By Kiyoharu's standards of beauty, Kitahara Ayano was no less stunning than Airi today.
The forest-themed fairy dress perfectly accentuated her delicate figure. Two slightly curled locks of long hair fell at her sides, and her lively light makeup made her look like an apple covered in dew, impossible not to want to take a bite out of.
She looked like an elegant lady who would be easy to bully, yet the malice in her heart was no less than Airi's!
After activating Time Stop, Ayano's face quickly flushed with excited color. It seemed she had already grown accustomed to using her superpower for outrageous things, forming some kind of conditioned reflex.
She walked up to Kiyoharu and gently stroked his face.
"That cold, rejecting look, yet unable to hide the panic in your heart... it's truly wonderful, Kiyoharu-kun. You're simply the most interesting thing I've encountered in my life, and you just had to become Airi's husband. Ah, the more I think about it, the more delightful it becomes..."
So what exactly was the grudge between her and the Young Lady?
Kiyoharu was extremely curious, even more curious about it than what Shimaura Hitomi would look like after her makeover.
Yet that curiosity quickly turned to horror, because Ayano immediately lifted the skirt that fell halfway down her calves, revealing her beautiful legs wrapped in white thigh-high stockings.
She was not as tall as Airi, but her proportions were terrifyingly good. Her exquisite, flawless curves were wrapped in delicate, semi-sheer white stockings.
Ayano raised one foot, kicked off her wedge heel, and planted her sole against Kiyoharu.
"It seems Airi once complained that Kiyoharu-kun always likes staring at her feet. Hmm... given their relationship, what's so strange about that? So their marriage must be in name only. Then let big sister satisfy you, poor Kiyoharu-kun~"
To be fair.
Kiyoharu really did like pretty feet.
During his indulgent days in his previous life, whenever there was a break between intense battles, Kiyoharu would always like to hold one of his girlfriends' feet and play with them.
Ayano's sudden attack caught Kiyoharu off guard. Although her method was exceedingly inexperienced, it still achieved an excellent effect.
"My, your body is so honest. Hmm... look, Kiyoharu-kun seems to be enjoying this. Every night over these past three years, Kiyoharu-kun must have endured such empty loneliness. Oh dear, within the time limit of Time Stop, can I bring Kiyoharu-kun enough happiness?"
Ayano had loved talking to herself since childhood—provided she was alone and no one was nearby to interrupt her. If any elders in the family were around, they would severely scold her.
So she had learned to disguise herself early on. Now was the time to release her true nature.
Kiyoharu could only hold his breath and endure with all his strength.
He did not know Ayano's Time Stop limit. He only knew that if he lost this contest of wills, the outcome would be social death!
This was indeed Airi's private VIP suite, but Airi and Shimaura Hitomi were only one wall away, washing their hair.
Yet the more he thought about that, the more uncontrollable excitement Kiyoharu felt.
Under Ayano's wicked smile and her overwhelming charm, even reciting legal statutes to calm himself was useless.
After a long period of endurance, Kiyoharu suddenly felt the pressure lessen dramatically. The next moment, he regained control of his body.
Before he could even catch his breath, Ayano's darkly amused voice rang out.
"Huh? What's this?"
"..."
"Kiyoharu-kun, can you perform that again?" Ayano imitated Kiyoharu's tone. "I will always be loyal to Chihaya Airi. You may be able to coerce me, but you will never be able to seduce me... Pfft! Kiyoharu-kun, who wasn't even touched by a single finger, developed improper thoughts toward me merely because the lights were dimmed, and you still had the nerve to talk about loyalty."
It was his big head that was loyal. What did that have to do with his little head?
Even though he felt completely justified inside, he was too embarrassed to say such nonsense aloud.
Kiyoharu did not forget to keep acting. He lowered his head and glanced down in shock before sighing helplessly. "Although I don't know what happened either, but... I'm sorry, Miss Ayano. I lost my composure. If this has caused you some misunderstanding, please don't overthink it. I really..."
"Kiyoharu-kun, open your eyes and look at reality." Ayano interrupted him, her tone suddenly turning serious. "Airi treats you like a dog. Even if you have reasons that force you to be one, there's no need to remain faithful to her. In the end, when a man and a woman are willing, what's the problem?"
"But it isn't moral."
"I don't believe you're someone who cares about conventional morality, Kiyoharu-kun."
As she spoke, Ayano moved closer. She bent her left leg and half-knelt before Kiyoharu, pressing her thigh against him and making him instinctively lean back. Meanwhile, Ayano placed both hands against the couch backrest on either side of Kiyoharu's head.
It formed the posture of Ayano giving Kiyoharu a couch kabedon.
"You can receive warmth from me that you cannot receive from Airi. I guarantee it."
Contrary to Kiyoharu's expectations, Ayano did not make another outrageously suggestive move. Instead, she reached out and rubbed Kiyoharu's head, then gently stroked his ears all the way down to his chin.
At that moment, Kiyoharu actually sensed a glow of motherly affection around Ayano!
"Just now, Kiyoharu-kun wanted some care, but Airi refused you, didn't she? It's okay, big sister will help you~"
Ayano pulled Kiyoharu down to lie sideways on the couch. He struggled a few times, only to receive an immediate warning. "If you want your fiancée to hear the commotion, then please keep refusing."
"...You win."
Kiyoharu gave up resisting, lying there like a salted fish.
Ayano examined him with satisfaction, kneaded his cheeks, and actually began massaging his head.
Unlike the proper therapy Kiyoharu gave Airi, Ayano used very little force. Yet the sensation of her fingers rubbing against him was as comfortable as a slow-flowing stream of water.
Th-this was the legendary Soothing Finger Technique?
"Ever since I was seven, Mother began teaching me how to train my finger technique. She had me practice on her head, saying it would make my future husband very satisfied... Even letting me study painting was actually because she valued the so-called artistic refinement, believing it could raise her daughter's worth in the eyes of her future husband's family."
Ayano spoke to herself, as if she did not care whether Kiyoharu was listening seriously.
Her exquisite skill had already become muscle memory, lightly gathering, slowly kneading, brushing, then flicking.
Kiyoharu could not help letting out a comfortable hum and praised, "An excellent skill."
"Right? Kiyoharu-kun likes it too."
"Your parents care a lot about your marriage?"
"I'm their only daughter. Of course they want to use me to secure the greatest possible benefit."
"But didn't they want you to manage the gallery?"
"You don't actually believe Airi's claim that the gallery is the Kitahara Family's most important business, do you? That was merely her consolation... no, it would be more accurate to call it pity. Or perhaps she believes that, with my abilities, the most I can manage properly is a gallery." Kitahara Ayano smiled helplessly. "It's merely a public face in the art world. The trading center that truly serves as the foundation has already been arranged for my younger brother to inherit."
"Wait, when did you get a younger brother?" Kiyoharu asked strangely. "If I remember correctly, Miss Kitahara is an only daughter."
"An illegitimate son. Father's child with another woman."
The dim lounge fell into a brief silence. Through the curtains, the boisterous chirping of spring insects outside could be faintly heard. On the other side, Airi and Shimaura Hitomi's cheerful conversation drifted into his ears along the short L-shaped corridor.
Her fingers continued rubbing beside Kiyoharu's ear, stimulating his nerves in a steady rhythm.
After one sequence of finger strokes was complete, Kiyoharu opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but Ayano beat him to it.
"I don't blame Father, because this sort of thing is truly exciting, isn't it?" Ayano curled her index finger and tapped Kiyoharu's forehead. "Even a special man like Kiyoharu-kun can't refuse it, can he?"
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