There was a Side Story chapter that was supposed to be released after chapter 210, but because it wasn't part of the main count, I forgot to post it. I'll put it at the end of this chapter.
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And so, with Shiina Hiyori and Shiraishi Asuka in tow, Shikime Natsu left Class C's Base Camp at a leisurely pace — all under the weight of Ryuuen Kakeru's dark, brooding stare.
Ryuuen sat on that reef, fingers idly turning the shell he'd picked up earlier. His gaze bored into Natsu's retreating back, and his eyes were anything but pleased.
"That guy..."
He muttered a low curse, squeezed the shell hard in his grip, then flung it off to the side.
"So he really has no intention of using this exam to crush the other classes underfoot?"
If it had been Katsuragi Kouhei on the other end of that deal, the man might have said he needed time to think, but his heart would already be sold. After all, getting intel on the other classes' Leaders would put Class A in an unassailable position — they could blow the scoring gap wide open in one shot.
But with Shikime Natsu...
Ryuuen always felt a deep, gnawing helplessness. From the very first time they'd met, he had never once managed to see through that man.
Shikime Natsu had seen right through this school's ruleset from day one. His observational ability was frightening enough on its own — and then there was his combat ability, which was on a whole other level. Just thinking about it made Ryuuen unconsciously reach up and touch his own face. The image of Natsu on that rooftop, taking on multiple opponents alone, was still crystal-clear in his memory. And in the deal that followed, Natsu had played him like a fiddle without even breaking a sweat.
Even Nagumo Miyabi had lost to Shikime Natsu outright. The man always carried this strange, almost inexplicable self-assurance — but unlike the idiots in Class D, who had all the confidence and none of the ability, Ryuuen had yet to figure out just how deep Natsu's actual capabilities ran.
It was as if no matter what obstacle appeared, no matter what situation he was thrown into, he could handle it effortlessly — without so much as blinking.
"Could it be..."
Ryuuen narrowed his eyes as a thought flickered through his mind.
"Is that monster going to accurately identify the other classes' Leaders in this uninhabited island exam too?"
But the moment the thought surfaced, he shot it down himself.
"No. Impossible."
"For one thing, he would never move against Class C or Class D."
After all, both of those classes had his girlfriends — Shiina Hiyori and Sakura Airi.
Given Shikime Natsu's personality — the kind of man who put his women above everything else — there was simply no way he would let his girlfriends suffer for the sake of points, or land them in a situation where their own classmates turned on them.
As for Class B...
His main girlfriend wasn't there, but Natsu also had a decent relationship with Class B's Leader, Ichinose Honami — and a handful of Class B girls had their eyes on him too, for that matter.
Not that Ryuuen had gone out of his way to dig that up. The evidence was right in his own class — there were a few hopeless cases there who had developed feelings for Shikime Natsu as well.
The more Ryuuen turned it over in his mind, the deeper his frown became, and the more his irritation gnawed at him.
"So that guy... he genuinely isn't planning to make a move against any other class during this island exam?"
"He's really not afraid of Class B or Class C overtaking Class A while he's sitting on his hands?"
Class D could be written off entirely — no matter how golden an opportunity you handed them, overtaking Class A at this stage was a pipe dream. The gap between them was a solid thousand class points, after all.
But Class B and Class C were a different story.
The gap between those two classes and Class A existed, sure — but it wasn't an uncrossable chasm. If this special exam played out right — say, correctly identifying Class A's Leader, or securing a massive advantage in Base Camp territory — a single exam could flip the whole standings on their head.
And yet...
Shikime Natsu was walking around like none of this was his problem. He'd come to Class C's Base Camp, and it turned out it was only to find Shiina Hiyori — not a single move directed at any other class.
As for learning Class C's Leader from Shiina Hiyori's lips — at least as far as Ryuuen could see, that was impossible. Doing so would mean blowing up Hiyori's standing inside Class C.
Of course, there was a straightforward solution to that whole problem: gather twenty million personal points, and Shiina Hiyori could simply be transferred to Class A outright.
