Chapter 428: The Underarm’s True Beauty

Huh?

Speaking of available quests…

Himekoji remembered something. He turned his focus to the System interface and peeked at the energy gauge.

The ‘One Hundred Bento’ quest was done. Each bento added one percent energy, right?

So, that meant the Energy Refill plan should be complete?

He even felt a little thrilled for a second!

But when Himekoji actually saw the bright red percentage number above the energy gauge, it nearly made him spit out blood.

1.8%…

Not only had the System’s energy value not risen, it had actually dropped?!

Seriously?!

Is there no justice?

What’s going on?

Is the System messing with him?

Could it be that these ‘available quests’ are all just total nonsense?!

Nope, got to figure this out!

Must figure it out!

Figure it out quick!

So, logically speaking, Himekoji had to accept this quest.

First, he needed to collect data on energy changes after quest completion for analysis.

And second…

Ahem!

【Quest accepted successfully!】

【Help Yukinoshita!】

Alright, the current System energy value was 1.8%.

Himekoji made a note of the number.

He planned to compare after finishing the quest.

…

“Yukinoshita, don’t squirm so much.”

Yukinoshita was trying her best to pull the kitten out from under her shirt, but it was tickling unbearably, making her body twist and turn uncontrollably.

Sure, it was undeniably cute at first glance, surprisingly pleasing to watch, but at the same time, it gave Himekoji a headache – he couldn’t figure out how to help.

Like this, even if he wanted to help, he couldn’t…

He might accidentally touch… awkward places!

Like just now…

Himekoji had planned to grab Hikari’s tail through Yukinoshita’s collar and pull him out.

But right as Himekoji reached out, Yukinoshita twisted her body, and Hikari darted away. Himekoji’s fingers missed Hikari’s tail and ended up grabbing the bra strap peeking out beneath the collar…

This was freaking awkward.

“You’re the one who shouldn’t be moving randomly!”

Whether it was from Hikari’s tickling or Himekoji’s clumsy hand, Yukinoshita’s normally calm and proper face was now flushed an enticing shade of pink.

“Ah, s-sorry…”

Yukinoshita had a point. Himekoji quickly let go of the bra strap he’d been holding onto since the mishap.

Thwap.

He had to admit, that strap had great elasticity.

It snapped back against the skin near Yukinoshita’s collarbone, even making a crisp sound.

That sound could only be described as… well, enticing.

After all, it was the sound of Yukinoshita’s bra strap snapping back!

If not for Himekoji’s iron willpower and years of… exposure, he might have gotten lost in some inappropriate thoughts right then.

Who knew that his “special training” – casually snapping Yukinoshita’s bra strap at home all the time – would prove so valuable at this very moment!

Truly, all training exists for a reason!

Himekoji understood this more deeply than ever now.

…

“Yukinoshita, you really can’t get Hikari out?”

Himekoji realized just standing around wasn’t helping.

“He’s holding on tight.”

Himekoji noticed that while they were talking, Hikari had moved.

There was an obvious bulge under Yukinoshita’s blouse near her left shoulder and chest – Hikari’s new base of operations.

“Then use some force!”

Himekoji couldn’t bear watching her struggle like that.

“I… I might hurt him.”

Yukinoshita seemed embarrassed, her voice very soft, her eyes slightly lowered.

Hard to believe this usually strong-willed girl could be so… delicate.

Just talking about cats totally changed her…

But—

“Seriously? Like he’d get hurt so easily! That guy’s as thick-skinned as it gets!”

Himekoji knew Hikari’s nature well. He was hardy and practically asked for a scolding every few days.

Just like Himekoji himself.

But—

“You said he’s what?!”

Yukinoshita suddenly lifted her head, staring at Himekoji wide-eyed as if she’d heard something shocking, disbelief written all over her face.

“N-No! Not that way! It’s just another way of saying thick-skinned! You get it, right? It’s a popular phrase online!”

Under her intense stare, a flustered Himekoji stammered his explanation.

“I absolutely do not understand the areas you perverts hang out in.”

Yukinoshita took a step back in distaste, putting distance between them. She sized Himekoji up with open skepticism and contempt.

It was like she’d just mentally labeled him a… a feline-abusing monster.

“W-Wait! Don’t judge me for life over a slip of the tongue! No matter how twisted or depraved I might be, even I’d never go that far! Besides, Hikari’s a boy!”

“So, you’re implying a female one would be fine?”

“That’s not what I said at all! Really, twisting my words like that? Stop it!”

Irritated, Himekoji hurriedly steered the conversation back on track.

“Alright, enough of this nonsense already. Do you actually want Hikari to set up permanent residence inside your clothes?”

……

After a thorough discussion with Yukinoshita –

The task of extracting Hikari from the clothes was ultimately assigned by the group to Himekoji.

Because Yukinoshita had given up…

After several attempts proved utterly futile…

She was the type who usually excelled at anything on the first try, so physical strength and stamina? Those surprisingly were her weak points.

If she failed repeatedly at something, Yukinoshita would completely lose patience and interest in it.

