Chapter 19

He struggled instinctively, but Ryumonbuchi Toka pressed her entire body against him, the soft sensation beneath her silk robe making his whole body stiffen.

Ryumonbuchi Toka bit his earlobe and nibbled gently: "So what if we're cousins? Do you even believe that excuse yourself? Besides, aren't you and Amae Koromo the same? Why is it okay for her, but not for me?"

"That's different!" Kageyama Sora tried to push Ryumonbuchi Toka away: "When I was with Amae Koromo, it was the atmosphere that led us there, and it was mutual. Besides, you were so furious about it, which proves you're against this sort of thing."

The melody of a Chopin Nocturne flowed through the room, accompanied by Ryumonbuchi Toka's laughter, which brought out a certain ambiguous air.

Ryumonbuchi Toka blew into Kageyama Sora's ear, her voice soft and warm: "Is there a possibility that I was just jealous that you did it with Amae Koromo, but not with me..."

"What..." Kageyama Sora was startled by this near-confession from Ryumonbuchi Toka: "What's wrong with you... your attitude isn't right... are you sure you're speaking your mind, and not just waiting for me to agree so you can scream that I've fallen for your trap and am a pervert?"

"You really are cautious, am I that kind of person?" Ryumonbuchi Toka was so amused by Kageyama Sora's words that she laughed. At the same time, Kageyama Sora felt her fingertips slip under the hem of his shirt, her nails lightly grazing his waistline, sending a strange sensation racing up his spine to the back of his head.

"Enough, I don't have time to mess around with you." He used force to flip her over and pin her against the wall, but his breathing lost its rhythm again when he saw her slightly parted red lips and hazy eyes.

"What? Want to get back at me?" Ryumonbuchi Toka lifted her legs to wrap around his waist, her robe falling wide open to reveal the lace camisole underneath: "Then come and get it."

She blew into his ear on purpose, her hair brushing against his cheek and bringing a fine, itchy sensation.

Kageyama Sora's Adam's apple bobbed, his reason teetering on the edge of desire, until Toka suddenly bit his Adam's apple, the sharp pain bringing him back to his senses instantly.

"Enough!" He pushed her away abruptly, turning his back to her to straighten his messy shirt: "You reacted so strongly before, and now you have this attitude; it's hard for me to believe you're serious unless you give me a reason."

Ryumonbuchi Toka didn't bother fixing her clothes, remaining in that disheveled state: "What if I said I was moved by what Amae Koromo said?"

"What?" Kageyama Sora turned his head sharply, looking at her alluring appearance, his gaze drifting.

Ryumonbuchi Toka was much more frank: "I mean, Amae Koromo said at the time that doing this was truly happy and relaxing, so I wanted to try and see if it was really that amazing."

"...Just because of that!?" Kageyama Sora was instantly amused by her logic, even feeling it was unreasonable.

Ryumonbuchi Toka continued, righteous and confident: "Of course, just because of that. And since you brought such overwhelming pleasure to Amae Koromo, there's no need for me to switch partners, is there? Besides, you're handsome and good-looking, and we know each other inside and out, so what's the problem with me choosing you?"

It was as if she were talking about doing that kind of thing as casually as eating or drinking water.

As she spoke, Ryumonbuchi Toka actually hugged Kageyama Sora's waist, pressing her face against his chest: "And if I remember correctly, didn't you say you came here to apologize? Since it's an apology, use actual actions to prove your sincerity. Maybe then I'll forgive you."

Chapter 42: Exchanging Experiences with Amae Koromo

As Ryumonbuchi Toka hugged him again while still in her disheveled state, Kageyama Sora felt the hands on his waist like red-hot branding irons, so scorching that his blood seemed to flow in reverse.

Ryumonbuchi Toka's breath scorched his heart through his thin shirt, her eyelashes fluttering against his collarbone, the sweet scent of her body wash nearly drowning him.

The gilded perfume bottle on the vanity was still swaying gently, reflecting their entangled figures.

"You're turning an apology into extortion." His throat moved as he tried to mask his panic with a cold laugh, but as he looked down, he collided with those watery, mist-filled eyes.

