After an intense battle, the two took a bath together.
As Sasaki was putting on his clothes, he glanced at the girl wrapping herself and jokingly commented:
"Your 'melons' are really big~."
Not understanding what he meant, Shinomiya Natsuha, who had just been 'forced' into a relationship with him and knew he had other girlfriends, naturally compared herself to them in her mind.
Even though she wasn't as weak as ordinary girls, she was still a girl, and in such situations, it was hard not to feel a bit insecure.
After fastening the hook on her bra, she picked up her uniform from the floor, covering her front, and asked, shyly and awkwardly:
"Is it... very ugly?"
"How could it be?"
After buttoning his shirt, Sasaki slowly walked behind her, took the hair tie from her wrist, and helped her with her hair:
"Natsuha, you're amazing. It's just a pity we can't do it again today."
Being helped with her hair by a boy for the first time, Shinomiya Natsuha, although not quite used to it, really enjoyed his gentle actions.
And with an unknown 'main wife' overshadowing her, she followed his lead and said:
"Not today, but there's still tomorrow, the day after, and the future, right?"
"Yeah."
Seeing her open up and fully accept him, Sasaki finished her hair, walked a few steps forward, hugged her by the waist, and pressed against her:
"What happened today? How did you end up like that?"
No one knew better than him how she had ended up in that state.
But from her perspective, he was completely unaware.
So, it was natural for him to ask.
"Well..."
When Sasaki brought it up, Shinomiya Natsuha felt a stab of pain.
Grief, anger, disappointment... many negative emotions surged in, causing her to clench her fists.
Feeling his arm tighten around her waist, Shinomiya relaxed her fists.
Before she could speak, Sasaki suddenly lifted her chin and turned her face towards him.
"Mm?!"
"Mm~?"
After a brief, passionate kiss, Sasaki lifted his head and smiled at the slightly breathless Shinomiya:
"I heard that kissing can take away bad feelings. Do you feel better now?"
Experiencing such warm and comforting solace for the first time, Shinomiya found it both funny and heartwarming.
Clearly, this was something no boy would ignore.
But his consideration of her feelings, not pushing her to explain when she was upset, made her very happy.
Yes, she liked it a lot.
Or rather, no girl would dislike such thoughtful gestures.
Turning around in his arms, wearing only her underwear, Shinomiya Natsuha dropped her uniform back onto the floor, wrapped her arms around Sasaki's neck, and lifted her soft, pink face.
Realizing she wanted another round, Sasaki's self-control told him that another round would mean not leaving at all.
So he just gave her a light kiss.
Seeing her confusion, he straightened up:
"If you can convince Aunt Chiakko..."
Though he didn't finish his sentence, she could feel his intentions.
Understanding that Sasaki wanted her to stay the night, but worrying about her mother at home alone, Shinomiya Natsuha bit her lip and slowly shook her head.
Already knowing this would be the outcome, Sasaki, who also didn't want to stay out overnight, gently patted her:
"Put on your clothes. If you're any later, Aunt Chiakko will worry."
"Mm~"
"The bedsheets... I want to take them..."
"You can take it. We can pay a little extra when checking out."
"Mm~"
.
.
.
Hearing that Shinomiya Natsuha had practiced Aikido for many years, Sasaki decided to spar with her a couple of times and found that she indeed had some skill.
At least she didn't give up after a few moves, unlike Otome Rinka.
Although her strength gradually recovered, and she could walk without any issues, Sasaki, having just entered into a relationship with her,obviously would not let her go home alone.
Not to mention, this was also an opportunity for him to clarify everything.
Otherwise, hiding things would eventually lead to trouble.
Since they were in the early stages of their relationship and filled with affection, being honest now would give him a chance to smooth things over, even if she got upset.
If he lied and let her believe he only had one girlfriend, it would be much harder to handle when she found out about Momo, Rinka, and even his fiancée.
First, lying means a lack of honesty, which is indefensible.
Second, he'd have to explain to Momo and the others why he suddenly had another girlfriend.
By then, both sides will be angry...
Unless Sasaki is torn into two halves, it would be impossible to coax him when all of them confront him together.
If you lose sight of one thing while focusing on another, you will be doomed.
So this kind of problem cannot be delayed, otherwise it will be a failure.
If left unresolved, it would only get worse.
As they walked hand in hand down the street, both of them remained silent, each contemplating how to broach the subject.
Although the two of them had just done the most intimate thing a man and woman could do.
