Shiina Mahiru's body was soft, her warmth seeping into Hozuki Nozomi's arms like a gentle flame. Her fragrance—light, sweet, undeniably feminine—lingered in the air, wrapping around him like an intoxicating spell.
Nozomi couldn't help but think that he would never tire of holding her. Now that she had opened her heart to him, revealing her true feelings, she seemed even closer than before. This kiss between them wasn't just an expression of affection—it was a form of salvation, a deep connection that soothed wounds neither of them had ever spoken of aloud.
Being this close to a beautiful girl was already exhilarating, but as his body reacted instinctively, Nozomi's brow furrowed slightly. His mind screamed at him to maintain control, but his body had other ideas. He wasn't a saint, after all. If he wasn't careful, he might lose himself completely.
Mahiru, perceptive as ever, noticed the change in him. It wasn't the first time she had rested in his arms, and by now, she was acutely aware of how he responded to her presence. Her cheeks turned a deep shade of red as a mix of embarrassment and hesitation filled her heart.
She was nervous—of course she was. But at the same time, seeing him struggle, seeing the way he was restraining himself for her sake, made her heart soften.
Nozomi lifted his hand and gently stroked her silky hair, his voice low and reassuring.
"Don't be scared. I won't do anything you don't want me to." His lips curled into a wry smile. "I'm greedy, though."
"Greedy?" Mahiru blinked up at him.
"I don't just want your body, Mahiru. I want your heart, your smiles, your time—I want all of you, forever." He held her waist a little tighter. "I want to build a home with you."
Her chest tightened, a warm ache spreading through her. His words were sincere, and that sincerity made her feel both touched and vulnerable.
"You really have no shame," she mumbled, looking away, though a small smile played at her lips.
Nozomi chuckled, his grip around her firm yet gentle. "Isn't that why you like me?"
"Hmph, who said I liked you?"
Nozomi's exaggerated look of surprise made Mahiru roll her eyes.
"I don't hate you," she finally muttered. "But… I still don't know how I really feel yet."
"That's fine." He smiled, his voice teasing as he leaned in slightly. "I can wait. But in the meantime…"
"Wait—Nozomi, don't you dare—!" Mahiru's face turned crimson as she felt his warm breath near her ear.
Nozomi sighed dramatically. "Mahiru, do you really think I'd do something without your permission? You wound me."
"…Idiot." She exhaled, her heartbeat gradually returning to normal. But seeing him so obviously struggling made her pause. A moment later, her small hands moved tentatively, mimicking something she had done before.
Nozomi blinked, looking up at her in pleasant surprise. He had never thought an angel like Mahiru could be this adorable while trying to act tough.
At some point, Mahiru's two black stockings were tossed onto the nearby table. She sat with a slightly dazed expression, her hands sore, her legs tingling from exhaustion. Looking down at the man who now rested his head on her lap, she couldn't help but smile.
It was an unusual sight.
Though everything they had just done was far from the behavior of a so-called 'proper' young lady, she had done it willingly. For him.
She ran her fingers through his dark hair, her touch light, almost instinctual. The soft rise and fall of his breathing, the peaceful look on his face—it made something warm bloom in her chest. She had never been taken care of by her parents, never experienced a gentle touch growing up. Maybe, deep down, she was trying to make up for that by treating Nozomi this way.
She knew he was older, taller, stronger. But in moments like these, when he let her pamper him, she felt as though she could finally give back even a fraction of what he gave her.
Nozomi hummed in contentment, clearly enjoying the sensation. "Mahiru… you're spoiling me."
"Just this once," she murmured, though the fondness in her voice made it clear—there would be many more times in the future.
While the two were basking in each other's warmth, a sudden knock at the door interrupted their quiet moment.
"Nozomi-kun, is Mahiru in your room?"
A familiar voice echoed from the hallway—it was Ogiwara Sayu.
Shiina Mahiru's face instantly flushed a deep shade of red. Her golden eyes darted toward Nozomi in panic as she instinctively tried to find a place to hide. But before she could react, Hozuki Nozomi gently took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
"Come in, Sayu. Mahiru is here too," he called out casually, as if there was nothing unusual about the situation.
