Picking on her

"Huh? Ah!"

Tanktop Girl's cheeks instantly flushed crimson, and her body trembled uncontrollably as she shouted at Baicang in embarrassed anger, "I... I don't know anything! I didn't grab anything, either!"

Sachiko noticed every panicked glance she stole toward Baicang's waist.

Following Tanktop Girl's gaze, Sachiko looked below Baicang's waist...

She finally understood exactly what Tanktop Girl had grabbed. Her blush grew even more alluring, and she cast Baicang a glance tinged with a different emotion.

Baicang was deeply embarrassed as well. He, too, remembered what had happened back then.

It wasn't as though he'd wanted it! He'd nearly been traumatized. Tanktop Girl was a heroine, after all-her grip was seriously strong!

Runo seemed to think of something and puffed up her cheeks, pinching her brother's thigh.

Only Mizuki remained blissfully oblivious, grinning at his side. "Haha, if you won't tell us, you'll have to drink!"

That laugh made the already mortified Tanktop Girl direct all her anger at Mizuki. She downed her drink without so much as flinching and glared at Mizuki. "My turn next!"

Mizuki's smile froze instantly.

For heroes like Tanktop Girl and Mizuki, controlling their strength was second nature. Tanktop Girl hadn't wanted to cheat at this game, but Mizuki was being far too smug. She was going to make her pay!

Clink, clink, clink~ The bottle spun steadily around the table a few times before its mouth pointed straight at the miserable Mizuki.

"Keep laughing! Why'd you stop? Not so funny now, is it?"

Tanktop Girl looked smugly at Mizuki. As her best friend, she knew far too many secrets Mizuki refused to share. But Sachiko's words had also reminded her of something: while they were preparing the ingredients in the kitchen, Sachiko had asked her about Mizuki and Baicang.

"What did you do when you first met Baicang? What happened between you two?"

The clueless Mizuki didn't notice that those were actually two questions. She began with secretly following him through the shopping mall and kept talking until she reached the part where she'd followed Baicang around a corner...

Then Mizuki covered her burning red face and crouched down.

With the alcohol going to her head, Tanktop Girl paid that no mind and kept pressing. "And then? What did you two do? If you won't talk, drink!"

Mizuki cautiously peeked up, revealing half her head. She couldn't stand the taste of whiskey.

Left with no choice, she sat back down and looked shyly at Baicang. "After that, he... he just... just..."

Baicang looked as though he'd lost all will to live.

Mizuki fidgeted, unable to get the words out. She rubbed her hands back and forth against her thighs, constantly squeezing the fullness of her chest between her arms.

Sachiko noticed the odd look in Baicang's eyes. Combined with Mizuki's painfully obvious hints, it didn't take her long to figure out what he had grabbed.

So Mr. Baicang was that kind of... that kind of lecher. After all the help he gave me, it looks like he really did have those intentions~

But now that everything's been settled, why hasn't he said anything to me directly?

Does he want more? Does he want me to approach him first? How could he do that? I already have a child...

Sachiko bit her lower lip, a beguiling charm appearing on her wine-red cheeks as her gaze toward Baicang grew increasingly hazy.

"I forgot everything after that!"

Mizuki's neck and the tips of her ears had flushed almost purple. She simply couldn't say it. Seeing Tanktop Girl's teasing smile, she steeled herself and drained her glass in one gulp.

Though it still made her choke and cough incessantly, she stared stubbornly at Tanktop Girl, the flames of revenge burning in her eyes!

From then on, Baicang, Sachiko, and Runo didn't get another turn.

It was both Mizuki's and Tanktop Girl's first time drinking, and neither seemed to have much tolerance. Under the influence of alcohol, they began spilling each other's secrets.

"How long did you secretly cry after losing that match... Drink!"

"Didn't you used to like Tanktop... Drink!"

"When you work out, don't you... Drink!"

"When you're alone, don't you like to... Drink!"

"Have you ever been alone in your bedroom and... Drink!"

As their conversation grew increasingly inappropriate for children, an alarmed Baicang warned Runo not to listen and hurried over to stop them.

Runo covered her ears and nodded. Once Baicang had walked away, she secretly picked up the glass he'd drunk from and poured the little bit left into her mouth.

Ptoo, ptoo, ptoo! Runo scrunched up her face and spat out the liquor.

"It tastes awful~"

As she spoke, she felt her little face begin to burn, and everything grew woozy. "Big brother~ Runo doesn't feel good~"

Meanwhile, Baicang managed to stop Mizuki and Tanktop Girl, but unfortunately, he was too late. They had emptied the entire bottle.

Just then, Tanktop Girl suddenly grabbed his hand. "I... last time was an accident. Don't you get any funny ideas!"

Looking at Tanktop Girl's bright red face and smelling the alcohol on her breath, Baicang knew she was completely drunk. Otherwise, she wouldn't have brought up their previous misunderstanding herself.

"Okay, okay, no funny ideas. Now hurry back and sit down."

Tanktop Girl was swaying in a daze. Worried she might fall headfirst onto the floor, Baicang hurried to support her.

"What are you doing?! You're trying to take advantage of me! Don't think I don't know you're a huge pervert! Last time, when I touched you there, you were already...!"

Before Tanktop Girl could finish, her brain shut down. Her body went limp, and she started to collapse, but fortunately, Baicang caught her in his arms.

Good grief! How could she even say something like that? Thank goodness she hadn't been loud.

Holding Tanktop Girl with one arm, Baicang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his other hand and looked around, afraid someone might have heard her drunken rambling.

"What are you trying to do?! Let her go! You lecherous white-haired monster! How dare you pick on Tanktop Girl!"

By now, Mizuki was utterly plastered. She shouted at Baicang and swung a fist at him. Still holding Tanktop Girl, Baicang ducked beneath the attack. "You idiot! Take a good look at who I am!"

"You even dare to impersonate Baicang! I won't forgive you!" Mizuki's entire face had turned light red, and she was lost in a drunken haze.

"Damn it!"

Seeing Mizuki reach to remove the medal around her neck, Baicang quickly laid Tanktop Girl gently on the floor and rushed forward to stop her.

Seeing that the "monster" wasn't going to spare her either, Mizuki leaped up and kicked at Baicang. He'd intended to dodge, but this was Sachiko's home. If Mizuki's kick landed, she'd punch a hole right through the floor.

He had no choice but to catch her thigh as she flew toward him, using her momentum to pin her whole body to the floor. Exasperated, he said, "Take a good look! Who am I?!"

"A lecherous monster!" Mizuki flushed with anger and embarrassment, kicking at him with her other leg. Baicang had to free one hand to catch it. Now he was holding one of Mizuki's legs in each hand while pinning her to the floor, putting them in an extremely indecent position.

Still, he had to admit that Mizuki's legs were long and smooth, and they felt very nice to hold.

Mizuki refused to let up. She suddenly drew her legs back, throwing Baicang off balance and sending him falling onto her. Before he could get up, Mizuki attempted to restrain him with a joint lock.

Baicang countered every move, grappling with Mizuki on the floor. Fortunately, he was stronger than she was. In the end, he caught both her hands and pinned them to the floor above her head, pressing his whole body against hers so she couldn't move.

Mizuki still refused to surrender, clamping her legs tightly around Baicang's waist as she struggled.

Growing irritated by her persistence, Baicang shouted into Mizuki's face, mere inches from his own, "Stop it!"

The sudden shout stunned Mizuki. Her pale blue eyes grew watery, tears swirling in them.

"You're picking on me~ Boohoo~"