In the Hospital.
"...."
Youko smiled as she probed for her odds to Norimasa.
"Fifty percent?"
"..."
"Looks like it's not even half, huh? That's fine. I've always had good luck since birth—no matter what I do, the heavens always favor me."
"This time will be no different. So, don't stress too much, Kenmasa-kun. Just follow your treatment plan step by step."
Struggling slightly, Youko propped herself up on the bed and ruffled her old friend's meticulously combed hair, letting out a soft laugh.
Norimasa nodded and spent the next while carefully explaining more details about her condition and the treatment process.
Before they knew it, Youko slowly closed her eyes.
Before leaving, the doctor gently pulled the covers over her and quietly shut the door.
After that, the woman who was thought to be asleep opened her eyes.
In reality, she was far from as calm and composed as she had appeared in front of her old friend.
She clung to her daughter and this vibrant world, fearing that her illness would take it all away.
She stared blankly at the ceiling for a long time before turning her expressionless face toward the window.
The sunlight was glaring and scorching, and the sky was a brilliant blue.
But she had no idea how many more times she would be able to see this view.
…
Setting aside the bizarre decorations in the bedroom, Kazusa was actually quite satisfied with the hotel her mother had booked for her.
The environment and view were excellent, and the space was generously large.
Of course, what made Kazusa feel both inexplicably embarrassed and just a little bit excited was her mother's not-so-subtle reminder that she and Chisato would be spending the night under the same roof.
Staying in separate rooms of a shared hotel was one thing, but staying in a suite-style apartment with two bedrooms was entirely different.
The closeness it created was incomparable.
After all, aside from their sleeping spaces, the living room, balcony, and bathroom were all shared.
From another perspective, this wasn't much different from a couple living together.
Realizing this, Kazusa spent the entire afternoon feeling somewhat absent-minded.
She obediently followed Chisato around, holding his hand as they wandered through the nearby shopping district.
They ate delicious taiyaki and grilled crab legs, tossed coins into a small roadside shrine to make wishes, and finished off the day by playing crane games at an arcade.
On the way back to the hotel, however, an awkward situation arose.
Unfamiliar with the area, Chisato took a wrong turn and had to follow the map's directions through a small alley to return to the main street.
Though calling it a "small alley" wasn't entirely accurate—
The central path wasn't crowded, and along both sides, shops bathed in dim, atmospheric lighting were in business.
Through transparent glass windows, women dressed in various outfits sat inside, their clientele predominantly male.
There were also stores with many photos of men displayed at the entrance, where blond men in suits handed out flyers to passing women, whether alone or in groups.
By the time Chisato realized what kind of street this was, he was already halfway through, and turning back was no longer an option.
Kazusa, too, gradually pieced together the nature of this district.
She didn't say anything but moved even closer to Chisato, keeping a wary eye on him to see if his gaze wandered somewhere it shouldn't.
Had they simply walked through quietly, everything would have been fine.
But, of course, someone without a lick of awareness had to approach them.
"Hey, handsome, why don't you come in and have some fun? Your friend can sing karaoke downstairs while she waits for you."
A woman in a rather revealing outfit—exposing most of her chest—approached Chisato with a bright smile.
The hell do you mean she can sing karaoke downstairs…?
"Ah, no thanks—hiss—"
Before Chisato could finish rejecting her, a sharp pain shot through his waist, making him suck in a breath.
When he turned his head, Kazusa's face was terrifyingly cold, on the verge of transforming into a demon.
"Get lost!"
She shot a fierce glare at the woman.
It had been a while since delinquent-mode Kazusa had made an appearance, but here she was.
The overly eager woman, clearly intimidated, turned on her high heels and scurried away. Only then did Kazusa's expression gradually soften.
Chisato tried to talk to her along the way, but she only gave curt replies, showing little interest in conversation.
It wasn't until they exited the district that she suddenly asked—
"You were secretly looking at that woman's chest just now, weren't you?"
Chisato was stunned. He turned to see his girlfriend puffing up her cheeks in an unmistakable pout.
Jealous Kazusa.
Her eyes shimmered with a rare mix of vulnerability and insecurity.
So Chisato tightened his grip on her hand and, with utmost seriousness, declared—
"Absolutely not. If I really wanted to look at a chest, I'd just ask you to show me, wouldn't I?"
He had thought this would immediately cheer her up and put her worries to rest.
But instead, Kazusa lowered her head, and beneath the next streetlamp, Chisato saw her eyes waver intensely—along with the deep red of her ears.
"…As long as you know."
Her voice was barely audible.
But the meaning behind it sent a jolt through Chisato's mind.
That meant—
If he wanted to, tonight might actually be…
The thoughtful look on Chisato's face was the final straw that broke Kazusa's composure.
"Idiot…"
She abruptly let go of his hand and quickened her pace, putting distance between them.
Back at the hotel, their interactions felt noticeably different from the daytime.
After Chisato finished showering, Kazusa followed, emerging in fresh, dry casual clothes.
When she stepped out, Chisato, seated on the sofa, smiled and patted the spot beside him, clearly inviting her to sit down.
Kazusa hesitated for a moment before walking over, but instead of sitting, she remained standing in front of him.
"Aren't you going to sleep?"
"It's still not even eight o'clock. Way too early."
As he spoke, Chisato took her hand and gently pulled her down next to him.
Picking up the remote, he turned on the TV.
"Let's watch a movie together. As long as we sleep before ten, it should be fine."
…Just watching a movie?
Realizing his intentions, Kazusa felt somewhat relieved yet oddly disappointed.
Midway through, Chisato pulled Kazusa into his arms.
Feeling his firm torso and the reassuring strength of his embrace, Kazusa soon lost all focus on the movie.
Cautiously, she used her fingers to explore his body, all while sneaking glances at his face to gauge his reactions.
Eventually, Chisato reached his limit.
"Kazusa, if you keep this up, I'm going to bite you."
Seeing his fierce expression, Kazusa's dark eyes glowed with amusement.
"You wouldn't da—mmph…!"
Before she could finish, he pressed down, sealing her lips.
This kiss was different from before—dominant, filled with aggression.
And Kazusa could feel his hands straying where they shouldn't.
I only said you could look, not touch!
"Mmph!"
Using her last shred of self-control, she pushed Chisato away.
Like a startled rabbit, she clutched her chest, eyes brimming with unshed tears.
"I… I'm going to bed!"
With that, she fled the room.
Chisato sat there, staring at his hand, letting out a helpless laugh.
After splashing cold water on his face, he turned off all the lights and went to his room.
That night, Kazusa tossed and turned for a long time, unable to sleep, constantly listening for any movement from outside her door.
But by the time sleep finally overtook her, the contraception she had gripped tightly in her left hand had gone unused.
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50 advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta
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