Although it was still a kiss, Tetsuya wasn't nearly as bold as Sakiko had been. Even so, it was enough to leave her completely stunned.
Despite being drowsy from the alcohol, this proactive kiss from Tetsuya left her utterly dumbfounded.
"...I'm not as pure and passionless as you think, nor am I a man without desires. On the contrary, I'm actually far more lecherous than you all imagine; I've just been very good at hiding it."
Tetsuya said, looking directly into Togawa Sakiko's eyes.
"So, don't worry that I'll fall into self-reproach because of your plan. Since you've all resolved to be with me regardless of the consequences, I can naturally bear the responsibility of bringing happiness to all of you. Also, perhaps in your eyes, you haven't done anything special for me... but to me, our meeting alone was a miracle that changed everything."
"Don't worry, Sakiko. If you need me, I will be by your side anytime. If you want to strive on your own, I will respect your choice and watch over you. I won't be stolen away by anyone. In fact, it's me who wants to bring you back to my side from that troublesome bravado of yours. In short, I actually value you far more than you think."
"..."
Sakiko felt her world begin to spin.
She didn't know if it was because of the alcohol, or because of this heartfelt confession that was enough to completely melt her inner world.
The immense happiness made her begin to wonder if she was hearing things.
And just as she was about to say something, Tetsuya reached out and began stroking her hair.
"Although I was indeed forced to drink the same thing you did, the words I'm saying now are by no means an impulsive whim. When you're sober again, if you want to hear them, I'll say them to you again."
"But one thing at a time. I definitely won't let you off easy for drinking without permission. When you wake up, I'm going to have to 'punish' you properly."
Tetsuya said.
"Do you understand, Sakiko?"
"Eh..."
Her brain completely short-circuited, Sakiko blinked blankly.
"Punish... what do you mean?"
"I haven't decided yet. We'll talk about it after you've sobered up."
Tetsuya said.
"So, for now, get some good sleep. Don't worry, I won't go anywhere before you wake up."
At this, he even proactively took her hand, lacing his fingers with hers.
After hearing this, Sakiko was stunned for a good ten seconds before she weakly asked.
"Then... before I fall asleep, can I have one more kiss?"
The next second, just as Sakiko thought Tetsuya would decisively refuse, he asked in return.
"Will that help you sleep more peacefully?"
"I don't know..."
Sakiko shook her head honestly.
"I just want to kiss Tetsuya-kun... Mmph."
The next second, Tetsuya lowered his head and kissed her lips again.
A few seconds later...
"...Is that enough?"
"I want one more."
"I understand."
...
"Alright, you should be able to sleep now, right?"
"Can we try again with tongue?"
"...That's not happening."
"Why?"
"You'll know when you sober up."
"I see... In that case, until I fall asleep, I want to be kissed by Tetsuya-kun just like this."
"Can you really fall asleep like that? But... oh well."
And so, under a gentleness that seemed to indulge her every whim, Sakiko experienced a happiness she had never dared to dream of before—being lightly kissed by the person she liked until the very moment she fell asleep.
...
"..."
Now, with her consciousness clear and her memories gradually returning, Togawa Sakiko's entire body began to tremble slightly.
What on earth... had she done?
First, she had a drunken tantrum in front of Tetsuya-kun, then she spilled water on herself, stripped down to her underwear in front of him, and finally, she even cried and threw a fit just to get a kiss.
She must have reeked of alcohol!!!
Sakiko was so full of regret she almost cried.
However, what she found most unbelievable was that even after exposing the most indecent and disgraceful side of herself she could possibly imagine, she still got her wish and received a kiss from him... not just one, either. Until her consciousness completely faded, she clearly remembered the warm, sweet sensation on her lips.
"!!!!!!!!!!"
Shame, happiness, and regret washed over her heart like a tide, leaving her unsure whether to laugh or cry.
Yet, as she looked at Tetsuya's peaceful sleeping face, and at the lips she had so thoroughly tasted, she couldn't stop the corners of her own mouth from turning up—
"Ah..."
It was only then that Sakiko noticed their hands, which had been intertwined before she fell asleep, were now apart.
But even so, the clear memory from her lips, and even the tip of her tongue, was a constant reminder that those memories, both shameful and blissful, were all real.
"Oh well... what's done is done. There's no use regretting it now."
The now-sober Sakiko regained her usual fortitude.
Having long been accustomed to accepting reality, there was only one thought in her mind.
"Well then, I should get dressed before Tetsuya-kun wakes up."
With that, she looked around, preparing to find the clothes she had taken off. However, when she found them all neatly folded beside her, already blow-dried by Tetsuya, she suddenly realized another fact she hadn't noticed before.
"In other words, not only did he dry my dress and underwear after all that, but Tetsuya-kun was even the one who changed me into this bathrobe..."
At this thought, a wave of utter despair washed over her.
Not only had the person she liked seen her at her most unseemly, but she had even troubled him to dry her underwear... and to make matters worse, the set she wore today wasn't cute at all!
Even the sweetest kiss couldn't cover up this ultimate failure!
Thinking of this, Sakiko once again turned to look at the sleeping face beside her.
...Sigh, oh well. In any case, he's going to punish me later anyway. I might as well take one last advantage while I can.
And so, with this thought of throwing caution to the wind, Sakiko leaned down, preparing to kiss him again.
However, just then, Chihaya Tetsuya's eyes suddenly opened-
"...Ah."
Frozen mid-kiss, Sakiko's expression froze.
"Um... G-good morning... Tetsuya-kun."
"It's still the afternoon, I think, but... good morning, Sakiko."
Having woken from his nap, Tetsuya looked at her beet-red face and said.
"...Do you need me to kiss you again?"
"No! Ah, wait... actually... I kind of... do..."
Sakiko mumbled bashfully.
"If Tetsuya-kun doesn't mind, I'd definitely be happier if I could have a kiss- Mmph!"
And so, although the process was filled with shame and twists and turns, Togawa Sakiko ultimately got her wish: a "good morning kiss" that remained effective long after she had sobered up.