Chapter 323: Let Me Undress You!
Chapter 323: Let Me Undress You!
“I’ve decided.”
The sheer force in the girl’s declaration stunned Himekoji.
“Huh? Decided what?”
“I’ll eat if Akito feeds me.”
Mashiro said it like it was the most natural thing.
“Haah? Wait! What did you say?”
This was completely different from what Himekoji had been imagining!
“Akito feeds me, and then I’ll eat.”
But Mashiro totally couldn’t read the room, ruining the moment by repeating herself.
“Hey hey hey, what you just said… that thing you wanted me to do? That thing I could do for you? Could it be this? Just this?”
“Yup. Akito will do it for me, won’t you?”
“Ah… ah…”
Darn it, that hurts.
He felt like he must have misunderstood something…
A huge misunderstanding!
That restless heat vanished instantly.
“I’m the type of person who leaves everything to Akito.”
“Yeah, yeah….”
Learning from his earlier mistake, when Mashiro used these words again, Himekoji understood clearly this time and stayed calm.
The “everything” Mashiro spoke of only meant being taken care of for basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter.
And as for Himekoji, he was merely Shiina Mashiro’s Owner.
That’s how it should have been. That was always how it was.
“Akito and I really are close.”
Hearing Himekoji agree, Mashiro seemed satisfied.
“Close? I kinda feel like I’m the one being taken advantage of here. Is that just my imagination~?”
“Akito, stop thinking strange things. Hurry up and feed me.”
“You’re the whole reason I’m thinking strange things!”
Mashiro ignored Himekoji’s complaint, just sitting there with her mouth wide open going, “Aaah—”
“Fine, you win.”
Himekoji shook his head, swallowing the rest of his complaints.
He then picked up the bowl of porridge from the bedside table, scooped a spoonful, blew on it to cool it down, and brought it to Mashiro’s mouth.
“Here.”
Perhaps because of her cold, the girl really seemed to have no appetite, yet Mashiro obediently opened her mouth and ate the spoonful Himekoji offered her.
“How is it?”
Himekoji asked more out of routine duty, as the cook.
“Meh.”
“Haah?”
Meh?
This was the lowest rating he’d ever gotten since unlocking the “Housekeeping Gigolo” skill.
“You really must have a fever and can’t taste anything, right?”
“Akito would understand if he tasted it too.”
“I already tasted it before bringing it over!”
Despite saying that, Himekoji scooped another small spoonful anyway, placed it in his mouth, and chewed carefully.
“What do you think?”
Mashiro seemed a little eager for his reply.
“It’s delicious!”
That was no joke; after acquiring the “Housekeeping Gigolo” skill, his cooking skill was MAX level!
“I meant the indirect kiss with me.”
“Ghk! Cough Cough…!”
The porridge he hadn’t finished swallowing lodged painfully in his throat.
Himekoji gulped hard several times before he managed to choke it down.
“W-what are you saying?!”
“Akito, don’t thank me.”
“I have absolutely zero intention of thanking you, ya hear?!”
Ignoring Himekoji’s flustered anger, Mashiro said “Aah—” and opened her little mouth for more porridge.
“Didn’t you just say it wasn’t good?”
Himekoji was still hung up on his cooking being criticized. Even though his mind was now filled with thoughts of an indirect kiss, he instinctively defended his culinary skills.
“This feels nice when Akito does it.”
“This? Can you not be vague? It sounds weird!”
“When you put the hot thing in my mouth.”
“Sorry I asked! Vague is fine!”
Himekoji surrendered.
After finishing the small bowl, Mashiro finally settled down, satisfied.
Her stomach plump, she seemed to utterly forget about Himekoji, peacefully falling asleep.
She apparently hadn’t cared at all about that “indirect kiss” she mentioned earlier, which had sent huge shockwaves through Himekoji’s mind.
But Himekoji cared immensely.
He just sat beside her, staring blankly at her sleeping face.
His gaze wandered countless times, but ultimately settled on the girl’s slightly glistening lips.
“What does it taste like…?”
“Eep! What am I thinking?!”
Himekoji gave his own forehead a hard knock.
He felt mentally exhausted.
He couldn’t stay in Mashiro’s room any longer. Who knew what mistakes he might make? Himekoji got up to leave, but abruptly, his hand was caught.
“Stay by my side until I’m asleep.”
It was Mashiro’s voice.
Himekoji was startled.
“Eh? Weren’t you asleep?!”
“Pretending.”
“Huh?”
Oh no, tricked!
If Mashiro had been awake the whole time… didn’t that mean she definitely heard that “I wonder what scent…” he’d accidentally muttered?
