What was going on?
Haizaki was confused.
Wasn't it just photos on her computer?
Did she really need to snap the laptop shut so quickly, acting as if it contained something shameful that couldn't be seen?
"Haizaki-kun…"
The girl's pleasant voice pulled his thoughts back to reality.
"I was just a little curious about what's on the computer."
"There's nothing on it."
Haizaki hadn't cared at first and hadn't planned to ask further, but at this moment, his curiosity was suddenly piqued.
What exactly was on the computer that he wasn't allowed to see?
"Really nothing?"
"Nothing…"
"Alright then."
Utaha thought it would end there, but Haizaki didn't play by the usual rules and instead chose to act directly.
"Then it should be fine to let me take a look, right? Since there's nothing."
As he spoke, Haizaki bent down theatrically and reached toward the computer with his right hand.
"No…"
Utaha hurriedly stopped him, grabbing his right arm. Her slender arm exerted far more strength than expected.
"Really not allowed?"
"Really not allowed."
Utaha's tone was firm.
"Alright then…"
Haizaki withdrew his hand. As he met the girl's eyes, a faint smile appeared on his face. She had always teased and provoked him; now he finally had a legitimate chance to strike back.
"So, Utaha really is a girl after all."
???
Utaha didn't understand what he meant.
"I can understand. Everyone has needs, whether men or women."
With a whoosh, her face flushed bright red. Haizaki was actually suspecting that she was looking at those… those kinds of things.
"Who's looking at that stuff? On the contrary, someone has an entire hard drive full of 'love' videos. Haizaki-kun must be really desperate."
Seemingly reminded of the Christmas gift incident, an idea flashed through Utaha's mind. After putting on a brave front, she immediately found a way to counterattack, a smile flickering across her face.
She eagerly awaited Haizaki's reaction.
"It seems I still haven't given Haizaki-kun a New Year's gift. How about this… you pick one you like from here…"
A bad feeling rose in Haizaki's chest.
He caught the fleeting teasing smile on her face.
At this moment, the girl standing before him had switched into full teasing mode—Utaha, the queen of teasing.
"That one… how about it…"
Haizaki didn't move at all. His gaze remained fixed on her.
But Utaha had no intention of stopping. In fact, Haizaki's serious expression only made her more eager to see him flustered and red-faced.
"That's really too much. Do I need to personally bring it over and hand it to you…"
Utaha walked toward the spacious bed, lifted the pillow, and picked up the intimate underwear she had changed out of that morning.
But Haizaki reacted faster. He had already turned and walked briskly toward the door, less than three meters away from leaving her bedroom.
Just a little more.
"Stop…"
Haizaki ignored her.
"The New Year's morning incident isn't over yet, Perverted Haizaki-kun."
The second step of slowly boiling a frog.
Make Haizaki accept her private clothing.
Although they had already slept together and kissed, that was all. Haizaki had never gone further, only holding her, the two enjoying the comfort and peace of each other's embrace.
As for anything beyond that, Haizaki had never initiated it.
This occasionally made Utaha wonder if something was wrong with him. But then she remembered that New Year's Eve night… and a hint of shyness surfaced.
Haizaki stopped in his tracks.
"I don't know… what do I have to do to make that incident finally end?"
He was in the wrong.
"I estimate it'll never end in this lifetime."
The corner of Haizaki's mouth twitched.
If you put it that way, aren't you forcing me to just give up and not even think about making amends?
"However, if you agree to one small request, then we can draw a line under this matter. I won't use it to ask Haizaki-kun to do anything ever again."
That's not a request—that's a demand.
Seeing Haizaki remain silent, Utaha continued with a smile in her voice.
"Or could it be that Haizaki-kun has masochistic tendencies and wants me to properly discipline you? That's not impossible either… After all, I am Inspector Utaha. Educating the criminal Haizaki is part of my job."
She stretched a little, cracking her knuckles, full of enthusiasm.
"Say it. What's the request?"
But Haizaki absolutely did not believe it would be anything "small."
He could probably do it, but it would come with considerable psychological pressure.
"Put it on…"
The girl's left hand pointed to the black lace-trimmed underwear she was holding in her right hand.
"Or is it that Haizaki-kun… dislikes that I've worn it?"
"I…"
"If you don't want to wear it, then…"
Utaha's real intention had never been to make Haizaki wear her underwear. That would be far too embarrassing. She was simply using the psychological gap to make him accept her true request.
"Then sleep with them tonight…"
If Haizaki actually accepted that extremely embarrassing demand, she could grit her teeth and endure it.
And somehow, she found herself developing an interest in Haizaki wearing women's clothing.
At this moment, her eyes reflected Haizaki's figure, while her mind imagined him dressed as a girl.
Somehow…
It seemed…
Kind of fitting.
Being stared at so intently made Haizaki feel uneasy. His body shuddered involuntarily; something about Utaha's gaze felt very wrong.
"Alright. No problem. I accept."
He had originally planned to bargain, but his instincts told him that if he refused, she might propose something even more terrifying.
"It's just sleeping with them for one night. No problem."
"Hehe, Haizaki-kun, don't think about playing word games."
Utaha saw through his little trick at once and spoke sweetly.
"I'll be coming to check tonight. If you don't meet the requirements, our agreement is void."
"I understand."
After all, it was just leaving them on the bed for one night—nothing serious.
"I'll allow you to… do some things, you know. You've been holding back for quite a while, haven't you? Bottling it up for too long isn't good for your health."
Utaha teased him with faint, lingering temptation. However, after the New Year's Eve incident, she kept herself well in check and didn't push Haizaki too far.
"I understand. I'll be leaving now. Dinner is ready."
With a calm expression, Haizaki took the items from her hands and left the room without losing his composure.
Utaha finally burst into laughter.
"He's really good at pretending…"
As for the nighttime inspection, she was definitely going.
After all, Haizaki had agreed to it.
Hehehe…
Thinking of something, the girl's smile grew even brighter.
"I can't think about it. I really can't keep thinking about it."
She opened her laptop and closed all the files.
After dinner, she would carefully plan the night's arrangements.
The timing, the method, and the content.
...