What had she just done...?
Orihime Inoue's mind was in a daze.
While watching television earlier, she had noticed that the kisses on screen seemed different from the kisses she shared with Muten Natsu.
She had watched carefully but could never figure out what made them different.
Yet just now, the instant she noticed Muten Natsu parting his lips, inspiration suddenly struck.
If she... did that, wouldn't it have the same effect as the kisses on television?
After puzzling over the question for so long, the answer had suddenly presented itself. Naturally, she felt an irresistible urge to test it.
And the result...
Oh no. It was even more fascinating than it looked on television.
This was different from their previous contact without any distance between them. It was an even deeper kind of... contact.
Their warm breaths mingled between their parted lips. Only when cool air entered her mouth did Orihime Inoue belatedly draw back the pink tip resting against his lips.
Orihime Inoue pressed her glistening lips together. "I..."
How was she supposed to explain that momentary impulse to Muten Natsu?
"You did..." Muten Natsu leaned toward Orihime Inoue's flushed face until the tips of their noses lightly touched. "What I wanted to do."
Muten Natsu's breath brushed across her lips, and Orihime Inoue reflexively parted them.
The special kiss began again, only this time, their roles were reversed.
What she wanted to do, Muten Natsu wanted as well.
The sensation she enjoyed was something Muten Natsu enjoyed too.
Her fair palm rested against Muten Natsu's chest, feeling his powerful heartbeat. Orihime Inoue's curved eyelashes trembled as she conveyed all her happiness to him.
Why did everyone like placing a hand on the other person's chest?
Did it have some special meaning?
Driven by curiosity, Muten Natsu reached out.
No.
Just as his palm was about to sink completely into the softness, Muten Natsu suddenly came to his senses and pulled his hand back in time.
...Though not quite in time.
When the lingering kiss finally ended, Orihime Inoue lightly bit her lower lip and gazed at Muten Natsu with her beautiful eyes. "Muten, do you... not like them?"
"If I didn't like it, I wouldn't have kissed you a second time."
"That's not what I mean..." Looking aggrieved, Orihime Inoue gently pressed the place he had just touched. "Is it because they're too big...?"
He had already touched them, yet Muten Natsu had withdrawn his hand as though he had been burned.
So he really did dislike them.
Something the size of Rukia Kuchiki's was probably just right.
Orihime Inoue lowered her eyes. "So you really do..."
Her voice abruptly turned into a soft, lilting cry, its trailing note inviting all kinds of thoughts.
Wait...
Orihime Inoue realized that her assumption had been wrong.
Muten Natsu did like them.
Very~ very~~ very~~~ much.
"Good night," Muten Natsu whispered beside Orihime Inoue's ear.
But Orihime Inoue could barely hear his voice anymore.
This was hardly a good night.
Her heart would not settle down at all.
...
Warm morning light awakened the sleeping girl. Orihime Inoue slowly opened her eyes and blinked. She shifted in Muten Natsu's arms and nestled against him for a long while before finally moving his hand away.
She still had school today.
"Why do I get the feeling..." Tatsuki Arisawa studied Orihime Inoue suspiciously. "You're in an especially good mood today?"
"Am I?" Orihime Inoue's joy spread from the corners of her mouth all the way to her brows. "I'm this happy every day!"
"But today isn't your usual kind of happy..." Tatsuki Arisawa's gaze shifted, landing on Muten Natsu, who was asleep with his head on the desk.
Within his inner world, the scene surrounding Muten Natsu shattered and gradually returned to pure white.
[Battle Failed]
[Your combat ability has declined significantly]
[No obvious physical abnormalities detected]
Muten Natsu glanced at the light screen floating before him. "Why does your materialized form look exactly the same as before?"
[This means you already possessed the ability to use Bankai before]
[My current form is what I look like when materialized]
[Your attempts to change the subject remain as clumsy as ever]
"I already possessed it?" Muten Natsu frowned. "Then why have I never been able to use it?"
[Possessing an ability does not mean you can use it at will]
"So I'm still missing something?"
[Such as the courage to stop changing the subject and face the problem directly]
"...My thoughts are a mess. I admit it." Muten Natsu clicked his tongue. "My psychological state is affecting my combat ability."
[Activate psychological analysis module?]
Muten Natsu opened his mouth, then remained silent for a long while. "...Yes."
[Psychological analysis in progress]
[Analysis of current psychological state complete]
[You desire further development in your intimate relationships]
[You look forward to even more intimate interactions]
[However, because you have more than one intimate partner]
[You feel guilty toward those who sincerely care for you]
[You fear that future developments may cause them irreparable harm]
[As a result, you hesitate to move forward]
Muten Natsu sighed. "What else?"
[You have never considered choosing any one of them]
[Because they are not choices for you to select from]
[They are intimate companions who have faced life and death alongside you]
[You can accept being abandoned]
[But you do not want to abandon any of them]
[You can accept being hurt]
[But you do not want to hurt any of them]
[Yet they do not want to give you up]
[Just as you do not want to give them up]
[They do not want to hurt you]
[Just as you do not want to hurt them]
Muten Natsu lay on his back in the white space, his dark eyes deep and unreadable. "That's enough analysis. Do you have any practical advice?"
[I recommend following Retsu Unohana's advice]
[You tend to be passive in matters of romance]
[Retsu Unohana's advice has helped you take some initiative]
[By taking the initiative, you can act effectively to reduce or even prevent harm]
"What else?"
[The first step toward solving a problem is acknowledging that it exists]
[You must clearly recognize the following]
[You wish to maintain intimate relationships with multiple partners]
[Therefore, every problem arising from this situation is entirely of your own making]
[You are responsible for every consequence]
[Since you receive more affection, you should naturally give more in return]
[You are a scumbag, and you deserve it]
[No matter how you try to justify yourself]
[No matter what excuses you use to avoid the issue]
[This remains an indisputable fact]
Muten Natsu sat up. "Do you have to be that blunt?"
[You are a particulate male, and you deserve it]
"There's no need to be that tactful either."
[It is necessary when dealing with someone so melodramatic]
Muten Natsu said, "Deactivate the psychological analysis module."
[Psychological analysis module deactivated]
[Would you like me to write a program that discards the tool once its job is done?]
[It would deactivate the relevant module once the user's needs have been met]
Muten Natsu said, "I'd rather write a program that bans sarcastic remarks."
[A wise decision]
[It is necessary when dealing with someone so melodramatic]
Muten Natsu fell silent.
***
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