I’m Okaya Mitsuhiko, twenty-nine years old.

I work as an editor at a publishing house.

Right now, I'm on my summer break, having made my way to Karuizawa in Nagano Prefecture.

With me are the two high school girls I've taken in: Ina Nako and Akari.

Plus Rusiatto Kadota, my assigned author, and her university friend Ichika Nikawa. We're staying at a hotel. "……"

Currently, I'm brushing my teeth in the washroom of our hotel room. My mind drifts back to last night.

——Hey, Oka-chan. How long are you going to keep thinking of me... the way you did back then? Akari, the younger sister of those high school girls I'm protecting.

I found myself pinned down by her, completely naked... barely avoiding being caught in a night raid.

Ten years ago, these Ina sisters were former students of mine at a cram school.

They had run away from home due to some personal circumstances.

Since they used to be my students, I decided to offer them protection...

——You can't look at me as a child anymore, you know?

"Don't talk nonsense. They're kids... my students."

I told myself that. I had to believe it. There was no other way.

After all, this bizarre living situation only works because I am the guardian and they are the ones being protected.

If I acted on Akari's words and started seeing her as an adult woman... well, then things would be...

"No good. I can't let these thoughts stay in my head."

I splashed cold water on my face, washing away the intrusive thoughts.

I had to remain their guardian.

The girls relied on me because they saw me as an adult they could trust.

Noticing them as members of the opposite sex would shatter that trust. "Okatani-kun?"

Turning around, I saw a beautiful woman with black hair standing there.

She was wearing a black sleeveless shirt and white chinos.

She had breasts a size larger than Akari's and a taut, toned physique.

Mukagawa Ichika…… Ichika was there. “……”

What came to mind was the night before last.

I had physical relations with her. She is a close friend.

But Ichika told me that she liked me.

I was just about to decide how to face those feelings when……

The incident with Akari happened, and I am…… what should I do from here on……

“Is something wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Worried, Ichika approached me and placed a hand on my forehead.

It smelled sweet, a mix of her hair and the mature scent of her makeup.

I was reminded of Ichika last night before last, in her naked state, letting out a sweet voice.

“It’s… nothing… I’m fine.” “? Really?” I had pushed Ichika away.

Why? Why do I feel such a strong sense of guilt?

Touching her, or hanging out with friends… that should have been normal for me up until now. And yet, now—

When Ichika touched me, I felt like I was doing something wrong to someone. Who is that person? …I must be an idiot. "Let's go get some food."

"Yeah, those guys are probably waiting for us." We headed toward the restaurant. …Am I okay? Or is it going to be okay?

From last night until now, I hadn't seen Akari's face. Not a single text on LINE either.

What on earth was she planning to do about this?

In front of everyone, spreading rumors about what happened yesterday… surely that wouldn't be too much to ask, right? No, I don't know. She was serious. She had genuinely tried to seduce me.

If that's the case, she might keep making a move on me anywhere, anytime from here on out.

What kind of excuse do I even give if she does something like that in front of people?

Wait, it's fine. There’s no need for an excuse. She’d been pushing hard anyway, long before this…

Dammit, no way… Today, my thoughts are more scattered than usual. Alright then.

With all that on our minds, we arrived at our destination.

This restaurant serves breakfast as a buffet.

The large table in the hotel room was set up, with dishes like toast arranged across its surface.

"…Good morning, sensee." "Ohayou, good morning."

As I headed to the breakfast area, Nanaeko, the black-haired high school girl sister, was there.

Waiting for us was Roshia, a petite girl with white hair and red eyes, a light novel writer.

Nanaeko wore a long skirt and a shirt. Roshia was dressed in a blue one-piece dress.

Both had a somewhat youthful appearance, yet presented themselves with an elegant air. "……"

I noticed that the one remaining person was absent. Where is she? Where could she be……?

What kind of outfit will she wear when she appears before me……? "Okaya? What’s wrong?"

"…Are you looking for something?"

"Eh, uh, …no. Where is Akari?" And just then. "Ossu~"

Someone patted my shoulder from behind with a pon. Turning around, there was…… "Akari……" Her outfit today was……

A shirt with shoulders cut wide open, short pants, and knee-high socks.

She'd tied her long hair into a side tail...

...It was way too ordinary. "Morning, Akarin." "Ah, umm..." What was she going to say?

Would she bring up what happened yesterday?

Maybe she'd brag about it in front of everyone, or tease me about it... "Akarin, make way, make way." "Huh...?"

In Akari's hands was a plate.

"I grabbed a full one, though~ If I dropped it, that'd be bad~" "Ah, umm... Sorry."

Akari just walked right past me.

"Onii-chan! There's French toast over there~!"

"...! I must get some!"

Sai stood up with a whoosh and headed straight for the station where the French toast was. "Sai sure is kid-like."

"Lushian, there's chocolate fondue over there~"

"You're joking! You can't eat choco-fondue in the morning!"

"Marshmallows are on the table too, so help yourself!"

"I-i'll... I'm going to get some..."

Lusia also got up and left her seat.

