"You were about to say 'last wish,' weren't you?"
Kagura's eyes narrowed into a skeptical →_→.
Did Yumiko seriously think he was on the brink of death?!
"No, no way! Just spit it out already! Are you gonna talk, or do I have to make you?!"
"…" To his surprise, Yumiko adopted the commanding air of a gang leader, leaving Kagura momentarily speechless. After a long sigh, he relented, "Fine, forget the leg-touching… I'm not that depraved. How about this instead—"
Kagura tapped his lips lightly with his left hand, a sly smile spreading across his face. "Give me a kiss. If that'll ease your conscience."
Seeing Yumiko practically drowning in guilt, he felt a pang of sympathy and decided to shoulder some of her burden.
"K… Kiss?!"
Yumiko's hands flew to her mouth, and she instinctively stumbled back two steps, her cheeks flushing crimson as she bumped into a chair.
She nearly toppled over but caught herself on the chair's backrest, though her heart was swaying far more wildly than the wobbling seat.
"Look, haven't you heard the fairy tale where a princess's kiss breaks the frog prince's curse? I'm arguably a prince myself. If you insist I'm cursed, then you, our golden-haired princess, can lift it with a kiss. What do you say?"
Kagura extended his hand toward Yumiko with a graceful, inviting gesture, his confidence unshaken.
If any ordinary boy dared speak to Yumiko like that, he'd be nursing a black eye, but this was Kagura—the Kagura.
"Ugh… well… that does make sense," Yumiko murmured, gradually swayed by his logic. Her eyes darted nervously, and she turned her head, cheeks still burning, muttering, "Besides, my first kiss is still… you know, intact. Haven't you heard? A maiden's first kiss—and, well, other firsts—symbolize renewal, powerful enough to shatter curses."
"Exactly! That's the spirit!"
Kagura clapped his hands in approval, genuinely impressed by her reasoning.
Of course, he wasn't vile enough to trick her into surrendering anything more than a kiss, but a first kiss? That seemed fair game. If he didn't let her do something, Yumiko's guilt would eat her alive!
This was, in his mind, an act of chivalry to ease her distress.
Unbeknownst to Kagura, Mai Sakurajima was leaning against the wall outside the window, eavesdropping on his audacious nonsense.
"What an idiot… is this guy actually this dense? Hopelessly so!"
Mai fumed, torn between exasperation and amusement. When she'd overheard Kagura's initial quip about "touching a leg," she nearly stormed to the window to berate him.
Her reasoning was straightforward: Mai prided herself on having legs unrivaled by any girl in school—not even Utaha Kasumigaoka, Yukino Yukinoshita, or Sora Kasugano could surpass her, though they might match her at best. Yumiko Miura, in her estimation, was a tier below.
Yet Kagura, the man who'd once accidentally grazed her chest, seemed utterly unaffected by her allure. He barely glanced at her legs, yet here he was, propositioning the second-tier Yumiko with "let me touch your leg."
Were her legs that unappealing? Why hadn't he ever asked her about touching them? Were they not captivating enough?
A quiet frustration simmered in Mai's heart, akin to the time she'd witnessed Yukino furtively caressing Kagura's backpack in a private moment.
"Ugh… fine, you win…"
Yumiko wiped away her tears and, turning away from his midsection, sat on the edge of his bed. She twisted her waist to face him, shyly placing both hands on his shoulders.
Their eyes locked, and as Yumiko leaned closer, the faint, pleasant scent of roses wafted into Kagura's senses.
He couldn't quite tell if it was deodorant or perfume, but the rose fragrance suited Yumiko perfectly—bold, vibrant, and brimming with presence.
"Yumiko, are you really…?"
"Sh-shut up! Even I get embarrassed, okay?! Just keep quiet and let me kiss you!"
"Uh…"
Kagura hesitated for a split second, just as the system's voice chimed in.
"Greetings, Lord Kagura. A new quest has been issued. You may choose one option to complete or skip:
A: Touch Yumiko Miura's leg.
B: Touch Yumiko Miura's chest.
C: Take the initiative to kiss her, rather than waiting for her to kiss you."
"Tch, I choose C!"
Kagura made his decision instantly. Snapping back to reality, he leaned forward, gently cradling the back of Yumiko's head, and pressed his lips to hers.
