Episode 17 – Morning as Lovers

“…… Ah, I see. I have become lovers with Kasumi?”

I woke up in the morning and quietly muttered to myself.
Last night, I finally told Kasumi how I felt and we became lovers. However, I didn’t think anything would change, and I was confident that our communication would continue as before.

“Right? Kasumi.”
“Su….Su….”

I asked Kasumi, who was sleeping with me.
It had been a long time since I had been in Kasumi’s room, and it had also been a really long time since I had slept in her bed with her like this. We have both grown bigger since then, so it is definitely a little cramped, but it is also a sign that I can feel Kasumi that much more.

“…………….”

Now, here’s something I’ve been thinking about as I do this.
Until now, I still had the strong feeling that we were just childhood friends, and now that I recognized her again as a lover, I have a stronger desire to be more in touch with her.

“I can give her a hug or something, can’t I?”

……I can right?
I put my arms around the sleeping Kasumi as if to embrace her with all my might. She is smaller than me, so when I hug her like this, she fits completely in my arms.

“…..Feels good”

This is not the first time I have hugged Kasumi in this way. If anything, I had done so several times since I started talking to Kasumi again. But now that I know exactly how I feel, it feels different.

“Haa…..I guess this is what happiness is all about.”

I should have known when I was hugging Kasumi like that.
No matter how much she is asleep, I’m sure the other party would wake up if I did whatever I wanted like this.

“♪…..Hmm?”
“……….Jiiiii” (Staring)
“……..”
“……Jii”

Kasumi was staring at me as she went to the trouble of voicing it.
I froze at the look in her eyes, which was so clear that I didn’t think she had woken up from sleep, followed by embarrassment at what I had just done.

“………”
“Kazuki”
“Yeah”
“Go on, I don’t mind.”
“…….Roger”

For the time being, I decided to continue the embrace as it seemed to have been approved.
I stroked her back, patted her head, and did all sorts of other things, but Kasumi never told me to stop. On the contrary, she seemed to appeal to me with her eyes to do more.

“……I’ts embarrassing”
“Yeah. But it’s me, don’t be shy.”
“What does that mean?”
“Me and Kazuki are lovers, so you can do whatever you want.”

Anything? A stupid story popped into my head, but I put it in the corner.
It’s my first morning as a lover with Kasumi, and since it’s Saturday, I can relax all the time.

“Yokkoushotto” (Japanese expression similar to Heave ho)

When I raised my body, Kasumi did the same.

“Good morning, Kasumi.”
“Good morning, Kazuki.”

……..It’s kind of embarrassing now, isn’t it?
I felt embarrassed and removed my eyes from Kasumi, but she put her hands on both cheeks and made me turn my gaze toward her.

“Kazuki, I know you’ll be fine, but I need you to promise me something.”
“Promise?”

I looked back into Kasumi’s eyes, wondering what it was.
Kasumi said this while evoking a more serious mood than usual.

“I think we should share whatever problems we have now that we are lovers. There may be nothing now, but I don’t know what will happen in the future, because I don’t want my feelings for Kazuki to cross paths again after finally communicating with him.”
“……….Yeah”

It’s because we’ve been passing each other for so long …… that I really don’t want to spend time like that anymore, even though I did so unilaterally.

“I say share, but not everything. I don’t particularly reserve anything to talk about, but Kazuki, just what you can talk about, and please don’t …… keep it to yourself.”
“I understand. Well, I don’t intend to do anything wrong, and I won’t hold back on that point, either.”
“Wrong thing is cheating? Cheating could certainly be keeping quiet……”
“Do you think I’m a strong-minded man who would cheat on you ……?”
“I don’t think so. Kazuki is crazy about me, so there is no problem.”

You’re right, but I respect Kasumi for being up front about it.
Well, speaking for myself, I don’t think I need to worry about cheating. I’m not interested in a life with that much color to begin with, and I can’t imagine anyone I’d enjoy being around more than Kasumi.

“…… And I’m not happy at all, but I’m pretty popular.”
“Yeah”

I don’t think it’s quite that simple.
Kasumi was not boasting or anything like that, just saying that such a fact exists.

“I’ll be careful myself, but maybe some people will say something to Kazuki. So–“
“You think I might leave Kasumi again over it, is that what you’re thinking?”
“…… yeah. I have a record.”
“Convictions… …… indeed.”

I chuckled.
I have a criminal record for causing Kasumi grief, but I don’t intend to be swayed by a single word like that now. Of course, it would depend on the degree, but if we became lovers and then drifted apart like this, many people would be angry with me.

I’m afraid of that too, but most of all, I wouldn’t let go of a girl who thinks so much about things like this.

“I know it’s just words, but I promise you. I’ll be there for you as a childhood friend and as a lover. I also want to support you. …… Well, I know you have a lot going on, so please let me help you too.”

There’s a limit to what one person can do.
When I told her this, Kasumi nodded her head.

“Of course, but words are enough. I believe in Kazuki.”
“…… I see.”
“Hmm. I’m a good woman if I do say so myself. A good woman always has room to spare, to trust and spoil her lover.”
“Is that so?”
“I saw it on manga”
“…….”

Maybe Kasumi is a natural after all.
Well, but I have a new being that I need to protect again …… or maybe I just feel that way more strongly.

“Yoishotto”
“Eh?!”

I reached out to Kasumi, held her down, and fell flat on my back.

“I’m looking forward to working with you Kasumi!!!!!!!!”

Oh, …… feels so good.
If school were to start at this point or something, there would be a lot going on, but I wouldn’t change anything in particular about how I spend my time. I just have to walk with Kasumi.

“yeah. Please take care of me, Kazuki ♪”

With loose cheeks, Kasumi laughed, as I recall.
Her smile was nothing like it used to be, and her grown-up smile was now overwritten in my memory.

“Kazuki, as a lover, come to me with whatever you want. I’ll take it all in.”
“…… Oh, what a gentleman.”
“……I know I can be embarassed, and I may ask you to stop, but don’t stop. My stop means go all out.”
“…….”

For the time being, I would like to ask you to stop saying such things if you were Embarrased
It’s bad for the heart, you know..

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