The True Cult: Welcome to Paradise of Freedom

Little did she know, among the crowd, Kikyo, who had come to play with her friends, had witnessed everything, watching Kiyotaka and Airi leave with a face full of envy.

"Maybe... if I changed a little, I'd be cherished like that too?..."

As for Kikyo's thoughts, Kiyotaka naturally had no way of knowing. Right now, he was bringing Airi to the last stop—the Ferris wheel at the amusement park.

Airi looked around curiously at the rides, speaking to Kiyotaka in a tone that carried a hint of consultation.

"Kiyotaka, if we get the chance, next time could we come to the amusement park and play for a whole day?"

"You don't need to talk to me like you're asking permission. Next time, we'll come here and play."

Kiyotaka looked at Airi, who was timid about everything, and couldn't help but say so.

"Mm-hmm!"

Boarding the Ferris wheel, Airi happily examined the small cabin and said, "I've heard people talk about this Ferris wheel for a long time. They say it takes over half an hour to go around once, and from the very top, you can see the whole school's scenery."

"Airi, come sit next to me."

Kiyotaka ignored Airi's introduction, simply saying a single sentence with a slight smile on his lips.

Airi looked at Kiyotaka's mischievous smile, then glanced at the cabin already halfway up in the sky. Her cheeks flushed softly, and she gently set down the plush toy in her hands before moving over.

Whether by accident or on purpose, Airi didn't sit in the spot Kiyotaka had left open. Instead, she settled onto his lap, her long, fair, jade-like arms wrapping directly around him, gazing at him with affectionate, unblinking eyes.

But Kiyotaka acted as if he didn't understand what Airi meant, asking in confusion, "Airi, what's wrong with you? I told you to come over because the view is better here—you can see more. What are you doing?"

Airi's face was so red it seemed like water could be squeezed from it. She lightly tapped Kiyotaka's shoulder and stammered, "Kiyotaka, stop teasing me... you're so annoying..."

Chapter 25: Airi, You Sold Me Out!

High up on the Ferris wheel, Airi's face flushed crimson as she begged Kiyotaka for mercy, asking him to stop messing with her.

But Kiyotaka acted like he'd discovered something amusing.

"How am I messing with you? I'm speaking from the heart, you know. See, isn't the view much prettier over here?"

Airi looked at Kiyotaka, who was spouting nonsense with a straight face, and pouted heavily.

"Kiyotaka is a big meanie!"

As she spoke, her lips kept making smacking sounds, savoring the faint taste of Kiyotaka.

And Kiyotaka—

"Don't... it's weird."

Airi couldn't help but shiver, speaking to Kiyotaka in a coquettish voice.

Seeing that Airi could still talk, Kiyotaka directly sealed her mouth shut.

"Mmm... mwah~" Poor Airi could only let out muffled sounds, her eyes glazed with a peach-colored watery sheen as she stared at the mischievous Kiyotaka.

Of course, up on the Ferris wheel, Kiyotaka wasn't about to go too far. When Airi was gasping for breath, he let her go, patted her round bottom, and said, "Tonight, I'll deal with you properly."

Airi wiggled her bottom, rubbing it faintly and deliberately against something huge, then shot Kiyotaka a seductive glare, as if she hadn't lost.

Once Airi had calmed down a bit, Kiyotaka spoke up.

"Airi, close your eyes."

Airi looked at Kiyotaka suspiciously, but then obediently closed her eyes, her face showing a hint of nervousness, afraid he might pull something.

But the expected mischief didn't come. Instead, Airi felt a cool sensation around her neck, as if something had been hung there.

"Okay."

Hearing this, Airi immediately opened her eyes and found a pink-themed four-leaf clover necklace around her neck. She looked at Kiyotaka in utter disbelief.

"It's for you. I saw it at the accessory shop back then and thought it suited you, so I secretly bought it. Only now did I get the chance to give it to you. Do you like it?"

Instantly, Airi's round eyes filled with mist, and she threw herself into Kiyotaka's arms, sobbing softly.

"Boo hoo... thank you, Kiyotaka. I love it. This is the first gift I've ever received."

Kiyotaka smiled and patted Airi on the back, saying, "What's this, trying to guilt-trip me? Saying I'm clueless, huh?"

Airi immediately hit Kiyotaka and said, "No way, you're so annoying."

The ride passed quickly with Airi acting spoiled. After they got off, it was getting late, and Airi felt a bit tired from playing, so she took Kiyotaka back to the dorm.

On the way, Airi bought an ice cream from a roadside stand. She licked it and asked Kiyotaka, "Kiyotaka, do you want some?"

Kiyotaka shook his head.

"You eat it."

Soon, the two returned to Airi's dorm. Airi handed the popsicle to Kiyotaka.

"Kiyotaka, hold this for me. It's too hot, I'm going to change clothes first."

With that, she walked into the bathroom, and before long emerged wearing a black lace one-piece pajama set.

Kiyotaka watched Airi step out lightly on bare feet, then suddenly spoke.