He might appear delicate, but he wasn't the type to sit passively and let a girl make the first move.
A girl's first kiss was far more satisfying when he claimed it.
Kagura was, without question, a seasoned kisser, thanks to the countless lessons from his "teacher," Ai Hayasaka. Compared to him, Yumiko's kiss was stiff and unpracticed. The moment their lips met, she froze like a wooden statue, eyes wide and unblinking, staring at him as if she'd become a marionette in his hands.
Even when Kagura's tongue gently parted her lips, she remained dazed, her eyes reflecting panic and confusion. Undeterred, Kagura pulled her closer, tilting his head slightly to deepen the kiss, their lips brushing repeatedly in a fervent dance.
Gradually, Yumiko began to respond, her fingers digging into his shoulders as tears streamed down her cheeks. She tried to match his rhythm, as if fulfilling his "final wish."
When Kagura's tongue ventured forward, Yumiko instinctively pushed back, but he seized the moment, entwining their tongues in a delicate interplay. Their lips parted and met again in the narrow space between, their tongues twisting and turning like serpents locked in an intimate embrace, exchanging breaths and saliva in a prolonged, passionate kiss.
At first, Yumiko was as rigid as a board, but as she warmed to the moment, she strove to take control, eager to reclaim her "queenly" authority. Yet her inexperience betrayed her, and Kagura's skill overwhelmed her senses, leaving her body limp and nearly collapsing into his arms.
"Ha… ha…"
Finally, when Yumiko's waist could no longer hold her upright, Kagura released her.
She slumped forward, clutching her chest and gasping for air, like a fish flung onto dry land.
The system's notification sounded: "Thank you for completing the quest. You have received: Item [Clear Spring] x1 and a triple-strength recovery potion."
"Another Clear Spring, huh…"
Kagura rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Would you like a reminder of the item's effects?"
"No need, I remember."
Kagura's thoughts drifted to Ai Hayasaka. The first Clear Spring he'd earned had been used on her, and its effects were remarkable—rendering a girl's body pristine and fragrant from within, free of any odor, even purifying bodily fluids.
Ai's sweat and other secretions now carried the faint scent of osmanthus, and her most intimate areas were clean and inviting. Kagura felt he could indulge without hesitation.
Dismissing the system with a wave, he noticed Yumiko, now seated back in the chair, covering her lips and exchanging shy glances with him. She quickly turned away, coughing to clear her throat and shaking her head, as if trying to erase the memory of their kiss.
Kagura met her gaze with a warm smile, murmuring, "Sweet…"
Yumiko's ears turned scarlet, and she ducked her head, fixating on her skirt's hem.
After a brief silence, Yumiko extended her leg slightly, her right hand hovering near her lips as she avoided his gaze. In a barely audible voice, she asked, "Your leg thing… do you… still want to touch?"
"Uh, what—"
Her words caught Kagura off guard, leaving him momentarily dumbfounded.
Before he could respond, a flurry of rapid footsteps approached the infirmary door, followed by a resounding BANG! as it was flung open, slamming against the wall.
"Kagura—!! Are you okay?!"
Eriri, fighting back tears, rushed to the curtain and yanked it open with a dramatic swoosh.
Yumiko, mortified by Eriri's sudden intrusion, flushed deeply and patted her cheeks in a fluster. Eriri's sharp eyes darted between Kagura and Yumiko, her expression shifting from concern to disdain, and finally settling on mild contempt.
Kagura, warmed by Eriri's evident worry, found her initial look of genuine fear reassuring, despite her current scowl.
"Tch… what's this? I came all this way, and you're just flirting with some girl? Guess I had nothing to worry about."
Eriri crossed her arms, rolling her eyes in exasperation.
—That sneaky cat looks familiar. Yumiko Miura from Class F, right? Isn't she usually hanging around Hayato Hayama? Why's she cozying up to Kagura now?
"Hey, what do you mean 'flirting'?! Eriri, ever heard of the 'Curse of the Window'?"
Flirting? Well, maybe a little, and he did steal a kiss, but Kagura was practically coerced into it! Kiss or leg-touching—which was the better option?