At the rate Shikime Natsu accumulated points, twenty million was well within reach — but Natsu didn't only have one girlfriend. If he were going to transfer anyone, it would make more sense to pull Sakura Airi out of that sinking ship first.
"What the hell is that guy even thinking...?"
It was precisely because Shikime Natsu was such an unpredictable variable that Ryuuen hadn't gone all-in from the start, blowing every last exam-use point he had on day one.
His original plan had been to probe Natsu's stance first — see if a deal was even on the table.
If Natsu was willing to cooperate, then Ryuuen could spend his points freely on supplies, keep a portion to use as bargaining chips in the deal, and use the rest to throw up a smokescreen for the other classes.
But now...
Natsu clearly had zero interest in working with him.
"Tch. Good thing I kept something in reserve."
Ryuuen glanced back at the few extra tents behind him, and the knot in his chest loosened a fraction.
Whether the deal had gone through or not, those tents were a necessity either way.
If the deal had succeeded, they could've been sold to Class A as bargaining chips, traded for better returns.
Now that it had fallen through...
Those tents were Class C's insurance for a long grind.
Without being able to gain points or supplies through a deal, the next few days would just have to be weathered through sheer endurance.
"Going forward, I'll need to put those idiots on a tight leash. No wasting anything."
Ryuuen turned the numbers over in his head.
If the harsh conditions led to someone dropping out of the exam due to illness, every point deducted would be a real, concrete loss. They wouldn't just fall further behind Class A — Class B might leave them in the dust too.
"Looks like... it's time to rethink the plan."
Meanwhile.
After leaving Class C's Base Camp, the three of them continued pressing deeper into the forest.
Only now...
With Shiina Hiyori — Natsu's actual girlfriend — in the group, Shiraishi Asuka, who had been walking right alongside Natsu before, found herself unconsciously drifting back a half-step as they moved.
She kept a proper smile on her face, but her eyes kept drifting over to the couple beside her — the two of them holding hands and radiating that unmistakable, saccharine pink-bubble energy.
"Well..."
She let out a quiet, private sigh in her heart.
"I really have become the third wheel, haven't I."
She'd mentally prepared herself for this before they'd even set out — had even told Natsu with complete conviction that she'd know when to make herself scarce. But now that it was actually happening...
Watching the tender look in Natsu's eyes when he looked at Hiyori, listening to the soft, natural murmur of their sweet back-and-forth — Shiraishi Asuka had to admit her psychological fortitude was not quite what she'd imagined it to be.
The awkwardness of being the "extra person" made her feel thoroughly uncomfortable in her own skin.
Natsu was holding Hiyori's hand, but he hadn't forgotten about Shiraishi Asuka behind them.
He knew exactly what was going through her mind right now. But... it wasn't as if he could just turn around and tell her "you can leave," could it?
So instead, Natsu quietly activated his Purification ability and let it settle over Shiraishi Asuka. The moment it did, the tangled, restless thoughts swirling inside her began to dissolve and clear away.
Shiraishi Asuka felt the weight she'd been carrying inside ease up noticeably.
With her mood lifted, the smile on her face became genuinely natural again. She quickened her pace to catch up with the other two and started actively joining the conversation, chatting with Shiina Hiyori about the island's scenery and the plants they passed.
The atmosphere between the three of them finally settled into something warm and easy.
They walked on, and after pushing through a stretch of undergrowth, two familiar figures came into view ahead.
It was Sakura Airi, gathering wild fruit. And standing beside her was a beautiful girl with long, lustrous violet hair — Kamuro Masumi.
Both of them had large leaves piled with fruit in their hands. It looked like they'd been picking and chatting at the same time, and by all appearances, they were getting along quite well.
"Airi! Masumi!"
Natsu called out with a smile and raised a hand in greeting.
At the sound of his voice, both of them turned around at once.
The moment Sakura Airi saw Natsu, those blue eyes of hers lit up with pure, undisguised delight.
"Natsu!"
She stepped right in front of him, those eyes of hers drinking him in like she was trying to fit all of him inside them at once.
