(So...we're the same kind of people.)
(Only I've seen this side of him...only I...)
"Natsukawa-kun..." She subconsciously reached out, wanting to touch his back, but stopped halfway.
Natsukawa Sosuke turned his head, looked at her movement, and gave a slightly pale smile.
"Sorry, I said some inexplicable things to you." He chuckled self-deprecatingly, as if trying to hide that vulnerability again. "I've never said these things to anyone else. Not even Horikita, or Sakura."
(Only I know...)
These five words, as if by magic, instantly ignited a certain flame in Kushida Kikyo's heart.
It was the superiority of being trusted, the pleasure of possessing a secret, and even a primal instinct of...being needed.
"It's okay!" Kushida Kikyo took a step forward, actively grabbed his hand, her eyes filled with eagerness. "You can tell me! Whatever it is, I can listen!"
Natsukawa Sosuke looked down at their clasped hands, his eyes deepening.
"Kushida, do you know? When you were venting in the woods just now, I thought you were a million times more charming than your usual smiling self."
"Eh?" Kushida's face instantly flushed. "Th-that was clearly ugly..."
"No, that was real." Natsukawa Sosuke clasped her hand in return, leaning slightly forward, pushing her back against the railing. "Do you know why I always can't help but want to tease you, to see you angry?"
Their distance was extremely close, their breaths intertwined.
"Wh-why?" Kushida's heart pounded as if it would leap out of her chest. She felt like she was about to melt under this man's gaze.
"Because I'm looking for evidence."
Natsukawa Sosuke's voice was as low as a devil's whisper.
"I'm looking for...evidence that you're also different towards me. I'm wondering, is it because I'm special in your heart that you're willing to drop your disguise in front of me? Is it because you subconsciously want to rely on me that you lose your temper with me?"
This series of rhetorical questions, like a fine net, enveloped all of Kushida Kikyo's rationality.
Is that so?
Is it because I like him?
Kushida's brain started to work at high speed, beginning to self-strategize.
(That's right...if I didn't care about him, why would I care so much about his relationship with Sakura? Why would I want to invite him to the pool? If I didn't trust him, why would I show him everything in front of him? And let him touch...touch...it turns out...I already...)
Under Natsukawa Sosuke's guidance and suggestion, Kushida Kikyo completed the final step of reverse rationalization.
She looked into Natsukawa's deep eyes, feeling like a person about to drown, and he was the only piece of driftwood.
"Natsukawa-kun..." Kushida's breathing became rapid, and the defenses in her eyes completely crumbled. "I...I think...I really..."
Natsukawa Sosuke didn't let her finish, instead, he extended a finger and pressed it against her lips.
He didn't need cheap confessions.
What he wanted was complete control.
Natsukawa Sosuke looked down at their clasped hands, not immediately responding to this enthusiasm. Instead, as if suddenly remembering something, his brows furrowed slightly, and his eyes revealed a hint of displeasure and suppressed—possessiveness.
"But, Kushida."
His voice deepened, his gaze tightly locked on her face.
"I've been...very annoyed recently."
"Eh? Wh-why?" Kushida was a little bewildered by his sudden change in mood.
"Because you smile so happily at everyone." Natsukawa Sosuke took a step forward, pushing her back against the railing. He propped his hands on either side of her, encircling her, his tone filled with undisguised jealousy. "The boys in Class D are fine, after all, that's your 'job'. But..."
His eyes became somewhat dangerous.
"I saw you smiling so brightly with boys from other classes too. That feeling makes me very, very uncomfortable."
Kushida Kikyo froze for a moment, and then a huge surge of ecstasy washed over her.
(Is he...jealous?)
This feeling of occupying an important place in this man's heart made her tremble with excitement.
"Natsukawa-kun...are you, jealous?" She looked up, her eyes moist, with a hint of probing and teasing.
"Yes, I'm jealous."