Himekoji hadn’t noticed this before simply because such situations were incredibly rare in Yukinoshita’s life.

But today, she had run headlong into one.

So, another conclusion could be drawn –

Yukinoshita was truly powerless against the kitten.

……

“I’m pulling now, okay?”

Himekoji, catching Hikari off guard, suddenly thrust his right hand into Yukinoshita’s sleeve from the cuff and grabbed hold of Hikari’s tail.

Going in through the sleeve cuff was the compromise they’d reached after discussing it.

The neckline was too sensitive; that idea got shot down immediately.

Going in from below, around the stomach? Risking bumping her navel or something else… not appropriate either.

After much thought, the cuff was the only option left, having no particularly important areas.

Himekoji was extra careful, trying his best to avoid skin-to-skin contact with Yukinoshita, wanting to prevent any misunderstanding that he was taking liberties.

But the sleeve cuff was just too narrow! Avoiding contact was nearly impossible!

It felt so cold…

That was Himekoji’s first thought as the back of his hand accidentally brushed against Yukinoshita’s skin.

Followed closely by thoughts like “so smooth and soft”…

Seriously though, it was the middle of summer, right?

Yet she felt like a natural air conditioner!

No wonder Hikari was refusing to come out of Yukinoshita’s clothes.

Holding that must feel amazing!

If Himekoji hadn’t known for sure Yukinoshita would hit him, he might have hugged her himself…

“P-pulling now?”

“Mmm.”

Yukinoshita turned her face away and gave a slight nod.

She deliberately raised her arm a bit, seemingly also trying to avoid unnecessary skin contact with Himekoji.

However, this move not only proved useless, but when her arm lifted, it inevitably created an angle, making the inside of her sleeve completely visible to Himekoji.

He got a clear view right away of her pure white, delicate armpit…

Huh?

Even her armpit was this beautiful?

Fitting for Yukinoshita!

Good! Good! Good!

His mind silently praised it thrice over.

Unconsciously, Himekoji found himself staring intently at Yukinoshita’s armpit, his mind practically writing a dissertation on its aesthetic qualities…

Until Hikari let out an impatient “Meow!” that snapped him abruptly back to reality.

Instantly, he was flooded with shame!

What in the world was he doing, staring at someone’s armpit like that?

So messed up!

Wait…

Hang on a sec!

Did…

Did he just awaken some bizarre new fetish?

A sudden wave of worry hit Himekoji.

“Can you get her out?”

Yukinoshita, oblivious to Himekoji’s worries, was clearly only concerned with his progress.

“Ah! Yes, yes, yes!”

Caught off guard with a guilty conscience by Yukinoshita’s voice, Himekoji jumped, agreeing instantly without really registering her question.

“If you can pull her out, hurry up!”

Maintaining this awkward position was making even Yukinoshita feel embarrassed.

“Huh? Ah… yes, yes, right away…”

Himekoji finally managed to regain his composure.

He shook his head vigorously, trying to fling away all those strange thoughts and ideas bouncing around in his skull.

“I’m pulling now.”

“Less talk, more action.”

As expected, Yukinoshita’s voice was dripping with impatience.

Himekoji tugged Hikari’s tail. He’d assumed it would be a quick one-two-three pull, done.

Who knew the little cat was surprisingly strong too? She clung stubbornly to Yukinoshita’s shoulder, putting up a fifty-fifty fight against Himekoji’s efforts.

It wasn’t that he was weak – Himekoji was holding back, afraid of ripping Yukinoshita’s uniform sleeve with too much force. Getting an earful afterwards? Definitely not worth it.

“Out yet?”

“Almost! Almost there!”

“Can you handle it or not?”

“Of course I can!”

Questioning a man like that?!

Could he just let that slide?

Himekoji could not let it slide!

Yukinoshita’s challenge instantly ignited his competitive spirit. Worrying about her sleeve getting ripped? Who had time for that now?

He put every last ounce of strength into it. Facing this Herculean effort, Hikari was no longer a match. In seconds, Himekoji had wrestled her out, drag-and-pull style, right through Yukinoshita’s sleeve.

“Riiip—”

And right on cue, his earlier fear materialized…

Told you the school uniform shirt quality was rubbish!

The seam on Yukinoshita’s sleeve cuff gave way under the combined forces applied by Himekoji and Hikari, tearing open with a satisfying rip.

Her delicate skin, as smooth and pale as fine jade, tinged with a healthy rosiness, was suddenly and completely exposed to the air – and to the shared gaze of both Himekoji and Hikari.

Fixing his eyes on it, the very first thing Himekoji noticed, the thing he couldn’t look away from… was what he’d already meticulously studied earlier –

That fascinatingly smooth, appealing little armpit…

“The armpit beauty is divine.”

Utterly involuntarily, the words of admiration slipped right out of Himekoji’s mouth.

The moment he said it, his heart sank like a stone straight to his stomach —

Finished!

He…

He really might have awakened!

Awakened an incredibly strange and embarrassingly specific fetish!

……