The moment that soft touch imprinted itself, Yanami Anna's tensed body couldn't help but go limp, falling directly into Imaizumi Keita's embrace.
Her mind was blank, and all her senses seemed to converge on the lips that were being gently explored.
So this is what kissing feels like.
There was no intense collision as imagined, nor was there the world-spinning sensation depicted in shojo manga.
There was only a touch with a slight coolness, gentle as a feather brushing against her heart, yet stirring an indescribable tremor deep within her.
This tremor quickly turned into a warm current that made her legs weak, shooting up her spine to her brain, dissolving her ability to think.
She had always thought she would be afraid, would resist, or even, like every previous "practice," retreat at the last moment due to shame.
But no.
When Imaizumi's aura completely enveloped her, and when his unique clean scent entered her nostrils, the last bit of maidenly reserve and defensiveness in her heart unexpectedly and quickly melted away.
She even felt that this mere superficial touch was not enough.
Not enough, completely not enough.
Karen's triumphant posture, declaring ownership to the world, flashed through her mind again.
Why…
Why do I always have to play the role of passively accepting, of being casually bestowed with tenderness?
I found this man first.
I also discovered the warmth on him first.
This sense of security that makes my heart race now belongs only to me!
A strong impulse, mixed with unwillingness and possessiveness, instantly overwhelmed all shyness and hesitation.
Yanami Anna's arms, which had originally just rested lightly on his shoulders, now actively wrapped around Imaizumi's neck.
She tilted her head slightly, pressing her body closer to him, clumsily yet eagerly deepening the kiss.
This sudden reversal, where she took the lead, made Imaizumi Keita's body stiffen for a moment.
And at that moment, Imaizumi Keita felt as if he had absorbed far more emotional energy from Yanami than before.
"Hm?!"
The previously unstable Succubus Aura was instantly stabilized by the absorbed energy at this moment.
For a long time, that faint stinging sensation, like background noise, that had constantly lingered at his temples was completely erased. What emerged in his mind was an unprecedented clarity and lucidity.
He suddenly felt that the power within him had completed its final transformation.
The unstable "Succubus Aura," which required passive absorption of others' emotions to maintain, had now completely settled, transforming into a permanent skill that he could control at will.
In addition, a new ability quietly emerged in his consciousness.
"Sensory Adjustment."
He could freely adjust the intensity of his own senses, or those of anyone he touched.
Whether it was to dull pain or to amplify pleasure to the extreme.
Truly… a powerful ability.
A dangerous glint flashed in the depths of Imaizumi Keita's eyes.
If he wanted, he could use this newly acquired ability to amplify Yanami Anna's first-kiss palpitations a hundredfold, making her completely addicted to the sensory pleasure he provided, unable to ever leave his side.
He could easily make her experience unprecedented extreme pleasure, thereby completely conquering her.
Making her unable to tolerate the shadow of anyone else, making all her joys and sorrows arise from him.
This idea was fatally tempting.
However, just as he was about to put this idea into practice, an unexpected emotion suddenly emerged from his heart.
He looked at Yanami's face, flushed with emotion, her eyes glistening from lack of oxygen, her clumsy yet passionate demands…
His heart inexplicably skipped a beat.
Not because of an energy surge, nor because of physiological desire.
This was… a flutter of affection and a touch of panic.
This is… trouble… He seems to have fallen in love.
The alarm bells in Imaizumi Keita's mind immediately went off.
His initial approach to Yanami Anna had a very clear purpose: she was an "emotional energy source" that wouldn't bring subsequent trouble, a soul he could meet coincidentally in this cold world, embrace for warmth, and then wave goodbye to.
He enjoyed the process of pretending to be lovers and appreciated her beautiful appearance, but this was all based on one premise—he was the one in control of this relationship, and he would never let himself get entangled in any genuine emotional complications that might restrict his freedom.
But now, the situation seemed to be getting out of control.
His principle of "passing through a garden of flowers without a single leaf clinging to him" was about to encounter an exception.
If this continued, he might truly become completely entangled with this woman.
No.
Absolutely not.
I'm a scumbag, after all.
Imaizumi Keita instantly snapped out of that dangerous indulgence.
He had to end this immediately, let Yanami calm down… and let himself calm down too.
Without any hesitation, he immediately used his newly acquired ability to weaken Yanami's senses.
An invisible ripple, carried by his arm wrapped around Yanami, silently flowed into her body.
Yanami Anna, who was fully immersed in the kiss, suddenly felt something was wrong.
The intense flutter that had made her body go limp and her head dizzy just moments ago suddenly weakened, as if diluted by something.
The touch on her lips was still soft, his scent still pleasant, but the feeling of happiness that had almost made her melt suddenly became less real.
Before she could figure out what was happening, an irresistible force came from his arm, forcibly pushing her out of that warm embrace.
"Imaizumi-kun?"
Yanami Anna looked up in confusion, her face full of bewilderment.
Imaizumi Keita's chest was heaving violently, and his breathing was exceptionally rapid.
His cheeks were flushed with an unnatural redness, and his gaze was somewhat evasive, completely unlike his usual composed self.
"Today… this is enough."
Imaizumi Keita uttered these words in a somewhat hoarse and stiff tone.
Without waiting for Yanami Anna to react, he quickly turned around and hurried away in the opposite direction from her.
"I… I have something to do, I'm leaving first. You should calm down properly."
Imaizumi Keita felt that his retreating figure might appear somewhat disheveled, even though he was supposed to be in control.
By the long bench in the corner of the courtyard, only Yanami Anna remained, sitting blankly in place.
The afternoon sun was still warm, and a gentle breeze carried the chirping of cicadas.
She subconsciously reached out, repeatedly rubbing her lips with her fingertips, where his lingering warmth and scent still remained.
That intoxicatingly soft touch still seemed to linger there.
But why…
The atmosphere was so perfect just now, I…
Why did he suddenly push me away?
An indescribable sense of grievance mixed with the disappointment of being abandoned suddenly flooded her heart.
Yanami Anna's eyes uncontrollably reddened.
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