Chapter 153

An Honest Conversation

"Matsuda-kun, I read on the internet that... having honest conversations really helps a couple's relationship. Don't try to solve things alone. Got it?"

'Don't try to solve it alone?'

Considering I'd just been caught watching porn, that sounded like a glaring double entendre.

Parked in front of Miyuki's house, I turned to her with a look of total bewilderment.

"Where is this coming from?"

"It's nothing. I'm going in, okay? Keep our photo booth stickers safe."

"Yeah. See you."

"You're going to shower as soon as you get home, right? I'll video call you in an hour."

"Got it."

Miyuki glanced back several times before finally heading inside.

She did that often, but... her expression was different this time.

There was a faint trace of anxiety on her face.

Like a mother abandoning her overly curious son in the middle of an amusement park.

'Does she think I'm going to jerk off alone as soon as I get back?'

It seemed Miyuki was finally trying to feel me out... and she'd promised a video call, too. I should time it right and put some porn on the screen.

Or should I just ignore her call, wait for her to come over out of worry, and let her catch me jerking off?

'No, that's going too far.'

She'd already given me a handjob, and her love for me ran so deep that my affection level wouldn't drop no matter what I did...

Even without going to those lengths, getting caught red-handed just watching it would set the stage for an open conversation.

Plus, I didn't want to cause Miyuki any unnecessary trouble.

Once I got home and finished showering, I set my Laptop on the futon.

Then I pulled up a threesome porno, found the most dramatic scene, and paused it.

The part where one woman was fondling the man's chest from behind, while the other was pinned underneath him getting railed.

'This should be enough. Everything's set.'

Bzzzt!

I'd been killing time fiddling with my Cell Phone. When Miyuki's video call finally came through, I clutched a pillow to my chest, lay on my stomach, and hit answer.

Miyuki's bare face soon appeared on the screen.

Inwardly admiring how radiant she looked even without makeup, I got straight to the point.

"Did you shower?"

"-Yeah. Did you not dry your hair properly?"

"I just gave it a quick rub with a towel."

"-I told you to dry it thoroughly. If your scalp gets damaged, your hair's going to fall out when you're older."

"It's not gonna fall out."

"-Would it kill you to listen to me?"

"Stop nagging and lower your camera a bit."

"-Why?"

"Just do it."

Miyuki's puzzled expression shifted in an instant.

She clearly realized I was trying to get a look at her breasts.

Letting out a long sigh, she put on a stern face to scold me, but then she froze.

"-...Matsuda-kun. Has your... sex drive been unusually high lately?"

"Where is this coming from?"

"-I mean... telling me to lower the camera just now, for one..."

"Like this is the first time I've done that."

"-True, but... that look in your eyes is more lecherous than usual. Stop joking around and talk to me seriously."

'Is this the right time?'

I pulled the pillow out from under my chest and rolled onto my side.

I angled the Cell Phone upwards, framing it so the Laptop screen sitting just over my shoulder took up about a third of Miyuki's view in the corner.

"I'm always like this."

"-Really...? Hmm..."

Deep in thought as she listened to my answer, Miyuki's eyes flicked over to the corner of her screen.

And not long after, "-...Huh?"

A low gasp slipped from her lips as she finally noticed my setup.

I watched her narrow her eyes to get a closer look before asking.

"What?"

"-Ah... um... hold on..."

I watched both of Miyuki's shoulders hike up.

Evidence that she had raised both her hands. She was probably trying to take a screenshot.

As I waited in silence, Miyuki spoke up. "-Matsuda-kun. What were you doing just now?"

Hearing her slightly lowered voice, I had a hunch that she'd zoomed in on the screenshot and figured out exactly what I was up to.

"I'm on a call with you."

"-No... what were you doing before that?"

'What should I do now?'

'Keep playing dumb and dodge the question?'

'Or be shameless but honest?'

Between those two options, my conclusion was a compromise.

'I'll act like this conversation itself is awkward. Make it painfully obvious that I'm hiding something.'

'And when Miyuki brings it up, I'll obediently confess.'

Shifting my posture so the Laptop was out of frame, I answered.

"I was watching something."

"-Watching what?"

"Just, you know..."

"-Matsuda-kun. You were watching porn, weren't you?"

'I guess I can admit it now.'

Twitching my brow, I wordlessly turned my head, making it look like I was glancing over at the open Laptop.

Then, swinging an arm out to shut the Laptop, I looked back at the screen.

"Did you see?"

"-Yeah... I saw."

"Well, this is embarrassing..."

"-No... you're allowed to watch it... but... Matsuda-kun, do you like that kind of stuff?"

"What kind of stuff?"

"-The ones with two women..."

"Shut up."

Miyuki let out a soft chuckle, seemingly amused by how I was subtly avoiding her gaze and giving curt, one-word answers.

