At night, the warm light in the bedchamber spilled through the gauze curtains, falling upon the two embracing figures.
Yukari leaned against Shun's chest. The intimate games they had just played left the air thick with sweet, ambiguous warmth.
Her eyes held a hint of mischievous laughter as she said, "Honey, you've been staying with me for over a month now. The other sisters are starting to have opinions."
Hearing this, Shun wore a smug smile and asked, "Oh really? Well... what opinions do they have?"
Yukari reached out and poked Shun's strong chest, her tone playful. "Yesterday, I went to Kurenai's place to deliver some freshly made pastries. She quietly told me that Mirai keeps asking, 'Did Daddy forget his way home?'"
"Even the gentlest Sāra-nee is teasing you, saying you must have weak legs lately and don't dare to visit her bedchamber."
Shun was amused by her, reaching out to grasp her wrist and gently pulling it to his lips, kissing it repeatedly.
His voice, just shedding its languor, was full of doting affection. "I know I've kept them waiting, but my current state is a bit special. I need your help to overcome this difficulty."
Yukari paused, then her lips curved in understanding, and she snuggled further into his embrace.
Her cheek pressed against his warm skin, and her voice softened. "So that's it. I thought you just favored me and were deliberately avoiding them."
Shun lowered his head, his nose brushing against the soft crown of her head, his breath filled with her scent.
He said, "My favoritism is also true. Even without the matter of advancing, I want to spend more time with you. Once this breakthrough is complete, I will make it up to them properly."
Yukari nodded with a smile, just about to say something more when Shun suddenly raised his hand, his breathing slightly quickening. He reached out, wanting to pull her closer, preparing to begin another session.
But unexpectedly, Yukari suddenly slipped away, like a nimble little fish, darting out of his embrace. She walked barefoot on the soft carpet, the hem of her pale pink nightgown swaying gently with her movements, revealing a small section of her fair ankle.
Turning around, she smiled at Shun, her eyes curving, full of playfulness. "Honey, come catch me. If you catch me, I'll let you do it."
After saying that, she deliberately took two steps back, her slender finger beckoning him, looking charming and bold.
Shun froze for a moment, then let out a low chuckle, his laughter full of indulgent helplessness.
"As you wish, my Queen. Then you'd better hide well, otherwise, if I catch you... I'll punish you with a big stick."
Yukari wasn't afraid of him at all, turning and running behind the pear wood screen in the inner part of the bedchamber.
Her clear laughter echoed through the hall as she said, "I'm not afraid. If you can't catch me, don't even think about that tonight."
She hid behind the screen, only revealing a pair of sparkling eyes, secretly observing her husband's movements through the gap in the screen, her ear tips flushed with excitement.
Shun deliberately slowed his steps, pretending to search around the hall. His gaze swept over the bookshelf, the dressing table, and he even bent down to look under the soft couch, but his eyes remained fixed on the direction of the screen.
When he slowly walked to the screen, he suddenly exerted force with his feet, his body shifting as he rounded the screen, reaching out precisely towards Yukari's waist.
"Caught you."
"Ah... I've been caught by the big pervert. I'm going to be eaten."
Yukari let out an exaggerated gasp, trying to dodge backward, but she was still firmly embraced by Shun around her waist.
The next second, her entire body was pulled into his warm embrace, her nose bumping against his chest, filled with his familiar scent.
Shun looked down at the woman in his arms, who was laughing breathlessly, and gently tickled her waist.
He asked, "Yukari, do you still dare to be naughty?"
Yukari was laughing so hard she couldn't stand straight, and quickly begged for mercy, her voice soft like a spoiled child. "No, I won't. Darling, spare me, I'll accompany you in bed. Isn't that enough?"
Shun then stopped, and tightened his arms to hold her steadily. He lowered his head to gently kiss her flushed ear tip.
"That's my good girl."
He carried Yukari and turned back to the soft couch, carefully placing her on the padded divan, then leaned over, propping himself above her, their noses touching.
Yukari naturally wrapped her arms around his neck, looking up to return a deep kiss, and as their lips met, she whispered, "I just wanted to tease you a bit. I see you've been very focused on training lately. Your brow is almost always furrowed, you've almost forgotten how to smile."
Hearing her concern, Shun's heart warmed. He lowered his head, deepening the kiss, his tongue gently prying open her lips and teeth, tenderly entwining.
A moment later, he pulled back slightly, laying her horizontally on the soft couch.
His eyes were full of gentleness as he said, "Now, it's time to receive my punishment of love. The big stick... here it comes."
Yukari's ear tips were slightly red from passion, and she shrieked with laughter, "Eeekk... ah..."
She gently pushed Shun's chest, but she didn't truly resist, instead leaning further into his embrace.
The warm light in the bedchamber remained soft, the gauze curtains swayed gently, enveloping their figures.
Gradually, the playful sounds faded, leaving only their heavy breathing and occasional murmurs, like a gentle nocturne, slowly flowing through the hall.
A little while later, Shun gently released Yukari, but still held her in his arms.
Feeling the changes in his body, he gratefully said, "Yukari, I succeeded. It's so good to have you."
Yukari reached out and touched his cheek, her fingertips feeling the warmth beneath his skin.
She smiled gently. "I knew you could do it. I was just teasing you earlier to help you relax a bit, not be so tense. It seems to have worked well."
Shun nodded heavily. He lowered his head to kiss her forehead, then followed her eyelids, her nose, and finally landed on her lips.
"You've worked hard this past month, and the others have been neglected. Tomorrow I'll go spend time with them, but tonight..."
He didn't finish his sentence, instead leaning over and pressing Yukari onto the soft couch again, his eyes filled with laughter.
"Tonight, I want to 'compensate' you properly once more."
Yukari's cheeks flushed, but she didn't shy away, instead reaching out to hook his neck, her voice carrying a mix of shyness and anticipation. "Shun, you're so naughty. I like it so much."