"Secondly, it's because my aunt is a rather traditional lady from a noble family. She takes etiquette very seriously, and meeting her is always quite exhausting."
After hearing Hoshimi's explanation, Kasumigaoka grabbed Hoshimi's hand and asked, "Hoshimi, are you going to meet your aunt?"
"Of course..." Hoshimi sighed helplessly, "My aunt usually lives in the Chiyoda district of Tokyo and rarely goes out. This time, she came to Chiba specifically to celebrate for me getting first place. If I'm not mistaken, she's probably arranged either a kaiseki meal or an authentic Western dinner."
"Sigh~," Hoshimi let out a long breath and said gloomily, "Had I known, I wouldn't have tried so hard. Getting second place would've been so much easier, without all this fuss."
Kasumigaoka found Hoshimi's complaints amusing, but she was more interested in another matter.
She gently released Hoshimi's hand and, while drawing some meaningless symbols on his palm, asked, "Hoshimi, when are you meeting your aunt?"
"Right now..." Hoshimi's tone grew increasingly melancholic, his reluctance almost palpable.
"Heh~" Kasumigaoka chuckled softly and leaned in close to Hoshimi's cheek, rubbing affectionately against it. "Alright, since your aunt is celebrating for you, you'd better hurry. If you're late, your etiquette-conscious aunt might scold you."
"Ugh~~ I really don't want to go..." Hoshimi, pleased with himself, buried his face in Kasumigaoka's ample bosom, wearing an expression of "mission accomplished."
"..." Kasumigaoka didn't say anything, just smiled gently as she stroked Hoshimi's hair.
In truth, she had considered going with Hoshimi to meet his aunt.
But after thinking it over, now wasn't the right time. Even if she went, it wouldn't have much effect, and there could even be unwanted consequences. It was better to let Hoshimi handle the meeting alone.
As for her? She would wait for Hoshimi to return at his place.
Dinner would take a few hours at most. She could take a nap, and by the time she woke up, Hoshimi would be back.
"Hoshimi, if you don't go and change clothes now, you really might be late..." Kasumigaoka gently urged him, hoping he'd leave soon and return quickly.
"Ah, I almost forgot I need to change clothes..." Hoshimi quickly got up and headed to the second-floor bedroom.
At the moment, he was only wearing a thin set of summer pajamas. To meet his "aunt," of course, he needed to put on something more appropriate.
Moments later, Hoshimi came downstairs dressed in formal attire.
"Utaha, how do I look?" Hoshimi posed dramatically in front of Kasumigaoka.
Kasumigaoka's eyes brightened slightly as she stood up and circled Hoshimi, before hooking her arms around his neck and planting a romantic French kiss on his lips without hesitation.
After their lips parted, Kasumigaoka, her cheeks flushed, leaned into Hoshimi and gazed up at him with her soft, loving eyes. "Very handsome~"
She felt a bit embarrassed to admit it, but seeing Hoshimi in formal attire immediately made her imagine their future married life together, even down to what they would name their children and where they would be buried together after death.
"Utaha, I..." Hoshimi, his breathing a bit heavier, lowered his head to try for another kiss.
"Hoshimi, you have important things to do," Kasumigaoka gently pressed her index finger against Hoshimi's lips, stopping him with a soft smile.
"Hoo~" Hoshimi took a deep breath, releasing Kasumigaoka and stepping back a few paces. "Utaha, I'll be back early."
With that, Hoshimi turned and left the house in large strides.
Click!—the sound of the door closing echoed through the room.
Kasumigaoka, feeling a bit empty inside, lay down on the sofa, her eyes wandering as she stared at the television screen.
After watching for a while, and still feeling distracted, she picked up the remote control and muted the TV. Then, she turned over, facing the back of the sofa, and gradually fell asleep.
She hadn't slept well the previous night, being too excited to meet Hoshimi, and they had spent the whole day together. Her arms and legs were tired, her cheeks felt sore, and even her chest hurt a little. Honestly, she was quite sleepy.
A nap sounded perfect. By the time she woke up, Hoshimi would probably be back...
...
Meanwhile, after wandering around downstairs for a while in his formal attire and letting the cool breeze calm both his emotions and body, Hoshimi finally headed to Yukino's apartment.
Standing at the door of Yukino's apartment, Hoshimi glanced at the dragon-scale bracelet on his right wrist. After a moment's thought, he decided not to take it off and rang the doorbell.
Ding-dong~~ ding-dong~~ ding-dong~~
After pressing it three times rhythmically, Hoshimi stopped and silently waited for Yukino to open the door.
Click—!
Moments later, the door opened...
Seeing Hoshimi in formal attire, Yukino's eyes brightened slightly. She opened the door wider, stepped back, and calmly said, "You're back."
"Yeah, I'm back," Hoshimi responded with his usual faint smile.
"Come in. I'm still cooking." With that, Yukino turned and headed back to the kitchen.
Hoshimi said nothing, silently entering the apartment. After locking the door behind him and changing into slippers, he quietly slipped into the kitchen.
He stood behind Yukino for a while before suddenly wrapping his arms around her from behind.
Yukino, unperturbed by the sudden embrace, lightly patted Hoshimi's hand on her abdomen. "Don't cause trouble. Let me finish cooking first."
"Hoo~~" Hoshimi lowered his head, taking a deep breath near Yukino's neck.
"..." Yukino, resigned to Hoshimi's antics, sighed softly but didn't bother stopping him.
She held a large wooden spoon in one hand, stirring the seafood porridge in the pot rhythmically.
"Yukino..." Hoshimi hooked his finger under Yukino's smooth chin, gently turning her head toward him.
"...Stop causing trouble..." Yukino muttered, knowing full well what Hoshimi wanted to do. But despite her verbal protest, her body instinctively leaned back into him, her slender neck tilting upward slightly in anticipation.
With the perfect angle, Hoshimi lowered his head and kissed Yukino's soft lips.
By now, Yukino was quite used to these kisses. Her hand holding the wooden spoon continued stirring the porridge without interruption, while her other hand habitually reached back to caress Hoshimi's face.
Something felt a bit off about the taste... and the scent was different too...
Usually, Hoshimi had a fresh, woody scent, but today he smelled more like roses—much stronger.
Anyone with a functioning nose could tell the difference.
After they parted, Yukino calmly asked, "Hoshimi, did you change your body wash?"
"Body wash?" Hoshimi, having already prepared an excuse, replied calmly, "No, I didn't change it. I just worked up a sweat playing tennis at my aunt's house, so I took a shower there before coming back."
"Is that so?" Yukino didn't press further, quietly continuing to cook the seafood porridge.
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