After walking into the treehouse, she looked around and reached out to touch the inner walls.
The insides of the trunks were surprisingly smooth, without a single thorn. A soft layer of moss had even grown around the roots, feeling like a thin carpet beneath her feet.
She glanced back at Mirai, her eyes filled with delight, along with helpless exasperation that seemed to say, "Just how much more are you hiding?"
"Mirai, you really are a monster," she finally said.
"Thanks for the compliment."
The two of them lay down inside the treehouse.
The mossy floor was soft and carried the fresh scent of grass and wood. The walls shut out the hot wind outside, leaving only the coolness beneath the shade.
Mikoto turned onto her side and looked at Mirai's profile, her gaze holding something indescribable.
Mirai turned his head and met her eyes.
Less than a handspan separated them, and they could clearly hear each other breathing.
Mirai reached out from his side and gently rested his hand on her waist.
Mikoto's body stiffened slightly, but she did not pull away. Only the tips of her ears slowly turned red.
"Mikoto," Mirai said softly, "are you nervous now?"
"...Who's nervous?"
"Your ears are red."
"It's... it's because this treehouse has no ventilation. It's stuffy!!"
"Oh? Is that so? Then why is your heart beating faster too?"
Mirai's hand slowly moved upward from her waist and rested over her chest, his fingers lightly pressing along the raised curve.
Mikoto's breathing caught, and half her body went limp.
Before this, their most intimate contact had been when he mischievously rubbed against her a couple of times in the hot springs, or secretly touched her hand during barbecue.
This was the first time they had pressed so close together.
His