"Hiyori, hello to you too."
Catching sight of the two who'd come with Natsu, Sakura Airi turned to give a greeting to Shiina Hiyori and Shiraishi Asuka both.
Her gaze lingered on Shiraishi Asuka for a moment. Another quite adorable girl. She wasn't in Airi's information network yet though — which meant this was someone Natsu had recently gotten to know?
Kamuro Masumi walked over as well and exchanged greetings with the three of them.
"Are you two gathering ingredients?"
Natsu glanced at what both of them were carrying and asked with an easy smile.
"Mm."
Sakura Airi nodded and held up the leaf in her hands to show off the fruit piled on top.
"Masumi, thank you for the trouble."
Natsu turned to Kamuro Masumi, his tone warm and unhurried. The "trouble" he was referring to was, of course, the meals she'd been delivering to Shiina Hiyori and Sakura Airi on his behalf.
"Don't mention it."
Kamuro Masumi gave a small shake of her head — but even so, hearing Natsu's thanks, the corners of her usually-pressed lips curved upward, just a tiny fraction. She was clearly in a rather good mood.
Natsu smiled, then reached out and handed Sakura Airi the other leaf-wrapped bundle he'd been keeping warm this whole time.
"Airi, this is for you."
"I grilled the fish myself."
"Wow... thank you, Natsu!"
Sakura Airi accepted it with both hands, felt the warmth seeping into her palms, and something soft and warm spread through her chest.
After that, Natsu took the pile of unprocessed fruit from Airi's hands.
Drawing on his photographic memory of plant knowledge, he sorted through it quickly.
"This red one is fine to eat — it's sweet."
"This purple one has mild toxins. Can't eat it."
"This yellow one is extremely sour — not recommended for eating as-is..."
As he spoke, he set aside anything that couldn't be eaten.
Of course, the discarded fruit couldn't just be tossed on the ground — the school had a strict rule against environmental contamination. Natsu pulled out a small trash bag he'd brought along, bagged all the rejected fruit, and planned to carry it back to Base Camp for proper disposal.
With that little chore handled, the scene in front of them was, frankly, quite a sight to behold.
All three of Shikime Natsu's girlfriends — Shiina Hiyori, Sakura Airi, and Kamuro Masumi — were now gathered in one place.
Shiraishi Asuka, meanwhile, stood among this group feeling very much like the odd one out. Fortunately, with Natsu's Purification ability still doing its quiet work, the third-wheel sensation weighing on her had faded considerably.
"Here, Airi, let me introduce you."
Natsu drew Shiraishi Asuka forward and addressed Sakura Airi.
"This is Shiraishi Asuka — a classmate of mine."
"Shiraishi-san, this is Sakura Airi — also my girlfriend."
"Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too..."
The two exchanged introductions.
As for Kamuro Masumi, no introduction was needed — she and Shiraishi Asuka both belonged to Class A and saw each other every day.
Natsu smiled and addressed the group.
"Honestly, if Shiraishi-san hadn't helped me with the ingredients earlier, I doubt I could've freed up the time to come out here this quickly."
"Oh, it was nothing."
Shiraishi Asuka laughed softly and waved a hand in dismissal.
"I didn't really do much at all — if anything, I only helped a tiny little bit. The one who actually did so much for the class and made things easy for everyone was Shiki-san himself."
As she spoke, Shiraishi Asuka quickly steered the focus back toward Natsu. After all, she wasn't well-acquainted with the others, and the only common topic linking them all was Shikime Natsu.
Since Natsu had turned her into a third wheel, the very least he could do was take responsibility for it.
"Oh right — Natsu, I just heard from Masumi that you built five wooden cabins for Class A. What do they look like? I want to go see them — would that be okay?"
Just as the conversation was flowing along pleasantly, Sakura Airi seemed to remember something and turned to Natsu with the question, those blue eyes of hers shimmering with a faint, barely-contained anticipation.
"Of course."
Natsu agreed without a moment's hesitation.
It was just looking at a wooden cabin — nothing complicated. There was no reason to refuse.
