Aiko leaned against Shin's shoulder, a soft, dreamy smile on her lips, her cheek lightly brushing his sleeve. Her golden eyes shimmered every time she glanced up at him, as if looking at her entire universe.
Yuki, on Shin's other side, sat a little straighter, rigid even. His cheeks had barely stopped glowing from that last kiss—the one Shin stole from him so boldly, so unapologetically. His legs were crossed tightly, and though his body faced away, he refused to let go of Shin's hand. Not even once. His grip was taut, nervous, like someone holding onto something precious they didn't want anyone to notice they cared about.
Shin turned his head slowly, grinning mischievously. "You know…" he began, his tone low and teasing, "I've been thinking."
Aiko tilted her head up, instantly alert. "Hmm?"
Yuki narrowed his eyes, sensing danger. "What now, baka?"
"I want to kiss you both again," Shin said bluntly.
Aiko straightened up, blinking. "Eh?"
Shin's smile softened. "Yeah. I mean, it wasn't enough. That kiss from you, Haa-chan… that warmth, that emotion… I want to feel it again. And Yuki…"
"D-Don't say it…" Yuki muttered, already squirming.
"That pouty, growly tsundere kiss of yours? I want another one." Shin winked. "But longer."
Aiko's heart skipped. "Then do it!" she said, laughing with a bashful excitement. "Taa-kun, kiss me again. I want you to."
Her hand tugged his gently, turning his body toward her. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Only you can make me feel that way…"
Without hesitation, Shin leaned in and caught her lips with his.
It was deeper this time. Slower. Her breath caught as she parted her lips to him, and his hand found her waist, holding her steady. Aiko's eyes fluttered shut, her chest pressed against his side, her heart racing. The sound of cherry leaves rustling filled the silence as their kiss grew heated—soft but filled with everything unspoken between them.
Yuki glanced away sharply, face burning. "Ugh… get a room," he muttered.
But he didn't let go of Shin's hand.
He couldn't.
Even when Shin finally pulled away from Aiko, breathless and a little flushed himself, Yuki didn't look at them. His gaze stayed firmly ahead, jaw clenched.
"Aaah… I'll never get tired of kissing you," Shin whispered, brushing Aiko's hair behind her ear. "You're beautiful, Haa-chan."
Aiko bit her lip and giggled, her cheeks pink. "Say that again later. I want to hear it before bed."
Shin chuckled and turned toward Yuki.
"So," he said, "your turn."
Yuki's shoulders stiffened. "T-Turn? What turn?"
"You heard me. You kissed me once. Now I want another. Longer. Slower. No growling this time."
Yuki's face turned scarlet. "W-W-WHAT?! You think I'm just gonna kiss you like that because you say so?! I'm not like her, okay?!"
Shin smirked. "No, you're Yuki. The cute one with the doll face and tsundere attitude who clings to my hand like a shy boyfriend."
"I-I'm not clinging!" he barked, shaking their intertwined fingers. "I-I'm just… making sure you don't wander off!"
"Sure, sure," Shin teased, inching closer. "So you won't mind if I lean in like this…"
Shin's face was now dangerously close to Yuki's.
Yuki flinched back. "D-Don't you dare!"
"…and if I cup your cheek like this…"
Shin's hand rose slowly, fingers brushing against the soft skin of Yuki's jaw. Yuki's whole body shivered, frozen under his touch.
"I swear to Kami, Shin, if you—!"
But Shin was already leaning in. Their lips met again, just barely.
Yuki squeaked—an actual squeak—and tried to push him back, but his fingers betrayed him, clinging to Shin's shirt. Shin kissed him properly this time, slow and steady, his other hand holding the back of Yuki's neck gently.
Yuki's fists beat weakly against Shin's chest for a second, but then stopped.
His eyes fluttered shut.
The tension melted from his body as his lips moved tentatively with Shin's. His heart pounded so loudly it filled his ears, drowned out all the thoughts, all the sharp comebacks he should've been shouting. His tsundere shield cracked—then shattered.
When Shin finally pulled back, Yuki's lips trembled slightly. He stared, dazed.
"I-I didn't even wanna do that…" he mumbled, looking away. "Y-You forced me."
Shin smirked. "You kissed back, didn't you?"
"N-No I didn't!"
"You pulled me closer."
"LIES!"
"Your hand's still on my chest, Yuki."
Yuki blinked and looked down.
His fingers were gripping Shin's collar.
With a scream of embarrassment, he yanked his hand back and spun away. "BAKA! BAKA SHIN! I HATE YOU!"
Aiko burst into laughter, leaning over Shin's shoulder. "You kissed him like a little kitten!"
"DID NOT!" Yuki roared, face redder than the sunset.
Shin just sighed, content. "You two are going to kill me one day."
"You deserve it," Yuki grumbled, but his voice was quiet. "I-I mean… idiot…"
"Don't worry," Aiko said warmly, hugging Shin's arm again, "we'll take turns killing you with love."
"Now that," Shin said, smirking, "is something I'm willing to die for."
They sat there in silence for a moment. Aiko rested her head on his shoulder, lips still tingling. Yuki had crossed his arms tightly, but his eyes kept sneaking glances at Shin. His heart was still thumping in his chest—loud, hot, terrified, and full.
"I'll say it," Shin murmured, "I'm in love with both of you."
Aiko tightened her grip on his hand. "I know."
Yuki looked down. "…Idiot."
"But…" Shin turned his head slightly. "I want more moments like this. With both of you. Is that selfish?"
"No," Aiko said.
"…Maybe," Yuki whispered. "But I still want them too."
Shin's grin widened. "Then I'll keep being selfish. Just for today."
