Seeing Yukinoshita Yukino pretending to be indifferent but subtly slowing her pace, Nozomi adjusted his own steps to match hers.
After a brief moment of thought, he spoke leisurely, a teasing smile on his lips.
"Yukino, you're really cute."
Yukinoshita Yukino's cheeks instantly burned, and she shot him a sharp glare.
"What nonsense are you spouting? Sexual harassment?!"
She folded her arms tightly, as if shielding herself from his words, then quickly added, "Weren't you supposed to be telling me about yourself?"
Flustered, she took out her phone, holding it up in an exaggerated manner, her expression practically screaming, "Say one more weird thing and I'll call the police."
Nozomi chuckled at her antics.
"Didn't you just say you didn't want to hear it, Yukinoshita?" He tilted his head playfully before continuing, "Besides, even if I don't say anything now, you'll eventually come to understand me. After all, we have plenty of time to spend together… don't we?"
"Wh-What are you saying? Who would want to spend time with you?! You have no shame!"
Yukino's face turned even redder, and her flustered state was obvious.
"And another thing—who gave you permission to call me by my name so casually?"
"Hmm? I can't?"
"Of course not!"
"Okay, okay." Nozomi sighed dramatically, feigning disappointment.
Silence settled between them again.
Yukino bit her lip, feeling a bit dejected. She wasn't good at keeping conversations going. If it were her older sister, the conversation would flow effortlessly, filled with laughter and charm. She couldn't help but steal a glance at Nozomi's face, unease creeping into her heart.
Was he bored?
No words were exchanged as they continued walking. Eventually, they reached the train platform just as the train arrived.
Suddenly, Nozomi reached out and gently took her hand.
"Yukino, send me a message when you get home."
Before she could even react, he let go and waved her off with a casual smile.
Yukino stood frozen as the train doors closed behind her. She stared at her hand—the same one he had just held—her heart thudding in her chest.
Something inside her softened.
Her face grew even redder, and she muttered under her breath,
"Baka..."
========================
Once she got home, Yukino sat on the sofa, her mind still a jumbled mess. She glanced at her phone, hesitating.
Should she send him a message?
That idiot… Why does he act like he actually likes me?
Her gaze darkened slightly.
And… at the end of this month, I'm supposed to be engaged to him...
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard for a moment before she typed a message.
Yukinoshita Yukino: "I'm home."
Nozomi: "I'm home too. Get some rest. And remember our bet—I'm going to kiss you!"
Yukino immediately narrowed her eyes. Her fingers moved swiftly across the screen.
Yukinoshita Yukino: "Hello, police? Yes, this guy is sexually harassing me."
She sent the message with a triumphant smirk, satisfied that this would shut him up.
Nozomi: "Nooo, President, have mercy on me!"
Yukino put her phone down, then abruptly dashed to her room. Grabbing her panda plushie, she buried her face into it and rolled across the bed in frustration.
Ugh! What is wrong with me?!
Normally, she would ignore teasing messages like that. Or even block the person outright.
But with him… she actually replied…
Does that mean… she felt compelled to respond to him?
======================
An hour later, freshly showered and in her pajamas, Yukino picked up her phone again.
A new message had arrived.
Nozomi: "Sumireko told me everything."
Yukinoshita Yukino: "???"
Her eyebrows furrowed. What was he talking about?
Nozomi: "Do you want me to help rub it?"
Yukino blinked.
Rubbing…?
Her eyes slowly trailed downward.
Realization struck like lightning.
Her face turned beet red, and her body trembled with fury.
Hozuki Nozomi, you absolute degenerate!!
With a sharp inhale, she immediately blocked him.
But after a few minutes… she unblocked him again.
Yukinoshita Yukino: "If you even think of trying something, I will destroy your tools!"
Somewhere, Nozomi smirked as he read the message.
This reaction… it was exactly what he expected.
But Yukino, on the other hand, was fuming.
She clenched her phone tightly, thoughts spiraling as images of Nozomi with Shiina Mahiru and Sanshokuin Sumireko surfaced in her mind.
Has he already made a move on them…?
Just as she was about to explode, another message popped up.
Yukinoshita Yukino originally wanted to ignore it, but her traitorous eyes betrayed her. Despite herself, she glanced at the phone screen.
Nozomi: "You know I have some special abilities, right?"
Nozomi: "Sumireko told me you sprained your foot today, so I asked the Kaichou if I could help massage it and treat it. Why did you block me?"
Yukinoshita Yukino pouted. This guy really knows how to make excuses.
She simply ignored the message. There was no way she would let this pervert touch her! Even if they were engaged, that didn't mean she had to let him do whatever he wanted!
Or so she kept telling herself...
But her conviction wavered. Having accepted the engagement as inevitable, Yukino couldn't fully understand her own emotions. The real issue wasn't Nozomi's teasing—it was that she cared far too much about how she measured up to other girls. The thought that she might be losing made her uncomfortable.
========================
At Sakurasou.
Sanshokuin Sumireko glanced at the message Nozomi had just sent to Yukino. Her golden eyes widened before she smirked and gave him a thumbs up.
"You really have no shame. I respect that."
"So, Sumireko, do me a favor and confirm it for her tomorrow, okay?"
"Hmph! Maybe I will, maybe I won't!" Sumireko turned her head, crossing her arms. Her lips pursed slightly as she shot him a jealous glare. This bastard... using me to tease Yukino? How underhanded.
Shameless.
Nozomi only chuckled at her reaction. Without warning, he pulled her into an embrace.
"Hey, what are you—!" Before she could finish, he leaned in and captured her lips.
Sumireko's eyes widened for a brief moment before she melted into the kiss. Her delicate arms hesitated but soon wrapped around his neck.
She was easy to coax.
After a while, Nozomi walked Sumireko home before returning to Sakurasou. But before he could even settle down, Kamiigusa Misaki grabbed his hand and dragged him toward the third floor.
"Hey, kouhai! Let's check out Kashiwagi Eri's latest works!"
"Oh? What's it about?"
"Tons of big-breasted magical girls!" Misaki's eyes sparkled with excitement as she enthusiastically gestured. Then, she paused and examined herself. "Hmm... do I measure up?"
She cupped her own chest, making a serious comparison.
After a long moment, she concluded, "Eri's proportions are totally exaggerated! Magical girls shouldn't look like that."
Nozomi's expression turned weird. If it's so unrealistic, why are you comparing?
He sighed. "By the way, isn't Kashiwagi Eri just Eriri?"
Misaki nodded without thinking. Meanwhile, Nozomi mulled over something. Come to think of it, isn't Eriri about the same size as Yukinoshita Yukino?
Misaki, oblivious to his thoughts, continued fussing over her figure. At some point, Nozomi's patience snapped.
Before she could react, he lifted her up and pressed her against the wall.
"H-Hey—!" She let out a muffled squeak as his lips claimed hers.
Kamiigusa Misaki put up a symbolic struggle, her soft fists weakly thumping against him. But her face turned a deep crimson, and soon enough, she surrendered, responding shyly.
Nozomi's hands roamed over her body, his fingers tracing the curve of her waist before finding their way to her supple breasts. He cupped them gently, his thumbs brushing against her hardened nipples, which pebbled under his touch.
Misaki's moan mingled with Nozomi's, her body arching into his touch. Her resistance crumbled, and she responded to his kiss with a shy eagerness. Her fingers threaded through his hair, pulling him closer as their tongues danced, their passion igniting with each stroke.
Nozomi broke the kiss, his breath hot against her ear, "I want to feel you wrapped around me," he whispered, his voice thick with desire. His hands slid under her skirt, his fingers gliding up her inner thighs, teasing her before settling on the damp fabric of her panties.
Misaki's eyes fluttered shut, a tremor running through her body. The heat between her legs intensified, the wetness growing as Nozomi's fingers traced languid circles against her through the thin fabric.
Nozomi's lips traveled down her neck, his tongue tracing a heated path as he moved lower. Misaki's back arched, her head falling back, giving him full access to her exposed throat.
His mouth found her breasts, his lips capturing a hardened nipple as he suckled it, his hand sliding under her panties, his fingers dipping into her wet heat. Misaki's body jerked, her fingers gripping his hair tighter, her breath hitching at the sensation of his touch.
He pumped his fingers in and out of her, his thumb rubbing against her clit in a circular motion. Her moans grew louder, her body quivering under his skilled touch. Her hips began to move in unison with his hand, the rhythm of their foreplay building.
Nozomi's other hand moved up, his fingers intertwining with hers, their fingers entwined as they both rode the wave of their passion. The room was filled with the sound of their heavy breathing and wet, wanton moans.
As Misaki approached her climax, her body tightened, her fingers digging into Nozomi's scalp. He could feel her impending release, and he quickened his pace, pushing her over the edge.
Misaki's body tensed, her orgasm washing over her, her release a tidal wave of ecstasy. Her cry filled the room, her body trembling, as she clung to Nozomi, her limbs weak.
Nozomi's own arousal reached its peak, the scent of her arousal and the sight of her pleasure driving him wild. He slipped a finger inside her, feeling how slick she was from their encounter.
With a swift movement, he freed himself from his pants, his manhood standing erect, demanding entry. He positioned himself at her entrance, his eyes locked with hers, a silent question.
Misaki's eyes fluttered open, her cheeks still flushed, her gaze filled with desire. She nodded, giving her silent consent. Nozomi pushed into her, their bodies joining, the sensation of their coupling a mixture of pleasure and pain.
He began to move, his thrusts slow at first, then growing in speed and intensity. The room filled with the wet, slapping sounds of their lovemaking, their moans mingling as they lost themselves in each other's embrace.
Nozomi's hands roamed her body, his fingers tracing the curve of her waist, her hips, before finding her breasts once more. His thumbs teased her nipples, the sensation sending shivers down her spine.
Their bodies moved in harmony, driven by their shared desire. The air crackled with electricity, the passion between them a living, breathing force.
Nozomi's thrusts grew more frantic, his release imminent. His moans grew louder, his body tensing. He cried out, his orgasm overwhelming, his seed filling Misaki with each powerful thrust.
Their bodies, spent, shuddered and quaked as they clung to one another. Their hearts continued to beat in unison, their fates now forever entwined by the raw power of their passion.
Dinner that night was still served to her by Nozomi.
The senpai was exhausted and couldn't even get out of bed.
=======================
Later, the doorbell rang.
Ogiwara Sayu, who was closest to the door, opened it. Her eyes widened slightly as she took in the sight of the elegant woman standing outside.
A strikingly beautiful lady, dressed in a stylish suit, gazed at her with cold, imposing eyes. She had the air of a queen—refined yet intimidating.
The woman glanced around briefly before asking in a calm but sharp tone, "Is this Sakurasou?"
Sayu nodded hesitantly. "Yes… um, can I help you?"
The woman studied Sayu for a moment before continuing, "I'm Mai's mother. I'm here to see a boy named Hozuki Nozomi. Call him out."
Sayu's expression turned puzzled, but she still went to find him.
Moments later, Nozomi appeared, taking in the sight of the elegant but frosty woman. His lips curled into a smirk.
"I'm Hozuki Nozomi. I heard you were looking for me?"
He didn't add an honorific. No respect. No flattery.
The woman's cold eyes narrowed slightly at his casual attitude. Clearly, she wasn't used to being spoken to this way.
"Come with me. We need to talk about Mai."
"Sure."
He gave Sayu a reassuring glance before following the imposing woman outside.
They walked until they reached a quiet, open area. Once there, she turned around, crossing her arms as she regarded him with sharp, assessing eyes.
"Time is precious, so I won't waste words."
Her tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.
"I don't care what kind of relationship you have with Mai, but you will cut off all contact with her immediately. I won't have you interfering with her acting career."
Nozomi raised an eyebrow. "Damn, you don't hold back, huh?"
He placed a hand on his chin, considering her words. Then, he flashed a cheeky grin.
"But, uh, Auntie… have you even asked Mai what she wants?"