Chapter 44: Chapter 44 - Swollen
As the sun rose, Ito Yoshito stirred awake, refreshed and revitalized after a night of rest.
The hard work of the previous day didn't dampen his spirits; instead, he felt ready to tackle whatever came his way.
Monday
Anotorious day that marked the end of a weekend full of enthusiasm, now reduced to the burdens of school.
For students, this day was significant as they prepared to head back to class.
The cherry blossom trees lining the avenue swayed gently in the breeze, their petals floating down and landing on the heads of Ito Yoshito and his classmate, Shinomiya Natsuha, as they walked side by side toward school.
The first class of the week was taught by Shirakawa Miwa.
As soon as she stepped to the front of the classroom, she raised a hand, signaling for silence.
"Class, today, Tsukishima Kyouko is absent, so we will switch her lesson with tomorrow's gym class."
"Yay! Gym class!"
"Heh heh, just wait, I'll show you how to dominate in basketball later!"
"Ugh, what's so great about gym class? You end up all sweaty and sticky…"
"Hey, how about we find a secluded corner during gym and slack off again…"
The chatter filled the room, but Ito Yoshito was lost in his thoughts, not paying attention to the surrounding buzz.
'Last night… we had such intense sessions, I hope Kyouko isn't dehydrated or anything...'
He worried.
'I should give her a call later…'
"Okay, class, let's settle down and begin."
Upon hearing Shirakawa's reminder, the classroom quieted down almost instantly but soon erupted into murmurs again.
Shirakawa Miwa's gentle face didn't show signs of irritation or anger; instead, she wore a soft smile, accustomed to this kind of behavior.
"Students, if you don't quiet down, I'll be the one teaching gym class later~"
She winked playfully, and with that, the class continued.
Ito Yoshito decided not to call Kyouko right away; she might still be resting. Moreover…
A nearby pair of fair, smooth thighs glimmered under the sunlight, distracting him and causing his mind to wander.
Tsushima Rina sat happily on Ito Yoshito's desk, completely unfazed by his heated gaze.
"Hello, Ito-kun! It's been two days!"
Tsushima Rina's sweet tone made Ito Yoshito feel a rush of warmth.
He quickly diverted his eyes and stealthily glanced under her skirt, hoping to catch a glimpse of the beauty that her thighs hinted at.
"Long time no see, Rina. Did you enjoy your weekend?"
"Ehehe… it was okay, but unfortunately, I missed out on something really fun without you around~"
With a flirtatious smile, Tsushima Rina playfully brushed her hand against Ito Yoshito's chest.
"Rina, stop messing around…"
Tsushima Rina was the type who didn't mind being ambiguous with boys in public, unabashedly flirting.
"Ito-kun, we're familiar enough, so why be shy? Hehe~"
"Hmm? Are you two very close?!"
A cold voice suddenly sliced through the air, causing both Ito Yoshito and Tsushima Rina to turn. Standing behind Rina was Shinomiya Natsuha, her expression blank.
"Hmph—there you are! Ito-kun, how close are we?"
Seeing Shinomiya Natsuha, a notorious figure for being both intimidating and protective, Tsushima Rina frowned, her tone dripping with tension.
Natsuha's gaze shifted to Ito Yoshito, her wine-red eyes seemingly hiding a tempest, casting an ominous shadow over him.
He felt the pressure mounting as he faced their scrutinizing stares.
After a brief silence, Ito Yoshito suddenly mustered up his courage.
"...You both are my wings!"
"!"
"!"
"Being so greedy isn't good, Ito-kun! Hehe~"
Recovering from his unexpected response, Natsuha's lips curved into a chilling yet soft smile.
"Then… can I ask which wing of yours is more valuable?"
Tsushima Rina interjected with her playful curiosity, never minding how many girls Ito Yoshito had; as long as she was the first, that was all that mattered to her!
Ito Yoshito looked between the two and internally sighed, opting to remain silent.
Tsushima Rina returned to her usual flirtatious self, sliding off the desk to straddle Ito Yoshito's lap, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
"You're really greedy, Ito-kun, but I like it~"
Shinomiya Natsuha's forehead twitched with barely concealed anger, yet her smile remained disturbingly sweet.
'This bad woman is getting better at showing off her seduction, how infuriating~'
Natsuha gritted her teeth and suppressed her impulses.
'Ito-kun is getting deeper and deeper into this mess… I can't allow this! I must find a time to clearly express my feelings for him; otherwise… he might end up being toyed with by this vixen! If this bad woman has her way, she might even give Ito-kun away to others for fun! Ugh!'
A vision of Ito Yoshito being corrupted by Tsushima Rina passed through Natsuha's mind, making her heart ache, but for some reason, her anxious heart was laced with a persistent feeling of anticipation.
'Ito-kun, I'll protect you!'
————
During lunch break, Ito Yoshito didn't eat with the girls but instead sought solitude in a quiet corner.
"Drr—drr—"
"Hello… Kyouko, are you okay?"
"...Yosh-Yoshito!" From the other end of the line, Tsukishima Kyouko sounded hesitant, almost as if she had just woken from a dream.
"Yes, it's me! Kyouko, are you feeling unwell?"
Ito Yoshito began to realize that to provide a home for his girls, he needed to adopt a firmer stance.
He felt it was appropriate to drop formalities and address Kyouko more intimately, hoping to bridge the gap between them.
"Ah, I'm fine… it's just… um…"
Her soft voice drifted through the phone, which was hard to reconcile with the icy aura she emanated at school.
"Where do you feel unwell?"
"There's… there's something swollen… there…"