The sakura breeze had begun to calm, leaving behind only the occasional fluttering petal that landed gently on their shoulders. The afternoon had aged, and the golden light was now tinged with hints of rose and lavender. Yet the three of them remained seated on that old bench like time had stopped just for them.
Yuki, eyes narrowed and arms crossed, finally broke the silence.
"Break ended a few minutes ago, you know," he muttered, voice slightly gruff, eyes fixed anywhere but on Shin. "Aren't we supposed to go back to class or something?"
Shin didn't even hesitate. "Nope. Not happening."
Aiko tilted her head, giggling. "Eh? Taa-kun, don't you care about classes anymore?"
"I want you two to teach me," Shin said matter-of-factly. "Not some old fart with coffee breath."
Yuki growled low in his throat. "You're gonna fail and drag us down with you. Idiot."
Shin laughed and didn't even pretend to be offended. Instead, he stretched his arms out wide and pulled them both close again. Aiko giggled and leaned in eagerly, her cheek brushing against his. Yuki squirmed but didn't resist as Shin's strong arm wrapped tightly around his slender frame.
"This," Shin said with a sigh, eyes half-closed, "is the only lesson I care about."
They stayed like that for several minutes, the three of them pressed together in a peaceful, warm triangle of comfort and tension. Birds chirped somewhere in the trees, and the distant laughter of students echoed faintly from the other side of the campus.
Shin's right arm, still cradling Aiko against him, began to wander. Slowly, deliberately, his fingers slid downward along her waist, his touch featherlight at first—as if testing the boundaries. Aiko's breath caught softly. Her eyes flickered to Shin's, but she didn't stop him. Her cheeks flushed pink, and her hand instinctively clutched his tighter.
His fingers brushed over the hem of her pleated skirt—that familiar, teasing line where fabric met bare skin. With quiet confidence, his hand slipped beneath the folds and found the soft curve of her butt. He gave it a gentle squeeze.
Aiko gasped quietly, then bit her lip. Her body pressed a little closer.
Yuki, completely unaware, was busy glaring off into the distance. "Tch. You guys are hopeless. Seriously... cuddling like that under a tree. In public. Are you trying to make everyone jealous? Idiots."
Aiko let out a soft exhale. Her blush deepened. But she didn't say a word.
Shin, grinning to himself, continued exploring. His hand slid smoothly, daringly, up and around the waistband of Aiko's panties. His fingers dipped inside. Now he was caressing her bare hip, his thumb brushing delicate skin while his other fingers gripped gently but firmly.
Aiko's head tilted slightly, her golden eyes glassy. Her breathing grew shallow, lips parted ever so slightly. She was trembling, but not in resistance.
Yuki finally turned his head toward them, scowling. "Geez, Haa-chan, are you okay? You look like you just ran a lap or something."
Aiko blinked, jolted. "Ah…! I—I'm fine! Just… the wind tickled me."
Yuki squinted, suspicious. "Wind doesn't make people blush like that. Are you catching a fever? I told you not to nap on the grass like some lazy neko!"
Shin snorted and leaned closer to Yuki, his left arm still wrapped around the smaller boy's back. "Or maybe," he said playfully, "she's just enjoying a private tutoring session."
Yuki raised an eyebrow. "Huh? What the hell are you talking about, you perv?"
Shin didn't answer. He just gave Aiko another deliberate squeeze under her skirt, sending a jolt up her spine. She whimpered barely audibly, squeezing his hand now as if grounding herself.
Yuki paused, noticing it.
He stared at Aiko for a long second. Then his expression changed.
"Wait... what are you—"
His eyes drifted to Shin's right arm.
Then back to Aiko's face.
Then the way her knees had pressed together.
"Y-YOU'RE TOUCHING HER?!"
Shin just smirked. "Took you long enough, Kiddo."
Aiko looked away in flustered silence, her face bright red.
Yuki's face exploded with color. He leapt back on instinct, yanking Shin's hand off his own waist. "Y-Y-YOU BAKA! YOU CAN'T JUST DO THAT IN FRONT OF ME!"
Shin shrugged, still grinning. "Why not? You said it yourself—we're hopeless. Might as well be hopeless together."
"T-THERE ARE RULES, YOU KNOW! LIKE… LIKE DECENCY! YOU DON'T JUST GROPE HER LIKE IT'S A CLUB SANDWICH!"
Shin tilted his head. "You're just jealous."
Yuki froze.
"Wh-What?! I am NOT!"
Shin leaned closer. "You want to be touched too, don't you?"
"S-Shut up!!"
"I can use my left hand. Want a turn?"
Yuki covered his face, letting out an inhuman squeak. "D-D-Don't SAY STUFF LIKE THAT!! I'M A BOY!!"
"Exactly. That's why I asked."
Yuki fell silent, hands still over his face. His whole body was trembling.
Aiko, who had recovered a little, glanced over at Yuki sympathetically. "You know, Yuki-kun... he does it because he loves us. It's not just teasing."
"D-Don't make it WORSE!!"
Shin laughed, letting his hand finally retreat from under Aiko's skirt. He reached out and poked Yuki's cheek gently. "Admit it. You want your own club sandwich moment."
"N-NO I DON'T!"
But he was still blushing. Still looking away. And still not leaving.
Shin leaned in and whispered in his ear, "Next time... I'll start with you."
Yuki let out a strangled squeal and shoved him. "D-D-DETENTION! I WANT YOU IN DETENTION FOR LIFE!"
Shin just laughed, pulling both of them into his arms again.
And neither of them moved away.
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END OF CHAPTER : 115 : JUST ONE MORE... BUT LONG!
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