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Chapter 271: Miss Shinjo’s Sore Waist and Aching Back
🕑 Added 2025-04-06 04:15:55 +0000 UTCMinami always considered himself to have exceptional self-control—at least among men.
After all—
He had faced countless beautiful girls around him.
Yet he never once lost control or acted on impulse with any of them.
That alone was already quite an admirable feat.
But now…
Leaning against the edge of the bath, he stared at the girl in front of him.
Through the thin veil of steam—
Her soft, delicate figure was supposed to be vaguely hidden.
Yet—
Thanks to the excellent ventilation in Shinjo's luxurious bath—
Minami could clearly see everything.
"...What are you trying to do, Akane?"
His voice was calm.
Straight to the point.
"Uh—"
Clearly, she hadn't expected him to ask so directly.
With nothing covering her, Akane's face turned even redder.
Her deep red eyes glistened—
Like they were filled with misty water droplets.
She opened her mouth—
Clearly wanting to say something.
Yet—
Just as the words reached the tip of her tongue,
She held them back.
Not a single sound came out.
Seeing her like this—
Minami let out a small sigh.
He already had a rough idea of what she was thinking.
But—
Some things still needed to be said.
"Akane, you should calm down first."
His voice was steady.
"Even if we do something right now, Mirai isn't going to come back."
Yes.
Minami knew.
The reason why Akane was suddenly so forward tonight…
Was because of Mirai's departure.
Their daughter from the future had suddenly disappeared.
Leaving the girl who had just barely gotten used to her presence—
Feeling completely empty inside.
So, overwhelmed by emotion—
She was acting on impulse.
However—
"This is just a moment of emotional impulse."
Minami's tone remained calm.
"I think you should really think about what you're doing."
—
His steady words.
Yet—
Akane suddenly turned her head away.
"I don't care!"
She huffed, cheeks puffing out in frustration.
"And besides—aren't we a couple?"
"Isn't it perfectly normal for couples to do… those things?"
Her expression was serious.
Her tone was firm—
Like she absolutely would not back down tonight.
Seeing this—
Minami remained calm.
"So… are you ready?"
"...Hah?"
"Of course I'm ready!"
Akane's voice was full of frustration.
"Otherwise, what do you think was going through my mind when I walked into this bath?!"
Her arms crossed over her chest as she puffed out her chest.
"Minami-kun, stop treating me like a child, okay?"
She looked him straight in the eye—
Without the slightest hesitation.
Seeing this…
Minami simply nodded.
"Is that so?"
Then—
He silently leaned in closer.
"Ugh!"
The girl who just moments ago was acting so bold—
Now shrank back slightly.
"Didn't you say you were ready?"
"I—I…"
His calm question made Akane freeze.
A moment later—
She resorted to the ultimate weapon of all cute girls:
"I don't care, I don't care, I don't care!"
Splash!
Her pale arms slapped against the water, making waves.
Like a child throwing a tantrum.
"T-Tonight, we have to do it!"
Her face was completely red as she shouted at him.
"I want to do it with you, Minami-kun!"
"I'm ready!"
Her fierce determination was written all over her face.
Seeing her like this…
Minami let out a small sigh.
"You're sure you're ready?"
"Of course!"
Akane sank half her face into the water, her voice muffled:
"I'm completely ready. Even Minami-kun can't stop me—mmph—"
Her last words were cut off.
Because—
Minami suddenly kissed her.
And pulled her into his arms.
Her soft chest—
Pressed tightly against his.
Akane's entire body froze.
Her hands flailed against the water, the fire of defiance in her eyes…
Quickly turned into panic.
Because—
Minami…
Had even used his tongue!
Akane's mind completely blanked out.
Compared to her—
His experience was on an entirely different level.
Just from a simple kiss—
She felt like she was suffocating.
Her head dizzy.
Her body weak.
This lasted for twenty full seconds.
Finally—
Their lips parted.
"Pfft—pfft—!"
Akane stared at him with wide eyes, her face completely red.
"W-WHAT THE HELL, MINAMI-KUN?!"
Her voice was both shy and furious.
"...Aren't you the one who said you were ready?"
Minami didn't back away.
He even leaned in closer.
At such a short distance—
Through the thin mist of steam—
Akane could clearly see—
His wet black hair.
His deep black eyes.
And below that—
His sharp collarbones and toned chest.
A blush spread across her face.
She instinctively wanted to turn away.
But—
Minami gently held her chin.
Preventing her from looking away.
Her bright red eyes wavered.
Half-open, half-closed.
Too embarrassed to meet his gaze.
And seeing this—
Minami smirked.
"Not so ready after all, huh?"
"...I..."
She opened her mouth—
But the words never came out.
Seeing this—
Minami let out another sigh.
...Maybe he had been too soft on these girls.
First Gotoh-san.
Then Yamada-san.
Now Shinjo-san too?
"Akane."
He reached out—
And tucked her wet hair behind her ear.
His tone serious.
"I'm a man."
"...!"
"Every day, I hold myself back from making a move on you girls."
His breath brushed against her ear.
"Right now… it's taking a lot for me to stay in control."
His hand lowered slightly—
And gently patted her soft, round bottom.
"So if you're not actually ready—"
His voice dropped.
"Stop playing with fire, Akane."
"...!"
A silence fell between them.
Minami sighed internally.
Hmm.
How should he put it…
The feeling was actually pretty good.
But still…
Looking at Akane, who had now fallen into silence,
Minami let out another sigh.
Even though he had just said a bunch of reasonable things—
The fact remained that she had completely thrown him off with her sudden teasing.
And now, he had an entirely different problem to deal with—
The problem was—
Now that she had gotten him all worked up—
He was gonna have a hard time calming down.
Thinking this,
Minami slowly stood up from the bath, intending to dry off and get dressed.
