After parting ways with Tsushima Rina and Kurashiki Reina, Ito Yoshito first headed to the supermarket to buy ingredients for tonight's dinner before returning to his rental apartment.
"I'm back," he called out as he pulled out his keys and opened the ancient door.
As he stepped into the cramped space, he was surprised to hear a response, "Welcome back, Ito-kun."
The voice, delicate and melodious like a spring's gentle flow, was unmistakably that of his landlord, Asou Miyuri.
"Miyuri-san, what are you doing here?" Ito Yoshito asked, puzzled by her presence.
'Was it time to collect rent? '
'But today wasn't the due date. '
"Ito-kun, you must be tired from school. Please, sit down; dinner will be ready shortly."
It seemed that the noise from the kitchen distracted Asou Miyuri, as she didn't fully grasp his question but merely poked her head out to speak.
Naturally, Yoshito couldn't just let his guest toil away while he waited idly.
He tossed his backpack into a corner of the room and stepped into the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Asou Miyuri wore comfortable home attire, a white dress trimmed with lace, complemented by a pink shirt and an oversized apron that made her seem even more petite and delicate, akin to a porcelain doll.
At that moment, she stood on a small stool before the stove, busily stirring vegetables in a pan.
"Miyuri-san, do you need any help?"
"Hmm… Ito-kun, could you please hand me the cooking wine from over there?"
"Sure," Yoshito replied as he retrieved the bottle and handed it to her, then continued, "But why are you in my house?"
"I thought you were discharged from the hospital just yesterday, Ito-kun?"
Asou Miyuri answered while keeping her focus on the pan.
"Yes," he nodded.
"I figured you might still be weak and in need of nourishment, so I took the liberty of coming over to cook for you. I hope you won't mind."
With that, she lowered the flame slightly and turned to give him a pitiful look.
Perhaps it was the warmth from the stove that reddened her cheeks, creating a charming flush as if clouds were brushing against her skin.
Coupled with her efforts to squeeze out a few faux tears, she resembled a captivating sunset after the rain.
"How could I mind? I'm truly grateful!"
Yoshito was entranced and hurriedly offered to wipe away her tears.
"Ehehe," she giggled, deftly dodging his hand, her lips curling upward in a playful smile, her crescent-shaped eyes sparkling with mischief.
"You've been tricked, Ito-kun!"
Yoshito retracted his hand, chuckling in resignation.
"Miyuri-san, really, for someone your age, you're quite the playful child. But then again, it's said that appearance reflects the heart—so, you do look just like an elementary school student. It's only natural to be a little whimsical."
As he spoke, he gestured toward his midsection.
"Hahaha, Miyuri… san."
His voice trailed off into a whisper, his hands falling behind him.
"Do I really look like a child, Ito-kun?"
Asou Miyuri asked with an exaggerated sulk, her soft tone sending shivers down Yoshito's spine.
"No, no, Miyuri-san, you're very mature and a dependable adult!"
"Then I must be quite old!"
"No, no, your skin is so fair and youthful that even high school girls would envy you!"
As their playful banter continued, Asou Miyuri gazed quietly at Yoshito, who smiled awkwardly in response, creating a moment that felt as if time had paused.
The only sounds were the sizzling from the stove and the popping of oil droplets.
Fortunately, she had adjusted the heat, otherwise, the dish would have burned long ago.
"Ito-kun, lift your head and look at me."
Yoshito adjusted his angle and raised his chin, yet he still looked down at her.
Angered, Asou Miyuri's small, delicate feet in their white stockings tapped impatiently on the stool.
The stool, unlike Yoshito, wasn't inclined to bear her weight and promptly tipped sideways.
"Ah!"
Asou Miyuri gasped in surprise as the sudden shift nearly sent her tumbling.
Yoshito stepped forward, his tall frame serving as a steadfast pillar for her to lean against—albeit with only his torso.
"Ouch, that's hard," she exclaimed, her head bumping against his toned abdomen.
Rubbing her slightly reddened forehead, Miyuri looked up at Yoshito with her large, glistening eyes.
"Ito-kun, did I hurt you?"
Watching the petite landlord with concern in her voice, Yoshito felt his heart melt.
'How adorable! I've decided, I definitely want to have a daughter in the future,' he thought.
"I'm fine, Miyuri… san," he assured her, patting his abdomen lightly to demonstrate his resilience, yet he couldn't help but worry as he watched her expression.
"Miyuri-san, why don't you take a break outside? I can handle things in here."
As she gazed at the unfortunate stool, now broken and splintered, she nodded and stepped out of the kitchen.
When Yoshito finished preparing the dishes and called for Asou Miyuri to join him for dinner, she insisted on coming in to help serve.
On the simple table, two colorful, fragrant dishes were set. They sat on tatami mats across from each other, hands clasped together for a pre-meal prayer.
"Let's dig in."
"Ito-kun, I didn't expect your cooking skills to be this impressive!"
Asou Miyuri exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she sampled a bite.
"Thank you for the compliment," Yoshito replied, feeling pleased.
For a chef, being appreciated for one's culinary creations is the ultimate validation.
"Ito-kun—"
Asou Miyuri's voice suddenly swung higher, elongating the syllables, adding a soft, lilting quality.
Yoshito felt as though he were basking in a hot spring, dozens of tiny hands kneading his back.
He couldn't help but soften his tone in response.
"What is it, Miyuri-san~?"
"Pfft~"
Asou Miyuri couldn't help but chuckle at the image of the tall boy before her acting so delicate.
"Alright, enough teasing, Ito-kun. I wanted to ask about your rent for this month."
"Well…" With his paycheck from the dojo still pending, there wasn't much left to manage.
"I know it's been tough for you, Ito-kun. What if you help me with dinner in exchange for a reduction in your rent?"
Yoshito was tempted by her offer, but having already received so much help from her, he didn't want her to suffer any further loss.
"It's alright, Ito-kun," she said, suddenly sitting beside him, her delicate hand taking his.
Lifting her beautiful face to meet his gaze, her big, luminous eyes sparkled with sincerity.
"This isn't a burden for me, and who knows, I might need your help more in the future!"
Yoshito, sensing her genuine warmth, let go of any hesitations, clasping her hand back.
"Thank you, Miyuri-san."
With a satisfied nod from Asou Miyuri, she encouraged, "Alright, let's continue eating."
As twilight descended, the city's neon lights flickered in a mesmerizing array of colors, illuminating the myriad lives unfolding below.
Outside, the glow from streetlamps filtered through the thin curtains, weaving a tapestry of light and shadow that created an ethereal atmosphere.
This dance of light and shadow felt both dreamlike and tangible, like standing on the border between dreams and reality.
After prepping for tomorrow's class, Yoshito placed his book in his bag, lying on the bed while contemplating the intricately patterned ring in his hand.
'Lately, there's been a relentless surge of desire within me—could it be due to this ring?'
Though he had spent the month in the hospital, surrounded by the revelry of late-night escapades with Miwako Hazuki, he had never sensed anything unusual...
After all, she always kept him on his toes.
But today, after encountering several exceptionally beautiful girls, he realized he had been far too distracted by his desires.
Now, he found himself pondering the potential side effects of the ring.
'This ring gathers the emotions of women when they feel bashful, amplifying the concept of shame. When a woman's desire peaks, that bashfulness is most intense, which means that while the ring enhances that shame, it also inflates desire. This implies that the more I amplify it, the more I'll seek out women, creating a loop.'
'So, does it simply urge the wearer to avoid stagnation? But there must be a threshold, or the wearer could become a slave to their own desires.'
Having figured it out, Yoshito found himself less concerned about the peculiarities of his body.
In fact, he realized that this side effect was surprisingly in line with his current feelings.
'Alright, time for bed; I need to go exercise in the morning.'
The night passed quietly, and as dawn broke, the first rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains, reviving Yoshito.
"It's already six o'clock," he noted, glancing at his phone as he prepared to get up for his morning workout.
In the early morning, a faint mist lingered, wrapping the neighborhood in a soft haze.
As the sun gradually rose, its rays spilled across the earth like light silk, and when it hung high in a clear sky, beams of sunlight danced through the leaves, casting dappled patterns that swayed gently with the breeze.
Yoshito breathed in the fresh air, feeling every cell in his body tingle with exhilaration.
Sweat trickled down his forehead, and he reveled in this invigorating feeling.
After jogging for about ten minutes, he arrived at a small house and stood in the corner, silently waiting.
After a couple of minutes, an orange-clad figure emerged, jogging toward him.
"Thank you for waiting, Ito-kun," a sweet voice called, breaking Yoshito's trance as he enjoyed the gentle May breeze.
The girl who had called out to him was Tsubakihara Nina, the younger sister of the Tsubakihara twins.
Skilled in sports, she had been running with Yoshito almost daily before his hospitalization.
"You're here, Nina," he replied, turning to his childhood friend. Her vibrant orange-red hair was styled into playful twin tails, sunlight streaming through her glossy locks and scattering countless sparkles around her.
She wore a red sports jacket that stylishly concealed her figure and blue shorts that highlighted her long, proportionate legs, which appeared almost translucent under the sunlight, showing hints of veins that spoke of vitality and good health.
"Nina, are you ready for warm-up exercises?"
"Of course, Ito-kun, I wouldn't make such a rookie mistake!"
Tsubakihara Nina puffed her cheeks, lightly biting her cherry lips as if pouting at Yoshito's insistence, though those familiar with her knew she was merely being playful.
Among the twins, the older sister, Tsubakihara Yuna, was more reserved, shy around strangers but expressive with those close to her.
In contrast, Tsubakihara Nina was the opposite—calm and relaxed around new people, quick to build rapport, but bashful with those she held dear, often finding unique ways to express her affection rather than speaking her mind directly.
"Well then, let's go," Yoshito said with a gentle smile, knowing Nina was craving some affection, resembling a playful kitten long for some attention.
"Hmm!" Tsubakihara Nina pouted in annoyance, refusing to speak.
Yoshito decided not to tease her further, stepping closer to her. He placed his large hand on her silky hair, gently caressing it.
Tsubakihara Nina slowly closed her eyes, leaning into his palm with a look of bliss, as if savoring a delightful sensation.
After a moment, Yoshito withdrew his hand, playfully rubbing her flushed, soft cheeks.
"Are we ready to run? My cute little troublemaker."
As Nina reopened her eyes, they sparkled like a clear blue spring. "Hmm—"
"Then remember to stick close to me and don't fall behind."
Due to her severe myopia, she usually wore frameless glasses but opted not to wear them while running.
Contact lenses were uncomfortable, so whenever they ran together, she never brought anything along, trusting Yoshito to look out for her.
As they jogged along the cherry blossom-laden path, two figures gracefully moved in sync, the breeze swirling petals around them, etching the vibrant marks of their youth and the vitality of life.