"Mmm~!"
The summer heat pressed down on them like a physical weight. Kasumigaoka Utaha felt it acutely—her body temperature climbing, her thoughts growing hazy, her limbs losing all strength as if she'd melted from within.
She leaned against Akira, needing his support just to remain standing.
"Bai..." Her voice was soft, breathless. "I'm so hot."
"Hot?" His arms tightened around her. "I'll help you cool down."
"Mm."
Dazed. Confused. Adrift in sensations she'd only ever written about, never experienced.
The controller—still in its wrapper, technically—already revealed the rhythmic curves beneath its surface. The texture. The buttons. The scroll wheel. Everything about it seemed designed specifically for his hands, for his touch, for him.
"Shiwa-chan." His voice was gentle, guiding. "I'm going to help you cool down now. I need to undress you a little, okay?"
She could only nod, her mind too overwhelmed for words.
Tiny beads of sweat had formed on her skin, catching the sunlight like scattered diamonds. He unfastened the restraints of her uniform, and she drew a deep, shuddering breath—like a drowning survivor surfacing for air, greedy and desperate.
Another gust of wind swept across the rooftop. The temperature dropped slightly.
But the next wave that washed over her wasn't heat—it was shyness, sudden and overwhelming. Her arms lifted instinctively to cover her face.
"Akira..." Her voice was muffled. "You... hurry up..."
The rooftop. The risk of someone appearing. Small probability, but not zero. Enough to make her heart pound with fear and excitement in equal measure.
Akira could see her state clearly—the conflict, the arousal, the lingering emotional high from their revelation. He understood that the pre-training phase needed acceleration.
"I know." His smile was warm, appreciative. "But missing a view like this would be a true tragedy."
"You... oh dear!"
The little bear peeked through the gap, sensing something sweet nearby. Something it wanted desperately.
In its eagerness, it grew impatient.
Rip.
The thin black gauze barrier gave way, torn open by eager claws.
"Mmm~!"
Passing by the door three times without entering.
The little bear couldn't understand. The prize was right there, visible, accessible. Why couldn't it just have?
Akira smiled.
Kasumigaoka Utaha's breath caught.
And then—finally—the waiting ended.
[Training Complete.]
[Settlement Interface:]
[Host: Akira]
[Class: Trainer]
[Strength: 36.3] (+13.0)
[Agility: 35.5] (+12.0)
[Endurance: 36.0] (+12.6)
[Skills: Trainer Basic Skill LV1 (Proficiency 20%)]
[Combat Proficiency (Proficiency 90%)]
[Language Mastery (Proficiency 17%)]
[Swordsmanship Mastery (Grandmaster)]
[Character: Kasumigaoka Utaha]
[Potential: A]
[Loyalty: 85]
[Strength: 1.8] (+1.0)
[Agility: 1.7] (+1.0)
[Endurance: 2.2] (+1.0)
[Skills: Inspiration Spark, Advanced Writing (Proficiency 50%)]
[Evolution Progress: 45%]
[Status: Exhausted]
Akira studied the numbers with clinical satisfaction.
Saeko Busujima's session had contributed the bulk of his growth—nearly two points in each category for her, multiplied fivefold through their bond. Ten-point increases across the board. The swordsmanship improvement, while significant, hadn't been enough to push him from Grandmaster to Perfection. That ceiling remained frustratingly intact.
Kasumigaoka Utaha's contribution was smaller but still substantial. Her training limit had only reached 70%—first session limitations—but her gains still provided a two-point boost to all his attributes through their Normal Capture Ball bond.
Interesting, he noted. Even among A-rank potentials, there are clear hierarchies.
Yumi Souo, with similar potential, gained only fractions of a point from full training sessions. Kasumigaoka Utaha had doubled that output. Potential alone didn't tell the whole story—individual variance mattered.
Not that Akira would let such calculations affect his treatment of anyone. Rationality didn't require neglect.
But Kasumigaoka Utaha's Evolution Progress caught his attention. Forty-five percent from a single session. Two more training sessions, and she'd likely reach evolution threshold.
What skill will she develop? he wondered. Something that could push her into Platinum Ball territory?
"Mmm~!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha sat up from the rooftop floor, one hand pressing against her stomach as if steadying herself. Akira moved immediately, retrieving the discarded wrapping—her uniform, her undergarments—from where they'd accumulated.
"Senpai. Let me help you."
She watched him approach with hooded eyes, a small smile playing at her lips. "Your technique is very practiced, Amorous War God. How many beautiful girls have you corrupted like me?"
He chuckled, helping her step back into her skirt. "Of course. Who do you think I am?"
"Indeed." She let him dress her, arms raised complacently. "You've become quite the otaku, filled with lewd thoughts."
"Pot calling the kettle black." His fingers found an opportunity, flicking a sensitive dial as he adjusted her waistband. "We're evenly matched."
Her body trembled—just slightly, just enough. "Hmph." She tossed her head, affecting indignation. "Don't think my fondness for you means you can do whatever you want."
But her hands were already reaching for her uniform, buttoning with practiced efficiency.
The black stockings, however, presented a problem. The little bear's enthusiasm had left a torn window that couldn't be repaired. Kasumigaoka Utaha considered them for a moment, then made a decision.
She stepped out of them completely, rolled the damaged garment into a small bundle, and tossed it to Akira.
"Here." Her smile held something knowing, something provocative. "A souvenir. You might need them tonight."
Akira caught the stockings—still warm, still carrying her scent.
Tonight.
The word hung between them, heavy with implication.
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