Natsukawa Sosuke admitted frankly, his fingers gently caressing her cheek, his movements tender, but his tone carried an irresistible dominance.
"So, Kushida, let's play a game."
"As long as you can stay obediently by my side for the next month."
"Don't privately interact with boys from other classes, especially dangerous guys like Ryuuen from Class C."
"I don't want to see you smile at them like that, nor do I want you to have any secret dealings with them. Your secrets can only belong to me."
"As long as you can do this, proving that your eyes are only on me."
"Then, I will always be with you."
This was a meticulously designed trap.
Natsukawa Sosuke ignited her maternal instincts by showing vulnerability, and then satisfied her vanity by displaying strong possessiveness.
Finally, he threw out a seemingly caring restriction—prohibiting contact with boys from other classes.
For Kushida, who desperately craved attention and validation, this was originally a restraint.
But Kushida's inner essence is actually very insecure. She desperately desires the approval of others, constantly doing thankless small tasks just to gain recognition. This is essentially an outward manifestation of not believing that others can love her unconditionally from the bottom of her heart.
For a long time, Kushida's defense mechanism, formed out of fear, had become a subconscious habit of her inner self, even starting to become a part of her subconscious personality. Natsukawa's appearance, however, brought a safe harbor into her line of sight. He unexpectedly broke through her disguise, but he didn't show any disgust towards her like others, even accepting this flaw.
He shattered the fear deep within Kushida, but at the same time, she would also develop a worrying sense of gain and loss regarding this inexplicable kindness. At this point, this very restraint could be twisted into a proof of love.
However, Natsukawa knew very well that with Kushida's restless personality, once she discovered Horikita's ability to threaten her status and situation, she would definitely break this promise.
She would go to Ryuuen, she would cause trouble, she would look for any way to get Horikita expelled.
And at that time, it would be time for him to reel her in.
"How about it?" Natsukawa Sosuke leaned into her ear, his voice low. "Can you promise me? For this month, only look at me."
Kushida Kikyo looked at Natsukawa, who was so close, feeling the pressure and pheromones emanating from him. Her entire body had already gone soft.
(He wants to monopolize me.)
(This mysterious man who sees through everything wants to monopolize me.)
This sense of satisfaction was a hundred times stronger than being surrounded by all her classmates.
"Okay."
Kushida Kikyo wrapped her arms around him, tightly hugging Natsukawa's waist, burying her face in his embrace, her voice trembling with sweetness.
"Since Sōsuke-kun said so...then I promise you."
She looked up, her eyes sparkling with cunning and infatuation.
"I won't bother with those boys from other classes. My smile...is only for you."
"It's a deal."
Natsukawa Sosuke looked at the girl in his arms, who had completely taken the bait and thought she had the upper hand, and revealed a satisfied smile.
'Remember that, Kikyo-chan.'
"Good girl."
He lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead.
"Now, let's enjoy our time alone."
Kushida Kikyo closed her eyes, feeling the warmth on her forehead, her heart filled with sweet calculations.
'Hehe, finally caught you.'
"So, as a celebration of us being together."
Natsukawa Sosuke released her, stepped back, and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Can you share with me how the girls in the class are bothering you?"
Kushida Kikyo froze for a moment. She originally didn't want to use foul language in such an atmosphere, but looking at Natsukawa's unyielding gaze, she took a deep breath. Her originally sweet smile instantly vanished, replaced by an expression full of disgust, contempt, and distortion.
"Tsk, that hag Shinohara, I really want to sew her mouth shut. She keeps complaining to me about not having a toilet and whatnot. She even said Karuizawa must be crazy to put up with this..."
Her voice was cold and malicious, but her eyes, looking at Natsukawa, were filled with a look of expecting praise.
Natsukawa Sosuke looked at the 'villainess' in front of him, who was actively revealing secrets among the girls, and the smile on his lips deepened.
"Very good."
He stepped forward again and pulled her into his embrace.
"This is my Kushida."