It was an experience unlike anything before.
It was difficult to put the feeling into words. It was like a segment of a mandarin orange, soft and sweet.
Sato had no idea whether it was the taste of Kasumigaoka Utaha's lips themselves or her lipstick. All he knew was that the moment she kissed him, his mind went completely blank.
Time itself seemed to stop at that instant, settling into the stillness of an ancient well.
Eriri stared blankly at the scene before her.
Her mind was equally empty.
Who am I?
Where am I?
What are they doing?
After a long while, their lips slowly parted.
Sato saw Kasumigaoka Utaha gazing intently at him.
Her bright eyes held undisguised possessiveness and burning affection, along with a gentle, shimmering tenderness.
This girl...
His heart softened.
Almost unconsciously, he reached out and brushed a stray lock of hair away from her cheek.
She froze for a moment before revealing a pure, radiant smile.
But soon, Kasumigaoka Utaha turned toward Eriri again and asked with a smile,
"Now do you understand why?"
"Y... You..."
Eriri's beautiful eyes trembled.
So did her voice.
Disbelief filled her gaze.
She pressed her lips tightly together, looked at Kasumigaoka Utaha, then suddenly turned toward Sato.
"Come here."
Her voice had become low and heavy.
Sato looked outwardly calm, but his eyes had grown more complicated.
Looking at Eriri, he said,
"Eriri, you..."
"I said come here!"
She continued staring straight at him, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Kasumigaoka Utaha suddenly narrowed her eyes slightly and, almost provocatively, took hold of Sato's arm.
Eriri glanced at her.
A trace of determination suddenly appeared on her otherwise composed face.
The next moment, Eriri's face filled Sato's vision once more.
Every delicate feature was vividly clear.
A faint blush gradually spread across her cheeks.
With a mixture of shyness, relief, and resentment in her eyes, she looked directly at him.
As the seconds passed, everything became even clearer.
A faint fragrance drifted toward him.
Two soft arms suddenly wrapped tightly around his head.
Sato could feel her body trembling.
His heart shook as he lowered his head to look at Eriri's deeply flushed face.
Standing on tiptoe, she pressed her lips against his.
"Mmph!"
Feeling the familiar softness against his lips again, Sato's thoughts dissolved into complete confusion.
Why are all of you like this?!
This time, it was Kasumigaoka Utaha who stood frozen.
She stared blankly at the scene unfolding before her.
This girl...
She actually had the courage to do something like this?
I miscalculated...
Kasumigaoka Utaha pursed her lips.
Unlike Utaha's sweet kiss, Eriri's lips were thinner, carrying a cool, refreshing sensation.
Their fragrance was gentler as well, like pear blossoms blooming against the lingering chill of early spring.
Only...
Her lips trembled with unmistakable maidenly shyness.
When their lips finally separated, Eriri immediately lowered her head.
The blush had spread across her cheeks and ears, making them appear almost translucent.
She didn't dare look at Sato's expression.
After lowering her head and taking a deep breath to calm herself, she turned toward Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Although her face was still bright red, there was now a faint look of pride upon it.
Her sapphire-blue eyes met Kasumigaoka Utaha's.
She slightly raised her fair chin, as though declaring victory before her rival.
"Hmph! You're the losing heroine!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at Eriri for a long time.
Then an incomparably brilliant smile spread across her face.
Dressed in her crimson gown, covering her mouth as she laughed softly, she resembled a fairy born from fire itself.
"Not bad. Very brave."
She nodded approvingly at Eriri.
Then the corners of her lips curled upward.
"But... a losing heroine is still a losing heroine."
"Huh?!"
Eriri's voice shot up several pitches.
She snorted at Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"We're the same now. If I'm the losing heroine, then so are you!"
"I'm not the same as you."
Kasumigaoka Utaha smiled once again, looking at Eriri with meaningful amusement.
"A losing heroine is still a losing heroine."
"Hm?"
Eriri looked at her in confusion.
Seeing Kasumigaoka Utaha merely smiling without explaining anything, irritation immediately welled up inside her.
Grinding her teeth, she turned to glare at Sato.
What does this woman mean?
Her eyes clearly conveyed the question.
Seeing that the two of them had finally remembered he existed, Sato couldn't help feeling a little relieved.
Those two unexpected long kisses had almost made him think he was nothing more than a prop.
Now it seemed...
He still had some use.
So he was still a useful prop?
Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at him teasingly, as though asking whether he dared tell Eriri about what had happened between the two of them.
Sato ignored her with a blank expression.
How could he possibly say something like that?!
Nobody was going to die over it, of course.
But the headaches that would follow would definitely come one after another.
Eriri was looking at him.
He looked back.
His eyes unconsciously drifted toward her thin, cherry-colored lips.
At once, an image surfaced in his mind.
A hillside covered in pear trees.
Winter's lingering chill had yet to fade when a warm spring breeze suddenly swept through, sending countless pear blossoms into bloom.
There was lingering coolness.
There was warmth.
There was the brisk spring wind.
There were pear blossoms in full bloom.
And there was their faint, lingering fragrance.
Noticing the dazed look in his eyes, Eriri suddenly came back to her senses.
Flustered, she lowered her head and mumbled in a voice barely louder than a mosquito,
"What are you looking at? What's so interesting..."
I've really become a complete scumbag...
Sato sighed gloomily, a rare feeling for him.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
A gentle voice came from outside.
"Miss, it's time to change into your evening gown."
Sato looked toward Eriri.
Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha both looked at him.
A slender, fair hand suddenly reached around to his waist and gave it a gentle twist.
Turning his head, he was greeted by Kasumigaoka Utaha's "sweet" smile.
"You still plan to stay here while she changes?"
"Well... if Eriri doesn't mind, then I don't mind either."
"G... Get out!"
Eriri shouted, her face burning red.