We headed back to the hotel after finishing our shopping at the mall. That was after we’d eaten dinner.
I made my way to one of the restaurants in the hotel. “Oka-san-kun, sorry to keep you waiting.”
Sitting in a window seat, I watched Ninogawa come up to me, wearing a dress. ”…”
She was stunningly beautiful.
She was wearing a black dress.
It had a design with deep cuts exposing her back and chest.
Her pale white skin was boldly on display, and her large breasts looked like they might spill out at any moment.
The body-hugging dress fit Ninogawa’s tall, well-proportioned figure perfectly; it looked incredibly good on her.
She had her long hair gathered up high into what I guessed was an updo. “Sorry for the wait.”
“Hey. There are way too many restaurants in here.”
The hotel housed a wide variety of restaurants.
Not only did they have separate restaurants for Japanese, Western, Chinese, and French cuisine, but also venues tailored to specific situations, such as places solely for drinking alcohol. Ninogawa sat down across from me.
I just can’t help but have those big breasts entering my field of vision. Damn it……
“Ah, well~. I’m glad you liked it, Okani-kun. It paid off to put in the effort.” “Sorry about that.”
“No, it’s okay. Actually… I wanted you to look at it… Okani-kun, I tried my best so that you’d get a little fluttery…”
Blushing faintly on her cheeks, Niwagawa averts her gaze while her expression softens into a smile.
Draped in such a beautiful dress with an air of maturity about her, she looked like a princess from another world… and it left me at a loss for words. “Shall we have a drink?” “Yes, let’s do that.”
We accepted the menu lists from the waiter.
“This place… is truly amazing. They have such expensive wine. And they don’t even list the prices on the menu.” It had been the same at dinner.
Everything we eat and drink here seems to be complimentary.
“High-end cuisine like this, for free!? Amazing! Really amazing!” That’s when Akari was so surprised.
By the way, the high school group has returned to their rooms.
When we mentioned we were going to drink alcohol, she insisted on joining in, so I reminded her that she couldn’t start until she turned twenty.
“I’ll go with wine. What are you having, Niwagawa?”
「Mine’s the same as yours, Okaya-kun.」
Before long, a server brought over their drinks.
I picked up my wine glass, which had an absurdly long stem.
“Well then… Okaya-kun. Good work today.” “Yeah, good work to you too.” Clink…
Jinukawa touched the rim of her glass with her lips and downed it in one powerful gulp.
“Holy crap, Okaya-kun… wow, this wine… it’s way too delicious…” “Yeah, it goes down smooth.”
We both refilled our glasses and drank about three rounds of wine.
By then, both Jinukawa and I were at that just-right level of tipsiness.
“Hey… Okaya-kun. Are you perhaps going through something right now? Any troubles on your mind?”
Jinukawa suddenly blurted out such a question.
Troubles… well, yeah, I wasn’t exactly short of them.
But those were work-related issues, not personal ones.
“Oka-kun. Say it. Come on, didn’t we make a promise about that? If you’ve got any worries, feel free to say anything.”
Mukawa’s cheeks were flushed from the alcohol, but she said it with a smile.
That “before” probably referred to when he stayed at her house.
He couldn’t burden himself with worries in front of his children… but in front of her…
“I’m having trouble deciding on the title for the new work.”
“The light novel Lady Rusia is putting out under your label?”
“Yeah. She’s apparently asking me to name it. She’s leaving everything up to me.”
“Aren’t you glad to be trusted so much?”
“No… honestly speaking, I can’t have any confidence in my own sense for titles.”
“Don’t say that. You were in charge of Lady Rusia’s previous work, Senomoshi… it was a really amazing book.”
Senomoshi. It was Rusia’s debut novel, and a book he had created together with her.
“Thanks. She’ll be happy to hear that.”
「No, Okaya-kun. You’re the one who’s amazing. Of course, what the Ojou-sama wrote was wonderful too, but…」
Yenigawa closed her eyes with a smile on her lips.
「The cover, the title logo, the obi (book strap)… everything matched the atmosphere of the work perfectly.」 「…But that’s because Ruria——」 Yenigawa gently shook her head.
「It’s true that only Ojou-sama could have created such a work. But… did you think about the book’s design and layout, Okaya-kun?」 「That’s… true, but…」
「Even if the content is great, if customers don’t pick it up, it becomes an unsold title, wouldn’t it? You know that well better than anyone, don’t you, Sensei Okatani?」
Okatani. That was the pen name I used when I was a light novel author.
