Vol. 2 Chapter 26 – Second Night (2)

“I see… You want to do it again…” (Reiya)
“Yeah… Don’t you, Reiya…? Was it… annoying, maybe…?” (Hikaru)
“No way, of course not…” (Reiya)

I shook my head, immediately denying her words.

“…Then, can I?” (Hikaru)
“If you want to, Hikaru…” (Reiya)

Hikaru responded with a small nod, then took my left hand in both of hers again.

Bringing my hand up to her face—

“Ngh…” (Hikaru)

She pressed a light kiss onto my fingertips with a soft chu.

The nerve endings in my extremities registered the softness and heat of her lips more acutely than my cheek had.

“…Why my fingers?” (Reiya)
“Because you pulled me along so much today… like, a thank you for that?” (Hikaru)
“I see.” (Reiya)

I replied, though I didn’t really understand the meaning.

While I was bewildered, Hikaru’s lips repeatedly kissed my hand, again and again.

With each kiss, something hot surged up from inside my body.

“How does it feel to be on the receiving end?” (Hikaru)
“How does it feel… that’s hard to say… It’s kind of a strange feeling.” (Reiya)
“Hmm… By the way, how do you think it feels to be the one doing it?” (Hikaru)
“…Does it taste like sweat?” (Reiya)
“Moooh… Don’t say things that ruin the mood…” (Hikaru)

I thought I’d answered seriously while completely overwhelmed, but she puffed out her cheeks, annoyed.

“…Sorry.” (Reiya)
“I’ll forgive you if you give me a squeeze.” (Hikaru)

Saying that, Hikaru sat up and held her arms straight out towards me.

“Aren’t you acting even more childish than usual…?” (Reiya)

When we’re alone, her already high level of clinginess seems to have broken its limits.

“Because starting tomorrow, I won’t be able to do this for a while… So I need to recharge for a full week’s worth.” (Hikaru)
“A week… Oh yeah, you have practice this coming Tuesday, right?” (Reiya)
“Yeah, the other day was just a day off because it was right after the tournament.” (Hikaru)
“I see… But a week will go by fast, won’t it?” (Reiya)
“Will it…? I might not be able to stand it and end up hugging you at school.” (Hikaru)
“That would be seriously embarrassing, so please spare me…” (Reiya)

We’re already getting curious looks as it is; what would happen if we put on a display like that for everyone to see?

Unlike before, I might even be exposed to physical threats.

“That’s why I’m recharging with all my might right now!” (Hikaru)

Her hands stretched out even further.

“Well, if you put it that way…” (Reiya)

I sat up and wrapped my arms around Hikaru’s back.

When I pulled her slightly closer, she clung to me tightly with several times the force.

“Mmm… Smells like you, Reiya…” (Hikaru)

I heard Hikaru take a deep breath right next to my ear.

“Don’t I smell sweaty? We were outside all day.” (Reiya)
“That’s part of your smell, Reiya.” (Hikaru)

The sound of a deep breath, as if sending the air all the way down into her lungs. Suuuu…

This is kinda embarrassing…

Following her example, I took a sniff and caught Hikaru’s usual scent mixed with a faint hint of sweat.

Still, it wasn’t unpleasant at all, and I found myself agreeing that maybe that’s just how it was.

“By the way, what’s the estimated duration for this course?” (Reiya)
“Hmm… The ‘Until I’m Satisfied’ course.” (Hikaru)
“Does that mean until morni-nyaah!” (Reiya)

Suddenly, she latched onto my neck this time, and a strange sound escaped me.

“Ahaha! What a weird noise~!” (Hikaru)
“…Could you at least say something before you do that?” (Reiya)
“You just said I could do it if I wanted to~” (Hikaru)

Without a hint of remorse, she kissed a different spot on my neck.

Thanks to being prepared this time, I wasn’t startled, but a novel sensation, a shiver, ran down my spine.

Apparently, the person I like is what they call a ‘Kiss Demon.’

Showing no signs of satisfaction, a rain of kisses fell upon my neck and cheek.

But since I was the one who broke the brakes, I simply accepted it all.

“Have you recharged for about a month now…?” (Reiya)
“Not even close, maybe half a day’s worth.” (Hikaru)

Simple calculation puts that at one-fourteenth.

At this rate, it wouldn’t be strange if this continued until morning.

Yet, the reason I didn’t want to pull away at all was surely because I felt the same distance looming before next Saturday.

“Speaking of which, are your practice days off still only Saturdays from now on?” (Reiya)
“Yeah, if there’s a tournament, I might get the next day off too, but basically, Saturday is my day off.” (Hikaru)
“I see… Your next tournament is in America in September, right?” (Reiya)
“Umm… The tournament itself is at the beginning of September, but I need to get used to the environment there, so I’ll probably head over at the end of August.” (Hikaru)
“So, you might be staying there for about three weeks, potentially?” (Reiya)
“Yeah, probably. There’s this huge sports academy with amazing facilities, you know? I’m planning to stay there.” (Hikaru)

The hand on my back squeezed me even tighter.

