Ch 281. Kasumigaoka's Little Schemes

"..." Yukino suddenly realized that Hoshimi, this jerk, really had never been one to compromise with her. Whether in the past or now, he always did things his way, never considering her persuasion.

Thinking of this, Yukino felt a wave of anger rise within her.

This jerk, Hoshimi—it was tolerable before they started dating, but even after getting together, he still acted like this. He had no sense of responsibility as a boyfriend, making her question just how sincere his feelings for her were.

"Yukino..." Noticing the increasingly strange look in Yukino's eyes, Hoshimi said with a smirk, "You're not upset just because I don't accommodate you, are you? If that's the case, you've just fallen into Kotoko's trap again."

"Yukino, you have to realize that Kotoko's goal in saying those things was to sow discord between us. So, whether you follow her reasoning or go against it, there's a problem."

"You need to break out of your fixed way of thinking here, step out of the prison of Kotoko's words, and think carefully about her true motives for saying that. Also, consider things from Kotoko's perspective: if she were facing this problem, what would she do?"

"So, do you get it now, Yukino? Think a bit deeper; don't let Kotoko lead you by the nose."

"If you really fall into her trap, she's going to be absolutely delighted."

"..." Yukino was speechless.

She glanced at Hoshimi's smirking face from the corner of her eye, and a flush of embarrassed annoyance rose within her.

Why did Hoshimi and Kotoko always have so many twists and turns in their conversations?

Hoshimi's understanding she could explain away as a result of good genes and rigorous upbringing. But that little imp Kotoko—how did she know all this stuff? It didn't make any sense!

"Alright, Yukino, don't overthink it. Just be cautious about what Kotoko says in the future, but don't dwell on it too much, or you'll get yourself in trouble."

Hoshimi walked behind Yukino, pushing her gently forward. "Homeroom is about to start; don't just stand here in a daze. Let's go. I'll teach you a few tricks to deal with Kotoko's schemes later."

"Sigh~" Yukino sighed softly, helplessly allowing herself to be guided by Hoshimi.

She didn't consider herself dumb, yet in front of these two "oddities," Hoshimi and Kotoko, she felt as naive as a high school student.

Wait, she was a high school student!

Ugh, so frustrating.

Ring ring ring~~~

The bell for homeroom rang as Yukino and Hoshimi entered the classroom right on time.

The two returned to their seats, beginning another day of school life.

...

In the first period of the morning, the long-serving math teacher was delivering a soporific lecture at the podium.

Below the platform, a drowsy Hoshimi leaned on his hand, gazing vaguely out the window.

There's no sun today... The sky looks overcast in the distance. Does this mean it'll rain?

Mm~ The cool sea breeze feels refreshing; today's weather is perfect for a nap...

With that thought, Hoshimi closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep comfortably.

Yukino, who had been watching him out of the corner of her eye, wasn't surprised when Hoshimi fell asleep. It was just as she had anticipated.

Ignoring Hoshimi, she took out her Japanese-Chinese Dictionary and continued studying.

Rustle rustle...

The breeze lifted the pale blue curtain, gently brushing over the peacefully sleeping Hoshimi.

The wind stilled, and everything returned to quiet...

…

At Hoshimi's home, Kasumigaoka lay in bed for a full hour after he left before finally getting up.

She changed into her clothes and went to his bedroom, standing by the window and gazing out at the Chiba cityscape.

The view of the "steel jungle" outside didn't stir her heart. She had seen far more awe-inspiring, modern cityscapes in Hoshimi's dreams.

Those towering skyscrapers reaching into the clouds truly captured the charm of a "steel jungle."

She shifted her gaze toward the horizon.

The clouds look heavy... Will it rain today?

"Rain, huh..." Kasumigaoka murmured thoughtfully.

She had a certain idea in mind, but she decided to wait until it actually rained.

"Ah~~" Feeling a sudden ache in her back, Kasumigaoka stretched luxuriously by the window, revealing her stunning figure.

Her ample curves were something those "flat-chested girls" would never dare to dream of.

"What should I do today?" Kasumigaoka mused with a gentle smile.

Should she prepare a "romantic dinner" for Hoshimi?

"Mm~~~"

On second thought, maybe not. Her cooking skills were only so-so, just ordinary home cooking—far below the standards of the upscale restaurants Hoshimi was used to. She didn't want to embarrass herself.

Were there any other surprises she could plan?

Kasumigaoka pondered for a moment but found nothing. Hoshimi's privileged background and experience made most surprises lose their novelty.

As for "love is all that matters," that was merely a comforting phrase, a way to avoid the truth.

Without a material foundation, even the sweetest surprise would lack a certain flavor.

"Ugh..." Kasumigaoka sighed a little, feeling troubled.

At this point, she couldn't think of any surprise for Hoshimi—other than offering herself as a gift, which wouldn't work since she'd be returning to Tokyo today.

"Wait..." Kasumigaoka suddenly remembered something. She quickly took out her phone, opened her calendar, and began counting the days.

"11... 12... Ugh, it won't work, it won't be over by then... 14... 15... Right, add the 16th; it should be those three days."

"June 14th and 15th are on the weekend? That might work..." Kasumigaoka bit her lip, feeling her legs weaken slightly.

She stepped back and sat on the bed, her cheeks flushed, her eyes averted as she contemplated her plan.

"Should I come to Hoshimi's house then? No, that would be too obvious; I should play it a bit cooler..."

"Maybe invite Hoshimi out? That could work... If he gets a little impulsive, it'd be perfect..."

As she mumbled to herself, Kasumigaoka's face grew redder, and her voice trailed off into soft whispers.

"Mm~~"

A moment later, she was pressing her hot cheeks with her hands, rolling around on Hoshimi's bed.

Wait!

Kasumigaoka suddenly sat up. If she was going to invite Hoshimi out, wouldn't a reason make it easier?

June 14th, June 15th... Was there any event on those days?

After a quick search on her phone, she found something.

"Wow? There really is something—a pet expo in Tokyo?" Kasumigaoka's crimson eyes sparkled with barely concealed excitement as she looked at the adorable cats and dogs on the webpage.

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