Vol. 2 Chapter 29 – New Skill ‘Lover’s Kiss’

Is… Is now the time…?

At this sudden opportunity, my heart began pounding loudly again. Thump-thump.

“Why, you ask… It was like my body just moved on its own before I knew it…” (Reiya)
“Even though you were working? For me?” (Hikaru)

Personally, I had intended to convey my maximum feelings upon the completion of that.

But after she set the stage for me like this, trying to dodge it now would be truly unmanly.

It’s time to graduate from being the kind of procrastinating loser who always relies on temporary crutches.

“That’s because, well, I… Hikaru…” (Reiya)
“You…?” (Hikaru)
“I li—” (Reiya)

The moment I tried to put my feelings into words and tell her—

“Get outta my way! I’ll kill— BOOM!”

On the screen, Beretta, Hikaru’s favorite character, was crushed to death under the enemy’s giant body.

The seductive atmosphere vanished instantly, replaced by Hikaru staring at the tablet with an expression like it was the end of the world.

My once-in-a-lifetime confession vanished into the void along with Beretta’s life.

Before us stunned onlookers, the protagonist also met a spectacular end.

And so, the story concluded with an incredibly bitter ending where only the heroine survived.

Well, it is a villain-centric story (noir) and a prequel to the main game, so I kind of expected it would turn out like this.

But couldn’t the timing have been a little better…?

Thanks to that, the mood I’d carefully built was completely ruined.

Hikaru was still staring fixedly at the screen, trembling with anger or some other unidentifiable emotion.

“That enemy guy from earlier… does he appear in the main game too…?” (Hikaru)
“Eh? Ah, uh… yeah, he does, but…” (Reiya)
“Then, I have to avenge Beretta… avenge everyone…!” (Hikaru)

Hikaru started to get up, intending to head towards the computer where the OS installation had finished.

I understood that feeling painfully well, believe me.

If I were allowed, I’d want to immediately go rip that full-cyborg, rampaging muscle-head to shreds with Mantis Blades and blow his brains out with a shotgun too.

But—

“Wait…!” (Reiya)

I grabbed Hikaru’s arm, stopping her.

If I let this chance slip away, I knew I’d find some excuse to put it off again.

I have to become a man worthy of her.

To counter her all-out offensive, I had no choice but to go all-out offensive myself, with no guard up.

“We haven’t finished talking yet…” (Reiya)

At my words, she sank back down onto the bed with a thump.

Once more, this time calmly, she gazed intently at my face.

“Um… where should I start… First, I think the trigger was when I passed by the tennis courts on my way home from my part-time job during the third term of our first year. The girl I’d only heard rumors about was there on the court, and she was so beautiful… and incredibly cool. That was the moment I first became aware of you, Hikaru.” (Reiya)

Hikaru listened to my words in silence.

“But, like I told you before… back then, you really seemed like someone from a different world than the one I lived in… I just assumed you were someone I’d never get involved with. So, when you spoke to me on the bus that day, I was genuinely surprised… I even wondered if I was dreaming. Still, as we spent time together, I learned all sorts of things, like ‘Oh, she laughs at times like this…’ or ‘She worries about things just like me…’ and as I got to know these different sides of you, a certain feeling grew stronger and stronger…” (Reiya)

Once again, her hand covered mine.

“So, that time… the reason I went to you was because I couldn’t hold back that feeling anymore… In other words…” (Reiya)

As if sharing her courage, her hand squeezed mine tightly.

“…I wanted to help you because I like you.” (Reiya)

I confessed in a voice barely above a whisper, filled with all the courage and emotion I could muster.

“I couldn’t hear you properly, say it again…?” (Hikaru)

…She’s tough.

“I like you… and knowing the girl I like was suffering, I couldn’t just stand by, so I went to you that day. That’s the answer to your question from earlier…” (Reiya)
“Heeh~… Is that so…? You liked me that much, Reiya…!” (Hikaru)

The somber mood shifted instantly as she spoke with a teasing, mischievous grin.

