Familiar the Second Time Around

Fushimi Makoto looked up from the sofa. "What's wrong?"

Yukino didn't bother hiding the suspicion in her eyes. "You're not going to peek, are you?"

Fushimi Makoto shot back, "Why would I peek?"

Yukino had a point. "Because this is a Time Loop, you don't need to care about rules or morals. You can do whatever you want."

Fushimi Makoto sounded impressed. "That's so like you. When I first entered the Time Loop, you said something similar. You always get to the heart of things in no time. Second in the grade really is impressive."

Yukino's expression stiffened. "Are you sure you want to brag about being first in the grade this early in the morning?"

"I'm not bragging. I was just making an observation. Anyway, go get changed. Big brothers don't peek at their little sisters."

Yukino said nothing more and went into the bedroom.

After taking off her nightdress, she took clean underwear from the wardrobe, feeling a little strange.

This was the first time a boy had ever come into her apartment.

And while she changed inside, that boy was waiting outside.

It felt really strange.

Lost in thought, Yukino reached for her uniform out of habit. Then Fushimi Makoto called from outside, "By the way, Yukinoshita, since we're not going to school, don't wear your uniform. You'd better change into pants so you don't have to worry about flashing anyone."

What did he mean by flashing anyone?

Was he planning to lift her skirt during the Time Loop?

Yukino pulled back the hand reaching for her uniform and chose a long skirt instead.

She wasn't going to take Fushimi Makoto's advice.

She simply didn't want to give him the satisfaction.

As for flashing anyone, she didn't believe he'd really dare lift her skirt.

When she came out in her long skirt, she asked Fushimi Makoto directly, "You haven't had breakfast yet?"

"I have. If you're willing to make breakfast for me, I could probably eat a little more."

Yukino ignored his teasing and took out her phone to call in sick.

Once she was done, Fushimi Makoto stood and headed outside. "Time to go."

Yukino followed him. Her beautiful hair swayed gently with each step, carrying a faint, alluring fragrance.

Then Yukino froze when they reached the apartment building's entrance.

"Is this motorcycle yours?"

She looked uncertainly at the Harley in front of her.

Fushimi Makoto handed her a helmet. "I borrowed it from a friend."

Well, after being kicked away by her so many times during the Time Loop, that guy had probably become something of a friend.

Though the two punks would likely wake up, discover their motorcycle was gone, and curse up a storm.

Yukino looked at the helmet in his hand, clearly reluctant. "I don't want to ride a motorcycle."

Fushimi Makoto asked deliberately, "Do you not want to hold on to my waist, or do you just not want to ride with a boy?"

Yukino pressed a hand to her forehead and looked at him as if he were an idiot. "Who invites a high school girl to ride a motorcycle first thing in the morning? Don't you think that's weird?"

"I thought you were worried we'd be too close and I'd take advantage of you."

"Heh. I should remind you that I've trained in Aikido, and I'm very good at it."

"That good? Could you beat God Huang Zhong?"

"..."

Yukino realized she always had a hard time winning against him in an argument.

In the end, she went back upstairs and changed into pants.

A pair of fitted jeans.

She swung her long, perfectly shaped legs over the motorcycle and settled onto the back seat.

Her voice sounded a little muffled through the helmet. "You're a safe driver, right?"

"Don't worry. I've done a lot of dri—"

"Research. All right, you don't have to finish."

Yukino cut him off, letting him know she understood.

Fushimi Makoto happened to glance at the girl behind him.

Her figure was slender, but her thighs still had a soft fullness to them. She wasn't all skin and bones.

Her thighs were just right.

They'd feel nice to touch, and even better to carry her with.

As the motorcycle started up, Yukino grabbed Fushimi Makoto's clothes and asked, "Where are you taking me?"

"A lot of places won't be open this early, so let's go for a ride first," Fushimi Makoto said.

"So where are you taking me?" she repeated.

"The zoo, the aquarium, or the water park. You pick."

"Why are they all crowded entertainment venues?"

"Because we're not old enough to get into the places that aren't crowded. You couldn't get in even if you wanted to."

Yukino's voice turned dangerous. "What kind of places do you mean?"

Fushimi Makoto replied calmly, "I meant a pachinko parlor. What did you think I meant?"

You'd better have meant a pachinko parlor!

Yukino had every reason to suspect he'd been about to say something like a love hotel.

Then Yukino suddenly realized something.

Why had he only mentioned places where they could have fun and relax?

