Thank you, @UzumakiClanhead, for joining the memberships.
I'm truly grateful.
BONUS chapter (1/1)
I'm sorry to say this, but since the novel hasn't gained much recognition yet, I'll only be releasing one bonus chapter for now.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
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Chapter 26: We'll Leave the Rest for Tonight.
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Just as Rikka Takarada was about to grab the sunscreen from Mu Huai's hand, Akane Shinjo stepped forward first, as if she had predicted her move and gently wrapped her fingers around the hand holding the bottle.
With a pitiful look, she said:
"Rikka… you're not going to get jealous over something like your boyfriend helping me apply sunscreen, are you?"
What kind of max-level scheming is this…?!
Rikka choked on her words, her face turning red as her gaze flickered between the frozen Kihara and Akane.
Even being teased like that, she couldn't bring herself to hate Akane.
Instead, her mind raced.
How do I take back control here?
"I-I'm not jealous!" she blurted. "Fine, Kihara can help you… but after that, he has to help me too!"
"Of course~" Akane smiled sweetly.
Kihara, finally snapping out of it, shook his head immediately.
"No, that's not a good idea. Shinjo, Rikka should help you instead. I can't do something like that right in front of my girlfriend."
"But Rikka already said it's okay."
Kihara gently pushed the sunscreen back into Akane's hand, then glanced at Rikka, who was trying a little too hard to look calm.
He sighed softly, smiling.
"Rikka might seem indifferent most of the time, but she tends to keep her feelings bottled up. She only agreed because she didn't want me to think she was being petty."
Akane blinked.
…Wait.
Was this really the same Kihara?
The guy with negative emotional intelligence?
Since when could he say something this thoughtful?
Rikka, on the other hand, felt her heart bloom.
He understands me… that well?
Suddenly, she felt like she had to show just how generous and confident she could be as his girlfriend.
"H-Hey, dummy… that's enough for me. Go ahead and help Akane. I really don't mind!"
"Rikka…" Kihara looked at her, speechless.
Blushing, she gave him a light push. "Just go already! And don't forget, you still have to help me afterward!"
"…Alright."
With his girlfriend insisting, Kihara finally relented.
He took Akane's wrist and led her into one of the tents.
And came out less than half a minute later.
Rikka blinked.
"…You're done already?"
"Yeah." Kihara nodded. "Just helped with the spots she couldn't reach on her back. Didn't take long."
Then, without hesitation, he walked up to Rikka and grabbed her hand.
"Your turn. Let's go."
Seeing how eager he looked, Rikka couldn't help but feel a little nervous.
"Y-You're just going to apply sunscreen… right? You're not planning anything else?"
Kihara paused, glanced toward Akane's tent, then leaned closer and whispered into her ear:
"I do want to get a little closer to you… but if you're not okay with it, I won't cross the line. Don't worry."
His warm breath brushed against her ear, sending a faint shiver through her.
Rikka's ears instantly flushed pink.
She lowered her head, staring at her feet.
…but didn't say no.
Does that mean… she's okay with it?
Mu Huai's heart skipped a beat.
Without wasting another second, he pulled her into the tent.
Almost instinctively, Rikka slipped off her sandals and lay down in the center.
She loosened the strap behind her neck and adjusted her swimsuit revealing her smooth, fair back.
For a moment—
even the air inside the tent seemed to brighten.
Kihara swallowed.
This was… way too much.
If Akane weren't right outside…
he wasn't sure he could stay this composed.
Rikka buried her face in her arms, her whole body tense with embarrassment.
Unaware that her posture only made things more… distracting.
Kihara forced himself to focus.
He squeezed some sunscreen into his hands, rubbing it gently to warm it up before placing it carefully against her skin.
"R-Rikka… I'm starting now."
"W-Wait—don't touch randomly!"
"I'm not! I swear!"
"Y-You are!!"
By the time they came out.
half an hour had passed.
The moment their eyes met Akane's teasing gaze, both of them instantly looked away, guilty.
Kihara even started whistling off-key.
Akane puffed her cheeks—then suddenly broke into a mischievous grin.
In a playful, exaggerated tone, she mimicked:
"Ahh you can't touch there"
"Akane!!"
Rikka stomped her foot, flustered.
"Hahaha, okay, okay—I'll stop."
Rikka's face was burning red.
She wished she could just dig a hole and hide.
She had meant to tease him a little…
…but she hadn't expected him to go that far.
If Akane hadn't been nearby.
she might've already been completely overwhelmed by him.
As for the culprit himself.
Kihara quietly slipped into the river and sat down, letting the cool water calm him down.
If he hadn't remembered Akane was right outside earlier…
things might've escalated way beyond control.
"Hey, idiot. What are you thinking about sitting here alone?"
Kihara turned.
Rikka had walked over and crouched beside him, her blue eyes still slightly moist as she looked at him.
But his attention—
was drawn to her lips.
Just moments ago, inside the tent…he had tasted their softness.
Almost instinctively, he licked his lips.
"Y-You!" Rikka lightly punched his shoulder, shooting him an embarrassed glare.
"Don't think about anything weird. We'll… talk about the rest tonight!"
For some reason.
After she said that, even the air around them seemed to grow warmer.
After calming down, Kihara returned with Rikka to the campsite.
Then, from his bag, he pulled out a board game and placed it between the three of them.
Grinning, he said:
"Since we've got the perfect chance, how about a thrilling game of Flying Chess?"
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Thank you for reading.
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Once again thank you for your support @UzumakiClanhead...