Kuroha Akira's incredulous "Huh?" startled Shion, and she quickly waved her hands in flustered retreat. "You—if you don't want to, that's fine! I know this request is too much…"
Akira was merely confused. Even if her feet were sore, she could massage them herself.
Why ask him? Was it because she was a young lady, accustomed to being served? Or was this another test, checking a man's… attentiveness? Would massaging her feet increase or decrease her favorability?
It was hard to parse. Indeed, a woman's heart is an ocean of mystery…
So, Kuroha Akira stopped overthinking. Since he was already playing the 'lewd' card, he might as well commit to the role. If she offered, he wouldn't hold back!
"Can you still walk?"
"Eh?"
"If you really can't walk, I'll carry you on my back."
"Ah, I can still walk! No need to carry…" Though a part of her did want to be carried, Shion knew her feet weren't truly injured. Feigning complete incapacity would be too much.
"Alright then, lean on me. Let's get to the sofa."
"Um, Akira-kun, do you mean…?"
"You've already said it. How could I refuse?"
"…Mm." Shion nodded, a faint, sweet smile touching her lips. No wonder Mom always acts a little spoiled… It really does get a man's attention.
Kuroha Akira supported her by the shoulder and guided her to the first-floor sofa. Once she was seated, he crouched before her and took hold of her ankle without ceremony.
"Uh, um… shouldn't I take off my socks?"
"No need. It's actually better with them on."
"Hmm, but… won't it smell…? After just running…" Having him smell her sweat earlier was already mortifying enough. Now her feet too…
Wahhh… This was too intense for an innocent girl.
"The scent is part of the appeal. For certain men, that's the real reward." Kuroha Akira continued his depraved commentary, even clicking his tongue with a wicked grin, adding fuel to the fire. "Tsk tsk, it's a shame you're wearing short socks right now…"
"Is there something wrong with short socks?" In summer, most high school girls wore ankle socks. Long socks or stockings in this heat would be stifling and… potent.
"You don't know? Men universally prefer stockings. The texture of stockings is supreme."
"I see… Hmm…!" The moment Akira's thumb pressed into the arch of her foot, Shion couldn't hold back a small exclamation.
"Don't make strange noises."
"But… it's very ticklish…"
"It's ticklish, and you still asked me to massage them?"
"..."
Silenced by his logic, Shion stopped protesting. She bit her lower lip, enduring the tingling sensation from her soles, letting Kuroha Akira continue his 'exploration' of her small feet.
Akira held nothing back. He used both hands, applying firm pressure with his thumbs along the arch, then began a comprehensive, multi-angle assessment of these petite feet, not even sparing the gaps between her sock-clad toes.
If circumstances permitted, Akira might have even been tempted to replicate a certain sensei's extreme methods, declaring 'I'm going to eat' before employing his tongue as a… primary research tool.
However, if he actually did that, even with Shion's high favorability, she'd probably kick him in the face—twice.
Being too lewd will completely deplete favorability. One must learn to stop while ahead.
Shion felt as if her feet were no longer her own, completely surrendering control as they were wantonly played with and kneaded by Kuroha Akira. From the tops of her feet to the soles, from her heels to her toes, every single digit was meticulously attended to. A strange, electric-like sensation shot up her calves and the backs of her thighs.
Ultimately, she couldn't hold back a faint gasp.
"Hmm… Ah… Mm…!"
Kuroha Akira didn't forget to tease her. "Heh heh, comfortable, right? My technique isn't bad, is it?"
He'd played soccer in college, often helping teammates with sprained ankles or cramps. The smell back then had made Akira want to stomp on his teammates' feet—utterly disgusting.
But now he was thoroughly enjoying himself. After all, how could a man's stinky feet compare to a beautiful girl's… well, perhaps not 'fragrant' feet… but even if both had a scent, a girl's delicate feet were definitely preferable!
Recalling those nauseating memories, Akira kneaded even more vigorously, as if trying to overwrite them.
Shion could no longer suppress her voice. A series of soft, involuntary sounds, each seemingly louder than the last, echoed in the living room.
Granny Kobayashi, who had already woken up, heard these… suggestive noises and couldn't help but emerge from her room to investigate.
"Hmph… Young people truly have abundant energy. But I must say, if you're going to do your business, do it in your own room. Don't mess around in the living room. That sofa was chosen by my old man and me before we got married. Don't get it dirty."
"Hmm… No… That's not…" Shion hunched her shoulders like a scolded child, her face burning crimson, too ashamed to look up.
What kind of embarrassing sounds had she been making?!
Kuroha Akira, on the other hand, just rolled his eyes, too lazy to explain.
Granny Kobayashi saw they were both fully dressed and naturally understood they weren't actually doing 'that.' She was just teasing the youngsters.
Before, when it was just Akira, she could only get annoyed by the brat. Now with Shion-chan here, she finally had a chance for some payback.
Having gotten her verbal jabs in, Granny Kobayashi glanced up at the wall clock and asked with a curious expression, "By the way, kid, it's already this late. Aren't you heading out? Planning to skip class today?"
"Huh? Holy crap!"
Kuroha Akira checked the time and couldn't help but curse. He'd been so engrossed in his 'foot research' that he'd lost track of time. It was already 7:30!
Judging by the distance from the Kobayashi residence to school, even taking public transport would make him late—and that was assuming he had bus fare, which he didn't.
"Old woman! If you've got nothing else to do, take her to the convenience store to buy daily necessities! I've gotta go!"
With that, Kuroha Akira set down Shion's feet, dashed upstairs to grab his school bag, and rushed back to the genkan to throw on his shoes. As he finished, he turned back to Shion and declared, "Wait for me to come back, and we'll continue!" before bolting out the door.
He'd meant 'continue the voice actor training,' but Shion misunderstood it as 'continue the foot massage.'
Continue…?
Shion hugged her knees, curling her toes, and buried her face in them.
If they continued… her feet, which had been perfectly fine before…
…might develop some strange new habits.