Chapter 15 – Inori’s Possessiveness

“Hatsuse-kun. Do you know what Tomita-kun likes?”

“…Kazuki?”

Afterwards. Yukimori, who had been lying on top of me like I was her personal mattress, suddenly asked me that.

What a tactless topic for pillow talk. Who brings up another guy or girl at a time like this?

Ah—well, it’s not like Yukimori and I are dating or anything. Our relationship is purely based on an employment contract.

Yukimori is the employer. I’m the employee.

So it’s not really my place to object to whatever she talks about… but still, why do I feel so unsettled?

Trying not to let that irritation show, I tightened my arm just slightly around Yukimori’s body.

“Nngh. Hatsuse-kun, that’s a little tight.”

“Ah, sorry.”

“No, it’s okay.”

Sigh… What the hell is wrong with me? Why am I even feeling like this?

I tried to brush off the weird mood by stroking Yukimori’s hair, and she nuzzled closer like a spoiled cat.

That’s always how she is after… well, after. But, no—focus.

“So, about Kazuki’s favorite things?”

“Yes. It’d really help if you could tell me a few.”

“Let me think…”

I quickly ran through a mental list of things he liked.

Eating. Sleeping. Olging gravure idols (especially curvy ones). Exercising.

When you think about it, the dude’s basically a walking bundle of human instincts. 

He’s practically a caveman.

“Ah, right. He really likes traveling.”

“Traveling?”

“Yeah. Apparently, his dream is to travel the world with just a backpack someday.”

“That’s… quite a grand dream.”

“That’s how much he likes it.”

Well, honestly, that’s all I really know.

Even though I’ve known the guy for a year, I don’t actually know much about his personal life.

“I see… traveling, huh…”

Yukimori absentmindedly traced her finger across my chest, like she was thinking deeply. Hey—stop that. That tickles.

Also… one more thing.

“…You really want to know about Kazuki, don’t you?”

“Huh?”

“Ah—n-no, forget I said anything.”

Crap. What am I even saying? Get a grip, man. This has nothing to do with you.

I didn’t know how to look at Yukimori after that, so I turned my head and covered my face with my hand.

Maybe she noticed something was off, because Yukimori suddenly peeked into my face, looking panicked.

“Y-you’ve got it all wrong! Whatever you’re thinking—it’s not like that!”

“…I’m not thinking anything.”

“Yes you are! But really, it’s not like that at all! I have you, don’t I? There’s no way I’d be interested in another guy!”

…Huh? Did she just say something…like a bombshell?

Before my brain could even process it, Yukimori pressed her chest to my face—like a mother soothing a pouting child.

“There’s… there’s a reason for this, I promise.”

“A reason?”

“U-um, well…”

“Hmph.”

“Aaah! Fine! I’ll tell you, just please don’t sulk!”

…I think I’m finally starting to understand how to handle Yukimori.

“Please don’t tell anyone, okay? If Asuka-chan finds out I was the one who said something, she’ll totally kill me.”

“Toudou?”

Why bring up Toudou here?

As she gently stroked my head, Yukimori started explaining slowly.

“The truth is… Asuka-chan seems to have a crush on Kazuki-kun.”

“…Seriously?”

“Dead serious.”

Oh. So that’s what this is about.

Kazuki and I have been in the same class since first year. But Toudou was in another class, so they never really crossed paths.

Still, now that I think about it, we’ve been seeing more of Toudou lately. So that’s why…

Come to think of it, she did seem unusually conscious of Kazuki’s gaze.

Ah… so that’s it.

“She came to me for advice about how to approach him. Eventually, we decided a present might be a good idea…”

“And that’s why you came to me—since I’m always hanging out with Kazuki?”

“Exactly. So, really, I don’t have any feelings for Tomita-kun, okay?”

“Y-yeah, I got it.”

Yukimori’s presence is intense. And when she hugs tighter like that, her, uh, “chest pressure” also increases.

Also, wasn’t Kazuki the one who admired Yukimori before?

Sorry, Kazuki. You’ve got no chance here, buddy.

“Is there anything else? Like something he collects?”

“Collects… ah, yeah. He’s into silver accessories.”

“Silver accessories? You mean like jewelry made of silver?”

“Yeah. He’s got a little collection. Even the cheap ones can look cool, and he’s really into that kind of thing.”

The reason is simple: because it looks cool.

Totally Kazuki logic.

But hey, silver accessories are affordable even on a high school budget, and there are tons of variations and collabs out there.

A trip might be overkill for someone not even dating him yet, but a silver accessory? That’s doable for Toudou.

“Thank you so much! I have to tell Asuka-chan right away…!”

“Hold up.”

As Yukimori reached for her phone, I gently caught her hand and interlaced our fingers.

Surprised, she looked up at me, eyes wide.

“Hatsuse-kun, what are you—ah. You’re… getting bigger…”

“Sorry, Yukimori. That ‘boob press’ brought me back to life.”

Also… maybe a little jealousy.

Yukimori was talking about Kazuki. That ugly possessiveness, that surge of jealousy—fueled something inside me.

Maybe back when she first heard from Toudou about Kazuki… she felt the same way.

Toudou likes Kazuki.

The moment she witnessed someone being in love with someone else… maybe 

Yukimori’s own desire to be loved erupted.

Now that I think about it—that’s probably what really happened.

Not that she realizes it.

Yukimori gave me a seductive smile and slowly lifted her hips.

“But this is a first, you know. You’ve never been the one to come onto me before, Hatsuse-kun.”

“…Yeah, maybe. Sorry… just a lowly employee getting ahead of himself—”

“No, it’s fine. I’m happy, actually. That you want me… oh no, now my own need to love is about to overflow…!”

I could feel the heat rising from Yukimori’s body.

And so, until our desires were fully sated—

Yukimori and I reached for each other again.

Again.

And again.

And again.