"..."
"Shizuna?"
"...!"
Shizuna was staring at Ryuichi as he called out her name, which prompted her to hide her face under the blanket. Ryuichi, who had gotten out of bed a step ahead of Shizuna, chuckled at the sight. Well, it goes without saying that Ryuichi, too, couldn't easily brush off what they just did.
"Do you still feel pain anywhere?"
"…There aren't any painful spots anymore, but there is this strange feeling lingering."
"That's just the way it is at first. You'll get used to it after doing it a few more times… Actually, nevermind."
Ryuichi cut off his words halfway through. He was currently wearing nothing but his pants; his upper body was completely bare, and his strong body was being exposed in all its glory. On the other hand, Shizuna, who was hidden under the blanket, was wearing nothing at all. This meant only one thing: they'd done the act from start to finish. Of course, they were both observing the proper boundaries they'd set beforehand.
"…Why did you say 'nevermind'?"
"Huh?"
"Does that mean…you won't do it with me anymore?"
Her voice sounded very sad, yet at the same time slightly hopeful. Not expecting Shizuna to say this much, Ryuichi's eyes opened wide in amazement, but he immediately reached out his arm and patted her head.
"Geez, you're a cute little one, aren't ya? So? Are you saying you still want to do this with me in the future?"
"Of course. I've already become one of your sex friends, Ryuichi-kun. I know this relationship isn't right in the eyes of the public, but I can't stop my feelings for you. That's why I hope we can continue what we have between us."
"I see… C'mere, Shizuna."
"…Yes! ♪"
When he ordered her to come, Shizuna immediately cast the blanket aside and jumped into Ryuichi's chest. Because she was wearing nothing, her body was in full view of Ryuichi. She possessed beautiful white skin, but also a figure that was so far beyond any typical high school student; even after all was said and done, her body was just so attractive…that it continuously aroused his lust.
"…Ryuichi-kun ♪. I love you… I love you so much~."
They were only touching each other, yet the expression on Shizuna's face was the happiest Ryuichi had ever seen. Since it was her first time, Ryuichi had been careful not to be too rough on her to avoid hurting her. Shizuna's masochistic side, which had occasionally shown itself from beneath her purity and innocence, had been on full display despite it being her first time.
"I have to say, Shizuna, you were pretty wild back there. If that was your first time, I can't even begin to imagine what kind of beast you'll turn into later."
"Don't bring that up… But you know, Ryuichi-kun—the only person I'll show that side of me to is you and you alone."
"How sweet of you to say."
Shizuna looked up at Ryuichi as he stole her lips. Normally, a kiss in Ryuichi and Shizuna's relationship would make them all shy and flustered. Shizuna, however, was not shy at all. She only blushed slightly on her cheeks and asked for more and more kisses.
"…Umm… Even though it was my first time, it felt really good. But somehow, I could tell that you being good at it had a part to play in that. You must be used to it, huh?"
"Yeah, pretty much. I've slept with women older than you, and I understand to some extent what I should do to make girls happy. But even without that, you're a very simple and easy-to-understand girl, y'know? You basically like it rough, don'tcha?"
"…Geez!"
Ryuichi laughed as Shizuna hit his chest over and over. Ryuichi's hand had been on her breasts the whole time they were talking. The richness of her breasts, which spilled out even when he supported them with his hands, was something she'd inherited from Sakie, but Shizuna's reactions were by and far much stronger and more intense compared to Sakie during the act. As expected of a manga heroine; she was, in a sense, gifted to be able to be so wild during her first time.
"O-Oh…! Hit me there…!!!"
Her reactions had been so good that Ryuichi had been even more excited than usual, which was something Ryuichi decided to reflect on.
"…But, y'know…"
"Hmm?"
Doing the act with Shizuna made Ryuichi realize that he had more chemistry with her than with any other partner he'd ever had before. Ryuichi didn't dislike Shizuna, and as for Shizuna, she was completely and undoubtedly fond of Ryuichi. That was probably why their bodies matched each other so well.
"Your body is the best I've ever had. I think we have great chemistry, you and I."
"…I see ♪. Fufu, hearing that makes me very happy!"
A normal person would've at least given it some more thought, but nevertheless, Shizuna smiled happily like a child who had been praised. They then started chatting with each other while naked, but it dawned on them that they still had school the next day.
"I should be getting home soon. We've got school tomorrow and all."
"…Alright."
She was clearly depressed. When Ryuichi told her that he'd come visit again sometime, Shizuna smiled and managed to put away her sad expression. Once he finished getting dressed and made his way to the entrance, Shizuna and even Sakie too came to see him off.
"Come back soon. I'll make you a more luxurious meal when you do."
