The strange stalker-like behavior lasted for quite a while.
"Hatchi!" Masuzu suddenly sneezed. She rubbed her nose and sat up. Her eyes glazed over slightly as she muttered, "Oh yeah… I need to take a bath after getting caught in the rain. Otherwise, I might catch a cold."
"He also used to order me around like that. I can't let him worry because I got sick."
Masuzu set her pillow aside. Just as she was about to grab her clothes and head into the bathroom for a warm soak, an idea popped into her head. Her steps halted, and she touched her chin, deep in thought.
"If I accidentally get sick, the natural next step would be a visiting scenario… I, Masuzu, won't let even the smallest opportunity slip!"
The visiting scenario was a staple plotline in romantic comedies.
Though cliché, from another perspective, when such a plot actually happened to her—when she'd do this and that with Yuu in this room…
It sounded a bit perverted, but Masuzu had to admit she felt a little excited!
"Well, I'm a normal woman, so it's only natural to have thoughts like this!"
Though there was no one nearby, she explained herself with a flushed face, proudly rationalizing her hopeful feelings: "And even though I say this and that, I won't actually let him go all the way… Things like that should be done gradually. I must preserve my dignity as a woman!"
"If he really can't hold back and turns into a wild beast, at most I'll only let him do this and that up to… a certain point. The rest, I'll have to reject with all my strength! Hmm, if I can't resist, that's the problem—it has nothing to do with me being weak and pitiful."
After muttering to herself, Masuzu sighed and shrugged her shoulders in resignation.
"But with Yuu's personality, something like that probably won't happen."
Even though they'd made a transactional promise and would belong to each other—this virgin demon, this virgin monster, who was only skilled in kissing—even in a girl's room with no one else around, he might still act like a true gentleman due to principles, attitudes, persistence, or some other reason.
"Right, just like a shōnen manga protagonist! He really is the kind of man I like!"
With a proud and relaxed feeling, Masuzu entered the bathroom. After taking a cold shower, she didn't dry her hair—instead, she turned on the fan and the air conditioner. She kept this up for half an hour.
After confirming her body began showing various negative reactions, she turned off the lights and other appliances, then curled up under the blanket, shivering. She turned on her phone's flashlight.
The white light illuminated the dark space under the blanket. Her blue eyes stared at the sticker photo pasted on her phone case. It was their first intimate photo.
She naturally brought her face closer, rubbed it a few times, then sighed dissatisfiedly: "Only able to rub a photo… so empty… Next time, I'll secretly swap his house slippers or take his chopsticks…"
While thinking about the mischiefs she'd commit, as Masuzu placed her phone on the nightstand, her consciousness suddenly felt dizzy. She coughed several times; her throat felt dry and hot.
Her whole body felt cold, but her face started to feel warm. Her lips trembled unconsciously—Masuzu knew, these were all symptoms of the flu.
In fact, given her physical condition, she might develop a high fever shortly. If it got worse, she might not recover until Monday and would have to take time off to visit a doctor.
"Too reckless…" Thinking about the consequences of catching a cold while living alone, Masuzu clicked her tongue, regretting her poor decision. "If he can't come because he's busy, maybe no one would even know if I died at home… I need to prepare some strategies to deal with this."
Even so, there was no chance to regret now. Then, might as well go all the way!
Struggling hard not to faint, Masuzu took several deep breaths, then sent a message.
After Yuu read it and replied with a caring message, "If you're really sick, I'll come visit you. After taking a warm bath, rest well—don't torture your body just to make me come." Masuzu placed her phone on her chest with satisfaction and closed her eyes peacefully.
"I hope tomorrow comes quickly… I hope I can survive and see tomorrow's sun…"
Then, she could press her face against him as much as she wanted!
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Time rewinds slightly, around dinner time.
At the Tenkuji residence.
While swinging his chopsticks, Yuu shared various interesting things that happened today with his sister at the dinner table.
"Our group was randomly assigned. I happened to be in a group with two girls… One of them you know."
"Yuigahama Yui?" Sora glanced at him, lowered her head, and continued eating.
"That's right, Yuigahama Yui." Yuu nodded, showing no trace of oddness. "Me and the other group members debated about where to go first. If not for her mediating, our group might've disbanded at the very start of the field trip…"
"We took a light rail to the mountains, played at an amusement park, then hiked the mountain, and met friends from the same club along the way…"
"The Service Club?" Sora lifted her bowl and casually drank her soup.
"That's right, the Service Club." Yuu laughed. "They were all girls. Since most of them knew each other, we ended up teaming up afterward… We went to the mountain peak to take photos, then went to a cat café at the mountain's base to pet cats while eating."
"Pretty lively. Good, field trips should be fun like that." Saying it emotionlessly, Sora set down her bowl, lazily propped her head, and glanced at him with clear eyes.
"So, Yuu, you spent your whole day with girls?"
"Generally, yes. But why does your tone make me sound like a scumbag?" Yuu tapped the table dissatisfiedly, defending himself. "Stupid sister, you don't get it! Can you imagine how tough it is—being the only guy surrounded by so many pretty girls?"
"Don't talk about enjoying being hugged from left and right. I was just ignored when they chatted. And when I got a chance to speak, I was called gross. Do you understand that suffering? I'd rather hang out with my one and only male friend!"
"That Totsuka guy?" Sora narrowed her eyes, a hint of wariness visible in them.
"That Totsuka guy!" With a relaxed motion, Yuu finished all the dishes in front of him. After swallowing, he continued, "One day, when I invite him over to play, you can peek from the upper floor… Then, you'll understand what I mean by being hundreds of times cuter than girls."
"I don't want to know." Sora rolled her eyes, muttering, "Even though he doesn't bring girls home, why does this anxiety keep growing? Could Yuu's orientation actually be problematic?"
"Don't worry, my orientation won't be a problem—wasn't off before, isn't now, and won't be in the future." After hearing his sister's muttering, Yuu stood up to clear the plates, loudly declaring, "Probably!"
"Don't say 'probably' here!" Sora showed her tiny fangs.
"Hahahaha, just kidding~"