Little did Kiyotaka know that, amid the crowd, Kikyo had witnessed everything while out with her friends. She watched him and Airi leave, envy written all over her face.
"If I changed just a little, would someone dote on me like that, too...?"
Kiyotaka, of course, had no idea what Kikyo was thinking. He was taking Airi to the final stop of their outing: the amusement park's Ferris wheel.
Airi gazed curiously at the rides around them and spoke to Kiyotaka in a slightly tentative tone.
"Kiyotaka, if we get the chance, can we spend a whole day at the amusement park next time?"
"You don't need to ask me so tentatively. We'll come here next time."
Kiyotaka looked at Airi, who was always so hesitant about everything, and spoke up.
"Okay!"
They boarded the Ferris wheel. Airi happily looked around the small cabin and said,
"I've heard so much about this Ferris wheel. They say it takes over half an hour to go around once, and from the top you can see the whole school."
"Airi, come sit beside me."
Kiyotaka didn't respond to her explanation. He simply spoke, a slight smile on his lips.
Airi noticed Kiyotaka's mischievous smile, then glanced at the cabin, which was already high above the ground. Her cheeks turned faintly pink. She gently set down the doll in her hands and moved closer.
Whether he did it on purpose or was nervous, Kiyotaka had left a space beside him. Airi didn't sit there, though. Instead, she sat on his lap, wrapped her slender arms around him, and gazed at him with an affectionate, unblinking look.
But Kiyotaka acted as if he had no idea what Airi was getting at and asked in confusion,
"Airi, what's gotten into you? I asked you to come over because the view is better on this side. You can see more from here. What are you doing?"
Airi's cheeks were so red they looked ready to burst. She lightly tapped Kiyotaka on the shoulder and stammered,
"Kiyotaka, stop teasing me. You're so mean..."
Chapter 25: Airi, You Sold Me Out!
On the Ferris wheel, Airi's face flushed as she begged Kiyotaka to stop teasing her.
But Kiyotaka seemed to have found something entertaining.
"How am I teasing you? I'm being completely sincere. Look, isn't the view much prettier from here?"
Airi stared at Kiyotaka as he spouted nonsense with a perfectly straight face, her lips pursed.
"Kiyotaka, you're such a big bully!"
As she spoke, she kept making soft smacking sounds, savoring the faint taste of Kiyotaka.
And Kiyotaka...
"Don't... That's weird."
Airi shuddered involuntarily and spoke to Kiyotaka in a soft, breathy voice.
Seeing that Airi could still speak, Kiyotaka promptly silenced her with a kiss.
"Mm... Mmph..." Poor Airi could only make muffled sounds, her eyes shimmering as she gazed at Kiyotaka, who was teasing her.
Of course, Kiyotaka didn't go too far while they were on the Ferris wheel. When Airi was left breathless, he let her go and patted her rounded bottom.
"I'll take my time with you tonight."
Airi shifted her hips, then gave Kiyotaka a seductive glare, as if she hadn't lost at all.
Once Airi had calmed down a little, Kiyotaka spoke.
"Airi, close your eyes."
Airi glanced at Kiyotaka suspiciously, but obediently closed her eyes. A trace of nervousness showed on her face, as though she feared he might tease her again.
But what she expected didn't happen. Instead, she felt something cool against her neck, as if something had been placed there.
"All done."
At his words, Airi immediately opened her eyes. A pink-toned clover necklace now rested around her neck. She stared at Kiyotaka in disbelief.
"It's for you. I saw it at the accessories shop and thought it suited you, so I bought it in secret. I only got the chance to give it to you now. Do you like it?"
In an instant, Airi's round eyes filled with tears. She threw herself into Kiyotaka's arms and sobbed softly.
"Thank you, Kiyotaka. I love it. This is the first present I've ever received."
Kiyotaka smiled and patted Airi's back.
"What, are you trying to guilt-trip me? Are you saying I've been thoughtless?"
Airi immediately swatted him.
"No, I'm not. You're so mean."
The Ferris wheel ride passed quickly as Airi cuddled up to him. By the time they got off, it was late, and Airi was tired from all the fun, so she took Kiyotaka back to her dorm.
On the way, Airi bought an ice cream from a roadside stand. As she licked it, she asked Kiyotaka,
"Kiyotaka, do you want some?"
Kiyotaka shook his head.
"You have it."
Before long, the two of them returned to Airi's dorm. Airi handed the ice cream to Kiyotaka.
"Kiyotaka, hold this for me. It's so hot. I'm going to change."
With that, she went into the bathroom. A little while later, she came out wearing a black, lacy one-piece nightgown.
Kiyotaka watched Airi step out barefoot and suddenly spoke.
"Airi, I've changed my mind. I want some ice cream after all."
"Huh? Then eat it. It's in your hand, isn't it?"
