The night gently enveloped the entire campus.
The streetlights resembled flickering fireflies, while a light breeze carried the faint scent of cherry blossoms.
A slender crescent moon hung in the sky like a brushstroke on water.
Kaoru strolled along the path, his peripheral vision catching Airi's stiff, awkward steps.
Her small hands tightly gripped the hem of her skirt.
Under the clear moonlight, her cheeks were flushed an intense red.
Both were wearing their school uniforms. Though a bit odd, it wouldn't draw particular attention.
Yet, the girl's posture felt off.
Not only was she nervously clutching her skirt, her entire body fidgeting, but the slightest noise would startle her, making her instinctively move closer to Kaoru.
Considering Airi's feelings, Kaoru hooked his fingers around her small hand, then firmly held it in his.
"Scared?"
He seemed to be asking the obvious—the girl's hand felt cold.
Still, holding hands seemed to calm Airi down a little.
"Waaah… wh-why do we have to do this?"
Airi didn't want to care so much, but this feeling was completely different from usual.
With even a slight breeze, she felt goosebumps rising all over her body.
Without any barrier, the cool night air brushed against her skin.
Even though she was still fully clothed, it felt like she was strolling naked.
Kaoru glanced at her.
At 153 cm, her figure could truly be called petite and delicate.
Yet, her full, rounded curves couldn't be concealed even by her thick blazer and shirt.
Her heavy chest exuded a temptation unbefitting a girl her age, with an exaggerated curve that sharply narrowed at the waist before flaring out again at her small, perky bottom, sketching a shape like a full moon.
The pleated skirt seemed unable to contain it, while her plump, soft thighs swayed beneath the hem, reflecting the pale moonlight.
She naturally radiated a youthful vitality that drew men's eyes.
But she had tied her hair into braids and put on her usual glasses, lowering her gaze as if trying to bury her face in her ample chest.
No matter how carefully she tried to appear plain, this body was truly indecent—especially since Kaoru knew her current state.
If he were to lift it, Airi would surely explode.
"Stop clutching your skirt."
His words made her freeze. "Even if someone stares at you, don't panic. When you look back on today, you'll realize how narrow your old self was."
Airi was on the verge of tears.
Narrow? If Kaoru weren't holding her hand, she'd definitely flee back to the dorm.
"O-okay…"
The girl tremblingly released the skirt hem.
The smooth, delicate skin of her thighs seemed tinged with a faint blush.
"Waaah… I feel like the whole world is watching me… It's so embarrassing…"
"You'll get used to it gradually. There's a concept called 'exceeding the threshold stimulus.' If the impact is too great at once, your threshold will rise, and you'll find the old world wasn't so bad after all."
Kaoru gently stroked her small hand—soft and smooth. Why did girls always feel like this?
"Really?"
Airi didn't seem to fully believe him, the blush on her pretty face deepening.
"Really."
Kaoru had often used this method to deal with idols before, and it worked quite well—at least even a timid girl like Osaki Tenka could muster the courage to call him a pervert.
"I-I'll trust you just this once... D-don't you dare peek..."
Sakura Airi couldn't tell whether his words made sense, but the fact that he was a pervert remained unchanged.
"I won't peek." Kaoru smiled.
What was the fun in peeking? The girl's reactions were the real prize.
Worried that someone might appear at any moment, she would startle at the slightest rustle.
Occasionally, the evening breeze would lift her skirt, revealing a large expanse of pale, delicate thigh, making her blush and hurriedly press it down.
"N-no, you can't!"
Sakura Airi seemed a little angry—how could he actually not peek?
Then she flusteredly tried to cover up her emotions. "Anyway... I-I... I can only accompany you for half an hour!"
Kaoru held her small hand and said with a gentle smile, "It's fine. We're just going to the convenience store."
Sakura Airi widened her eyes.
They had been taking small paths all along, with few people around, which was why she had gradually relaxed.
Who knew Kaoru was taking her to a convenience store? How terrifying!
"H-how about... we go back, waaah..."
"We're already here. Why rush back?"
"Aww... someone might see us!"
"Does Airi usually get seen by people?"
Sakura Airi's eyes welled up with tears.
Usually was usually, and now was now—how could they be the same?
"If no one usually sees you, just act as you normally do now. How could anyone notice?"
Kaoru smiled. "Besides, I'll be by your side."
Perhaps she believed his words, or perhaps she could feel warmth from his hand, but Sakura Airi's unease gradually faded.
She muttered softly, "You really are a pervert."
"Airi is a pervert too. Otherwise, why would you agree to a pervert's request in the first place?"
"I-I'm not a pervert!"
Sakura Airi hurriedly denied his words, but when she saw his smile, she felt both embarrassed and angry.
Truthfully, she didn't understand why she had agreed.
It was as if she had lost her head in the moment, completely swayed by his earlier words without any thought.
But Sakura Airi quietly pressed a hand to her chest.
Her pounding heartbeat wasn't just from fear of exposure—it was also cheering.
Holding his hand like this, strolling through the campus together, was a girl's dream.
The neon lights cast the convenience store's shadow on the ground.
Just then, someone walked out carrying items, and Kaoru released her hand.
"Can you go in and buy something for me, Airi?"
Hearing this, Sakura Airi froze in place, staring at him in disbelief.
"Just some snacks and gum. You can decide what exactly."
"W-why do I have to go?"
Sakura Airi was already blushing furiously.
What if she got exposed? She really wasn't wearing much.
"It's too embarrassing! I don't want to!"
"There's no one around at this hour. I'll wait for you at the entrance."
Kaoru wasn't lying to her.
Thanks to the effect of the Marauder's Map, he already knew the convenience store was empty except for the clerk.
However, Sakura Airi had no idea.
"Hiks... Do I really have to go?"
The girl looked at him pitifully, "Can't you come with me?"
Kaoru blinked: "Wasn't it you who wanted to train your courage?"
Sakura Airi covered her pretty face. While she did have that idea, more importantly she wanted to seduce him!
Making her go to the convenience store alone like this was just too embarrassing!
How was this any different from those doujinshi she'd read?
Guh, she'd rather he just pinned her to the ground - at least then she could play dead.
Damn it, maybe she should just punch this pervert and knock him out instead!
"You... you'll really wait for me at the entrance?"
"I'll be watching you the whole time."
"Hiks... okay, fine... I'll go..."
Sakura Airi didn't even consider resisting him. If this could satisfy him, it might not be so bad after all.
Besides, at this point, Airi could only completely trust his words, believing that such intense stimulation might help raise her tolerance threshold.