Chapter 88

Bzzzt...!

The Cell Phone placed on the tatami mat vibrated.

I had passed out alongside Miyuki. Just as I blindly groped around for it, she mumbled, "...It's my phone..."

Jolted awake, Miyuki grimaced heavily. She grabbed the Cell Phone and answered the call.

"Hello...?"

"Were you sleeping?"

A timid but decent-sounding voice drifted faintly through the Cell Phone.

It was Tetsuya.

Rubbing her eyes, Miyuki replied.

"Yeah..."

"Did I call too early? I'm sorry."

"No... but what's up...?"

"I just called because I was bored. You usually wake up around seven, anyway."

Was he curious about what she did yesterday?

Then again, it made sense. The childhood friend he had harbored feelings for over the past fifteen years was alone with me. He could not help but be curious.

That was exactly why he should have handled himself better.

Like I have said time and time again, you keep losing the people precious to you because you are so dense.

The same will happen with Renka and Hiyori.

Do not hold onto any false hope.

After thoroughly mocking Tetsuya in my mind, I strained my ears and continued to eavesdrop on the conversation.

"It's the weekend, so I was going to sleep in..."

"Oh, really? Go back to sleep, then. Let me know when you wake up."

"Okay... I'm sorry."

"No, it's my fault. I'll hang up now."

"Mhm..."

Still half-asleep, Miyuki tapped the end-call button and let out a long breath through her nose.

Then she nestled back into my embrace, curled her body up like a shrimp, and shivered.

"I'm cold..."

I hugged her tightly and spoke.

"Why are you so nice?"

"What do you mean..."

"Calling so shamelessly first thing in the morning like that. If it were me, I would have cursed him out."

"Why would you curse him out over something like this... Tetsuya just called because he knows I usually wake up around this time..."

"I really need to beat him up soon."

Chomp.

A sharp, heavy pain bloomed across my chest.

Miyuki had bitten me.

She seemed angry that I threatened to hit him... but it hurt.

I hastily pulled Miyuki's head away and massaged the back of her neck to calm her down.

"Why are you biting people? Are you a dog?"

"Because you said such harsh things..."

"I only talked, but you actually resorted to violence?"

"..."

She fell silent for a moment before burying herself even deeper into my arms.

Running out of excuses, she was trying to smooth things over by acting cute.

I patted her rear and let out a low chuckle.

Miyuki herself might not have realized it, but these actions slipped out because she was incredibly comfortable with me.

Far more comfortable than she was with Tetsuya.

So much so that he could not even be compared to me anymore.

Swoosh!

A car cut smoothly through the harsh sheets of rain.

Pulling her cardigan tight, Miyuki looked back at me and spoke.

"Do you want to come too, Matsuda-kun?"

"No. It's a family gathering. I don't have the nerve to crash that."

"Mom and Dad would probably like it."

"Even so, no. I wasn't officially invited, so it makes me uncomfortable."

Miyuki pouted at my firm response.

We were currently heading to Miyuki's house.

Midori had suddenly contacted her, telling her to stop being a nuisance to her friend and to come home for a family meal.

"I clearly told her I was sleeping over for two days..."

I interlaced my fingers with the grumbling Miyuki's and soothed her in a gentle voice.

"It is natural for a mother to worry about her daughter. Someone who usually stays quietly at home has been emptying the house for days at a time lately. Anyone would be concerned."

"...I guess..."

"We're here. Go inside safely, and let me know when you're in."

The car rolled to a stop in front of the house.

Letting out a long, regretful sigh through her nose, Miyuki suddenly pulled my hand to her chest and pressed her lips firmly against the back of it.

Then, she quickly opened the door and ran off as if she were fleeing.

I chuckled at the abrupt display of affection. I was about to drive Home, but the thought of Chinami made me pull over on the shoulder of the road for a moment.

Afterward, I opened the chat app and looked for Chinami.

Her profile picture was still Momo-sama looking dizzy.

Entering the chat room, I quickly tapped the keyboard on my Cell Phone screen.

"Master."

Contrary to my expectation of an immediate reply, the Cell Phone remained quiet for over a minute.

Right when I started thinking, 'Is she meeting someone?'

"Hello, Junior. It's raining quite heavily."

Chinami's reply arrived.

"It really is. What are you up to, by any chance?"

"I just finished showering and came out."

"Do you have plans or something?"

"I'm supposed to meet Renka in the evening, but I took a shower because it got cold and I wanted to warm my body up with hot water."

Come to think of it, I had not bothered to trigger any events where the two of them appeared together yet...

Should I use this chance to go check it out?

The location where they meet is set, but since it is raining, it might change. I should subtly feel Chinami out.

"I see. So your afternoon is free?"

"That is correct."

"If it is alright with you, would you like to watch a movie with me? We agreed to watch one last time."

"What kind of movie?"

"I haven't decided yet. Do you have any genres you want to watch?"

"Then when should we meet?"

No, I asked what genre you wanted to watch.

How can you just skip the entire process like that?

Chuckling at Chinami's consistently quirky replies, I tapped the screen.

"Should I come over now?"

"How long will it take you?"

"About fifteen minutes?"

"Hmm. Sounds good."

Finishing my conversation with Chinami, I changed direction.