Just then, Fushimi Makoto's voice rang out over the wind. "I know you want to improve, and I know how hard you've been working at it. But sometimes it's okay to stop and rest for a while. Aunt Yukinoshita already thinks highly of you."

Yukino's expression turned strange beneath her helmet. "Are you worried about me?"

She had indeed been pushing herself hard lately.

Not only was she determined to beat Fushimi Makoto on the next exam, she was also studying the ins and outs of photography.

With her talent and efficiency, she could learn anything quickly. But the effort it took and the exhaustion that came with it were real.

"Why else do you think I came to see you? When you get too far ahead on your own, you can feel lonely sometimes. That's when having someone with you matters most," Fushimi Makoto said.

Yukino had her own view. "I don't think companionship means you have to be together. It's about being in sync and understanding each other."

"Good point. I guess I'll have to work harder and get in sync with you sooner," Fushimi Makoto said with a nod.

Yukino didn't reply.

Beneath her helmet, a faint smile touched her beautiful face.

In sync, huh?

She had been a little tired lately.

Her relationship with her mother had also improved quite a bit.

She was tired because he had surpassed her academically, giving her the motivation to work harder. But he had also helped improve things at home.

Yukino thought to herself that she knew she had never actually disliked him.

On the contrary, she had a good impression of both his easygoing charm and the time they had spent together lately.

He understood her so well. Had he planned ahead and brought her out to help her relax?

Even if she'd forget after the Time Loop ended, she really should thank him now.

After a while, she held down her long hair, which the wind had tousled, and said gently, "Let's go to the aquarium later. I suddenly feel like seeing penguins."

It was fine to relax once in a while.

She smiled softly.

But then Fushimi Makoto blurted out, "What's so great about looking at penguins? It's not like you're buying Q coins."

Yukino: "?"

She thought, There he goes being a pervert again. What a headache.

And he thought, I'm going to start winning you over now, Yukinoshita.

### This time, let's be familiar with each other sooner

It was school time, so Fushimi Makoto wasn't driving very fast. Yukino, seated behind him, could hold onto the hem of his clothes without trouble.

Throughout the ride, Yukino kept a careful distance between them, making sure they didn't touch.

It wasn't because she disliked him. It was simply a girl's reserve and instinct.

Seeing classmates she recognized from school along the way made Yukino a little nervous. But she soon remembered that she'd changed clothes and was wearing a helmet. There was no way anyone would recognize her.

Just as she began to relax, Fushimi Makoto called out, "I've spotted a few people we know. Should we go say hello?"

"No," Yukino replied at once.

"Then should we hurry out of here?" Fushimi Makoto asked.

Yukino was just as decisive. "Sure."

That suited her perfectly.

But she'd overlooked one thing: Fushimi Makoto was a real jerk.

When she agreed, Fushimi Makoto said, "I'm going to speed up a little. Hold on tight."

Yukino was just about to tell him that she was fine holding onto his clothes, when he suddenly slowed down and grabbed her slender arm.

"What are you doing?"

Yukino instinctively let go of his clothes and tried to pull free of his grasp.

That was exactly what Fushimi Makoto had been counting on.

He accelerated slightly and let go of her arm. Yukino, sitting behind him, lost her balance. Her soft, fragrant body lurched forward and pressed against his back.

Her hands also flew forward with the momentum. To steady herself, she instinctively wrapped them around his waist.

The distance she'd been so careful to maintain was gone.

Their bodies were pressed firmly together, and her lovely fragrance enveloped Fushimi Makoto.

To their classmates on the nearby school route, their intimate pose and closeness made them look like a couple.

"You jerk!"

Yukino knew he'd done it on purpose. Beneath her helmet, her face scrunched up angrily.

"Hold on tight, bro."

Fushimi Makoto suppressed a laugh and sped away from the area.

A classmate watched them go with envy. "See? Every boy should have a motorcycle. Then he can take the girl he loves out for a ride."

Yukino couldn't hear her classmate's wistful comment.

She was too flustered.

She'd never been like this before, with her whole body pressed against a boy's back and her arms wrapped around his waist.

Only after this sudden moment did she realize that the boy who was always teasing her had a surprisingly reassuring back.

His waist was firm. Even through his clothes, Yukino could feel it clearly as she held him.

Her cheeks grew slightly warm beneath her helmet.

She finally managed to calm herself after they left the area. Just as she was about to let go and give Fushimi Makoto a piece of her mind, he suddenly exclaimed, "Oh, is that Kasumigaoka-senpai?"