🎉🔥 A MASSIVE THANK YOU! 🔥🎉
💖 Special shoutout to these legends! 💖
@nazir akmal—WELCOME TO THE MEMBER SQUAD! 🚀🔥 Your support means everything, and I'm hyped to have you on this wild ride!
💡 But wait—there's more! Don't forget to check out my Newest Completed Novel on My P4TR30N
👨👧 Title: "Oregairu : The cold-hearted junior is only kind to me."
📢 Want to read ahead and unlock all chapters? J
✨ Unlock instant access to the full completed novel
✨ No waiting for daily updates
✨ Support your favorite degenerate author (that's me!)
👉 Skip the wait! Unlock instant access to completed chapters by joining our membership!
Free readers? No worries—daily updates will still roll out. But if you're the "I need it NOW" type... you know what to do. 😉
🔗 Check my profile for the Link!!
To the casual readers: "Enjoy the slow burn."
To the true binge-readers: "Welcome to the party." 🎉
👉 Want the full experience? [Join Patreon Now]
🔗 Check my profile for the Link!!
💀 PS: Free readers get crumbs—MEMBER get the FEAST.
Don't just watch—DOMINATE THE STORY. 😈🔥
==============
"Thanks for the meal."
"You're welcome."
My somewhat rough words were met with Isshiki's polite reply.
We were in Isshiki's apartment, in the dining area. Today was December 24th, Christmas Eve.
It was the number one day people want to spend with their significant other (according to my research), and true to form, I was spending it with Isshiki.
"..."
Watching Isshiki wash the dishes, I found it quite strange.
There was a time when I genuinely believed I would never again spend Christmas with a girlfriend. Yet here I was, not only with such a cute girlfriend but also enjoying a home-cooked meal.
If my past self saw me now, they would surely yell, "Normies explode!" But now that I was on the receiving end, my feeling was, "How dare you explode!" Rather, the ones saying it should explode.
"Senpai."
As I digested the delicious meal in my stomach, lost in such silly thoughts, Isshiki, having finished tidying up, approached me with her hands behind her back. She sat down primly on the sofa next to me, still hiding something behind her.
"I have a present for you."
"Oh. Actually, I do too."
Though it wasn't Christmas Day itself, since we were meeting on Christmas Eve, I had naturally prepared something. We hadn't specifically arranged it, but it seemed we were thinking the same thing.
"Shall we exchange them on the count of three?"
"Sounds good."
At Isshiki's "One, two, three," we exchanged the gifts we had been hiding. I handed her a small cube-shaped box and received a long, slender box from her.
"Here, please. Senpai, you open yours first."
At Isshiki's urging, I peeled off the white wrapping paper. When I opened the lid of the revealed box, to my surprise, a necklace lay nestled inside.
"A necklace, huh?"
"Yes."
I hadn't expected an accessory. I rarely wore such items, so I had thought she would get me some kind of miscellaneous goods even if she did prepare something.
"Try it on."
As Isshiki prompted, I put the silver necklace with a small pendant top around my neck. I struggled with the clasp due to unfamiliarity, and when I finally fastened it, Isshiki looked at me with a satisfied expression.
"It's kind of surprising. This kind of present."
"Hmm, I thought it might be different since I don't usually wear them either."
Isshiki said that, then tucked the necklace inside my shirt.
"I just thought it would be nice to have something I gave you to peek out occasionally, and that would be a nice feeling."
"Ah, I see..."
"Also, the feeling that this neck is mine is just... intense."
"Your reasons are terrifying..."
As I felt a chill, wondering if this girl was perhaps a little dangerous, I heard a small chuckle. Seriously, you really do have those moments...
"Can I open mine now?"
"Yeah."
As I watched, Isshiki carefully peeled off the wrapping. Eventually, she stared intently at the lid of the box that appeared.
"..."
With a look of resolve, she opened the lid, and her eyes widened in surprise.
"Earrings, are they?"
I nodded. Isshiki picked up the earrings. Her touch was as delicate as if she were handling a newborn baby.
"Um, I love the design and I'm super happy, but can I say something really uncouth?"
"Even if I say no, you'll probably say it anyway..."
"Yes, I probably will."
Her face, which suddenly broke into a cheerful laugh, was irresistibly cute. She subtly shifted her gaze back to the box and said in a small voice,
"For a second, I kind of hoped it might be a ring."
"...Well, that kind of thing... eventually, properly..."
I returned her words with an equally small voice, having somewhat anticipated them.
When choosing the gift, I briefly considered a matching ring. However, I had a feeling it would lead to all sorts of mishaps and felt too heavy, so I ultimately gave up on it. Besides, I think such a gift should be given with definite meaning and intention, rather than with a half-hearted one.
