Episode One Hundred and Twenty-Two

When I touched her stomach, Ibara’s body twitched and trembled.
Her eyes, looking up at me, flickered with a faint hint of fear.
Something about it sent a shiver down my own spine. How strange. This wasn’t supposed to be my kind of thing.

　”—Shigure-san?”

Her trembling voice was unbearably sweet.
My breathing grew shallow.
It felt as though the aggressive part deep within my brain was being pricked and prodded by needles.
At times like this, reason usually applied the brakes.
It restrained my selfish desires, telling me I shouldn’t think such things.
But today was different.
　My fever-addled brain wouldn’t stop.
It was Ibara’s fault. Because Ibara said things like, “Do whatever you like.”
So—

“…It’s all Ibara’s fault, you know.”

My fingertips traced the smooth skin.
I felt the thin layer of fat.
Beneath this lay muscles and organs, sustaining Ibara’s life.
　Thinking that, I felt strangely fond of it and pressed my palm flat against it.
Ibara let out a muffled sound — nn.
Ticklish, perhaps? That sound… cute.
As I stroked in circles, her abdominal muscles twitched.
I wondered what expression she was wearing now.
Curious, I peered down.
Then Ibara crossed her arms over her face.
　Oh. So that’s what you do.
Well then, I’ve got an idea too.
When I was a child, I was allowed to play the piano at a relative’s house. Recalling the excitement of that time, I moved all my fingers as if I were a pianist.

“There, there, there~”

“Hyah, fah, hih——wahyahyahyah!”

“Pfft, ahahaha!”

　The reaction was exactly what I’d hoped for, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
It’s fun. It feels like I’ve gone back to being a primary school kid.
Back then, I remember often tickling Shizuku like this and bursting into laughter.
Looking back as an adult, it seems like a silly game – you wonder, “What was so fun about that?”
But now I understand. This is fun.
Touching someone you love, drawing out their reactions — that’s what makes it fun.

“There, there, is it around here?”

“Not there! Really, not there!”

What to do. Ibara is adorable.
She’s always cute, but Ibara, teary-eyed in my arms, twitching like a freshly caught fish, was exceptionally adorable.
I became completely absorbed.
I wanted to try touching every spot to see what kind of sound and reaction would come back.

“Like here, tickles, doesn’t it? Just below your belly button.”

“Nn, fuu, fuuuuu~~!”

Beneath me, Ibara, her face bright red, was wriggling about.
It was fun.

“No, no, no. I really can’t handle this, I’m telling you…”

“Ah-ha!”

Oh dear. What is this? It’s so fun. So incredibly fun.
In my head, I hear the sound of a new door opening.
After thoroughly savouring her smooth belly, I traced my finger up the curve of her waist with a “tsu-tsu-tsu-tsu”.

”
Mmmmmmm~~!”
Ibara bites her lower lip and lets out a particularly loud groan.
With me hovering over Ibara on all fours, her knees knock against my hips again and again, as if trying to trap me on either side.
Both legs were thrashing wildly, she must be incredibly ticklish.
After a moment, all the strength drained from her body at once.
A small sniffle sounded.

“…Whyyy… I was supposed to be in chargeee…”

　A half-sobbing voice, like a child throwing a little tantrum.
Normally, hearing her voice like this would make me want to stroke her head immediately.
I’d want to let her rest her head on my lap, spoil her, give her hugs and kisses if she wanted them.
And yet, strangely, today was different.
I wanted to hear more.
I wanted to make her cry more and more.
Because right now, Ibara was incredibly──

“You’re adorable.”

“Hyah!”

“Ibara, you’re adorable. Absolutely adorable.”

“…That’s unfair…”

“Because you are adorable.”

To a degree that makes it impossible to tell her this is where it ends.

“Just a little longer is fine, isn’t it. Tonight’s Ibara is my body pillow after all.”

“Huh?”

Ignoring Ibara’s frightened gaze, I resumed the movement of my fingers that had paused.
I checked the feel of the space between her ribs and tickled her armpit.
I’d been thinking it all along.
Because she’d raised her arms to hide her face, her armpits were wide open.

“Hyah, ah, ahahaha, hyafuhahah!”

“Is it ticklish? Hey, is it ticklish?”

“It’s ticklish! I surrender, I give up! Hyah, ah, no! I’m really going to lose my mind!”

“Lose it, lose it~”

We’ve got no plans for today anyway. And it’s still morning.
This is justified revenge. Payback for always being pushed around.
　I reckon it’s only fair I fight back once in a while.
Finally realising she’d exposed her weakness, Ibara lowered her arms and clamped my hands between them.
But there was absolutely no strength behind it.
That’s no defence at all.
Under Ibara’s armpit, I wriggled my fingers.

“F-heh, hyahahahaah! Ah, mmm!”

　With her arms lowered, I could see her face properly now.
Ibara looked like overcooked stew vegetables, all mushy and soft.
Large tears glistened at the corners of her eyes, her lashes shiny with moisture.
Her cheeks, ears, and even the nape of her neck were bright red, and drool trickled from her half-open mouth.
By any measure, it wasn’t a face fit for public viewing.
　Yet, thinking she was utterly adorable, I must be losing my mind.

“Ibara, you’re cute. So very cute.”

“Hyah!”

Whispering in her ear, I gently touched her armpit with my finger.

“The cutest in the whole world. I love you so much.”

“Uu, uuuu, uuuuuuuuuu~~~!”

　Ibara groaned, glaring at me resentfully.
A single tear fell, catching the light streaming through the curtain’s gap.

“Shigure-san, kiss! Kiss me!”

“Alright.”

I lowered my lips. Her tongue pried open my front teeth, darting in.
Immediately after, beneath me, Ibara’s body trembled once more.