Moonlight leaked through the gaps in the curtains, plating the rouge on the corners of her eyes with a silver edge, like a wild rose with thorns blooming in the dead of night.

Toka suddenly stood on tiptoe and bit his Adam's apple, her tongue licking the protruding bone, her voice husky with seduction: "Isn't cousin best at making girls happy? Amae Koromo said your kissing technique is top-tier, and you know how to lick, and how to touch..."

Her words were cut off by the sound of tearing fabric; Kageyama Sora's action of ripping the thin strap at her neck carried a reckless, "all-or-nothing" intensity.

The moment the lace camisole slipped down her fair shoulders, he saw the cinnabar mole on her collarbone appearing and disappearing with her breathing.

"You girls actually exchange experiences like this..." Kageyama Sora felt truly helpless, and also felt that since it had reached this point, there was no use in pretending anymore.

The moment they fell into Ryumonbuchi Toka's luxurious bed covered in velvet, Toka suddenly flipped over and pinned him down.

Her damp hair fell like a curtain, blocking out the moonlight from outside.

Her fingertips wound around his shirt buttons, drawing circles below his Adam's apple: "If I screamed that you were a pervert right now, you'd be very embarrassed, wouldn't you...?" She spoke with a deliberately malicious tone, but a warm kiss landed on his eyelashes: "But I won't do that, because I'm serious..."

Kageyama Sora grabbed her wrists and flipped her over, the crystal chandelier above the bed swaying and casting light like shattered diamonds.

He looked at the girl with her flushed face and ragged breathing; the water droplets on her collarbone had not yet dried, sliding down the graceful curve into...

"Since that's the case, tomorrow you can continue discussing this with Amae Koromo, but..." His voice was as low as a taut string, his thumb stroking her burning cheek: "But this time, it won't just be Amae Koromo talking; it will be the two of you exchanging notes... for example, who I am more gentle with..."

Kageyama Sora's words carried a clear provocation, but Toka suddenly hooked her arms around his neck, her legs wrapping around his waist, the rose fragrance completely enveloping them: "Then I must be more proactive; the experience can't be worse than Amae Koromo's."

She bit his lower lip, and the moment her tongue pried open his teeth, Kageyama Sora heard the sound of his reason shattering.

The silk robe and torn shirt lay scattered on the floor. The moment the moonlight was swallowed by dark clouds, Kageyama Sora finally let himself sink into Toka's warm breath.

He kissed her trembling eyelashes and heard her murmur in his ear: "Then you better feel it well, the sensation that makes Amae Koromo unable to forget..."

When his fingertips brushed across Ryumonbuchi Toka's back, he felt fine tremors, like a startled butterfly.

"Don't be afraid, I'll be gentle."

Following Kageyama Sora's words, Ryumonbuchi Toka felt him touch places she rarely touched herself.

That strange sensation made her feel a hint of shyness, and a hint of anticipation.

And Kageyama Sora felt the same.

A young girl's body is always soft and clean; just a single touch was enough to make one feel addicted.

The undried water droplets on Ryumonbuchi Toka's collarbone slid down like a scorching brand, burning every nerve in Kageyama Sora's body.

He only wanted to be faster now, even faster.

At that moment, the feel of the silk robe still lingered on his fingertips, but now it had turned into winding vines, trapping them both in a woven cage.

At the very last step, Ryumonbuchi Toka's eyes reddened from the pain.

"Wuwuwu, Amae Koromo clearly said it was very happy, but it hurts so much..." She tensed her body, as if trying to expel something that didn't belong to her, but because she was trying too hard, it felt more like she was holding on.

Seeing Ryumonbuchi Toka so tense and stubbornly refusing to cooperate, Kageyama Sora chose to kiss her to help her relax.

Perhaps because Ryumonbuchi Toka had just finished bathing, her lips carried the sweet, cloying scent of body wash mixed with the rich fragrance of roses, washing over his senses like a tide.

He heard his own frantic heartbeat, gradually syncing with the rhythm of the music in the room, until he couldn't distinguish between the music and the roaring surge of his own blood.