"Properly... Yes."
Saying it with a strangely meaningful tone, Isshiki returned her gaze to the earrings.
"Will you try them on?"
Isshiki nodded subtly and put on the teardrop-shaped earrings.
My heart inexplicably skipped a beat at the gesture of her sweeping her hair aside to reveal her ear.
"How do they look?"
"...They suit you well. Just as I imagined."
When I said it honestly, Isshiki smiled a little more alluringly than before. I wasn't sure myself if it was because she was wearing the earrings that I felt that way.
"Do you know? Giving accessories to your lover is said to be a sign of possessiveness."
"...I know. I mean, I chose them with that in mind."
"Huh..."
Isshiki accepted my outpouring of feelings with an open mouth, looking stunned.
It took some time... but I was able to admit one fact. More than I had even realized myself, I was utterly captivated by the cunningly cute junior in front of me. To the point where imagining her past, which should have no bearing on now, made me ache.
It was pathetic, worthless jealousy. The more I chewed on it, the more bitterness seeped out, and I hated myself for being unable to stop those thoughts.
"I'm more, well, possessive than I thought... I probably have a lot more possessiveness than you think, Isshiki."
But acknowledging it felt so much easier.
Maybe it was just my imagination, or maybe my feelings were just overflowing. Still... at least I had resolved to move forward, so it surely couldn't be a bad thing.
"Y-you suddenly sound like a character from a shojo manga. You totally made my heart pound!"
Isshiki's cheeks gradually flushed, and she looked away from me, clearly fidgeting.
It was fresh, and incredibly cute. This irresistible urge to hug her was a feeling I had never experienced in my life.
"...Thank you for the present. But I have one more present I want."
With her cheeks still flushed, Isshiki looked at me with pleading eyes. When asked with that kind of face, I wasn't confident I could refuse.
"What is it?"
"I want you to call me by my first name. Call me Iroha."
Her voice was gently sweet, as if melting my earlobes.
For a moment, I thought, Is that all? But on second thought, it was a high hurdle. After all, I rarely called girls by their first names without honorifics, other than Komachi.
However, always calling her by her surname felt too formal, and Isshiki herself wished to be called by her first name.
I took a small, slow breath, then exhaled slowly and said,
"...Iroha."
"...Yes."
Responding, Isshiki—Iroha—smiled. Her face drew closer.
"—!"
When I realized it, my lips were already covered.
Her lips, hotter than usual, slowly conveyed their inherent warmth. Even our touching noses felt warm.
When our lips parted, Iroha smiled happily. Encouraged by her smile, I began to speak.
"Um, you know... I have a present I want too..."
I didn't know what kind of reaction I would get by saying this. But if I missed this timing, when would I ever be able to say it?
Probably nothing good would come from postponing it. Besides, I promised to say this kind of thing myself before. I had already resolved myself.
So, my excuse to myself was complete.
"What I want is, well... you."
Iroha's face changed to a subtle expression of surprise.
And perhaps sensing something, her eyes narrowed slightly. What, what's with that look...?
"Senpai. I appreciate the invitation, but seriously, that way of saying it is creepy."
"Ah, yes..."
Where had the sweet atmosphere from before gone? Her voice was as cold as ice.
Damn it... I said it thinking I could now, but I totally messed up this time...
"Well, since it's Senpai, I guess it can't be helped."
As I was about to roll my eyes, Iroha cleared her throat. She looked up at me, glaring cutely as if to scold me.
"And... it's not 'you'."
Her gaze, fixed on me, gradually grew more serious.
Ah, in other words... she wanted me to rephrase it.
"...I..."
My dry voice trembled in my throat.
Even after uttering a similar meaning just moments ago, I was still nervous.
I swallowed. Forcibly, I made my parched vocal cords vibrate.
"Iroha, I want you."
"—Yes."
A softer voice than usual returned an affirmation.
Iroha's hand went around my neck, and a faint tremor transferred to me.
"I give you all of me, Senpai."
Saying that, to Iroha's closed lips.
For the first time, I kissed her myself—
============
🚀 Want Early Access & Bonus Content?
"Loving this story so far? You can read ALL chapters RIGHT NOW by joining my Patreon!
✨ Unlock instant access to the full completed novel
✨ No waiting for daily updates
✨ Support your favorite degenerate author (that's me!)
Only $5.99 for the full experience!
🔗 Check my profile for the Link!!
Free readers - don't worry, I'll still be posting daily updates here. But Patreon members get the VIP treatment!
Your support helps me create more wild stories like this. See you on the dark side! 😈"