Chapter 381: Countless Sweet Ways

“Huff—”

With a sigh that sounded like a release of breath, the analysis of the silver prize work “A World Stripped of Sound” came to an end.

It was clear Kasumigaoka had prepared carefully. Her long, improvised thoughts on the piece were detailed and well-spoken—truly a perfect analysis you’d give full marks.

“Such an amazing work only got the silver? Can’t help but feel super excited about the gold prize now.”

Himekoji’s feeling was roughly six parts anticipation, four parts curiosity.

Because what exactly the gold prize-winning work was… even the hosts Himekoji and Kasumigaoka didn’t really know.

It was said the entry was judged last-minute. Things happened so suddenly, the judges all discussed and decided to just reveal the gold prize live on stream.

The way to reveal it was to open the bunko edition copy on site.

Himekoji naturally took charge of this task.

The temporary assistant, an editor lady stepping in, handed him the gold prize work.

He glanced quickly. It looked a bit overdone—gold shiny cover, practically eye-blinding… though it definitely suited the gold prize style…

Not sure whose taste this packaging was…

“I’m opening it?”

“Mhm, you peel it.”

‘Open’ and ‘peel’ might mean the same, but coming from Kasumigaoka, it somehow sounded different…

Her lazy tone held a strange, ambiguous sense. Her gaze slid over, slow and meaningful. It was their usual way of interacting… but doing it live on stream, facing so many real-time viewers, unavoidably made Himekoji feel out of his depth.

Especially after the whole “giving you a look to interpret yourself” incident just now. The danmaku frenzy hadn’t settled yet.

“Ahem, okay, th-then I’ll start…”

Himekoji coughed twice, forcing a casual expression.

Luckily, the system had been mysteriously quiet recently. Otherwise, who knew what kind of mess this could turn into…

Live stream + a big crowd of viewers who loved stirring things up and joining the fun + a beautiful and trouble-seeking female partner… practically a perfect nest for perverse choice options to appear.

So… what exactly happened to the system?

Thinking back over the past few days… the options weren’t completely gone, but they barely showed up.

Before, just minor contact with someone of the opposite sex would set off alarms. Now, the trigger conditions were unclear.

When did it start?

The day Nanami and Mashiro both confessed? Or even earlier?

Anyway, just then, Himekoji suddenly felt an impulse to find out.

What if he did something… like, during the live stream, sneak a touch on Kasumigaoka’s leg while avoiding the camera…?

Would an option trigger?

Once this thought surfaced, he couldn’t hold back anymore.

It might be rude and frivolous toward her… but for him, it meant so much.

Could he slowly stop being called a pervert? Could he gradually live like a normal person? School, work, dating…

Testing like this might reveal something.

It was clumsy, bad method… but better than nothing.

After the Nanami-Mashiro incident, consciously or not, Himekoji always wanted to do something to change things. Maybe he himself hadn’t realized it.

With that thought, gritting his teeth, Himekoji finally decided to act on that idea in his mind.

“Sorry…”

He silently apologized in his heart, then unnoticeably, slowly moved his hand under the table.

His heart raced wildly. Probably due to multiple factors together.

He felt shame over his shameless action—cheeks burning. Anxiety over the upcoming result—intense unease. Hope toward the guess in his mind—every second tense. These feelings, amplified because the cameras were live, seemed magnified infinitely.

“Huh? What’s wrong with Hime-sensei? He looks weird. Unwell?”

Since Kasumigaoka kept calling him “Himekoji-kun” “Himekoji-kun” during the stream, the danmaku started calling him “Hime-sensei” too.

“Definitely feeling too good! He’s sitting next to such a gorgeous beauty!”

“Ah! Look at where he’s putting his hand! Under the table??!”

“Seriously! This move is weird!”

“Hime-sensei! Lift your hand back up to clear yourself!”

The tiny move Himekoji thought was secret… did not escape the viewers’ sharp eyes.

And since his book “Risque Jokes” created an audience full of more experienced people—they could interpret deeper meanings into the most normal moves. Himekoji’s action, anyway, was “impure” in motive.

Luckily, Himekoji had no free time to read the danmaku then. Otherwise, he might have drawn back his hand scared.

Himekoji had no time indeed… but Kasumigaoka did!

She totally loved the danmaku today. Her eyes couldn’t look away. Before, since publishers often arranged shows, she’d streamed. But she never realized danmaku could be this interesting!

“Psst… Hime-sensei secretly likes Kasumi Utako-sensei! My sister is an editor at their publisher. Everyone there knows!”

“Look! Look! Hime-sensei sits next to Kasumi Utako-sensei acting like a shy boy?”

“Himekoji and Kasumi Utako-sensei go to the same school! Guaranteed accurate!”

Things like that.

Kasumigaoka loved every bit of so-called “rumors” on danmaku, true or false.

In this stream room? No one knew Himekoji like Kasumigaoka did. But she specifically enjoyed searching for every little scrap about him in the filled-up danmaku… even if it was all nonsense viewers just typed there, with no truth at all.

And she still watched eagerly, delighted.

Countless ways to be sweet. For example—

Seeing, in the danmaku, that we became lovers.

…

“Kasumi-sensei! Make Himekoji-sensei put his hand back up!”

“Hime-sensei suppressing his gun during stream? Pure tease~”

“Looks like he wants to secretly touch Kasumi sensei!”

Himekoji’s notorious “pervert” name even these viewers knew a bit. So, naturally, readers joked like this.

When Kasumigaoka glimpsed these super-dirty danmaku, she nearly laughed out loud right in front of camera.

She didn’t take it seriously… but still glanced subconsciously under the table,

“Huh?”

Then she really saw Himekoji’s “Sexual Harassment Hand”… slowly reaching under the table…

Oh my!

Did he finally get a clue?!

Ack! No! Sorry, wrong!

Has this guy’s brain been kicked by a donkey?! It’s a live stream now!

“At least change the setting…”

Urgently lowering her voice, scolding him, Kasumigaoka smacked away Himekoji’s restless, overstepping hand.

Smack!

…

Going to touch it, going to touch it!

Heart pounded, blood pressure shot up, sweat beading slightly on his forehead.

He’d touched girls’ thighs over ten times. But this one? With no system? Done through his own will? Truly Himekoji’s first time ever!

Plus—during a live stream!

“Sorry… guess one more time won’t matter!”

Shouting this mentally to relieve pressure, finally stopped hesitating, gathering strength.

Three! Two! One!

Touched!

Urk! This texture—super slick!

Did Kasumigoka wear fusion yarn stockings?!

Everyone knew—stocking materials feel distinctly different. Fusion yarn: smoothest. Velvet: softest. Spandex: most skin-like. Lycra: stretchiest…

But… memory said… Kasumigaoka rarely wore this type…

Wait! Wrong!

Probably because he sweated from nerves…

Seriously messed up the hand-feel!

Grab a tissue, wipe sweat, then try again?

As this thought surfaced, Himekoji realized—wrong!

Hold on!

He didn’t touch just for touching’s sake!

Almost got sidetracked by his own desire!

He did it to test the options!

Just as he thought this, the result came—

[Ding!]

The system’s prompt sound and Kasumigaoka’s smack! hitting his hand happened almost together.

“Huh…?”

This Himekoji absolutely never expected.

Of course, the next part he didn’t expect either.

Because both… just stopped there…

…