As for ulterior motives — at least as far as Natsu was aware, Sakura Airi's weren't anything like: secretly identify Class A's Leader, then report back to Class D so they could completely demolish Class A at the finish line.
And so, Natsu promptly led Sakura Airi and the others back to Class A's Base Camp.
The trees around Class A's area were noticeably fewer than near the other classes' camps — quite a few had been felled to serve as building material for the cabins. Combined with the relatively flat ground they'd chosen for their site, the whole area had a pleasant, well-organized look to it.
When they laid eyes on the five neatly arranged, solidly built little wooden cabins, both Sakura Airi and Shiina Hiyori's eyes went wide. Those pretty pairs of eyes were swimming with open, undisguised shock.
"How long did it take Natsu to build all of this?"
Sakura Airi asked, genuinely astonished. It had only been a few hours since they'd set foot on this uninhabited island. For most people, building even one cabin like this would take days, wouldn't it?
"This is unbelievable..."
Shiina Hiyori stepped forward and ran her hand along the smooth wooden wall, murmuring in wonder:
"Natsu's construction skills are really something else..."
She thought back to the bookmark Natsu had made for her. He really was a remarkably deft pair of hands.
Facing the girls' admiring looks, Natsu just smiled quietly and didn't make a show of it.
By now, a good number of Class A students had already returned to Base Camp.
Seeing Natsu come back with girls from other classes in tow, some people were a little surprised — but no one showed any sign of suspicion or wariness.
After all, everyone knew who these girls were.
These were the Leader's girlfriends!
As for worrying that the Leader's identity would be exposed and cost the class points — that was simply not going to happen. Shikime Natsu's reputation within Class A was sky-high. The fact that he'd somehow ended up with so many girlfriends only made people think he was even more impressive.
Even if Natsu had walked in right now with outsiders and proceeded to empty the entire Base Camp, everyone would probably assume it was all part of some masterful, far-seeing plan the Leader had cooked up.
Among the group Natsu had brought back, Shiraishi Asuka was there too — though the rest of Class A tacitly glossed over that detail. It wasn't exactly surprising for Natsu to be on good terms with any given girl, after all.
Just as everyone was gathered around the wooden cabins, marveling at them —
Sakura Airi's blue eyes gave a little spin, as if a bold idea had just popped into her head.
Taking advantage of a moment when no one was paying close attention, she quietly sidled up close to Natsu's ear.
The girl's warm breath brushed against the shell of his ear, carrying a faint, sweet fragrance.
She dropped her voice to a whisper — something only the two of them could hear — and murmured something softly.
It didn't take long. The girls standing nearby basically caught none of it. But after she finished...
Sakura Airi's entire face flushed a vivid, brilliant red — like a perfectly ripe peach, the color spreading all the way down to the base of her neck.
Whatever she'd just said, it had clearly been something quite momentous.
Shiina Hiyori and Kamuro Masumi, who had been watching this exchange closely, saw Sakura Airi's reaction — she looked one step away from literally steaming — and then recalled the split-second expression on Natsu's face: one raised eyebrow, barely there but unmistakable.
As his girlfriends, who knew him inside and out, the two of them seemed to grasp exactly what had just happened.
In an instant —
A faint flush crept across both of their faces too, and their eyes grew a little unfocused, unable to quite meet Natsu's gaze.
Only Shiraishi Asuka, standing off to the side, blinked in mild bewilderment at the three beautiful girls who had all suddenly gone red at once.
Sakura Airi, she could understand. But Kamuro Masumi and Shiina Hiyori, who'd been standing right there beside her — both of them had been in essentially the same position as Shiraishi Asuka herself, unable to make out what Airi had whispered. So why had they suddenly, inexplicably gone red?
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Side Story: Shiina Hiyori's Date
Two weeks after officially starting to date Shiina Hiyori.
Morning sunlight filtered softly through the gap in the curtains and fell across the girl's bedside. Shiina Hiyori slowly opened her eyes, and in those pale violet irises glimmered a quiet, unmistakable anticipation.
