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Mahiru was in the bath alone, hugging her knees.

That was because she was desperately trying to suppress the urge to scream as she thought about what was going to happen, and she imagined all sorts of different scenarios.

I’m the one who said it, but…

“…Today…is it all right…if I don’t go home?”

The night of the last day of the culture festival, she had gathered her courage and said those words to Amane, and he had accepted with considerable hesitation.

Amane understood this was not like that time at his parents’ house, that this time she was determined and wanted to spend the night with him, as a lover. Even Amane, who would have rejected the idea with all his might and a bright red face when they were first beginning to date, had agreed, though he had been quite reluctant.

In other words, that meant he was losing his ability to resist his desire for Mahiru.

Mahiru understood it wasn’t smart for her to do something like this, and it was actually foolish for a girl her age, but she wasn’t completely ignorant.

She understood what kind of urges Amane had as a guy, and that he was desperately trying to suppress them, and she had accepted that as a matter of fact.

If she was going to spend the night with Amane, who had been just barely managing to withstand all his urges out of love for her, then naturally, there was a high possibility that would commit certain acts.

She was well aware she might be devoured at a moment’s notice if something caused his self-restraint to unravel.

Mahiru was okay with that happening, which was why she had talked Amane into letting her stay over.

…Although it’s not like I’m determined to do that sort of stuff or anything.

She got embarrassed remembering what she had said, and she sank down in the bathtub until the water reached her mouth. Though she tried to blow her shame out with the bubbles as she exhaled into the water, the fact was she was only in this situation as a consequence of the outrageous thing she herself had said, and thinking about that only made her feel more embarrassed.

She had told Amane to get out first, and she had remained in the bath alone, in order to do her own grooming.

Really she was only doing her regular grooming routine, but it wouldn’t have been strange if, from Amane’s perspective, it seemed like she was putting some extra effort into it.

Her reason for pleading to spend the night wasn’t something she could share with anyone else, but she hadn’t necessarily asked just because she wanted to do sexual things.

She had wanted to be by Amane’s side, to feel his warmth, and to make up for not getting enough of Amane during the culture festival. Those feelings were strong, but she hadn’t meant to ask for the rest of it.

However, she also knew it was likely something serious was going to happen when the two of them got so close, and she thought she was ready for it, physically and emotionally.

“…Ahhhhh.”

She’d been prepared for that when she made the suggestion, but still, she wasn’t able to fully hold down the embarrassment that came bubbling up. Her cry of hesitation became a muffled groan and echoed in the bathroom.

Mahiru was a teenage girl, and it wasn’t like she had never fantasized about such things.

She had picked up on the reason why Amane sometimes moved away uncomfortably when they were touching, and from time to time, she felt a certain part of him she knew must be there.

It was because of that, or maybe thanks to that, she could kind of imagine being loved by Amane.

Mahiru had never had any personal experience with such matters, so her knowledge all came from her health education textbook and some girls’ manga she had borrowed from Chitose. She understood on an intellectual level how the mechanics of intercourse worked, but that hadn’t translated into a clear mental picture of the act.

With only meager knowledge and no actual experience, the most she was able to imagine was having her body touched, maybe holding each other close while naked, getting wound up in the sheets—those sorts of scenes.

Even so, for Mahiru, that was quite provocative, and more than enough to fry her brain.

Whenever she thought about all that and more happening to her body, she couldn’t stop her heart from throbbing violently.

When she unconsciously put her hand against her chest, she felt her pulse, pounding beneath hot skin.

She was aware the feelings taxing her heart were half nervousnessand half anticipation, and embarrassment continued to burn her up from inside.

…I do want to return his feelings, but…

She fully understood Amane was an extremely late bloomer and a very cautious person, and she was well aware it was because he respected her that he hadn’t laid his hands on her yet.

And she also knew the desires he had been working so hard to keep hidden stemmed not simply from lust but came from the deep love he had for her.

That was why Mahiru wanted to respond to him in kind, to yield everything to him and be loved in body and mind. To become Amane’s completely.

But even though that was the case, she still felt some reluctance.

…I-if I don’t get out soon, Amane will know I’m having second thoughts.

While she was in the bath hesitating and dawdling like this, Amane was stuck waiting in the living room. She didn’t want to keep him waiting.

Her heart still hadn’t settled down, but she told herself to let whatever was going to happen happen, and she got out of the bath.

After gently wiping away the water that clung to her body, Mahiru covered herself with lotion and also applied her skin care products to her face.

She thought it would seem lewd if she was too fired up, so she decided to go through her usual grooming steps to make sure Amane wouldn’t notice that anything was amiss. She couldn’t help checking over her body extra carefully.

As she checked to make sure her skin was as springy and smooth as it usually was when she got out of the bath, she glanced over at the change of clothes she had in her basket.

She had brought two types of outfits with her.