"S-Sora..."
Anna's breathing was rapid, her exhales like melted cotton candy, sweet and scorching hot:
"Y-You, slow down... don't be so rough..."
Hey, hey, who's being rough?
I just lifted you up a bit, alright! Who knew you'd have such a huge reaction!
Sora turned his head to look: "How about you walk yourself?"
"No..." Anna's pretty face was burning hot. After hesitating for two seconds, she still wasn't willing to get down.
"Sora carry me up..."
"Then hold on tight, don't slide down."
Sora took a deep breath and stepped onto the stairs.
Walking on flat ground is fine, it doesn't take much effort. But climbing stairs consumes a lot of stamina.
As everyone knows, climbing three flights of stairs is equivalent to jogging 400 meters. Even though Sora's physical fitness was very strong now, he inevitably felt a bit tired near the end.
When physical strength wanes, the body inevitably sways.
And when swaying, friction is naturally unavoidable...
Therefore, electric-like thrills swept through Anna's entire body from time to time. To avoid being noticed by passersby, Anna could only bite her lower lip tightly, trying her best not to let out shameful sounds.
"Finally up..."
For just a few dozen steps, Sora walked for several minutes.
After getting to the top, his clothes were already slightly damp with sweat.
"F-Finally over..."
Anna also let out a long sigh of relief. Her condition wasn't much better either; her breathing was rapid, her pretty face completely red, clearly on the verge of dripping blood.
"The clinic is just up ahead." Sora took a big stride forward.
"Hold on, we're almost there."
Anna tried her best to look up. The girl's eyes were already filled with misty moisture. Seeing that the small clinic was right across the street, she hurriedly called out in embarrassment:
"Sora, put me down..."
"Hmm?"
"My stomach doesn't seem to hurt that much anymore..."
"..."
Hearing this, Sora stopped walking and set Anna down:
"So you're walking by yourself?"
"Mhm, mhm."
After landing on the ground, Anna covered her chest with both hands and quickly took a step back to create some distance.
"Your movements are so agile..." Sora was somewhat suspicious.
"Did your stomach stop hurting a while ago?"
"N-No it didn't." Anna guiltily averted her gaze, stammering, "It's all Sora's fault, you turned my brain into mush, so I forgot to tell you..."
Sora couldn't help but complain:
"Such a terrible line, you didn't learn that from a doujinshi, did you?"
"I've never read that kind of thing." Anna felt even more guilty, her gaze darting left and right.
"Sora, don't slander my innocence."
Anna finished speaking and hurriedly changed the subject:
"My stomach doesn't hurt anymore, so we don't need to go to the clinic. Let's hurry up and go home."
"Sora, escort me home."
"If I go back alone, I might run into a pervert taking upskirt photos on the train."
"Then he'll use the photos to blackmail me into handing over my pocket money..."
If you really run into an upskirt pervert, it definitely won't be as simple as extorting pocket money!
"Stop letting your imagination run wild." Sora spoke decisively, interrupting 'Inmate Eight's' wild thoughts.
"Let's go, I'll escort you back."
A bright smile instantly blossomed on Anna's pretty face:
"Thank you, Sora~"
"..."
The two arrived at the train station together and boarded the train.
"Eh, there are so many people."
Anna used her schoolbag to cover her chest with one hand, and tightly held Sora's right hand with the other.
"Sora, you absolutely must not let go, or else you definitely won't be able to find me."
"It's not that exaggerated."
Sora held tightly onto 'Inmate Eight', squeezing through the crowded people, finally reaching a corner with some difficulty. He then opened his arms, using the handrail and the wall to create a small space for Anna.
"Phew..."
Anna quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Pressing her hands against Sora's chest, she tilted her pretty face up and complained softly:
"The train during evening rush hour feels like a can of sardines. If a catfish appeared, the train would definitely explode into chaos, right?"
Sora looked down and said softly:
"The catfish effect doesn't exist. It's actually a fabricated lie."
"Eh?"
"Norwegian fishermen catch sardines. To keep the sardines alive, they put a catfish in to prey on them. This way, the sardines will swim constantly to survive, thus ensuring they stay alive... It's actually full of holes."
Sora ruthlessly complained:
"Sardines are saltwater fish and schooling fish. One net can catch thousands of them. In all marine fisheries, once saltwater fish are caught, they are immediately frozen for storage. They are never kept alive."
"Moreover, any normal person knows that when fish exercise vigorously, they consume a large amount of oxygen. If you actually put a catfish in and the sardines panicked and swam wildly, they would just die faster."
Anna widened her eyes in shock: "So we've been lied to all along?"
"That's the truth." Sora said in a low voice.
"The world is a giant makeshift stage. There are countless instances of fabrication."
"..."
The journey was silent.
Under Sora's protection, Anna returned home safely without any accidents occurring.
"Thank you, Sora~"
Arriving at her door, Anna finally felt relieved. She tilted up her bright, pretty face:
"Does Sora want to come in for a cup of tea?"
"No tea." Sora shook his head.
"It's getting late, I have things to do when I get back."
"Alright then..." Anna waved goodbye reluctantly.
"Sora, see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
Sora turned, preparing to leave.
After taking a few steps, a shout suddenly rang out behind him:
"Sora, wait a minute."
Anna, hugging her schoolbag, trotted up with quick, small steps, her pretty face slightly flushed:
"Sora worked so hard to bring me back, and I haven't even thanked you properly."
"Didn't you just thank me?"
"That was just a verbal thanks, it doesn't count." Anna's eyelashes fluttered lightly, her voice shy.
"...Sora, close your eyes."
Sora immediately became alert: "What is Anna planning to do?"
"Don't ask so many questions, just hurry up and close your eyes."
"..."
Sora silently closed his eyes.
"Phew..."
Anna quietly took a deep breath. She could clearly feel her heartbeat accelerating and her palms sweating. Her girl's sense of shame urged her to run away as fast as possible, but remembering her conquest plan, Anna forcefully held her ground.
Steady!
I can't run!
On the Ferris wheel, we already kissed so deeply. Just a peck on the cheek will definitely be fine, right?
The opponent is a flawless angel. I can only win if I take the initiative!
Am I supposed to just stand by and watch Sora be snatched away?
Since I don't want that, I must gather my courage!
Anna clenched her pink fists, quickly steeling herself mentally. Then, her pretty face flushed crimson, she stood on her tiptoes, and her pink, moist lips gently pecked Sora's cheek, fleeting as a dragonfly skimming the water.
When Sora opened his eyes, Anna had already turned and fled in a panic:
"...I'm going home!"