*At a Karaoke*
Here were Ai, Shouko, Yamai, and Tadano.
Kaede had to leave for a family matter, and Nene accompanied her since it was getting late.
Nakanaka left with Miyako and Ichigo to complete the details of her employment.
If there was anything to note, it was the incredible expression on Nakanaka's face upon learning she would be employed by a company.
Although she was a bit scared at first, she agreed after her friends encouraged and insisted.
Shouko was already half asleep on one of the seats.
Tadano found it strange that Shouko wanted to stay but said nothing and just nodded at her request.
Ai was singing songs, and Yamai was cheering her on with a tambourine.
Tadano was doing the same with a pair of maracas.
Once she finished her song and before choosing another, Tadano stopped her.
Ai: "Eh? What is it, Tadano-nii?" asked the little girl, somewhat confused.
Tadano: "I have a gift for you…" the young man said with a mysterious smile.
Ai looked at him curiously, as did Yamai.
With a flick of his wrist, a small white jade bottle appeared in his palm. Its finish was exquisite, looking as if it had been carved by the most skilled artists.
Both girls looked at the bottle with astonishment and curiosity.
Tadano smiled on the surface, but his heart was bleeding. This was no ordinary bottle.
This bottle had cost him all his Idol Points reserves…
This bottle was…
[Extra Statistic]: "A miraculous bottle with Gaia's blessing. Drinking it will grant +1 to the preferred stat, only effective for people other than the host."
Tadano had bought and configured it to add the stat to luck.
Today, he would break Ai's curse with this bottle. Although he didn't expect it to make her invulnerable to bad luck, he at least wanted to avoid life-threatening misfortunes. He would personally handle her closest protection.
As for Kamiki Hikaru, he would become fish food in Tokyo Bay the moment he saw him or stepped near Ai.
Tadano: "Do you know what I have here…" he said in a mysterious tone while shaking the bottle.
Ai shook her head in denial.
Tadano smiled and replied.
Tadano: "Once you drink this, your dark past and any future threats will be gone, never to return… want to give it a try?" he said, extending his hand with the bottle.
Ai looked at the bottle for a moment and then at Tadano.
Without the slightest hesitation, she uncorked the bottle and drank.
Ai felt a warm current flow down her throat and throughout her body.
Then, with an audible crack, she felt the invisible chain holding her back break.
She had known about this chain since she gained consciousness.
She couldn't see or understand what it was until recently when she studied with the help of her sister Nene and sister Yamai.
Every time Ai felt at her happiest, this chain would appear and pull her down.
Not long after, something bad would happen.
That was the case with many events in her life.
Like what happened with her father.
Her mother's abandonment.
Ai felt it was her fault.
So Ai always tried to hold back.
Strangely, this chain disappeared the moment Tadano appeared.
Whenever he was close, although the chain didn't disappear, she couldn't feel it, and she could express herself openly without the need to repress herself.
But the moment Tadano wasn't close enough, she would feel it again.
So she always tried to stay close to him.
But now.
Now that horrible chain had disappeared.
She couldn't be happier.
Her tears fell like a river bursting its banks, and she clung to Tadano's chest as if her life depended on it.
There were no cries.
Ai didn't want to make any.
She wasn't sad.
She didn't want to feel that way either.
She was just happy.
And she wanted it to stay that way.
That's what she wanted to express, so she buried her head in the young man's chest, refusing to let anyone see her tears.
She tried to convey her happiness.
The young man said nothing.
Instead, he just hummed a melody while rubbing the trembling girl's back in his embrace.
[Clannad OST – Nagisa]
The room remained silent, and the only sound was the young man's humming.
Yamai had silenced the TV at some point.
Shouko was already fast asleep.
…
After an indeterminate amount of time, Ai had fallen asleep.
Noticing this, Tadano gestured to Yamai, who nodded and took out her phone.
Not long after, she signaled to Tadano, who stood up and handed the sleeping Ai to her.
After seeing them off, he returned to the karaoke room and looked at the sleeping Shouko.
