Chapter 324: Shyness
Chapter 324: Shyness
“Please, I beg you, let me be the one to take it off!”
Himekoji, who had cast aside his shame to speak, got an answer—
“What am I taking off?”
“Huh?”
Himekoji was stunned.
Mashiro’s reaction wasn’t what he had expected.
“What am I taking off?”
So the girl asked again.
“Cl… clothes…”
Himekoji just gave up fighting and answered with humiliation.
“Whose clothes?”
“Shiina’s clothes.”
“How am I taking them off?”
“W… with my hands.”
“Be more specific?”
“How could I possibly say it out loud, hey!”
Damn it, what kind of question-and-answer game was this?!
Himekoji felt like he was being played by Mashiro…
Never mind; for now, if he just charged in and took Mashiro’s clothes off, it would all be over. Himekoji decided to finish this fast and end this silly talk.
But it turned out Mashiro was faster—
“Then let’s act on it.”
“Huh?”
“I allow it.”
“Even if you didn’t allow it, I’d still do it! This time.”
That sentence felt more like hiding his own fear.
Saying this, Himekoji felt his way bit by bit toward Mashiro’s bed in the dim room.
“Akito is always such a pervert.”
“I really don’t want to hear that from you, the one who caused this!”
With the lights off, he could still vaguely make out the room’s outline as he spoke, and he climbed onto Mashiro’s bed.
Behind Mashiro, who had sat up straight, he assumed a stiff kneeling position—
“Th… then, I’m going to take it off.”
“Just do it in the way Akito likes.”
“Don’t say things that distract me like that right now, hey!”
Himekoji took a deep breath to calm down, and then he finally reached out his hand with determination.
Trembling slightly, his hands went over Mashiro’s shoulders to her front, and on his third deep breath, he at last touched the first button of Mashiro’s shirt.
Mashiro just let Himekoji do as he pleased, with her head down watching each of his movements.
Heat from Mashiro’s slightly parted lips brushed Himekoji’s fingertips, making it a bit ticklish.
“Akito.”
“Wh… what?”
In the quiet, delicate mood, Mashiro suddenly spoke, startling Himekoji so much that his hand shook, almost touching somewhere he shouldn’t.
“The breathing tickles.”
Huh?
But that was exactly what he wanted to say…
Himekoji paused briefly, and then he realized their current pose was strangely close.
It was like he was hugging her from behind.
Each breath of his blew hot air right by her ear.
His cheeks felt hot without him knowing why.
It turned out they both bothered each other with their breaths by accident.
“S… sorry.”
“It doesn’t feel bad.”
“Huh? Ah… ah, really…”
Not knowing how to reply, Himekoji used meaningless sounds.
Thinking of finishing quickly to be free, that’s how Himekoji finally undid Mashiro’s first button.
The second button went smoothly too, but as he moved toward the third, Himekoji’s gaze landed on Mashiro’s chest where the buttons were open.
Moonlight seeped in faintly through the curtains, allowing him to see under that glow—
Skin, pale like porcelain, with curves no boy or Yukinoshita could ever have.
Even though he knew he shouldn’t get distracted now, it wasn’t something willpower could handle alone: the pull of attraction kept Himekoji from looking away.
“Akito?”
As if realizing something, Mashiro suddenly turned back.
Her pretty, cute face was right in front of Himekoji’s eyes, so close.
Close enough that he could lick it if he stuck out his tongue.
Huh?!
Himekoji was shocked by the sudden thought in his mind.
What was he thinking?
How could he ever stick out his tongue…
Himekoji shook his head foolishly.
But the next instant, his smile froze—
[Ding!]
[Choose now!]
[A: Stick out your tongue and lick her!]
[B: Open your mouth and eat her!]
Hmm, so he still might stick out his tongue after all…
Between A and B, there was nothing to hesitate about.
Himekoji did it in a flash—his tongue stuck out, touched, and pulled back in one smooth, polished move, just like a dragonfly skimming water, swift and light.
Himekoji smiled confidently afterwards, waiting calmly for his System reward.
But then—
[NG!]
Huh? NG?
What the heck is NG?!
Is this supposed to be a movie or something?
[More Devoted! More Sustained! More Sexy!]
Darn it, so many demands!
Himekoji had no choice but to stick his tongue out again.
This time, he did it properly, not cutting any corners.
Three circles left, three circles right, back and forth…
Man, Mashiro tasted amazing!