Airi replied, looking completely bewildered.
Once Airi agreed, Kiyotaka pulled her close and whispered in her ear,
"It's nighttime now. Do you remember our bet?"
Airi's face turned red. She looked at Kiyotaka with an exasperated expression.
"You're in such a hurry?"
Kiyotaka smiled gently and began to pamper Airi. As the moonlight fell across them, her soft curves came into view.
Kiyotaka dabbed some of the ice cream from his hand onto her, leaving a white smear against her skin.
The cold made Airi shiver. Then she felt a warm sensation.
Watching Kiyotaka lower his head, Airi murmured hazily,
"So that's how you eat ice cream, you big bully."
Without thinking, Airi tightened her embrace around him. Wave after wave of strange sensations washed over her.
Airi's face grew redder, and she began to breathe in soft, unsteady murmurs.
In the end, Airi couldn't hold back any longer. She took the lead, beginning a new round of their intimate game.
They spent hours together, their cries carrying on without pause. But Airi couldn't keep up with Kiyotaka's stamina, and eventually she begged for mercy. Only after several more rounds did she finally get a reprieve.
"Mm... Kiyotaka, I'm full."
Airi wiped the last trace from the corner of her mouth with a finger and spoke with a satisfied expression.
Kiyotaka playfully toyed with her, making her squirm in his hands, then said,
"I'll let you off for today. You did just barely well enough."
Airi's mouth fell open in surprise.
"I tried so hard, and you still say I barely did well enough? No wonder Sis Suzune says you're a pervert!"
"Hm? You and Suzune have been secretly badmouthing me? You'll have to be punished!"
With that, he sat up again, ready to continue.
Airi giggled and begged him to stop. After she had coaxed him for a while, he finally forgave her.
Of course, the price was that Airi had unknowingly sold out Horikita.
Horikita arrived at Airi's room, looking confused. Kiyotaka pulled her inside, and soon faint cries of pleading and distress could be heard from within.
It sounded so harrowing that it sent a chill through anyone who heard it.
"Airi, you sold me out!"
Horikita stared wide-eyed at Airi, who was holding her down as an accomplice, and spoke in disbelief.
"Sis Suzune, I'm sorry. I just couldn't handle it alone."
Airi explained with an affectionate look in her eyes.
The night was a long and turbulent one. By the time Horikita and Airi emerged from the room together the next day, looking a little disheveled, nobody knew what had happened inside. The only clues were the increasingly sultry looks on their faces and the contentment in their eyes.
The entire summer vacation passed in a haze of absurdity. During that time, Horikita and Airi grew closer and closer. They often went shopping together, leaving Kiyotaka behind. He didn't mind, of course; in fact, he was quite happy to see them getting along so well.
The first day of school arrived, but everyone was taken by the school to a bus in a state of confusion. They rode for two or three hours, and it was already past noon by the time they stopped.
The four first-year classes were then led aboard an incredibly luxurious cruise ship. After they were assigned rooms, they were told they were free to explore.
"Is this heaven? They bring us aboard such a luxurious cruise ship for fun right after school starts?"
Sudo looked around excitedly.
"Kiyotaka, what do you think this is all about?" Horikita asked, standing beside him with a cool expression.
"Who knows? I just feel like trouble is lurking everywhere. Looks like things won't be peaceful..."
Kiyotaka surveyed his surroundings and sighed listlessly.
Chapter 26: Icarus
"These are my wings.
With these wings, I'll be able to fly freely through the sky, won't I?"
"Icarus, listen to me..."
"What a waste of taxpayers' money."
Someone was performing onstage in the theater. Kiyotaka made his comment as he took a seat. Chabashira-sensei sat beside him.
"A few days ago, a man came to the school and demanded that Ayanokoji Kiyotaka be expelled."
Chabashira spoke lightly, her arms folded across her chest.
"Ah... Is that so? That's rather strange. Whoever he is, the school wouldn't expel a student for no reason."
"Of course, as long as you're still a student here and haven't broken the rules..."
Chabashira said meaningfully.
"Unfortunately, unlike the arrogant Icarus, I have no intention of provoking the sun," Kiyotaka said evenly.
"Unfortunately, it has nothing to do with your intentions. If I decide there's something wrong with you, then you've broken the rules."
Kiyotaka looked at Chabashira, his expression blank.
"Ah... Chabashira-sensei, are you threatening me?"
Chabashira let out a soft laugh.
"This is a deal. As long as you aim to reach Class A, I'll protect you. Doesn't that sound like a bargain?"
Kiyotaka's golden eyes rested on Chabashira. He sighed softly.
"Looks like there's no point continuing this conversation."
He stood up and prepared to leave.
"Unfortunately, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, you'll be expelled—and then you'll lose your freedom."
Before you continue