When he posed the question, Eriri's face paled, and she hurried to Yumiko's side, her heart pounding. "Wait, what's going on? Is Kagura actually cursed?"
"Can you not get so close all of a sudden? Aren't you his sister? If you're younger, show some respect!"
Yumiko, reverting to her fiery queen persona, stood her ground and shot back at Eriri.
"Sister? We're twins, born on the same day, so no hierarchy here! And we're both second-years, so drop the 'senior' act!"
"Hah—?" Yumiko's eyebrow twitched, and she rose to her feet, ready to square off. Eriri, equally unyielding, crossed her arms and snapped, "What? You picking a fight?"
"Okay, you two, I'm still lying here. Can you chill for a second?"
Kagura sighed, spreading his hands in exasperation.
"Hmph!" Eriri turned away sharply, while Yumiko scoffed, crossing her arms and kicking one leg over the other.
After a brief standoff, Yumiko broke the silence. "Fine, it's true. Your brother's caught the Curse of the Window. He's probably not long for this world."
"…Seriously?"
Eriri's face drained of color, and she swayed, nearly collapsing.
Good grief, did Eriri actually Roshi believe every schoolyard ghost story?
"But don't worry, Yumiko's already broken the curse…"
Kagura began, but before he could finish, the infirmary door swung open again. This time, it was none other than Mai Sakurajima!
Mai's sudden entrance halted Kagura's words. He stared at her, but Yumiko and Eriri couldn't see her. To them, Kagura appeared to be fixating on something moving from the door to his bedside.
"You okay? If you can get up, come with me. We need to talk."
Mai's cheeks puffed slightly, a clear sign of irritation, though Kagura had no clue what he'd done to upset her.
He slid out of bed and slipped on his shoes.
Yumiko and Eriri, caught in the eerie atmosphere, were too stunned to stop him.
"Lend me your hand."
Mai crossed her left arm over her chest and extended her right toward Kagura.
"…?"
Kagura tilted his head in confusion but offered his right hand.
In an instant, Mai gripped his wrist with surprising strength, causing a twinge of pain. She glanced back at the bewildered Yumiko and Eriri, her lips curling into a faint smirk, before abruptly dragging Kagura toward the door in a swift dash.
"Whoa—! Wait, hold on!"
Kagura stumbled after her as they burst out of the infirmary. Yumiko and Eriri, snapping out of their daze, exchanged a glance and shouted in unison, "Oh no, the curse is acting up!"
Without hesitation, they scrambled for the door, each refusing to yield to the other. They collided with a thud, Yumiko's left arm slamming into the doorframe, numbing it, while Eriri's right shoulder throbbed from the impact.
"Get out of the way, you shrimp!" Yumiko growled, pressing her hand against Eriri's forehead.
"You're the one who needs to move, you oversized gorilla!" Eriri retorted, yanking at Yumiko's skirt to hold her back.
"Who did you call what?! Say that again, and you're dead!"
"What kind of girl has your kind of strength? Definitely a gorilla—argh!"
In the chaos, both tumbled out the door, smacking their foreheads on the ground, each sporting a red welt.
Ignoring the pain, Yumiko sprang up, determined to chase after Kagura, who was clearly being "dragged" by something. Eriri, however, tripped her by grabbing her ankle, sending Yumiko sprawling. Eriri darted ahead, sticking out her tongue mockingly. "Bleh~~~!"
Fuming, Yumiko's temper flared, but with lives at stake, she set aside her grudge. With a burst of speed, her long legs overtook Eriri effortlessly.
"You—! Think you're all that with those legs?!" Eriri yelled, baring her teeth in frustration.
Meanwhile, Mai, still clutching Kagura's hand, laughed gleefully as she pulled him along. The few lingering students in the hallway shot puzzled looks his way, likely because, to them, he appeared to be dragged by an invisible force.
Mai's laughter rang out as she hauled him up from the first floor to the fourth, then through the corridor into the old school building. Their footsteps echoed on the creaky wooden stairs—tap-tap-tap-tap-tap—as they climbed higher.
"Senpai, where are you taking me?"
Kagura, catching glimpses of Mai's skirt fluttering (and flashing more than once), couldn't help but chuckle.
"To a place where I can humanely dispose of a lecherous underclassman like you!"
