"Hmm~"
After an unknown amount of time, Hoshimi woke up groggily, rubbing his eyes, and mumbled, "Yukino, what time is it?"
Sitting on a single sofa, Yukino, who seemed to be seriously reading, closed her book and replied, maintaining her usual demeanor, "It's almost ten o'clock."
"Ten o'clock? Has time passed so quickly? Huh?" As he mumbled to himself, Hoshimi seemed to discover something. He touched his face and suspiciously said, "Why does my face feel so damp?"
Upon hearing this, Yukino's gaze unintentionally drifted for a moment.
She quickly straightened her posture, placing her hands on her lap with the book, and calmly said, "The air in the room is a bit dry. I just turned on the humidifier, so that might be the reason."
"Is that so?" Hoshimi, who knew everything, pretended to look at Yukino with suspicion.
Is this a Meow-kino brand Humidifier?
"What else could it be?" Yukino's expression remained indifferent as she met Hoshimi's gaze without blushing or panting.
"..." Hoshimi realized he shouldn't press further; if the truth about him pretending to sleep got out, it would be hard to explain. He brushed his hair back and touched his cheek, seemingly accepting Yukino's explanation.
"Phew~" Once the matter was concealed, Yukino secretly sighed in relief.
She took a sip of her black tea and changed the subject, saying, "Hoshimi, it's getting late. You should head back."
"Emm..." Hoshimi supported his chin with his hand, looking at Yukino with strange eyes. "Yukino, can I..."
Yukino put down her teacup and interrupted Hoshimi's request with a smile, "No, Hoshimi, you really should go back."
Hoshimi pouted, walking in front of Yukino with a melancholic expression. "Yukino, I always feel like I am at a disadvantage. I didn't do anything today..."
Yukino, sitting elegantly and gracefully, looked up at Hoshimi and replied with a faint smile, "Hoshimi, that's your problem, not mine. Who told you to sleep for so long? But..."
Yukino stood up, tiptoed, pulled Hoshimi's collar, and gave him a comforting kiss.
After a moment, their lips parted. Yukino turned her head to the side, her cheeks flushed, and softly said, "Is this enough? It makes your trip today worthwhile. Alright, you should head back early."
As she spoke, Yukino pushed Hoshimi towards the entrance.
"Yukino, wait a minute, my tie is still on the sofa." Hoshimi, being pushed along, noticed his tie in the corner of the sofa and quickly reminded her.
"Tie?" Yukino glanced back and indeed found Hoshimi's tie.
After picking up the tie, she continued to push him outside. Hoshimi didn't resist much, following Yukino's lead.
He had come out at six, and now it was ten, so it was indeed time to go back. Leaving the Kasumigaoka alone for too long wouldn't be good.
"Hoshimi, here's your tie." After pushing Hoshimi to the door, Yukino casually handed him the tie.
"No rush, I'll change my shoes first." Hoshimi waved his hand to refuse and leaned against the shoe cabinet to change his shoes.
"Alright, now give it to me." After changing, Hoshimi reached out for the tie.
"..." Yukino hesitated for a moment as she looked at Hoshimi, then chose to tie it for him herself.
She took a step forward and gently patted Hoshimi's shoulder.
Hoshimi immediately understood and bent down to let Yukino tie his tie.
Yukino: "..."
Crossing, wrapping, flipping, inserting, and tightening, five steps later, a standard and classic four-hand knot was completed.
Although it was her first time tying a tie for someone else, Yukino's movements were so skillful that it seemed as if she had practiced it countless times.
After tying the tie, Yukino lightly clenched her fist and gently pressed it against Hoshimi's chest, "Alright, go back."
"En..." Hoshimi replied, then, seizing the opportunity while Yukino's thoughts drifted, he suddenly made a surprise move, pinning Yukino against the entrance, giving her a deep and lingering farewell kiss.
Crack--!
After a long while, Hoshimi broke free from the door.
Lastly, he made sure to close the door behind him to prevent any "lucky" passerby from witnessing Yukino's moment of softness.
Bang--!
With the door firmly shut, Yukino, feeling as if all her strength had been drained, leaned against the wall and slid down to sit softly on the floor of the entrance.
She touched her face, which felt hot enough to melt her heart.
"Hmm~~ That clumsy jerk... Why was he in such a hurry... sooner or later he will get what he wants...."
As Yukino murmured softly, straightening her slightly rumpled clothes.
In the dimly lit hallway, Yukino, soft and sitting on the floor, quietly complained resembling a disgruntled little cat.
…
On the other hand, Hoshimi, who was cared for by the little cat, did not return home immediately. After leaving the apartment, he first made a phone call to order food and then leisurely headed to the restaurant where he had just placed the order.
The struggling writer at home had yet to eat anything decent today and should be fed some proper food.
Even though the sudden arrival of this struggling writer caused him quite a bit of trouble, it was still true that the girl had come to him with her own initiative. At the very least, he needed to provide some proper nutrition.
Additionally, he needed to replenish some nutrients; otherwise, he wouldn't have the energy to have fun with Kasumigaoka later.
The bowl of porridge he had just eaten at Yukino's could only be considered a snack or a light filler. If he wanted to feel full, he needed a proper meal.
...
Close to eleven o'clock, Hoshimi finally returned home.
As he stepped into the house, he froze for a moment. Not a single light was on, and there was no sound. It was eerily quiet, resembling the usual scene when he returned home.
If it weren't for the faint light in the living room, he would have thought Kasumigaoka had left.
Hoshimi was somewhat puzzled. Why hadn't Kasumigaoka turned on the lights so late? Was she preparing a surprise for him? Or was she asleep?
After thinking for a moment, he took off his shoes and, barefoot, quietly walked along the dim corridor toward the living room.
Upon reaching the living room, Hoshimi immediately saw Kasumigaoka lying on the sofa with her back to him.
The living room was dimly lit, with the cold glow from the television screen being the only source of light.
Kasumigaoka was facing away from him, and the faint cold light just happened to fall on her, perfectly outlining the curves of her graceful figure.
At this moment, Kasumigaoka was only wearing a white shirt, with large areas of her pale skin exposed to the air. The cold light made her white shirt and pale skin reflect each other, making it hard to tell which was whiter.
Moreover, because Kasumigaoka's figure was too perfect and she was curled up, the hem of the white shirt couldn't fulfill its purpose as clothing.
This allowed Hoshimi, who had just returned, to feast his eyes.
"Phew~"
Hoshimi stood there for a while, feeling a rush of blood.
He took a deep breath, strode confidently behind Kasumigaoka, raised his hand, and mercilessly gave her two slaps on her buttocks.
"Smack! Smack!"
Sleeping like this at a man's house? How could he not teach her a lesson?!
These two slaps were just the beginning!
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[30 Bonus Chapters: https://www.patreon.com/cherryblooming]