It seemed her distant cousin had a mischievous streak.
"Speaking of which, Kazuma, do you have a girlfriend?" Kanako asked, steering the AE86 steadily while casually bringing up the topic.
"Not currently," Kazuma replied.
He was actually feeling quite dizzy and wanted to lean back and sleep. But with Kanako driving skills, he worried he might wake up to the sight of a hospital ceiling—or worse, the River Styx.
"So you had one in high school?" Kanako eyes sparkled with curiosity.
If that's how she wanted to take it, then her driving wouldn't be the only thing making him nervous.
"A few"
"Were they cute? Can you tell me about your relationships?"
"I'd rather not talk about it. We broke up, but yes, they were really cute."
Every single one of them was adorable.
"Huh?" Though disappointed that Kazuma wasn't willing to share his romantic history, Kanako didn't press further. Instead, she asked, "If they were so cute, why did you break up?"
Because they were both at the University of Tokyo, and I was afraid of getting stabbed.
Kazuma silently thought to himself but casually explained
"It's pretty normal for high school couples to break up."
"That's not entirely true. Some high school couples do get married after graduation."
"She was a zaibatsu heiress."
"Oh..."
Kanako was momentarily speechless, her mind immediately conjuring up various drama scenarios.
Indeed, if the girl was a zaibatsu heiress, it was understandable that Kazuma couldn't hold onto her.
Of course, this was just her own speculation. If it hadn't been for the fact that he was involved with two at the same time, Kazuma actually believed he could have managed it.
Perhaps out of sympathy for Kazuma, Kanako didn't bring up the topic of relationships again for the rest of the drive home.
...
"Kazuma, I made you some honey water. Drink it before you sleep," Kanako said, holding a cup of honey water as Kazuma stepped out of the bathroom.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome. I know how uncomfortable it can be after drinking too much. Drinking some honey water will help."
Kanako smiled, though her cheeks were slightly flushed.
Help!
No wonder people say men look their best right after a shower. Look at that slightly damp, golden-white hair, that clean and fair complexion, those reddish-brown eyes still tinged with drunkenness, that Adam's apple...
It was a good thing that Kazuma Kiryuu was properly dressed and hadn't just walked out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel. Otherwise, Kanako really wouldn't have known where to look.
After all, they were only distant relatives.
They hadn't spent much time together—not even a full day—so naturally, they didn't have the kind of normalized filter that siblings who grew up together would have.
"..."
After downing the honey water in one go, Kazuma thanked her again and handed the cup back to Kanako.
Back in his room, Kazuma caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror.
Recalling how Kanako had hurriedly left earlier, he couldn't help but sigh
"Kazuma Kiryuu, you really are a sinner."
But Kanako was actually quite beautiful, wasn't she? And she even had her older sister, Iida Maya.
Damn it, pull yourself together, Kazuma Kiryuu! How is this kind of thinking any different from when you messed around with them before?
"Wine and women are my downfall!"
...
The next day, Kazuma woke up early.
He had slept twice the previous day.
The first time he woke up was in the evening, when Kanako had already prepared dinner. It had to be said, she had a real knack for cooking—very girlfriend material.
After having dinner with Kanako, Kazuma didn't immediately go back to bed for a second round of sleep. Instead, he worked on his manga drafts, as he hadn't forgotten that he still had his job as a mangaka.
Not to mention, missing deadlines could lead to even more serious consequences.
After breakfast, to express his gratitude to Kanako for saving him yesterday, Kazuma insisted on driving Kanako to Seishin Women University first before leisurely heading to the neighboring Izu University.
As he approached the lecture hall, Kazuma immediately spotted Kotegawa Chisa standing at the entrance.
Today, she was still wearing denim shorts and knee-high boots, but the white thigh-high socks were missing.
"Yo, Kotegawa-san, good morning," Kazuma greeted.
Hearing his voice, Chisa lowered her hand from her forehead and turned to look at him.
"Ah, Kazuma, good morning to you too."
"Why are you standing at the door? Did you just arrive?"
"Yeah, just got here..."
As Chisa spoke, her gaze shifted back into the classroom.
Following her line of sight, Kazuma saw two shirtless boys slumped over in the front row.
Though Kazuma suspected that, excluding their underwear, their lower halves were probably bare as well.
The reason was simple: these two were none other than Kitahara Iori and Imamura Kohei.
"Looks like they pulled another all-nighter drinking?" Kazuma remarked after a moment of silence.
Chisa sighed and wordlessly walked to the seat she had occupied yesterday, as if everything they're not exist.
Watching Chisa retreating figure and then glancing at the two in the front row, Kazuma felt increasingly convinced that his decision to call Kanako for help yesterday had been a stroke of genius.
Otherwise, Kazuma was certain that the number of people slumped in the front row, receiving Chisa disdainful glare, wouldn't have been limited to just Kitahara and Imamura.
But for some reason, the thought of that scenario made him feel a bit excited.
Naturally sitting down beside Chisa, Kazuma subtly glanced at her thighs out of the corner of his eye before falling into deep thought.
Ah, I see now!
In his mind, Kazuma clapped his hands together, recalling a scene with his ex-girlfriend.
She had taken off her shoes, sat on the edge of the bed, lifted her foot, and with a teasing smile, said, "Oh, you're so cute. Fine, I'll reluctantly let you lick my foot."
Kazuma remembered that time when he had literally licked the black knee-high socks off her legs.
A similar scenario seemed to have happened with another girlfriend...
So, had the seed been planted back then?
Realizing this, Kazuma expression involuntarily turned serious.
"What's wrong? You suddenly look so grim," Chisa noticed the change in Kazuma demeanor and asked.
"Nothing, I just realized something," Kazuma shook his head, his voice slightly tense.
So, he was a pervert? He was actually a pervert!?