Talking with Ichika often left people scratching their heads, but Shuichi was used to it. Those who loved literature tended to have this quirk.
Enduring harm, huh?
It seemed she wasn't as indifferent to others' slander and scrutiny as Sumire had claimed. No such saint existed—everyone's heart was made of flesh, and emotions were only natural.
After learning flower arrangement for a while, Shuichi noticed the late hour and returned to his room with his first creation.
Hydrangeas had no fragrance and were toxic throughout, suitable only for viewing.
Lying in bed, a thought struck him: Tch, another poisonous flower. Coincidence?
Whatever. He wasn't eating it anyway.
…
Waking up the next morning, Shuichi felt a familiar sensation. Lifting the blanket, he found not a cat but Tsuki…
He grabbed his phone, puzzled, and realized the cat might have overslept.
Figuring out the situation, Shuichi's laziness kicked in, and he closed his eyes to rest.
But soon, he snapped them open, spotting a clumsy figure struggling to climb onto his balcony. He quickly pulled the blanket over himself and turned to the side.
Caught off guard, Tsuki's head was trapped, and for a moment, she thought it was some upgraded game, trembling with excitement.
"Don't move. The class rep's here."
That idiot An Akiyama tiptoed to the balcony door, parted the curtains, oblivious to having been spotted.
She poked her head into the room, only seeing Shuichi lying on his side, facing her.
"What are you sneaking around for?" Shuichi beckoned her over.
An scanned the room, then scampered to the bedside, crouching and nuzzling her head against his hand. "Nee-san's gone. I bet she snuck over here."
Shuichi felt a warm breath on his abdomen and pinched An's chubby cheeks. "Isn't she downstairs helping Mrs. Akiyama?"
An shook her head vigorously. "Nope. I checked everywhere—bathroom, shower, nowhere."
"That's odd. Where else could she be?" Shuichi subtly tightened his legs, then felt a scratch on his thigh.
"I thought Nee-san came here to steal some snacks, but she's not here either." An was utterly baffled.
"Snacks? Ever since I started eating three meals a day at your ramen shop, my fridge is practically empty… Well, not completely. There's some fruit and ice cream."
Shuichi suddenly remembered the neglected food. "Crap, the fruit's probably spoiled. Ice cream should be fine, though."
"Fruit ice cream…" An's eyes lit up, drool pooling at the corner of her mouth.
Shuichi couldn't help but laugh. "It's fruit and ice cream. The fruit's no good, and who eats ice cream on an empty stomach in the morning? Not afraid of a stomachache?"
"Nope! My tummy's tough!" An stood, lifted her shirt, and patted her soft, bouncy belly.
Shuichi found it amusing and gave it a rub, making the silly girl giggle uncontrollably.
But then, he felt Tsuki's sharp teeth, causing him to inhale sharply.
"Fine, if you're not worried about a tummy ache, go grab some. But I think you should at least eat breakfast first," He told the silly girl.
An's eyes sparkled. "Really? I can have it?"
"Go, go." Shuichi waved her off, and she bounced happily to the kitchen.
Once An was gone, Shuichi lifted the blanket. Tsuki, who'd been stifled for ages, greedily gulped fresh air.
"Thrilling, huh? Almost got caught sneaking a bite," Shuichi teased, poking her puffed cheek, which deflated into a visible dimple.
Tsuki mumbled, "She wasn't talking about that kind of sneaking…"
"Isn't it the same? The fruit's mostly spoiled, but the lychees might still be good. Those are for you." Shuichi tapped her lips meaningfully.
Tsuki seemed pleased, her heart racing. She tilted her head back, then dove lower than before.
"By the way, is it really okay for her to eat ice cream this early?" Shuichi asked, stroking her silky hair.
"No problem. Her stomach's like iron—nothing fazes it," Tsuki said, unconcerned about her silly sister.
"That's enviable. She eats so much and doesn't gain weight," Shuichi remarked, though he added that it wasn't entirely a good thing.
After all… not gaining weight anywhere was kind of a shame.
They didn't chat long before footsteps approached. Shuichi covered Tsuki again just as An returned, licking an ice cream cone and plopping back by the bed, happily nuzzling his hand.
"Chiba-kun, you're the best. This ice cream's yummy."
"If it's that good, I'll save it all for you. Come by whenever you want some."
Shuichi chuckled, patting her head. Since eating Mrs. Akiyama's cooking, he'd lost interest in snacks and sweets.
"Really?" An's eyes gleamed.
"Yup." Shuichi nodded with a smile.
An cheered and threw herself into his arms, planting a quick kiss on his cheek.
Shuichi felt a fleeting cool, soft touch on his face before realizing the silly girl had kissed him. Meeting her sparkling, innocent eyes, he felt a sudden flutter in his chest.
But then, Tsuki, sensing his reaction from under the blanket, bit down on his "weak spot," planning to interrogate him later.
Snapping back, Shuichi found it both exasperating and amusing. This silly girl had no clue about romance—her head was full of food. And yet, he'd been charmed.
How embarrassing…
"What's up, Chiba-kun?" An asked, licking her ice cream, tilting her head with her big, curious eyes blinking.
"Nothing. Head back for now. I'll wash up and come down for breakfast."
