Chapter 331: A Man Cannot Lie
“Kazumi, what’s wrong?”
Although a bit surprised by his girlfriend’s request, Sato Shinichi obediently moved closer.
In the young man’s heart, he naturally yearned for more intimate contact with his girlfriend. However, due to his personality, Shinichi had always acted respectfully and restrained in their relationship. After all, in his opinion, truly respecting the other person was a very important part of their interaction.
“Can’t I lean closer to you?”
Kazumi gently rested her cheek on the young man’s shoulder, her eyes slightly narrowed, naturally displaying a comfortable expression. Her words, however, carried a hint of a playful complaint.
“Yes, yes, you can!”
The girl’s words, tinged with a shy playfulness amidst her usual cold demeanor, completely broke down the young man’s defenses. He sat bolt upright like a statue, so stiff he dared not make any movement, while loudly replying.
“Why are you so nervous? It’s not the first time, is it?”
Casually playing with the corner of the young man’s shirt with one hand, Kazumi couldn’t help but reveal a hint of amusement as she looked at the shy, blushing, and adorable “puppy” before her. With a playful intent, she moved her head a little closer.
Her warm breath brushed against the young man’s cheek, stirring peculiar feelings within him. But what was even more potent was the faint, alluring scent of orchid emanating from the girl, unreservedly filling Shinichi’s nostrils. Gazing at his girlfriend leaning into his embrace, Sato Shinichi could almost hear his heart pounding like a roaring train.
It was true that they had been this close by the river before, and they had even shared more intimate moments afterward. Yet, now, simply by being a little closer, the young man was so flustered by the girl’s scent that he was at a loss for words.
His hands fumbled, wanting to put them down but afraid of disturbing the girl’s movements, so they remained awkwardly suspended mid-air.
“Pfft—”
Seeing Sato Shinichi’s utterly embarrassed expression, Kazumi finally couldn’t hold back her laughter. With a soft giggle, she slowly sat up, withdrawing from his embrace.
Since her affection levels were already maxed out, Kazumi didn’t need to put in any effort to gain favor. Instead, she could more casually tease her “puppy.”
“Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. I just wanted to ask you what I said last night.”
Kazumi playfully nudged Shinichi’s waist with a hint of dissatisfaction. She looked up, her expression returning to normal, and asked nonchalantly.
This was the true reason Kazumi was still at the young man’s place. She seemed to recall saying some things she shouldn’t have while drunk last night. If she didn’t clarify what information might have been leaked, she might one day stumble due to such a small oversight. The girl would not allow herself to make such a mistake.
It was definitely not because she wanted to spend more time with her “puppy” that she was staying here!
As for why she moved so close, it was naturally to facilitate her “tea artistry” tactics. After all, with such an inexperienced virgin, a little physical contact might be enough to elicit any kind of information, right?
However, if they were a couple, the term “flirting” seemed more appropriate than “tea artistry” for her maneuvers.
“Ah… last night…”
The young man, who had been foolishly smiling with a flushed face, was snapped back to reality by the girl’s nudge. He sheepishly scratched the back of his head and began to recall what had happened last night.
“Let me think… You said a lot of things about the game, like what you defeated. You seemed to really enjoy that game.”
“And you said some things about me. Although you were very cute when you were drunk, Kazumi, it’s better not to drink alone in the future. It’s quite dangerous for girls when they’re drunk.”
“I know!”
Kazumi poked the young man with a hint of dissatisfaction. Even with her thick skin, she felt her cheeks flush slightly. Being taken down by a can of fruit beer was quite embarrassing, no matter the world.
This wasn’t simply drunkenness; it felt more like a pure alcohol allergy.
Even if Sato Shinichi hadn’t said anything, Kazumi hadn’t intended to touch alcohol again. Given how blacked out she had been yesterday, it was no different from being unconscious.
[But does this only happen in front of him, or is it due to a physical allergy? If it’s the latter, could it become a weakness? That wouldn’t be good news.]
[A spiritified body shouldn’t react to such external factors. In theory, it should be due to individual emotions. Could it actually affect such a significant part?]
