A Quiet Night

With a mischievous smile, Ichinose pulled Shiranami away from Aoyama amidst Shiranami confusion, then pushed her back to the entrance.

"Although I'm a little embarrassed, Chihiro, you can come find Shiki again tomorrow. I'll keep him for today."

"Ah... okay."

Faced with Ichinose's increasingly intense gaze, Shiranami nodded somewhat nervously, then put on her shoes and went out.

The moment she closed the door, she heard it being locked from the inside.

The next day.

The sun had been high in the sky for who knows how long before the two people embracing in bed gradually came to their senses.

Stroking the delicate skin on Ichinose's slender waist, Aoyama buried his head in her neck and took a deep breath through her long pink hair.

After Shiranami left yesterday, the first thing his lovely girlfriend, whom he was holding, did upon returning to their room was to draw the curtains, and then she began to do shameless things.

If you're tired, take a rest, and then come back later.

She continued working on and off until past midnight before finally falling into a sweet sleep after being taken care of and given a bath.

"The sun's already high in the sky, you lazybones."

"Waaah~~ Let me sleep a little longer."

With her eyes closed, Ichinose turned over, pressed her face against Aoyama's shoulder, and hugged his waist as she continued to sleep.

"Then sleep a little longer, you cute little lazybones."

Since it was spring break and there was no school, and seeing that Ichinose still wanted to sleep, Aoyama closed his eyes and began to doze off.

It was almost noon when the two of them finally got out of bed to wash up and then immediately began their 'breakfast' preparation.

After the belated breakfast was ready, Ichinose ate with Shiranami, who had been invited, and then left the room after giving Ichinose a kiss on the Aoyama, leaving Aoyama and Shiranami alone.

"Come here, Chihiro."

She wore a light pink fluffy cardigan and a white three-quarter dress, revealing her shapely calves encased in gray stockings.

Sitting on the edge of the bed Aoyama reached out his hand to the lovely girl who was dressed up carefully and looked both expectant and nervous.

After taking the girl's delicate hand in his, he led the shy girl to sit sideways in his lap and embrace her.

"Is there anywhere you'd like to go this afternoon?"

Smelling a faint fragrance different from that of Ichinose, Aoyama placed his hand on Shiranami's head and spoke softly.

Last night, while chatting with the exhausted but persistently demanding Ichinose, he learned that Shiranami should be on a cruise ship during the summer vacation, and that's when he started to develop feelings for him.

That sudden, unconventional confession was probably just an excuse she made up for herself.

"That's fine, just keep it like this."

Resting her head against Aoyama's chest, who was no longer asleep, Shiranami grabbed Aoyama's free hand and placed it on her thigh, holding it tightly.

Because of her petite stature and youthful appearance, she was often hugged and rubbed by her female classmates when she was in junior high school.

It wasn't until her failed confession on the cruise ship, when Aoyama comforted her in his arms, that she truly realized that a boy's hug and a girl's hug are completely different things.

It was at that time that she realized her true feelings.

"Want to watch a movie together? We can just watch it on the computer like this," Aoyama suggested, sensing Shiranami's reluctance to go out.

If you just sit around doing nothing, you won't be able to get through the long afternoon.

"Yes, I'll listen to Shiki."

Shiranami walked to the desk, picked up his laptop, returned to Aoyama who was already sitting against the headboard, and then sat down in his lap.

"Chihiro, what kind of movies do you usually like to watch?"

With his hands slipping under Shiranami's armpits, Aoyama opened his computer and launched a video software.

"Well, the horror kind, I guess, but neither Xiao Fanbo nor Komako will watch it with me."

Shiranami nuzzled against Aoyama's chest, adjusting his posture to make himself more comfortable.

"Do you like horror movies? Chihiro, are you ever afraid to walk alone at night?" Aoyama asked, slightly surprised, and then clicked on the horror movie section.

"I'm scared, but I just love watching it."

Shiranami sounded a little embarrassed. She felt that watching horror movies was exciting, but she would regret it when walking alone at night.

Simply put, she's both bad at it and loves watching it.

"Then remember to call me when you're scared."

With a slight smile, Aoyama selected a highly-rated movie to play.

Then, he wrapped his arms around Shiranami and held her tightly, making her fully aware of his presence.

Chapter 310 Nothing More to Say

Aoyama was certain that Shiranami wasn't lying about liking horror movies.

After having dinner together and resting for a while, Shiranami pulled him back to bed and started watching another horror movie.

By the time the movie ended, the sky outside the room was completely dark.

"Alright, if you want to watch it again, you'll have to wait until next time."

"There's not enough time left for you to watch the next movie."

Aoyama closed his laptop and placed it on his bedside table. In a little over an hour, it would be curfew time.

Going out during curfew would result in Class Points if caught, and he believed Shiranami didn't want that at all.

"As long as I sleep here at Shiki tonight, it'll be fine."

"I just don't want to sleep alone tonight."

Shiranami jumped out of bed, walked to the backpack he had brought with him today, and took out a set of pajamas from it.

After showing it to Aoyama, she took out a towel, a toothbrush, and other items.

The overnight package is complete.

