"Uh…"
Surprised, Sasaki glanced at her and shook his head in refusal:
"No, that won't work~."
"Eh?!!!"
"Why not?" Dropping her spoon, Kashiwabara Momo asked with tearful eyes, both shocked and saddened:
"Do you dislike me?"
"No, can't you feel how much I like you?" Sasaki tapped her forehead and winked at her with an ambiguous smile.
Thinking back to when he loved her so much that he wanted to rub her into his body.
Remembering the embarrassing moments, the girl blushingly wrapped her arms around his and looked up at his handsome, charming face, a bit puzzled.
"Then why is it?"
"Actually, the choice isn't mine to make. I'd be happy to date such a beautiful 'peach' like you."
After complimenting her first, Sasaki, knowing he shouldn't lie at this time, continued:
"But before you, I already had two and a half girlfriends and a fiancée. If Momo doesn't mind my being a bit of a playboy… I will treat Momo well."
Since hearing his initial comment, she had guessed about the girlfriends, so Kashiwabara Momo was about to pout in anger,
When she heard the rest of his statement, causing her blinked in stunned silence
"Why two and a half girlfriends… and a fiancée?"
"Cough cough~"
Although this might be something other men would envy, it was definitely not a plus point in the eyes of girls, so Sasaki felt somewhat ashamed.
Yet, he still honestly explained his relationships with Otome, Rinka, Yukiha, and Sakura.
Of course, Sasaki only gave a brief overview to let her know.
After all, going into details would probably take a very long time...
.
.
.
After hearing the boy's complete explanation and his relationships with other women,
The girl's delicate eyebrows furrowed together as she looked at him with a mix of annoyance, resentment, and helplessness:
"Even though you're so gentle with me, it turns out Fuyumi is a playboy… really a sneaky bad guy~."
Hearing her words and sensing that even though they were full of resentment, she had no intention of drawing a line between them.
Sasaki took advantage of the situation, quickly wrapping his arms around her thinly clad waist and pulling her onto his lap.
Just as he was about to speak, he heard her say:
"Even though you're a bad guy, I'm glad that Fuyumi didn't lie to me~."
Sitting in Sasaki's lap, Kashiwara Momo stretched out her slender, soft palms to cup his face, her smile sweet and vibrant:
"Is it because you like me?"
"Mm… because if Momo finds out I've been lying to you, you'd leave, right?" Nodding, Sasaki expressed his reason for not wanting to deceive her.
"That's true. After all, no girl can stand being deceived about their feelings."
Firmly agreeing, Kashiwabara Momo frowned as she stared at the boy's face:
"But Fuyumi, you don't think that just by telling me, I'd feel any better, do you?"
Hugging the tall, plush figure in his arms tightly to show his stance, Sasaki buried his face in her soft embrace and mumbled:
"Isn't it about giving Momo a choice~"
"So cunning! How could I be willing to leave you when you treat me like that~" Kashiwabara Momo's pointed chin rested on top of Sasaki's head, her slender fingers playfully toying with his soft hair, her words full of reproach.
For someone starved of affection like her, even a little bit of bestowed care was enough to be cherished for a long time.
Not to mention the series of attentive and caring actions he showed her after taking her body,
That meticulous love and care was, to her, more terrifying than poison.
If she were to leave Sasaki's embrace, which was full of warmth and care, and continue to face this cold and empty room alone, she would feel so uncomfortable that she would cry... and cry for a long time.
Breathing in the warm scent deeply and happily, the boy softly confirmed:
"So, Momo means…"
Tickled by his warm breath, the girl unbuttoned a little and, with a seductive look, demanded a promise from him:
"You have to treat me well~"
"Mm~"
Verbal assurances felt so faint and powerless, so after a soft murmur of agreement, Sasaki proceeded to show his affection for her with actions.
"Momo"
"Mm-hmm~?"
.....
As the girl activated the music control point connecting to the living room, a vibrant and melodious song filled the spacious room just for the two of them.
Sitting regally in an especially luxurious wooden chair, Sasaki stirred his tea, causing ripples in the reddish brew.
He took a sip of the pleasantly sweet tea.