Shuichi easily shooed the little fool away, then lifted the blanket, exchanging a knowing look with Tsuki…
Tsuki emerged from under the blanket, her face flushed, eyes gleaming with a hungry, submissive glint. Her breath was uneven, lips parted as she knelt between Shuichi's thighs, her hands resting on his legs, nails lightly digging into his skin. "Master," She purred, her voice low and reverent, "Let me please you." Her tone carried a desperate edge, as if serving him was her sole desire.
Shuichi leaned back, his gaze sharp as he studied her. "Go on, then," He said, his voice calm but commanding, knowing exactly how to stoke her masochistic fire. His hand found her hair, fingers threading through the silky strands, gripping just tight enough to make her gasp softly.
Tsuki shivered at the pull, her eyes fluttering as she leaned forward, her breath hot against him. "Thank you, Master," She whispered, her tongue darting out to trace him slowly, teasingly, savoring every inch. Her movements were deliberate, worshipful, her lips trembling with excitement as she took him into her mouth, warm and eager.
Her pace was steady at first, her tongue swirling with practiced devotion, her soft whimpers muffled as she worked. Shuichi's grip tightened, tugging her hair harder, and Tsuki moaned around him, the vibration sending a jolt through his body. The pain sparked her masochistic thrill, her eyes watering slightly as she pushed herself deeper, craving his control.
"Harder," Shuichi ordered, his voice low, testing her limits. Tsuki's response was immediate, her movements growing more fervent, her nails digging deeper into his thighs as she obeyed. Her cheeks hollowed, her throat relaxing to take him further, her muffled moans growing louder with every tug of her hair. The mix of pain and submission drove her wild, her body trembling with need.
Shuichi's breath hitched, his control fraying as her relentless pace overwhelmed him. "Good girl," He murmured, the praise laced with dominance, and Tsuki whimpered, her eyes rolling back slightly at the words. She doubled her efforts, her hand joining her mouth, stroking in sync with her lips, desperate to earn more of his approval.
The room filled with the soft, wet sounds of her devotion and Shuichi's ragged breaths. Tsuki's masochistic fervor pushed her to the edge of her own limits, her body quivering as she poured herself into pleasing him. Shuichi's grip tightened one last time, his muscles tensing as the pleasure built to a peak.
"Tsuki," He growled, his voice rough as he neared release. She didn't falter, her moans vibrating against him as she took him through the climax, her tongue and lips working until he shuddered, spilling into her mouth. Tsuki swallowed eagerly, her eyes locked on his, filled with a mix of pride and submission.
When she finally pulled back, her lips were swollen, her face flushed with exertion and satisfaction. "Did I please you, Master?" She asked, her voice hoarse, her body still trembling from the intensity.
Shuichi loosened his grip on her hair, his hand stroking her head gently as a reward. "You did well," He said, his tone softening but still carrying that commanding edge. Tsuki beamed, her masochistic heart soaring at his approval, already craving the next chance to serve him.
…
The busy morning soon ended, and the trio headed to school after breakfast.
As they walked, Shuichi pondered the concept of "belonging." Helping the Akiyama family this time hadn't increased his sense of belonging. Was his earlier guess wrong? Did helping an outstanding shop owner only boost it once? Or did it depend on the owner's mood?
Fumika's recent inexplicable surge in belonging seemed tied to when he helped find a renovation team. But the delay was so long it was hard to pin down any pattern.
This belonging thing was way too metaphysical…
Shuichi sighed, deciding not to overthink it. By definition, belonging was abstract, like trying to decipher a girl's heart.
After switching trains and walking a bit, Shuichi stepped off the platform when someone tapped his shoulder. Turning, he saw Uchida.
"Yo, morning, buddy!"
"Morning." Shuichi punched his chest lightly, then glanced at Tsuki, who'd been swept away by the crowd, signaling her to go ahead.
Squeezing out of the station with Uchida, Shuichi relaxed until Uchida suddenly said, "By the way, Chiba, when's your cousin coming to meet my sister for that blind date?"
"Huh? Why're you suddenly worried about that?" Shuichi asked, puzzled.
Uchida sighed, scratching his hair. "I didn't wanna meddle in Nee-san's business, but I accidentally let it slip at home. Mom told my aunt, who's been stressing about my cousin's marriage. She was thrilled and gave me a mission."
Shuichi patted his shoulder. "Not my fault. You've got a loose tongue—your own doing."
Uchida slumped. "I just muttered it quietly. How was I supposed to know Mom's ears are that sharp? She ignores everything else I say."
"That tracks." Shuichi chuckled. Mothers were always keen on these things.
"So… when's your cousin making a move? He hasn't even added my cousin on LINE yet," Uchida pressed eagerly.
"How about meeting this weekend?" Shuichi mused, rubbing his chin.
"Deal!" Uchida, fearing a backout, grabbed his hand for a high-five.
Shuichi rolled his eyes. "You're that eager to marry off your cousin?"
"It's my aunt. She's been practically living at our house, and I can't even hide in my room," Uchida groaned.
As they chatted, Shuichi noticed Uchida's eyes light up. Following his gaze, he saw an adorable little girl tugging at a salaryman's pant leg, looking up with pleading eyes, as if reluctant to let her dad go to work.
Behind her, a woman—clearly the girl's mother—covered her mouth, stifling a laugh.
As they got closer, Shuichi finally understood what was happening…
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