Seeing Eriri's threat to "stab him," Hozuki Nozomi's lips curved into an amused smirk. His fingers flew across the screen.
Hozuki Nozomi: Oh? I don't believe you'd really stab me, Eriri.
Eriri Spencer Sawamura: Why wouldn't I? A philandering pervert like you? I'd do it without a second thought!
Hozuki Nozomi: That's very brave of you. Just so you know, I'm on my way over right now. Let's see if you're as tough as you talk.
Eriri Spencer Sawamura: Bring it on! Let's see who stabs who!
Her reply dripped with arrogant bravado. She was clearly operating under the assumption he couldn't possibly come. It was the middle of the night, the distance was significant, and her family's estate was more like a fortified manor. Her room was on the second floor; it wasn't as if he could just waltz in.
Nozomi raised an eyebrow at her挑衅 tone. Didn't this girl learn her lesson last time? Or perhaps… A different thought occurred to him. Is she deliberately provoking me, secretly hoping for a reprimand? He'd noticed a pattern: when he was gentle, she grew restless and prickly, but when he turned assertive, even a little domineering, Eriri Spencer Sawamura became surprisingly pliant. Last time, she'd even allowed him to kiss her.
No, he decided. This arrogant blonde tsundere needed a proper, memorable lesson tonight.
Hozuki Nozomi: Just wait. I'll be there soon.
He sent the message and then put his phone down, ceasing all replies.
Eriri Spencer Sawamura: Hmph! I'll wait! If you've got the guts, come right now!
You little punk! she thought, puffing out her chest (metaphorically). Would I, Eriri Spencer Sawamura, master of the Tsundere Twin-Tail Slash, be afraid of you? If you dare show up, I'll whip you to death with my twin-tails!
After her mental boast, a sudden, practical realization dawned. She had just showered and was lounging at home; her signature twin-tails were currently undone, her blonde hair cascading loosely around her shoulders. A flicker of apprehension went through her. Should I… maybe get dressed? Tie my hair?
Bah! No way! She immediately dismissed the notion. He's just trying to scare me. How could he possibly sneak over for a late-night rendezvous? She scoffed, a hint of pique in the sound. With that entire harem of cute girls at Sakura Dormitory, he probably doesn't even have enough nights in the week to get through them all.
"Hmph! Philanderer!" she muttered to the empty room. "Even with so many, he's still not satisfied."
The memory of him calling her "cute" surfaced, unbidden, followed swiftly by the vivid sensation of being held in his arms that day. Heat rushed to her cheeks.
"Ahhh! Eriri Spencer Sawamura, stop thinking about that shameless scoundrel!" she scolded herself aloud, flopping back onto her bed. "He's about to get engaged and he's still flirting with me? What a complete jerk!"
She turned off the bedside lamp, determined to sleep and banish him from her thoughts.
Thirty minutes later.
Tap. Scritch.
A faint, distinct sound came from the direction of her windowsill.
Eriri's eyes snapped open in the darkness. Her heart gave a sudden, hard thump. Could it be… he actually came?
This idiot! Isn't he afraid of getting killed?! Her father was home tonight. What if he was mistaken for a burglar and… shot? The thought sent a cold jolt through her, immediately followed by a confusing twist of anxiety. What would I do then?
She remembered the old cherry blossom tree in the garden, its highest branches stretching close to the second-floor windows—including hers. Was that how this scoundrel planned his approach? To scale the tree and steal a kiss like some romantic thief?
Holding her breath, she slipped out of bed, padded silently to the window in her slippers, and carefully pushed the curtains aside to unlock it. As she swung the window open, she was met with a pair of gleaming, familiar eyes in the moonlight.
"Hi. Eriri Spencer Sawamura. As promised, I'm here… Mmmph!"
Eriri didn't give him a chance to finish. Her small hand shot out, clamping over his mouth. "You… you idiot! You actually came!" she hissed in a frantic whisper. "What if you get caught and shot as an intruder?!"
Hozuki Nozomi gently but firmly pushed her soft, fragrant hand away, causing her to take a half-step back. In one fluid motion, he vaulted through the window frame and into her room, then quietly pulled the window shut behind him.
