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Kai: “Su-Sure…”

Kai readjusts his grip on her hand. Aya’s face flushes even deeper red. More than holding his rough hand, it feels like Aya’s hand is being held.

Kai: (Wh-What’s gotten into Aya… holding hands all of a sudden…)

When it’s this forward, even Kai, who has low self-esteem, is given no room for misunderstanding. The heat from Aya, who’s blushing all the way to her ears, spreads to Kai, making his face red too. Trying to distract himself, he looks at the moon while gazing at the sky.

Kai: “Thank you…very much”

Silently, their nighttime walk hand-in-hand begins. Of course, the idea to hold hands was Nagi’s, but in her case, she had said it half-jokingly.

Yet, Aya has guts.

The courage to keep fighting even when she’s continually called incompetent.

Still…

Aya: (Ah, my head is about to explode!!!)

Unable to think due to the boiling sensation in her head, all she can do is follow Kai, listening to the clip-clop of her geta and watching his back.

Aya: (Big…)

But it’s strange, looking at his back makes her feel relieved. It’s much larger than hers, and while it’s obviously smaller compared to her grandfather’s, it looks just as big to Aya.

Kai: “Ah, a fork in the road…”

After progressing silently for some time, they reach a fork in the road. The path to the right leads to a main street towards a hotel, and the path to the left, though unclear, seems to lead into a forest.

Kai: “What should we do…”

Aya: “I prefer the left… the right feels like it will lead to an end.”

Kai: “O-Okay.”

Kai ponders the meaning. If Aya wanted to hold hands out of fear, they would take the right path.

So, no matter how he thinks about it, choosing the left path means something else. Perhaps, this is Aya’s most genuine expression of wanting to spend a bit more time together.

Kai recognizes this. Then, of course, he understands.

Aya’s feelings.

Reflecting on it, there were several hints.

Even so, he tried not to misunderstand.

Kai: “It’s getting quite dark…”

Aya: “Yes…”

As they proceed into the forest, they find stone stairs. At the end, there seems to be an old shrine.

Kai: “Shall we go?”

Aya nods slightly. Kai and Aya climb one step at a time, hand in hand. It’s a shrine, but it looks neglected and ancient.

Kai and Aya continue forward.

Kai: “It’s old… I wonder if we should pay respects just in case…”

Saying this, Kai releases her hand and clasps his together in prayer.

Aya: “Ah…”

Aya inadvertently lets out a small sound. Her right hand feels a bit lonely. Nevertheless, Aya also prays to a god that she doesn’t know actually exits or not.

And at that moment, there’s only one thing she prays for.

Aya: (Please give me courage…)

Aya, who usually doesn’t pray, desired courage at this moment more than anything else. After a moment of silence, Kai breaks the awkward air by changing the subject.

Kai: “So, about the artifact… what should we do? I have this one with me right now…”

Kai shows Aya a magic stone, the only one he brought with him, thinking they might create one. It’s an A-Rank magic stone, more powerful than those from the Demon King and Wolf King. It’s from the Dragon King.

An impressive magic power of 50,000. If this had appeared as the initial extra boss, they might have been defeated. At the time, Kai’s magic power had exceeded 100,000, so in reality, it was no problem.

Aya: “Shall we… create it now?”

Kai: “Now? Is it okay?”

Aya nods.

Saying so, Aya sits at the edge of the shrine. When creating an artifact, it requires concentration, so she sits down.

Kai: “Ah, it needs blood, right… I forgot the sword… what should I do, bite my finger?…”

I brought the magic stone but realized I had forgotten the sword. In that case, like in a certain ninja manga, I could bite my thumb to create a seal.

Then, Aya, noticing I was about to bite my finger, signaled for me to sit beside her. I tilt my head in confusion and sit down next to Aya.

Aya: “…”

Kai: “What’s wrong, Aya?”

Her face, already red, turns even redder. She’s trembling but while looking down, her trembling finger points towards Kai.

As Kai curiously watches the finger, it slowly moves closer.

Then, finally, Aya’s finger touches Kai’s lips. The following words help Kai understand Aya’s action.

Aya: “Let’s start from here… please. I am prepared today.”

Kai: “Eh? You mean…”

Aya: “It’s just an experiment. Just an experiment. So… please, directly, Kai-san. There’s absolutely no ulterior motive.”

With a shaky voice, Aya looks at me, her eyes on the verge of tears. Whether this is her best excuse or her true feelings, the flustered Kai can’t tell.

But he understands what she’s saying.

Aya is looking at Kai with her eyes closed. It’s as if she’s waiting for a 『kiss』.

Kai: “Ah, Aya…”

Aya: “I… I’m fine… But do you… do you hate me, Kai-san? If you do, please tell me… If you don’t want to be with someone like me…”

Kai: “I…I don’t hate you… But this is my first time… I mean…”

Aya: “I…I’m the same…”

Aya was in a strange mood. Having come this far, there was no turning back. For some reason, she found herself saying that they could even kiss right now.

She had daydreamed about this often, but she never imagined she’d be saying it before a confession. It must be the summer heat that’s making her act this way.

The eerily glowing moon on this midsummer’s night was driving Aya wild.

Becoming even more flustered, Aya started saying things that didn’t make sense.

Aya: “Kai-san… this is not a kiss. It’s an experiment. So do as you like. Whatever you want… So…”

Tears welling up in her eyes, Aya pleaded with him.

Aya: “Please?”

Kai, losing all reason at her expression. He was just as frazzled as Aya. Alone in the dark, nobody could see them apart from the moon.

Her yukata slightly disarrayed, revealing her black underwear, and the scent of shampoo, all were driving Kai insane.

Kai grabbed Aya’s shoulders firmly and slowly brought his face closer. Aya just closed her eyes and waited, the sound of her heartbeat echoing in the silent night.

Neither of them knew whose heartbeat they were hearing.

The two of them were gradually closing the distance, and they were still unsure if this was real. Their distance was slowly, very slowly closing.

Kai thought that, at times like this, the chairman might interrupt them somehow. So he glanced around a bit.

At that moment, Aya held his face in her palms, forcing him to look at her.

Aya: “Please… look at… only me…”

Kai, his face red hot, moved closer. Their pace was slower than a tortoise’s, but if they were definitely getting closer, however slow they were…

Aya: “Mm…”

They would definitely reach each other at some point.

Kai felt the sensation of Aya’s lips against his. He broke away instantly, like a child. But his kiss remained childlike. His face was hot, but he felt a strange sense of accomplishment.

But the real thing was still to come.

Aya: “Ahh… Kai-san… That’s not enough… More…”

Aya pleaded with teary eyes. Whether she meant she wanted more kisses or if she was lacking in bodily fluids.

No longer caring about such things, Kai, driven by instinct, acted out of pure desire. Right now, Kai’s brain was occupied by nothing but the thought of kissing this beautiful girl, like a primal beast.

He kissed Aya again. This time he moved closer much faster, intertwining their lips slowly to make a grown-up kiss.

Aya: “Mm… Ah…”

Aya’s sigh escaped her lips. The sound made Kai react, driven by a desire to hear her make more noises.

They both felt the same. Lost in the moment, the two of them forgot about time.

They were both 18. If they had led normal adolescent lives, it wouldn’t be strange if they had experienced this when they were students. But sadly, their first real sexual desires, which even overcame reason, led to endless time.

They didn’t want to stop. The indescribable pleasure heated their bodies. Unbeknownst to Aya, her yukata had slipped off. If no one stopped them, they might cross the line, as the distance between the two kept shrinking.

…

But fortunately, or unfortunately, an end came.

Pirorin♪

It was the ringtone of Kai’s mobile phone. They didn’t know how long they had been kissing. What stopped them was the electronic sound. At the sound, they hurriedly broke away, their faces turning beet red. Aya hastily adjusted her yukata, revealing her underwear.

They looked at each other right after.

Suddenly, they both started laughing. Then Aya, without much tension, smoothly confessed what she had been thinking.

Aya: “Kai-san… I like you. I’ve been following you with my eyes ever since the day you helped me. I love you.”

Kai: “Ah, Aya… Um, well…”

Kai knew by now. But saying I like you too wasn’t right. For Kai, Aya was someone to protect, but he didn’t feel love for her.

So, he couldn’t continue.

He wasn’t infatuated enough to say he liked her, nor was he indifferent enough to reject her. Not knowing what to say about his feelings, Kai couldn’t continue.

But Aya’s next words stopped him.

Aya: “I won’t ask for an answer now. Let’s continue this when you feel the same way from your heart… Well then, let’s make the Artifact.”

Saying so, Aya kissed the magic stone she handed over earlier. A light as bright as the sun illuminated them, revealing their red faces that were hidden in the dark.

Seeing this, they both laughed again.

The sword they made had higher performance than the previous Demon King’s treasured sword.

Whether it was due to our lengthy kiss or not, I couldn’t tell, but it was definitely an item that amplified Kai’s power.

It was an item that had Aya’s soul embedded in it.

Aya: “How is it?”

Kai: “It’s incredible, Aya… thank you… it’s significantly stronger than before.”

Then, the two of us got up and headed back to the hotel. This time, we firmly held hands. I was a little surprised at how naturally our hands interlocked.

From a normal grip, it gradually changed, becoming intricately intertwined before we knew it. The complexity of our handhold might reflect our current emotional state.

As we returned to the hotel like this, Aya let go of my hand, turned to face me and looked down.

Aya: “Kai, can you crouch down a bit?”

Kai: “Ah, okay…”

Kai crouched a little to match Aya’s gaze. Kai was slightly hopeful for another kiss, perhaps. Then Aya brought her face close to my ear and, as if whispering, said.

Aya: “Kai… if you wanted to… continue from earlier… to do more… intimate things…”

Aya kissed Kai on the cheek.

Aya: “I’ll be waiting for your answer… forever, no matter how long it takes.”

Then, still blushing, she immediately turned her back to me and ran off to her room. Kai just stood there dumbfounded, staring at her retreating figure, only able to recall the sensation on his cheek.

Kai: “Continue… seriously…”

The summer in Okinawa was hotter than I could have ever imagined.”