Give him time, if you can

Hearing Fuyumi's nickname for her, Sakuragi Otome rolled her eyes at him charmingly and did not respond.

Last night, she was like a puppet on strings, being teased in random twists and turns.

Just whimsically manipulated.

What actions she wanted to take were not hers to decide, and now to be teased like this.

The more she thought about it, the more embarrassed and angry she became.

She looked at Fuyumi who was still smiling playfully, and couldn't help but lower her head and bite his finger in shame.

Looking at the girl's coquettish eyes and feeling the fleeting warmth and softness on his fingertip, Sasaki's breath hitched momentarily.

For a young man, the mornings are invariably a time of certain straightforwardness.

Despite having spent the entire night in battle, dealing with the frail resistance of Otome, Sasaki felt it was no more strenuous than a warm-up exercise.

The effort exerted was even less than his jog back home the previous day.

In order to take care of Otome's body, although Sasaki hugged her, he did not bring her too close.

Just because he was afraid of scaring her.

But faced with such a provocation, he couldn't just let it pass without any response.

Looking at the girl, who was oblivious to the mix of feelings, Sasaki moved closer with an expressionless face

"Fuyumi, Fuyumi~"

Sensing Fuyumi's spirit, Otome, who was originally soft and relaxed, straightened up instantly, blinked her innocent and moist eyes, and looked at him pitifully.

"What are you trying to say, Miss Otome Sasaki? Are you suggesting a morning workout?"

Pretending not to see Otome's pitiful state, Sasaki, propped up by his elbow on the pillow and cradling his cheek in his hand, looked at his own little vixen with a beaming smile.

Hearing that name that was exclusively hers, Otome's lazy expression changed instantly, her eyes turning into pools of spring water in an instant, and her arms, white as snow, just like two white serpents, wrapped around the boy's neck.

"Fuyumi...if you want, you can."

Lying on Sasaki's chest, Sakuragi Otome murmured softly, then looked directly into his eyes seriously.

Faced with the girl's seriousness, Sasaki just patted her gently and let her sleep in his arms.

If Otome was as stubborn as last night, Sasaki might have had to punish her for her naivety.

But faced with such a loving and tender invitation, Sasaki couldn't bear to torment her any more.

He was not some beast driven by lust.

Besides, sex should bring joy and pleasure to both parties.

If it were just for his own enjoyment, what difference would it make from playing with a doll?

Sasaki always believed that true bliss comes from mutual participation.

Ah... just like last night...

The aftertaste of last night was lingering in his mind.

Within a moment, a slight snore could be heard from Sasaki's arms.

Looking down at the sleeping Otome, Sasaki refrained from any further kisses or actions that might disturb her sleep.

Instead, he gently withdrew his arm and silently got out of bed.

"Phew..."

Stretching his arms.

Though he hadn't slept all night, Sasaki, full of energy, picked up his school uniform hanging on the wall and the damp bedsheet that had fallen to the floor and tiptoed out of the room.

After washing up and getting dressed neatly, he tossed the wet bedsheet embroidered with "Falling Leaves" into the washing machine.

Feeling the dampness in his hands, Sasaki paused for a moment.

"Otome didn't get dehydrated, did she? Isn't she thirsty?"

He hadn't realized it last night, and he was too caught up in the moment to react.

It was only because he thought sleeping on it would be uncomfortable for Otome that he changed the bedsheet after the dawn.

Only now did he notice... not a single part of this sheet was dry.

Even though they kept doing it the whole night, he didn't actually release much last night.

About five shots or so, but she...

Well, it's not like she didn't drink any water last night.

"Let's make some chicken soup, it's still early anyway..."

…...

After eating, Sasaki woke up the drowsy Otome and made her drink some soup.

Maybe it was because she was really feeling dehydrated, the girl was thirsty and drank two bowls of it.

Upon Otome's insistence, Sasaki, who was still planning to go to school today, slung his backpack over his shoulder and locked the door behind him, walking leisurely along the roadside.

As he was about to pull out his phone to check if Chifuyu had woken up, he hadn't yet made a move when a series of rapid footsteps came from behind him.

Smack—-

The small palm slapped Sasaki's shoulder vigorously.

But it was not him who cried out in pain.

"Ah~"

Turning around, he looked at a small figure crouching on the ground, holding her little hand, her body curled up into a tiny ball, and even her chestnut-colored short twin ponytails trembling gently

Sasaki crouched down and rubbed her warm little head.

"Does it hurt? Why did you hit so hard?"

Kneading her swollen and numb palms, Okino Rinka bared her little tiger teeth with tears in her eyes.

"Wasn't I just excited?

I wanted to greet Fuyumi-nii warmly."

"Who knew your shoulder would be so hard, are you made of iron?"

"A warm greeting?" Taking the girl's swollen hand, Sasaki took one look and chuckled. "Seems more like a spicy greeting to me."

With that said, he handed her little hand to Okino Kazuki who had already walked to his side.

Simply holding his sister's hand, the latter looked at Sasaki who was alone, his eyes moved slightly, and he asked in a normal manner: "Where is Otome? Did you forget to call her?"

"Her?" Sasaki scratched his head ambiguously and laughed it off. "She caught a cold last night and can't go to school today."

As a fellow male, Okino Kazuki could naturally read between the lines of his words.

After all, when he left last night, Otome hadn't returned home yet.

And her parents had been away on a business trip for a while, not expected back anytime soon.

So even if Otome didn't come home at night, no one would know.

And last night...

Think of that possibility.

The boy's face suddenly turned pale, biting his lips tightly, his gaze dimming as he walked away alone/

Seeing her brother walk off and leave her behind, Okino Rinka instinctively raised her hand, wanting to hold him back, but Sasaki pressed down on her shoulder.

"Give him time to calm down."

Looking down at the girl's chestnut-colored short twin ponytails, including the white hairband that looked utterly wilted, he stroked her head and persuaded her softly.

"The way he is now, he won't listen to anything you say. Just stay with him and don't say unnecessary words."

Seeing her brother's lost state, Okino Rinka raised her numb and aching palm, pressed it on her stinging heart, and nodded lightly in response.

"Um."