In the dead of night, after being cheated on by Saburou, Ikka and I ended up at a love hotel in the neighboring prefecture.
Ikka was efficient as ever, even in this situation. Despite it being her first time using a love hotel, she quickly figured out how the system worked and secured us a room.
We took the elevator to our floor and arrived at our destination… only for Ikka to passionately throw herself into me.
I simply let myself go, carried away by her sweet scent and the pleasure she brought me…
“I-I’m sorry, Okaya-kun… I got a little too worked up and…”
Ikka didn’t calm down until the night had turned into dawn.
Until then, she had devoured me with a ravenous, mindless intensity. It was as if she were a starving carnivore. “There’s no need to apologize.”
It hadn’t truly been disgusting to me. In fact, I had wanted to surrender myself completely to that pleasant sensation she provided.
Ikka blinked shyly. “Ah…”
Looking at the empty box of condoms, Ikka muttered quietly.
“Okaya-kun, you’re pretty serious, aren’t you? You always use protection when we do it… and even with other girls, you absolutely make sure to wear a condom.” “That’s only natural.” I considered it basic manners.
Making babies is an act that comes with great responsibility. I didn’t yet have the resolve to bear that burden.
“Oka-san who refuses to take responsibility… co-, cool…”
”…It doesn’t feel like a compliment, but thanks.”
“I’m complimenting you. Besides… I can feel your affection, Okani-kun. You’re really cherishing him…”
“Of course I do. Ichika is important to me too.”
Ichika, Mushi-a, and all my temporary girlfriends are precious people to me. ”…”
Then Ichika sat up, her face serious as she said.
“You can’t just say ‘I feel affection for Ichika,’ can you?”
Ichika truly looked sad.
Seeing that face made me keenly aware of my own inadequacy. A pathetic man who can’t choose one. I deserve to be insulted and abused in this situation. “I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s okay. I… want Okani-kun to choose just me, but I can’t bring myself to act on it. I’m a coward…” Wait, that wasn’t meant to imply you’re a coward, Okani-kun!” Ichika flustered.
“I know. You have the kind of personality that doesn’t want to hurt people.”
“A-aah… thank you. It depends on the timing and the situation, I guess. And the other person too…”
I was playing bodyguard, wasn’t I? It’s possible that hurting people is sometimes necessary.
“Hey… Okaya-kun. What are we going to do from here?” “From here… huh.”
“Hakuba-san got married, too. We’re about to turn thirty soon, don’t you think it’s time we started looking ahead? To the next step…” …The next step.
In other words, she was talking about what comes after getting together.
Getting married, having children, raising them.
It’s good for men, but I’ve heard that for women, the risks of childbirth and child-rearing increase as they age.
The fact that she asked if I “thought so” meant Ichika at least felt that way too. “I know… I get it.”
That we can’t just keep indulging in this lukewarm relationship forever.
Akari and the other high school girls, even Lusia—they have their own lives too. If I didn’t make a decision soon, I’d ruin their lives… no, I’ve already messed things up pretty badly. They’re not normal anymore.
“Ahh… it’s just that… I heard Hakuba-san is getting married… and I felt really lonely. Envious. I thought, ‘I wish I had that too’…” Ichika took my hand as she spoke.
“Hey… Okaya-kun. Let’s drop everything and stay like this… Can we run away to a distant place together, just the two of us?”