Kazehara Tetsu's chest rose and fell gently with each breath, carrying Morishita Ai, who was lying on top of him, up and down with it.
He could smell the faint fragrance of shampoo in her hair.
He didn't move, simply letting her soft, warm weight rest on him.
"So this is the new kind of throwing-yourself-into-my-arms tactic you're using right after accusing me of being a 'pervert'? It's pretty effective."
Morishita Ai remained in the same position, her face buried against his shoulder as her muffled voice came through.
"My foot's gone numb. I can't get any messages from my brain. Help me up."
Her explanation was utterly matter-of-fact, without any of the shyness or fluster an ordinary girl might have felt.
As if lying on top of a boy were the most normal thing in the world.
Kazehara Tetsu reached out, supporting her back with one hand and wrapping the other around her waist.
He pushed up with his hips and smoothly sat up from the ground, bringing her unresponsive body along with him.
Morishita Ai was light, her soft body leaning against him, her legs hanging limply over the grass.
Kazehara Tetsu helped her sit upright and steady herself against him.
Morishita Ai patted her right leg, which still wasn't cooperating.
Kazehara Tetsu's gaze fell on her knee.
She hadn't fallen hard, and he had absorbed most of the impact.
But her knee had still inevitably scraped against the rough grass.
A small, obvious tear had appeared at her right knee, and the black fibers of her stockings had split.
At the center of the tear, a smear of blood was slowly seeping through, darkening the small patch of black fabric.
"Looks like your knee has gone on strike along with your right leg." Kazehara Tetsu pointed at