"Huh—?"
"Don't worry, it'll only hurt for a moment, then you'll feel nothing."
"That's not reassuring at all!"
Despite his protests, Mai dragged him onto the rooftop.
"Phew—phew—"
Even Mai, with her impressive stamina, was breathless after the sprint and stair climb, though she didn't loosen her grip on Kagura's wrist.
Kagura's mind buzzed with questions, but the dazzling honey-hued sunset captivated him. The fiery crimson sky and the cool, tranquil breeze stirred a longing to stretch his arms toward the fading sun and breathe deeply.
"So, Senpai, care to explain what's going on?"
Kagura stood by the small door leading downstairs, hearing footsteps—likely Eriri or Yumiko—thundering closer.
"No grand motive. I'm just annoyed at you using cheap tricks to steal a girl's first kiss." Mai stepped forward, pinning Kagura's toe under her foot and tugging his tie as she pouted. "You know all the ghost stories about 'Senpai Mai' are fake."
"If they're fake, why are you investigating them? Also, you're stepping on my foot…"
"You don't seem thrilled to have a beautiful senpai stepping on you. As for my investigation, that's my business, not yours."
"Thrilled? I'm not a masochist!"
"Oh, really?" Mai's eyes flickered with surprise, but she pressed down harder, her tone firm. "Regardless, tricking a girl into a kiss isn't exactly noble. As your senpai, I'm obligated to set you straight!"
"Ow—my foot! It hurts!"
"Come here."
Hearing the approaching footsteps, Mai released his tie and grabbed his right arm, pulling him toward the rooftop's edge.
When Yumiko and Eriri finally burst onto the scene, Kagura and Mai stood at the precipice. Mai positioned herself behind him, her left arm around his waist, her right controlling his arm. Her hair danced in the breeze, tickling his ear.
"Hey, Sawamura—!!" Yumiko bellowed.
Eriri, legs trembling, clung to the doorframe, barely able to stand.
"So…" Kagura glanced sidelong at Mai, teasing, "Are we dancing off the rooftop together, Senpai? With me as the lady?"
Normally, he'd be the one holding her waist for a dramatic exit.
"Keep talking, and I'll smack you."
Mai, stone-faced, stomped on his foot again.
"No…! Sawamura's completely under 'Senpai Mai's' control!" Yumiko started forward but noticed Eriri's weakness. With a scoff, she stepped back and offered her hand. "Come on, grab it. Can you walk?"
"Th-thanks…" Eriri took her hand gratefully, and Yumiko pulled her close. Eriri's eyes fixed on the pair silhouetted against the sunset, stepping cautiously onto Kagura's stretched shadow, her lips trembling. "Kagura… you…"
"He's your brother, right?! Say something to snap him out of it! Spill all the sappy stuff you've held back—family, friendship, love, whatever! Or do you want to watch him get cursed to death?!"
Yumiko's voice nearly cracked with urgency.
Eriri, gasping from the run and dizzy with fear, couldn't think straight. Her mind was blank despite her desperation. Seeing her uselessness, Yumiko gritted her teeth, her face flushed, and shouted, "Hey!! Sawamura!! Don't let that thing drag you to the other side! You want to touch my legs, right?! Come here, and I'll let you touch all you want!! And… even more private places! Don't die!!"
"What did you just say—?!"
Eriri's temper flared, ready to pounce on Yumiko.
Kagura's jaw dropped internally—Whoa—but Mai seemed to grow angrier, her grip tightening painfully on his foot.
"Sawamura…"
Mai rose on her toes, whispering softly in his ear.
"??"
Kagura turned, puzzled.
Mai's cheeks were faintly pink, likely shocked by Yumiko's bold outburst, but her embarrassment gave way to rising irritation. Biting her lip, she let out a haughty huff, her voice dripping with disdain. "Perverted idiot, go die!"
With that, she leaned back, pulling Kagura down with her.
"Aaah—?!"
Kagura's shout echoed as they vanished over the rooftop's edge.
"It's over…"
Eriri's legs gave out, and she sank to her knees.
Yumiko, reeling, staggered forward, clutching her face.