Memories flashed back to the awkwardness of their first meeting; despite being so... exposed to each other back then, he had never imagined a day like this would come.

However, as he soothed Ryumonbuchi Toka and she gradually relaxed as the pain subsided, the girl before him—flushed and trembling in his arms—strangely overlapped with that memory.

It was as if he should have just acted recklessly like this from the moment they first met.

Why had he wasted so much time?

The stinging pain from the bite mark left on his Adam's apple acted like a key, unlocking the door in his heart that had been bolted shut by reason.

Toka's fingernails lightly grazed Kageyama Sora's waistline, and an electric current exploded along his spine; he felt his thoughts beginning to drift uncontrollably.

The gilded perfume bottle wobbling on the vanity reflected a distorted silhouette, as if mocking his previous struggles and satirizing his hypocrisy.

He saw the rouge at the corners of her eyes spread, blooming like a poppy—dangerous and alluring.

Every touch of their bodies transformed into a powerful electric current, stimulating his nerve endings.

The softness of the velvet mattress, the temperature of Toka's skin, and the scent of roses mixed with the aroma of ** constructed an illusory world.

He was sometimes clear-headed, realizing he was crossing forbidden boundaries; other times, he was sinking, swept forward by instinct and desire.

The moment a thunderclap exploded, he felt his soul detach from his body, floating in mid-air, looking down at the two of them entwined.

The warm breath of Ryumonbuchi Toka buried in the crook of his neck, carrying the delirious whisper of "don't go," acted like a thread, dragging his drifting consciousness back to reality.

Those once-clear moral principles and worldly perspectives became blurred in the storm of desire.

Not until they both reached the clouds did Ryumonbuchi Toka murmur with a dazed smile: "Amae Koromo was right, it really... is like flying in the sky. It truly is... an unprecedentedly pleasant experience..."

Kageyama Sora was left speechless by Ryumonbuchi Toka's post-game review: "Then you should have a good chat with Amae Koromo later. I genuinely suspect you did this just to talk to her, rather than because you have feelings for me..."

Chapter 43: The Hot Spring Training Camp Agreement

Two flowers bloom, each representing a different branch.

The gears of time turned quietly, and the stories of life ran parallel on different tracks.

Kageyama Sora's life fell into a subtle chaos after a series of improper relationships with his cousin Amae Koromo and Ryumonbuchi Toka.

Those emotional entanglements grew like tangled vines in his heart, bringing both secret pleasure and unease.

On the other side, as Kageyama Sora's nominal "girlfriend," the life of Haramura Nodoka was being filled with a different kind of busyness.

The moment Kageyama Sora had some free time, he suddenly realized he hadn't contacted Haramura Nodoka for days.

He sat in his room, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the phone case, his gaze somewhat distant.

He felt both anxious and expectant, fretting over whether his sudden coldness would upset Haramura Nodoka.

Finally, he took a deep breath, gathered his courage, and pressed the call button.

The moment the call connected, Haramura Nodoka's voice came through the receiver, carrying a hint of exhaustion from her busy schedule.

When Kageyama Sora asked about her recent situation, Haramura Nodoka's voice brightened as she recounted her experiences.

It turned out that after being discouraged by Fujita Yasuko last time, she and Miyanaga Saki had returned to the Mahjong Club.

And the club president, Takei Hisa, had decided to take everyone to a training camp before the tournament to help them get stronger.

After listening to Haramura Nodoka's account, Kageyama Sora quickly said: "Give me the address, I'll come see you."

His voice carried an irresistible gentleness.

On the other end of the line, Haramura Nodoka's once-calm heart rippled instantly, and a secret joy spread within her like flowers blooming in spring.

Her cheeks flushed, and she shyly said: "Wouldn't that be a bother for you?"

"Not at all." Kageyama Sora's voice was so soft it felt as if it could pass through the phone line and turn into a gentle caress: "At such an important time, I should always be there to accompany you, and besides... although I'm not a very strong mahjong player, my abilities should be enough to keep you company, right?"

Just as Haramura Nodoka was hesitating on how to respond, Kataoka Yuki, who was sitting beside her, suddenly leaned in and shouted: "You have to come! Kageyama-kun, you must come! Nodoka looks super cute in a yukata!"

