Chapter 343

“You go first, Junior.”

“No. You go first, Master.”

“Why is that?”

There was a bit of a gap between the steps and the Ferris wheel carriage, and with other customers waiting behind us, I was worried her thighs might be exposed.

Honestly, the angle wouldn't allow for that much exposure, but in my opinion, only one person was allowed to see Chinami's firm thighs.

“So I can cover you from behind.”

At my rather honest answer, Chinami grew incredibly shy.

She fidgeted with the hem of her skirt, as if suddenly conscious she was wearing one.

After clearing her throat a few times, she shot me a quick glance when the attendant gestured for us to board, then scurried inside.

I followed close behind her into the carriage. When she looked around in a fluster, I pointed to the seat on the left.

“Let's sit together.”

“T-Together...?”

“Yes. Together.”

“Y-Yes...! Let's do that...”

Chinami pressed herself into the corner of the spacious seat, shrinking into a little ball.

It was obvious she felt incredibly embarrassed.

Chuckling, I took a seat right in the middle, next to her.

The attendant closing the door wore a look of blatant annoyance, as if our display made his eyes sting.

Working in a place like this, he must have seen scenes like this plenty of times. Maybe we just looked exceptionally fresh and youthful?

Chinami and I were faintly reflected in the window of the slowly turning Ferris wheel.

Chinami must have seen that reflection too, because her shoulders were completely stiff.

She kept her legs pressed tightly together and her hands resting meekly on her knees.

I draped an arm over Chinami's demure shoulders and firmly pulled her toward me.

“Nyaa...!”

With that unique little gasp, she rested her head softly against my shoulder.

Her trembling body clearly showed just how nervous she was.

Moving the arm I had wrapped around her neck, I gently stroked her plump cheek with my index finger and asked a question.

“Why are you trembling so much?”

“W-Well, I don't know... Maybe the air conditioner is too strong and I'm cold...?”

I could see a hint of Renka in the way Chinami made up excuses instead of honestly expressing her feelings.

It felt like a timid version of Renka.

Even if they didn't seem like it, the two of them really were quite similar.

“Is that so?”

“Y-Yes...”

Chinami lifted her head, looking up at me with doe-like eyes.

Did she even realize her hand was resting right on top of my crotch?

She probably didn't, which was why she was acting like this.

Her hand squirmed all over the place, stimulating my lower half.

At this rate, she might start picking at her fingernails.

Thinking that, I pressed a light kiss to her forehead.

“Mwaa...!”

The surprise kiss left Chinami completely at a loss for what to do.

She swooned, unable to gather her senses. I loved how her reactions were always so consistent.

Flashing her a benevolent smile, I pointed out the window of the Ferris wheel, which had climbed quite high by now.

“I think we can almost see the ocean.”

At that, Chinami gulped and turned her head in a stiff, mechanical motion.

Then she started to stammer.

“Y-Y-Y-You're right...! It's very beau... beautiful...!”

“You can barely see the horizon right now, though?”

“I... I was saying the horizon is beautiful...!”

“Is that so?”

“Y-Yes...! That's it...!”

“Understood. You haven't forgotten our promise to go swimming together next time, have you?”

“O-Of course I remember...!”

“Do you have a swimsuit?”

“Yes...!”

“Is it a Momo-sama swimsuit by any chance?”

“N-No... There are no swimsuits among the Momo-nim Merchandise...”

That was a huge relief.

“But it would be nice if there were... I should try posting a suggestion on the website...”

I really shouldn't have said anything.

Flinching inwardly at Chinami's follow-up remark, I pressed my nose against the back of her head.

“Hyaat...!? W-What are you doing...!”

“Recharging my energy.”

“Aha... Did it help...?”

“Yes.”

“I'm glad to hear that...”

Trailing off, a soft giggle escaped Chinami's lips.

Seeing her so happy over such simple physical affection made me feel good as well.

Rather than doing anything naughty today, I decided I should focus on building an emotional connection with Chinami.

Still, a deep kiss inside a Ferris wheel was a required course in any romantic comedy, so I would at least do that.

It was a somewhat tired cliché, but whatever. We were here, so we might as well enjoy it.

“Junior...! Look over there...!”

Was she deeply moved by the tiny buildings and the vast ocean stretching out behind them, visible from this dizzying height?

Chinami's voice was filled with excitement.

Thinking her reactions were truly fantastic, I suddenly leaned my face in over her shoulder.

Then, staring straight at her brightly smiling face, I brought my lips close to hers.

As if sensing what was about to happen, Chinami stopped her excited chatter and pressed her lips tightly together.

Her eyelids twitched once before slowly fluttering shut.

Watching her long eyelashes lower over her eyes, I pressed my lips against her soft ones.

Squeeze...!

At that exact moment, I felt a strong pressure on my index and middle fingers, which were resting on Chinami's waist.

Searching for something to rely on to ease her nervousness, Chinami had tightly gripped my fingers.

Grinning against her lips at that adorable gesture, I gently slipped my tongue into her gradually parting mouth.

“Ngh.”

Accompanied by Chinami's nasal moans, we spent a thrilling yet tender time together until the Ferris wheel passed its peak and descended halfway down.

