Kushida Kikyo nodded, deeply reluctant, and only then did Uesugi Hara slowly release his grip.
As he let go, he didn't forget to warn her again. "Stay quiet!"
Kushida Kikyo glared furiously at Uesugi Hara, then silently wiped the corner of her mouth. The saliva that had dribbled out during her earlier struggle was still clearly visible.
Her cheeks were flushed an unnatural red, as if they'd been scorched by fire, the color spreading from her ears all the way down her neck. Her breathing was rapid and uneven, her chest heaving. The bow at her uniform collar had come loose, making her usually polished, sweet image look rather disheveled.
Meanwhile, Uesugi Hara carefully inspected the bite marks on his arm and frowned. "You really bit down hard."
The flesh was slightly swollen, its edges ragged, with clear tooth marks of varying depths. The two deepest spots had turned dark red and were beginning to bleed. A dull ache lingered around the bite.
Kushida Kikyo's face was still faintly red. She lowered her eyes, unwilling to meet his gaze. She hadn't yet recovered from the embarrassment of what had just happened, and the taste of rust lingered in her mouth.
The faint tingling behind her still spread—the sensation of her uniform rubbing against her skin when he'd moved close. It was a confused stirring she was unwilling to admit to.
She abruptly shook her head, as if trying to rid herself of those improper feelings, then glared fiercely at him. "Hmph! You brought this on yourself."
Weren't you the one who brought it on yourself?
Uesugi Hara didn't respond. He knew arguing with her would be a pointless nuisance.
Kushida Kikyo still had traces of embarrassment and anger on her face, and her fierce, almost cute expression only added to