—I killed him… I was supposed to protect him… He's so fragile… I shouldn't have dragged him out for trash duty. I could've handled it alone. All he needed to do was play his piano…
Tears streamed down Yumiko's face. Glancing back, she saw Eriri silently weeping, her face ashen.
"Haha… hahahaha—wait, that's it?"
Kagura's voice suddenly rang out from below.
Yumiko and Eriri froze, exchanging stunned looks, thinking they'd misheard.
But Kagura was very much alive, and Mai wasn't about to die with him. They'd fallen from the rooftop onto the slightly lower lab building roof, leaving Kagura with little more than a sore backside.
"The evil spirit of the Window Curse supposedly kidnapped you to the rooftop and threw you off. But since a new school building was constructed here, the curse activated but didn't kill you, effectively breaking it. Compared to sweet-talking girls into kissing you, this explanation is far more convincing and wholesome, don't you think, Sawamura-kun?"
Mai, kneeling beside him, smiled as she pinched the soft flesh at his waist.
"Ow, ow, ow—!!"
Kagura yelped, drawing Yumiko and Eriri's attention as they rushed over.
"Looks like… the curse failed, huh?"
Kagura waved through the pain.
Eriri, relieved, threw her arms around Yumiko, who sighed in relief, chiding herself for forgetting the rooftop drop wasn't fatal. She gently patted Eriri's head, murmuring, "It's okay…"
Mai, meanwhile, yanked Kagura's ear sharply. "No funny business with that Miura girl, got it? Nod if you understand."
Kagura nodded hastily, and Mai finally relented.
After the scare, Kagura left his bag behind and headed out with Eriri, who dragged him to the car where Sora was waiting. Sora, visibly annoyed by their tardiness, grumbled, "You're late…"
Inside, Sora lounged by the left door, cheek propped on her hand, gazing out the window, unfazed by the door's opening.
"Afternoon, Sora-chan!"
Kagura's voice startled her slightly. She glanced back, her tone flat. "Oh… not heading home alone today?"
"Had a bit of a scare, you could say. Pretty intense."
Kagura moved to slide into the car, but Eriri grabbed his waist from behind, yanking him out.
"What's your deal?!"
"Guys sit on the side."
"Hey…"
"What?"
Eriri slipped past him, flipping her right ponytail as she settled in, glaring.
"…Never mind."
Kagura took the seat to her right and shut the door. As the car started, he mimicked Sora's pose, resting his cheek against his hand to stare out the window. Eriri quietly clasped his left hand.
Her fingertips bore calluses from years of drawing, but the rest of her hand was soft and slightly clammy, still cool from the earlier fright. Kagura's hands, rough from constant piano practice, contrasted sharply.
"…?"
Kagura glanced back, but Eriri stared straight ahead, pretending nothing was amiss. When he lingered, she bared her teeth and snapped, "What now?"
"Uh… so—"
Kagura squeezed her hand lightly.
"So what?" Eriri leaned in, her words rapid. "Don't want to sit with your sister and rather cozy up to Sora? Give me one good reason!"
"Again…?"
Sora sighed, bored.
"…" Kagura's lips twitched as Eriri huffed, gripping his hand tighter and muttering, "Thought you were really gonna die…"
Got it—Eriri was playing dumb on purpose.
"Die? What's that about?"
Sora perked up, turning to face them.
Eriri launched into a vivid retelling of the day's events for Sora.
"That sounds dangerous… Kagura, next time you hear a voice calling you, don't look up."
"Got it. Thanks for the heads-up."
"Just doing my part."
Sora turned back, leaning against the window, stretching her legs and closing her eyes for a nap.
"Eri…"
"Shut it—"
Eriri shot him a glare, pinching his hand for good measure.
She clearly didn't want him questioning her grip or spouting nonsense. Kagura wasn't that clueless—he'd just been caught off guard. Her tight hold screamed, I don't want to lose you.
"Ow…"
Kagura winced, and Eriri eased up, settling into a gentler clasp.
Then, with her left hand, she deftly pulled out her phone, unlocked it, and opened their LINE chat. Her nickname for him was a simple "兄" (Ani). She typed furiously before showing him the screen: Come to my art studio around 8 PM. Don't bring the doll girl.
Eriri tilted her head, her eyes asking, Got it? Kagura nodded.
Satisfied, she exhaled, pocketing her phone.
