribbon on her chest flutters slightly against the wind. Her arms, exposed to the red light, are as white as light snow even though it is summer.<span>「Ahhh, the summer vacation is over today… <span>」<span> I said, and Saori-chan smiled slightly and spoke.<span>「Maybe… I’m happy <span>」
<span>「Really? <span>」<span>「Yes, because tomorrow I’ll be able to go to school with Onii-chan every morning again <span>」<span> I’m so happy that she likes me so much that my cheeks naturally rx and I smile.<span>「I’ll pick you up tomorrow, too <span>」<span>「Yes, I’ll be waiting <span>」<span> From that point on, we were silent again. We didn’t say a word to each other, just kept walking together.<span> Finally, we entered a neighborhood and arrived in front of Saori-chan’s house. In a nter next to a hedge, a pale purple pentas was swaying faintly.<span> As Saori puts her hand on the gate, she slowly turns around.
<span> The ribbon on her chest flutters slightly against the wind. Her arms, exposed to the red light, are as white as light snow even though it is summer.<span>「Ahhh, the summer vacation is over today… <span>」<span> I said, and Saori-chan smiled slightly and spoke.<span>「Maybe… I’m happy <span>」
<span>「Really? <span>」<span>「Yes, because tomorrow I’ll be able to go to school with Onii-chan every morning again <span>」<span> I’m so happy that she likes me so much that my cheeks naturally rx and I smile.<span>「I’ll pick you up tomorrow, too <span>」<span>「Yes, I’ll be waiting <span>」<span> From that point on, we were silent again. We didn’t say a word to each other, just kept walking together.<span> Finally, we entered a neighborhood and arrived in front of Saori-chan’s house. In a nter next to a hedge, a pale purple pentas was swaying faintly.<span> As Saori puts her hand on the gate, she slowly turns around.
<span> The ribbon on her chest flutters slightly against the wind. Her arms, exposed to the red light, are as white as light snow even though it is summer.<span>「Ahhh, the summer vacation is over today… <span>」<span> I said, and Saori-chan smiled slightly and spoke.<span>「Maybe… I’m happy <span>」
<span>「Really? <span>」<span>「Yes, because tomorrow I’ll be able to go to school with Onii-chan every morning again <span>」<span> I’m so happy that she likes me so much that my cheeks naturally rx and I smile.<span>「I’ll pick you up tomorrow, too <span>」<span>「Yes, I’ll be waiting <span>」<span> From that point on, we were silent again. We didn’t say a word to each other, just kept walking together.<span> Finally, we entered a neighborhood and arrived in front of Saori-chan’s house. In a nter next to a hedge, a pale purple pentas was swaying faintly.<span> As Saori puts her hand on the gate, she slowly turns around.
<span> The ribbon on her chest flutters slightly against the wind. Her arms, exposed to the red light, are as white as light snow even though it is summer.<span>「Ahhh, the summer vacation is over today… <span>」<span> I said, and Saori-chan smiled slightly and spoke.<span>「Maybe… I’m happy <span>」
<span>「Really? <span>」<span>「Yes, because tomorrow I’ll be able to go to school with Onii-chan every morning again <span>」<span> I’m so happy that she likes me so much that my cheeks naturally rx and I smile.<span>「I’ll pick you up tomorrow, too <span>」<span>「Yes, I’ll be waiting <span>」<span> From that point on, we were silent again. We didn’t say a word to each other, just kept walking together.<span> Finally, we entered a neighborhood and arrived in front of Saori-chan’s house. In a nter next to a hedge, a pale purple pentas was swaying faintly.<span> As Saori puts her hand on the gate, she slowly turns around.<span> It is a children’s song about the sunset.<span> I felt nostalgic, thinking that it had been a long time since I had heard such a song.<span> The grass is still green, and the riverbank is tinged with red.<span> I could still smell the green of summer.<span> And with the background music of her faint singing voice and the chirping of a Japanese nightingale.. We walked home under thin clouds the color of rotten mandarins.<span> We’re not middle schoolers, and it’s not the time of day when we need to rush home, but I can’t drag Saori-chan around untilte, not with her parents and my mom.<span> I nced at her.<span> The ribbon on her chest flutters slightly against the wind. Her arms, exposed to the red light, are as white as light snow even though it is summer.<span>「Ahhh, the summer vacation is over today…<span>」<span> I said, and Saori-chan smiled slightly and spoke.<span>「Maybe… I’m happy<span>」
