"Watch this—pole vault!"
"Shichen~ Shichen~ how did you craft that pole? Why can't I make one?"
"Heh. With your progress being that slow, how could you craft it? Just be good and keep picking up branches."
"I want to pole vault too!"
"But you don't have a pole. Go catch bugs, fish, and collect shells—pay off your loan faster."
"Damn it…!"
"…Shichen-nii, you're seriously such a kid."
Seeing Shichen show off his in-game progress right in Kanna's face, Takina couldn't bear it anymore.
"What do you know? Men stay boys until the day they die. If I don't flex now, I'll never get the chance later," Shichen said smugly, guiding his on-screen character to pole vault back and forth over a river.
Kanna watched with open envy, but she was still so early in the game that all she could do was gather weeds to sell and pay off debt—plus the occasional bug-catching and fishing.
No choice. Shichen didn't have to go to school like she did. He had all the time in the world to grind at home.
Their progress naturally got separated fast.
And honestly? "Macho man picking up sticks" was weirdly addicting. Shichen got hard-stuck for thirty minutes at first, but then he was hooked.
Paying off debt felt… fun. Motivating.
No wonder so many people liked mortgages.
Pressure really did create drive.
"Shichen~ don't get cocky. I'll catch up soon," Kanna declared, gripping the console with a serious expression, big eyes locked on the screen.
"You won't. Unless you sneak-play. But you're not allowed to take it to school, and you're not allowed to stay up late," Shichen warned.
"I would never! I'm a good student," Kanna said proudly, chin lifted.
"Then how are you going to catch up?" Shichen asked, amused.
"By waiting for you to leave. When you're gone, you can't play. In a month, I'll catch up—and pass you by."
"Oh, so that's your plan. What, you want me to leave that badly? You don't want me to play with you?" Shichen set the console down, pulled Kanna into his lap, and squished her chubby cheeks.
"I do want to play with you. But don't you have important stuff to do? While you're back, it's enough if you can spend time with me," Kanna said, surprisingly mature.
"…You're way too sensible." Shichen was genuinely touched. "Kanna, you're so cute." He nuzzled her cheek and gave her a quick kiss.
"Hmph. So… can you wait for me?" Kanna asked, blinking cutely.
"So you do have an agenda. But—nope!" Shichen rejected her righteously.
"Damn it!"
Takina sighed. "Seriously, Shichen-nii, you really are like a kid sometimes."
"That's called having a youthful heart," Shichen shot back.
"In that case," Chisato said as she entered the game room, hair still damp and warm from her shower, cheeks rosy and smelling fresh, "Mr. Youthful Heart should go bathe and sleep, shouldn't he?"
"What time is it?" Shichen asked.
"Eleven. If you don't sleep, Kanna can't sleep either."
"…Already? Fine. Kanna, stop playing. Bedtime." Shichen took the console from her hands.
"Eeh—" Kanna whined.
"Play tomorrow. Illya and the others already showered and went to bed, you know~"
"…Okay." Kanna was obedient in the end. She hopped down and trotted off to her room on short legs.
Shichen stood, put the console away, and told Chisato, "I'm going to shower. You can play with Takina for a bit."
"That's no fun. Takina isn't a challenge," Chisato said, giving Takina a dismissive look.
"I can't pretend I didn't hear that." Takina's face went serious, competitive fire flaring in her eyes.
"Heh—good luck, Takina." Shichen laughed and left.
"Chisato. Match me."
"I'll play," Chisato said with a bright smile, "but we need a stake."
"What stake? Anything." Takina was fully possessed by competitiveness and didn't notice the trap.
"Simple. The loser follows the winner's orders."
"What kind of orders?"
"I haven't decided. Anything works."
"Fine. Let's go!" Takina pushed immediately.
"Best of three then, so you can't claim it doesn't count if you lose."
"Me? 'Can't handle losing?' I'll show you what I can do!"
…
Splash… splash…
Shichen wiped water from his face and was about to get out of the bath.
He'd soaked longer than he meant to.
Baths were like that. You think you don't want one—then warm water wraps around you, and suddenly your whole body melts.
The only downside was he was alone. If someone were here with him, he could stay longer.
"Hm?"
Right as he moved, he heard something—soft footsteps outside.
Someone was here?
At this hour, everyone should have washed up and gone to bed.
So… someone knew he was bathing and decided to take advantage.
Shichen settled back into the tub, waiting.
A little time passed, but no one came in. Whoever it was just hovered at the door.
Too shy?
If they were bold enough to come here, what was there to be shy about?
"Are you coming in or not?" Shichen called out.
"Uh—!" A startled sound came from outside.
The voice made Shichen pause.
Before he could process it, the bathroom door eased open, and a graceful figure stepped in—long straight black hair, a towel wrapped around her, bare shoulders and calves pale and clean.
"Takina?!" Shichen stared.
"Shi-Shichen-nii…" Takina's face was bright red. She couldn't meet his eyes.
"…You… why are you here?" Shichen asked.
Takina didn't answer. She just took small steps forward, slowly approaching the tub.
Shichen immediately guessed. "Chisato did something, didn't she?"
But Takina still didn't say anything. She reached the edge of the tub and hesitated, staring at the water.
"You don't have to do this," Shichen said gently. "You don't need to let her pressure you."
"…No," Takina finally said, raising her eyes. "I… chose to come."
Shichen froze.
Takina's expression steadied. Then she stepped into the tub and sat down beside him, not moving.
"You sure?" Shichen asked quietly.
"…Yeah."
Shichen reached out and drew her close.
She went stiff, and he could hear her heartbeat pounding. She was embarrassed—but there was something else there too. A restless tension.
Maybe Chisato was right. If Takina didn't take the first step, Shichen might never push.
Thinking that, Takina relaxed—leaning into him, seeking his warmth.
"Can I hold you?" Shichen asked.
"…Mm."
He pulled her onto his lap, and she wrapped her arms around him from behind. The towel couldn't hide how athletic and toned she was.
Shichen rested his chin on her shoulder and breathed warm air near her ear.
Takina shivered.
"Takina," he murmured, "do you realize you're walking into danger?"
"…Because you won't make the first move, Shichen-nii," Takina whispered.
Shichen fell silent at that.
"Shichen—" Takina started to turn—
And Shichen kissed her.
Takina's eyes went wide, mind blank.
He was rebutting her in the most direct way possible.
Takina couldn't help smiling. She closed her eyes, turned fully toward him, and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Shichen held her, deepening the kiss—gentle but certain.
When he finally let her breathe, Takina was gasping, her whole body shaking.
Then Shichen removed the towel.
"Shichen—!" Takina yelped.
"Bathing with a towel on is rude," Shichen said with exaggerated seriousness.
Takina actually laughed. "You just wanted to look."
"And you weren't looking at me?" Shichen shot back.
Takina turned crimson.
"Takina." Shichen's gaze softened, but it was intense.
Takina swallowed, then nodded. "I'm… okay."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
"I understand," Shichen said.
He leaned in, and the scene fades into intimate warmth—soft voices, water sounds, and then singing—quiet at first, then steadier as they find their rhythm together.
Outside the bathroom door, Chisato leaned against the wall, listening. A pleased smile tugged at her lips.
"Told you. Sometimes you just need a push."
Then she paused, eyes narrowing.
But from what Takina had said… maybe Takina had wanted this for a long time—and Chisato was just the excuse.
"…Huh."
She smirked.
"Fine. Tomorrow I'm going to tease her into the ground."
Let her learn how cruel the world can be.
~~~
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