Chapter 33: A Confession Under the Stars
Sora Ginko woke up when it was completely dark outside.
In front of the small cave, the campfire they had made was still glowing a little, offering the last remnants of warmth and light.
Tonight, the girl assigned to take care of her was Megumi. But it seemed Megumi had finally lost the battle against overwhelming sleep. She had fallen asleep on top of Ginko's stomach.
That was what woke Ginko.
Her body... it felt almost completely healed.
She wasn't completely back to her usual strength, but her mind was clear.
Ginko slowly and carefully got up from the straw pile in the cave.
Without waking Megumi, she gently lifted the girl and placed her onto the straw bed where she had been lying.
"Megumi-nee-san, thank you, and I'm sorry for the trouble..."
Ginko brushed away the hair that was sticking to Megumi's cheek, so she could sleep more comfortably.
"My clothes?"
She had just realized that, other than her underwear, the only thing she had on was an emergency outfit made of bark and dry grass.
I feel a bit itchy...
She started looking for her things in the corner of the cave. She was looking for her little leather shoes and school uniform.
Ugh...my black stockings are ruined.
She looked at her favorite black stockings with a disappointed gaze—they were full of rips and tears.
These were Senpai's favorite style too.
Ah, but Senpai also likes to show off his bare legs, doesn't he?
Ginko's face turned red when she had this thought.
She put on her school uniform and her small shoes, then stepped out of the cave.
The night air felt very fresh, and the night sky—full of stars and galaxies—was the most beautiful she had seen in a long time.
"I wonder if Senpai is still awake."
When she came to, the first person she thought of was Jun.
"There he is."
Another campfire was burning not far from the cave. Two figures sat in front of it, side by side.
That's Senpai... and Kasumigaoka-senpai?
Ginko was a little surprised. Why was Senpai with Kasumigaoka-senpai this late at night?
She started walking toward them slowly.
_ _ _
"Utaha-senpai, not sleepy yet?"
Jun added another piece of dry wood to the fire.
To be honest, the atmosphere made him nervous.
Since that "close" moment with Utaha, Jun had been avoiding any situations where they were alone together.
"Hm? I'm not sleepy at all, being with Jun-kun like this."
Utaha smiled, winked, and leaned in closer, her body now half-turned toward him.
"But it's already pretty late..."
Jun moved uncomfortably, putting a little distance between them.
He wasn't used to Utaha being so direct.
"But I'm not sleepy."
Seeing Jun still trying to keep his distance, Utaha placed her hand on his arm, gripping it tightly to keep him from escaping.
"Wait... Utaha-senpai, you're... really close..."
Jun felt like his body was trapped in a warm, soft, and dangerous world.
"How do you mean?"
Utaha acted like she didn't understand, moving closer.
"Your breasts are pressing against me..."
Jun wasn't sure how much longer he could control himself.
A beautiful girl on a remote island speaks to him closely at night.
All of this was quickly wearing him down.
This was especially true because the girl seemed to be openly offering herself.
Jun felt like his head was on fire.
"Jun-kun, you don't think I'm a cheap woman, do you?"
Utaha's tone softened when she saw Jun's hesitation and stiff expression, and she looked worried.
"No! I know... Utaha-senpai must be embarrassed too... probably really embarrassed..."
Jun held her hand. Her palm felt cold and sweaty.
He also noticed that her thighs were shaking.
"Jun-kun, you noticed all that..."
Then, Utaha pulled her hand back and let go of his arm.
"So... you think I'm not charming enough, right?"
Her voice changed suddenly, which made Jun sigh in relief.
"No, that's not it!"
This time, Jun was completely honest.
His nervous tone and trembling voice showed how hard he was struggling against the desire surging in his heart.
If not, the girl in front of him...
He might have been in real danger.
And that wasn't a joke—Jun knew his own weaknesses very well.
"It's just that, even though we've known each other for a while online, we've only just met in real life a few days ago."
Jun thought this was just a suspension bridge effect—feelings sparked by intense situations, but misinterpreted as love.
He wasn't sure if she really liked him.
"Should I be more like Yukinoshita-san? Slowly build my feelings for you?"
Utaha suddenly said a name that made the teasing stop and the mood become serious.
Yukinoshita Yukino. The name made Megumi think of the conversation she had with Utaha...
And also... the two red marks on Jun's neck.
"Yukino... why mention her again so suddenly?"
Jun touched his lips. They still felt warm from Yukino's kiss earlier.
If only that moment had lasted longer...
During puberty, teenagers always look for comfort and warmth from the opposite sex. Jun was no exception.
"Why? Because I'm afraid I won't get a single chance."
Utaha sat down next to Jun.
"A chance?"
Jun lost focus for a moment.
"A chance to fall in love with you. And a chance to stay with you..."
Finally, Utaha overcame her fear and confessed her feelings.
"I... I..."
Jun looked at her face—a face more beautiful than the starry night sky. He felt like he couldn't breathe.
"Maybe... I'm not as good as you think, Utaha-senpai..."
He wanted to say a lot, but he only managed to say a shy and awkward sentence.
"I never thought you were perfect!"
Utaha laughed lightly, then giggled.
"You seem polite, but secretly you write inappropriate novels like some creepy middle-aged man, and online you send me dirty jokes. Honestly, you're the quiet-but-perverted type—pervert, dirty-minded!"