Having secured his entry, he turned and effortlessly scooped the flustered blonde into his arms.
"For my princess, what's a little risk to life and limb?" he murmured, his voice a low rumble near her ear.
"Idiot! You brought this on yourself!" Eriri's face burned. She clenched her small fists and pummeled his chest half-heartedly a few times. Then, a new wave of panic hit her. "Ah! Don't look at me! I haven't tied my twin-tails yet!"
She knew he had a particular fondness for that look. During their last intimate moment, he'd enjoyed holding the tails, playing with them, even praising how perfectly they suited her, calling it cute and beautiful. But tonight' surprise attack had caught her completely unprepared, in her most casual, unadorned state. A wave of self-consciousness washed over her.
"Silly girl. Is Eriri not Eriri without the twin-tails?" he chided softly, his amusement evident. "I'm honored to see Eriri Spencer Sawamura like this. She's just as cute—maybe even more so."
"Mmm… R-Really? You really think so?" The question slipped out before she could stop it.
"Of course. In fact, I'm getting a little restless just holding you. Can't Eriri feel it?"
"Pe-Pervert! Who would feel something like that?! You're lewd, shameless, a… a lolicon!"
Nozomi chuckled. "I'll accept the other labels, but lolicon? Where did that come from?"
"Hmph! It's all your fault anyway!" she deflected, her trademark tsundere defense kicking in.
"Yes, yes, it is," he agreed placidly, carrying her over to sit on the edge of her large bed. "Now, time is precious, Eriri Spencer Sawamura. Shall we begin?"
"Be… begin what?! Don't you dare mess around!" she squeaked, her nervousness spiking again. "My… my mother has very sharp hearing! You can't let her hear anything!"
As if on cue, Sawamura Sayuri's concerned voice floated up from downstairs. "Eriri? Is everything alright? I heard the window open. It's late, dear, don't catch a cold."
See? Eriri shot him a triumphant, wide-eyed look that clearly said, I told you so!
Nozomi was genuinely puzzled. "Your house is a manor, a princess's castle. How is the soundproofing this… intimate?"
"I told you, my mother has exceptionally good hearing!" Eriri whispered urgently. Then, raising her voice towards the door, she called out, "It's nothing, Mom! The room was just a bit stuffy. I'm airing it out for a minute."
Sawamura Sayuri: "Oh, I see. Well, don't leave it open too long."
Eriri Spencer Sawamura: "I won't! Goodnight!"
Having successfully placated her mother, Eriri let out a silent sigh of relief. When she looked back at Hozuki Nozomi, she found his gaze had intensified, fixed solely on her. A delicate shiver ran through her.
"Y-You… you better not try anything funny," she stammered, trying to sound threatening but failing miserably. "This is my house… my room."
A predatory smirk touched his lips. He reached out and pinched her soft cheek lightly. "What's this? Getting scared now? Weren't you the picture of arrogance just a little while ago? Talking about stabbing me? Well, I'm here. How exactly does Eriri Spencer Sawamura plan to carry out her threat?"
His teasing tone made her wish the bed would swallow her whole. Embarrassment warred with a strange, thrilling excitement. She glared at him, baring her small, white teeth in a mock snarl. "I'll… I'll bite you to death!"
Nozomi found her ferocity utterly charming. "No biting. Instead of something so violent…" he murmured, his voice dropping to a husky, intimate register. "…let's have some proper fun."
Eriri's cheeks were on fire. "You… what do you want?"
Instead of answering with words, he raised a hand to gently stroke her loose, golden hair. Then, slowly, deliberately, he lowered his head, bringing his lips closer and closer to hers.
Eriri's blue eyes widened. Her small hands came up, gripping the fabric of his shirt in tight, nervous fists, but the will to resist had utterly evaporated.
In the quiet, moonlit sanctuary of her room, with the risk of discovery a thrilling undercurrent, Hozuki Nozomi closed the final distance and captured Eriri Spencer Sawamura's small, cute, warm, and impossibly soft lips with his own.