Whether we were getting off the Ferris wheel and heading to the theater, watching an intense action movie inside, or walking back to the parking lot after it ended, she constantly fanned her face with her hand, as if unable to cool her flushed body.

Her face only returned to normal when we were in the car, heading home.

The lingering afterglow of the kiss we shared in the Ferris wheel had finally faded.

However, it didn't take long for her to return to how she was acting earlier.

It was because of something I said in the car.

“Master.”

“Yes?”

“It's been weighing on my mind that I didn't greet your mother properly last time. Is she home right now, by any chance?”

“Ah, she is home, but you really don't have to go out of your way to do that.”

“I'd also like to see your room while I'm at it.”

“Ehhh...!?”

“Is that a no?”

“I-It's not a no, but... Phew...! It's incredibly hot in here...! Could you turn on the air conditioner...?”

“Of course.”

Nodding readily, I cranked the AC to the max. Chinami pressed her face near the vent, patted her cheeks with her palms, and then spoke with a resolute expression.

“Then... I will formally invite you to my home. I'll leave a message for my mother...”

“What about your father?”

“Father said he would be coming home late today... He's often late.”

Dear me... What a shame.

Momoka must be lonely. I suppose I'll have to comfort her.

“What about parking? Should I go to the apartment building's parking lot?”

“N-No. It's a small mechanical parking tower, so it can't be used by unregistered vehicles.”

“Then I can just park at the public parking lot near the Park, right?”

“Yes...”

“Understood.”

Having secured a sudden home visit like that, I chatted with Chinami against the backdrop of the setting sun until we arrived at her neighborhood.

After leaving the car in the parking lot, we held hands tightly just like we did that morning. We entered the apartment building, took the elevator, and got off on Chinami's floor.

“Phew...!”

She took a deep breath in front of the door and opened it with her key. Immediately, a strong scent of peaches rushed into my nose.

It was much stronger than the scent that usually wafted from Chinami's body. Did her entire family love peaches?

“I'm home... Hmm?”

Stepping into the entryway first, Chinami tilted her head.

It was because there was no one in the living room.

The cozy space was filled only by the sound of the TV that had been left on.

Taking off her sandals and heading into the living room, Chinami looked back at me as I removed my shoes.

“Mother seems to have stepped out for a moment. She probably went grocery shopping because you were coming, Junior.”

“Is that so? Did you tell her I was going to eat here?”

“I just told her you were stopping by.”

“I see. Now I feel a bit guilty.”

“You don't need to feel that way at all. By the way, the house is very cramped, isn't it...?”

“No. It doesn't feel like that to me at all.”

“Is that so...?”

“Yes. Is that your room over there, Master?”

When I pointed to a door on the left side of the living room that had a Momo-sama badge pinned to it, Chinami slowly nodded.

“That's right... Would you like to take a look...?”

“Yes. I'll wash my hands first.”

“Yes. The bathroom is here... right here.”

She kindly opened a door next to the entryway.

I went into the bare-bones bathroom, which only had a bathtub and a sink, and washed my hands.

Even in the bathroom, the peach scent was overpowering.

It was making me dizzy. Could it actually have some kind of hypnotic effect?

Entertaining that conspiracy theory as a joke, I dried my hands on a hanging towel and walked out. Chinami, whose body had gone completely stiff, opened the door to her room and gestured for me to go in. I gave her a bright smile.

“Excuse me then.”

Chinami's room was exactly what I had expected.

If I turned my head to the left, I saw Momo-sama. If I turned my head to the right, Momo-sama...

Everywhere I looked, there was Momo-sama. The desk, the vanity, and even the walls and curtains were completely pink.

There were even air fresheners made by Momo-sama's company scattered around. The interior decoration was just so... Chinami.

If we were to have sex in here, I felt like I would be under surveillance by Momo-sama's bright, clear eyes.

“H-How is it...?”

“Did you decorate the room yourself, Master?”

“Yes...”

Seeing Chinami acting so timid made it feel like the roles of host and guest had been reversed.

At this rate, it was like I had broken into her house.

“It's super cute. It fits your image perfectly, Master.”

“I-Is that so...? What a relief...”

Setting aside the merchandise, the room was incredibly neat overall.

The blankets were folded nicely, and the pillow was placed perfectly in the center of the bed.

The chair was also tucked neatly under the desk.

It seemed her meticulous personality was completely natural.

Clack.

Lost in those thoughts, I turned my head when I heard the sound of the front door opening.

Spotting Momoka walking inside with a large plastic bag in her hand, I quickly hurried out of the room. Smiling brightly, she spoke.

“Hello, Matsuda-kun. Welcome.”

“Hello. I'm sorry for dropping by so unexpectedly.”

“No, it's fine. You haven't eaten dinner, right?”

“Yes.”

“That's good. I'll make it right now, so we can eat together. Do you want to hang out in the room while I prepare? I'll bring you some peaches.”

Why did her mix of formal and casual speech feel so incredibly warm and cozy?

It must have been because Momoka's voice was so refreshing.

Even if Chinami had left a message, from Momoka's perspective, it must have looked like I had barged in out of nowhere.

Despite that, she was welcoming me with genuine kindness.

Just as expected of Chinami's mother, she had a truly beautiful heart. I would have to cherish her very, very much.

For now, let's leave my second father-in-law here and start by bringing Momoka and Chinami back to my home.