Kirie summoned Ryosuke on a summer afternoon in July, just after school had let out for the summer break.
The sun blazed down relentlessly.
She sat on a bench in the shade of a park, waiting for Ryosuke to arrive.
This was to answer his confession from a few days earlier.
Though it was sweltering outside, her nerves had left her feeling chilled to the core.
Yet her skin glistened with sweat, the uncomfortable sensation clinging to her.
She should have suggested somewhere indoors, but she didn't want anyone to see her. So she chose a secluded spot in a neighborhood park—really more of a green corridor—picking a bench facing away from the path as their meeting place.
And the time? Noon sharp.
Her plan was this: in a park that was rarely visited by classmates to begin with, especially at midday, they'd be unlikely to run into anyone.
But now that I think about it, calling someone to this place at this time must be terribly inconvenient for them.
The fact that it only occurred to me after arriving at the meeting place shows how desperate I was.
I arrived at the bench half an hour early.
Given the gravity of the matter, and the fact that I'd called him, I couldn't risk making Ryosuke wait. More than anything, I didn't want to make him feel guilty about something so trivial. I figured Ryosuke would probably arrive early anyway.
Sure enough, he showed up ten minutes before the scheduled time.
Spotting Kirie from a distance, he hurried over with a mix of relief and mild surprise.
For some reason, Kirie found herself standing.
She faced him stiffly, her expression rigid.
To be honest...
Kirie had summoned Ryosuke, but she still hadn't made up her mind.
She couldn't decide whether to accept his proposal and start dating him, or to reject him. Even she knew it was wrong to call him here without a clear answer.
"Sorry I'm late."
Even if it was just a social nicety, hearing him apologize made her heart ache.
Ryosuke was smiling.
It was a slightly different smile than usual, gentler and more earnest. He was here to receive her answer—to take her response.
Realizing this only deepened Kirie's confusion.
She felt utterly foolish, standing there irresolute and unprepared.
At the same time, guilt flooded over her.
She was reminded of how vile and wretched she was, indulging in shameful acts every night since that kiss with him.
Until yesterday—the day of the graduation ceremony—we were in the same classroom, so of course I'd seen his face. But he never spoke to me first, and whenever our eyes met, he quickly averted his gaze.
So.
This is the first time I've been this close to him and looked him in the eye since that day.
"Want to sit down?"
Kirie, frozen stiff with despair, suddenly snapped back to reality at Ryosuke's words.
"U-um, yeah."
Her heart pounded wildly. Sweat broke out on her skin.
The tension she'd felt earlier was nothing compared to this.
Just having Ryosuke sitting beside her—just that alone—made her feel like she'd been thrown into a completely different world. A suffocating anxiety gripped her entire body.
Ryosuke tried to start a conversation, asking a few questions, but Kirie could only give monosyllabic replies. She didn't even register what he was talking about, let alone what she was saying. She simply didn't have the mental space.
Ryosuke must have easily sensed Kirie's agitation.
He smiled wryly. "Are you alright? Should we call it quits for today?"
"Huh—?"
"You don't look well. It's probably best not to push yourself."
"Wait...!"
The voice that stopped Ryosuke as he was about to get up sounded more pained than he'd expected.
But even though she'd held him back, no further words came. Now it was silence again, time ticking by. He felt like crying over his own patheticness. Realizing his own weakness only crushed his heart further.
He was so overwhelmed he wanted to flee, yet he was also himself who didn't want to leave.
The pain was so intense he felt his consciousness slipping.
"This happened before, didn't it?"
Ryosuke murmured softly.
It happened during our school commute, when I first saw Kirie's back, walking with Kazuki and Aika. I didn't want to catch up to them, so I veered onto a side path and ended up sitting next to Kirie.
No, even that...
Even that wasn't Kirie acting of her own will; she was escorted there by Ryosuke.
I hate him...
He's so shallow, so used to women, so careless with his words.
But it makes me so happy that he's considerate of Kirie.
Ah, but—
"Um, about my answer from before..."
Finally, Kirie managed to bring up the main topic herself.
Her entire body pulsed with nerves. Her breath came in ragged gasps.
"I... still..."
Still, she had someone else she liked. That meant she couldn't be with Ryosuke. She couldn't give him the relationship he wanted.