<span>「Really?<span>」<span>「Yes, because tomorrow I’ll be able to go to school with Onii-chan every morning again<span>」<span> I’m so happy that she likes me so much that my cheeks naturally rx and I smile.<span>「I’ll pick you up tomorrow, too<span>」<span>「Yes, I’ll be waiting<span>」<span> From that point on, we were silent again. We didn’t say a word to each other, just kept walking together.<span> Finally, we entered a neighborhood and arrived in front of Saori-chan’s house. In a nter next to a hedge, a pale purple pentas was swaying faintly.<span> As Saori puts her hand on the gate, she slowly turns around.<span>「Um… Onii-chan<span>」<span> Then, she made a gesture as if she was going to ask me something, so I followed her back and moved my face toward hers.<span> At that moment…I felt a soft, wet “kiss” on my cheek.When I raised my head in surprise, I saw Saori-chan’s face turn bright red and she said, “S-See you tomorrow!” .<span> I unconsciously put my hand on my cheek and watched her walk away.<span> ◇ ◇ ◇<span> As soon as I closed the front door, I leaned against the door and slumped down.<span>(I-I did it. I did it…<span>)<span> I feel like I’ve used up my courage for the rest of my life. My knees are shaking. My heart is beating so hard it hurts.<span> It’s not a spur-of-the-moment action, it’s something I’ve been thinking about since before I left home today, but I think it’s a bold decision.<span> That’s right. I think I made a bolder decision than the admiral of the MSX version of the Admiral Decision.<span>(Tora tora tora, we seeded in a surprise attack! I-I’m sure this will make Onii-chan more aware of me…<span>)<span> I clenched my fists tightly in my chest, and at the same time――<span>「What are you doing, there?<span>」<span>「Pnya!?<span>」<span> When my mother peeked out from the kitchen, I hit the back of my head on the doorknob and crouched down on the spot.
<span>↓ ↓
<span>↓ ↓<span> ◇ ◇ ◇<span> When I returned to my room in a daze, Lili, who had been reading a manga while floating in the air, tilted her head. -<span>「Are you bitten by a mosquito, Devi?<span>」<span>「What?<span>」<span>「You keep putting your hand on your cheek, Devi<span>」<span>「No, it’s just… a slightly unexpected encounter…<span>」<span> That’s right. It’s only a kiss. But it’s still a kiss.<span> I didn’t know how to respond to Saori-chan’s behavior, and I was surprised at how bewildered I was.<span> To put it simply, Fujiwara-san’s sudden blowjob and Saori-chan’s kissing were enough to startle me.<span>「Hey, Lili<span>」<span>「What, Devi?<span>」<span>「Does Saori-chan like me?<span>」<span> As soon as I asked that…<span>「Buhoh!?* *Cough*, *Cough*, *Cough*<span>」<span> Lili started to choke.<span>「…Are you okay?<span>」<span>「You suddenly said something creepy, Devi. Are you Maiden, Devi?<span>」<span>「Well, when we went out together today, I sorta get that feeling…<span>」<span>「It’s an illusion, Devi<span>」<span>「But…<span>」<span>「That’s amon misconception among ugly people! That’s the first step to bing a stalker, Devi!<span>」<span> I don’t know what Lili is so upset about, but she does get upset, and if I tell her that Saori is not like on her mind, she might not be able to recover.<span>「N-Never mind that, Fumi Fumi! Let’s get to “the bedroom”, Devi!<span>」<span>「Hmm? Why?<span>」<span> School starts tomorrow, and I thought I’d go to bed early at least today. That’s why I didn’t invite anyone over tonight.<span> But Lili gave me a dumbfounded look and spoke.<span>「Don’t be silly, Devi. From a while ago, a couple of girls have been waiting for Fumi Fumi toe home from the date, Devi<span>」