Tadano was somewhat confused by all this.
How did this girl fall asleep so quickly?
When he approached her, he noticed a peculiar smell.
In disbelief, he quickly took one of the many glasses near Shouko and sniffed it.
Tadano: "Hey, hey… you've got to be kidding me…" he said, recognizing what it was.
Shouko had been drinking a wide variety of strong drinks.
Tadano thought about how this was possible and realized that Shouko was in charge of the snacks and drinks.
Yamai had been busy with some work matters on her phone at the beginning, so she appreciated Shouko's help, and Tadano was too lost in his thoughts about the bottle he would give to Ai to notice this very subtle behavior.
Since the room was spacious, each of them took a side.
Now that he thought about it, Tadano remembered that Shouko had been more active than usual today.
She even sang along with Yamai several times.
And even Ai joined in.
He thought it was because she was becoming more sociable. Who would have guessed it was because of this?
Shaking his head with some guilt, he took the girl in his arms and headed outside, where their taxi was waiting.
The moment he placed his hands on Shouko, she seemed to feel it and clung to him like a koala.
Tadano smiled, remembering when he carried her back then and couldn't help but smile.
With the girl in his arms, he headed for the taxi.
Once inside, he wanted to seat Shouko next to him, but she didn't let go.
After a few failed attempts, he decided to let it be.
He didn't notice the slight tremor in her eyes or the deeper blush on her cheeks.
When he arrived at the entrance and knocked on the door, no one responded.
This seemed strange to him, but he decided to be patient and knocked a few more times.
Receiving no response, he decided to first enter and leave Shouko inside.
There wasn't enough space at Yamai's house, and he doubted her family would look kindly on him bringing a beautiful girl like Shouko, who was drunk and semi-conscious.
Knowing his younger sister's temper, she would be the first to demand his arrest and execution, and she would do it with a big smile on her face.
Deciding to avoid such trouble, he chose to leave her at home and wait for one of her family members to arrive. After all, he wasn't a stranger to Shouko's family.
Once at the door, he wanted to take the keys Shouko kept in her bag.
But it was impossible while holding the girl on his back, so he asked her to hand them to him, to which the girl agreed.
Once he managed to open the door and was about to enter, he felt Shouko on his back get up and push him inside.
Taken by surprise and with his guard completely down, Tadano fell to the floor.
*thud*
A bit dazed by the sudden situation, he didn't know what was happening until he heard the sound of the door lock.
While he was stunned, Shouko had locked the door and was looking at him with a strange expression.
Before he could ask anything, he saw her drinking from a strange bottle and approaching him.
Wasting no time, Shouko grabbed him by the collar and pressed her lips to his in a passionate kiss. When Shouko's tongue invaded his mouth, Tadano could also feel a strange, sweet substance.
As the kiss continued, Shouko forced him to drink the liquid.
A few breaths later, they separated.
It was then that the young man could see the girl's expression clearly.
Her obsidian eyes were cloudy, a hint of longing and temptation reflected in them.
A cherry-colored blush painted her exquisite white jade skin, adding a touch of charm, as did her small mouth, breathing hot, turbulent breaths.
She emitted a faint fruity fragrance that would turn any man into a beast upon smelling it.
The girl's legs were already wrapped around Tadano's waist, refusing to let him go.
Tadano was stunned.
How the hell did he end up in this situation?
When he saw Shouko's face, a pink glow full of coquetry was reflected in her obsidian eyes.
With a sweet and charming voice, she said.
Shouko: "You know... cats always like to catch their prey off guard..." she said as she slowly approached his face and leaned her full weight on him young man.
Shouko: "You could say that you are now a little mouse that has fallen into my trap and you know what? You look very delicious, Nya♥ ∼" she whispered in a lovely voice in the young man's ear.
Author's note: "Here is the promised chapter... hehe Shouko is becoming wild, how will it all end? Leave your comments... That said, remember to drink plenty of water and that I love you all very much. Sincerely, your favorite depressed author."
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