"This one melted a little. You two take a new one."
Ryo got off the bed, finished her chocolate stick, and handed the wrapper to Ikuyo.
"Ah… so embarrassing…"
Ikuyo covered her face with both hands and murmured in a weak voice.
In the end, it was Chisato who proactively pulled out a new chocolate stick.
He didn't have any complicated thoughts about it—this was just a game. Since he'd joined, he would follow the rules.
Besides, he had no intention of taking advantage of Ikuyo.
He'd already decided: if she clearly didn't want to continue during the game, he'd loosen his grip at the right moment and let her win. He'd make sure their lips didn't actually touch.
Not to mention, little Hitori-chan was watching from the side—he couldn't let her get hurt.
Chisato harbored no unspeakable or dark intentions. His natural, clean-cut actions reflected that, and the chocolate stick was already in his hand.
"Just so you know—I'm not going easy on you."
Trying to lift the mood on the first night of their vacation, Chisato gave a bright smile and stood in front of Ikuyo as he said that.
"Ah… mm…"
Ikuyo averted her gaze, mumbling her response.
Chisato's upbeat attitude unexpectedly triggered a whirlwind of emotions in the already overheated mind of Ikuyo.
He's so eager…
Is he expecting this, just like I am…?
But Bocchi-chan is right here…
Even though that's what she thought, the guilty, dangerous thrill in her heart only intensified.
Doing this kind of thing in front of her best friend… with her boyfriend… Can that really be forgiven?
"Let's begin then."
The King—Ryo—gave the order, secretly pulling out her phone to start filming.
She had a feeling things were about to get very exciting.
Chisato held the chocolate stick between his lips and took a step forward toward Ikuyo.
Timidly, Ikuyo bit the other end of the chocolate stick. As her eyes met Chisato's—eyes like starry skies—she felt a sudden jolt of electricity shoot through her heart.
She froze, her senses dulling, and even the movements of her surroundings slowed, as if everything had switched to slow motion like in a movie.
She couldn't hear Ryo's exaggerated gasps of excitement, nor see Hitori's slightly worried and blushing face.
At that moment, all her attention and vision were focused solely on the boy in front of her.
She was paralyzed, as if struck.
She had always thought the dramatic inner monologues and radiant backgrounds in shoujo manga during romantic encounters were exaggerated artistic techniques.
But now, she realized they weren't exaggerations at all.
This kind of thing really does happen in real life.
After love at first sight comes the second, then the third…
How could a boy be this good-looking?
His features were perfect, posture upright. Just by standing there quietly, he could make flowers bloom in the heart, one after another, blooming only for him.
But the eye contact didn't last long.
Seeing Ikuyo frozen in place, Chisato assumed she was simply too shy to act. So he leaned forward and took a bite of the chocolate stick.
The reduced distance made Ikuyo's heart pound even harder and her face flush bright red.
She immediately let go, backing up several steps in a flurry of panic, utterly defeated.
The sudden end of the match left Chisato momentarily stunned.
Ryo let out a sigh of disappointment and put down her phone, no longer interested in filming.
That wasn't interesting at all.
"S-Sorry… I lost…"
Ikuyo lowered her head awkwardly and returned to Nijika's side, burying her face in her friend's arms.
"There, there, you did your best."
Like petting a cat or dog, Nijika gently stroked her friend's head.
To be honest, she felt a huge wave of relief. She was glad what she feared hadn't happened.
Hic… youth sure is something…
Seika leaned against the headboard and poured the remaining wine into her glass.
"Well then, the loser must take the punishment: answer a truth question!"
Ryo returned to her seat and passed judgment.
"Okay…"
"Then please answer… Ikuyo-chan, what color is your underwear today?"
"Pi—wait, huh?! Mmm!!"
Ikuyo raised her head in a flash, eyes brimming with tears that looked like they might fall at any moment. She glared at Ryo, both furious and mortified.
"Don't bully Ikuyo-chan, you idiot!"
Nijika immediately pounced on Ryo and pinched her cheeks.
"Mm… what's the big deal? It's just a game. It's not like there are any outsiders here."
"And what do you think a girl's delicate heart is, huh?!"
"Hey, don't kick over my wine!"
"..."
Chisato watched the chaos erupting on the bed and gave a silent smile.
The heater was turned up high in the room, and as the game continued, everyone began shedding their jackets.
Seika, who had been unusually quiet during dinner—resting her chin in her hand with a serene smile while watching the others talk and play around—gradually brightened up under the influence of alcohol and the cheerful atmosphere.
She eventually joined in, laughing at times, swaying side to side, occasionally bumping into Chisato. The soft sensation and mature fragrance brushed against him again and again.
But Chisato's mind was already halfway elsewhere.
During a pause in the game for a new round of drawing cards, he took out his phone to check the time.
It was just past 8 PM.
The latest message from Eriri had arrived about twenty minutes ago.
She said she and Utaha were almost at the hotel, but since the mountain roads were hard to see at night, it would likely take another thirty minutes or so.
The message he had sent ten minutes ago asking for an update still showed as unread.
He put his phone down and looked out the window.
The snow, which had started falling since dusk, was growing heavier and heavier.
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50 advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta
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