Vol. 2 Chapter 72 – The Irregular Double Date (6)

“No, that’s not okay.” (Reiya)

“…Why?” (Hikaru)

At my serious response, Hikaru frowned, wrinkling her brow in annoyance.

“Why, you ask? It’s not okay to go that far in a public place, obviously.” (Reiya)

“It’s fine. There’s plenty of space between us and the groups in front and behind, and besides, in this darkness, no one will see us, absolutely!” (Hikaru)

She exhaled with a “Hmph!” full of baseless, absolute confidence.

“No, no, it’s not a matter of whether they can see us or not…” (Reiya)

“But if you don’t do it, I can’t move because of the curse, you know…?” (Hikaru)

“I feel like you’ve been moving around a lot just now, though.” (Reiya)

“M-my legs! It’s a curse that only makes my legs immobile!” (Hikaru)

In the darkness, her eyes stared fixedly at me.

However, no matter how much she asked, I really couldn’t kiss her in a place like this.

Besides, I was also slightly worried that I was becoming a convenient boyfriend who would listen to whatever she asked for whenever she pleaded.

“Legs… huh…” (Reiya)

“Yes! Only my legs can’t mo— Wah! Wawaah!” (Hikaru)

When I gave her hand a light tug mid-conversation, she stumbled on the spot.

“…Didn’t you just move?” (Reiya)

“I-if you suddenly pull me, then that’s… I mean, I didn’t move!! I can’t move!!” (Hikaru)

This time, Hikaru spoke while slightly lowering her center of gravity so she wouldn’t be pulled over.

Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me, kiss me.

She applied silent pressure with eyes glistening like an abandoned kitten’s.

“It’s not like we can’t do it anytime, so we don’t have to do it right now…” (Reiya)

“But we couldn’t do it last Saturday and Sunday, could we…” (Hikaru)

“Last Saturday and Sunday… Ah… True…” (Reiya)

I replied, recalling the events of a few days ago.

That one day when we both lost our minds and spent it in swimsuits.

After getting out of the bath, it was subtly awkward, and we couldn’t really act as usual after that.

Naturally, there was no kiss when I left, meaning we hadn’t done it even once since the summer festival.

“If we can’t do it today, I don’t know when the next chance will be.” (Hikaru)

Hikaru said, still pouting with a displeased expression.

Once we left the haunted house, it would be even harder, and Hikaru, who had practice tomorrow, would be heading home directly from here.

It was true that there might not be another chance today.

“We could just wait until the weekend… Ah, that’s not possible either, is it…” (Reiya)

Then we can just wait until the weekend… I thought, but then I remembered that was also difficult.

This weekend, the overnight trip to the resort that Sakuramiya-san had invited us to on the day of the closing ceremony awaited.

From what I heard, there would be about ten other classmates besides us.

Meaning, the time we could spend alone together would be considerably limited.

Excessive skinship in front of classmates during the day would be awkward, and even though it was an opening event, there would likely be many other guests.

Considering that, it indeed felt like if we missed this chance, we wouldn’t be able to do it for a while.

“If I can’t kiss you for two weeks, I might die.” (Hikaru)

“That’s a bit of an exaggeration, don’t you think…” (Reiya)

I was exasperated by her overly dramatic words.

Besides, where did the curse setting go?

“But it might affect my practice…” (Hikaru)

“Isn’t it unfair to use that as a hostage?” (Reiya)

“Because it’s true, you know.” (Hikaru)

Thinking she had gained the upper hand with this, the corners of Hikaru’s mouth lifted slightly.

Her mother had said that Hikaru was a player whose practice efficiency and match performance were greatly influenced by her mood at the time.

Considering her inherent nature as a kiss-fiend, I couldn’t easily dismiss it as just an empty threat.

“I wanna kiss~… Just once is fine~…” (Hikaru)

She stated her desire frankly now, without hiding any of her urges.

Towards such a girl, I—

“Alright. Just once then…” (Reiya)

As expected, I could only give in.

“Really?!” (Hikaru)

“However, in return, you have to promise not to be selfish for a while.” (Reiya)

“I won’t! I absolutely won’t!” (Hikaru)

“Then… really just once…” (Reiya)

Next time, I can just whine again.

A definitive promise was made with a frivolous feeling, as if she were thinking just that.

To fulfill the contract, Hikaru stood on her tiptoes to match my height.

“…Mm.” (Hikaru)

Placing my hands on the shoulders of her closed-eyed figure, I gently let our lips touch.

A kiss in a place that was merely dark, where anyone could see us at any moment.

If anything, we might get scolded if we were caught.

And yet, that long-awaited kiss, mixed with a sense of wrongdoing, was far too stimulating for me as well.

I had intended for it to be just a light touch, but I ended up pressing harder.

However, because I had been too immersed in that doze-like comfort, my reaction to that which followed was delayed.

“Hmm~? Is it not this way~?” (Ichiru)

“Isn’t that the way we came from? Look, it says ‘Operating Room’—” (Taiju)

“Eh? Then, at that fork in the road earlier—” (Ichiru)

Immediately after our faces were illuminated by a flashlight, the conversation between the two people we heard stopped.

With my lips still on Hikaru’s, I moved only my eyes to look in the direction of the light source.

Ichiru and Taiju were standing there, frozen, with expressions like they had just seen something they shouldn’t have.