She pushed the blanket aside, set her bare feet on the cool floor, and padded quickly over to the wardrobe.
"What should I wear today...?"
Her fingers drifted along the row of hangers. On any ordinary day, she would reach without thinking for her uniform, or something simple and comfortable to lounge around in.
But today was different. Today was a rather special occasion — their first proper date since she and Shikime Natsu had made their relationship official.
Her fingers came to rest on a pale blue chiffon dress.
The design was understated yet elegant — the hem layered with cascading ruffles, a white satin ribbon tied at the waist that would trace the delicate curve of her slender figure perfectly.
"This one, then."
Shiina Hiyori gave a small, satisfied nod.
She stepped into the bathroom, stood before the mirror, and carefully combed through her long silver-white hair. She took her time braiding a neat side plait, then pinned it with a pearl-adorned clip — the result gave her a look that was both the quiet grace of a literary girl and something just a little sweeter, a little more playful.
She studied herself in the mirror, drew in a slow breath, and practised a smile — checking that everything was exactly right, that she was presenting her very best self.
The moment she thought about the fact that today was the day she had a date with Shikime Natsu, a faint blush rose unbidden across her fair cheeks.
She had read about couple's dates in books more times than she could count — Ferris wheels, cinemas, aquariums — those sequences and their rhythms were as familiar to her as the back of her hand.
And yet...
When the male lead became Shikime Natsu. When the female lead became herself.
All that book-learned knowledge became utterly useless. At the very least, the anticipation she felt now was incomparably, viscerally real — and Shiina Hiyori could feel her own heart hammering in her chest, could feel the yearning she had for the date that was still to come.
This feeling was nothing like what she had experienced reading it in a novel or watching it in a film. She wasn't observing from the outside — she was stepping into this as the heroine herself.
Once she had finished getting ready, Shiina Hiyori walked out of the dormitory.
Today, her hands were completely empty. No heavy hardcover book. No library card.
Both hands hung naturally at her sides, feeling so light they almost seemed to float — she wasn't quite used to it. She found herself pinching the hem of her skirt on instinct, just to have something to do with the nervous energy inside her.
Even though they both lived in the same dormitory building, the two of them had agreed to meet at the station near the school — because a date needed its ritual, its proper beginning.
This Advanced Nurturing High School had every amenity imaginable; Keyaki Mall even had a cinema and karaoke rooms. But for a couple going on their very first date, somewhere a little further away — somewhere they didn't usually go — held a far more irresistible appeal.
When Shiina Hiyori arrived at the station with light, airy steps, she spotted a familiar silhouette from a distance.
Shikime Natsu was already there.
He had on a white casual button-down shirt today, sleeves casually rolled to the forearm, paired with dark slim-cut trousers. He looked tall and put-together, radiating an effortlessly attractive kind of charm.
"Ah... Natsu."
Hiyori's heart gave a small lurch. She had left thirty minutes early, and yet somehow Shikime Natsu had still beaten her here.
For someone who prided herself on punctuality, that stung just a little. She quickened her pace and walked up to him.
Shikime Natsu heard her footsteps and turned around. The moment those pale golden eyes landed on Shiina Hiyori, they brightened — visibly, unmistakably.
"Good morning, Hiyori."
He greeted her with a smile, his voice as gentle as a breeze.
"G-good morning, Natsu."
Hiyori was slightly out of breath. She said, a little apologetically:
"Um... did you wait long? I'm sorry, I should have left even earlier."
Shikime Natsu shook his head and smiled.
"Not at all — I just got here myself."
His gaze settled on Shiina Hiyori, and he made no effort to conceal the admiration in his eyes.
"That outfit really suits you, Hiyori. You look beautiful today."
At that candid, straightforward compliment, Hiyori's cheeks flushed crimson in an instant. She ducked her head shyly, fingers curling around a strand of her hair.
"Th-thank you."
She gathered her courage and murmured quietly back:
"Natsu looks... r-really handsome today too."
They exchanged a smile and stood side by side, waiting for the bus to arrive.
Before long, the bus came rolling slowly into sight.
Because it was a weekend morning — and because most students at this school tended to stay within the campus commercial area — the bus heading into the city was almost completely empty. Apart from the driver, the only passengers were Shikime Natsu and Shiina Hiyori.
The two of them chose a pair of seats at the back.
The scenery outside the window began to scroll past in reverse, and sunlight poured through the glass and fell warm across them both.
Shikime Natsu turned his head and looked at the girl sitting beside him — a little stiff, a little self-conscious. Then, without a word, he reached out his hand and turned it palm-up, holding it open before her.
Shiina Hiyori blinked when she saw the gesture.
Those pretty violet eyes held a flicker of confusion, as if asking: are you going to give me something?
But the next second.
Shikime Natsu didn't say a word. He simply reached over and wrapped his hand around hers where it rested on her knee.
"!!"
The moment that warm, firm hand enveloped hers, Shiina Hiyori gave a small, involuntary shiver.
Her hand was small and soft, her fingertips carrying just a trace of coolness — while his palm was broad and warm, radiating heat in a steady, unending flow.
Hiyori's cheeks flared red all at once, the colour spreading all the way to the tips of her ears.
For a brief moment she was stunned at being grabbed so suddenly — but then, slowly, her own hand curled back around his in return.
Fingers interlaced. Palm pressed to palm.
That warmth, that softness — it made her heart pound so hard it felt like it might leap straight out of her chest.
So this is what holding hands feels like.
Sitting together on the bus as a couple, fingers interlaced like this — it really did feel like... being in a relationship.
Hiyori turned her head a fraction and stole a glance at Natsu's profile. He was looking out the window — but there was a faint smile playing at the corner of his lips, and his hand around hers showed absolutely no sign of letting go.
In that moment, her whole heart soared — as if she were floating up through the clouds.
The bus travelled for about forty minutes before finally arriving at their destination: an aquarium.
"Here we are."
Shikime Natsu led her off the bus by the hand and smiled as he looked up at the enormous blue building before them.
"Come to think of it... this is the furthest from school I've ever been."
"Same for me."
Shiina Hiyori nodded, her eyes wide with curiosity.
"When I saw the promotional poster for this week's special exhibition in the library, I'd been wanting to come ever since."
"I never expected... that Natsu had noticed it too, and actually invited me."
Shikime Natsu gave her small hand a gentle squeeze and said softly:
"We hadn't gone on a proper date yet, after all."
"And if Hiyori would enjoy it, then this is the perfect choice."
The two of them scanned their tickets and went inside.
The aquarium was dim and hushed, and behind the great glass tanks, all manner of sea creatures drifted freely through the water.
Shikime Natsu kept her hand in his the entire time, never once letting go.
They walked through the underwater tunnel, watching shoals of silver fish sweep overhead in sweeping formations, as if they had been swallowed up by the deep ocean itself.
"Wow — Natsu, look at that!"
The usually quiet Shiina Hiyori couldn't help herself — she lit up like a child, pointing excitedly at a large sea turtle drifting past at an unhurried pace.
"I see it. That's a green sea turtle."
Shikime Natsu answered her patiently, occasionally slipping into the role of tour guide, offering her little tidbits of trivia about the marine life around them.
He was remarkably natural at it — knowing just when to steer the conversation, keeping Shiina Hiyori at ease and making her lean on him instinctively.
They visited the penguin enclosure, and watching those endearingly clumsy birds waddle into line before belly-flopping into the water made Hiyori laugh until her eyes curved into happy crescents.
They visited the jellyfish hall, where shifting, ever-changing lights played across translucent jellyfish that bloomed through the water like flowers — dreamlike and hauntingly beautiful.
"They're so beautiful..."
Shiina Hiyori gazed at the drifting jellyfish and murmured softly.
"Books describe them, of course, but... seeing them with your own eyes — it's a completely different feeling."
"The world inside books is wonderful — but the things you experience in reality... especially when you experience them with someone you care about — those are the most precious of all, aren't they?"
Shikime Natsu turned his head and looked at her profile, lit up by the coloured lights, and said quietly.
Hiyori's heart skipped a beat.
She turned to meet his gentle gaze, face flushed, and gave a small nod.
"Yes... you're right."
As long as he was by her side, even the most ordinary scenery seemed to glow with something extraordinary.
Before they knew it, noon had come.
They had a simple lunch at the aquarium's themed restaurant. It wasn't exactly fine dining — but the atmosphere of a first date made every bite taste far better than it had any right to.
After eating, they continued through the remaining exhibits.
The deeper they ventured, the darker it became.
At last, they arrived at the deep-sea creatures exhibit.
There was almost no overhead lighting here — only the ghostly blue glow emanating from the tanks, and the bioluminescent deep-sea fish flickering like lost stars in the darkness.
The area was quiet, nearly empty of other visitors. In this section of the aquarium, it was just the two of them — Shikime Natsu and Shiina Hiyori.
It was difficult not to marvel at the operational costs of this school. Beyond the aquarium, there was a swimming pool, and countless other facilities — most of which sat empty the majority of the time, yet existed all the same. Each, of course, had its designated hours; the pool, for instance, only opened during summer break.
Hand in hand, the two of them stood here in the dimness — and in this dark, hushed place, it truly felt as though the rest of the world had been shut out entirely.
Shikime Natsu stopped walking. He turned, and stood facing Shiina Hiyori.
In the faint, otherworldly glow of the tanks, he looked at the girl before him — the girl who was, in every sense of the word, absolutely and utterly adorable.
"Hiyori."
He called her name softly.
"Mm?"
Shiina Hiyori lifted her face. Those violet eyes of hers, in the pale light, were impossibly clear and beautiful.
Before she could react, Shikime Natsu leaned in toward her, slowly closing the distance.
Shiina Hiyori seemed to sense what was coming. Her breath caught in her throat. Her hands moved on instinct, fingers curling into the hem of his shirt — and she gently closed her eyes.
The next second.
Something warm and soft touched her lips.
It was a kiss — very light, very tender.
Here, in this exhibit steeped in mystery and romance, witnessed by glowing jellyfish and drifting fish all around them.
[CG 58: A Kiss Beneath the Aquarium (Shiina Hiyori)]
[KISS]
[Congratulations, Host — Skill Card Obtained: Nimble Hands (Whether it's needlework or all manner of construction and craft, you handle them all with ease)]
They breathed each other in.
Shiina Hiyori felt as though she were melting away entirely, her mind a perfect blank — and all she could do was follow her instincts and kiss him back.
This was her first love. And this was her first kiss, on a first date.
The sweetness, the trembling rush of feeling — it was more intense, more real, and far sweeter than anything she had ever read about in any novel.
A long moment passed.
They parted.
Their foreheads rested against each other, breath mingling.
Shikime Natsu looked at Shiina Hiyori — her face flushed deep red, her eyes hazy and unfocused — and reached out to cup her cheek with one hand, stroking it gently as he murmured:
"Hiyori... you really are adorable."
"Mm..."
Hiyori was so overcome with embarrassment that she buried her face in his chest, unable to look at him.
By the time they emerged from the aquarium, dusk had already settled over the sky.
They boarded the bus for the return journey.
The last light of the setting sun spilled in through the windows, bathing the interior of the bus in a warm, golden hue.
On the way home, Shiina Hiyori leaned against Shikime Natsu's shoulder, hand clasped tightly in his, a quiet smile of contentment never leaving her lips.
Today had been truly, genuinely wonderful.
If she had come here alone, Shiina Hiyori was certain she would never have had this much fun. It was only because Shikime Natsu was here that she could enjoy herself so completely.
The feeling of a date... it really was something one could get addicted to.
When they returned to the school, neither of them was in any hurry to part. They walked all the way back to the dormitory building hand in hand.
Inside the elevator.
Just the two of them.
With each number that ticked by, the air in that enclosed space grew subtly, quietly charged.
Shiina Hiyori looked down at their interlaced fingers, and her heart — which had no intention of behaving — began to race all over again.
The date was over, technically...
But Shikime Natsu hadn't said anything about walking her to her room.
And she... didn't particularly feel like going back either.
"Ding —"
The elevator arrived at Shikime Natsu's floor.
Natsu took her hand and led her out of the elevator, stopping before his own room.
He opened the door.
"Come in."
Shiina Hiyori took a slow, deep breath and stepped inside — into this room she had visited many times before, yet had never felt quite as nervous about as she did today.
Tonight...
Sakura Airi wasn't here. Kamuro Masumi wasn't here either.
Just the two of them.
Shikime Natsu closed the door — not that locking it was even necessary. After all, since today was his date with Shiina Hiyori, Kamuro Masumi and Sakura Airi would naturally never do something so mood-killing as barge in.
As for the others — Natsu had already given them advance notice. No messages, no visits to this room tonight.
"Sit for a while. I'll get you some water."
Shikime Natsu said, his expression perfectly composed.
Shiina Hiyori settled obediently on the edge of the bed, her hands resting a little awkwardly on her knees.
Her gaze drifted around the room, then finally came to rest on Shikime Natsu's back.
What would happen tonight...?
In truth, the answer had already been settled somewhere in her heart. She had already steeled herself.
From the moment this morning when she had deliberately chosen her prettiest underwear. From the moment she hadn't declined to follow Shikime Natsu back to his room...
She had already made her decision.
Shikime Natsu came back with a glass of water, handed it to her, and sat down beside her.
"Tired?"
He asked softly, fingers gliding gently through her hair.
"N-no, not tired."
Shiina Hiyori shook her head, set the glass down, and turned to look at him.
Their eyes met.
No words were necessary.
Shikime Natsu reached out, drew his arm around her waist, pulled her close — and kissed her again.
This time, the kiss was more ardent than the one at the aquarium. Deeper.
Shikime Natsu's hands began to move.
Roaming, with no intention of behaving.
Through the thin fabric, he could feel the warmth of her skin.
"Mm..."
A soft sound escaped Shiina Hiyori's lips, and she went pliant in his arms.
"Hiyori..."
Shikime Natsu murmured quietly against her ear.
"Natsu... I'd like to take a bath first..."
Shiina Hiyori raised her head and met those pale golden eyes of his.
"Mm."
Shikime Natsu nodded with a smile, then walked to his wardrobe and retrieved a white bath towel, holding it out to her.
Shiina Hiyori took it from him with a faint blush, then stepped into the bathroom.
The sound of running water drifted from behind the door.
Shikime Natsu sat on the edge of the bed, a quiet smile curving his lips.
Some time passed.
The water stopped.
The door was slowly pushed open.
A billow of white steam drifted out.
Shiina Hiyori stepped through it.
She was wrapped in nothing but the white bath towel — it just barely covered her chest and the tops of her thighs, leaving the soft pink of her skin visible.
Fresh from the bath, her skin was flushed a delicate rosy white.
Her silver-white hair had been towel-dried but wasn't fully dry yet.
She stood barefoot on the floor, all ten of her small, round toes curling just slightly from nerves.
Those violet eyes of hers were luminous and glistening — holding a trace of shyness, a trace of anticipation.
Shikime Natsu pulled over a stool and gestured for Shiina Hiyori to sit — he was going to dry her hair for her. Hiyori nodded and settled neatly onto the stool.
This was the first time she had ever bathed in a boy's room. And now, for the first time, she was on the receiving end of a boy drying her hair.
Shikime Natsu's touch was gentle and unhurried, practiced enough that Shiina Hiyori never felt the slightest discomfort.
Once her hair was dry, Shiina Hiyori stood and moved to sit on Shikime Natsu's bed.
She closed her eyes shyly, long lashes trembling — waiting.
"Natsu... turn the lights off."
With the lights on and Shikime Natsu looking at her like that — the girl was still terribly, hopelessly shy.
The lights went out.
The night passed without a word.
____
👻🔥Walnut-chan🔥👻
🔥 New history: Danmachi: Summoning Ruri Gokou, And other Chuunibyou Brats
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone