The first snow of the year arrived quietly in the night, the chilly wind carrying damp air.
Puddles lingered on the ground—traces of melted snow.
However, the real snowfall would likely come around Christmas.
Kaoru had grown accustomed to Japan's seasons by now.
What would they be doing at this time in previous years?
Kaoru had no time to dwell on such thoughts.
Recently, he'd been spending most of his time with Ichinose, appearing together so often that it quickly drew attention.
Coupled with their earlier date, many first-year students had already assumed they were dating.
One might have expected Class B students to react with outrage, yet no one confronted him.
It seemed none of them considered whether their leader dating a boy from Class A would cause any issues.
On the contrary, Kobashi Yume and the others were intensely curious about Kaoru, bombarding him with questions while inviting him to karaoke.
Kaoru sang a few songs, sending them into a frenzy.
Some even jokingly suggested he should debut as a singer.
He brushed it all off as playful banter, handling it with ease.
However, Shiranami Chihiro and Amikura Mako's gazes held something odd.
Moreover, Ichinose no longer seemed to restrict his interactions with Amikura, subtly nudging him toward her.
That was manageable.
What truly gave Kaoru a headache was how relentless Kobashi Yume and the others were—grilling him as if determined to uncover every detail about him.
By the time he returned to his room, he'd either find Kushida Kikyo or Karuizawa Kei waiting.
Kushida seemed addicted to mischief, more eager than ever—as if determined to experiment with every curiosity she'd ever suppressed.
After over a dozen rehearsals, even putting the "big rabbit" to use, she was finally satisfied, confident she wouldn't embarrass herself in front of Horikita again.
In high spirits, she flashed Kaoru a peace sign, her plump lips swallowing as a faint smile lingered in her eyes.
Her usually innocent face now bore an obscene expression from the sucking, the peace sign resting beside her flushed cheek.
Once Kaoru had finished, she proudly puffed out her chest, demanding praise—threatening to scold him if he refused.
Where she'd learned all this was a mystery.
She even encouraged Kaoru to try something strange with Horikita.
In contrast, Kaoru had no idea how to handle Karuizawa.
"She has a ring too, doesn't she?"
The bathroom lights were bright, making the ring on her finger impossible to miss.
Its dazzling, moonlike gleam seemed hazy, entirely different from Ichinose's design.
Kaoru held the petite Karuizawa in his arms, her slender waist swaying like a willow branch, fragile yet resilient.
Her long, shapely legs pressed together neatly, her slightly plump hips resting on his thighs.
Their smooth skin melded seamlessly, the rippling water faintly revealing her snow-white legs.
Her knees bore a delicate flush, her toes lined up like pearls in a river—only her ankles and soles shimmered with a tender pink glow, like freshly peeled figs, so dewy they begged to be tasted.
"Yes, but the design is different from yours."
After an especially intense workout, enjoying a peaceful bath together was quite nice.
Kaoru really liked holding Karuizawa like this, the two of them soaking in the tub together.
"If the designs are different, whose ring will you wear?" Karuizawa found it strange—rings were supposed to come in pairs.
It wouldn't make sense for both of them to wear rings while Kaoru had nothing on his fingers.
Kaoru suddenly realized the issue and felt a little awkward.
After thinking for a moment, he replied, "Every ring is unique. There won't be a second ring in this world exactly like yours—not even mine."
Karuizawa puffed up her cheeks.
He always sweet-talked like this.
She couldn't help muttering, "You must've been tricked by them. That's just what sellers say—there's no such thing as a ring like that."
Though she didn't believe his reasoning, she still felt a little happy inside.
Girls were easy to please—as long as she knew Kaoru was trying to sweet-talk her, that was enough.
"Would you like me to get you a different one?" Kaoru gently caressed the girl's delicate skin, his fingers tracing the slightly raised curves of her youthful chest that hadn't fully shed their adolescent softness.
The pert swell carried a springy resilience, beneath which he could faintly detect a tender resistance—a different texture from the smoothness elsewhere, as the rosy bud slipped through his palm.
Karuizawa was already reacting to his touch, her face flushed crimson as she bit her lip.
"Who said I wanted to replace it? Can't you just get me another one? That way the ring would have real meaning!"
She adored this ring—no matter how she looked at it, she couldn't bear the thought of exchanging it.
"Alright, we'll go pick one out together later." Kaoru felt himself sinking deeper into scum territory, yet he knew he mustn't view himself that way.
If even he couldn't convince himself, how could he possibly reassure the girl?
Karuizawa squirmed somewhat awkwardly in his embrace, the masculine scent making her body heat up instinctively.
However, Kaoru's movements remained restrained, merely gentle strokes that gradually eased her into this intimacy—a far cry from their initial encounters.
From petting like rabbits to kissing, then to the main event, even shared baths had become routine after several repetitions.
Karuizawa found it unbelievable—she'd never imagined she'd humble herself like this beside a man.
"Kaoru hasn't... done this with Ichinose-san, right?"
As if masking her petty thoughts, Karuizawa cupped a handful of warm water, watching the little rubber duck bobbing beside them.
Where Ichinose Honami brought caterpillars, she brought ducks.
As long as no one entered the bathroom, the duck's existence would remain her secret—a tiny competition she held against Ichinose in her heart.
"Still jealous? Though she was the first to receive a ring, I gave you yours almost immediately." Kaoru patted her ass, shifting slightly to avoid certain... rising complications.
Not wanting him to misunderstand, Karuizawa denied it.
"Not at all! She just came earlier—nothing worth envying. Besides, Kaoru likes her too. I understand... Kaoru wants a harem!"
As she spoke, the girl wriggled her waist, pressing her rounded curves against him again, cheeks pink—clearly dissatisfied with his earlier evasion.
Her movement proved disastrous.
Kaoru felt his control fraying.
"Kaoru promised not to abandon me... so you won't abandon Ichinose-san or the others either. That leaves only the harem option." Karuizawa could already feel the familiar heat, her voice growing faint as her cheeks burned.
"So it can't be helped... jealousy and envy... I just... don't want to hinder Kaoru..."
"No, Kei. You shouldn't have to accommodate me like this."
Youthful bodies were too greedy for pleasure—this reaction was the price of shared baths.
Kaoru struggled to keep his voice steady. "Jealousy is a natural response. If I saw you talking to other guys, I'd feel it too. This possessiveness is normal—you shouldn't suppress it. Solving this is my responsibility."
Out of his sight, Karuizawa allowed a faint smile to curl her lips.
She had known all along that Kaoru would respond this way—it was precisely because she anticipated his answer that she had given up resisting back then.
Karuizawa was well aware she was acting out of jealousy and pettiness.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have mustered the courage to offer herself so boldly.
If Kaoru was lustful, she would use her body.
If he desired sweet romance, she would play the part of a doting girlfriend.
In short, she was determined to surpass Ichinose Honami in some way—or rather, to outshine everyone else.
As it turned out, Karuizawa's gamble paid off.
She now had a ring to show for it.
Yet she craved even more attention, wanting Kaoru to dote on her endlessly.
"If I get jealous, will Kaoru keep indulging me?" Karuizawa stole a glance at his expression.
"Even if you're building a harem, there can only be one official wife, right?"
"Of course I'll indulge you. But as for marriage—who said we need legal recognition?" Kaoru leaned in, breathing in the girl's scent near her ear.
"Eh?" Karuizawa blinked in confusion.
Did he not plan to marry at all?
"We'll settle down somewhere later and hold our own private ceremony. No need for official registration." Kaoru said. "Even if someone reports us, I can handle it."
Karuizawa hadn't thought that far ahead.
She only knew there could be one true wife—she'd assumed it would be Ichinose Honami.
The realization that she might have a wedding too filled her with unexpected joy.
"Will we marry right after graduation?" The girl's cheeks flushed pink, looking utterly kissable.
"Does Kei not want to marry me?" Kaoru teased, deliberately provoking her.
"N-no! That's not it!" Karuizawa hurriedly denied. "I just... haven't really thought about it yet..."
"Legally speaking, Kei could get married right now." Kaoru continued tormenting her.
Japan's legal marriage age was remarkably young—high school students could wed, and university students registering marriages wasn't uncommon either.
Karuizawa covered her burning face.
She knew Kaoru was teasing her, but the embarrassment felt real.
Though they'd done many couple-like things and she fully intended to stay with him, certain reactions remained beyond her control.
Unable to resist, Kaoru kissed her—a taste as sweet as honey.
The sudden kiss deepened Karuizawa's blush.
Yet she nuzzled against him, raising her delicate face to lightly bite her lip.
A flash of shyness crossed her eyes as she began slowly grinding against him.
"Don't. If we keep going, the water will get cold."
"If it's cold, we'll just get out. Like earlier—I'll brace against the wall, and then Kaoru can... mmm..."
"I didn't bring any in."
"Maybe we should skip it today?"
"No way. Kei can't become a mom ahead of schedule."
"Just kidding. I want to keep spending our high school days like this with Kaoru too. After graduation we'll..."
"After graduation we'll what?"
"Meanie!"
Water rippled as crystalline droplets slid down the girl's snowy peaks.
Rosy cherries looked as delectable as sundae toppings.
Her smooth, delicate skin gradually prickled with goosebumps as soft whimpers once again filled the cramped room.
Outside the window, frosty rain fell as the weather grew colder—yet inside, the room grew hotter. Winter break approached.
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