Kato Hiromi had been feeling somewhat relaxed lately.
Not only because that demon Nanaya hadn't come looking for her—apparently having grown tired of her—but also because she no longer had to drag her exhausted body to class every day.
Without the intense physical demands, she found herself becoming more positive overall.
Or so Hiromi thought.
She put away the Vaseline and rubber tubing she habitually brought to the bathroom. Really, now that she was free, why was she still thinking about these things?
Her life was finally beginning to brighten again.
Unconsciously, Hiromi gripped the rubber tubing tightly in her hand, standing motionless in the bathroom for two full minutes before finally turning to leave.
Now that Nanaya had his new favorite, Kato Megumi, he naturally wanted to spend more time deepening their relationship.
And Kato Megumi's body was extraordinarily sensitive.
Many positions and ideas that Nanaya tried with her always provided fresh new experiences.
For Nanaya, this was a process of curiosity and exploration.
But for Kato Megumi, it was a continuous descent into depravity.
Every time Nanaya developed a new position with her, Megumi felt it marked another milestone in her fall from grace.
However.
Through this process, Megumi's feelings toward Nanaya gradually shifted from initial hatred and loathing to resignation, and now even held traces of gratitude in her heart.
Perhaps because she wasn't good at expressing emotions.
Whenever Nanaya showed her even the slightest tenderness, the girl's heart would swell with gratitude.
Especially in recent days—even without her asking—Nanaya would show her the messages he sent to her sister right in front of her.
Given this.
How could Megumi not take the initiative?
With such mutual effort.
The transformation of their feelings was only natural.
——————————
That day, Nanaya sat in the classroom, using his long coat as cover while his hands enjoyed the softness of Megumi's thighs, occasionally pushing upward in attempts to reach the scenic "one-line sky" for another visit.
Kato Megumi kept her head slightly lowered, trying her best to minimize attention from others.
Completely different from before.
Now the girl no longer resisted Nanaya's advances, only shyly using her hands to weakly try controlling Nanaya's larger ones—though under his persistence, her defenses steadily crumbled.
Just as Nanaya was about to revisit this scenic spot he'd already toured over a dozen times (yet remained unchanged)...
The annoying Aki Tomoya appeared in Nanaya's line of sight again.
Seeing him enter the classroom and immediately head his way, Nanaya silently withdrew his hand, wiping it a couple times on Megumi's thigh.
Megumi didn't understand why Nanaya stopped.
Thinking he was being considerate to spare her further embarrassment...
She slightly raised her head, casting a grateful, dazed look at Nanaya.
As for the sticky sensation on her thigh? She didn't particularly mind anymore.
Well... she was nearly accustomed to it by now...
Seeing Aki Tomoya approach, Nanaya knew he was indeed coming for him.
And the grin splitting Tomoya's face clearly meant good news.
"Nanaya-san, do you have a moment?"
Having been absent for several days, the other girls had nearly forgotten about Tomoya—only for him to reappear harassing their Nanaya-san again.
How could this stand?
Some girl (who knows who) threw a book at Tomoya's head. "Stop bothering Nanaya-san while he's thinking!"
"That's right!"
"Don't corrupt our Nanaya-san!"
Though these girls had been chatting earlier, their gazes remained fixed on Nanaya's face. Tomoya's appearance not only blocked their view...
His very silhouette seemed to darken the previously rosy atmosphere, making it somehow nauseating.
"Ow! That hurts! I didn't even say anything yet!" Rubbing his head, Tomoya scurried away but still called back, "Nanaya-san! I really have something important to tell you!"
Even so.
Nanaya showed no intention of seeking him out.
During lunch break, Nanaya lay with his head on Megumi's lap, eyes closed, enjoying the girl's soft hands massaging his scalp.
Her delicate fingers gently worked through his hair while her natural fragrance enveloped him. Nanaya turned over, facing her abdomen, and nuzzled forward a few times.
Mmm.
The peach grove was developing nicely too—not astringent, but carrying a unique fresh fragrance.
"Megumi, has your sister shown any changes recently?"
Pressed tightly against her lower abdomen, generating heat that—now accustomed to Nanaya's proximity—triggered an instinctive physical reaction in Megumi.
Her hands paused briefly before resuming their gentle motions.
"Mmm... Sister has... been very happy lately..."
Megumi knew it was only through this man's "help" that her sister had regained her familiar smile.
How could she not feel grateful to Nanaya?
"That's good. If anything comes up or she has difficulties, she can always come to me."
Nanaya said this casually.
"Okay, I understand~"
By deliberately mentioning Kato Arashi in front of Megumi, Nanaya wanted her to understand exactly who had granted her sister's current freedom.
And as long as Megumi didn't want history repeating itself, she—being intelligent—would know exactly how to behave.
After napping on the rooftop, Nanaya escorted Megumi back downstairs.
Leaving the classroom, he spotted Aki Tomoya who'd apparently been waiting quite a while.
"What did you want to talk about?"
Nanaya's tone remained as indifferent as ever.
But Tomoya didn't particularly mind—if anything, Nanaya's past "guidance" had already cemented him as a comrade in Tomoya's eyes.
Personality quirks didn't matter!
"Nanaya! I found our illustrator!"
Tomoya could barely contain his excitement.
"Oh? Who is it?"
Nanaya asked curiously.
"Second-year student Eriri, an old childhood friend of mine! Her artwork is amazing!"
Tomoya chose not to mention Eriri's identity as "Kashiwagi Eri."
Not to protect her reputation, but to prevent Nanaya—who might know "Kashiwagi Eri" and have seen related doujinshi—from doubting the game's art quality.
---
READ 30 CHAPTERS AHEAD OF EVERYONE FOR ONLY $7!
LINK: patr/eon.com/SenatusPopulus