Utaha felt her eyebrows twitching, a mix of panic and helplessness washing over her.
According to her expectations, the other party should have been blushing, hurriedly waving their hands, and suggesting some other simple request.
Like wanting to look at her legs, or maybe pushing it a bit further, asking to touch them?
'But who directly says something like 'don't go back tonight'? Doesn't he know that a guy saying that to a girl comes across as very... hormone-driven?'
'It's an option that drastically increases the 'dislike' meter.'
However, when she looked at Yusei and saw the teasing expression on his face, she realized she'd been tricked.
'My flustered expression from moments ago had probably already been noticed by him, right?'
'Hmph, what a hateful Leg-Fetish-kun.'
Utaha, who always prided herself on easily teasing others and being sharp-tongued, had suffered her first defeat.
"Fine, you win. Tell me, Leg-Fetish-kun, what request do you want?" Utaha cast a faint glance at Yusei.
This time, she admitted defeat, letting Yusei state his request. The other party obviously wouldn't make an overly excessive request, and anything R-rated was clearly off the table.
'But... Leg-Fetish-kun probably lives up to his nickname and wants to touch my legs, right?'
'After all, his gaze had lingered on my legs more than once.'
'But should I agree? Agreeing felt a bit... but not agreeing would make me seem like I didn't keep my word.'
For a moment, Utaha was tangled in these conflicted emotions.
But just then, Yusei's voice suddenly reached her ears.
"How about letting me be the first reader of your published novel?"
"If you want to touch my legs, I... Huh?"
Utaha spoke, then froze in place. She hadn't processed it and looked at Yusei.
"What did you say?"
"Be the first reader of your novel. You just finished writing it and haven't published it yet, right? What's wrong?" Yusei felt somewhat perplexed under Utaha's gaze.
He had also heard 'touch legs', but he was a bit frustrated, 'Although I did desire you physically, I wasn't that impatient, was I?'
'That choice, for any normal girl, would completely lower her favorability. I... I'm not stupid, how could I choose that?'
"Nothing. Fine, I agree."
Utaha heard it clearly this time. Her expression was complicated, and a blush spread across her cheeks.
She had actually spoken her refusal out loud just now. Thinking she had figured out the other party's thoughts, she ended up making a fool of herself.
'Hmph, Leg-Fetish-kun is still somewhat of a gentleman.'
Utaha thought this, while also feeling an indescribable sensation in her heart.
'The first reader? That was indeed a nice achievement.'
The weekend 'date' ended quite quickly. They found a restaurant for lunch at noon, and after eating, the two parted ways.
Utaha bought several books related to literature, while Yusei picked out some drawing tools.
Their homes weren't on the way, so they separated at the station.
After a ten-plus minute train ride, Utaha soon arrived home. She tossed the items from the bag in her hand onto the bed and lay down herself.
Recalling the day's events, she realized it was actually the first time she had gone out shopping alone with a boy, even if it was under the pretext of a bet.
Thinking this, she couldn't help but turn her head to look at the bag beside her. Through the opening, she could see the topmost item inside.
It was a manuscript, an illustration manuscript depicting the beautiful figure of Utaha in a kimono, holding a paper fan.
It was originally just a black-and-white sketch, but Yusei had bought pigments during their meal at the restaurant and colored it.
Looking at it now, the exquisitely detailed illustration was indeed her.
Utaha could no longer argue that Yusei had drawn someone else.
'But... was I really that beautiful?'
Looking at the painting, the usually confident Utaha actually experienced self-doubt, questioning 'am I good-looking?'… a fundamental life question.
She couldn't help but stand up and go to the full-length mirror, looking at her reflection.
Exquisite features, a perfect yet softly rounded face with fair skin tinged with rosy cheeks, a tall figure.
Especially those shapely, beautiful legs clad in black stockings… she was still as perfect as ever.
Looking back at the kimono-clad version of herself on the bed, Utaha suddenly revealed a charming and confident smile.
'This painting... isn't perfect, after all.'
Utaha gently touched the image of herself in the painting, tracing the long leg where a sliver of fair skin was revealed.
'At the very least, Leg-Fetish-kun forgot to add the black stockings.'