The morning after I stayed at Ichika’s place.

I woke up feeling exhausted to the bone.

"Suuu... suu... mmm..."

Right in front of me, a beautiful woman with black hair was sleeping.

Glossy, long black hair and skin as white as snow.

Her large breasts were perfectly shaped and remained flawless despite her lying on her back.

Miraculous twin hills that coexisted with the tautness of rubber and the softness of marshmallows. "Mmm... suu..."

Ichika, naked from head to toe, was sleeping with a look of blissful happiness on her face. "So satisfied, are you..."

Last night—or rather, until this morning—we had been rolling around in each other’s sheets.

Just as she declared, she didn't let me sleep.

Her stamina was boundless, and time and again, I was drained dry...

By the end, both Ichika and I were half-conscious, so I don't remember what actually happened.

But what I saw last was an immense sense of exhaustion, along with Ichika's satisfied, dazed expression.

"That was too much... For real now... Wait, what?"

I looked at the wall clock and my eyes went wide. "I-It's... 2 PM?"

The clock on the wall displayed 14:00.

And through the window, the afternoon sun was streaming in.

"I-Ichika, wake up. It's already past noon, you know."

"Mm~... I'm fine..."

With a hazy expression, Ichika half-opened her eyes.

"Today is... Saturday, nya~..." What's with the "nya"...?

"Even so, sleeping all day is inappropriate for a human. Get up." "Just a little longer~..."

Like a child, Ichika clung to my waist, shaking her head back and forth in refusal. This is bad... Wait, that's right. I had forgotten.

I pulled out my smartphone from its charging cable next to the pillow.

Last night, I sent a message to the Akari group on LINE saying I'd be staying at my friend (Ika's) place.

My younger sister, Midoriko, had mentioned that she wanted the three of us to talk about something, which was why I ended up staying over. "...Nobody's replied."

In the group chat with Akari and the others, there wasn't a single reply from either Akari or Naoko.

Anxiety gnawed at me as I typed.

[Good morning. Sorry for the late reply.] The moment I hit send, three read receipts popped up.

This group chat consists of four people: me, Akari, Naoko, and Midoriko. "..."

They all marked it as read, but no one was replying... [I'll be back to your side this evening.] Read by 3. [Feel free to eat dinner without me.] Read by 3. [Sorry I couldn't get in touch this morning.] Read by 3. "..."

Everyone had read the messages within a second, but there was still... no reply coming back.

What exactly am I supposed to make of this? "...Mitsuhiko-kun..."

From around my waist, Ika murmured softly. "What's wrong?"

She slid up the bed and pushed me down until I was on my back. "Ika?" "...Good morning."

It seemed she had just woken up, as she offered me her morning greeting. Though it was already midday by now...

But her eyes were glistening, filled with a poignant sadness.

Ichika let out a hot breath.

"I'm sorry, Mitsuhiko-kun... I got horny again..." "What do you mean, 'again'? Is that even possible?"

"Once I hung onto your waist like this, I... couldn't help but notice it... standing up."

Ah, so that's why. Since yesterday's incident, I've been naked as well.

Due to the phenomenon of feeling energized in the morning, I had become hard.

Seeing that must have turned Ichika on. "I'm sorry..."

"No, it's fine... but you? After doing all that yesterday, are you still not satisfied?"

"Mmm... I'm far from being enough... In fact, every time I connect with you, Mitsuhiko-kun, I think I want more and more..."

Ichika climbed up onto my stomach, straddling me as if riding a horse.

She arched her back like a cat and draped herself over my chest. "Is that... no good?"

Being pressed by a beloved lover... and on top of that, such a beauty...

The me from before would have played dumb or just let it slide. But...
「あっ」
I pull Ichika into a tight embrace.

She hugs me back against her chest, looking delightfully pleased.

"Damn, have you been getting more erotic bit by bit?"

"I-It's not my fault... it's all Kohsuke-kun's doing!" "Huh? My doing?"

"Y-Yes! He always relentlessly attacks my weak spots... and before I know it, my mind goes completely blank."

"But having a strong sex drive was your baseline, wasn't it?"

"I-I mean... I kept my virginity unrequitedly for ten years, so I'm just totally repressed!"

