Chapter 261: Would You Trust Me?
Meanwhile, within the subconscious world…
Kouhei's heart nearly stopped when he saw her.
Yui's form was falling—
Fast, her body limp, descending through the foggy void of the subconscious world like a puppet with its strings cut.
He moved instantly, dashing across the terrain, wind roaring past his ears as he reached out, trying to catch her in time.
But he wasn't fast enough.
She hit the ground with a thunderous impact, her body crashing hard against the earth.
A deep crater erupted around her point of impact, as if the very world trembled at her fall.
At the center of it all lay Yui—
She was unmoving.
Unconscious.
"Himeno-san!" Kouhei cried, his voice raw with panic as he rushed forward, dropping to his knees beside her and scooping her into his arms.
Her breathing was shallow.
But then… her eyes fluttered open.
"I'm fine, senpai. Just… a little low on mana," Yui murmured, forcing a weak grin onto her lips.
Kouhei let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
Thank goodness… she was still okay.
Kouhei… he wouldn't have made it this far—hell, he wouldn't even be standing—if she hadn't been here with him. No doubt about it.
"I'm really happy that you're worried about me like this… it's making my heart flutter," Yui said softly, a playful grin spreading across her lips, her voice tinged with warmth and mischief.
"Can you stand?"
"For the most part, yeah." Yui responded with a light nod. Slowly, she peeled herself off of him, her movements sluggish but composed, and rose to her feet.
A faint tremble betrayed how much the last battle had taken out of her.
She ran her hands along her clothes, brushing away dust and dirt that clung to her from the fight.
Then her gaze swept the world around them.
"Hmmm…" she hummed thoughtfully. "Looks like everything is starting to blur out… the edges of the world are fuzzing. I've run out of mana, after all." Her tone was casual, but there was a weariness in her voice. "And going up against those two angels at once, well... that's definitely out of my comfort zone—especially with almost no mana left in my tank. So… what do we do now, Okumura-senpai?"
Kouhei furrowed his brows. "What happens if this world disappears?"
She turned her eyes to him again, her expression calm but serious. "This place will become a pitch-black void. Fighting in that kind of darkness will be far more dangerous than it already is." Her lips curled slightly, as if trying to soften the blow of her next words. "And besides… I brought you into this space, senpai. So if my mana fully runs out, you'll vanish right along with it. That's how it works."
She chuckled, light and airy, even though the situation didn't call for laughter.
"Right now, senpai… I'm sorry if I let you down," she said with a gentle smile.
But behind that smile… there was something else.
A sadness that clung to her words like fog to a winter morning.
Yui had done everything—pushed herself far past her limits—all just to keep him safe.
Kouhei still didn't know exactly why, or what she was hoping to gain from all of this.
But the fact that it was for him, that she went to these lengths for his sake… he couldn't help but find that admirable.
Sure, he still suspected she might have some kind of hidden agenda.
Some deeper motive that hadn't yet come to light.
But right now, when it mattered most… there was no reason not to trust her.
He clenched his fists, his resolve steeling.
There was still a way for them to win this.
And that was to perform a love link.
"Himeno-san," Kouhei called out, stepping toward her. He reached out, gently taking her hand into his own. "Would you trust me?"
"Huh?" Yui blinked in surprise, then looked into his eyes. Her confusion melted into a warm smile. "Of course, senpai. I trust you."
Good. That was all he needed.
Now, the only thing left was to perform the love link.
But… where?
"Himeno-san, can you give us a moment? Just five minutes will be enough," Kouhei said, his tone calm but firm.
Yui nodded, closing her eyes briefly and focusing inward to assess what little mana she had left.
It was just enough to conjure a barrier—a strong one—that would last five minutes and two seconds.
"I guess so," she said softly.
But using that last reserve would drain every drop of energy she had left.
And if she ran dry this early into the battle… there would be no way for them to defend against the next incoming strike from the angels.
She had no idea what Kouhei planned to do. But even so…
"All right," Kouhei murmured, and without another word, he bent down and scooped her into his arms in a smooth, graceful princess carry.
"Ah. Oh my…" she gasped, cheeks tinged pink, a sly smile dancing across her lips. "What are you planning to do to me, Okumura-senpai?"
"I'm going to make you cum, Himeno-san."
"Eh?"
Her eyes widened, brain stalling as the words hit her. What… what did orgasming have to do with anything?
That thought barely had time to form before—
"You think you can get away from us?!"
The angel came crashing down toward them like a meteor, her wings a blur, speed blinding, sword raised high and aimed straight at their hearts.
Kouhei spun sharply, funneling a surge of mana into the shinai clutched in his hand.
Sparks flew as he brought it up and intercepted the blade mid-swing, the force sending out a shockwave that cracked the air around them.
"What?!"
The angel's voice quivered with disbelief.
"That's… impossible!"
Using that brief window of surprise, Kouhei dashed forward at full speed, clutching Yui tightly against him as he bolted.
Within moments, they burst through the door of a nearby shed.
The same shed he had once used with Nagisa, when they had sex for the first time—during that desperate battle against the corrupted Takahashi.
And now…
He was here again.
With the very person responsible for Takahashi's corruption.
Kouhei gently lowered Yui to the floor, her back resting against the concrete wall of the shed.
"Himeno-san. Use it," he said quietly.
Without hesitation, Yui extended a trembling hand and activated the last of her mana, casting a powerful barrier around them.
The moment it activated, her body slackened completely. Her breathing grew shallow and ragged.
"Now I'm completely drained…" she whispered, her lips curling into a tired smile. "I can't move at all. I wouldn't even be able to stand—let alone resist. So, senpai~… if you want to do something to me, this would be the perfect opportunity."
Despite her exhaustion, despite the fact she was practically paralyzed, that teasing grin still lingered on her face.
"Can you still move your hands?"
"I think I can…"
Kouhei didn't hesitate. He reached down and started to unfasten his pants.
Even though the battle still raged just outside the barrier—he pulled them down.
His cock sprang free the moment the fabric cleared the way, thick and erect.
For the first time, Yui's confident smile faltered.
'He's really going to do it…'
As Kouhei pushed his pants the rest of the way down, his cock twitched defiantly, standing at full attention.
It looked a little angry.
Which was odd—considering they'd been in the middle of a fight just a few minutes ago.
The shadow of his cock fell across her face as she tilted her head up to look at it.