Twenty minutes was enough time for the sun to move a small step from east to west.
The shadows dispersed, and Hoshino Jun and Kato Nana, illuminated by the strong light, ultimately could not withstand the sun's scorching heat and were forced to separate.
Well, actually, it couldn't all be blamed on the sun.
The main reason was that Hoshino Jun's hand reached for a D-grade fruit on a slender branch, startling Kato Nana awake.
"Hoo~"
"Hoo~"
"Hoo~"
As their lips parted, Hoshino Jun gasped for air.
Then he raised a hand to wipe his lips. When his fingertips touched his lips, there was a burning sensation, as if the skin was about to peel off.
"Nana, are you really so reluctant to leave my kiss?" Hoshino Jun looked at Kato Nana, whose eyes shimmered with moisture, and teased her.
A pink flush spread across the girl's face. She had just been stirred by excitement and stimulation, and her response to Hoshino Jun's kiss was too intense, filled with fearlessness and longing.
It wasn't until Hoshino Jun joked with her that Kato Nana realized how incredibly wrong she had been.
'Didn't I promise to push Hoshino-kun away immediately?'
'Kato Nana, how did you end up being the one to take the initiative?'
'You are truly disappointing.'
'And Yusuke.'
'Are you worthy of Yusuke? How could you forget that you have a boyfriend?'
Kato Nana was filled with remorse. She mumbled with slightly swollen, rosy lips, whispering softly:
"Hoshino-kun, please don't speak of what happened today."
"Hehe, Nana, what's wrong now?"
Hoshino Jun took a step forward, his slender fingers gently stroking the girl's cheek, tucking the hair matted with fine sweat behind her ear.
Kissing for too long, hugging for too long, on a clear April day, it was normal to sweat from the heat.
He leaned in and blew a warm breath onto the girl's earlobe, adding fuel to the fire.
"Just now, my first kiss was taken by Nana, you know. Nana, you're not trying to avoid taking responsibility for me, are you?"
The boy's pleasant whisper seemed to drift into her soul. The blush that Kato Nana had just managed to suppress crept back onto her face.
Kato Nana looked up at Hoshino Jun, who was considerably taller than her boyfriend Takasaki Yusuke. The boy was backlit by the sun, his handsomeness dazzling.
"No, no, it's not like that."
"It was my first kiss too, so it's not 'taken,' it's more like mutually canceled out."
Kato Nana subconsciously followed Hoshino Jun's rhythm. Hoshino Jun had kissed her first, but under his guidance, she said it was mutually canceled out.
'Eh?'
'It was her first kiss?'
Hoshino Jun was stunned when he heard that. He hadn't expected Takasaki Yusuke to be so ineffective; he had a girlfriend but hadn't even kissed her.
"What kind of look is that, Hoshino-kun!"
"Nothing, I just thought Nana must be very popular, and many people would pursue Nana, right?"
"There are, but what does that matter? Do you think I'd just let anyone kiss me?"
Seemingly sensing his doubt, Kato Nana was a little embarrassed and angry. Then she realized her words seemed to have a problem.
Because she really did just let Hoshino Jun kiss her, and just now Hoshino Jun had touched her several times.
The most crucial thing was that Kato Nana herself didn't feel angry at all; she even found it quite exciting.
Thinking of this, Kato Nana's expression changed dramatically in an instant.
"Haha, I know." Hoshino Jun took the initiative to alleviate the girl's embarrassment: "For Nana, I am also special, right?"
Hearing this, Kato Nana's expression improved slightly. Hoshino Jun's explanation showed that she was not just any girl.
But at the same time, it indirectly increased Hoshino Jun's standing in her heart.
Kato Nana couldn't help but wonder, 'Is Hoshino-kun really a special existence to me, just as he said?'
'But I already have Yusuke.'
'And I've only known Hoshino-kun for two days.'
'This is too strange.'
Thoughts raced through her mind, and Kato Nana's mood was a mess.
Just then, the "beep~ beep~" ringtone sounded again. Kato Nana picked up her phone and saw it was a call from her boyfriend.
And there had already been several missed calls earlier, which she had ignored while passionately kissing.
'Oh no, Yusuke has called so many times; he must be very worried about me.'
Immediately, Kato Nana said to Hoshino Jun: "Anyway, Hoshino-kun, you absolutely must not tell anyone about today's events."
"As for why, I will explain it clearly to Hoshino-kun on LINE tonight. That's all."
After speaking, Kato Nana turned and ran downstairs.
It was clear she was in a hurry.
Watching Kato Nana's skirt flutter as she ran, Hoshino Jun followed unhurriedly.
"Explain on LINE tonight?"
"Wouldn't that be a little too late?"
Hoshino Jun had already noticed that the person who kept calling Kato Nana was Takasaki Yusuke.
Presumably, Kato Nana was going to see him now, wasn't she?
"Interesting."
"Since that's the case, I'll go take a look too."
Walking slowly downstairs against the wind, Hoshino Jun first went to the restroom, took off his clothes, and looked down at his body.
There didn't seem to be much change, but with a slight touch, he could clearly feel that the muscles on his body had become harder and firmer.
Clenching his fist, the sense of power he felt was stronger than ever before.
After completing the B-rank collection, he not only received 600,000 yen but also a point of physical strength.
The strength his body felt now was probably due to this single point of physical strength.
"I wonder if the physical strength enhancement is all-encompassing."
With this question in mind, Hoshino Jun unbuckled his pants, then couldn't help but gasp.
Experience +3 at least.
Shocked by himself, Hoshino Jun quickly opened his message panel.
[Name: Hoshino Jun]
[Physical Strength: 8]
[Intelligence: 7]
[Charm: 9]
[Occupation: Student]
[Favor: Currently, Takayanagi Yuki owes you one D-rank and one C-rank Favor Debt. Please collect this person's Favor Debt as soon as possible.]
[Upon successful collection, you will receive a reward.]
It really was just one point of physical strength added, not a direct full increase.
This was a bit too surprising.
"System, can you tell me about the panel's numerical values and the reward rules for collection tasks?"
[Panel values represent a person's basic data. Most people's values for each item are in the 4-6 range. When Physical Strength and Intelligence reach zero, it signifies a person's death.]
[1-2 Poor, 3-4 Weak, 5-6 Average, 7-8 Good, 9-10 Excellent. Above 10, adding one more point makes it Perfect.]
[According to detection, no person in this world currently has a value exceeding 10.]
[As for rewards, please actively collect, Host, and explore on your own.]
You said all that, and then you suddenly stopped talking?
Hoshino Jun felt like the system was just like those web novel authors, cutting off chapters at crucial moments to leave readers hanging.
Despicable!
Opening the floodgates.
After letting the toilet experience the grandeur of his discharge, Hoshino Jun headed to the cafeteria.
As soon as Hoshino Jun entered the cafeteria, he saw Takasaki Yusuke waving happily at him from a distance, and Kato Nana's face immediately darkened.