Kataoka Yuki wore a mischievous smile, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Haramura Nodoka.

Only then did Haramura Nodoka realize that while she was on the phone, her teammates had long since stopped playing mahjong and were huddled behind her, secretly listening to their conversation.

She instantly turned bright red, covered her face in a panic, and shouted in a mix of anger and embarrassment: "Yuki!"

As the club president, Takei Hisa keenly sensed Haramura Nodoka's embarrassment; she patted Haramura Nodoka on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Let him come. We can't pass up such a good practice partner."

Takei Hisa's eyes held encouragement and trust, which helped ease Haramura Nodoka's nervous mood.

And so, amidst her shyness and anticipation, Haramura Nodoka told Kageyama Sora the address of the training camp.

Kageyama Sora didn't delay at all; as soon as he learned Haramura Nodoka was going to the camp, he had already had his assistant prepare things. He stood by the window, looking out at the street, imagining what Haramura Nodoka looked like at the camp.

Half an hour later, a car slowly pulled up in front of the hot spring hotel where Kiyosumi High School was holding their camp.

Kageyama Sora stepped out of the car, followed by his assistant carrying several large bags.

He looked up at the hot spring hotel, the sunlight spilling over the building and casting a warm glow.

Thinking of how he would see Haramura Nodoka soon, the corners of his mouth curled into a smile involuntarily, and he walked toward the hotel filled with anticipation.

When Kageyama Sora pushed open the paper sliding door of the hot spring hotel room, the scent of tea and the crisp clacking of mahjong tiles rushed out to meet him.

Although it was called a Mahjong Club training camp, the members of the Kiyosumi Mahjong Club were not actually playing mahjong.

Yuki Kataoka, who usually loved participating in matches the most, was not playing; instead, she was sobbing while seemingly writing something.

Haramura Nodoka was practicing drawing and melding tiles, all while hugging her favorite penguin plushie.

As Kageyama Sora walked in with his assistant, everyone tacitly stopped what they were doing.

Yuki Kataoka shot over like a little cannonball, her eyes fixed intently on the specially packaged chicken wrap gift box in the assistant's hands: "Kageyama-kun! Is this for me?"

Kageyama Sora nodded: "Good sense of smell, you guessed it was for you right away."

Having received a positive reply, Yuki Kataoka stood on her tiptoes, her nose almost touching the picture of the chicken wrap on the packaging: "It's actually from that super hard-to-book Western restaurant! Nodoka and I waited in line for three hours last time and still didn't get to eat there!"

She excitedly untied the ribbon, and the golden wrap inside the oil paper was still steaming, the rich aroma of cheese instantly filling the air.

She was so excited that her eyes were practically glowing: "Wuu wuu wuu, this is amazing! If you weren't Nodoka's boyfriend, I would definitely chase after you!"

Because Yuki Kataoka was very cute, her saying such excessive things didn't feel strange at all; instead, it just made her seem adorable.

And after Yuki Kataoka's bout of fussing, that somewhat subtle atmosphere had dissipated quite a bit.

Haramura Nodoka emerged from the crowd with a blushing face, her long pink hair draped down, and her yukata worn perfectly straight; the pale blue fabric made her skin look fair and rosy.

The full curves of her chest stretched the soft fabric into a beautiful arc, and the inadvertent swaying as she walked made Kageyama Sora look away, though the tips of his ears turned red.

Even though everyone was wearing the same style of yukata, Haramura Nodoka's unique physique made her look exceptionally voluptuous.

To put it exaggeratedly, the others combined didn't compare to Haramura Nodoka alone, and this point was even more vivid under the extreme contrast.

"Th-thank you," Haramura Nodoka took the gift box adorned with a Wisteria Pattern, and upon opening it, she discovered a set of exquisite pearl hairpins.

"This is too expensive!" Her voice was as soft as a startled kitten, yet her fingertips couldn't help but stroke the smooth, warm pearls.

Kageyama Sora quickly said: "You don't need to mind it; you're my girlfriend, so it's normal for me to buy you gifts... besides, I brought gifts for everyone else, too."