Inside Shizuku's Dorm Room.
The two girls had just finished talking about Ikki Kurogane.
The misunderstanding had finally been cleared up, and Shizuku no longer held any unrealistic expectations. From now on, she would simply see Ikki as her older brother.
At least, that was what she told herself.
The truth was that someone else had quietly taken his place in her heart.
Just then, a notification announcing a trade request appeared.
The two exchanged glances.
Shizuku tilted her head slightly.
"This trade... what exactly is it?"
Stella let out a long sigh before burying her face in her hands.
"That idiot... he's doing it again."
Looking at Shizuku with a complicated expression, she continued,
"Yeah. It's exactly what you're thinking. Haruto is a hopeless pervert, so if you ask me, you should stay as far away from him as possible."
"..."
Shizuku finally understood what the trade involved.
"Is this because of the wager?"
Her crimson eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"But... isn't it also because you agreed to it?"
"Ugh..."
Stella stiffened, unable to deny it.
She really had no excuse.
Meanwhile, Shizuku quietly lowered her gaze.
More importantly... if Stella hadn't met Haruto... I never would have met him either.
Love at first sight.
She had always thought it was something that only happened in romance manga.
Yet here she was.
Even so...
She couldn't bring herself to judge Haruto's actions so easily.
"There must be a reason."
As soon as she said those words, Stella stared at her as though she'd lost her mind.
A pervert is a pervert, Stella thought. What kind of reason could possibly justify that?
But Shizuku had already reached her own conclusion.
If Haruto were really as terrible as Stella claims... why does she keep spending time with him?
Even after he accidentally saw her naked... she never truly hated him.
There had to be more to the story.
Seeing the unwavering determination in Shizuku's eyes, Stella suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.
"D-Don't tell me..."
"You've actually fallen for him?"
Shizuku nodded without the slightest hesitation.
"...It was love at first sight."
"...You admitted it!?"
Stella could only stare in disbelief.
"Love at first sight...? Shizuku, are you seriously okay?"
"I'm perfectly fine."
A faint blush spread across her cheeks as she placed a hand over her heart.
"My heart won't stop racing."
"It keeps telling me... I've fallen in love with Haruto."
"W-Wait! Do you even realise he's already gotten involved with two other members of that chat group? And right now, he's with the Headmaster—"
"I know."
"You know... and you're still saying this?"
A gentle smile appeared on Shizuku's lips.
"Those are simply trades."
"They have nothing to do with genuine feelings."
"Love is love."
"And business is business."
"You wouldn't understand."
"..."
Stella could only hold her head in despair.
She's completely hopeless...
****
Late at Night
"You're back?"
Haruto had only just returned home after a long and eventful day.
The moment he stepped into the apartment, he found Mai curled up on the sofa, wrapped in a bath towel, fighting off sleep.
"Mm..."
She let out a small yawn before slowly standing.
Without looking directly at him, she quietly said,
"You look exhausted. Get some rest."
Then she walked into her room.
Click.
The bedroom door closed.
Haruto couldn't help but smile wryly.
She's upset.
After everything that had happened today, he couldn't really blame her.
Still, the fact that she had stayed awake waiting for him warmed his heart.
Walking over to her door, he knocked gently.
"Mai."
No answer.
After a brief silence, he spoke once more.
"I'll leave my door unlocked."
"...If you feel like talking, I'll be awake."
With that, he returned to his room.
He wasn't expecting an answer.
He simply wanted her to know she wasn't being shut out.
A little while later—
Click.
The quiet sound of a door opening echoed through the apartment.
Haruto, lying on his bed with his eyes closed, couldn't stop a small smile from forming.
She came.
Soft footsteps approached before the mattress dipped ever so slightly.
In the dark room, Haruto felt her warm body slipping into the bed beside him.
Before he could say anything—
"Hiss!"
He sucked in a breath.
Mai had grabbed his erection.
"Heh... so you can feel pain, huh?"
Mai chuckled coldly.
"..."
She misunderstood. Haruto wasn't in pain; it was just that Mai's soft hands felt incredible.
Beast.
That was how Kurono had described him after sex, having fully submitted to him.
Haruto felt this was quite accurate.
Sure enough, Mai soon realized something was wrong.
"You... you don't have any limits, do you?"
Mai was shocked.
What she was holding was already rock hard and throbbing.
'Gulp...'
Mai nervously swallowed.
Suddenly, her sharp nose twitched.
"I smell... another woman's scent."
She was clearly displeased.
"You seem quite proud of yourself?"
Her words were loaded with meaning.
Haruto grinned.
She was referring to the scent of Kurono, of course. Mai was definitely bothered by it.
"It was part of the deal. I couldn't avoid it," he offered a half-hearted explanation.
He then tried to shift the focus onto Mai.
"If you're jealous, why don't you taste me yourself—"
"Shut up!"
Mai snapped, embarrassed and angry.
Haruto immediately fell silent, waiting.
After a moment.
Sensing something.
He smiled again.
He had won this gamble too.
"Mai, you're actually eager for this."
"Hmm? You... say that again!"
Mai stammered, warning him.
Haruto quickly corrected himself.
"Ahem, I misspoke."
"Mai, your lips are sweet and soft. Please continue."
Mai shifted closer, her breath hot against his skin. She pulled off the last of her clothes, pressing her naked body directly against his.
Without hesitation, she straddled his hips, lining his hard length up with her wet heat.
With a soft gasp, she sank down, taking him deep inside her all at once.
The tight, slick walls of her pussy gripped him instantly.
Haruto groaned, his hands grabbing her hips as she began to ride him, her breasts bouncing in the dark as she moved up and down with building friction and breathless moans.
After a wild round of heavy thrusting that left them both drenched in sweat, Mai collapsed onto his chest, panting heavily.
Haruto grinned in the dark, sliding his hand down to stroke her hair. "Not done yet."
Mai glared at him weakly, but she slid down his body anyway.
She parted her lips, took his hard, dripping cock straight into her mouth, and began to suck him deeply, bobbing her head with rhythmic strokes until Haruto pumped his warm cum deep down her throat.