"-It's fine, just tell me. Or rather than over the phone, should we talk about it face to face tomorrow?"

'Wouldn't talking about it face to face be even more humiliating?'

'For you, not me.'

"Don't act like a teacher just because you caught me watching porn once."

"-So what? Are you embarrassed because I'm bringing this up?"

"Embarrassed, my foot... it's just awkward getting caught."

"-You talk about dirty stuff all the time, too. So spit it out. Is that your taste? You like it, right?"

'If I only like it, huh...'

Her phrasing felt exactly like she was asking, 'You don't actually intend to do it, right?'

Seeing how this was going, persuading her seemed like it would be a bit difficult... which was only natural.

'Should I try a different approach?'

'No, it hasn't been long since Miyuki caught me.'

'It's best to just observe a bit more for now.'

'I hadn't expected it to be easily resolved right away anyway.'

The fact that she was calmly asking her boyfriend about his tastes instead of instantly getting angry or grossed out was already a good sign.

'So I should think positively.'

"Let's cut the nonsense and sleep. I'm tired."

"-You look totally wide awake though? And what do you mean nonsense? We have to talk about things like this to strengthen our bond. Right?"

"Quiet down before I go over there and pounce on you."

"-You can come over."

Miyuki provoked me with a playful voice.

'It's been a while since she showed off this mischievous side.'

With a smirk, I propped my Cell Phone up horizontally and pulled the blanket up to my chin.

"I'm going to sleep."

"-You can do that, but don't hang up. Leave it on while you sleep."

"Are you trying to monitor me or something?"

"-Why are you so suspicious? I just want to see your face."

"Got it."

"Matsuda-kun. You didn't watch that while showering, did you?"

To think the first thing she brought up as soon as we got in the car was porn.

Making a fuss right from the morning. Not that I minded—the more Miyuki brought it up, the better it was for me.

"How would I watch it while showering? And splash water all over my Laptop?"

"I feel like you would've found a way to watch it regardless. What did you watch this time? The same one as yesterday?"

"I didn't watch anything. Just put on your seatbelt."

"Okay."

After driving to the Academy, we amiably got out together in the Parking Lot.

Miyuki said she had to visit the Student Council Room for an upcoming school trip, so I grabbed her bag and made my way across the field toward the classroom.

But then, spotting a familiar head of hair on a bench at the far edge of the field, I stopped in my tracks.

A long, indigo ponytail.

The only person with that hairstyle was Renka.

'What is she doing out there all alone in this cold weather?'

Grinning, I killed my footsteps and crept closer, peeking my head out from a diagonal angle behind her.

"..."

She was watching something on her Cell Phone.

It was a manga, and the current scene prominently featured the heroine tied up in tortoise-shell bondage, getting whipped by the male lead while dripping wet down below.

'That's...'

It was the manga I'd recommended when Renka and I were exchanging anonymous notes.

A work titled [The Master's Secret]. She was reading it right now.

Completely oblivious to the fact that someone was standing right beside her, she displayed an incredible amount of focus.

'Is it really that immersive? All I know is that it made me hard.'

Feeling playful, I closed the distance right up behind Renka and stood perfectly still.

Noticing the sudden shadow cast over her vision, she turned her head.

"Hello there."

Seizing the moment, I raised a hand in greeting.

"Hyaaaah!?"

Startled half to death, Renka jumped, her whole body flinching.

She shot up from her seat in a panic and demanded, "W-What!? What are you doing here...?"

"I saw a familiar back, so I came over to say hi. What were you looking at?"

"N-None of your business...!"

Looking at Renka's reaction, I felt like this somehow overlapped with my situation with Miyuki.

Though the difference was that she hadn't gotten caught on purpose—she genuinely wanted to hide it.

"Were you looking at something dirty?"

"Dirty stuff, my foot...! Do you think I'm like you? And why are you holding two bags...?"

"One is Miyuki's. Where is Master?"

"At the School Store..."

"Ah... So President was waiting here for Master?"

"That's right... Just hurry up and go on your way..."

"I'll see you during club activities."

"Yeah... just go away."

"Or seeing you at lunchtime would be fine, too."

"I absolutely will not see you, so disappear already."

Renka shooed me away with her hands, looking like she was chasing off a stray dog.

'Do you even realize that the Cell Phone in your hand is still on?'

'It's even zoomed in... She must have fumbled with it in her panic without even thinking to lock the screen, unintentionally leaving it like that.'

'The heroine's nipples are fully visible.'

"Can I visit your classroom during the break?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"What do you mean, why not? I said no because it's a no. Just leave already...!"

Having stalled for time while making idle chatter with Renka, I finally nodded as her Cell Phone screen timed out and turned black.

"Got it. Take it easy."

I was being especially considerate.

'So you'd better listen to me well from now on.'

'Before I make you listen to me by force.'