“Apparently so. Did you maybe… not realize…?” (Reiya)
“Hmm, I wonder… But I kind of had a feeling, maybe…” (Hikaru)

Seizing the opportunity, she teased me playfully.

“By the way, did you realize how I felt?” (Hikaru)
“That much I think I realized.” (Reiya)
“Why?” (Hikaru)
“You’d already told me multiple times.” (Reiya)
“Hmm… Well then, to make it even, you’ll have to say it the same number of times now.” (Hikaru)
“…Is that how this works?” (Reiya)
“That’s how it works! Come on, say it?” (Hikaru)

Damn it.

I thought I was the one attacking, but as expected, I don’t stand a chance against her.

I always find myself on the defensive before I know it.

“I like you.” (Reiya)

Looking at her face, I uttered the words of surrender.

“More.” (Hikaru)
“I like you, like you, like you.” (Reiya)
“Still nowhere near enough.” (Hikaru)
“Kageyama Reiya likes Asahi Hikaru so much it’s hopeless, likes her likes her loves her, and presumptuously wants to be in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship with her.” (Reiya)

Driven to desperation, I confessed with words that couldn’t possibly be surpassed.

My face felt hot enough to burn, and I couldn’t tell if it was from embarrassment or excitement.

But I strongly felt that putting it into words had definitely been worth it.

“Okay! I love Kageyama Reiya too!” (Hikaru)

Hikaru beamed, throwing her entire body against me, responding with both words and actions.

“That makes me really happy, but… don’t you need to avenge Beretta?” (Reiya)

I said, looking at the computer where the OS installation had finished, trying to hide my blush.

“Hmm… I can do that after you leave, Reiya. More importantly, does this mean we’re officially a couple now?” (Hikaru)
“If you have no objections, Hikaru, then I think we are…” (Reiya)
“Then we’re a couple.” (Hikaru)

More easily than I expected, we officially became a couple.

“But I feel like not much has changed from before, you know?” (Reiya)
“You think so?” (Hikaru)
“I mean, is there anything that would change…?” (Reiya)

We’d already kissed plenty, and spent a night or two in the same room.

While verbalizing it was important, I felt the relationship itself hadn’t changed much.

…Or so my lack of understanding led me to believe, as I was immediately proven wrong.

“Well, you know… things you can only do when you’re a couple are unlocked now… maybe…” (Hikaru)

Her upward glance and the sweet tone laced in her words made my heart thump loudly. Dokun.

“Th-Things you can only do as a couple…?” (Reiya)
“It’s embarrassing, so I don’t really want to say it myself, but…” (Hikaru)

Her face bright red, Hikaru averted her gaze.

“But I still don’t have a clue…” (Reiya)
“Ugh~… Well, for example… kissing on the lips…” (Hikaru)
“I see… True, we haven’t done that yet… So, that’s unlocked now…” (Reiya)
“Yeah, it’s finally unlocked…” (Hikaru)

She said it like a new skill had been unlocked.

For a while, silence ensued, filled only by the faint whirring sound of the water cooling system.

Yet, during that time, I felt the heat of desire rising between us.

“Th-Then… should we try it…? Since it’s unlocked, as a commemoration… maybe…” (Reiya)

Steeling my resolve, I asked, and she gave a small nod.

I put down the tablet I held in my left hand and faced her properly, head-on.

Hikaru lifted her chin slightly and closed her eyes.

…Okay, I said it, but what do I actually do?

In my mind, I recalled the countless kiss scenes from the myriad works of fiction I’d encountered.

Bring our faces closer… right, tilt slightly so our noses don’t bump…

Crap, now my breathing’s getting heavy… I don’t want her to think I’m creepy…

Going in too fast and bumping teeth is another common mistake…

Various distracting thoughts like these floated through my head, but—

“Nn…”

The moment I closed my eyes and our lips touched, everything else vanished.

Warm, soft, trembling slightly.

A fleeting contact, less than a second long, sinking in by maybe just 1 millimeter.

But I felt Hikaru’s presence more directly and strongly than ever before.

It even felt as if the world had become just the two of us.

We pulled apart and opened our eyes.