What remained were me, Akari, and... Ichika.

"Oi-oi, why are you guys just standing there? Hurry up and sit down!"

"Y-yeah... well..." Akari sat down.

I started to sit in the empty seat right in front of me.

But that was directly next to Akari.

Every time I looked at you, my mind would replay what happened today. Eventually, I'd reach my breaking point and... in the end, I'd pin you down like a starving beast.

I remembered Akari's words from yesterday...

So, I sat down away from Akari.

"? Why are you sitting over there, Okaka-kun?" "...Just felt like it." There was no way I could tell her the truth.

Because if she were any closer, I'd start paying attention to her—and I'm not a middle schooler or anything. "…………"

Akari kept staring right at me. Then she smiled.

...It wasn't that grown-up, seductive smile from yesterday.

It was the childlike, innocent smile she always gave me.

"Heads up, you've got bedhead~" "Huh? Ah, yeah..."

"Wanna let me fix it for ya~?" "N-no, I'm good." "Ah, okay then."

Akari backed off easily.

She wasn't pushing it aggressively, like she had yesterday. ...What's going on?

What was she thinking? Damn... I didn't get it.... "Here, Oka-gaya-kun."

Itaka placed a coffee in front of me with a soft clink.

"I saw some iced coffee over there, so I grabbed a cup for you too, Oka-gaya." "Oh, thanks..."

Akari sat directly across from me, with Itaka seated next to her.

――For a split second, their naked bodies flash back in my mind. "…!" I hastily take a sip of my coffee.

No... What the hell am I thinking?

Am I really... such a horny guy?

My ex-wife Misae never once initiated physical intimacy from her side.

Even when I pushed for it, trying to start a family, she kept refusing.

Eventually, I gave up on having sex with her.

I told myself it was fine that way and threw myself into my work.

I had concluded within myself that sexual interest naturally diminishes as you age.

...But after sleeping with Kazuhana, and then Akari pressuring me yesterday.

I keep recalling, again and again, the acts I shared with both of them. "…Sensei?"

"Okaya, what's wrong? Why do you look so glum?"

Nanako and Lushia tilt their heads in confusion.

...But I was reminded again of what had happened between me and Akari yesterday.

Ever since that scene, I couldn't help but look at Akari differently.

What if things kept going like this? What if I ended up looking even those pure, innocent girls the same way... Just as I was spiraling into that thought, our eyes happened to meet. "......"

Narrowing her eyes slightly, Akari let out a soft, stifled laugh.

It was that same alluring, mature smile I'd seen last night. "I'm going to the bathroom for a bit."

Need to cool my head down, so I got up and left my seat. Ah, fuck... it's no use. What have I become?

From yesterday to today, it felt like I'd turned into a completely different person, unable to control how I felt.

Was I ever the type to be this interested in women...?

I went into the men's restroom and washed my face with water. Time for a cold shower of reality. Stay calm. "Ooh, Akarin~ ♡" "Wha—!? Akari!?" When I turned around, there was Akari.

"What the hell! This is the boys' bathroom!"

"Mm. Yeah, it is. But nobody's around and all, so what's the problem, right?" "You idiot! Get out!"

Hearing that, Akari let out a snicker...

A smile so seductive, so alluring, that it made my skin crawl. "Why?"
She moved closer to me.

She closed the distance until her nose was just about to brush against mine.

……A face with features so perfectly balanced, it was shocking. Large blue eyes set in a small face.

Whether she’d applied lip balm or not, her lips were pink and glossy.

Akari pressed herself up against me from the front. "L-Leave me alone……you idiot!" "Oh Karin-chan, you’re so cute♡" She slowly…… leaned her face in.

My mind flashed back to yesterday’s passionate kiss.

……But she ignored me and whispered right into my ear. "……Do you want me to kiss you?" "! No! I don’t!"

I grabbed her shoulders and shoved her away with a strong pull.

Her cheeks flushed red…… she narrowed her eyes, looking up at me with an alluring gaze. "Nobody else is in the bathroom right now, you know." "So what?"

"What's wrong with you? You’re usually so calm, but ever since this morning, you’ve been shaken up the whole time." Akari chuckled softly.

"You tried to sit next to me, but then you picked a different seat, didn't you? Just like a middle school boy being shy around the girl he likes…… how cute♡" Did that bastard…… realize? The whole thing……

"I don’t mind. It’s fine if Ichi-ha-chan sees it, or if Neesan does, or even if Roshia does…… even if you look at me with those dirty eyes, Karin-chan. I’ll forgive you." "Y-you… no… that’s…"

「I’ll let you have your way with the other girls, too. But here’s the catch……」

Akari placed a hand on my chest and smiled seductively.

“Your heart belongs only to me.”

Out of the blue, she leaned in close and pressed a kiss to my cheek.

“I’ll make you forget about that woman from your past. I’ll make you so obsessed with me that your painful memories, or any other girl—none of it will matter to you anymore.”

With that, Akari left.

I……couldn’t move from where I stood.

【In this state】, there was no way I could go back to them.