Clearly, Shiranami had prepared to stay overnight in Aoyama's room before he arrived.

"Oh ho!"

With a drawn-out laugh, Aoyama chuckled maliciously.

Understanding the meaning behind the laughter, Shiranami turned his head away somewhat shyly.

Beneath the cherry blossom hair clip, her delicate, fair face was tinged with pink, making her look incredibly alluring.

"I might not be able to resist doing some naughty things." Wanting to see the cute Shiranami even more shy, Aoyama's smile deepened and his tone became flirtatious.

The air was slightly cool, making you want to feel warm, and the night atmosphere was quiet and peaceful.

If we don't do something, it seems like we'd be worse than animals.

"Yes... yes."

Clutching her pajamas tightly, Shiranami answered in a very soft voice before running into the bathroom, her face flushed, and closing the door.

Not long after, the sound of water hitting the floor could be heard from the bathroom.

Was Chihiro really this brave?

No wonder she's a girl who wants to boldly confess her feelings to someone of the same sex so soon after the start of the semester.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Aoyama felt himself getting excited, and memories of his intense entanglement with Ichinose yesterday resurfaced.

Heaven can bear witness, he's not the kind of person who's so eager to spend the night together right after starting a relationship.

But since Shiranami had taken the initiative, he had no reason to back down.

You said it!

Standing under the showerhead, Shiranami closed her eyes and looked up, letting the warm water flow onto her hair before sliding down her body to the ground.

She had been in the bathroom for several minutes, but her heart was still pounding fiercely, showing no signs of slowing down.

At first, she simply slept in Aoyama's arms, reliving the sense of security she felt the day before.

What would that feel like?

Squeezing on shower gel, Shiranami began to wash her body inch by inch, reminiscing about Ichinose when they had lunch together at noon.

Compared to yesterday Ichinose kicked her out of the room, Ichinose's radiant and even more alluring expression at noon made her curious about that kind of thing.

After being with Aoyama, Ichinose matured day Ichinose day, exuding a composure that only adults possess.

She also wanted to become as mature as Ichinose and change her situation as the class mascot.

Shiranami Chihiro wants to become a reliable adult.

"Can we shower together, Chihiro?"

"Of course not!"

Hearing the sudden sound from outside the bathroom, Shiranami, who had been in a daze for a while, quickly spoke up.

"It's a pity."

Having confirmed that Shiranami had been in the bathroom for some time and hadn't fainted from embarrassment, Aoyama went to the balcony to collect the clothes without much regret.

After he put the clothes he had collected into the closet, the bathroom door, which had been closed for a long time, was opened as a wisp of steam rose out.

Wearing loose-fitting pink cotton pajamas, a few drops of water clung to her jade-like neck, and her fair face with a rosy Shiranami filled her large, shy eyes.

"I... I'm done washing."

Shiranami met Aoyama's gaze for a moment, nervously tugged at the hem of his clothes, and then stiffly sat down in the chair in front of the desk.

"Chihiro, come here for a second."

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Aoyama deliberately didn't explain why he had called Shiranami over.

"Isn't it too fast?!" Shiranami's soft, cute voice was filled with barely concealed shyness.

Aoyama chuckled mischievously, his tone flippant, "What do you mean, too fast? My adorable Chihiro."

"That scoundrel Shiki, all he does is bully people."

With a slight pout, Shiranami slowly sat down next to Aoyama.

Then, she found that Aoyama was standing in front of her, his tall figure completely blocking the light from the incandescent bulb.

Faced with the large hand reaching out to her, she tightly closed her eyes.

"You don't need to close your eyes when blow-drying your hair, how cute is Chihiro?"

Before the hair dryer started working, Shiranami heard Aoyama's mocking voice.

As the warm breeze touched her still slightly damp hair, a large hand lifted her short hair by her ear.

With very gentle movements, in less than a few minutes, Aoyama had completely dried Shiranami's short hair. Then he poked Shiranami's chubby little cheeks.

"You're not happy even though I'm blow-drying your hair? Chihiro is such a troublemaker."

"Hmph, you were the one who teased me first, Shiki big bad guy, Shiki." Shiranami puffed up his cheeks that had been poked, staring at Aoyama with a somewhat 'fierce' expression.

"Then it's my fault, and I should apologize."

Aoyama bent down and smiled, then, just as Shiranami's small mouth opened slightly, as if she was about to agree with his opinion, he quickly lowered his head and captured her delicate softness.

After Shiranami's eyes widened and then quickly closed, he picked Shiranami up and carried her in his arms, forcing her to hold him.

Only when Shiranami's breathing became very rapid, and even his earlobes were stained with a lingering red, did Aoyama end his apology.

"Are you satisfied with this apology, Chihiro?"

Aoyama let Shiranami sit face-to-face on his lap, and felt the warmth of her beautiful face with his palm.

"What kind of apology is this? I'm not satisfied at all."

With her hands on Aoyama's shoulders, Shiranami spoke with a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance, her lips pursed into a thin line.

She wasn't mentally prepared for the sneak attack, and it was so intense right from the start; her heart couldn't take it.

"Not satisfied?" Aoyama chuckled teasingly. "Then it seems I'll have to work harder."