“This might be bad…” (Reiya)
“Yeah, this is seriously bad…” (Hikaru)

Still feeling the distinct heat, we stared at each other, murmuring dazed impressions.

Embarrassment, happiness, excitement, affection.

Reason and instinct.

Various emotions swelled within my chest, threatening to burst.

They all mixed together, creating a pleasure so intense it obliterated my vocabulary.

Lover Lv1 was far sweeter and more stimulating than Friend Lv99.

“S-So, speaking of which, your family… when are they coming back?” (Reiya)

Unable to bear the overwhelming awkwardness, I tried to change the subject, but—

“My mom… if she’s on her usual schedule, probably won’t be back for another two hours or so…” (Hikaru)

The answer she gave only generated more heat.

“I see… Still two more hours…” (Reiya)

We had spent long hours alone together many times before.

But being in this current state of arousal, even one minute felt dangerous.

Perhaps because I had reached a milestone rationally with the confession, now my instincts were starting to desire her.

“Then, shall we… do it again? The lover’s kiss…” (Hikaru)

Hikaru asked again, looking embarrassed yet strongly desiring it.

Knowing it was dangerous, I couldn’t resist the sweet temptation and nodded.

Hikaru closed her eyes again to accept me.

I placed my hands on her waist and shoulder over her clothes and brought my face closer.

The second contact.

A little deeper, a little longer than the first.

The warmth and softness converted into an immense sense of comfort.

Hikaru’s sweet breath escaped from the corner of her lips, and it felt incredibly suggestive.

We pulled apart and exchanged heated glances again.

“I think… this might be the happiest I’ve ever been in my life…” (Hikaru)
“Me too…” (Reiya)

I replied, and immediately, initiated by who knows which one of us, our lips met again.

First time, second time, third time.

With each repetition, we were filled with a stronger sense of euphoria.

I want to feel Hikaru more, more.

My reason could no longer suppress my emotions, and the hand on her waist naturally slid under her clothes.

“Fweh…!?” (Hikaru)

As my fingertips touched her soft skin, Hikaru let out a small cry and her body twitched. Piku.

“S-Sorry…!” (Reiya)
“I-It’s okay…! It just tickled a little… I’m super ticklish…” (Hikaru)
“O-Oh, really…” (Reiya)
“Yeah, so don’t worry about it… You can touch me more… if you want…?” (Hikaru)

Her face flushed red to her ears as she uttered those words, and the thread of reason I barely clung to snapped.

“Ngh…” (Reiya)

Kissing her again, I gradually increased the area of contact.

From fingertips, to fingers, to the palm of my hand.

Hikaru’s body was hot and soft, as if I were melting into her wherever I touched.

“Doesn’t it tickle…?” (Reiya)
“Mm, I’m fine… Actually, being touched by you, Reiya… feels kinda warm and fuzzy, maybe even a little good… Is this also because we’re lovers now…?” (Hikaru)

True to her words, I could feel the tension gradually leaving her stiff body.

The desire to touch more of Hikaru, in different ways, intensified further.

“But, I’m still just a tiny bit scared, so… kiss me one more time…?” (Hikaru)
“Yeah… as many times as you want.” (Reiya)

Granting her request, I kissed her once more.

A few seconds of contact, a moment of separation, repeated over and over.

“Nn… chu…”

We exchanged heat intense enough to melt us both, again and again.

That heat thawed the last vestiges of stiffness remaining in Hikaru’s body.

It seemed impossible to stop now, nor did I want to.

Following my instincts, just as I was about to guide my fingers exploring her skin further inward—

“—!?”

The sound of a car engine echoed from outside the window, and Hikaru’s body jolted. Biku.

Immediately after, she instantly broke off the various activities taking place between us and stood up from the bed.

She practically ran to the window and began checking outside through the glass.

“I-Is something wrong…?” (Reiya)

A sudden tension pierced the mood where nothing should have obstructed us.

I asked her back as she looked down from the window, and she turned around—

“Sorry, Reiya… My mom’s home…” (Hikaru)

She said this with the most awkward expression I had ever seen on her face.