Oh man, I wanna die!
“Why fake being asleep?!”
“Wanted to see what Akito would do.”
“…”
Himekoji’s face flushed red, words dying in his throat.
“Disappointed.”
“What are you disappointed about now?”
“Akito, stop shouting.”
“I!… Fine, got it, got it…”
Talking to Mashiro felt like stepping in deep mud every time. He couldn’t exert any strength, just getting stuck deeper.
Sighing in defeat, Himekoji softened his tone.
“Well, go to sleep then. I’ll stay here until you open your eyes.”
“Then I’m really sleeping.”
“Mm. Hope it’s actually real this time.”
Mashiro closed her eyes and snuggled deeper under the covers. Only one hand stayed out, firmly gripping Himekoji’s sleeve, clearly not planning to let go.
Trapped, Himekoji yawned and sat down on the floor beside the bed. Leaning against the edge, he closed his eyes for a quick rest.
He accidentally fell asleep before Mashiro did.
He woke again when Mashiro called out–
“Akito… hot…”
Luckily, he hadn’t been sleeping deeply. Hearing Mashiro, he snapped alert instantly. He shook his head to clear the grogginess, stood up, and saw Mashiro was sweating heavily.
Her cheeks were flushed, her breath hot. Sweat-damp bangs clung limply to her forehead.
Why does it seem the fever’s worse?
Himekoji placed his hand on her forehead. Definitely hotter.
“Akito… All sticky… uncomfortable…”
Mashiro’s voice drifted weakly,
“…Want a bath.”
“No. Not until your fever breaks,” Himekoji refused firmly.
He felt sure letting her bathe now would only make her catch another chill and get even sicker.
“Why not?”
Mashiro looked at him, puffing her cheeks in displeasure.
“Because you’d get cold again.”
“Then Akito join me.”
“Absolutely not! That’s just ridiculous!”
“Hate it?”
“Huh?”
“Joining my bath.”
“N-no, it’s… Th-that’s… it’s about Shiina’s fever!”
Strange thoughts flashed through his mind, making his words stumble.
“Ah, anyway… Since your clothes are sweaty and gross, change into these then.”
Himekoji handed Mashiro fresh clothes and a towel.
Clothes, underwear, all laid beside her. He held the towel out to her.
“Just wipe yourself down with the towel for now.”
But Mashiro made no move to take it.
She just looked at him with an unreadable expression.
Himekoji had no idea why. He tentatively asked,
“Shiina-san?”
“Hmm?”
“Take the towel. So I can go out.”
“Don’t understand.”
Mashiro tilted her head as if confused.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying! I said: Take off clothes, wipe sweat with towel, put on pajamas. Got it? I’m leaving now. Be quick.”
He pushed the towel into her hand and turned to go.
“Hey. Akito.”
He’d barely moved when her voice stopped him.
“What is it now?”
Himekoji sighed and looked back, exasperated.
Mashiro’s gaze, still fever-bright, traveled slowly up at him from beneath lowered lashes.
Tiny beads of sweat dotted her flushed cheeks, radiating an unsettling allure.
“Akito. Do it.”
“Huh?”
What did she just say?
“Akito. Take them off.”
That extra word made her meaning painfully clear.
“You really have lost it to the fever!”
“Because…”
“Because what?”
“…”
Himekoji anxiously waited. Silence fell. Mashiro’s eyelids drooped heavily, as if speaking was suddenly too much effort.
Himekoji waited for a long time. Mashiro just opened her mouth slowly and breathed out a puff of warm air.
“Shiina?”
Himekoji had to call out again to hurry her.
Mashiro rolled over. She seemed to dislike her current position. She changed from lying on her back to lying on her stomach. She lazily rested her chin on the pillow.
“My head feels dizzy.”
“Who told you to catch a cold? In your current state, dizziness is normal.”
“I don’t want to move.”
“I get it. That’s the cold’s fault.”
“Taking off clothes is too much trouble too. My whole body has no strength.”
“I understand that too. Again—it’s because of the cold.”
When feeling unwell, it really is like this. Even little things feel annoying. Too lazy to move even a finger.
Himekoji understood it perfectly.
“So Akito should help me take them off.”
“Huh??? I don’t understand that part! It has nothing to do with the cold! Why should I help you take off clothes when you’re the one with a cold?”
“Unbutton the pajamas.”
“Stop stop stop! Who told you to give specific details?!”
“One button at a time.”
“Please, shut up! I can’t help imagining the scene!”
“With Akito’s fingers.”
“So like I said—shut up already!”
“Then just pull down the pants.”
“Wait! Whose pants? Yours or mine?!”
