"No, no, I won't. Agreeing to drink was already pushing it; smoking is out of the question. Spare me."
Renji waved his hand in refusal and walked forward. As he walked, his gaze constantly scanned the street ahead and behind, checking for passing taxis.
"Oh, don't be such a spoilsport… just one puff. It's really simple. I'll teach you, okay?" Himeno took large strides, following closely behind Renji, muttering continuously, trying to persuade him to try smoking.
"Please, just one… just one cigarette… please?"
Seeing Renji unmoved, Himeno continued to act coquettishly and persistently. Renji could understand Himeno's intention to take his "first time," but he genuinely disliked smoking. Finally, Renji was so pestered by Himeno that he had no choice but to reluctantly agree.
"Alright, alright. Just one."
Hearing this, Himeno was instantly overjoyed. She quickly pulled out a lighter from her pocket, lit the cigarette, then held it between two fingers, eagerly about to bring it to Renji's lips.
"No need to bother. I'll do it myself."
Renji reached out, took the cigarette, and gently took a puff. The pungent smell of tobacco instantly filled his mouth and nasal cavity.
Frowning slightly, Renji secretly muttered that the taste was still unbearable, and then exhaled the smoke, symbolically indicating that he had smoked.
"Hoo~"
A hint of disappointment appeared on Himeno's face.
Seeing this, Renji hesitated for a moment, then steeled himself and put the cigarette back into his mouth, taking a deep drag. This time, he tried to let the smoke enter his lungs.
Then a strong sense of discomfort washed over him. Renji's face suddenly turned crimson, and his body involuntarily bent over. Leaning against a lamppost, he began to cough violently.
Seeing this, Himeno's face showed a happy and satisfied expression. She reached out and gently patted Renji's back.
"How is it I told you smoking feels great, didn't I"
Finally, a taxi drove by. Himeno hurriedly waved it down, and the two of them finally made it home.
"I'm home."
Renji took out his keys and opened the door to enter.
"Second time disturbing you today~" Himeno followed behind, politely saying.
Renji noticed that the lights in the inner room were on. Aki and the others must have returned.
The two entered the house one after another, heading straight to the entryway to change their shoes.
A rush of footsteps suddenly came from behind. Subconsciously turning his head, Renji saw Power rushing towards him with an angry expression.
Before he could react, Power had already reached out and grabbed Renji's collar, lifting him completely off the ground.
"What… what are you doing! Put me down!" Renji was thoroughly startled by this sudden action.
"You bastard!" Power snarled. "You dared to lie to me! Your dick can't talk at all! It's just an ordinary human organ! Were you treating me like an idiot back then?! And I trusted you so much!"
"Huh?! What are you talking about!"
Renji was momentarily bewildered, still trying to figure out what was happening, when his peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of the corner of the hallway ahead.
Denji was peeking out half his head, stealthily observing them. His small hands were tightly covering his mouth, seemingly trying to suppress his laughter, but an uncontrollable "giggle" still came through intermittently.
Even though Denji tried his best to keep his laughter quiet, Renji still heard some. And so did Power.
In an instant, Power's face turned crimson, feeling even more embarrassed. She let out a low growl, similar to a dog's, and her strength unconsciously increased.
"Renji, you bastard! I'm going to tear you to shreds and eat you!"
Himeno, who was beside them, first paused slightly, then immediately understood. She burst into laughter, looking at Power's red-faced embarrassment, tears streaming from her eyes from laughing.
"Ren… Renji, did you forget? It was that… that time in the basement of the large building… you… didn't you let Power touch it… you know… hahahaha…" Himeno explained breathlessly.
Only then did Renji remember.
In the basement of the gang building, Power had insisted on touching him, so Renji let her.
During that time, he had imitated its tone, talking to Power from that perspective. He didn't expect Power to actually believe it. Her small hands had playfully teased and touched all over.
Himeno had been lying on a nearby table at the time, and she was well aware of this matter.
Seeing Power's reaction now, it must have been exposed. Someone must have told her that it couldn't actually talk, and that she had been tricked by Renji.
"Calm down, calm down, Power. Calm down first." Renji raised his hands defensively. "I… I was just… um… just joking, haha. Sorry, sorry. It won't happen again next time."
"See! Renji, you really were messing with me! I'll chop you with a hand knife!!!"
"Hahahahahahahaha… Idiot! Power is a brainless idiot… hahahahaha…"
Denji finally couldn't hold it in anymore. He collapsed onto the floor and laughed heartily, just like Himeno, but even more unrestrainedly than her.
Before this, Power always boasted to Denji about what she had touched, and how it had even responded to her and excitedly called her Power-sama. That had made Denji quite displeased.
Every time Denji saw Power looking smug, he gritted his teeth in frustration, but there was nothing he could do. However, at this moment, realizing that Power was the one being teased, he couldn't describe how happy he felt.
"Hey."
Aki, wrapped in a scarf, walked out from around the corner. He held a spoon and lightly tapped a small pot in his other hand.
"Dinner's ready. Himeno, could you lend a hand? There's some beer to move," Aki said.
Himeno quickly responded, "Alright, alright~"
Himeno jogged past Aki and headed straight for the kitchen.
Aki glanced at Renji, who was being forcefully pulled up and down by Power, but did not go forward to help him. He turned and walked towards the kitchen.
"Hey! Aki, help me!"
Power chopped down on Renji with a hand knife. "Shut up!"
Renji held his chopsticks, about to reach for the beef, when an arm suddenly stretched out, blocking his chopsticks. Power bared her teeth at Renji.
Renji then shifted his target to the meatballs elsewhere, but Power once again blocked his chopsticks with her arm, and again bared her teeth at him.
Renji felt like losing his temper, but Power's words stopped him.
"If you've got the guts, call out your dick and let it speak for you!" she snarled. "Didn't you call me Power-sama?! Maybe then I'll let you off!"
He choked back his retort.
Denji was picking up hotpot, and Himeno was holding a beer bottle. Both of them burst out laughing at the same time.
Aki's face was slightly flushed, and he ate his meal normally, without much reaction.
Renji was also a bit embarrassed, knowing he was in the wrong. He didn't argue much with Power and simply decided not to eat for now. He picked up his glass and silently drank his wine.
Denji's childhood experience was very special. He ate heartily, consuming everything. Before long, he lay on the ground contentedly, not forgetting to let out a burp that smelled of alcohol.
"I'm full… huff… huff…"
"If you're sleepy, go back to your room to sleep," Aki said.