"The penguin is so cute."
"I like sukiyaki more, though."
"Ah, the meat is delicious! But I smell meat all over."
"It's fine. You smell delicious."
"That's sexual harassment!"
After they spent their time in the aquarium, they went to the nearby yakiniku shop and had a meat feast together. Meaty, juicy, and fatty meats grilled under the hot grilling quickly turned brown and emitted a delicious aroma, which increased their appetite. Then, along with rice and deep-tasting sauce, the two wolfed down their food.
"But you were good at grilling meat, Ishigami-kun."
"You kept stealing my meat, though."
"Te-he~!"
"...acting cute won't make me forgive you so easily, okay?"
Chika only laughed as she leaned on him happily. Like her, his scent also became delicious due to the grilling meat.
Yet, at the same time, their parting also became closer, but to be honest, Ishigami really wasn't sure what kind of conclusion he wished to make.
Unlike adult women, who could follow someone as long as those men could give them a sense of stability and reliability with their wealth, while they were shallow, it was easy to conquer them.
However, high school students were different from how they used to feel.
While wealth could also be part of the reason why a high school student was attracted to someone, many of them still had a pure understanding of love.
Being with one, they loved and grew old together.
Such simple happiness was probably what everyone sought after.
In reality, this was possible for him, but he felt that it was too late for him to do it, especially when he had made a move on many women.
If he followed his greed, then he should just go along with the flow, make a move on Chika, and then get a reward from her.
Yet, his heart made him resistant to doing such a thing since it meant that he would taint her. No matter what, she was his good senior, and even if she had done many strange things, all of them were harmless.
His rationality and greed made him become heartless, yet his heart said otherwise.
If he was a little older and exposed to the harshness of society, he knew that he wouldn't hesitate since, by getting close to Chika, he would get a reward.
In this harsh world, a feeling was impermanent, but wealth and career were something that couldn't be lost no matter what and wouldn't betray him.
When he reached the top and gained power and wealth, what kind of women wouldn't spread their legs for him?
Or rather, he could get any woman that he wished for!
Yet, as a young man, there was part of him that wished for something genuine, untainted, and pure.
This might be childish, and many might mock him, especially after what he had done, yet... this longing was impossible to erase.
Happiness was like that, after all.
Happiness wasn't due to money or authority.
Those things might be great, but in the end, like Adam and Eve, even if they had nothing, as long as they were together, even if they were punished on the earth, they could spend their days in happiness.
When two people had two sincere feelings, it was happiness.
'Ah... how pure I am...'
Ishigami rubbed his head inwardly, thinking that he was such a child when he knew well that, in reality, many couldn't work that way.
Even the mother of Shirogane left the family because of Shirogane Papa's bankruptcy, searched for a better lover, and focused on gaining her wealth.
If Shirogane Papa and Shirogane Mama, who were in love with each other in the past and loved each other genuinely, could part away, then what about him?
So, he knew that while it was cruel, he needed money and authority to maintain everything, yet even so, was it right?
Holding Chika's hand, he listened carefully to her talk about the "Table Top Game Club," the famous diabolic club in the school, and even heard that someone in his class was one of its members.
He liked this talk since it made him erase all the strange thoughts within his mind.
The two were on the train instead of on the taxi, so that way, they could stay for a little longer, but no matter how long they wanted to postpone this end, it was impossible to stop, and in ten minutes, they would reach Chika's home, and by then, it would be the end for them.
"My home is close."
"Yeah."
Chika looked at Ishigami and asked with a mischievous smile, "As expected, you don't want to part away from me, right?"
"You are right."
Instead of teasing or joking, Ishigami nodded firmly.
Chika fell silent, staring at Ishigami for a moment, and asked, "Then, will you break up with your girlfriend?"
If so, then she wouldn't mind being with him.
After all, she wasn't a cheap woman who could let her man be shared with others. She wanted him only for herself, and if he broke up, then she didn't mind being with him right away.
Unfortunately—
"I am sorry."
Hearing that apology, Chika stared at him before taking a deep breath.
If it was before, Ishigami could break up with Onodera, but now?
How could he even break up with her after he took her virginity?
He wasn't a devil, okay?
"I see..."
"Yeah."
"Then, you are going to have deep regret for losing a perfect heroine like me."
"Yeah, I am."
Watching his gentle smile, Chika wanted to beat this guy up for appearing so calm, yet she had a hard time stopping her tears. Still, she didn't want to appear pathetic and wanted to stay calm all the way, yet... yet... it was hard.
"Then, Senpai, I will go back now."
Ishigami made up his decision, and he probably would regret it, but now, he felt that this was the correct one.
Yet, as he turned and was ready to walk away, an impulse was born in Chika.
Holding his wrist, she pulled him and made him stop his steps.
"Senpai—"
Compared to him, Chika was shorter, but even so, she was able to kiss his lips.
There was nothing special about this kiss, but the fact that their lips pressed against each other didn't change.
Was she so cheap?
Chika couldn't help but think so, yet the thought of him would disappear from her eyes and become a normal junior and senior; she couldn't help but do this and kiss his lips, giving her a last memory of their exchange.
She still felt a bit of regret.
Not because she lost her first kiss but because their first kiss tasted like a yakiniku.
As their lips parted, Chika could see his stunned expression, and she showed a mischievous smile. "Forgive me for this, okay?" Nevertheless, when she realized what she had done, she thought of running away quickly, but before she could run away, she was embraced by him.
"I wonder why you are always like this."
"I-Ishigami...?"
This... this wasn't the act of a virgin!
"You gave your first kiss to the wrong person."
"I-I am not."
"I have cheated with many girls, you know?"
"Huh? Really?!"
Chika was dumbfounded and also felt so angry, hearing about his philandering hobby, but then Ishigami said, "Well, all of them are like you, who suddenly kissed me without giving me a chance to say anything."
"..."
Chika didn't know what to say.
Should she feel guilty?
Also, wasn't he such a scumbag?!
You should refuse all of them, bastard!
Give me back my first kiss!
However, she also felt angry at those girls who suddenly kissed him, forcing him into a relationship.
Still, if Ishigami knew what she was thinking, he would roll his eyes at her.
Nevertheless, as everything had become like this, Ishigami said, "Give me one year."
"One year? For what?"
Chika looked at Ishigami under scrutiny, but she didn't break away from his embrace.
"So, I can make you believe that you didn't choose the wrong man. I will make you fall for me so that you don't mind that I have another girl with me."
Chika's lips twitched when she heard his shameless words, but then she asked, "What if you fail?"
"If I fail, then just dump me. The best revenge for a woman is to make a guy fall in love with you helplessly, then dump me without prior notice and make me feel so much regret that I wish that I am better to die without you."
"....."
Chika stared at Ishigami for a moment, then said, "It's fine."
"Fine?" Ishigami was confused.
"It's my loss, so just treasure me, okay?"
Chika didn't care about the bet since, in her mind, all she wished was to be with him even if, in reality, it was different from what she imagined. Yet, even so, she could tell that this beginning was something that she looked for, and for him, who could express his determination and wishes straightforwardly, she decided to do the same.
Others might think of her as naive, yet even so, she wanted to believe in him.
".........."
Ishigami fell silent, staring at Chika, who looked into his eyes closely as he felt a new emotion born within his heart.
"Then, can I kiss you again?"
"....."
Chika blushed and looked away, but she didn't show resistance, letting him kiss her fleshy, cherry lips. As expected of him, as a non-virgin, there was no hesitation in his action.
"Hmn~!"
She should hate this, yet why? It felt so good that she let out a cute moan.
"You are so cute, Senpai~!"
"S-Shut up! If you just tease me then, just go home— hmn~!"
As they kissed, naturally, his 19 cm eel was impossible to hide.
However, unlike the spotted garden eel that danced like seaweed, his 19 cm eel stood straight like a rod, which somehow made Chika understand why this guy had so many girls around him.
Still, unlike others, she wasn't an easy girl, and she would definitely dump him and make him regret it so much in case he disappointed her, but before that, let's just enjoy this kiss first.
---
Something to learn today:
I have just tried DIY, building my own rack in an IKEA-type store in my country. I hesitated for a bit since I have always bought something ready or had someone build it, but it is cheaper to buy the pre-made, so I bought it and then built the rack on my own.
My impression?
It was kind of fun, and it was easier than I had imagined to build the rack. Oh, before you buy, try to ask the store if there is a missing part or broken part.
Lastly, I felt a bit regretful about adding the warranty add-on since it made it expensive, though some stores have you buy a warranty without you being able to refuse.
Nevertheless, enjoy the chapter.