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"That… is there no other way?"
Togawa Sakiko bit her pink lips lightly.
Although she had vaguely guessed what the solution was, her pretty face still couldn't help but turn red quickly when she heard Kitahara Makoto say it softly.
Holding hands is fine, but now she has to hug a boy… No matter how you think about it, it's too shameful!
"I couldn't think of any other way," Kitahara Makoto said, looking righteous. "Otherwise, does Togawa Sakiko have an idea?"
Togawa Sakiko: "…"
Yang energy could only be replenished through physical contact. Holding hands wasn't enough now. Besides hugging, there was probably only kissing…
Thinking of more intimate contact, a deeper blush spread across Saki-chan's pretty face. She quickly took a deep breath, drove the chaotic images from her mind, and said softly, lowering her head:
"Let's go with Kitahara-kun's method."
Kitahara Makoto cleared his throat twice. He didn't expect Togawa-san to agree so easily. If it were Bocchi-chan, she would definitely agonize over it for a long time:
"Then I'll hug you?"
"...Mm."
Togawa Sakiko's pretty face was flushed as she softly assented.
It had to be said that Togawa-san's personality had a decisive and firm side. Once she made up her mind, she wouldn't hesitate or look back.
"…"
He hugged her as he said.
Their current location was a street corner, and there weren't many people passing by, so they didn't need to worry about others' gazes.
Kitahara Makoto took half a step forward, opened his arms, and gently embraced Togawa Sakiko.
So fragrant.
The first feeling was how fragrant she was.
A quiet, orchid-like musk quickly filled his nostrils. It didn't smell like shampoo or shower gel; instead, it was more like Togawa-san's natural body scent, like an orchid in a secluded valley, its fragrance pleasing.
The second feeling was how soft she was.
He had thought Togawa-san's body would be tense and stiff, but upon embracing her, he found her body to be indescribably soft and smooth.
"The late emperor started his great enterprise but halfway through, he collapsed…"
Kitahara Makoto took a deep breath, silently reciting "Namu Amida Butsu" in his heart.
Calm down!
He had to calm down quickly!
This wasn't holding hands; this was a face-to-face embrace. With such a fragrant and soft Togawa-san in his arms, if an inappropriate reaction occurred, he would be utterly humiliated!
At the same time.
Togawa Sakiko's long eyelashes trembled slightly, her earlobes dyed crimson, and her heart was equally unsettled.
It was her first time being embraced by a boy her age. Togawa Sakiko had initially thought she would be very resistant, even disgusted, but she quickly realized she was wrong.
Terribly wrong.
At this moment, being embraced by Kitahara Makoto, Togawa Sakiko was surprised to find that she couldn't feel any dislike at all. Instead, she felt an indescribable warmth from Kitahara Makoto, which calmed her entire body and mind.
She even… even wanted Kitahara Makoto to hold her tighter…
(How could I have such a thought… Shameless! So utterly shameless!)
Togawa Sakiko silently bit her lower lip, trying to drive the chaotic thoughts from her mind.
Although she was unwilling to admit it, Togawa Sakiko knew very well that Kitahara Makoto already occupied a very special place in her heart.
If it were any other boy, let alone letting him embrace her, just imagining such a scene in her mind would make every cell in her body resist.
(No…!)
(Feelings only make people weak!)
(Weak Togawa-chan is dead. Only by abandoning feelings can one become strong, just like that line in JOJO… To become strong, I'm giving up my humanity!)
Togawa Sakiko knew very well that the best way to extinguish the unusual feelings in her heart was to keep her distance from Kitahara Makoto, preferably never having any contact again.
But… she couldn't do it.
Not to mention the ghost Senpai's matter, they still had to exorcise and earn money together this weekend. It was impossible to maintain distance, right?
The two quietly embraced, neither speaking.
After an unknown amount of time.
Togawa Sakiko finally spoke softly: "Kitahara-kun, I'm fine now."
Kitahara Makoto took two steps back: "Are you really back to normal?"
"Mm." Togawa Sakiko pursed her pink lips, using her fingers to comb the hair by her ear to hide the blush on her face. "…Now there's no heavy, numb feeling at all."
"That's good." Kitahara Makoto took out his phone and checked the time. "Since you're fine, shall we go back?"
"Okay."
The two headed to the Train Station together, boarded the train, and went home separately.
The journey was silent.
Upon arriving near his home, Kitahara Makoto stopped to buy a small cake.
He had promised the Beast Eared Girl a small cake when he left in the morning. If he broke his promise, she wouldn't cry, but she would definitely stare at him with a wronged expression and might even call him a heartless man.
"I'm home."
Kitahara Makoto pushed open the door and entered the genkan.
Thump, thump, thump.
The Beast Eared Girl, wearing an oversized shirt and with bare feet, thumped over, looked up with anticipation in her eyes:
"Cake."
"I bought it, I bought it." Kitahara Makoto handed her the cake. "Eat it yourself, and don't get it on your clothes."
Having dealt with the Beast Eared Girl, Kitahara Makoto turned and walked into the bathroom to take a shower.
Firstly, the weather had recently turned hot, and he had sweated on the way. Secondly… he had just hugged Togawa-san, and a scent would inevitably linger on him. He was going to see Little Miss Anxiety later, and it would be troublesome if she found out.
Kitahara Makoto suddenly realized that he actually had great potential to be a scoundrel…
After showering, Kitahara Makoto changed into a clean, fresh shirt, then picked up his phone and sent a message to Bocchi-chan.
"Hitori-chan, wait for me at the door. I'm about to head over."
Gotō Hitori: "Th-that… Kitahara-kun, don't come over today…"
Kitahara Makoto: "What's wrong?"
Gotō Hitori: "Mom said last night to stay home and study hard and take care of Futari, and not to run out to wait for her… Also, she said it's dangerous for me to go out alone at night…"
You worry about your mom's safety, and Gotō-san worries about you walking alone at night. What a truly loving mother and daughter!
Kitahara Makoto pondered for two seconds, already guessing Bocchi-chan's complex thoughts.
On one hand, it was her mother's instruction; on the other, it was definitely related to this afternoon's events. All in all, Bocchi-chan's courage was exhausted, and now she wanted to escape again.
However… the way to make Little Miss Anxiety muster her courage was actually very simple.
Kitahara Makoto: "There's something I need to tell Hitori-chan… I just got back from outside, and when I passed the park, I saw that strange woman in the windbreaker again."
Gotō Hitori: "Eh, eh, eh?!"
Kitahara Makoto: "Since Hitori-chan isn't worried about your aunt's safety, then I won't go over…"
Gotō Hitori immediately panicked: "I, I, I, I need to pick up Mom!"
Kitahara Makoto: "Wait for me at the door."
Gotō Hitori: "…"
Holding her phone, Bocchi-chan blinked, feeling like she had been tricked.
But it was better to be safe than sorry.
What if that strange woman was indeed lurking nearby?
What if Mom happened to run into her?
No!
Mom absolutely must not encounter danger!
As soon as she thought of her mother potentially being in danger, Gotō Hitori felt her courage instantly surge to MAX.
"Dad is on a business trip, and Futari is only five, so only I can protect Mom." Bocchi-chan clenched her small fists, and thinking of Kitahara Makoto, her small face quickly flushed. "Even if… even if Kitahara-kun bullies me, I can't run away…"
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