บท 276: Ch 276. True Master of Time Management!
After entering the dream world, Hoshimi lifted the time freeze in all areas except the one where Yukino was located.
After indulging freely with Kasumigaoka for half an hour, Hoshimi subtly froze the area around him and Kasumigaoka.
"Ah~" He let out a soft sigh, looking at the disheveled Kasumigaoka. After putting on his clothes and erasing all traces of their time together, he teleported next to Yukino.
In a small, rapidly moving boat, Hoshimi sat back in his original spot, restoring everything to the way it was before he left.
Snap!
Then, with a thought, he lifted the time freeze in that area.
The rushing river resumed its flow, the boat continued to speed forward, and Yukino, with her eyes tightly shut, clung to the edge of Hoshimi's shirt. Everything looked exactly the same as before, as if nothing had happened at all...
The splashing mist hit Hoshimi's face, calming his racing pulse. He glanced at Yukino, a mischievous smile reappearing as he leaned close to her ear and shouted, "Yukino, say you love me!"
"Get lost! Not a chance!" Yukino replied without even opening her eyes.
"Is that so? Then let's keep going! Until you say you love me, we're not going back to study!" Hoshimi held up Yukino's hand, letting her feel the thrill of their swift descent.
Twenty minutes later, they returned to the library.
They sat on a sofa, Yukino looking out the window with a stern expression, while Hoshimi held her by the waist, murmuring softly in her ear.
"Yukino~ Dear Yukino~ it's just a word of affection; is it worth getting this upset? If you don't want to say it, I can say it for you~"
"Yukino, listen closely. I'm going to say it now~" Hoshimi said, as he quietly lifted the hem of Yukino's shirt with his right hand.
"Get lost!" Yukino quickly grabbed his mischievous hand.
"Heh~" Hoshimi winked, drawing closer to her ear.
As long as Yukino didn't push him away, he knew he could keep whispering until her resolve softened, her heart softened, her legs softened, and then he'd consider it mission accomplished.
After five minutes, Yukino finally started rubbing her temples, trying to deal with the persistence of Hoshimi.
To be honest, when Hoshimi was late initially, she felt a bit annoyed but not quite angry; after all, he was just playing around, something she could understand.
However, when he dragged her through a high-speed freefall and intense rapids, she was genuinely furious.
The scoundrel, despite them being a couple now, was still using those semi-forceful methods on her. How could she not be mad?
But as they sat in the library, with Hoshimi whispering beside her, the anger in her heart gradually faded.
Reflecting, she realized that, up to now, neither she nor Hoshimi had ever exchanged affectionate words—not "love," not even "like."
Neither of them had said it...
No wonder Hoshimi wanted to hear her say something affectionate.
Sigh~ Yukino let out a soft sigh, and with it, the last traces of her anger dissipated.
Seeing her expression soften, Hoshimi knew she wasn't going to keep holding a grudge.
With a glint in his eye, he leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the corner of her mouth.
Yukino shot him a side-eye, pushing his head away with a look of disdain. "Hoshimi, I want to read. Get me a book."
"Got it." Hoshimi raised his hand, and a book appeared instantly.
Handing it to her, he said, "Here you go, Yukino."
"Hm? A Chinese book? The title is..." Yukino tried to pronounce, though imperfectly, "围...城..."
Hoshimi blinked, a bit surprised. "Yukino, have you been secretly learning Chinese?"
"Hmph!" Yukino scoffed, not bothering to explain.
"Secretly" learn? She was learning it openly in her classes, though Hoshimi, who slept through his, was oblivious to her efforts.
"Here, get me a different one; I can't read this yet." Aware of her limited Chinese, Yukino tossed the book back at him without hesitation.
"Don't worry. I'll read it to you in Japanese," Hoshimi said, shaking the book with a grin.
"Fine," Yukino responded coolly, glancing at him.
Since he offered to read, she would listen; it would even help with her Chinese learning.
"Alright, Yukino, here goes," Hoshimi opened the book on their laps.
He held her by the waist and began reading smoothly.
"The Red Sea was long behind them. The ship sailed across the Indian Ocean. But the sun..."
As he read, half an hour passed, and Hoshimi quietly froze time within the library, then turned back to Kasumigaoka.
Another half hour later, he froze time around Kasumigaoka, returning to the library to continue reading to Yukino.
This cycle repeated several times, and by 3 a.m., it was time for Hoshimi to meet with Kotoko.
...
In the library, Hoshimi closed the book and whispered, "Yukino, it's 3 a.m.; I have to go."
"Hm?" Yukino frowned slightly.
Why did time feel so quick tonight? The four hours seemed to fly by, and she hadn't even done much.
Shrugging it off as being engrossed in the book, she waved her hand dismissively, "Fine, go ahead. I still need to study."
"Then I'll be on my way." Hoshimi got up without a fuss and headed out.
"Wait..." Yukino suddenly sat up, looking at his back.
"Hm?" Hoshimi turned back.
"Bring me a Chinese-Japanese dictionary, a pen, a notebook, and a basic Chinese short story," Yukino demanded calmly.
"Of course." With a smile, Hoshimi produced everything beside her.
"Alright, you can go now..." Yukino replied indifferently, lowering her gaze to check her supplies.
Hoshimi didn't respond but quietly vanished from the library.
...
After Hoshimi left, the library was especially silent, with only the soft sound of Yukino organizing her things.
She didn't glance up to see him go, simply going about her tasks in peace.
Sigh~~~
After some time, her quiet sigh echoed in the still library.
...
After leaving, Hoshimi didn't go straight to Kotoko; he returned to Kasumigaoka.
Well, perhaps not "return"—in Kasumigaoka's memory, Hoshimi had been with her the entire time, never leaving her side...
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