In an instant, Karuizawa felt her heart nearly stop.
Someone had seen her with Kaoru!
Even though she'd acted nonchalant earlier, she couldn't help feeling ashamed now.
She was still holding that box in her hand—had the other person even overheard their conversation?
This was bad!
As Karuizawa panicked, Kaoru simply sighed and looked at the intruder.
"How long have you been here?"
At his question, Kushida blinked with a sly smile playing at her lips.
"Since Karuizawa called you a pervert."
Kaoru went silent.
So she'd been here from the very beginning?
Had he really grown so careless in this carefree environment that he hadn't noticed Kushida's presence?
"Kushida-san?"
Karuizawa, still in his arms, looked shocked before letting out a relieved sigh.
At least it wasn't an outsider.
"You two are really bold. Hugging is one thing, but planning to do something shameless outside?"
Kushida crossed her arms, leaning against a nearby pillar with a faint smirk, her gaze lingering on Karuizawa.
"Tsk. Who knew Karuizawa had this side to her?"
"I—I— Wait, why are you even here?"
Flushed with embarrassment, Karuizawa also felt guilty and awkward, like a child caught misbehaving in her room.
She hurriedly stuffed the item back into her pocket.
"It's not just you who cares about him. When I saw you didn't leave with Mori and the others, I thought you might be sneaking off to meet him, so I followed you."
As she spoke, Kushida walked over to Kaoru and Karuizawa, casually sitting on the steps beside them.
Even her athletic sweatpants couldn't completely conceal her perky bottom, with the rounded curves of her hips and full thighs inadvertently exposed to Kaoru's view.
"That's practically stalker behavior!"
Karuizawa seemed genuinely shocked, as if seeing Kushida's true personality for the first time.
"If I'm a stalker, then you're a pervert."
Kushida fired back without hesitation, flashing a dark smile.
"Who would have thought Karuizawa would actively invite a boy out? If I told everyone about this, they'd be stunned, wouldn't they, Karuizawa-san?"
Truth be told, Karuizawa was already stunned. Though she'd heard Kushida's name from Kaoru and knew they were on the same side, this behavior was a complete character breakdown, wasn't it?
Kaoru raised his hand in a mock karate chop and lightly tapped Kushida's head.
"Keep this up and I'll get angry too."
"Oww... I was just joking. I wouldn't actually tell anyone."
Kushida rubbed her head, quickly switching from her dark expression to the pure, cute smile Karuizawa was familiar with.
"Besides, I only became like this because you corrupted me."
"How exactly did I corrupt you?"
Kaoru looked utterly bewildered.
"What do you think... Master?"
With a playful smile, Kushida leaned in closer, wrapping both arms around Kaoru's.
Her ample chest pressed against him, the firm yet soft elasticity rubbing against his arm as she whispered near his ear in a murmur that carried an electric tingle.
"My mind is completely filled with thoughts of you, Master. I crave your affection every moment. Come on, let's do something naughty together~"
Her bold move was dangerously effective.
Kaoru could feel his blood heating up.
"W-what's with this 'Master' nonsense? How shameless!"
Seeing her attempt to seduce Kaoru and recalling her earlier words, Karuizawa quickly tightened her grip around Kaoru, glaring protectively like guarding her food.
This was supposed to be her moment—this wasn't fair play!
As soft sensations transmitted through their contact, the faint fragrance of the girls tantalized Kaoru's senses, with stray strands of hair tickling his neck.
"Who's shameless? Have you forgotten what you just said?"
Kushida's eyes sparkled mischievously. "If you're going to take care of him, why not include me?"
"You—"
Karuizawa fumed but couldn't find the right words.
She wanted intimate time alone with Kaoru, not with an audience watching.
However, as she pondered how to handle this, a familiar sensation suddenly made her freeze.
Karuizawa shifted her slender waist slightly, then her face burned crimson as she confirmed the current situation.
There was no mistaking it—she knew this feeling all too well.
"Stop moving,"
Kaoru whispered urgently. "Both of you, get up now. This isn't the time for jokes. There might not be cameras here, but teachers could be patrolling the area."
Seeing the reactions of the two, Kushida already understood.
"You thought we were joking?"
The girl pressed against his arm, her softness washing over him like waves.
"Karuizawa, do you think we should let him off?"
Karuizawa's face was flushed as she lowered her head in Kaoru's embrace.
Though she didn't want Kushida interrupting their rare alone time, words once spoken were like water spilled—impossible to take back.
"D-doing a little is fine..."
Karuizawa was shy but didn't pull away from Kaoru's arms, her voice small.
"If that's too much… I-I can help Kaoru with something else instead."
As for what that "something else" was, she didn't elaborate.
Kaoru felt a shameless stirring in his heart.
"Mhm, I'll help too."
Kushida quietly moved behind him, her voice gentle as she cradled his head in her hands, letting him rest against her.
"Just like Karuizawa said, it's lunch break now. Close your eyes and relax."
Having the cutest little angel in the whole grade as his pillow was far more comfortable than a lap pillow.
"I really feel like one of these days, you two are going to be the death of me."
Kaoru leaned against the girl while also feeling Karuizawa Kei's movements.
If anyone saw them like this even for a second, they'd definitely get expelled.
"Y-you're the one who can't hold back!"
Karuizawa face burned.
If they got expelled, it seemed she'd have no choice but to follow him for the rest of her life.
Even so, the girl's delicate hands were soft as silk, warm as sunlight in the winter wind, their faint heat enough to melt the day's frost.
Kaoru noticed a thin icicle hanging from the eaves nearby, refracting clear light.
The soft, weightless air wrapped tightly around it, slowly evaporating into the boundless blue sky, leaving only faint traces of moisture like dewdrops.
Paired with the girls' smiles, it was utterly hopeless.
Kaoru closed his eyes in Kushida's embrace, quietly savoring their tenderness.
"I'll give you a massage."
Kushida whispered in his ear, "Also… I actually brought some too."
Kaoru knew there was no way he could stay calm.
With her around, he figured they'd all end up corrupted by her sooner or later.