Chapter 2144: A Different Morning

A minute could either be long or short depending on the context of that instance. And in this context where Futaba locked me in her embrace as her show of gratitude was unbelievably

long.

She might not say it vocally but her racing pulse and heartbeat sold her out to me.

She's gradually getting drawn to me. It may just be a curiosity earlier but it has evolved to this

now...

As for whether she recognized it or not, I had no idea.

It's also possible that I'm just overthinking and assuming things here so I won't point it out to her and get her confused about it.

I'll pretend not to notice and pray for it to subside after this night.

However, if it persists past this night, I guess it'll be up to me again whether to spring it up to her so she can be aware or wait until she realizes it herself.

In any case, it's still too early to think about that future. Just like with Eri, I should just consider her as another close friend that I made tonight.

It's not like we can meet each other every day. And even if we do run into each other, it'll mostly be during the morning when I escort Akane to school. Similar situations like this won't happen during those times...

After the one-minute mark, Futaba punctually let go of me and slapped my back before standing at my side.

Sensing my gaze on her, Futaba cheekily giggled and poked my cheek before quickly running to the door of our bedroom.

Before entering and leaving me standing at the spot, she glanced back at me and made a face; adorably sticking her tongue out and pulling her lower eyelid.

Mhm... That was her running away from embarrassment, right? She channeled her rare playful behavior to prevent her face from showing her true thoughts.

I don't know. I like the expression on her face though. It feels like a great way to end this night. Light and cheerful.

After a while, I also returned to the bedroom.

Futaba was back at her spot and completely covered by the blanket.

I stared at her for a few seconds trying to catch her sneaking a glance at me. And I wasn't disappointed.

Most likely, she got curious about me when she didn't feel any ripple on the springy surface of the bed after all this time.

As soon as our eyes met, the girl's eyebrows slanted, expressing her annoyance at falling for

it.

I simply smiled and climbed up the bed.

Instead of returning to the same spot as earlier, I crawled to that open space between her and Akane.

Looking at how her pair of beautiful eyes sank as though she didn't expect me to do this, I teasingly grinned.

Without saying anything else, I laid down, slipped back into our blanket, and then turned sideways to cuddle Akane while also reaching for Fuyu's hand to clasp overnight

I had no idea what occurred inside the girl's head but it didn't take long for Futaba to slap my back for the second time before rolling away to the edge, not daring to glance behind her again.

Just like this, our long night was finally over.

Before my consciousness completely slipped into dreamland, I briefly saw Futaba rolling to my side, slipping into the same blanket, and cuddling with me.

I had no idea if that truly happened or if a large part of it was a dream though. My memory was hazy after that.

The next time I opened my eyes, morning had arrived.

Lying on my back and staring at the ceiling, I could feel the numbness on my shoulders. And somehow, instead of the girls I remember sleeping next to me, I got Fuyu on my right and Eri on my left.

... I could understand Fuyu changing positions when she found me away from her but Eri? Did she roll here from the edge? Impossible...

On top of that. Futaba and Akane were nowhere to be found...

How did this happen?

If not for the effect of the miraculous tea giving me a fully refreshed feeling in the morning, my head would probably ache from trying to figure out the correct sequence of events leading to this.

I could figure out where Akane and Futaba went. But this? I could only assume that they all woke up at the same time and tried to play a trick on me...

That must be it, right?

However, upon seeing Fuyu and Eri still peacefully asleep, I could only close my eyes again and hope for the best...

It's morning. But it's still considered dawn by normal standards. Hopefully, Eri won't notice my morning wood when she wakes up later.

"Ruki-kun... Good morning."

When I opened my eyes for a second time, the girl on my right was already awake. With her beautiful smile flashing on her face, she greeted me in her morning voice. It still sounded pleasant despite the coarseness.

After that, she lifted herself to hover her face on top of me, her lips dropping down on mine...

A morning kiss that is sweet and filled with affection.