With a soft creak, the door opened, and Sayu stepped in, her sharp eyes immediately landing on Nozomi, who was resting comfortably on Mahiru's delicate thighs.
She pouted, crossing her arms. "Haaah? Here I am, working so hard on house chores, and you two are just flirting without a care in the world! So unfair!"
"Gomen…" Mahiru lowered her head in guilt, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sayu burst into laughter. "Mahiru, you're way too serious! I was just joking—don't be so stiff!"
But then, as her gaze drifted to the side, she suddenly paused. Her eyes fell on a pair of stockings neatly placed on the table, and her expression turned mischievous.
"Oya? And what exactly is going on with these?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Mahiru's face turned even redder, her head dropping so low it looked like she wanted to disappear into her own shadow.
Nozomi smirked and reached out toward Sayu. "Oi, don't tease Mahiru too much. Come here, Sayu."
"Mou, you're so unfair, Nozomi-kun!" Sayu huffed, but still, she walked forward and threw herself into his arms without hesitation.
Mahiru hesitated for a moment before biting her lip. "Then... I'll head out first—"
Before she could take another step, Nozomi's firm yet gentle grip pulled her back. "Don't leave."
His voice was calm but filled with conviction, making Mahiru freeze in place. With a slight tug, he brought her into his embrace, wrapping an arm around both girls.
"Tonight, let's sleep together." ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novelꞁire.net
With that single statement, he pulled up the covers and switched off the light.
Neither of them resisted.
As the three lay under the same blanket, the soft moonlight streaming through the window, Nozomi suddenly spoke in a quiet, almost vulnerable tone.
"You know… I'm someone who's really afraid of being alone."
The air in the room became still.
"I'm also super, super greedy," he continued, pulling Sayu and Mahiru a little closer. "So… please stay with me. Don't leave me."
There was a beat of silence before the two girls responded at the same time.
The word was spoken with warmth, not anger, as they each clung onto one of his arms, their soft giggles filling the quiet night.
Sayu playfully nudged him. "You're lucky, Nozomi-kun. The great playboy Hozuki Nozomi is actually acting all clingy like a lost puppy."
Mahiru, still flustered, murmured, "I'm not ready to… you know… give you everything yet. But even so, I won't leave."
Nozomi's lips curled into a genuine smile. "Thank you."
In truth, it was him who should be grateful. Both of these girls had accepted his greedy, selfish desires. They had chosen to stay with him despite knowing the kind of person he was.
Mahiru shyly leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.
Sayu, not wanting to be outdone, did the same on his other cheek.
Then, with a cheeky grin, she whispered, "You better not abandon a girl who likes you. Otherwise… I might have to make sure you never get it up again."
Her voice carried a dangerous sweetness, mimicking something Mahiru had said before.
Nozomi chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Oi, that sounds scary."
"Of course! A woman's jealousy is no joke, you know. It's at least… 0.3 times stronger than a man's!"
Listening to her nonsense, Nozomi smirked mischievously. "Then, I guess I'll just have to make sure you don't have the energy to be jealous in the first place!"
Before Sayu could react, he reached out and mercilessly tickled her sides.
"Ahaha! Nozomi-kun, stop! That's not fair!" Sayu yelped between bursts of laughter, twisting and squirming in an attempt to escape.
Mahiru, seeing her friend's predicament, hesitated for a second before deciding to join the attack.
"Mahiru?! Et tu?!" Nozomi gasped in mock betrayal as the two girls ganged up on him, giggling all the while.
Of course, he didn't mind losing this battle. Seeing their happy faces, hearing their sweet laughter—this was a kind of victory in itself.
After they had exhausted themselves from playing around, the three finally settled down under the covers again. Nozomi, with the warmth of Mahiru and Sayu beside him, let his eyes drift shut.
The next morning, he woke up to the sight of Mahiru sleeping peacefully beside him, her soft breaths tickling his shoulder, while Sayu clung to his other side like a koala.
Last night, he had done nothing but hold them close.
It had been a pure and innocent sleep.
That kind of warmth was more than enough for him.
After all, what he truly sought wasn't just fleeting pleasure—but the long-lasting happiness of having them by his side.