“Both.”
“What kind of double meaning is that?!”
“And next, the underwear. Pull that down too.”
“Pull down nothing! That could kill a man!”
“Let’s start together!”
“Ugh! Fine, fine, say whatever you want! If I listen to even one word, I lose!”
“Wumu~”
After Himekoji shouted at her, Mashiro hugged the pillow and made a sulky sound. Her feet kicked the blanket cutely and randomly.
“Akito is a bully.”
“I only said that because I care! If I took off Shiina’s pajamas, wouldn’t I see things that shouldn’t be seen?”
Himekoji pleaded with painstaking patience.
But it was all wasted—just talking to a wall.
“There’s nothing like that.”
Mashiro actually said something like that.
“You’re not a kid anymore! Didn’t you just say those places are mature now?”
“Akito is H!”
“You were the one who said all those things! Why am I the H one?”
Himekoji felt truly wronged as hell.
“But it’s okay. I have a plan.”
Though Mashiro said that, the word “plan” coming from her mouth felt especially scary.
Still… maybe he should hear her out.
“What is it?”
Himekoji asked.
Mashiro had half her face buried in the pillow. Only her eyes peeked out. She gave Himekoji shy, little glances. It felt shy. Very cute.
“Akito.”
“Uh… yeah?”
Facing Mashiro like this, Himekoji knew saying he wasn’t moved would be a lie. Just keeping his inner turmoil under control took tons of effort.
“I have a request.”
“First things first—we need to see if the request is possible.”
Himekoji turned his face away. Didn’t dare look at Mashiro anymore. Struggled to hold back his restlessness.
He spoke first. Tried to give the girl a warning shot.
Of course, even this was mostly just wishful thinking.
He knew from the start that regular tactics barely touched Mashiro. He’d learned that from countless past battles.
“Turn off the light.”
That was the first thing Mashiro actually said.
“Huh? Turn off the light? If we do that, it’ll just make the mood weirder!”
“Turn it off pleease~~”
Mashiro’s voice, probably because of her fever, came out light and wispy. To Himekoji’s ears, it almost felt teasing.
Though Mashiro probably didn’t mean it that way.
Even her earlier words were likely just her feeling too weak from the cold to change clothes herself.
But even so, staying totally cool-headed? No way any guy could pull that off.
“That thing… I want to do it with the lights off.”
After saying that line, Mashiro—whose face was now fully buried in the pillow—suddenly added something else.
“Otherwise, it’d be too embarrassing.”
“If you actually get embarrassed, I’d love to see it!”
Himekoji loudly snapped back.
He hoped his snark would change the odd mood. But it seemed useless. Didn’t work.
Mashiro puffed her cheeks. Kept glancing at Himekoji to hurry him.
Himekoji walked step by step toward the wall where the light switch was. Felt like a demon was pushing him. Every step made his brain shake three times. Mini people inside his head fought each other wildly.
“Pat-pat.”
Only the sound of Himekoji’s slow, heavy footsteps filled the quiet bedroom.
Last step. Reach out and he’d touch the switch.
Himekoji took a deep breath, then gritted his teeth—
And ran!
Right next to the switch was the door!
Out that door, and he could escape those fighting mini people!
If he didn’t run, he’d definitely do wrong!
That—couldn’t happen!
…
“Shiina, I’ve put fresh clothes and a towel beside your bed! Call me after you change!”
Himekoji ran out of the room. Slammed the door shut with a loud BANG!
“Dang it, that was close. I almost…”
[Ding!]
[Please choose!]
“Holy crap!”
Himekoji never dreamed it. He’d just escaped the fight between his mini brain people. Before he could even catch his breath—crashed headfirst into a new pit: brain options.
Himekoji scanned the options with a grim face. As expected, they forced him into obedience.
So—Himekoji had run out feeling righteous just moments ago. But now, face burning red and white like a ghost, he crept back in.
First thing he did right after entering? Obediently turned off the light he’d refused to switch off earlier.
The bedroom instantly dimmed without the light.
“Huh? Akito came back?”
In the darkness, he could feel Mashiro’s gaze. She didn’t sound surprised though.
“Um… I was thinking. You’ve got a cold and fever, Shiina. Undressing yourself isn’t easy. So maybe I should help after all.”
“No need.”
“Huh?”
Mashiro said no need?
So sudden? Didn’t follow the script at all!
“I’ll do it myself.”
Mashiro was actually deciding to try for once. Himekoji should have cheered that on. But—
“Please, I beg you! Let me do the undressing!”
Himekoji’s eyes brimmed with tears. Humiliated… yet oddly excited.