บท 268: Ch 268. Brave Yukino-chan
"Hoshimi, you explained a lot, but you still haven't answered my question." Yukino looked down at Hoshimi, who was resting on her lap, smiling softly as she gazed at the side of his face. "So, tell me, why did that Miss Reiko give you a bracelet?"
"Emm~~" Hoshimi turned over, facing Yukino directly, and said with a serious tone, "What else could it be for? Of course, to celebrate me getting first place, and also..."
Hoshimi paused for a moment, his eyes lowering slightly. "To celebrate me overcoming my psychological trauma and returning to school."
"..." Yukino's breath hitched, and she didn't ask anything more.
She covered Hoshimi's eyes with one hand, while the other gently combed through his hair.
So that's how it is...
From Miss Reiko's perspective, Hoshimi, who had shut himself at home for a year, stepping out and returning to school was indeed something worth celebrating. No wonder she was so happy to give him a gift.
It seems that Miss Reiko probably wanted to show her support for Hoshimi's decision through this gift.
Looking at it this way, Miss Reiko isn't as naive as Hoshimi says. She has some sense of proper judgment after all.
Also, this gift reminded her of something.
So far, she hasn't given Hoshimi any gifts yet... Part of it was because she hadn't realized it, and the other part was not finding the right moment. You can't just give someone a gift out of nowhere, right?
It would feel like it lacked 'soul.' There needs to be an appropriate occasion, like Hoshimi's birthday...
"Yukino..."
"Hmm?" Yukino, interrupted from her thoughts, instinctively looked down at Hoshimi, whose eyes she was covering.
"My scalp hurts..." Hoshimi said softly.
"...!" Yukino froze, quickly lightening her touch as she combed his hair.
Hoshimi seized the opportunity to turn over, burying his face into Yukino's stomach. He exhaled deeply, wrapping his arms around her waist, inhaling her scent.
"Stop it, it tickles~" Yukino's earlobes flushed slightly, and she lightly patted Hoshimi's arm with a hint of frustration.
"Mmm~~" Hoshimi responded but didn't change his behavior, continuing to enjoy the scent of Yukino.
"Hoshimi..." Yukino patted his arm a few more times. Seeing that he was 'incorrigible,' she just let him be.
At least it was better than before. Previously, Hoshimi would lift up her shirt and press his face directly against her bare stomach, which made her feel unbearably ticklish. Every breath he took was a challenge for her from the outside in.
Now, with a layer of fabric between them, it felt much better. At least Hoshimi's breathing didn't make her stomach tingle in that peculiar way anymore...
No longer concerned about Hoshimi's behavior, Yukino leaned down and pulled out a book from under the coffee table. While gently combing through Hoshimi's hair, she relaxed and began to read.
Not long after, Yukino noticed that the grip Hoshimi had on her waist was gradually loosening. She put down her book and looked down, just in time to see Hoshimi's eyelids growing heavier as he fought against sleep.
She slowed her breathing, watching with a faint smile as Hoshimi drifted off.
A few seconds later, defeated, Hoshimi peacefully closed his eyes, and his breathing became soft and steady.
Watching him sleep, Yukino waited for a while before resuming her gentle combing of his hair.
Hoshimi must be exhausted today, she thought. Otherwise, he wouldn't be lying on her lap without doing anything mischievous.
Yukino smiled silently. She set her book aside and bent down to carefully study the side of Hoshimi's face.
It wasn't often that she had the chance to admire his handsomeness up close like this. He was usually so sensitive to her gaze that as soon as she glanced at him, Hoshimi would turn to meet her eyes.
His skin is so nice...
Unable to resist, Yukino poked Hoshimi's overly fair cheek. It was elastic, white, and clean. Most girls would probably envy his skin...
But still, Hoshimi's skin wasn't as good as hers. Besides being elastic and fair, her skin was also soft and smooth—likely the kind of softness that could be described as 'delicate enough to break with a puff of air.'
"Hmph~ You're so lucky..." Yukino let out a rare hum of pride, a faint blush of satisfaction and vanity gracing her face.
After the tsundere moment, Yukino's face flushed slightly, and her delicate hands suddenly felt unsure where to place themselves.
After a while, Yukino finally emerged from her shyness. She lowered her head, her eyes gleaming as she gazed at Hoshimi's face.
The more she looked, the more she felt a dry heat rise in her throat.
She licked her lips and softly called, "Hoshimi... Hoshimi... are you asleep?"
Seeing that he didn't respond, a certain thought surged through Yukino's mind like a rising tide. She carefully grabbed a pillow, gently lifting Hoshimi's head, then moved herself aside, placing the pillow under his head in place of her lap.
"Ahhh~~" Yukino let out a long breath of relief now that she was free.
Then, she leaned sideways on the sofa, slowly lowering her head until it rested on the same pillow as Hoshimi's.
Staring at him from such a close distance, Yukino couldn't help but move closer, and then... she kissed him...
Ten seconds, no, twenty seconds... no, just thirty seconds.
Once thirty seconds passed, I'll get up and continue reading, I won't linger any longer...
Yukino reminded herself in her heart...
...
Ten minutes later, as she looked at Hoshimi, who was sound asleep, Yukino pressed her lips together and nervously kissed his neck.
Just another thirty seconds... I'll stop after that. If Hoshimi wakes up, it'll be hard to explain...
...
Another ten minutes later, when Hoshimi still hadn't moved, Yukino grew bolder. She took out the lipstick she'd bought last Sunday, applied it, and pressed a kiss onto Hoshimi's forehead and the side of his face.
I'm just playing around and taking a photo...
After the picture, I'll wipe it off with a wet wipe. I can't let Hoshimi find out...
...
"Sigh~"
Hoshimi, who had been awake for a while but was pretending to sleep, sighed regretfully.
He was a light sleeper, and he had woken up when Yukino softly called his name. At that moment, he had been curious to see what she would do, so he didn't respond.
But he hadn't expected Yukino to get bolder and bolder, to the point where he was now too afraid to 'wake up.'
Right now, with the 'Exhausted' debuff on him, he certainly wasn't in any shape to wake up and 'punish' Yukino...
If Yukino looked closely, she'd easily notice something wasn't right...
Sigh~ What a shame. If I can't tease Yukino, I'll have to make it up with Kasumigaoka...
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