That's what she intended to say.
But when Kirie met Ryosuke's gaze, she found herself unable to speak further. A mix of shame and regret welled up in her throat, choking her. The tears welling in her eyes remained unshed—her final shred of pride.
Ryosuke wasn't teasing her as usual.
Because of that, Kirie couldn't dismiss his confession with her usual force.
Why couldn't she refuse?
If she did refuse, what would happen to her relationship with Ryosuke?
Would they just become ordinary classmates again?
No more exchanging greetings, walking side by side, spending time alone together like this. No more visiting his room, no more becoming close with his younger sister.
Probably, she'd never be able to touch him again—
As these thoughts raced through her mind,
Kirie's left hand moved of its own accord, gripping the wrist of Ryosuke's right hand, which was resting on the bench.
"Kirizaki?"
Naturally, Ryosuke tilted his head, puzzled by her intention.
Kirie was even more bewildered than he was.
He didn't understand why. He wasn't even trying to leave.
She was trying to reject his confession, yet she didn't want him to go. She wanted him to stay by her side—
It drove home how despicable she truly was.
I can't be with you, but I want you to stay close?
"...Shi... Shito."
Still...
Kirie couldn't stop the words that followed from escaping her lips.
"Want to... talk at my place?"
*****
"It's so hot..."
Under the oppressive summer sun, Kouno Kazuki trudged home with a convenience store bag in hand.
He'd been sent on an errand by his mother, who had run out of soy sauce.
It's the first day of summer vacation, a precious day off, yet I have absolutely nothing planned.
Aika, my girlfriend (or rather, my "girlfriend"...), turned down my invitation today, saying she had other plans.
I wish I could invite her over.
But it's nearly impossible. Kazuki's mother is a full-time homemaker and at home all day. My younger sister, Kaho, has already quit her club activities, so she'll be home more often during this summer vacation. Bringing Aika home is practically out of the question.
Aika herself refuses to come up to my place.
I've tried dropping hints before, but she always evades the topic.
Well, maybe someday...
At least something will progress during this summer vacation.
My shy, innocent girlfriend still won't let me touch her. But someday, I'll hold her in my arms, and then...
"–Huh?"
As I finally arrive home, I think I see a figure at Kirie's house.
I thought I saw a tall man enter through the front door.
I was staring down, dazed by the heat, and the figure only flashed briefly into my peripheral vision, so I might have been mistaken. Kirie doesn't have any siblings, and her parents both work full-time—something Kazuki envied at the time—so Kirie should have been the only one home until nightfall.
It must have been a mistake.
I've never even seen Kirie hanging out with boy friends.
Right...
Come to think of it, Kazuki was the only boy Kirie had ever taken the initiative to talk to. Kirie seemed popular; I'd even heard rumors that other guys had confessed to her, but apparently she'd turned them all down.
And then Kazuki started dating Aika.
I should have noticed sooner and told her. And—
That day, I hurt Kirie because of my misunderstanding.
Looking back, Kazuki now realizes that Kirie's devastated state that day was because the words from her unrequited love had crushed her.
I did something wrong.
It's belated, but Kazuki finally feels remorse.
But he had already apologized to her last night.
Kirie seemed flustered by the sudden encounter and couldn't speak properly.
From now on, Kazuki will continue to love Aika, and he can't reciprocate Kirie's feelings—but even so, he must stop hurting her. He strongly realizes that this is where a man's character is truly tested.
...Maybe I should call her later.
Kirie probably wouldn't feel comfortable contacting him first.
Fortunately, his schedule today is clear. He plans to have lunch with his family and play games in the living room.
It had been a while since I last invited her to play games. She'd probably be happy if I asked her again.
Besides, with my mother and younger sister at home, this wouldn't count as cheating. Kirie knows Kazuki already has a girlfriend.
This is my atonement for her heartbreak.
"Alright."
Kazuki headed home, mentally drafting a message to Kirie.
*****
For Shito Ryosuke as well, the turn of events was somewhat unexpected.
Kirie had summoned him, saying she would reveal her answer to his confession.
The outcome was uncertain, but regardless of whether it was yes or no, Ryosuke had prepared himself accordingly.