Her young body was always so fragrant and soft. The fever made her just slightly warm, like it was cooked medium rare… it was really tempting.
[Ding!]
[Quest Completed!]
[Reward: 5000 2D Points!]
Hearing the System’s chime, Himekoji felt like he was pardoned. He quickly pulled his tongue back in, pressing his lips together solemnly.
He carefully peeked at Mashiro.
In the dim light, he couldn’t quite make out her expression on the face he’d just licked.
Was she shy? Angry? Upset? Shocked?
Himekoji had no idea.
The only thing he knew for sure was: strike first!
He cleared his throat twice, pretending to be serious as he spoke:
“38.1 degrees Celsius.”
“Was Akito taking my temperature just now?”
Himekoji, who’d planned to use this flimsy excuse to cover up, was surprised Mashiro played along so easily. He nodded eagerly.
“Yes.”
“Not under the arm?”
Confused, Mashiro tilted her head cutely.
Her top, already undone at three buttons, gaped open at the neck. This movement caused it to slip further down her shoulder.
A large expanse of smooth, snow-white skin – shoulder, collarbone, back – was suddenly exposed to the air. It looked particularly striking in the dim light.
Himekoji’s breath hitched for a second. He quickly looked away, staring at the wall.
“Ah, no no, this method works just fine on the face too.”
“Oh.”
Mashiro gave a soft murmur of acceptance.
Then—
“There are still buttons undone,” she added quietly. Her face was turned away again, looking forward, her gaze unfocused.
Gulp.
Himekoji swallowed.
He felt like he shouldn’t go on.
This was dangerous – some sixth sense was screaming at him.
“…Hurry up.”
But Mashiro urged him on. Her voice was soft, gentle, a little weak.
“A-ah, I, I know.”
Himekoji shook his head hard, trying to clear distracting thoughts.
The System’s quest was nearly always the top priority for him.
This was no time for hesitation. Himekoji took one last deep breath—
“Um… I really need to take this off now.”
“…Okay.”
All the buttons were finally undone. Himekoji gripped Mashiro’s top, careful not to use too much force as he slowly pulled it down.
It went surprisingly smoothly.
But just halfway through –
“…No.”
Mashiro suddenly changed her mind, stopping him.
Even though she was the one who’d asked Himekoji to do it in the first place.
“Wh-what?”
Task-bound, Himekoji felt trapped. He needed to finish.
“I really can’t…”
Mashiro repeated softly. She crossed her arms, covering the exposed half of her upper body, clutching at her own sleeves.
The soft, lovely curve of her chest pressed outward, emphasized by her arms.
Her pale skin had flushed pink. In the dim light, the sight was extra intense, striking Himekoji hard.
But the visual impact wasn’t the most important thing for Himekoji. The crucial point was—
He realized Mashiro was… shy?
Acting shy, just like a regular girl.
Was this really the same Mashiro?
The Mashiro who usually didn’t even blink, facing him completely unguarded even when nude?
Could it be…
Mashiro had finally realized it?
The fact that Himekoji… was a member of the opposite sex?
Maybe Mashiro was starting to see him… as a man?
Not just her convenient Owner.
Not just her whatever-will-be guardian.
But as an equal… a person of the opposite sex.
If that was really the case, if that was really the case…
Then did that mean he could no longer see Mashiro as simply a “pet girl”?
Mashiro should also be his equal, someone of the opposite sex.
Beautiful, cute, charming. Someone of the opposite sex.
Just thinking of that made Himekoji’s heart thump thump wildly against his will. His blood pressure rose, rushing to his head all at once.
“S-sorry!”
The words burst out reflexively, even though he hadn’t actually done anything bad yet.
“Mmm.”
Perhaps because her head was buried, Mashiro’s reply sounded vague.
After her voice faded, the air suddenly plunged back into silence.
“…”
“…”
Mashiro didn’t speak again, and Himekoji didn’t know what to say.
Even his hand froze mid-air; her clothes half off, he didn’t know whether to continue or what.
“U-um…”
His lips moved, but what spilled out was just this halting, meaningless stammer.
The thumping of his heart sounded like muffled drums; it was the only sound Himekoji could hear now.
His breathing grew ragged, his field of vision narrowed, and everything vanished from his eyes until only Mashiro remained.
Once he started seeing Mashiro as that—as someone of the opposite sex—rationality just went out the window.
