Nakano Ichika: Nino Isn't Safe Anymore

"..."

After Nakano Ichika managed to stand up, Fushimi Makoto turned around to straighten the bedsheets.

Just then, he heard a rustling sound behind him.

At first, he didn't pay it any mind, assuming Ichika was straightening her clothes.

But when he finished fixing the sheets and turned around, he saw the girl staring at him with flushed cheeks, reaching out without warning.

Her voice sounded a little sultry as she said, "This... I can't wear it anymore."

Fushimi glanced at the piece of fabric in her hand and fell into thought. "Are you giving it to me to keep as a souvenir?"

Ichika's eyelashes trembled with embarrassment. "Do whatever you want with it. Just don't keep talking about it!"

Even if she didn't think of herself as a girl with "high attack and low defense," how could she possibly keep talking about something this mortifying?

Fushimi took it from her, completely unembarrassed.

After all, someone else here was much more embarrassed than he was.

Still, he made a point of saying, "I'll admit that my interest in legs is a little perverted, but I really don't have a fetish for collecting things like this."

Ichika seized the opportunity and smiled slyly. "So you finally admit you're a pervert?"

Fushimi froze for a moment, then laughed.

She was so embarrassed that she'd been trying to come up with an excuse to fool herself and cover up her inner mortification.

Luckily, she was quick to react and took the opportunity right away.

Fushimi chuckled. "Some people have such a tiny health bar, but refuse to admit it. Instead, they try to shift the blame."

"I have no idea what you mean~"

Ichika turned away with a smile, not letting him see her expression.

Then Fushimi asked, "Are you planning to go home like that?"

Ichika understood what he meant. She looked back, a little embarrassed. "My skirt's pretty long. Don't worry, nothing will show."

Fushimi took a pair of short athletic shorts from the closet. "This is safer."

Ichika paused, then took the shorts with an amused smile. "I'll wash them before I return them."

Fushimi patted the pocket where he'd put the piece of fabric. "I'll wash yours for you, too."

Ichika shot him a reproachful look. "Turn around first. I'm putting these on."

Fushimi thought that it wasn't as if he hadn't already seen her.

But he still turned around.

He was actually having a bit of a hard time holding himself back.

Still, he'd gotten something out of it.

He'd discovered that Ichika, like Matsukaze Mayu, was one of the Four Divine Beasts...

That reminded him of a particularly outrageous joke he'd seen online: I'm not a pervert. I just feel safe only at the spawn point.

Ichika didn't linger this time. She put on Fushimi's athletic shorts, tidied her hair and expression in the mirror, then returned to the living room.

The four of them chatted briefly in the living room, then the three beautiful girls said goodbye and went home.

Nakano Itsuki was the most diligent of them. She asked Fushimi to lend her a copy of the study plan so she could keep looking it over at home.

On the way home, Ichika acted perfectly calm, without giving anything away.

So Nino didn't suspect a thing. She casually brought up the club and started talking about it with Ichika.

"I remember Itsuki saying there was another member in this club, right?" Nino asked.

"Yeah, she's Yukinoshita Yukino." Ichika nodded.

"Then why didn't Fushimi ask her to come over today?"

"I asked him. He said that with Yukinoshita's current overall ability, she doesn't need extra tutoring."

"Tch. So that's what it means to be second in the year."

When the three of them got home, Nino was about to change her shoes when Ichika, standing in front of her, bent down to put on her slippers.

That movement lifted Ichika's skirt, and Nino caught sight of it.

Naturally, she saw the athletic shorts beneath Ichika's skirt.

A question mark practically appeared over Nino's head.

Ichika had let her guard down as soon as they got home and hadn't noticed. All she could think about was getting into the shower.

"Nino, what's wrong?"

Itsuki had changed her shoes and saw Nino still standing there, frozen. She couldn't help feeling puzzled.

Nino pointed blankly in the direction Ichika had gone. "Safety shorts."

Itsuki was even more confused. "What about safety shorts? Don't all girls wear them? Even I bought several pairs."

Nino shook her head hard. "No, I mean she's wearing the kind of athletic shorts men wear!"

Itsuki: "???"

Nakano Ichika: Nino Is No Longer Safe

The Nakano Family's bathroom.

Ichika had only just come in with her clothes, without even getting a chance to close the door, when Nino appeared in the doorway.

"Nino? Are you... taking a bath too?"

Ichika looked at the clothes in her sister's hands and immediately felt guilty.

She was still wearing Fushimi's athletic shorts under her skirt.

"We haven't taken a bath together in ages." Nino stepped inside and casually closed the door, clearly not planning to leave.

Not good!

Ichika hurriedly racked her brains, trying to find a way out.

But Nino's next words left her frozen. "Don't even think about fooling me. I saw them when we were changing our shoes."

A hint of unease flashed in Ichika's eyes. "What did you see?"

Nino asked irritably, "You're still trying to fool me at a time like this? Ichika, do you really want me to say it out loud?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, she reached out, grabbed Ichika's skirt, and flipped it up.

The dark blue athletic shorts immediately came into view.

Ichika had lost her chance to lie.

But that wasn't the only move Nino had up her sleeve.

She took out her phone, brought up a screenshot of Ichika's post on her alt account, and held the screen in front of her. Clearing her throat, she asked, "Is the owner of this account Nakano Ichika from Toyosaki School?"

Ichika: Oh, crap. Caught.

Nino was finally satisfied.

She folded her arms and put on an interrogator's pose. "Go on, explain."

Ichika knew she couldn't fool her way out of this. Her thoughts raced as she arranged an awkward expression on her face. "Well, actually, I didn't have a choice."

"No choice?" Nino frowned.

"Yeah. Makoto's massage was so relaxing that my underwear..."

Ichika deliberately trailed off, looking at Nino with embarrassment and bashfulness before smoothly lowering her head.

She did it all perfectly.

That wasn't just because she was good at acting. She was also playing herself.

After all, what had happened earlier was still mortifying for a girl her age.

Even if she considered herself mature enough.

Her flawless performance came to an end, and Nino blushed along with her.

"So you, too..."

Nino stumbled over her words, unable to finish the sentence.

What did she mean, "you, too"?

Ichika paused, then quickly caught on.

So my wild guess had been right after all?

Nino really had been massaged until she was soaking wet?

Then had she been wearing wet underwear all this time...?

Ichika regarded her with newfound respect.

She'd made sure to wipe herself down after climbing off the bed, and she'd still felt uncomfortable.

Who could've guessed her sister could endure that uncomfortable feeling for so long?

Nino was tough.

At least, that was what Ichika thought.

"Okay, okay. Let's get in the bath first."

Nino was mortified, too.

Afraid Ichika would keep talking about it, she turned around with a red face and started undressing.

Ichika grinned, thinking she'd made it through unscathed.

The sisters climbed into the spacious bathtub one after another, and both let out contented little sighs.

Nino looked at Ichika's face, blurred by the steam, and asked curiously, "Did you specifically borrow those shorts from Fushimi?"

Ichika went along with it. "Yeah. I'm not as tough as you. I can't believe you managed to endure it all this time."

"Shut up!"

Nino was mortified and furious.

The whole thing was already embarrassing enough. How could she take it when Ichika was rubbing it in her face?

Ichika studied her sister's embarrassed expression, then suddenly asked, "Nino, what do you think of Makoto?"

Nino was taken aback. "Why are you asking me that all of a sudden?"

"I'm curious. You can just say a couple of things."

"Tch. I feel like you're trying to start something again."

Nino shot her sister a look.

But she didn't think much of it. She lifted her head to look at the ceiling, shrouded in steam, and said, "He's pretty impressive."

"Like how?"

"You already know, don't you? He's good at cooking, and he takes things seriously. Oh, and he's really good at massage, too. I suspect he's been learning since he was a kid."

Hearing Nino's answer, Ichika quietly let out a breath.

Her sister's words were just the ordinary admiration people felt for someone impressive.

That meant Nino was still safe for now.

Ichika was thinking this when she was about to speak, but Nino smiled and said, "By the way, I've decided to spend more time with him from now on."

What are you planning?!

The alarm bells went off in Ichika's mind, but she calmly asked, "Why?"

Nino smiled casually. "I think he's a pretty nice guy, and he's really good at cooking. We should have plenty to talk about."

No!