It'll work out somehow—that might sound arrogant, but in truth, despite her stubborn facade, Kirie was surprisingly easy to read.
Besides, there was the kiss from the other day.
He had firmly driven a wedge into her body. He could feel it.
Now that things had come to this point, it would be effortless for Ryosuke to seduce her with a single gesture, a mere flick of his finger.
But he had no intention of rushing things.
Of course, the desire to savor Kirie quickly still burned within him.
Objectively speaking, Kirizaki Kirie was a captivating girl.
To enslave her in pleasure and devour her at will—what a sweet prospect.
Yet the urge to let her fall willingly into his arms, driven by her own will, far outweighed any impulse to force things. It didn't even have to be pure romantic love. Even if it stemmed from carnal desire, making her into a lewd, wanton creature would be fine.
As long as she eventually surrendered her heart and threw herself into his arms—
When that moment came, he would drag her into ecstasy with every fiber of his being.
That was Ryosuke's resolve.
Who knows? This might actually be my first real love.
Ryosuke inwardly winced with self-ridicule.
Under the blazing summer sun, Kirie walked ahead, still holding his wrist.
She hadn't uttered a single word since then.
Her back, though clearly overwhelmed, radiated a stubborn determination.
The urge to pull her into his arms and ravish her surged within him, but he couldn't afford to ruin this moment.
Ryosuke had grown up in a wealthy but emotionally impoverished household.
But everything changed when his father remarried, bringing home step-sisters Manaka and Marin.
He began a physical relationship with Manaka, while Marin directed an overwhelming affection his way.
Though twisted and dishonest, this was the form of love Ryosuke had known.
After waking up to this reality, Ryosuke's lust could no longer be confined to his family.
Outside of school—among his classmates, upperclassmen, underclassmen, and others—Ryosuke has had relationships with many women. He never deliberately chose particularly discreet women or resorted to threats, but he did take steps to ensure they wouldn't broadcast their affairs.
Thanks to this, even within the closed community of the school, no one knew who Ryosuke was seeing, or even if he had a specific partner at all.
When it comes to getting caught... well, that's a different story.
If their relationship were exposed, it would simply make things awkward going forward. Accepting this and staying relaxed might be why he's managed to maintain this facade.
Currently, the only person with whom he has a close relationship is Shinohara Aika, a classmate.
At first, she seemed reserved and proper, but Ryosuke soon discovered her surprisingly low tolerance for pleasure and a strong masochistic streak. Lately, she's even gone so far as to pretend to have a boyfriend just to give him more opportunities to "punish" her.
Marin probably put her up to it.
Aika's "sweet requests" had become increasingly intense over the past few weeks.
She deliberately brought up her "boyfriend"—whom she wouldn't even let touch her skin—in an attempt to stir up Ryosuke's jealousy.
But Ryosuke couldn't care less.
He couldn't care less about her "boyfriend" role. He felt no jealousy whatsoever. His interactions with Aika were purely carnal, driven by raw desire, not possessiveness.
Yet, he did find Aika's earnest attempts to cling to him somewhat endearing—in a way. It was a sentiment closer to the affection one might feel toward a pet.
She must have sensed this vaguely—that she was being treated casually. But rather than distancing herself, she grew even more subservient, eagerly straddling his hips. In a way, they made an oddly compatible pair.
So, how did he feel about Kirie?
Lately, when I think about her, my possessiveness seems to overwhelm everything else.
I want her to be utterly consumed by me, whether it's out of romantic love or succumbing to physical desire. I want to monopolize her with these arms and indulge her until she's on the verge of breaking.
When these thoughts surface, I'm painfully reminded of how twisted I've become.
This perverse pleasure, almost like a desire for her destruction, fuels Ryosuke's arousal.
"Go upstairs..."
Kirie finally spoke after they'd entered the foyer.
"Are we still holding hands?" Ryosuke asked.
As if she'd only just noticed, Kirie abruptly withdrew her hand and turned away. It felt like a wasted opportunity, but the warmth of her touch lingered on his right wrist.
Apparently, no one else was home.
It was still before 1 PM.
Kirie fell silent again and began climbing the stairs.
Following her retreating figure, Ryosuke stepped into her room.