"Airi, I suddenly want to eat that popsicle again."

"Huh? Then just eat it, isn't it in your hand?"

Airi replied with a blank, confused look.

With Airi's consent, Kiyotaka pulled her close in one motion and whispered by her ear.

"It's already evening now. Remember our bet?"

Airi's face instantly flushed crimson as she shot Kiyotaka a reproachful look.

"So impatient?"

Kiyotaka smiled faintly, tending to Airi with great gentleness. As the moonlight emerged, her plush softness was revealed.

Kiyotaka smeared the popsicle across it, and in an instant, the softness was coated in white.

The chill made Airi shiver, followed by a wave of warmth.

Watching Kiyotaka bury his head in his work, Airi murmured dazedly.

"So this is how you eat a popsicle, you big jerk."

Without meaning to, Airi hugged tighter and tighter, wave after wave of strange stimulation flooding her body.

Airi's cheeks grew more and more peach-blossom red, and her small mouth began to pant out soft murmurs.

Finally unable to hold back any longer, Airi turned the tables and began her new campaign.

Three hours of battlefield struggle, endless cries of surprise. But in the end, the beauty's stamina couldn't match, and she repeatedly begged for mercy, humbly swallowing several cups of white tea before finally being released.

"Mmm~ Kiyotaka, I'm full."

Airi wiped the remnants from the corner of her mouth with her finger and licked it clean, her face full of satisfaction.

Kiyotaka toyed freely with the slime, letting it deform in his hands as he pleased, then said.

"I'll let you off today. Barely passable."

Airi opened her mouth in surprise.

"I worked so hard, and you only say 'barely passable'? No wonder Suzune-nee says you're a pervert!"

"Oh? So you and Suzune have been badmouthing me behind my back? That deserves punishment!"

With that, he sat up again, ready to resume the campaign.

Airi immediately giggled and begged for mercy, flattering him for a good while before earning forgiveness.

Of course, the price was that Horikita got sold out by Airi without even knowing it.

She came to Airi's door with a puzzled look, only to be pulled inside by Kiyotaka. Then, faintly, sounds of pleading and pain drifted out.

The sheer intensity of it was enough to send chills down anyone's spine.

"Airi, you betrayed me!"

Horikita stared wide-eyed at Airi, who was pressing her down as an accomplice, speaking in disbelief.

"Suzune-nee, I'm sorry. I really couldn't take it alone."

Airi explained with tender eyes.

The entire night was truly brutal. Until the next morning, when Horikita and Airi walked out of the room hand in hand, looking slightly disheveled, no one knew what had happened inside. The only clues were the increasingly bewitching expressions on their faces and the satisfaction in their eyes.

The entire summer vacation passed quietly in a kind of absurdity. During that time, Horikita and Airi grew closer and closer, often going out shopping together and ignoring Kiyotaka. Not that Kiyotaka minded—in fact, he was very happy to see them getting along like this.

The first day of school arrived, but everyone was puzzled as the school loaded them onto a bus. They drove for two or three hours before stopping at noon.

Then, all four first-year classes were led onto a luxurious cruise ship. After being assigned rooms, they were told they could move about freely.

"Is this heaven? Right at the start of school, they bring us to play on such a luxurious cruise ship?"

Sudo said excitedly, looking around.

"Kiyotaka, what do you think this is about?" Horikita asked coldly, standing beside him.

"Ah... who knows. I just feel like this place reeks of trouble. Looks like we won't get any peace..."

Kiyotaka surveyed his surroundings and sighed listlessly.

Chapter 26: Icarus

"These are my wings.

With these wings, I can fly freely in the sky, can't I?"

"Icarus, listen to me..."

"What a waste of taxpayer money."

In the theater, someone was performing on stage. Kiyotaka sat down in a chair, muttering complaints, and beside him sat none other than his homeroom teacher, Chabashira.

"A few days ago, a man came to the school. He demanded that Ayanokoji Kiyotaka be expelled."

Chabashira crossed her arms and said lightly.

"Ah... is that so? That's rather baffling. I don't know who it is, but the school wouldn't expel a student for no reason, would it?"

"Of course, as long as you're still a student of this school and haven't violated any rules..."

Chabashira said meaningfully.

"Unfortunately, I'm not like that arrogant Icarus. I won't go provoking the sun." Kiyotaka said flatly.

"Unfortunately, that has nothing to do with your will. If I decide you're a problem, then you've violated the rules."

Kiyotaka's face remained expressionless as he looked at Chabashira.

"Ah... could it be that you're threatening me, Chabashira-sensei?"

Chabashira let out a light laugh.

"This is a deal. As long as you aim for promotion to Class A, I'll protect you. Don't you think that's a good bargain?"

Kiyotaka's golden eyes fixed on Chabashira, and he let out a soft sigh.

"Looks like there's no point in continuing this conversation."

With that, he stood up and prepared to leave.

"What a pity, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. You will be expelled, and then... you'll lose your freedom."