「Yenigawa… The reason my work didn’t sell is simply because the content was bad. No matter how good it looks on the outside, if the inside is lacking…」
「But no matter how good the inside is, it won’t sell if it doesn’t look good. What I’m trying to say is that Ruria’s success wasn’t solely due to Ojou-sama’s abilities.」
Without letting her smile fade, Yenigawa looked at me… straight in the eyes.
She affirmed me… completely, unconditionally.
The past that I once discarded and denied… she forgave it. She accepted it.
「Why… why are you affirming me so much? I… I hate my own past that much, and yet…」
Maybe it was the alcohol, but I had gotten weak.
Hinekawa gently took my hand and wrapped it in hers, holding it tight.
“I… love everything you make, Okatani-kun.” “Hinekawa…”
From her hands, a warm body heat flowed into me.
The past wound that threatened to reopen was gently… healed.
“Right now, the book I’m editing as your publisher, and the books you wrote in the past as an author… I like them all. That hasn’t changed, then or now. I… affirm every part of you, Okatani-kun.” Hinekawa smiled softly. “After all…”
“I am a fan of yours, Okatani-kun.”
…Hinekawa had kept thinking about Okatani Mitsuhiro, and also about me, all this time?
To be honest, the trust Lucia placed in me felt a bit burdensome at times.
The work she created was… undoubtedly a masterpiece.
What if I ruined it with my own sensibilities?
More than ever, I hesitated to give it a title.
But… Kurikawa acknowledges me.
Saying it’s okay, accepting me. ”…Thanks, Kurikawa.”
The pressure on my shoulders lifted a little.
My vision was clear, and I felt lighter than usual.
“That’s good. Okaya-kun, smile for me.” Kurikawa gave a soft chuckle.
Her cheeks flushed by the alcohol and her wet lips were alluring; I couldn’t help but feel driven by impulse.
I wanted to wrap my arms around that slender waist.
…Nah, I guess I’m drunk. “Should we head out?” ”…Eh?…Yeah, let’s.”
Kurikawa staggered slightly, lightheaded. “You okay?”
“Mm… sorry. I got a bit tipsy. Walk me to my room…”
As I steered her by the shoulder, a sweet fragrance teased my nostrils.
Drawn in by her glistening eyes and cherry-like lips.
It’s just the alcohol kicking in, I guess… For some reason, I really want to fuck Yunehara today. “Let’s go.” “Yes…”
She’s pretty drunk; her footing is shaky.
I offer her my arm and walk alongside her. “Okaya… kun…”
The heat of her breath, the weight of her large breasts pressed against me—it makes me perceive her as a woman more intensely than ever before.
It seems like the alcohol has completely loosened up my mind… Me.
Before long, we arrive at our room.
Right… We’re in the same room…
“This is bad… This is… trouble…”
My rationality is currently slipping its leash entirely. But… “The bed… let’s go…” “Ah, y-yes…”
I lead Yunehara to the bed and lay her down on her back. “Mmnh…”
When she shifts, her breasts look like they might spill out of her dress.
Even thinking this is a bad idea… I’m drawn to her twin mounds. “Yunehara…”
I tried to pull the futon up over her body.
She suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace, hugging me firmly.
There I was, held front-on by her. ”……Name.” “Huh?” ”……Call me Ichika.” Whispered in a sweet voice.
An electric current seemed to surge through my spine. “N-No… that’s…”
“Call me… will you? …Otherwise, I won’t let go.” I couldn’t let things stay like this.
I tried to pull away from her, but… I couldn’t move.
Was it because her grip was that strong?
Or was it because… deep down, I didn’t want to leave either? ”……Call me.” ”………………Ichika.”
Drunk Yabukawa… no, Ichika, gave a faint smile.
”……Mm. Good… job.” The strength drained from her body.
I could easily shake her arms off me… And yet, I couldn’t move.
I wanted to stay like this with her just a little longer.
It was the alcohol, and the fact that I was feeling so down when Ichika had been kind to me… “Ichika, I…”
She smiled, reaching out to cup my cheek in her hand. ”…That’s fine. Come here.”
“But I haven’t even sorted out what I’m feeling yet. Things can’t be like this…”
“It’s okay. You just have to think of me as your little hook-up”
Ichika smiled with a coquettish allure, but there was a hint of gentleness in it too.
“If my body can help clear your head, even a little… Besides…”
She whispered, her voice sweet, sweetly melting like sugar.
“I just like you, Okaya-kun.” Ichika didn’t resist.
She was trying to accept everything.
I couldn’t stop her, telling her no.
Unbidden by either of us, our lips met.
From that moment on, we lost all reason.
…And then, our bodies pressed together.