Rin's words broke the dam. Nijika's eyes burned, and the tears flowed freely. Ryo often teased her about being a "mom," and Nijika had accepted that burden, worrying for everyone.
She wasn't always like this. When she was little, her sister Seika was irresponsible, obsessed with music, and often stayed out late. Her father was always away for work. Nijika only had her gentle mother. But her mother died when she was nine.
Seika eventually stepped up to support Nijika's band, but in reality, Nijika took care of Seika. Seika was useless at chores, couldn't cook, slept with stuffed animals, and wore cute bear pajamas. Nijika had stepped into her mother's shoes to keep the family together.
And now, with graduation approaching and the pressure of university exams, the stress was showing in her hair.
"Ugh..."
Rin stroked her hair and patted her back, letting her vent the years of built-up pressure. Finally, Nijika wiped her eyes and mumbled, "I feel like... the President is like a father."
"If you want, you can call me Daddy," Rin joked.
"Eh?" Nijika pushed him away, blushing furiously. "I was just talking! I didn't mean it like that!"
Rin smiled. "You just put too much on yourself. It's okay to be a bit brainless like Ryo sometimes."
"If I'm not serious, who will look after them?" She blinked at him, her eyes still red. "I can't just leave them."
"Spoken like a true Mama Nijika."
"Stop it!"
A sudden, sharp moan from upstairs interrupted them. It sounded like Ryo. The sound made Nijika's blush deepen until her whole face was a masterpiece of crimson.
"I know you can't leave them, but don't carry the world on your shoulders alone."
Rin leaned in close, his lips inches from hers. "A little relaxation to relieve the stress is a good choice."
Nijika held her breath. She didn't pull away. She looked into Rin's dark eyes. With a soft whimper, she closed her eyes.
Rin kissed her. It was soft and sweet. He didn't force his tongue in immediately; he just gently moistened her dry lips. His hand slipped under her uniform, but he didn't go for her sensitive spots yet, just stroking her soft, warm skin.
It was Nijika's first kiss. Her brain felt like it was short-circuiting. So this is what it feels like... it's so nice.
His hands moved from her back to her small, firm breasts, then down to her flat belly and toward her thighs. His tongue finally pried her teeth open, finding her small, nervous tongue. Guided by him, Nijika wrapped her arms around his neck, becoming surprisingly proactive despite her shame.
After a long while, Rin pulled back.
"Pre—!" Nijika froze. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flash of red.
It was Kita.
They stared at each other in frozen silence.
"I-I-I'M SO SORRY!" Kita screamed and bolted back upstairs. Nijika jumped off the sofa and chased after her. "KITA! IT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE!"
Kita thought she'd interrupted a private moment. She'd assumed Nijika wasn't involved because she'd stayed away during the "verification" earlier. She didn't realize Nijika was getting hers downstairs!