Just as Kaoru began mentally cataloging his remaining rewards, Horikita poked his cheek.
"You have a date with Ichinose tomorrow, don't you?"
Turning toward the voice, Kaoru found himself eye-to-eye with her usually expressionless face.
Her proximity highlighted the rare hint of pink dusting her cheeks.
She bit her lip lightly before whispering, "I'd planned to give this to you on Christmas, but now it seems... too late."
Meanwhile, Kushida bowed her head, strands of hair cascading like liquid light along her face.
Her gaze—softened with amusement—rested on him.
"So we decided to give them tonight instead. Merry early Christmas," she said, punctuating it with a delicate sniff.
"Don't get your hopes up, though. This is embarrassing enough."
"Even if you handed me two fistfuls of air, I'd treasure them as first gifts," Kaoru replied, warmth blooming in his chest.
In their previous coercive dynamic, they'd never have considered presents—they'd have probably wished him dead sooner.
"Horikita, since he's saying that, maybe we shouldn't give him anything at all." Kushida couldn't stand his expression—as if he'd done something extraordinary when it was just Christmas gifts.
"Someone's overthinking this. We can always decide when his birthday comes around."
"Birthdays are birthdays, Christmas is Christmas. I'm still looking forward to your Valentine's gifts too."
As he spoke, Kaoru suddenly remembered something.
"Oh right, your birthdays are coming up soon, aren't they?"
Kushida was a popular beauty, and she had publicly shared her personal details like birthdate on her social media—anyone on her friends list could see it.
Kaoru recalled hers was January 23rd, meaning her birthday would arrive next month.
Horikita Suzune had also defaulted to making her information public—her birthday was February 15th.
Come to think of it, Kamuro Masumi's was February 20th, Karuizawa Kei's was March 8th, and Sakayanagi Arisu's was March 12th.
He'd almost forgotten—Asahina Nazuna's birthday was January 6th.
Next spring was going to be exceptionally busy.
Tachibana Akane's birthday was May 6th, but by then she'd have already graduated.
There probably wouldn't be a chance to celebrate with her.
Even so, it reminded Kaoru of the terror of being at the mercy of over twenty idols' birthdays back then.
The gift-giving had been downright overwhelming.
"At least you're being considerate. But I'm spending my birthday with everyone else, so you're excused." Kushida said half-jokingly, flashing a mischievous grin.
"That said, I'll still take your gift. If it doesn't satisfy me, don't expect anything for Valentine's."
"You won't let me join your party but still demand a gift?" Kaoru raised his hand and pinched her cheek lightly.
"Don't push it, little angel."
"You're the one pushing it—you never even told us when your birthday was back then." Kushida swatted his hand away, annoyed.
"You really think you would've given me anything?" Kaoru sounded skeptical.
"How would you know if you never asked?" Kushida denied it outright. "Even if I hadn't, you could've just threatened me into it."
Ever since she started caring about him, the past humiliations had become something she could look back on with amusement, even fondness—deliberately ignoring the violence and cruelty, focusing only on the good memories.
Kaoru was speechless.
Just then, Horikita turned toward a nearby cabinet.
As she moved, the alluring curves of her petite figure became visible beneath her fluttering skirt—the hem of her top riding up to reveal a slender, pale waist and the faint outline of her soft stomach.
But what caught Kaoru's attention was what she held—a mug that had been sitting on the cabinet.
He found it odd because he didn't remember having a cup like that in his room.
"I don't have any Personal Points. This is from the convenience store." Horikita's cheeks flushed slightly.
She didn't even have gift wrapping—she was that broke.
"Merry Christmas, Mitoma-kun."
With both hands, she shyly offered him the mug.
Kushida, seemingly amused, leaned in and whispered in his ear.
"Buy one get one free—Horikita has a matching one in her room. Couple items."
At this moment, Kaoru even felt a pang of guilt in his heart.
If it weren't for him, Horikita Suzune wouldn't have been reduced to such dire straits.
"Alright, I'll take it," Kaoru said as he accepted her mug. "I'll cherish it from now on."
Horikita averted her gaze and murmured, "It's just a cheap thing. It's fine if it breaks."
"No, this is an important token of your willingness to accept me. No matter how inexpensive it is, it's become priceless to me at this moment." Kaoru examined the mug before turning his gaze back to Horikita.
"Thank you."
The final "thank you" was spoken with such sincerity that Horikita instinctively turned her face toward him, meeting his eyes.
Her heart fluttered faintly.
Kaoru smiled and was about to say something more when suddenly, the girl knelt before him, then leaned in lightly—so quickly it was almost fleeting—and pressed her moist lips to his in a timid, tender kiss.
The softness against his cheek was as delicate as a dragonfly skimming water.
By the time he regained his senses, Horikita was sitting properly on the floor again, as if nothing had happened.
She glanced at him with perfect composure.
"Don't misunderstand. I haven't accepted you yet."
Kaoru froze for a moment before tapping his lips with a chuckle.
"Be a little braver next time. You can aim here."
Hearing his teasing words, a faint blush finally crept up Horikita Suzune's ears, like the radiant clouds of dusk, glowing and captivating.
"I underestimated you, Horikita. Is that the real Christmas gift?" Kushida, who had also been momentarily stunned, quickly regained her composure and smirked.
"You're so nosy," Horikita feigned calmness. "What about your gift? I didn't see you buy anything at the convenience store."
"Ahaha, I already bought mine in advance." Kushida Kikyo grinned as she rummaged through her pocket before pulling something out.
"Here's my Christmas gift for you, you foot-loving pervert."
She waved the small item in front of Kaoru's eyes, its contents glaringly obvious, leaving him momentarily speechless.
A box of Condoms.
This was the so-called Christmas gift from Kushida Kikyo.
"Have you lost your mind?" Kaoru grabbed her wrist. "What the hell are you thinking, pulling this out?"
Horikita Suzune didn't recognize the brand.
She knew such protective measures existed in the world but had never seen the packaging before.
At first glance, she mistook it for chewing gum.
Now, she was utterly confused—what kind of temptation could chewing gum possibly hold?
"Didn't I already say it?" Kushida pouted defiantly. "I'm definitely going to do it with you. Even if you don't make a move, I'll seduce you."
"That's not what you used to say," Kaoru remarked darkly.
The past was the past, and the present was entirely different.
Kushida pursed her lips but still offered a reasonable justification.
"Because I want to be number one."
Kushida had already made up her mind.
She couldn't stop Kaoru's intentions, nor did she feel she had any reason to.
She was clear about her position—she didn't love Kaoru, so she couldn't be considered his girlfriend, much less part of his harem.
Their relationship was equal, one of mutual indulgence.
She didn't need to compete for his affection; she just needed to extract enough pleasure from him.
Simply put, Kushida would rather be his partner in pleasure than join some harem.
Because the idea of being conquered by him felt too humiliating.
Still, even if she wasn't competing for favor, that didn't mean she wouldn't take the lead.
She'd already let others have the dates—was she supposed to let them take the first step in bed too?
"We've already done so much together. What's one last step?" Kushida maintained a playful grin, though her heart was pounding.
She could feel her tongue trembling with nervousness.
"For a foot-loving pervert like you, this is the greatest reward, right? Be grateful and thank me properly."
Horikita finally understood—and she was completely dumbfounded.
Seriously, couldn't they at least give her a heads-up before doing something like this?
---------
Please read my new fanfic, Fairy Tail : Digimon Take Over
Read 50 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator