The long summer break, lasting two months, had come to an end, and the university entered its second semester.
"Things are really bad because Misaki-senpai is missing some crucial elements," Kotaro murmured, wrapping his arms around Misaki from behind as they sat on the sofa. The words slipped out due to their packed schedules.
"That's not something you should say in this state..." Misaki laughed in exasperation, playfully nipping at the back of Kotaro's hand. He felt his soul nearly leave his body.
"It's not a problem when we're at home. But at university, we don't even cross paths."
"Yeah, that's right. I took as many credits as I could during my first year, so our schedules don't overlap."
Some courses are mixed, with first and second-year students attending together, but Misaki had already taken those courses last year and earned the necessary credits.
"Ugh, hey! Stop that... my stomach... don't tickle me..."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
I'd forgotten how sensitive that area is for women. Panicking, I pulled my hands away and apologized. Misaki turned her head slightly, her lips pursing as if she wanted to say something.
"No, it's not that I mind being touched by you, Kotaro. It's just... when you touch me there, it feels... ah, fah, ah, ah, ah..."
As I continued to gently rub and stroke Misaki's stomach with both hands, her voice melted into moans.
"Mmm, mmmk... Hey, Kotaro..."
"Shall we go to the bed?"
"Mmmk, um, not that... about what we were talking earlier. If we don't have any overlapping lectures... would you like to have lunch with me?"
"Are you sure? Aren't you usually with your friends?"
During the day, both of them usually eat at the university cafeteria, but Misaki often moves around in large groups with friends from her department or the Social Welfare Research Society.
"Hmm, my group is pretty laid-back, so I'm fine. What about you, Kotaro? I know you're always alone."
"No, I eat with friends! Besides, what do you mean by 'are you okay'?"
Misaki burst into laughter.
"Oof!"
In retaliation, he kneaded her breasts from below, eliciting a cute moan from her thin lips.
Misaki stood up and turned around. Kneeling, she straddled Kotaro, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him.
"Mmm, chu, chupi... It's fine if we don't spend every day together. We can just discuss it as needed. So, does this add a bit more of the 'Misaki factor'?"
"Yeah, it's completely different being able to see you at least once during the day instead of not at all. I'm really happy about that."
"Kotaro, you really love me too much, don't you?"
"Are you not lonely, Misaki-senpai?"
"Umm... well, let's see..."
She turned her face away with a huff. Her obvious reaction was utterly adorable.
I burrowed my face into her full chest with a soft puff.
"Ah... Nnn, Kotaro, you're such a baby... Hey, wait, that's... Nngh..."
As I kneaded her plump buttocks through her hot pants, Misaki's voice melted into a sweet, breathy moan.
"Kotaro, aren't you getting a little too worked up?" she murmured teasingly, pinching at the soft mound of her lower abdomen.
"You're right. Now that I know we can meet during the day, I can let loose without reservations."
"Mmm... I see. Once we start getting frisky, there's no going back to proper conversation, is there?"
"Miss Misaki was so pliant, there was no way we could focus on anything else."
"Kotaro's eyes were shining with lust; he wasn't in the mood for anything else either."
The two chuckled softly, but their hands roaming each other's bodies gradually grew more suggestive.
"Miss Misaki, would you take off your clothes?"
"...Yes," Misaki murmured in a husky voice.
After that, they continued until Misaki's legs went weak.
*****
The next day during lunch break.
"Hey, Kotaro."
"Hello."
They'd agreed to meet in the cafeteria after second period. The cafeteria had floor-to-ceiling windows on one side, allowing them to enjoy their meals while gazing at the autumn scenery beginning to emerge outside. Kotaro had ordered a katsudon from the cafeteria, while Misaki had brought two loaves of bread and a bottle of milk tea from the bakery next door.
"Did you tell the usual group?"
After we sat down side by side, Misaki abruptly averted her gaze.
"...When I told Megumi that I was going to 'have lunch with someone else,' she replied, 'Sure, sure, Kotaro. You two are just so lovey-dovey.'"
"Ugh... But I wish I could have proudly said, 'I'm having lunch with my boyfriend' instead."
"Ugh... So what did Kotaro say when you told him? Oh, right, you're always alone, aren't you?"
"Why did you have to make me the loner type?! I do eat alone sometimes, but—!"
I do eat with friends sometimes, but Kotaro also needed time to spend alone, doing whatever he wanted.
"...When I said I was going to 'have lunch with Senpai,' they said things like, 'Oh, your girlfriend, right?' 'The one from the Social Welfare Research Society?' 'I see you two out sometimes—you're always all lovey-dovey.'"
"We're cut from the same cloth, aren't we?"
"Exactly."
"Let's be a little more confident, hm?"
"Right? Misaki-senpai is adorable! Alright!"
"What's with that 'Alright!'?! And keep your voice down!"
"I was just thinking we should practice showing affection in public... Ow!"
She received a playful smack on the head, followed by a gentle stroke.
"You two are so lovey-dovey today~"
"!"
Kotaro and Misaki whipped around. Megumi, Misaki's senior colleague from the Social Welfare Research Society, was grinning along with several other women.
"No, this isn't what it looks like... um..." Misaki flailed her hands in a classic anime panic, moving surprisingly quickly. She almost looked like the Thousand-Armed Kannon statue, repeatedly smacking Kotaro's forearm.
"Don't worry, Misaki. Plenty of people have already witnessed you two being all lovey-dovey."
"Huh?"
Misaki's mouth dropped open.
"I haven't seen it on campus yet, but there are reports of you two being spotted as a 'super couple' all over—shopping malls near the station, the local supermarket, bookstores... everywhere."
"Ugh."
Misaki's mouth snapped shut.
"So you've finally started acting all lovey-dovey on campus too? Watching you two together is so heartwarming. I'm totally cheering you on!"
Megumi winked and gave a thumbs-up. Misaki's mouth gaped like a goldfish, then twisted into an irritated expression, prompting Megumi to let out a deliberately shrill, "Eek!" The other women in the group reacted similarly, their eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Well then, see you later!" Megumi waved goodbye and sauntered off.
"...Even just being with Kotaro on campus is quite a challenge... Huh? Kotaro, are you okay with being teased like this? And why are you grinning?"
"Because Misaki-senpai looks cute when she's being teased."
"That comment made you fair game for teasing too, you know!"
Hmph! Misaki fumed, playfully smacking Kotaro's forearm. The more I hit him, the more his cheeks relax. What's with that?
"Let's eat soon."
"Mm, I'm fine with my bread, but your katsudon will get sad if it gets cold."
"Right."
"Then let's talk a bit more before eating. Let it cool completely."
"That's a rather underhanded way to get revenge!"
An open yet underhanded revenge? Now that's novel.
"I'm just joking. Let's eat."
"Let's eat."
We clasped our hands together. Even when eating at home, we always sat side by side, so out of habit, we met each other's eyes and exchanged smiles.
I bit into the crispy cutlet of my katsudon and scooped up some rice. The seasoning was a little heavy, probably aimed at students, but it went perfectly with the rice, and the egg was fluffy.
"Kotaro, that looks delicious," Misaki said, staring intently at my katsudon.
"It is! I love it so much that I usually order this."
"Really? I've never tried it before. Can I have a bite? Just two cutlets?"
"You're basically just going to take most of it!"
It would just turn into plain egg on rice. Not that that's bad, mind you.
"Just kidding! I'll order it next time," Misaki murmured, taking a big bite of her bacon and egg sandwich. Amid the bustling cafeteria, the crisp sounds of her chewing were a pleasant contrast to the clamor.
"Mmm... delicious."
Misaki, with her cheek in her hand, narrowed her eyes in contentment. She drank her milk tea while eating the first piece of bread, then moved on to the chocolate-studded stick-shaped bread called "Yokobue," eating it with relish. It looked delicious too.
Kotaro, shoveling down his katsudon, softened at the sight of Misaki enjoying her food.
"I should probably start cooking myself..."
"Huh? What brought this on all of a sudden?"
Kotaro murmured this after they'd both finished eating. Misaki was licking the flour off her fingers, looking cute as a kitten.
"I do cook sometimes, but Misaki-senpai usually makes it, right? Oh, and thank you for always making such delicious meals."
"O-oh? No, no, it's nothing."
Amid the lunchtime clamor, for some reason, both of them bowed solemnly. It was a rather surreal scene.
"I know Kotaro isn't lazy about cooking," Misaki continued, "but you always eat so enthusiastically when I make it..."
"I always end up making all the food, don't I?"
"I was taking advantage of your kindness, but... I just realized how much I love the expression on your face when you're eating, Misaki-senpai. So from now on, I want to take the initiative with cooking and bring out that wonderful look more often."
Misaki's face contorted into something strange. Her cheek twitched, and the corners of her mouth rose unnaturally high. A mix of happiness and embarrassment showed on her face. She looked like a lucky charm doll.
"...Kotaro, what are you trying to do, making me so blissfully happy?"
"Blissfully happy...? I just want you to keep becoming more and more adorable, beautiful, and radiant with that lovely smile."
Misaki lowered her head and tugged at Kotaro's sleeve.
"...Idiot. You should say things like that at home. You're making me want to throw my arms around you."
Now it was Kotaro's turn to look like a lucky charm doll.
After that, we started eating at the cafeteria together two to three times a week. Our friends teased us at first, but we quickly got used to it and started acting all lovey-dovey without caring.
Thanks to that, we were soon recognized as a "couple" by everyone around us. But being able to openly be by Misaki's side was so much happier that I hardly noticed.
I originally just wrote this little bit before the scene I'd planned to write, but halfway through I thought, "Hey, wouldn't it be more fun to expand on this?" So I decided to make it its own thing. Taking my time, as usual.
News
The fifth volume of the book series for "I Met an Erotic Girl at the Convenience Store and Became Involved in a Corrupt Relationship" is now on sale!
In the afterword, I've included a nearly verbatim version of a plot that was cut for various reasons!
The whole thing turned out incredibly fun, cute, and erotic. Please enjoy it as a bedtime companion (^^)!
The next update will be on June 4th (Tuesday)!
Thank you for reading, as always (^^)!!