"Ugh..."
Jun couldn't deny it.
"And... you're also a pervert!"
Utaha had even read his book about a "sissy middle-aged man."
"But..."
Her tone became more gentle. She held his arm again, but this time she was calm. She wasn't sweating or shaking.
"You're gentle, strong on the inside, and you always think about other people's feelings."
She looked at his face.
"And... you're handsome too, you know."
"Really?"
It had been a long time since Jun had heard a compliment like that.
"Yeah. When you helped promote my book without hesitation, or when you stood in front of that bear to protect me, you were really cool!"
Utaha now leaned completely into him.
"Even now."
She confessed everything from the bottom of her heart.
Her face was red, but she looked at Jun with determination and love. A deep look that could swallow anyone whole.
"Utaha-senpai..."
Jun couldn't look at her anymore. They were too close.
If he moved a little closer, he could kiss her.
"You know I'm a bit of a pervert, but you still want to be with me?"
Jun felt nervous.
Under the starlight, Utaha's body gave off a sweet, intoxicating scent.
"I can't help it. They say all teenage boys are like that. But I don't mind a pervert like Jun-kun."
Utaha kept confessing, but she looked away from him.
"Utaha..."
Jun gently touched her cheek.
He couldn't hold back his feelings anymore.
But as he watched her eyes close, her lashes tremble, and her soft pink lips look like Yukino's...
He suddenly stopped.
Yukino...
He had just been with Yukino earlier that day.
And now?
No, this isn't right. I can't do this!
Jun stopped suddenly.
Meanwhile, Utaha, waiting for Jun to show her affection, slowly opened her eyes. She was confused because she didn't receive the kiss she had expected.
So... did I really rush things?
Utaha looked disappointed.
But she wasn't the type to give up easily!
She gently wrapped her arms around Jun's neck and leaned in again.
"Wait..."
"Wait a second!"
Jun made the first "wait" sound, and Sora Ginko made the second, louder one because she could no longer contain herself.
"Senpai! You pervert, what do you think you're doing to Utaha-senpai at this hour!?"
Yes, Jun's gesture of holding Utaha's cheek had caused Ginko to misread the situation. She thought her senior was about to do something indecent.
But the truth is...
Tsk...
Ginko's sudden arrival ruined Utaha's perfect moment.
She felt affection and awkwardness as she moved away from Jun.
"Gin-chan! You're finally awake!"
Jun looked relieved, unlike Utaha. He didn't seem disappointed.
He still had feelings for Yukino and had just recently rejected Utaha. He wasn't ready to be in a relationship with two people at once.
Ginko's arrival made things more bearable and provided an opportunity to think.
"Hmph! I just got here, and you're already doing strange things to Utaha-senpai! Explain yourself!"
Ginko stomped on Jun's body with her small foot, without hesitation.
"It's not that simple, Gin-chan. Listen to me..."
Jun lied to save himself.
"That was just... I was helping Utaha-senpai because she got dust in her eye..."
"Yes! I didn't lose control at all..."
Jun held Ginko's foot still, pressing on his waist, and begged with a pleading look.
"Really? Utaha-senpai, is that true?"
Ginko acted confused and looked at Utaha.
"Yes, Gin-chan just misunderstood."
Utaha acted calm, even though she was clearly irritated.
"Good. My Senpai is a bad person. Utaha-senpai should keep her distance."
Ginko glared at Utaha without any emotion, continuing to step on Jun's body.
"Is that so? But I don't think I've ever told you this, Gin-chan," Utaha turned to Jun and winked, "I prefer guys who are a little naughty like Jun-kun."
Utaha's clever but kind words made the crowd excited.
She must've been listening from the start! Utaha thought to herself, "What a hassle." But remembering her confession, her face turned red again.
Gin-chan heard everything. It was so embarrassing.
"Grr..."
Ginko was surprised that Utaha responded in such a strong way. Under the campfire's glow, she met Utaha's gaze—this girl who had once been her friend.
"Fatty Kasumigaoka-senpai!"
"Shortie!"
_ _ _
Jun could almost see sparks flying from their eyes.
"Gin-chan, Utaha-senpai, why don't you two keep watch tonight? I'm going to sleep..."
Jun couldn't stand the rising tension and tried to escape.
"Be quiet!"
"Shut up!!"
The twin shouts made Jun stop mid-step.
"Okay, okay, go ahead. You two, go ahead."
Jun had to watch the two girls insult each other.
I'm not going to sleep tonight.
He lay down on the ground and listened to them argue while looking at the beautiful night sky full of stars.
_ _ _
The tiring night finally ended.
When he woke up again, Jun saw three pairs of people's eyes looking at him.
"Huh? It's morning already?"
Apparently, Jun had fallen asleep on the beach.
It was a little cold, but his current condition kept him from getting a cold, even from the ocean breeze all night.
"Hmm, is Big Brother going to the forest again today?"
Utaha and Ginko seemed to still be sound asleep, recovering after their long night of arguing.
Megumi looked away from her brother's neck.
Even though the number of red marks on his neck had increased again...
Megumi was jealous.
"It's a great day for going out. The weather is perfect."
Jun hadn't noticed his sister and Yukino's strange looks yet.
"Hmph! Go take a bath! Your breath smells bad!"
Yukino was clearly jealous.
In just one night, the red marks she left on Jun's body had been replaced by even more new ones.
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