Bonus(3/3)
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Chapter 23 – The Season of White Album.
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Kihara didn't answer Rikka's question right away.
His attention had been completely stolen by his right hand, currently trapped in something far more distracting.
If possible… I don't want to wash this hand for the next week.
Rikka's thighs tightened ever so slightly. It felt like an unconscious movement, yet it wrapped his hand in an indescribable softness. Her skin was smooth and delicate, like the finest silk, gently pressing against both the back of his hand and his palm.
Without thinking, Kihara's fingers twitched—grasping lightly.
The sensation wasn't overwhelming, yet it was impossible to ignore. Every inch of contact carried a strange, unspoken intimacy.
Rikka, of course, noticed the subtle movement.
A hint of pride flickered in her heart.
I knew it… this blockhead likes my thighs.
"Rikka…" Kihara's throat was dry like the desert, his voice hoarse and heated.
"Can you… let me pull my hand out first? It's kinda hard to answer like this…"
"No."
She refused instantly.
She had finally found the chance to express her feelings through actions, there was no way she'd let go now. Who knew if he'd just run away the moment she did?
"Answer me first," she said firmly. "What exactly are we… right now?"
Even someone as dense as Kihara could tell, Rikka had feelings for him.
Otherwise, she wouldn't be doing something like this.
He pinched his own thigh with his left hand. The sharp pain helped cool his overheated mind—just a little.
"Hiss… I'm not going to run. But at least let me calm down first… otherwise I can't confess properly!"
"C-Confess!?"
Rikka's whole body trembled.
She hadn't expected this at all. Sure, his emotional intelligence might be in the negatives—but his decisiveness? Maxed out.
Her tentative probing had somehow triggered a full-on finishing move.
"…Did I guess wrong?" Kihara's pupils shook as he stared at her.
Damn it… I got ahead of myself again.
The light in his eyes dimmed.
Rikka's heart skipped.
This is bad.
Her surprised reaction had clearly been misunderstood. If she didn't fix this now, forget moving forward, their relationship might collapse entirely.
Seeing him about to force his hand free, Rikka quickly grabbed his left hand tightly.
"Kihara, you didn't guess wrong!"
"…I didn't?"
His eyes lit up instantly.
Rikka nodded gently.
The usual laziness in her voice was gone, replaced with a shy sincerity. Her beautiful blue eyes met his as she spoke, word by word.
"I like you."
"YES!!!"
The boy who had just been confessed to instantly turned into a wound-up toy, jumping all over the room, cheering like crazy as he released his overwhelming joy.
Then—
He suddenly froze.
Wait… I haven't replied yet.
Forcing down the grin threatening to split his face, he stiffly walked toward her arms and legs moving awkwardly in sync.
Under her gaze—soft, shy, and blooming like a red rose, he gently took her hands.
"R-Rikka!"
His voice was so loud it nearly lifted the ceiling.
"Y-Yes! I'm here!!"
She reflexively responded at the same volume, completely swept up by his nervous energy.
"I—I like you too!" he blurted out.
"I like… your lazy eyes and the way you talk… I like how you act annoyed but still cook seriously for me…"
His words stumbled at first, but gradually became smoother.
Then he lifted his head, meeting her gaze directly—eyes full of warmth.
"I'm not good with fancy words or romantic promises… but there's one thing I want to say."
"You're my favorite girlfriend."
"No matter what happens… I'll protect you. For the rest of my life!"
"Ah… o-okay… I get it…"
Rikka couldn't handle such a direct, overwhelming confession. Her face flushed as she turned away, unable to meet his burning gaze.
"Rikka… I… really want to kiss you right now. Is that okay?"
"Y-you idiot… why are you even asking something like that?" she stammered, face bright red.
"You're my boyfriend… j-just do it…"
By the time she finished, she had already curled up on the sofa like a shrimp, burying her face under a pillow.
Kihara scratched the back of his head, grinning foolishly.
…Did I just miss my chance?
Still—
It wasn't a loss.
At least he got the answer he wanted.
The living room fell quiet.
But the soft, pink atmosphere only grew thicker.
Kihara gently pulled the pillow away from Rikka's face.
"Rikka…"
"Mu Huai…"
Like magnets drawn together, their faces slowly closed the distance.
Their breathing—once uneven, gradually synced.
Closer.
Closer—
Just as their lips were about to meet.
RING!!!
The sudden phone call shattered the moment like thunder.
They both jumped apart instantly, sitting upright at opposite ends of the sofa.
"It—it's my mom!" Rikka said, oddly flustered.
"Well… you did stay over at my place all night…"
"…I'll answer it."
"Yeah."
"Hello… Mom… I—I stayed at Kihara's house last night…"
Kihara had no idea how she explained that situation.
By the time she came back, he had already prepared two cups of instant noodles for breakfast.
After eating, he rode her home to grab her school bag—then took her to school on his motorcycle.
Funny enough, after getting the bike, he somehow even found a valid driver's license at home.
"Good morning, Rik—R-R-R-R-R-RIKKA!?!?"
Namiko, as usual, rushed over the moment she saw Kihara enter the classroom.
"…Namiko? What's wrong with you?"
Kihara looked confused as she kept stuttering like a broken calculator stuck on "6."
"What's wrong with me!? What's wrong with you two!?"
She pointed dramatically at their hands.
Which were tightly held together.
"What is this!? Yesterday your mom said you didn't come home… did you guys just, level up into adulthood!?"
Rikka's face exploded into red.
She immediately let go of Kihara and rushed over, covering Namiko's mouth.
"Don't say weird things! We didn't do anything like that!"
"Mmff! Mmff!!"
Namiko flailed wildly, gesturing at Kihara like she was trying to communicate telepathically.
From her seat, Akane Shinjo had already noticed everything.
But strangely.
She didn't feel happy.
Not like a writer watching her main characters finally get together.
Instead…
Something sour welled up inside her.
Like a bottle of vinegar had been overturned.
Why… did it turn out like this?
According to the script, this should be perfect…
The main characters became lovers.
The monsters could keep driving the plot forward.
Two kinds of happiness, overlapping.
It should have made her even happier.
So why—
Why did it feel like this instead?
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Thank you for reading.
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From now onwards I'll be uploading bonus chapter on regular updates schedule.
Once again thank you for your support @Joe and @P...