Ding! Ding!
Thank you, @Keith Lighthill and @Jeremy Grant Ramos, for your support.
I'm truly grateful.
Bonus(1/2)
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Chapter 29: Kihara, Report for Duty!
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"…Okay… I'll agree… boyfriend…"
"…like… okay…"
Fragmented voices drifted into Kihara's ears as he slowly woke up.
His head felt heavy and muddled, like it had been stuffed with weights and stirred together with something that forced him into deep sleep.
He staggered upright, still dizzy, and stumbled out of the tent toward the river.
The cold night water splashed against his face.
Instant clarity.
"…Weird. Wasn't I cooking earlier? Why did I end up asleep in the tent…?"
He frowned.
"…Did I pass out from hunger again?"
The moment that thought hit him.
He bolted.
If he hadn't made dinner, then Rikka Takarada and Akane Shinjo might still be hungry.
But when he reached the food prep area.
The ingredients were gone.
And from behind him.
Came the mouthwatering scent of grilled meat.
"…Sorry about that," he said awkwardly as he returned to camp.
Rikka and Akane were already grilling skewers over the fire, carefully turning them as the flames licked at the meat.
Rikka didn't look happy.
She glanced at Akane.
Then at Kihara, who had just sat down beside her.
Her lips parted slightly.
And she said something that nearly made him jump out of his skin:
"…Kihara. Tomorrow… you'll be Akane's boyfriend for a day."
"…Wait—what?!"
Kihara blinked in shock.
"What happened while I was asleep?!"
Akane rested her chin on her hands, her expression tinged with faint mock sadness.
"Kihara… am I really that unlikable? You won't even pretend to be my boyfriend for one day?"
"…Or do you think I'm ugly?"
"As a guy, of course I'd be happy," Kihara said honestly.
"But right now, I'm Rikka's boyfriend. There's no way I can agree to something like that."
Sure—
The idea of a "harem" had crossed his mind before.
But only if Rikka accepted it.
And judging by her expression right now.
Dark as the charcoal in the fire.
That clearly wasn't happening.
So her feelings came first.
Rikka clenched her teeth slightly, forcing herself to calm down.
Then—
She smiled.
"It's fine. It's just pretending for one day. I don't mind at all."
Then stop saying it through gritted teeth…
Kihara sighed internally.
He knew her well enough.
Once she got stubborn like this, there was no stopping her.
"…Alright," he relented. "Akane, I'll be in your care tomorrow."
"Yay~"
Dinner passed in an awkward silence.
Afterward, they each returned to their tents.
Rikka was clearly in a bad mood.
Which meant.
Kihara's highly anticipated "night plans" were completely off the table.
Still, at least—
He got to hold her soft, warm body like a pillow.
And for some reason.
Maybe the lingering effect of Akane's "special drink"
He fell asleep almost instantly.
The Next Morning.
Summer mornings came early.
Sunlight filtered into the tent alongside birdsong and the gentle sound of flowing water.
Kihara felt like he had just closed his eyes.
And suddenly it was morning.
He glanced down.
Rikka was still asleep in his arms.
Carefully, he laid her down and quietly stepped out of the tent.
Not noticing that the moment he left.
She opened her eyes.
Silently watching the entrance.
After washing up, Kihara returned.
Only to see Akane already waiting.
She had changed into a pure white bikini, her face glowing with excitement, like a child eager to play with a brand-new toy.
"Kihara! You're finally back. Where are we going for our date today?"
"Akane, go brush your teeth first. I'll make breakfast. We'll head out after we eat, okay?"
"Okay!"
She skipped off cheerfully.
Even with all that noise.
Rikka didn't come out.
Clearly…
She didn't want to see them together.
Kihara stood at the tent entrance and spoke gently:
"Rikka, I'll leave breakfast by the fire. Come eat after we leave, okay? Don't skip it."
No response.
He hesitated, then added softly:
"…Don't worry. I won't do anything that would betray you. I promise."
Still—
Silence.
After breakfast, Akane grabbed his hand and pulled him along the river.
"Akane, where are we going?"
"To somewhere just for the two of us!"
"…Why go out of your way to be alone? Rikka and I never avoided you."
Akane suddenly stopped.
She turned back, pouting slightly, her reddish eyes filled with annoyance.
"Because I want to be alone with you. Isn't that obvious?"
Kihara froze.
A hundred question marks popped into his head.
Does she… actually like me?
The words nearly slipped out.
But he couldn't quite say them.
So he just stood there, staring at her.
Akane frowned.
She had expected.
That after saying something like that, he'd get flustered. Embarrassed.
But instead—
He just looked at her with pure, clueless confusion.
Like he genuinely didn't understand.
"…Seriously?"
She sighed.
Fine.
If words didn't work.
She'd show him.
She slid her fingers into his hand, interlocking them tightly.
Then stepped closer.
So close their bodies nearly touched.
Even through the thin fabric.
He could feel her warmth.
Looking up at him, she smiled—a mischievous, almost devilish smile.
"Blockhead… don't you think everything I've been doing is basically me saying 'I like you'?"
Kihara's gaze, which had briefly drifted, snapped back to clarity.
He stepped back slightly and shook his head.
"Akane… I told you before. I'm not someone who assumes things like that."
"…Are you serious right now?"
She stared at him, disbelief written all over her face.
Frustrated, she pressed on:
"What do I lack compared to Rikka?"
"You're literally pretending to be my boyfriend today, but you don't act like one at all!"
Kihara scratched his head awkwardly.
Then—
He gently placed his hand over hers.
Meeting her eyes sincerely, he said:
"Akane… I don't think one of you is better than the other."
"…I do like you."
Her eyes widened.
"Then why won't you treat me like your girlfriend?"
"Because we don't really know each other yet."
He spoke honestly.
"Right now… my feelings are mostly just physical attraction."
"If you want to be my girlfriend, then give me time."
"I want to like all of you, not just how you look, but who you are inside."
"…Inside?"
Akane froze.
Then—
Like she'd been shocked.
She abruptly pulled her hand away.
Her expression changed instantly.
Cold. Irritated.
"…Boring."
She turned away.
"I didn't expect you to be this slow when it comes to relationships."
"I'm going back."
And just like that.
She walked off.
Leaving Kihara standing there alone.
Watching her retreating figure.
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Thank you for reading.