Even without direct words, that alone conveyed her current emotions.

“But… it’s still a ways off, but not being able to see you for three weeks will be lonely, won’t it? I might end up crying over there because I can’t stand it…” (Hikaru)
“You can call anytime using PINE or whatever, even overseas now, so you’ll be fine, right?” (Reiya)
“Then, will you call me every day? Even with the time difference?” (Hikaru)
“Of course, anytime. I’m used to living nocturnal hours, after all.” (Reiya)

I answered nonchalantly, but my true feelings were different.

When that time comes, the one who truly won’t be able to stand it will surely be me.

The more I hear about Hikaru succeeding in a foreign land, the happier I’ll be, yet I’ll also feel like we’re being pulled apart by more than just physical distance.

“Is that American tournament the last junior one you’ll participate in?” (Reiya)
“Yeah, once that’s over, I’ll start competing in lower-tier tour events to earn points for my pro debut, I think.” (Hikaru)
“Will those be overseas too?” (Reiya)
“Hmm… I plan to enter all the ones I can in Japan too, but the number of tournaments held is just different, so the main focus will probably be overseas…” (Hikaru)
“I see… Yeah, that makes sense.” (Reiya)

I’d done a little research myself, and the annual schedule for pro tennis players is incredibly demanding.

Out of the entire year, the off-season is only one month long.

For the remaining eleven months, they constantly travel domestically and internationally, competing in tournament after tournament.

The longer they stay winning, the longer their stay becomes, and higher-ranked players have obligations to participate in more tournaments, making them even busier.

Hikaru is surely a player who will reach that level.

“I’ll probably miss more school too… but I really want to graduate somehow,” (Hikaru)
“Our school is pretty flexible about that stuff, so you’ll probably be fine, right? Though you’ll likely have to take supplementary lessons.” (Reiya)
“Ugh… That sounds tough…” (Hikaru)

As if to distract herself from future loneliness, Hikaru hugged me even tighter.

Yet, she no longer held any hesitation or fear about the path she would walk from now on.

She would never again come to ‘this side.’

While I was still dragging my feet, she was moving forward at an unbelievable speed.

It wasn’t ‘still over a month away,’ or ‘still over a year away’… but rather, ‘that’s all the time left.’

“Hey, wanna know the answer… from earlier?” (Hikaru)
“From earlier…?” (Reiya)
“You know, the one about how it feels to be the one doing the kissing.” (Hikaru)
“…How does it feel?” (Reiya)
“Each time I do it, you know? I fall in love with you even more…” (Hikaru)

Hikaru pulled back slightly, her expression melting as she spoke.

If I were to say I wanted to follow her, she would likely nod happily.

With her current popularity, if she turned pro, sponsors would flock to her, and there would be no financial issues.

But the kind of relationship I want isn’t one where I’m just clinging to her like that.

I know I’m hopelessly useless, but right now, completely forgetting my place, I want to stay by her side forever as an equal partner.

I placed a hand on Hikaru’s cheek and kissed her other cheek.

“…It’s true.” (Reiya)

Trying it myself, my feelings indeed amplified.

From this moment on, I’ll do everything I possibly can.

It might be too late now, but it’s never too early.

Facing Hikaru, whose eyes were wide with surprise, I solidified the greatest resolve of my life.

Now, it was my turn to go on the offensive and cross over to ‘that side.’

――――――

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――

The next morning, when I woke up, Hikaru was already gone.

Sitting up, I looked around the room and found a note on the table.

You were sleeping so soundly, I didn’t want to wake you, so I left first! I’ll message you again after practice! Also, I’ll apologize in advance… Sorry!!

What’s this about…? Rubbing my sleepy eyes, I went to the bathroom and immediately understood why.

“Uwah…”

My neck—the places Hikaru had kissed relentlessly yesterday—was bright red and looked bruised.

I’d heard stories, but I was surprised it actually happened like this.

I need to buy some large bandages… Thinking this, I washed my face and returned to the room.

Confirming that my resolve from last night hadn’t dulled, I sat down in the chair.

I moved the mouse to wake the computer from sleep mode and opened a folder on the desktop.

Something I had hidden deep, deep down on the day Hikaru first came over, terrified she might see it by some chance.

Thinking about what I could do now, this was really the only thing that came to mind.

Taiju-san, is now a good time? (Reiya)

What’s up? Need something? (Taiju)

I sent a message on PINE, and a reply came back almost instantly.
Actually, there’s something I’d like you to look at, Taiju-san. As… a professional. (Reiya)