Perhaps due to a bit of sugar and milk added, Sasaki felt even the singing in his ears had turned syrupy.
Noticing his slightly furrowed brow, Kashiwabara Momo, who was also sipping tea beside him, asked:
"Fuyumi, don't you like sweets?"
"Mm… I wouldn't say that, I really like Momo's voice."
Sasaki really didn't like things that were too sweet, so he took a sip and put down the teacup.
Kashiwabara Momo, very much enjoying hearing him say he liked her, leaned in and kissed Sasaki after adding milk to her tea:
"Because I used to be alone at home, making dolls and eating something sweet were my favourite things."
While speaking, a fleeting sadness flashed in her eyes, but Kashiwabara Momo's sweet face quickly brightened with a radiant smile:
"But now I have Fuyumi~"
"Fuyumi will always be with me, right?"
"Of course!" Looking directly into her hopeful, aqua-blue eyes, the boy nodded with a smile.
Pleased with his response and expressing her affection in a bold and direct manner, the girl leaned in to wrap her arms around his neck, kissing his cheek with her pink lips sweetened from the milk tea.
Although she really wanted to be one with him again, her body wouldn't allow it anymore.
So, after indulging her desires, the girl leaned her head against Sasaki's shoulder and started sharing small, everyday things with him.
Sasaki also echoed softly while drinking his unsweetened black tea.
Because Otome's parents were back, and given her thin-skinned nature, she surely wouldn't come to his house in front of her parents.
And with her Sister Otome not around.
Facing both her and Otome's parents, even if Rinka didn't mind, she couldn't stay over at his house alone.
So she stayed over at Otome's place as well.
Therefore, Sasaki would also be sleeping alone tonight.
So until 9:30 PM, he did not bring up leaving and just chatted with Kashiwabara Momo.
But if he didn't mention it, the girl, who was too curious about her lover, would ask.
Still draped in that shirt, barely covering her upper body.
For her first romance, the exceptionally clingy Kashiwabara Momo sat in Sasaki's lap, gazing out at the night view from the window, curiously asking:
"Fuyumi, is it okay for you not to go home so late?"
In the midst of her soft, sweet inquiry, Sasaki looked down into her luminous eyes:
"If Momo wants me to leave, I can go home now~"
Saying this, he made a move to stand up.
But Kashiwabara Momo, who had only asked casually, didn't want him to leave.
Taking advantage of her good figure, she wrapped her arms around Sasaki's neck, pressing against his chest and gently swaying, her words softer and sweeter than a cream cake:
"Don't, don't, I was just asking, no other meaning."
"I know."
Sitting back down, Sasaki leaned his face against her forehead, smiling as he patted her leg:
"Just kidding."
"You bad boy~"
Puffing her creamy, soft cheeks, the girl playfully shook the mischievous hand held in her embrace.
No longer teasing her, Sasaki, playing with her body dishonestly, earnestly explained why he didn't need to go back.
Kashiwabara Momo was happy to hear it.
"So, Fuyumi can stay tonight?"
"Yes~"
"Yay! Then let's take a shower; I feel sticky and uncomfortable. I was going to wait for Fuyumi to leave before showering, but now we can go together."
Not paying attention to her shirt that was fluttering like her outer shirt, Momo Kashiwabara walked barefoot with her well-proportioned and slender legs, pulling Sasaki towards the bathroom.
Not resisting her tug and recalling her quick wash earlier, the latter glanced under the hem of her shirt, asking:
"You could have showered earlier; why wait for me to leave?"
"Bathing takes time, and I wanted to spend more time with Fuyumi. Plus, even though showers are comfortable, constantly moving around to wash is a hassle."
Glancing at the girl pulling him toward the bathroom, making no secret of her love for him compared to other girls, Sasaki smiled and gripped her hand tighter:
"There's plenty of time; as long as Momo doesn't leave, I'll always be with you."
Standing in front of the bathroom door, Kashiwabara Momo leaned in, her arms around Sasaki's chest, her smile as warm and pleasing as the afternoon sun in spring but not blinding.
"Promise?"
"Absolutely!"
Bang!
The bathroom door slammed shut, and the blurry frosted glass reflected the silhouette of two people hugging each other.
...