Chapter 21

Today was Saturday. 

To recover from the torrent of past exhausting days, Kazuhiko indulged in a long sleep. Even after waking, happiness was found in dozing off inside the futon. He wished the entire world could just be contained within the futon.

Kazuhiko, tired from the recent events, found himself thinking such a thing. But the carnivorous plant would not allow it.

Kachari— The door to his room silently opened. It closed quietly, and a figure approached with the footsteps of a cat.

Kazuhiko, half-asleep, didn’t notice.

She quietly pulled back his futon and slipped right in. When the futon was opened, the scent of his body, trapped inside, made her experience a Flehmann response with an “Oohoo ♡,” but she barely managed to stifle the sound.

“Ah, Kazu-kuun~…”

She let out a sweet voice, pressing her voluptuous body against Kazuhiko as she hugged him.

“Sunsun, suu—, haa—, it feels so good! ♡”

What exactly felt good? That must be a maiden’s secret. A maiden—a pervert?

“Nn…”

She began to rub her body against Kazuhiko.

“U, uuhnn…”

Kazuhiko, in his dream-like state, dreamed of being entangled by mistletoe, gradually being squeezed tighter. And the mistletoe took the form of Reika.

—Gyaah, help me… 

“Nn, ehh!?”

Kazuhiko woke up with wide eyes and cried out.

“Good morning, Kazu-kun, it’s a lovely morning.”

Reika was gazing at him with her sharp eyes. It was completely a horror show, thank you very much.

“Is that so? I don’t think so.” 

“Oh? Then shall we make it a decadent morning?”

Reika reached for her shirt buttons.

“Wait, stop, please forgive me!”

A waking-up climax instead of a waking-up surprise was too much.

“Besides, how did you get in?” 

“Oh, that’s simple. mom-san allowed it, of course. And I got your dad-san’s permission, too. They both went out shopping.” 

“My parents’ consideration is killing me!”

—And wait, she’s already won over Dad, too…?

This was the parasitic plant showing its true colors. She had not only invaded him but had already infiltrated the very soil of his household.

“So, you see? If Kazu-kun still wants to sleep, you can sleep with me. I can even be your body pillow, and if you’d prefer me naked—” 

“I’m fine, thank you!” 

“Oh, you’re so mean…”

When Kazuhiko pushed Reika away, she looked genuinely disappointed. He couldn’t deny feeling it was a waste himself, but the plump teacher in his brain was saying, If you succumb to desire, your life is decided right there.

Kazuhiko thought, Oh, for goodness’ sake… and decided to get dressed. Then.

“Jiiiii…” (Staring intently) 

“Um, could you either face the other way or leave the room?” 

“Don’t mind me.” 

“I do mind!” 

“Oh? Even though you looked at me in my underwear?” 

“…” 

“If you want to see mine in exchange for not looking at yours, I wouldn’t be averse.”

She reached for her shirt.

“No! It’s fine! Just turn around obediently!”

“If I must.” 

“It’s not that you ‘mustn’t’…”

As a man, he didn’t really care if his underwear was seen, but he was afraid of being exposed to Reika’s gaze. It felt exactly like being sexually harassed by her eyes…

Kazuhiko finished changing. She was standing facing the back, in perfect posture.

—Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I saw her in casual clothes.

Kazuhiko thought. They had drifted apart after the upper grades of elementary school, but she wore casual clothes for school then. So, it must be since he entered middle school.

—She’s certainly grown.

She was wearing a shirt and a skirt that didn’t quite fit her image, and her hips were uncharacteristically large and voluminous for a high school student.

Recalling how she sat on his lap with that butt and rubbed against his hardened member, a strange feeling came over him. He realized he had been staring for too long.

“Are you satisfied?” her voice asked.

“Huh?” 

“Did you enjoy intently checking out my rear? If you’re not satisfied, I can lift my skirt.” 

“…No, thank you.” 

“You hesitated just now. If you’re going to look at photos later, wouldn’t it be better to look at the real thing? By the way, today’s color is pink.” 