"Saying that yourself? You're cute."

Ichika pouts her lips, acting spoiled and petulant.

Finding her adorable like that, I can't help but peck at her cherry-red lips.

When Ichika smiles, she comes to me again and again, our lips... and bodies intertwining repeatedly.

...In the end, I had to have sex with her three times just after waking up. ★

After a late lunch, we gave the room a thorough cleaning.

Changing the sheets and throwing out unnecessary items and things that were broken or no longer usable.

Before we knew it, while doing various tasks, the day had already turned to evening. "Saturday is over..." "S-sorry, Hikohiko-kun..."

Ichioka in the driver's seat hunched her shoulders apologetically.

"It's because I do it so many times, right?"

"Honestly, it's a problem. Having a girlfriend with such a旺盛 (vigorous) libido." "Uu~..." "I'm joking."

I patted the head of Ichioka, who was driving.

"Hehe... Hikohiko-kun, you've changed." "Have I?" Ichioka smiled happily.

"Because usually, you'd hold back, right? Saying it's okay to do whatever. But... teasing me like that earlier, even as a joke... makes me happy." Ichioka's car stopped at a red light.

"It feels like the distance has gotten closer, doesn't it?" "Is it...? It probably has..."

Before, I was obtuse to various phenomena.

It's not that I don't care.

But... every day is dark, and gray...

My reactions to anything have grown increasingly dull year after year.

But... meeting Akari, Nana, Ichika, and Yurishia... my world is slowly starting to gain color.

As if reclaiming the youth I lost... right now, life is fun for me. "Ichika." "Hm? What's up?"

I... try kissing her cheek while we wait at the signal. "Ehnn?"

Ichika turns bright red and flails in a panic. "W-What are you doing all of a sudden?"

"No, it's nothing... I just felt like teasing you." "S-Stupid..."

"You really are quite a masochist, aren't you? Even on the bed."

"St-stop it already... Just because, I'm giving it right back!"

This time, Ichika initiates the kiss herself, pressing her lips to mine.

Her soft, feminine lips are... sweet enough to melt. "Heh." "Hah."

...Being a hopeless couple has its perks too.

Staying like that, the traffic light changed. Ichiha started the car.
"You should just stay another night."
"Nah..."

I sent a message on LINE. [I'll be home soon.] Read by three.

Again, all their read receipts appeared within a second.

But... still no replies came back.

"...Looks like Akari and the others are pretty upset about it."

"I-I... sorry. For hogging you."

"No, that's not something you need to apologize for, you know."

Before long, we arrived in front of my house.

As I tried to get out from the passenger seat, my body felt incredibly heavy.

"Kouhei-kun... do your best..."

From the driver's seat, sweating coldly, Ichiha cheered me on.

"Thanks. ...Pick up my bones."

“D-Don’t die! I don’t want that, I haven’t even tried on a wedding dress yet!”

It seemed Ichika was seriously considering marrying me.

I guess so. She’s twenty-eight now too. Marriage… she must want it. She’d probably want kids as well.

That’s why she kept pressing me to say [No]… I refused, though, obviously. “Well then, goodbye, Mitsuhiko-kun.” “Ah, see ya.”

She said something like that, waved her hand, and started the car. “……”

I didn’t know how long this relationship would last.

But she probably wants a quick resolution.

Ichika had mentioned before that she wanted to get married before turning thirty.

Right, even she has little time left to be free. She has to decide.

The resolve and all that… “But… before that.” I turned around.

Akari and Midoriko Lake were standing there. Silent, with serious faces. Right behind me. “I’-I’m home…”

Akari grabbed my right arm, and Midoriko Lake grabbed my left, both gripping tightly.

「Uh, um... both of you? I can walk on my own, and I'm not running away」 「“…………”」 「Ah...」

With a screeching drag... I was pulled along and led inside the house.

It felt just like a criminal being hauled away by the police... ““Got anything to say?””

“I, I'm sorry for being late...”

Akari and Midori became completely serious. ““We're not going to let you sleep tonight.””

The same line Ichika said back then. But for some reason...

Unlike that time, my body trembled as if I were standing in freezing cold.