"Mmm~"
Feeling Aoba's actions, Kaguya couldn't help letting out a soft sound.
'Why is this different from what was written in the books? Shouldn't it start from... there?'
'Why is Aoba starting from my legs?'
Kaguya kept her eyes tightly shut, and her breathing gradually changed.
Aoba could naturally tell how nervous she was right now.
'It is easy to see from...'
As for why he was doing this.
Of course, it was because there was no way he was going to simply follow her plan and proceed as she wished.
Kaguya clearly wasn't mentally prepared yet. She had only made this decision because of the threat of the Otsutsuki Clan.
'How should I put it? She is a little naive, a little cute, and also a little moving.'
Since that was the case, as a man, Aoba wanted to give her the best experience possible.
First let her get used to things little by little, then slowly open her heart.
Still, Aoba was slightly surprised.
He didn't know whether it was because Kaguya had always moved around by flying with her abilities in the past, or because of the Otsutsuki Clan's natural traits, but the... softness even made him click his tongue.
When he pressed lightly against the soft skin, his fingers sank in quite a bit. Yet its firm elasticity quickly returned it to its original shape.
Aoba was actually curious.
'Does she even use this thing for walking?'
"Ao... Aoba?"
After a while, Kaguya finally opened her eyes and called out to Aoba, who was still wondering whether she could actually walk.
"What is it?"
Aoba came back to himself and looked up at her in confusion.
"It feels strange..."
Kaguya's eyes looked moist, giving her a somewhat pitiful appearance.
"..."
Aoba blinked.
'Looks like she doesn't walk much, so the nerves in her legs are especially sensitive.'
'In that case...'
Aoba let go.
But before Kaguya could relax... her Byakugan opened again.
"Wh-What are you doing?"
"Wasn't it you who said you wanted to have a child? Then we have to take it step by step, right?"
"I..."
For a moment, Kaguya didn't know how to answer.
'Even though that is true, if it starts from here, it still feels a little strange.'
'Then...'
What entered Aoba's view next was something that looked like a flawless work of art, as though it had been perfectly crafted by nature itself.
Looking at it now, it was even more stunning.
Her skin was smooth and delicate, like a piece of warm jade.
"Mmm~"
Kaguya let out a sound with no clear meaning.
"Hm? We've only just started. Don't tell me you're already at your limit, Kaguya?"
Seeing her like this, Aoba couldn't help smiling as he provoked her a little.
"No!"
And Kaguya really did fall for that.
After answering, she bit her lip and closed her eyes.
Looking as though no matter what Aoba did, she absolutely wouldn't react anymore.
But was that really true?
"Heh!"
Aoba merely chuckled.
He had more than ten years of skill.
Although Kaguya was over a thousand years old in a certain sense, she was undoubtedly still a complete beginner.
How could she possibly withstand it?
———
Half an hour later, Kaguya was lying on the bed.
Her lips were slightly parted as she continued breathing lightly, her chest rising and falling along with it.
Aoba had washed his hands in the bathroom. After drying them, he poured a glass of water and brought it back.
Though honestly, washing his hands hadn't really been necessary.
For Kaguya, that saying truly applied.
It was genuinely cleaner than most people's faces.
Still, after considering everything, he decided it was better to wash them.
Returning to the room, Aoba sat down beside the bed with the glass in hand.
Seeing Kaguya hold her breath the moment he entered and pretend that nothing had happened, he couldn't help finding it amusing.
"Alright, get up and drink some water first."
"..."
Silence was the only response.
Kaguya deliberately turned her face away, unwilling to pay attention to the man who had just bullied her.
Aoba could only smile helplessly.
He reached out and poked her cheek, making her look back at him.
"Didn't you say it was fine?"
"But... that's not what the books said at all," Kaguya glared at him unhappily.
'That only means the books are too conservative.'
Aoba complained beneath.
'It seems there are still plenty of private materials in Yakumo's collection that hasn't been taken out.'
He pinched her pleasantly soft cheek again.
"So how did it feel?"
"..."
Kaguya fell silent again.
But the warmth on her face answered the question for her.
Setting aside Aoba's techniques.
It was her first time being touched by someone.
How could she possibly withstand it?
Seeing her like this, Aoba withdrew his hand.
Then he helped her sit up, wrapped an arm around her waist, let her lean against his shoulder, and brought the glass to her lips.
This time, she obediently drank the water.
After she finished the entire glass, Aoba affectionately rubbed his cheek against hers.
"Let's take it slowly. There's no need to rush."
"..."
Kaguya lightly bit her lip.
"But... the Otsutsuki Clan could arrive at any time..."
"Kaguya, you can trust me. I'm very strong."
Aoba interrupted her directly.
Holding her, he said seriously, "I absolutely won't let anything happen to you!"
Kaguya froze slightly when she heard that, then looked at him somewhat blankly.
Of course she knew he was strong.
The fact that Hagoromo and Hamura had willingly released her showed that, in their eyes, he was stronger than she was.
Strong enough that they were confident he could seal her again.
'But the Otsutsuki Clan...'
'Being merely stronger than me isn't enough...'
Even so, at this moment, she couldn't bring herself to say those words.
Her instincts were urging her to trust him.
"I understand. But from now on, you have to come and keep me company every day. Just... just like earlier."
"?"
The serious expression on Aoba's face froze.
He clearly hadn't expected Kaguya to suddenly say something like that.
Naturally, it was because Kaguya still hadn't given up on her original idea.
She had simply extended the timeline a little and was no longer trying to accomplish everything in one step.
Like a game with stages, you had to clear the first level before unlocking the second.
After a brief pause, Aoba quickly recovered.
He didn't refuse. Instead, he said, "If you want me to come every day, shouldn't you help me out too?"
"?"