“Kuuh…”

He wanted to see it. But if he gave in now, he would be playing her game indefinitely.

“Why…?” Kazuhiko asked.

“What do you mean?” she replied, still facing away.

“Ah, you can turn around now.” 

“Then, I’ll get right to it.” 

“I didn’t say you could hug me.” 

“Too bad.” 

“And you won’t leave, will you?” 

“No, because I love you.” 

“…”

Since Reika didn’t seem like she would let go, Kazuhiko put his arms around her waist, pulled her closer, and sat down on the bed with her.

“Oh, you’re not going to push me down?” 

“Do you think I have the guts and the resolve for that?” 

“Not yet, no.”

Saying that, Reika rested her head on Kazuhiko’s shoulder.

“So? What is it? Weren’t you going to ask something?” 

“Oh, right…”

The feeling of her leaning on him was comforting, and Kazuhiko was momentarily dazed.

“…Um, why do you like me so much? I’m not that great of a guy.” 

“You are a great guy to me. When I think of Kazu-kun, the pit of my stomach gets a tight, irresistible feeling.”

—Isn’t that just lust, not love? Kazuhiko was suspicious. But Reika continued earnestly.

“You’re the only person who makes me feel like that. That’s why I only want you, Kazu-kun.”

Reika rubbed her head against Kazuhiko’s shoulder affectionately. Kazuhiko felt a little embarrassed but also inexplicably comfortable.

“This is comfortable, you know.”

Hearing her say the same thing he felt, Kazuhiko’s heart gave a little jump. Since he was usually attacked erotically and intensely, this kind of behavior felt sweet and ticklish. However,

—Rei-chan feels the same way…

The thought made him happy.

“It’s been like this since we were little. Being with Kazu-kun felt comfortable, and I fell in love… I’ve only ever watched you, Kazu-kun.” 

“I-is that so… But we’ve been apart for a long time, right?” 

“…True. I was fine being apart, clinging to a baseless confidence that Kazu-kun would eventually come back to me. But I realized that wasn’t right, and once I thought that, I couldn’t stand it anymore.” 

“And the method you used was a hypnosis app…?”

Why did it come to that?

“Yes, it was Moeka’s idea.”

—What? The saintly Moeka-san’s idea?! …Could it be that birds of a feather flock together?

Kazuhiko nearly rolled his eyes back.

“And I went along with it and tried it on Kazu-kun. I didn’t think it would work, but I never expected Kazu-kun to react like that… Hehe, it was convenient! ♡”

I see, I see. Kazuhiko’s eyes became distant. It must have been perfect for securing the outer defenses. However, if that was the case—

“What would you have done if the hypnosis hadn’t worked?” 

“I would have bulldozed my way through.” 

“I see, bulldozing…” 

“Yes. I would have hugged you, who wasn’t hypnotized, licked your ear, whispered, and insisted you were hypnotized. I would have taken photos and threatened to spread the word that you had hypnotized me.”

Either way, training him seemed to have been a foregone conclusion.

—In that case, I probably would have pretended to be hypnotized anyway… She knows my personality well.

In other words, there was no escape route. But did she want him that much? The comfortable feeling of being with him…

Thinking that, Kazuhiko’s face flushed hot, and embarrassment welled up.

“Do you really love me that much…” 

“Yes, I love you, I adore you, I cherish you, Kazu-kun…”

He looked at Reika, and she was gazing at him with moist eyes. Her plump lips caught his attention, and she closed her eyes, pouting her lips towards him.

—Ugh…

Kazuhiko felt like he wasn’t himself anymore. Drawn to her moist lips, he leaned his face in and pressed his lips to hers. She had done it to him many times, but this was Kazuhiko’s first kiss to her.

“Hehe, I’m so happy, Kazu-kun.”

She was truly happy, her cheeks flushed, which Kazuhiko thought was truly unfair.

—Oh, I…

He had to admit it.

—I love Rei-chan.

“Kazu-kuun…”

Feeling the weight of her head resting sweetly on his shoulder, Kazuhiko finally savored the feelings he had just realized.

TL: that was fast. we’re only like 20 chaps in.