âThe sun was already setting when I realized that it was late.
We had to leave soon, or Shiho would be late for her curfew. But she didnât seem to have any intention of leaving and kept hugging me.
âNyufufu. Itâs been a long time since Iâve felt like Iâve had Kotaro-kun all to myself. I feel like Iâm monopolizing Kotaro-kun for the first time in a long time⊠I want to hold you like this all the time⊠Oh, thatâs right. How about using Kotaro-kun as a bed pillow? I want to wrap you up in a cloth and put you on my bed.â
âŠThe idea is scary, as usual.
Shiho is completely back to normal. Perhaps it was thanks to Maryâs exit.
âCome to think of it, how long have you been watchingâŠ?â
She was talking earlier as if she had been watching all along, however.
Iâm not sure thatâs actually true. At least, she wasnât at the back of the school building. If she had been there, Shiho would have jumped out when I was slapped.
My guess that she might have seen us as early as Ryuzakiâs confession, or as late as when he left, was about right.
âJust about the time Kotaro-kun got kabedoned, I think. I was in the classroom waiting for you to come home when I heard a loud noise coming from an empty classroom. I came to check on you and found Kotaro-kun and Mary-chan.â
A loud noise, I guess when Ryuzaki kicked the desk.
âI donât know the details, and I donât ask tactless questions like, âWhat happened?â I just know that you were trying to protect ⊠me. Thatâs enough.â
With that said, she now reached for my cheek.
Just where Kirari had slapped me.
âBut you didnât have to work so hard to get hurt⊠Look, itâs swollen, okay? I wonât ask you what happened, but do you understand that it hurts me to know that youâre hurting?â
ââŠYeah. Iâm sorry.â
I sincerely apologized. Then she smiled and nodded.
âItâs great that you can apologize properly. Yes, of course I forgive you⊠Oh, thatâs right. Kotaro-kun, do you want to bend down a bit?â
âHuh? Ah, yeah.â
What happened all of a sudden?
I donât know what sheâs going to do to me, but I did as I was told and bent down.
I try to lower my eyes a little lower than Shiho.
Then she suddenly crunched my head.
âAll rightâȘ ⊠You did a great job this time. Iâm going to reward you for your efforts.â
⊠Apparently, Shiho is willing to work hard for me.
I thought she was just going to lean in closer to me, but then she put her lips on mine.
ââŠâ
The unexpected event made my mind go blank.
On the contrary, Shihoâs face was as red as a ripe apple.
âThis is ⊠your reward, okay? Iâm not in a hurry because Mary-chan is going to take away Kotaro-kunâs first time, alright? I kissed you because I love you, donât get me wrong!â
I donât know where the tsun tsun is coming from, but ⊠I bit down hard on that reward.
ââIâm glad I did my best.
I felt that way from the bottom of my heart.
I was inexperienced and pathetic, so there were probably many things that I did not deserve.
But Shiho watched over me. She recognized my effort. She praised me afterwards.
That alone made me feel rewarded.
I felt from the bottom of my heart that I had done my best.