After the two had enough fun by the sea, they went back to the beach, found their shoes and socks, and planned to put them on.
Akira watched Sajuna skillfully sit on the spread-out book, then curled her toes, twisting her thumb and forefinger as if trying to simply clean out the sand between her toes.
After doing this for a while, she finally seemed to realize that it was impossible to clean the sand off her feet this way, so she simply reached out her hand and gently patted the sand off the top of her feet.
Akira, however, did not go to help Sajuna with anything at this moment.
Firstly, Sajuna didn't seem to need help; in fact, she appeared to be enjoying herself. Secondly, Akira wanted to control the number of times he touched Sajuna to suppress the endless thoughts in his mind.
Guan Guan Ju Jiu, on the river's isle.
Fair lady, a gentleman's good match.
Akira chuckled twice, then simply cleaned the sand off his feet, took out his socks from his shoes, put them on, and then pulled up the heel of his shoes, slipping his feet in.
Akira stood up, gently stomped his feet, then lifted his lower legs to adjust his feet's position inside the shoes, only then considering his own tasks complete.
Turning his face, Sajuna was already diligently putting on her over-the-knee socks.
Sajuna used both hands to stretch open the over-the-knee sock, then gathered all the fabric at the bottom of the sock in her hand until the bottom of the sock appeared in her line of sight, and then she slipped her right foot inside.
With her right foot propping up the sock from the inside, Sajuna slightly loosened her grip on the fabric, adjusted the material wrapping her foot, and then slowly pulled the sock up.
Sajuna watched as the over-the-knee sock clung to her skin, slowly revealing the curve of her calf, then suddenly turned her head to look at Akira.
"Aki-Kun, you're looking, aren't you?"
Although the words carried a hint of a question, the undeniable certainty in her tone was clear to anyone.
And indeed, Akira was truly watching Sajuna put on her socks with a serious expression, even contemplating what mischief he could get into.
"Yes, I'm looking."
Akira replied candidly.
"Because Sajuna is very cute."
No matter when, Sajuna was always very cute; her playful toes just now were like freshly polished pearls, making one want to hold them in the palm of their hand and play with them for a bit.
Just by looking, Akira felt as if the gentle warmth from Sajuna's sole slowly flowed into his heart, mixing with Sajuna's sweet smile, transforming into something ineffable.
Seeing Akira's unreserved demeanor, Sajuna's cheeks flushed a faint red. She opened and closed her mouth, but in the end said nothing, then quietly continued putting on her shoes and socks.
After both had finished putting on their shoes and socks, Akira began to tidy up the books that had been laid out on the beach. He gently patted them a few times, and most of the sand clinging to them fell off, then he casually put them into his backpack.
"Aki-Kun, you're just putting them in like that?"
Sajuna asked, puzzled.
"Of course. Otherwise, I can't wash them or anything. I'll just wipe them with paper when we get home."
"But, it's about time for the backpack to be washed too."
Akira muttered to himself, reaching out to take Sajuna's hand. Sajuna's palm was warm, as if radiating heat.
Sajuna walked alongside Akira, feeling a slight tingle spread from her palm to her heart. She pouted her beautiful lips slightly, as if to show Akira.
But Akira was walking in front of Sajuna, so for a moment he couldn't see Sajuna's little emotions, only feeling that the palms of their clasped hands grew warmer.
The two walked hand in hand to the top of the stairs. Akira, pulling Sajuna, suddenly stopped, then turned his head to look at Sajuna.
"Aki-Kun, what's wrong?"
"I've always seen some scenes in romance novels, and I always feel that Sajuna could try them out too."
"Aki-Kun, what are you talking about?"
Sajuna didn't know what Aki-Kun was talking about.
However, speaking of romance novels, Sajuna hadn't read many, after all, having read a few, and then comparing them to her current life, she always felt that her own life was sweeter.
There was no need to seek a sense of superiority from novels.
Akira lowered his head and kissed Sajuna's forehead, then led her to the edge of the stairs, settling her there, while he himself stepped down one step.
The height of the step was not short, so it significantly lowered Akira's height. He bent slightly and lowered his head, and Sajuna's cheek was suddenly within arm's reach.
Sajuna looked up at Akira, listening to him speak softly.
"Shoujo manga or romance novels always have scenes where the girl stands on tiptoe to kiss her boyfriend. Authors often portray such scenes as extremely heartwarming and blissful, so I always thought of letting Sajuna experience this kind of happiness too."
"But I can neither increase Sajuna's height nor temporarily make myself shorter, so I can only use this method."
Listening to Akira's words, Sajuna also felt a strange sense of anticipation in her heart, her cheeks flushed pink as she gently brushed her long hair aside.
Akira watched Sajuna reach out and lightly grasp his clothes, as if to maintain her balance, her body leaning slightly forward, rising onto her tiptoes, her eyes shyly closed.
A maiden's heart is always poetry.
Blue, blue are your lapels, deep, deep is my heart. Though I do not go, why do you not send word?
Blue, blue are your pendants, deep, deep is my longing. Though I do not go, why do you not come?
What Akira wanted to do was to satisfy the heart of this girl in front of him who loved him, to keep the two of them always in that 'life is but a first encounter' heartbeat moment.
So Akira reached out and gently stroked Sajuna's smooth cheek, lowering his head to lightly kiss Sajuna's lips.
The caress on her cheek and the touch on her lips made Sajuna unable to resist opening her eyes, seeing the tenderness and affection in Aki-Kun's eyes.
Sajuna looked at the handsome and heartwarming Aki-Kun in front of her, feeling her heart melt.
Akira didn't intend for it to last long. He reached out and took Sajuna's hand, rubbing it against his cheek a few times.
"Sajuna, do you feel the happiness of standing on tiptoe?"
Sajuna looked at Akira, who had a gentle smile on his face, feeling that all the proactive actions she had taken today seemed powerless at this moment.
She had still been defeated by Aki-Kun's offensive.
The more Sajuna thought this, the more she felt an uncontrollable urge to throw herself into Aki-Kun's arms, even wanting to repeat the "happiness of standing on tiptoe" once more.
Unable to bear it any longer, Sajuna finally shouted loudly at Akira, feeling as if her last bit of courage had been used up.
"Aki-Kun is too naughty! I haven't even used my tongue yet."