Episode 10

‘It’s already morning, isn’t it?’

It was only to be expected, given that I’d arrived at Seriha’s house after midnight, but it seems we’d ended up chatting for quite a while.

‘Shall we just sleep until evening? I’m not a morning person, so I’m sorry if I take a while to wake up.’

I was on the verge of falling asleep.

‘Um, where should I sleep?’

　She didn’t answer my question, just smiled.

Did she not hear me?

‘Where should I sleep? If you could lend me a cushion or something, that’d be fine…’

Seeing her sit on the bed and gently tap the spot by the pillow, I began to wake up.

‘You won’t be able to rest properly unless you sleep in the bed. Unfortunately, we don’t have any guest futons here.’

　Seeing her cheerful yet defiant smile, my body stiffened.

It seemed there was no option to refuse.

‘…Don’t do anything weird.’

I glared at her with a sullen look.

‘Weren’t you the one who did something weird just now, Senpai?’

This girl… She’s ruined the nice atmosphere.

But then again, if things had stayed the way they were, it might have been awkward. She must have sensed that and is treating me as she always does. I’ll choose to believe that.

“Shut up. Let’s just go to sleep.”

Hearing her listless reply of “O-okay,” I steel myself and lie down beside her. It’s not cramped, but there isn’t much room to spare. Our bodies are constantly pressed together.

The air conditioning is on, so the room is cool, but whether it’s her body heat or mine, I feel incredibly hot.

‘I’m going to turn the lights off.’

In the darkened room, as I try to turn my back on her, my body is pulled close.

‘Hey…!’

‘It’s fine, isn’t it? I’m not going to do anything weird.’

‘When we’re like this, I feel really calm. It’s warm and reassuring.’

My heart is making a racket. It’s been pounding away the whole time.

It’s not just her arms; she’s wrapped her legs around me too. There might be fewer parts of me that aren’t touching her.

“Senpai, you really are sensitive, aren’t you? You’ve been twitching the whole time, it’s cute.”

Perhaps because we are about to go to sleep, she speaks to me in a soft, whispering voice. Her voice penetrates deep into my ear, making me feel ticklish.

“It’s just ticklish. Go to sleep already.”

Since we’re both barefoot, the sensation of our skin touching is more distinct than usual. I need to stop thinking about this and get to sleep. If I stay awake much longer, I’ll go mad.

‘Senpai. Can I ask you just one favour before I go to sleep?’

‘…What?’

In the darkness, I can just make her out; her hair is tousled, giving her an unfamiliar look. Even her cleavage is more exposed than usual. She’s usually so perfect, but seeing her like this, so defenceless, feels special and makes me feel a bit better.

‘I want to mark you again, Senpai. I want to leave a hickey.’

I haven’t quite sorted out my feelings yet, but kissing her felt good.

So, I don’t think I’d mind her marking me, either.

But what would happen if she asked for more than that? I want to decide on that part only after I’ve worked things out.

‘Just a hickey is fine. Anything beyond that… is a no.’

“Also… if I react strangely, you must forget it.”

She replied in a voice so soft it was almost inaudible.

“Senpai. I care about you so much, so I’ll do my best to hold back.”

After letting out a small sigh, she brought her mouth close to my ear and whispered.

“Please don’t ever show that expression to anyone but me.”

The moment her voice fell into my ear, a damp sensation ran down my neck. From my ear to the nape of my neck, then to my shoulder. Slowly, ever so slowly, heat was poured in, as if to let the sensation seep in.

‘…Wait, that… no.’

A rough tongue slid over me, and with every gentle suck, my body trembled and a moan escaped my lips.

‘Hurry… put it on.’

What she was doing now wasn’t the original agreement. It would be better to finish this quickly today and get some sleep.

‘Ah, uh…’

　Just as I’d asked, a small sting runs down my neck. It hurts, yet I don’t mind it. A strange sensation.

“Senpai. Senpai…”

The warmth of her breath. The sound of her inhaling. Everything feels so vivid. I can’t tell if the breathing echoing through the pitch-black room is mine or hers.

Her tongue traces the marked spot over and over. Tracing, then sucking. Repeating.

　My breathing grows shallower and shallower, and I feel heat building inside me. My vision is starting to blur.

I really ought to stop this now.

“S-stop…”

I want to make her stop, but every time her tongue and fingertips move, a voice I don’t want to let out escapes me, overwriting my words.

No. No, no, no, really, no.

Even when I try to move my hands to push her away, my body won’t respond. I can’t hear her shallow breathing or the rustling of her nightdress. All I can hear now is the incessant pounding of my heart, my ragged breaths, and my hoarse voice.

Bad… this is so… bad…

“Oops, I’m sorry. I’ve gone too far again.”

“Senpai, are you all right?”

Seriha’s face moves away from mine. Relief and the ache of not wanting it to stop all tangled together into something I couldn’t sort out.

It seems I’d been unconsciously clutching the sleeve of her nightdress tightly. She must have finally realised when she saw me gasping for breath and the sleeve I was holding.

My breathing is still ragged. What’s more, I feel as though my body’s senses are playing tricks on me, a reaction to having been stopped at the very last moment.

It’s like floating… or more like my body isn’t mine anymore.

‘Come on… you’ve had your fill, haven’t you…’

A voice that didn’t belong to me. It was hoarse, tinged with heat, and it made me feel weird.

‘I’m not satisfied. But I’ll stop here.’

‘Thank you for listening to my request.’

As she said that, she stroked my head and gently rubbed my back. The feeling of being enveloped was soothing, but I felt as though the heat that had been subsiding was welling up again.

“Forget all about it… Really…”

I care deeply for her, and I do believe things like this are necessary. But it seems my reaction is too much of a reward for her.

As the older one, I have to take the lead… If I don’t, the dignity that comes from being born two years earlier will be lost.

“Senpai, will you be able to sleep properly? You looked… rather content just now.”

I could see a smirk in the darkness.

‘…! Shut up. I’m going to sleep until nightfall, so don’t do anything strange even if I don’t wake up.’

I said it curtly and tried to turn my back on her, but she grabbed me firmly with both hands and feet. It’s hot, but I’m going to sleep like this. I’m definitely not going to wake up until she’s completely satisfied.

‘Understood. Good night. Hiito-senpai.’