Eriri's figure was slender and petite, leaning toward the skinny side. Yet, the sensation Kanade felt from her thighs was anything but bony. On the contrary, the area where his head rested was warm, soft, and incredibly comfortable—like sinking into a plush cushion of clouds.
In short, it felt amazing.
Kanade couldn't help but shift slightly, adjusting to find the most comfortable position on her lap.
"..."
"I-I'm doing this for the first time… Is it uncomfortable?"
Eriri's voice was uncertain, her movements stiff. Even though she'd been the one to offer the lap pillow, she now seemed completely at a loss for what to do. Her hands hovered awkwardly, unsure where to place themselves, and her face was riddled with nervousness.
This is bad. This is so bad!
She'd acted on impulse! She hadn't even stopped to think if Kanade would be okay with it.
And now that they were here, she had no idea what came next. Should she massage his temples? Would rubbing his shoulders be better? But she wasn't confident in doing either!
Does that mean I should just… stay still like this?
Eriri let out a small groan. She suddenly felt the weight of her lack of skills. If she had known this day would come, she would've learned more homemaking skills from her mother.
Of course, it was far too late for regrets now. She needed to figure out what to do next. Would Kanade get mad at her for being so pushy? Would he think she was a frivolous girl?
But I really am doing this for the first time!
Even without hearing Kanade's thoughts, Eriri's self-doubt spiraled.
It couldn't be helped—she was terribly insecure, especially after learning how many capable and attractive rivals she had. Those other girls were beautiful, well-endowed, and sweet. (Well, except for that fat woman!) Compared to them, what chance did she stand?
I can't compete at all!
That's why she had to take the initiative. She had to be bold, to show her feelings through action…
"Do… do you want me to massage you, Kanade?" she finally managed to ask.
"Hmm… Sure, thanks, Eriri," Kanade replied instinctively. Then, realizing his head was resting on her lap, he stopped himself from nodding.
"O-okay… I'll start now," Eriri stammered, her cheeks flushed.
Whoever said lap pillows brought you closer to the person you liked is a liar! Kanade doesn't seem affected at all!
Meanwhile, her own heart was racing wildly. Even the smallest of Kanade's movements sent heat coursing through her body. Their point of contact seemed to grow warmer by the second, making her mind swirl with dangerous thoughts…
What if I… just gave him a little peck?
The idea was crazy, and she knew it. But once it entered her mind, she couldn't shake it.
To make matters worse—or perhaps better—her clumsy attempts at a massage seemed to work surprisingly well. Kanade visibly relaxed, even closing his eyes in contentment.
He's totally oblivious to my movements… This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance!
Eriri's heart pounded like a war drum. She felt as though a wild boar had taken up residence inside her chest, urging her on.
"Go for it, Eriri! Pride doesn't matter—what's important is the man! Charge forward, you fool!"
Unable to silence the chaotic thoughts, she decided to listen to them. After all, Kanade was a kind and understanding person. Surely, he'd forgive her impulsive actions, right?
I just have to make it look accidental, she reasoned.
If he thought it was a mistake, she could act shy but not resistant. Maybe, just maybe, that would prompt Kanade to take the lead…
But her thoughts took a sharp turn as she remembered some gossip she'd overheard recently—stories about couples sneaking off to private spots during the Test of Courage, only to be caught by lost passersby.
Should we find somewhere more secluded?
As her imagination ran wild, Eriri's head grew hotter and hotter. She felt like a cartoon character with steam pouring out of her ears.
What am I even thinking?! This is too shameless!
Things like this should only happen after we're officially a couple! There's an order to these things! This isn't the fantasy world from one of my doujins!
"..."
"Are you done, Eriri?" Kanade's voice broke through her spiraling thoughts. When she stopped moving, he assumed she was tired and tried to alleviate her worry. "If you're exhausted, don't push yourself."
After all, he understood that Eriri wasn't exactly physically strong.
Of course, the reality of the situation was far beyond Kanade's understanding.
"N-no! I wasn't thinking about anything!" Eriri exclaimed, her voice louder than necessary.
Great. Now you sound even more suspicious, she scolded herself internally.
"...Huh?" Kanade blinked, utterly confused.
"Ah! I mean, nothing's wrong! Don't mind me!" Eriri quickly backtracked, flustered.
"I-I'll just massage your eyes instead! You've been working so hard; they must be strained, right? Now close your eyes!" she ordered suddenly, trying to regain control of the situation.
"Uh… okay." Kanade complied, though he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
Eriri's frantic behavior was far too easy to read.
Was she planning something?
Kanade didn't suspect her of any malice—Eriri wasn't the type to pull pranks. But her current demeanor made him wonder if she was hiding something…
Still, he shrugged it off.
What's the worst she could be planning, given her personality? Nothing dangerous, that's for sure.