Going Home to rest just because my schedule suddenly cleared up would be a sin.

Our god is helping me, so I must not waste my free time.

Click.

Chinami opened the passenger door, folded her umbrella, and climbed in with a small grunt.

Shorts and sandals, paired with a thick sweatshirt and a cap worn slightly to the side.

It seemed like an unmatched outfit, but because it was Chinami, she pulled it off.

It was a bit cutely hip.

"Hello, Junior."

She gave a polite nod.

I returned the greeting with a nod of my own and asked,

"You said you were cold, but you came out in shorts?"

"Because rainwater will splash on long pants. I brought a Blanket, so it is fine."

Chinami confidently spread the Blanket wide.

It was that incredibly pink Blanket I had seen last time, featuring a large drawing of Momo-sama right in the middle.

Draping it over her lap, Chinami looked back at me with a beaming expression.

She was about to say something, but then suddenly sniffed the air.

"Hmm... I smell plums. Come to think of it, it feels like your body has been smelling like plums lately, Junior. It was like that in the Club Room last time too..."

"Are you smelling my body?"

"Ah...! I didn't mean I smelled you on purpose. I meant that you were giving off the scent."

Chinami panicked.

I gave her a small smile and spoke.

"I'm joking. Do you like plums, by any chance?"

"Of course I like them. Though not as much as peaches."

Then she'll get along great with Miyuki.

A sudden thought crossed my mind.

The picture of Chinami drifting apart from her closest friend Renka, and instead spending more time with me and Miyuki...

Renka, getting Chinami NTRed from her just like that...

That's kind of hot.

"Why did you agree to meet Inoo-sunbae?"

"We decided to buy clothes together."

A clothing store...

I already knew the place those two frequently visited.

I could probably bump into them if I killed some time nearby.

Chatting quietly with one another, we went to the movie theater and picked out a movie in front of the kiosk.

An action blockbuster praised for its flashy cinematography.

I had wanted a calm, quiet movie, but unfortunately, there were no showings during our time slot.

Perhaps because it was the weekend, it was crowded, and on-site ticketing only had relatively poor seats left.

However, it was absolutely perfect for me.

The remaining spots were in a secluded corner where no one else could sit next to us—the absolute perfect seats for getting up to something.

Comforting the disappointed Chinami, I printed the tickets and asked.

"Would you like some Popcorn too?"

"Ah, yes! I have peach powder."

"...Peach powder? Are you talking about iced tea powder?"

"No. It is a seasoning powder that tastes delicious when sprinkled on potato chips or Popcorn. It is hard to find so I was saving it, but I specially brought it to eat together with you, Junior."

Such a seasoning powder existed in this world?

It sounded like it would have an evil taste that could not even be compared to peach ice cream... but she brought it just for me, so what else could I do?

I would rather die than eat it, but I had to.

Since there was barely any time left before the showing, we headed inside the Screening Room as soon as we bought the Popcorn and drinks.

The drink was, of course... peach iced tea.

I was desperate to quickly corrupt Chinami into having normal taste buds.

At this rate, I was going to develop a neurosis about peaches.

I sat Chinami down in the deepest corner, but I flinched when she pulled a packet out of her crossbody bag that read 'Peach Bomb!'

That name was way too vicious.

"Is that the peach powder?"

"Yes. Are you looking forward to it? Once you taste it, you will fall right in love with it too, Junior."

Chinami had just delivered a line fit for a movie villain seducing a woman with a spiked drink.

Tearing the packet open, she sprinkled the powder over the Popcorn, shook the bucket, and then picked up a piece of Popcorn to hold out to me.

"Give it a taste."

It was a piece of Popcorn coated in the thickest layer of powder.

Struggling to hide my fear, I accepted it and carefully brought it to my mouth.

And then, 'Oh...?'

My eyes widened at the sweet, mellow flavor that burst inside my mouth.

I hadn't expected a single thing, but the innate savoriness of the Popcorn and the sweet tang of that powder paired incredibly well together.

How on earth could this possibly be delicious?

"How is it?"

Chinami stared at me with eyes full of anticipation.

I answered by simply grabbing another piece of Popcorn and eating it.

At that, Chinami's lips curved upward into a smirk, and she let out a meaningful chuckle.

"Fufu..."

For some reason, my pride was taking a hit...

At this rate, I might be the one who ended up corrupted, barking that I would do anything for peach powder.

I need to pull myself together.

Eating another piece of Popcorn, I shifted my hips and slyly pressed closer to Chinami.

Close enough that my waist touched the armrest dividing us.

"Uh...?"

Seeing this, Chinami flinched.

She looked as if she thought the distance was too close.

Observing Chinami's reaction, I reached out and took a napkin resting on her lap.

"I-if you had said something, I would have handed it to you..."

She scolded me in a voice so quiet it was barely audible.

Casually wiping my hands, I gave a cheeky grin and spoke.

"It's because I'm so comfortable around you, Master. If it made you feel bad, I apologize."

"Hmm... It's not exactly that... Ahem..."

The atmosphere softened.

Whenever I attempted subtle physical contact like this, the air would always soften drastically.

Would I get a chance to touch her neck while watching the movie?

Looking at Chinami now, she seemed completely tense. The moment she relaxed her shoulders, I would pretend to massage them and gently cop a feel.

'''