"You liked it?" Fuyu smilingly asked after our lips separated, leaving a trail that shone from the sunlight slipping into our window.

"I do... Good morning, Fuyu." I nodded and greeted her back.

For some reason, my left side was alre empty. Or rather, Eri was already sitting up not away from us, watching us frolic in the morning.

Down below, I heaved a silent sigh of relief upon finding the blanket still covering my lower

body.

It's now a daily occurrence. I didn't need to see that it was already standing up as my blood continued to pump down on it.

However, after a brief respite, my sense of touch felt something else.

Someone's hand was already inside my pants, holding it down. Her fingers tightly wrapped around it and prevented it from pitching an obvious tent for Eri's eyes to see.

At this, I didn't really need to figure out whose hand it was. There's only the two of them here

and no one was hiding underneath...

Furthermore, the girl herself confirmed it right before I could ask her.

"Forgive me, Ruki-kun, it's too eye-catching. I'm holding it down to prevent Eri from

speculating."

"Sorry, I should've told you about this."

"I already know... You also had this yesterday morning." Fuyu replied.

"... You noticed?"

"How can I not?" Fuyu raised an eyebrow. She's drilling into me that it would be weirder if

she didn't notice.

I remembered waking up before but that might not be the case entirely. She could've woken up in the middle of the night and just returned to sleep.

"Right..." I wryly smiled and then turned to Eri who had no idea about what we were

whispering about.

"Eri, good morning. Where are Akane and Futaba?"

"Downstairs... Uhm... I should go join them. I'm only here to greet you good morning, Ruki.

Also to apologize for rolling to your side. I don't know how it happened. I woke up cuddled by

you... It was nice."

Upon saying that, Eri averted her gaze and covered her face that's starting to turn red from embarrassment. But at the same time, I noticed her small yet joyful smile radiating the feeling that it was an experience she liked.

I shot down her proposal to sleep next to me last night yet she still ended up waking up

cuddled by me...

I guess that could be considered favorable for her.

Soon after that, she jumped out of bed and hurriedly left the bedroom as though she was

running away from something.

Left behind, Fuyu and I stared at the door for a while before looking at each other. Promptly, the girl blushed as her grip on my morning wood tightened, "Ruki-kun. Do you

need help with this?"

"I do. But Fuyu... It's a little special."

"How so?"

"It's the side effect of the tea. And usually..."

"Side effect? Huh? Why are you drinking tea with a side effect?"

What a proper reaction. Fuyu immediately became concerned.

"Well... that's its only side effect. It's extremely effective to relieve fatigue."

"Now that you mentioned it, I felt full of energy both yesterday and today... Then, Ruki-kun,

can I assume Akane helps you with this every day?"

"Mhm. You can say that."

"I see. I'm the same as her now... I don't mind doing lewd things with you... Let me help you

today." Those are like music to my ears but looking at her current state, Fuyu looked like she was about to melt and release steam on top of her head. She's overheating.

"Fuyu, I appreciate that but you don't have to push yourself for me, alright? Last night was

special but today... you might get overwhelmed."

"Overwhelmed?"

"Mhm... how should I say it? I may lose my sense of reason?"

"That intense? Ruki-kun, Futaba is right. You're a beast... But, I'm not pushing myself, Ruki- kun. I swear." Fuyu sweetly giggled before her eyes seemingly entered 'competitive mode' again, "I love that you're worried about me, Ruki-kun. But you see, I also love to get closer to you. More than we already did."

Upon declaring that, Fuyu licked her lips as determination burned in her eyes.

Ah. It's over. I couldn't say no anymore if she was like this. The temptation was so strong that my rationality was slipping away from my head.

"Alright, say no more. I love you. I don't want to deny intimacy like this... Although I might still try to hold back... I'll leave it to you, Fuyu. Also... let's not label it as if it's a task..." "Un... I understand, Ruki-kun..." Fuyu cheerfully nodded before she disappeared into our

blanket.

Her destination? Where else?