In the misty bath, a white-haired, red-eyed boy smiled faintly at the camera.
Under the soft yellow lighting and the steam, the handsome boy appeared to be enveloped in a soft, hazy glow.
"?!!"
On the other side, upon seeing Hoshimi's photo, Kasumigaoka immediately saved it.
New wallpaper, get! She could now replace the previous wallpaper she had of herself and Hoshimi with this higher-quality one!
After setting the new photo as her wallpaper, Kasumigaoka, seated at her desk, raised her phone with her right hand and, with her left, pulled open the collar of her nightgown, taking a selfie that highlighted her deep cleavage.
Click—!
Without editing the selfie, Kasumigaoka sent it directly to Hoshimi.
"Photo." - Kasumigaoka
Looking at Kasumigaoka's deep cleavage, Hoshimi's nose began to feel a little itchy…
He adjusted his posture to sit more comfortably.
"Utaha! Nice! Send another one!" - Hoshimi
"By the way, Utaha, are you still at your desk? Are you working on your manuscript again?" - Hoshimi
"Today's treat is just this one. If you want more, you'll have to wait until our next date." - Kasumigaoka
"I'm not working on my manuscript. I just couldn't sleep, so I got up to do something. Plus, I have midterms next week, so I'm studying now." - Kasumigaoka
"Midterms? What's your exam schedule like?" - Hoshimi
"It's a three-day exam, from Tuesday to Thursday next week, and it should end around 3 PM on Thursday." - Kasumigaoka
"Same here, a three-day exam from Tuesday to Thursday, ending around the same time." — Hoshimi
Hoshimi scrolled back up to Kasumigaoka's earlier photo, feeling a little tempted, and asked:
"Utaha, are you free next weekend?" — Hoshimi
"I'm always free as long as you ask me out!" — Kasumigaoka
"Shall we go on a date then?" — Hoshimi
Kasumigaoka's eyes brightened, her wine-red irises sparkling with a captivating glow.
"Sure, as per usual, you pick the time, and I'll pick the place." — Kasumigaoka
"Alright, we'll finalize the details after the exams, okay?" — Hoshimi
"Okay." — Kasumigaoka
After settling the date plans, Hoshimi casually found a new topic to continue chatting with Kasumigaoka.
Just as he was about to finish his bath, Yukino suddenly sent an email.
Raising an eyebrow, Hoshimi thought, "Yukino? Sending an email at this time? What could it be? Is she telling me to go to bed early?"
With a raised eyebrow and a curious expression, Hoshimi opened the email.
"Hoshimi, make sure to wash thoroughly and take your time! Clean yourself up!" — Yukinoshita
"..."
Hoshimi's expression became more amused.
He thought for a moment before playfully replying.
"Wouldn't it be better if it were the original flavor?" — Hoshimi
After sending the email, Hoshimi continued chatting with Kasumigaoka while wondering how Yukino would respond.
However, even after finishing his bath, drying off, and returning to bed, Yukino hadn't replied.
It seemed that the "reserved" Miss Yukinoshita couldn't keep up with his pace, unlike Kotoko or Kasumigaoka. What a pity.
He'd have to train her more in the future, at least enough so that the "reserved" second Miss Yukinoshita could keep up with him.
Feeling a bit regretful, Hoshimi turned to send a message to Kasumigaoka.
"Utaha~ Good night, see you tomorrow, (づ￣3￣)づ╭～" — Hoshimi
"See you tomorrow, o(￣ε￣*)" — Kasumigaoka
Before sleeping, Hoshimi took another look at the photo Kasumigaoka had sent earlier.
Staring at her deep cleavage, Hoshimi fell into deep thought.
If Yukino and Kotoko were to take a similar photo in their pajamas, wouldn't it… reveal too much?
Also, if they were standing up while taking the photo, he might be able to see all the way down to their toes through the open collar…
"Pfft~" Hoshimi couldn't help but laugh at the thought.
After amusing himself for a while, he turned off his phone, placed it by his pillow, and closed his eyes with a smile, drifting into a dream.
It was time to collect Yukino's reward. He'd better enter the dream quickly; what if Yukino got impatient?
...
In the dream.
Yukino, about to give out the reward, looked conflicted and said, "Hoshimi, I have a request. You have to agree to it."
"Hmm?" Hoshimi raised an eyebrow, "Yukino, tell me."
"You absolutely can't bring electricity into this! Otherwise…!" Yukino adorably bared her teeth, making her meaning clear.
Feeling a little uneasy, Hoshimi held Yukino's face and solemnly promised, "Yukino, I agree!"
"Alright... then let's start..." Yukino's cheeks blushed, and her gaze shifted, avoiding Hoshimi's eyes.
"Got it~" Hoshimi snapped his fingers, transforming the library into Yukino's apartment.
Seeing the familiar surroundings, Yukino bit her lip and whispered, "Hoshimi! Change the setting!"
Hoshimi blinked and waved his hand, turning Yukino's apartment into Classroom 2-J, bathed in the setting sun.
"Hoshimi! This won't work either!" Yukino became increasingly embarrassed and angry.
After thinking for a moment, Hoshimi changed the setting to the Service Club's clubroom.
"Hoshimi!" Yukino grabbed him by the collar, staring into his red eyes, furious and embarrassed. "Don't think I don't know what you're up to! No real-world settings! Use a setting from your dream!"
"Alright, alright, whatever you say, Yukino." Hoshimi shrugged and brought them to the place where they first met.
On the rooftop of the tallest building in the dream, atop the water tower, the highest point in the concrete jungle.
"..."
Yukino looked around.
The sky was high and clear, with a beautiful, far-reaching view of the majestic modern city.
The scenery was excellent, but it didn't fit the mood for today's situation…
Yukino bit her lip, struggling internally before resigning herself.
Fine, if she asked for more changes, who knew what nonsense Hoshimi might pull...
This would do. After all, it's a dream, and there's no one else here. There's not much difference between being outdoors and indoors…
"Yukino, should I stand or sit?" Hoshimi raised his eyebrow, smiling teasingly.
"Whatever..." Yukino turned her back to him, her voice barely audible.
"Alright, then I'll stand for a while before summoning a chair to sit down."
"..."
"Yukino, why are you still standing there? Come here already."
"..."
After a brief internal struggle, Yukino sighed and walked toward Hoshimi.
This was the price, the cost of betting with Hoshimi lightly.
She had brought this on herself and had no one else to blame.
In the final moment, Yukino continued comforting herself internally...
===
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