NOVEL NEXT Chapter 187: Did I... Get Forcefully Kissed?_2
Although he found it a bit odd, Haruka Yuzan still didn't ask questions; instead, he silently took the bedding from the girl's hands.
"In the past, when Mother was still alive, she often brought my sister and me to spend the night in the mountains."
The cool and quiet voice slowly drifted over as Chiba Shimizu spread the bedding out on the open-air balcony.
"Ever since Mother passed away, my sister has forbidden me from coming here again. It's odd and even incomprehensible, yet also laughable that within the Chiba Family, I don't even have the right to manage my own time."
There was a self-deprecating undertone, and at that moment, the girl's figure seemed especially slender and desolate, just like when he had first seen Madame Chiba, a lonely person.
Haruka Yuzan didn't say a word, simply crouched down and started to spread out the bedding beside the girl.
"Actually, sometimes I'm very envious of you. You can freely manage your own time, surrounded by people who like you and whom you like... that must be nice."
Once the bedding was laid out, Chiba Shimizu took off her shoes and sat down on it.
Looking up at the bright moon in the sky, a unique glow seemed to emerge in her clear eyes, that of a young girl.
Haruka Yuzan simply laid down beside her and said with a smile, "Now, isn't it the same for you? You have a group of people who love you, and people you love."
"Yes, I'm grateful for the decision I made back then."
"Running away from home?"
"Mhm, actually, they probably all know about it. It's just that, maybe, I'm just an unimportant person." The chill in her voice carried a hint of pity,
"Don't you want to laugh? An outsider looking in would think the daughter of a great family is valued, yet in reality, nobody truly cares."
Looking at the girl like this, Haruka Yuzan felt a pang in his heart. A sorrowful aura enveloped her,
Stripped of her shiny outerwear, she was nothing more than a pitiful young girl.
Just as he was about to say something, he heard the girl add,
"Actually, I think this is quite nice; longing for freedom, with no one to restrict me." Chiba Shimizu wiped away her sorrowful demeanor and seemed to revert to her usual cool composure.
Seeing this, Haruka Yuzan helplessly shook his head,
"I don't think so, and Chiba-san, I'm sure you don't think so either."
Indeed, the high and mighty young miss carried her own pride; how could she easily reveal her vulnerabilities?
As she had said, how could such a prominent family be indifferent to their young miss running away from home?
Although he didn't know the inside story, Haruka Yuzan didn't believe that Madame Chiba would care about such things.
"Haruka, sometimes you really lack romance. At a moment like this, shouldn't you say some comforting words?"
Chiba Shimizu lowered her head to look at the boy. Indeed, her clear eyes held a bit of wistfulness, but where was the self-mockery, the inferiority?
No matter when, Chiba-san will always be Chiba-san. In her decade-plus life, she may have already smoothed over that pain, especially after Madame Chiba's death.
She had learned to lick her wounds alone in a corner, just like a little cat.
"You want me to say some cheesy lines, so that you can make fun of me outright the next day?" Since Madame Chiba didn't want to talk more, Haruka Yuzan naturally wouldn't say much either, instead starting to joke,
"With the experiences I've had before, I won't be easily fooled!"
"That's progress, Classmate Haruka. Too bad I'm not Teacher Mizutani; I can't offer you any reward," Chiba Shimizu said casually.
The young miss tonight seemed to be a mischievous girl, having shed her aloof exterior, now speaking much more than usual.
"A reward, you say? Now that's something I'll have to think about."
Looking at the boy, who was now genuinely pondering, Chiba Shimizu shook her head and then lay down in the same position beside him,
The warm breeze drifted by, and the gleam of the plethora of stars and fireflies together sketched a beautiful and splendid scene. The man and woman lying under the starry sky made everything so romantic.
"It's really nice, Chiba-san." After a quiet moment, Haruka Yuzan was the first to speak.
The girl beside him didn't reply. Turning his head, he saw her pretty, peaceful face filled with serenity and comfort.
Asleep? Since when?
The first time he saw Miss Chiba sleeping, her eyes closed, her fair skin, long eyelashes, and rosy little mouth all rested quietly, presenting a beauty that one would not wish to disturb.
"Chiba?"
He called softly again, but the girl did not respond.
Haruka Yuzan sighed as well, and a touch of concern flickered in his gaze as he looked at Miss Chiba. Everyone saw her as bright and beautiful, but who could imagine that she also had such a fragile side?
Even though she hadn't said much, just that moment of genuine emotion was enough for him to feel the hint of grievance and disappointment.
Yes, no matter how indifferent one appeared, the other person was after all a family member.
Could one truly remain calm when utterly uncared for?
With some sympathy, he touched the girl's cheek and then cautiously pulled her tender body into his embrace.
Well... sleeping under the open sky in the mountains is quite romantic, but could the body really endure it?
He pulled the blanket from the ground over both of them, then Haruka Yuzan lifted his head to look at the stars in the night sky. Frankly, he had never imagined his first time sleeping with Miss Chiba would be in such a setting.
A blanket of sky and a bed of earth?
The girl in his arms was sleeping peacefully, snuggling up tightly against Haruka, and despite repeating a mantra for calm a hundred times in his mind, he still couldn't resist Miss Chiba's charm, which seemed to emanate from her at all times.
His hand naturally fell to her soft waist, wandering slightly further down to brush against that incredibly tempting place.
The girl's even breathing continued, seemingly oblivious to the boy's movements.
Haruka Yuzan was struggling to control his thoughts,
Not good! He had to wake Chiba-san; otherwise, this could only end badly!
Or... should he just hold her for a while longer? Just holding her without doing anything, simply embracing her, that should be okay, right?
But just moments later, a certain little brother's reaction made Haruka Yuzan immediately abandon that thought,
Damn it, righteous Mr. Haruka! How could you take advantage of someone in their sleep?
Clenching his teeth, he softly called out to the girl in his arms,
"Chiba-san, wake up, we need to go down the mountain...."
Chiba Shimizu still showed no reaction, and Haruka Yuzan couldn't help but poke her smooth cheek with his finger.
To his surprise, this time he actually poked the girl awake. Her clear eyes held a trace of deep emotion, seemingly a silent reproach for something?
Her peeved expression was somehow adorable...
Morning grumpiness? Haruka Yuzan was left completely perplexed.
"Um, Chiba, we should head down the mountain now."
Although a little embarrassed, he steeled himself for their sake and explained.
"Just for tonight, a kiss!" Suddenly, Chiba Shimizu murmurously uttered.
"Eh?" Just as Haruka Yuzan was still confused, his lips were already captured by the initiating girl.
"Mmm...."
Looking at the girl clumsily kissing him with her eyes closed, embracing the fresh scent between their lips, Haruka Yuzan also returned to his senses, and he couldn't help but smile wryly,
Was he... being kissed forcibly?
In an instant, he seemed to understand,
The look that was just like a little complainer wasn't morning grumpiness at all, but rather disdain for not taking advantage of Miss Chiba while she was asleep??!
Damn it! So the seemingly scheming Miss Chiba hadn't really been sleeping at all!
And here he was, acting all noble. Turns out, he was the prey!!!