Chapter 67: It’s Not Entirely Impossible…

Sealed by those intensely masculine male lips, her head spun instantly.

It was like riding the sweltering sea breeze over Genoa, embracing the sun, her entire body flooding with blinding, scorching sunlight.

Something detonated in her mind with a boom. The surroundings became silent all at once, deathly quiet, so silent she could hear her own heartbeat drumming fiercely like thunderclaps.

That kiss on the Tennis Court before? She had no memory of it at all, just a hazy dream. But this time was different. Her lips—no, her entire body—that electric shock. Sudden. Intense. No resisting. No dodging. Rampaging wildly through her core.

Miura Yumiko, who had struggled slightly at first, suddenly went still at one point, completely surrendering, soft as warm water melting into Himekoji Akito’s arms.

[Both parties’ Pleasure Levels Enhanced!]

Damn it, again?

Enough! Quit randomly boosting this creepy stuff, System!

Thanks to the System’s interference, Himekoji abruptly realized—

The dopamine, epinephrine, endorphins, phenethylamine, and posterior pituitary hormone levels in his body… were they all skyrocketing just from an ordinary kiss?

A sudden heat spread over him. His breathing grew rough and heavy.

He wanted… wanted to take her…

Damn it, what was he thinking?!

A shred of remaining sanity made him frantically, fearfully shove Miura away.

“Ah…”

Unprepared, the girl was pushed away abruptly. Her legs nearly gave out, and she almost fell. Luckily, Himekoji was quick, catching her in time.

But this meant the blushing, unsteady girl inevitably leaned her full weight against Himekoji once more.

Hmm… The System’s effects clearly weren’t just on him. Judging by her state, Miura seemed worse off than Akito. Completely dazed from the kiss.

Seriously… making a woman get all worked up from just a kiss… C’mon! I don’t need such a perverted cheat skill!

…

Miura’s foggy mind slowly cleared after a long moment.

The first thing she noticed, shockingly, was that she was disgracefully glued to the arms of that Pervert Himekoji!

What she embraced wasn’t the sun—just Himekoji Akito’s less-than-sturdy chest.

“You! Y-you… what did you just do?”

Miura Yumiko’s already crimson face flushed deeper, red down to her neck. Her cheeks felt like they would steam.

“Do? Probably did you.”

Akito rolled his eyes irritably.

“Hey, mind letting go now?”

Only then did Miura remember she was still clinging to him tightly. Flustered, she jerked her hands away.

“I-it wasn’t me holding you!”

“Yeah, yeah. It was me. I was the one who forced the kiss. I hugged you. Me, me, all me. Happy now? Satisfied?”

Akito couldn’t be bothered arguing. Humor her. Be the Queen all she wants. Not his business anyway.

He dismissed her with a wave and turned to leave.

“Wait!”

“What now?”

This time, it wasn’t his backpack caught, but the edge of Himekoji’s shirt.

“It… it was my first kiss…”

Her voice was barely a whisper, nearly inaudible.

“Yeah, right.”

Akito scoffed.

“I-it really was!”

The hand gripping his shirt suddenly clenched. Doubted on something like this? Fine. Her eyes flared wide in indignation, her lovely throat arching defiantly, Miura Yumiko glared fiercely back at him.

Why would she lie about this? Seventeen and still had her first kiss—nothing to brag about!

“The one on the Tennis Court was.”

Akito pried her fingers off his shirt one by one.

“And, by the way, that one was my first too. So neither of us lost. Neither gained. We’re even. Okay?”

Shaking Miura’s hand away lightly, Himekoji Akito turned and left decisively.

His departing back looked cool and handsome.

Miura’s rejected hand brushed against her skirt hem as she remained stunned on the spot.

…

“A mature, responsible man should at least learn to shoulder the blame.”

“No legend lasts forever, only the blame endured.”

“I aspire to be your Blame Bearer.”

“Carrying the blame is a man’s romance.”

“Damn it! Blame Bearer my foot! Romance, my ass! Can’t even make this up!”

“Sigh…”

Although he kept muttering under his breath rudely, words only he could hear… Himekoji Akito’s retreating back, vanishing without a glance behind, still looked undeniably cool.

Because… that was literally all that was left. Just the coolness.

…

“You, the pervert! If you just own up to your crime now, everyone wins, right? I keep being the Queen, high above, majestic. And you? You just add one more despicable act to your Pervert resume. Means nothing to you, right? After all, everyone already sees you as one! So… what’s stopping you?”

Hah. Being seen as a Pervert like this. Real nice.

Akito licked his lips, then suddenly spat –

“Damn it! That Lip Balm’s still sweet!”

…

Ordered to reflect at home… Actually, it was more like being given a holiday.

Anyway, aimless for days, Himekoji Akito holed up at home.

Read novels, watched anime, played online games—pure bliss.

Until—

“Hey! Can you just stay peacefully at school? Study quietly? Stop causing trouble?”

“Probably not.”

“Forcibly kissing someone in public? How is that any different from a Pervert?”

“Well? I am a Pervert.”

“Who said you get to be proud of that?!”

“Nah, I am ashamed.”

Akito focused intently on his game screen, sparing an absent-minded response to the sudden, lengthy lecture delivered at his ear by Eriri, who had popped up from nowhere.

“Do you look even slightly ashamed?”

“I am. Inside.”

“Why did you kiss that Miura?”

“Felt like it.”

“Felt like what?”

“Felt like kissing her forcefully.”

“Then you should’ve told me!”

“Okay. I felt like kissing her forcefully.”

“Huh? Wha-?! S-so blunt? R-right now?”

Suddenly flustered, Eriri whipped out a Lip Balm and hastily swiped it over her lips.

“I-it… it’s not entirely impossible.”

She took a deep breath, replying nervously.

“C-come on then…”

The golden-haired girl with Twin Tails squeezed her eyes shut, committing fully.

Silence fell in the room, filled only with the tension of waiting.

The sole sound was the monotonous, repeated clatter of Himekoji Akito’s fingers hammering his keyboard.

Half an hour later.

“Phew—Finally cleared that dungeon!”

Akito stretched contentedly.

Then, the next moment—

“Huh? Eriri? You still here? Why are your eyes closed? Standing asleep?”

Five questions in a row.