[Further experimentation is needed back home. If this also happens under normal circumstances, I’ll have to find a way to overcome it. Such a weakness is too fatal.]
“Did I say anything strange?”
Casually tidying her thoughts, Kazumi pushed the matter of her “weakness to alcohol” aside. Dealing with the current situation was more important.
“Strange things…”
Sato Shinichi could understand the girl’s concern. After all, no one wanted to show an unflattering side of themselves in front of the person they liked, and he was no exception.
But when it came to Kazumi, the young man held the highest level of tolerance. No matter what, he would always love her.
“If I had to categorize anything as strange, it’s that you seemed very concerned about your right cheek yesterday.”
He recalled the events of last night and managed to pinpoint that one slightly odd detail to mention. After all, the other things he said were either about his game experiences or his expressions of affection. He didn’t feel there was anything particularly special about them.
“My right cheek?”
“Yeah, you kept saying your right cheek was disfigured, and that I wouldn’t like you because of it. How could something like that ever happen!”
Seeing the girl suddenly sit up, Sato Shinichi found it a little amusing. This was probably a common trait among girls, even a girl who seemed as mature as an adult to him couldn’t escape it.
They always worried about many insignificant small details. Even though the girl’s face was as clear as usual with almost no difference, she felt disfigured and unattractive due to a few tiny, almost invisible acne or pimples.
For a girl lacking security, all of this manifested as distrust in relationships, fearing that changes in her appearance might cause problems in their relationship.
This wasn’t Kazumi being difficult or willful. The young man knew deeply that all of this was due to the girl’s past experiences. If there was a reason to find, it was probably that he hadn’t given her enough security.
“Kazumi.”
A gentle call sounded in her ears. Before the girl could even look up, Sato Shinichi had stood up and was in front of her, standing straight like an oath, earnestly speaking to the girl.
“My feelings for you won’t change because of such trivial matters!”
These words, which sounded like a confession, didn’t feel shameful to Kazumi. Instead, they made her long-dormant heart flutter a bit against her will.
She unnaturally brushed aside the stray hair from her temple, revealing her fair and smooth side profile. She slightly turned her head to the right, hesitant to face the young man directly, but her peripheral vision uncontrollably drifted towards him.
“O-okay… I understand. Don’t say such things so seriously.”
“I don’t want you to worry about things like this, Kazumi. No matter what you become, I will always love you.”
The boy’s simple words gave Kazumi a unique feeling at this moment. Perhaps it was a side effect from her previous life, or perhaps such words genuinely moved Kazumi.
It was hard to refuse such a pure expression of emotion without any ulterior motive.
Perhaps this is what youthful emotions are like.
Clean, pure, headstrong, and without expecting anything in return.
Perhaps because of the societal changes in the past life, she had become more impetuous and dirty. But at least in Kazumi’s memory, the joy and longing of her youthful days, which were unattainable, were the most beautiful and simple emotional experiences of her life.
Pondering the pure affection contained within the young man’s words, the smile on Kazumi’s face turned into a moment of contemplation. Then, as if making a decision, she slowly raised her head to look at Sato Shinichi.
“Shinichi.”
“Hm?”
“Could you say what you just said again? The latter part.”
“No matter what you become, Kazumi, I will always love you. Why…”
The young man was a little stunned, not understanding the purpose of the girl’s action, but he repeated what he had just said as instructed. Just as he was about to ask about her intention, he felt a slender finger press against his lips, silencing the question he was about to ask.
“Promises, once made, must be kept.”
With a faint smile on her face, the girl looked tenderly at the boy’s confused eyes. She shifted from her sitting position to a kneeling one, then looked up to meet his sapphire-like shining eyes.
With her other hand, she grabbed the boy’s collar, gently pulling his upper body downwards. Finally, under his disbelieving gaze, she leaned forward slightly and lightly kissed her index finger, which was pressed against his lips, with her light pink lips. The distance between their lips was so small that they almost touched.
Her cold yet gentle words gradually echoed in the young man’s ears, like a devil’s whisper, engraving themselves deeply into the young man’s heart, word by word.
“Because, a man cannot lie.”
