The sun was shining brightly, with a gentle breeze in the air. The sky was a clear, deep blue, dotted with wisps of clouds.
The soft wind rustled the leaves, casting a playful dance of shadows on the tidy path beside the hospital.
Ito Yoshito was bidding farewell to Hazuki Miwako.
"Thank you, Miwako-oneechan, for your attentive care over the past month," he said gratefully.
"Congratulations on your discharge!"
Hazuki Miwako's beautiful eyes sparkled with joy as she blessed him.
"And remember to keep in touch."
"I will," Ito Yoshito assured her.
"Well... I should head home now."
"Wait," Hazuki Miwako stopped him, her delicate hand forming a soft fist and reaching out to his chest, "Open it and see."
Ito Yoshito grasped her soft little hand, slowly prying her fingers apart.
Nestled in his palm was a small pink item with a button on top.
Curious, Ito Yoshito pressed the button.
"Hmm..."
A soft, melodic sound emanated from the device, and before he knew it, a gentle figure leaped into his arms, her fragrant essence enveloping him like a blooming flower.
He wrapped his arms around Hazuki Miwako's slender waist, feeling the softness of her body against his shoulder, the scent of her hair wafting in the air.
However, noticing her slight tremor, he gently pushed her away.
Hazuki Miwako, suddenly weak, melted to the ground, her delicate arm clutching Ito Yoshito's waist as she rested her head against his firm abdomen.
Worried, Ito Yoshito looked down at her, catching her misty-eyed gaze.
Below, her round and full derrière pressed against him, subtly creating a warm sensation on the ground beneath them.
Blood rushed uncontrollably to his lower abdomen, just brushing against her ample curves.
"Miwako-oneechan, don't tell me... are you... feeling a bit overwhelmed?!"
Ito Yoshito mused with excitement as he gently stroked her flowing hair.
"Hmm... mmm-hmm."
Hazuki Miwako averted her gaze, her cheeks flushed a deep crimson.
"Mmm... no way, why is the rhythm picking up?!"
Flushed with embarrassment, Hazuki Miwako playfully patted Ito Yoshito's solid backside, the action more flirtatious than reprimanding.
In the midst of her teasing, Ito Yoshito bent down, easily lifting her rounded form, guiding her toward the back restroom of the hospital.
...
"Just remember to bring that with you when you ask me out," Hazuki Miwako whispered as they shared a final intimate moment before parting.
Following the memories of the original owner, Ito Yoshito found his home
A simple, old rental apartment.
"Ahh... Ito-kun!"
Just as he reached the door to unlock it, a voice called out from the side.
He turned to see his landlord waving at him.
Ito Yoshito's landlord was a petite woman, barely 1.5 meters tall, with long brown hair tied into two cute curls.
Dressed in a matching black business outfit, her appearance gave off more of a cosplay vibe than a mature demeanor, reminding one of a cherubic figure.
"Ms. Asou, long time no see."
Ito Yoshito flashed a bright, sunny smile at the ever-caring Asou Miyuri.
Asou Miyuri, his landlord, had taken care of Ito Yoshito since middle school.
After his father sold their house, she rented this place to him at a reduced rate, enabling him to live here while managing his meager earnings from the Miyajima dojo and his scholarship.
Thus, he always held her in great respect.
...
Although, her youthful appearance often left him feeling uneasy.
"It's been a while! I almost thought you moved out!"
Asou Miyuri pouted lightly.
She was unaware that Ito Yoshito had been hospitalized, only that he hadn't been around for a long time.
'That's not allowed; I've been waiting for such a handsome youth for so long, and I haven't enjoyed him yet!'
Asou Miyuri thought to herself.
'He's a high school student now, that should count as mature, right?!'
Ito Yoshito rushed to apologize as they conversed a little more.
"Ah! You were hospitalized! What happened? Are you alright?"
Asou Miyuri quickly approached him, smoothing out the wrinkles in his shirt and examining his robust physique, her fingers brushing over his healed scars, sending a cool sensation through Ito Yoshito.
"Ahahaha... I'm fine now," he chuckled, not wanting those who cared for him to worry.
"Well, take care of yourself when you go back," she advised.
Bidding farewell to his adorable landlord, Ito Yoshito walked into his modest room, which had collected dust in the month he was away.
'Time to get to work. I need to clean up and buy some essentials from the supermarket,' he thought.
As night fell, the stars twinkled above, and Ito Yoshito's small rented room seemed like a forgotten corner under the moonlight, devoid of any glow.
Only a desk lamp illuminated the dim space, where Ito Yoshito sat writing at his desk.
'I need to report to school tomorrow. A month has passed since classes started; the classmates have probably formed their own little groups. But that's not the main concern. More importantly, there's Kurashiki Reina...'
The next morning, Ito Yoshito awoke early to exercise.
Thanks to the enhancements from the ring, he felt his body improving each day, giving him the motivation to keep going.
"990, 991..."
After finishing his push-ups, he admired himself in the mirror before preparing to shower and make breakfast and lunch.
On the street in the morning, the cherry blossom trees swayed in the gentle breeze, scattering pink petals and filling the air with a pleasant floral aroma.
At a nearby intersection, a beautiful figure stood waiting.
The morning breeze tousled her hair as cherry blossoms danced around her, creating a picturesque scene.
It was Natsuha Shinomiya, one hand holding her bag to prevent her skirt from billowing in the wind, the other adjusting the messiness of her hair.
Natsuha Shinomiya was about to take out her phone to send a message when she suddenly noticed a tall figure from afar.
Her wine-red eyes locked onto the person she had been waiting for.
Putting her phone away, she started to walk over, but was blocked by a guy with yellow hair.
Masaru Oga leered at Natsuha Shinomiya, eyeing her curves concealed beneath her school uniform.
The heat of his desires radiated from his eyes as he whistled and grinned lewdly, "Hey, Natsuha, how about a walk together?"
He reached his hand out, attempting to wrap it around her smooth shoulder.
With a strong grip, Ito Yoshito seized Masaru Oga's wrist, irritation flashing in his eyes at the annoyingly persistent blonde.
"Masaru Oga, you're really like a ghost that won't go away. Have you already forgotten the pain from when you were taught a lesson last time?"
Ito Yoshito gradually increased his grip, leaving noticeable red marks on Oga's arm.
"Let go, it hurts!"
Masaru Oga whimpered, but he hesitated to retaliate, remembering the numerous times he had been defeated in the past.
Instead, he squirmed like a worm trying to escape.
"Scram."
Ito Yoshito released Oga, originally intending to teach the punk a lesson, but time was too tight.
He didn't want to be late on his first day back at school.
'You think you can act tough forever, Ito? You'll regret it by the end of school today; begging isn't going to help you then. Dammit, those guys are expensive to deal with; I'll be bleeding money again,' Masaru Oga thought, his cold, venomous gaze revealing his malicious intent.
Ito Yoshito sensed the wicked thoughts and feelings emanating from Oga and received those thoughts through his ring: 'Perfect—time to test my current strength.'
Ring Status:
Shame Points — 200/200 ➡ 110/200
Recovery Rate: 10/hour.
(Note:
Cost for reading thoughts = 100 - the person's goodwill toward the user.
0-10: Enemy
10-40: Neutral/Companion
40-60: Friend
60-70: Like
70-80: Affection
80-90: Love
90-100: Adoration)
Watching as Masaru Oga awkwardly retreated, Ito Yoshito smirked.
Did this lowlife think he could challenge the authority of the lion of the grasslands with sheer numbers?
"Thank you again for bailing me out, Ito-kun," Natsuha Shinomiya said, subtly bowing her head in gratitude after Oga left.
The two ample curves of her school uniform swayed slightly with her movement, like waves crashing against the shore, perfectly illustrating the vitality of youth.
Ito Yoshito, momentarily distracted by her alluring figure, shook his head to focus, turning to her with a smile.
"Haha, even without me, you could have easily dealt with Masaru Oga. After all, you're a skilled expert in Aikido."
Natsuha Shinomiya straightened up, and her two "nuclear" assets swayed again, stirring his senses.
She slightly leaned towards him, her delicate cheeks flushed, hinting at a hint of heat creeping onto her face.
Natsuha Shinomiya sensed his hidden, heated gaze, and instead of feeling affronted, her heart raced, and warmth spread throughout her.
Thus, she often pretended not to notice Ito Yoshito's attention, unconsciously showcasing her alluring curves through exaggerated movements, satisfying an exhilarating craving she would never before feel with her childhood friend Yamano Yuuta.
She relished this feeling, savoring it.
'Ito-kun is so cool and handsome; if only Yuuta could be like that.'
"Now, now, Ito-kun is just teasing; I can't pretend to be an expert in front of you"
Natsuha Shinomiya said playfully, her lips forming a mock pout as she slapped Ito Yoshito's muscular arm lightly.
Her gentle action resembled a kitten's playful scratches but came across as an adorable pout in the eyes of others.
"If you're not the expert, then who took care of Yamano-kun until he cried like a baby?"
Ito Yoshito had never met Yamano Yuuta
He only knew of him through conversations Natsuha had in the past.
When she first came to this city to study, Natsuha frequently mentioned his name.
It was only after Ito Yoshito and Natsuha became good friends that he learned Yamano Yuuta was her childhood friend, whom she had warm feelings for.
To Natsuha, Yamano Yuuta was a kind and gentle soul but a bit too sensitive, needing her protection.
"Oh~ Yuuta would be hurt hearing that," Natsuha Shinomiya said, her mood cooling down as the mention of Yamano Yuuta dampened her spirits.
'Yuuta…'
She felt a sense of guilt, as if she were sneaking around on Yamano Yuuta, causing her to lose focus, her wine-red eyes dimming slightly.
"Come on, you've skipped school for a month. You need a kind, gentle expert in Aikido to escort you, or else you might get lost and start crying like a baby"
Ito Yoshito teased, noticing Natsuha's slightly furrowed brow and her biting her lip.
He flashed a bright, sunny smile.
"Pfft~ ヾ(≧▽≦*)o"
Natsuha Shinomiya laughed at Ito Yoshito's goofy sense of humor, her gloomy demeanor evaporating as she brightened up again.
"Then I'll guide the truant; let's go!"
The cheerful sounds of laughter echoed along the small road, resembling a vibrant melody, making their fleeting youth feel grounded and setting the stage for the unfolding tale of these young souls.