Kagura wondered what she had planned, especially since she wanted to keep it from both Sora and Ai. Hiding from Sora? Doable. But Ai? That was trickier—she was far sharper and always knew where he was, unless he turned invisible.
With some time before they reached home, Kagura savored the quiet, leaning against the right window and drifting into a light nap.
Soon, he felt Eriri rest against his shoulder. He said nothing, holding her hand as they rode home together.
Kagura dozed off briefly, waking to find Eriri had let go and moved away. Her sharp "Get up!" was as prickly as ever, like he owed her a fortune.
After the intense weekend with Ai, her body was still recovering, and Kagura, no insatiable beast, gave her a break from "duties" for a few days.
After dinner and a shower, Kagura headed to the piano room to practice, a sacred time when no one could disturb him. He set a vibrating alarm, replaying Yumiko's kiss in his mind as he played until 7:55 PM.
When the alarm buzzed, he stopped reluctantly, silenced it, and stretched high, easing off the bench. He pressed a few keys, then circled the piano, stepping through the half-open French doors onto the semicircular balcony to breathe the crisp night air.
"Done?"
Eriri's voice cut in from the right.
She'd been leaning on the balcony railing, waiting for him.
"Yup, all done."
Kagura replied without turning, gripping the railing and arching his back, his spine popping satisfyingly.
Eriri's studio was next to his piano room. He'd once suggested soundproofing, but she'd refused, meaning her space was often filled with his music when they worked simultaneously—a private concert of sorts.
"If you're done, get over here!"
"Five minutes left. What's the rush?"
"You're supposed to be a gentleman, making a lady wait?"
"You…" Kagura bit back a retort.
Every time Eriri called herself a "lady," the word lost all meaning. A lady with nearly four thousand self-pleasure sessions? Quite the lady.
"What—? Got a problem? Spit it out!"
Eriri leaned on the railing, glaring from the left.
"No problem. I'm coming." Kagura stepped back inside, closed the French doors, and headed out, only to hear Ai say, "Good work. Here."
Turning, he saw Ai standing ramrod straight by the piano room door, her left arm bent with a white towel draped over it, her right holding a silver tray with his favorite inowater sports drink and an iced lemon water.
See? No escaping Ai Hayasaka.
"Not feeling either of those."
Kagura eyed her with a mischievous grin.
"…" Ai tilted her head innocently to the left, her tone playful. "Then what do you want?"
"Obviously—"
Kagura sidled to her left, pinched her chin, and nibbled her ear.
The glasses on her tray rattled slightly, mirroring her trembling body.
"I've always wanted to ask—were you obsessed with eating earlobes in a past life?"
"Don't worry, I won't chop your ears off."
Kagura licked her earlobe, then kissed her deeply.
Ai reciprocated, their tongues dancing briefly before she pushed him back with a gentle hand. "Playtime's over. Drink."
"You're no fun."
Kagura grumbled, downing the lemon water and pouring half the inowater into the iced glass, wiping his mouth with her towel.
"Please, I'm in serious work mode. You're the one in perpetual horny dog mode."
"Yeah, yeah, thanks. Go rest."
"It's only 8 PM—!!"
"Very well, I'll take my leave."
Ignoring his outburst, Ai bowed slightly and walked off.
Before she was out of sight, Kagura pushed open Eriri's studio door, only to find it locked. A second later, Eriri unlocked it with a click, cracked it open, and yanked him inside.
Kats! Eriri shut the door stealthily, while Kagura rolled his eyes behind her. "What's this, a spy mission?"
"Spy mission? What?" His sudden voice startled her, and she spun around, pouting. "Who were you just talking to?"
"Who do you think?"
Kagura gave a wry smile, spreading his hands.
Eriri's studio, roughly the same size as his piano room, felt cramped with its dozen easels, stacks of canvases, paint cabinets, and assorted chairs, stools, and a sofa. The clutter contrasted sharply with his sparse piano room.
"I knew it…" Eriri muttered, locking the door and clapping her hands on her hips. "So, any guess why I called you here tonight?"
"Uh…?"
Kagura's mind raced. Was she asking for another hand technique demonstration?
The last time she'd summoned him—two days ago—it was for exactly that.