For the first time, a reckless desire to pounce welled up from deep inside, not because of the System, but entirely of his own accord.
But Mashiro’s shy reaction, hugging herself, was exactly what held Himekoji’s desire back as much as possible.
Himekoji was more used to conquering desires than anything else; it was routine for him.
But only this time—
Himekoji opened his arms longingly.
Behind Mashiro, where she couldn’t see.
He hugged himself.
Pressed his lips tight together, stifling all expression.
“Sorry.”
Himekoji’s voice was dejected and low, like a child who’d done wrong.
…
[Ding!]
[Progress Fifty Percent, Please Continue!]
The clothes weren’t off. The clothes weren’t off.
He couldn’t just stay frozen like this.
Himekoji finally lifted his head again. Even if the shy Mashiro said no, he would strip her naked.
Because that’s just how much of a pervert he was.
The arms hugging himself uncurled, trembling as they reached towards Mashiro.
He grabbed her clothes.
The girl flinched, seeming aware.
“No!”
Her voice was light but firm.
Himekoji acted like he hadn’t heard.
“I said no!”
It was the first time he’d heard Mashiro’s voice so decisive, possessing a forceful, unmistakably powerful weight.
Himekoji’s hand stopped shaking. He knew what he ought to do.
No one could ever truly shake him or sway his conviction.
Himekoji gripped Mashiro’s clothes and yanked down hard.
Mashiro resisted, but a feverish girl didn’t have much strength.
The clothing was about to be pulled off—
“Himekoji? Are you in here?”
Right at that critical moment, Nanami’s voice suddenly came from outside the door.
Himekoji jumped.
“Yes.”
But it was Mashiro who answered Nanami.
“I’m coming in.”
“Wa-wait a second!”
Himekoji frantically tried to stop her, panicked.
Too late. Even as his plea escaped, the door was pushed open.
“What are you two doing holed up in a dark room…”
Nanami, holding the doorknob, stopped mid-sentence.
“…”
“…”
For a split second, like a short circuit, Nanami’s eyes flicked rapidly back and forth between Himekoji and Mashiro several times. Her mouth formed an open ‘O’ shape, big enough to fit two eggs.
“I-It’s not what you think!”
Himekoji decided he ought to at least try to explain.
“No…”
Nanami, trembling all over, managed only that one syllable.
“No?”
“No, sorry to bother you!”
Finally, a sentence starting with “No” came out of Nanami’s mouth, spoken in full.
After that, as if unwilling to waste even a single second, Nanami slammed the door shut with a heavy “PONG!” and was gone.
“Hey! Wait! Hang on! Come back!”
Himekoji shouted desperately after her.
Although he fully understood why Nanami turned tail and ran without listening to any explanation.
Because there really was no good angle to defend the scene…
A dark bedroom. A boy and a girl tangled on the bed. Clothes half off.
Any defense would seem useless.
But Himekoji had a reason for needing to call Nanami back just then.
Because the moment he saw Nanami, an alternative approach had suddenly occurred to him.
A way to smoothly fulfill the choice requirement without hurting Mashiro…
No, perhaps more accurately, at least without hurting her over this specific matter.
He had no confidence he could avoid hurting others in the future, no matter how careful he was.
But sparing even one instance of harm was still something to be thankful for.
This elusive “shyness” that Mashiro had finally managed to feel – this precious emotion called “shyness” – absolutely shouldn’t be trampled and destroyed by a pervert like him.
So come back, Nanami!
…
“I r-really just can’t stand this!”
Nanami exclaimed, her thick Kansai dialect unmistakable as she burst back through the door,
“Himekoji! Y-you pervert!”
Nanami pointed an accusing finger at Himekoji.
“Even if the situation’s heated like dry wood and blazing fire, it doesn’t matter! Mashiro’s sick! Save that kind of behavior for when she’s recovered!”
As if hearing his plea, Nanami had appeared before Himekoji once again.
Like a savior.
Himekoji felt immense relief.
“Aoyama, there’s a reason for this! Shiina just got sweaty, I was helping her change her clothes! Her fever was making her fumble getting undressed, so I had to step in. Your timing is perfect! Can you take over?”
As Himekoji spoke, he scrambled off the bed like a rolling stone, practically fleeing to avoid suspicion. Passing Nanami, who stood dumbfounded in the doorway, he gave her a push on his way out.
“Shiina’s in your hands now.”
…
…