"Seriously? I should come back ASAP…"
Ryuichi felt like he was being baited and tamed by their cooking. But even so, it was an undeniable fact that their food was really good. So good, in fact, that he wished he could eat it every day. There was a saying that goes, "The quickest way to a man's heart is through their stomach," and that may be exactly what is happening to Ryuichi right now. After they said their farewells, Ryuichi walked out the front door while Shizuna put on her jacket.
"What's the matter?"
"…Umm."
He wondered if she had something to say to him, but Shizuna seemed to be hesitating. Perhaps she'd forgotten something, or perhaps she had something else to say to him. Ryuichi patiently waited for her, and eventually, Shizuna opened her mouth.
"…I don't know anything about you, Ryuichi-kun. All I know for sure is that you aren't the type of person the rumors say you are."
"They aren't actually wrong, though."
His values had changed, but his essence remained the same. In fact, the rumors had been one hundred percent true up until recently.
"First of all, I slept with your mother, and I even slept with you even though we aren't dating. Sex friends…isn't quite the term I'd use for us, but it's close enough. For high school students, that's a twisted relationship."
"I don't mind, though. It's what I wanted, after all… Sure, I might not be able to tell my friends about us being sex friends, but that's nothing to me. This is how I want our relationship to be."
"…Geez."
Straightforward as ever, this one, Ryuichi thought. She was indeed a heroine. Although she was a fallen one, the Shizuna in front of him had a heart so strong that he couldn't feel that impression from her at all. She was dazzling, and Ryuichi honestly commented about that to the current Shizuna.
"…You're pure white, Shizuna."
"Huh?"
Shizuna's eyes were wide in surprise at Ryuichi's quiet mutter. Ryuichi continued.
"If I am a dull, pitch black color, then you, Shizuna, are a pure, white color that will never be stained no matter what. No matter what I do, you will remain a pure, untainted dye of white… You're a dazzling, beautiful color."
That was all he said before he turned away. He started walking, waving her farewell, but immediately he felt a small impact that had hit his back. He felt her arms wrapped around his stomach; a pair of large, soft mounds on his back; and her forehead pressing against him.
"I can't really go home like this, can I?"
"…I'm sorry. Please let me be like this for a bit."
It was somewhat cold outside, but he let Shizuna do as she pleased. Then, seemingly in response to Ryuichi, she let out a quiet mutter of her own.
"Just like I said before, I really don't know anything about you as a person, Ryuichi-kun. I don't know why you looked so pained as if you were enduring something while we were having sex, or why you occasionally switch between a kind, caring look and a derogatory, condescending look toward women at times."
"…?!"
Those words struck deep within Ryuichi's heart. He felt as if somebody had taken a peek into his heart. However, because it was Shizuna, he did not feel uncomfortable. He was more puzzled as to how she knew.
Before he knew it, he'd unknowingly grabbed the hand that she'd wrapped around his waist. It was cold, of course, but at the same time it held warmth.
"If the time comes when you decide to tell me everything, I'd be more than happy to lend an ear. You said it yourself, didn't you? That I am an untainted white. So please don't worry. No matter what happens, there will always be a color beside you that will never change. I will always be there for you, as a strong color that will paint away your anxieties."
It was such a cliche-sounding line. But even so, they were words that expressed Shizuna's character to the fullest. He could see that she was indeed a genuine heroine. It didn't matter what he remembered from the original world—seeing her opened his eyes to the beauty of human nature, whether he wanted to or not.
Laying his hand on hers, Ryuichi gently unclasped her hand.
"Ah…"
"We have to head home soon or else we'll end up sticking to each other all night. I'll see you later, Shizuna.
"…Okay. Can I have one last kiss, Ryuichi-kun?"
"Sure."
Without a hint of hesitation, Ryuichi placed his hand on Shizuna's cheek and kissed her. Finally, Ryuichi pulled away from Shizuna and began walking back to his apartment.
"…A shit ton of things happened today, huh."
He thought back to the day's events. To him, the time they'd spent together had been unimaginably sweet, like honey. And at the same time, he hadn't expected the words Shizuna had told him before they parted.
"…I guess that means that, in the end, I'm still your son, huh, you shitty asshole."
The values within him, and the way he thought about women; he ruefully complained about the source of all his twisted parts… However, Ryuichi knew. He knew that despite his words, he himself was the worst of them all.
The face of the woman who'd smiled filthily at him; her ugly voice that declared him to be a waste of money and a pain in the ass…they all threatened to make Ryuichi depressed, but Shizuna's smile and words came back to him like sunlight shining into his heart.
"…I guess…it ain't too bad."
With this tiny mutter, he promptly made his way back to his home. His steps were light, and his expression was a tad bit cheerful.ä