But before he could fully straighten himself—
A gentle pull tugged at his palm.
"Hmm?"
Minami turned his head in surprise.
That was when he noticed at some point, without him realizing it—
Akane had taken hold of his hand.
Her face was half-submerged in the warm, rippling water, her crimson eyes fixed on him. Her pale fingers gently yet firmly clasped his.
"Akane…"
Minami sighed, feeling a bit helpless. He was just about to say something to the stubborn girl in front of him.
But the next second—
"I'm really ready now, Minami-kun."
A soft voice rang out.
In the empty bathroom, it felt unusually clear.
There was an unmistakable resolve in her tone—so much so that even Minami couldn't ignore it.
He could feel it. This was different from before.
Minami paused his movement to stand.
Instead, he lowered himself back into the water.
His gentle gaze met hers.
"Are you sure?"
He asked.
"Yes."
No hesitation. A firm nod.
At the same time—
The girl reached out, wrapping her arms around Minami in a soft, deliberate embrace.
…
They lingered in the bath for about ent more minutes before stepping out together.
Minami didn't have the habit of carrying protection on him, so he planned to step out and buy some from the nearest convenience store.
But before he could take a full step—
The girl with soft lilac-colored hair tugged at his hand. Her cheeks were flushed red as she pointed at the pocket of her shirt.
"..."
Minami understood the moment he saw her gesture.
He recalled how, earlier in the evening, when they were out buying pajamas, she had stepped into a convenience store.
At the time, she had mentioned needing to buy something. But when she came out, her hands were empty.
He had assumed she bought something personal—maybe feminine hygiene products—so he hadn't questioned it.
But now he realized—
She had bought that instead.
Minami was genuinely surprised.
Akane wasn't the type to say much, but she was always self-conscious about things like this.
For her to go into a store, alone, and buy something like that… she must have been incredibly embarrassed.
And yet, she did it anyway.
Minami could see it—her small but undeniable resolve.
Realizing this, he no longer hesitated.
He took out what she had prepared and adjusted the room's lighting to a more fitting atmosphere.
What happened next… was only natural.
—
Far away,
Tokyo Bay reflected the shimmering glow of the Rainbow Bridge.
Under the night lights,
The entire bridge sparkled across the water's surface.
…
About two hours later—
Akane rested her head on Minami's arm.
"Minami-kun."
Her damp bangs, still glistening with sweat, clung slightly to her forehead as she called out to him softly.
"…Mm."
Minami turned his head and responded.
Seeing that he answered,
A bright smile curved on Akane's lips.
She curled up slightly, shifting closer to him, and whispered his name again:
"Minami-kun."
"Mm."
"Minami-kun."
She murmured.
"…Mm."
Minami answered in a gentle tone.
"Minami-kuuun—"
She drew out the sound this time.
In response, Minami reached out and softly stroked her hair.
"Minami-kun… tell me, when do you think 'Mirai' will be born?"
Nestling against his chest, she asked the question.
"If you want an exact date… it should be May 6th, 2031."
Minami recalled it clearly.
Every time he had simulated the future, that date remained unchanged.
His daughter's birth was an important moment.
As her father, he could never forget.
"I see… 2031, huh… eight more years…"
Her crimson eyes blinked, dazed in thought.
Eight years until they could meet Shouji Mirai again.
A hint of longing flickered in her gaze.
But soon, she perked up again.
Eight years… wasn't long at all.
Graduating from high school.
Then university.
And after graduating… she'd marry Minami. That was all there was to it.
Eight years… would pass in no time.
Thinking that, Akane turned her head to look at Minami once more.
"Minami-kun… next, you're going to save that girl named 'Satou,' right?"
"…Yeah."
Minami had no intention of hiding it from her. He nodded straightforwardly.
"I see…"
Akane wrapped her arms around Minami, pressing her forehead against his chest as she spoke in a quiet voice:
"But… I don't really want you to go save her."
That's right.
Akane—aside from her beauty and excellent grades—was just an ordinary girl.
She had already accepted sharing Minami's love with the band, LycoReco, and Rio Futaba.
So she didn't want him to get involved with someone as mentally unstable as Matsuzaka Sato.
She wasn't a saint.
She was simply a girl.
And this was an entirely normal, very human selfishness.
But—
"Even though I don't want you to… I won't stop you, Minami-kun."
Akane lifted her head slightly, a small smile forming on her lips.
"Because… that's also our daughter's wish."
Before Mirai left,
She had asked Minami to help save Matsuzaka Satou and her child.
It was her parting request.
So Akane had no choice but to support it.
"…I'm sorry, Akane."
Minami stroked her forehead and murmured an apology.
He had hesitated before, uncertain if he should extend a hand to Matsuzaka Satou.
But after witnessing the tragic childhood of her daughter, Matsuzaka Shio—
Any lingering hesitation in his heart had faded.
And even more so, after Mirai herself had voiced her wish…
That hesitation had vanished completely.
"Don't say 'I'm sorry.' Say 'thank you.'"
Akane laughed softly.
"Apologizing makes everything sound so sad… wouldn't it be better to just say 'thank you'? It makes people happier. And—"
She dragged out her words slightly.
"Instead of saying 'I'm sorry'… Minami-kun, why don't we take another bath together?"
Akane blinked her bright, radiant eyes at Minami.
"My whole body feels all sticky. There's no way I can sleep like this."
She even pouted, clearly expressing her dissatisfaction.
"It's all your fault, Minami-kun. My back hurts, my waist is sore, and now I don't have any strength left at all. As punishment… you have to help me take a bath."
As she spoke, Akane stretched out both hands toward him.
Minami, amused, simply smiled and nodded.
Without hesitation, he scooped her up into his arms, and together, they made their way toward the bathroom.