But it didn't happen naturally.
Therefore, there were still some issues that had not been resolved and some things that had not been said.
The silence at this moment was just the two of them thinking about how to start the conversation.
They knew unresolved issues would only grow and create barriers between them.
They both held the idea of hoping to be with each other until the end, so they couldn't afford to let this fester.
Though not everyone delays addressing problems out of a lack of desire to be with their partner,
It still depends on people's personality.
Sasaki has never been timid when it comes to relationship.
Knowing that leaving problems until later will cause big problems, he certainly would not choose to avoid it.
Shinomiya Natsuha, having practiced martial arts, was neither procrastinating nor cowardly.
She knew Sasaki would eventually find out about her past with her childhood sweetheart, especially after today's events.
Even if he didn't ask, she felt he must be curious.
Maybe he will check it out privately and find out in a few days.
If she didn't tell him and he discovers the truth on his own... she didn't know what the consequences would be, but it would definitely not be a good thing.
As they thought about this, they unknowingly came to the intersection before entering the residential area.
Looking at the traffic light turned red.
"Red light."
Sasaki, who was obviously pretending not to notice, was gently pulled back by Shinomiya as he whispered an apology:
"Sorry, I was lost in thought. Thanks, Natsuha~"
"It's nothing~"
In the past, when she asked Yamano to call her by her name, he always stuttered.
Now, hearing someone else say her name so naturally and warmly, Shinomiya Natsuha felt a shy and indescribable sweetness.
It wasn't clear why, but perhaps it was because she directly felt Sasaki's affection.
She wasn't sure if Yamano Yuuta ever truly liked her,
But what she was sure of was that when she took the initiative to ask him to call her name, she didn't feel shy at all, but more of a helplessness that she had never paid attention to before...
Comparing the two...
There seemed to be no comparison between the two..
Adjusting the strap of her backpack on her right shoulder, which contained a small piece of the red bedsheet, Shinomiya Natsuha tucked her hair behind her ear and, looking at the countdown of the red light, asked casually while holding Sasaki's hand tightly:
"What were you thinking about? You didn't even notice the red light."
Holding her hand tightly, Sasaki hesitated slightly and softly said:
"What I was thinking...well Natsuha might get very angry if I say it out loud."
"I see..."
After thinking about it carefully, Natsuha was sure that after the two of them had reached an agreement, the only possible conflict was about his girlfriend...
Not knowing the specifics but guessing it was related, she moved closer to him, leaning her head on his shoulder, and murmured:
"I won't get angry. Go ahead."
Having been claimed by Sasaki, she felt she had no other choice.
If she gave up her inner persistence, stayed away from Yamano Yuuta who had betrayed and hurt her, and looked for someone else not philandering Sasaki... she would feel uncomfortable.
With her first time gone, how could she demand that her future partner be entirely faithful to her?
If she couldn't guarantee it, why not choose him, who treated her well and whom she had feelings for?
Natsuha, who had always focused on such aspects, was completely at Sasaki's mercy, both logically and emotionally.
Even if she didn't want to hear about his other girlfriend, what could she do?
Besides, she hadn't told him about Yamano Yuuta yet...
Who knows how he'd react to that...
If he told her about his girlfriends first, she'd be generous and not get angry.
Maybe then, when she told him her story, he'd also be understanding...
Well..if he did get angry... then... then he shouldn't expect to touch her again!
If Sasaki knew her inner thoughts, he might have had hard time preventing himself from laughing out loud.
About her Childhood friend, not only did he knew it, he also did too much about it.
As for virginity.. such and such.. he didn't care that much.
If he did, then he wouldn't have lusted after Aunt Kyouka.
Well, comparing the two was a bit far fetched considering he had a thing for beautiful milfs.. but it was not too different.
Of course, that didn't mean he liked casual girls...
He was quite happy that he got her virginity, afterall, who wouldn't be..?
But well.. he didn't know so, he could only guess.
Fortunately his plo.. luck was on his side.
Having made up her mind, Shinomiya Natsuha, seeing the light turn green, pulled Sasaki across the crosswalk, then lightly shook his arm, speaking playfully:
"Come on, tell me~ I won't get angry."
"Okay, I'll tell you then."
"Go ahead."
Although he had very little faith in a girl's promise not to get angry, it was better than nothing.
Walking beside her, Sasaki hesitated briefly before saying:
"Well, didn't I mention earlier that I have a girlfriend..."