Chapter 65: Sweet Seduction

Reading Settings

Translator: Soafp

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The inside of the love hotel felt like an entirely different world.

Soft, indirect lighting cast shadows on the walls, and a faint sweet scent lingered in the air. The bedspread was a pale pink, the chandelier-like lights hung above, and a glossy red sofa sat by the window. Even the walls were adorned with provocative paintings that seemed oddly out of place.

I felt completely out of my element.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I slumped my shoulders.

“Wasn’t she supposed to be feeling unwell…?”

From the bathroom, I could hear a cheerful humming, carefree and light, making me want to bury my head in my hands. Typical of Kagura, really. But that fragile expression she had just a moment ago—where did that go?

I let out a sigh.

No, that’s not the point.

Maybe… no, surely I’m overthinking this.

The atmosphere of the room, Kagura’s bold actions, and that soft, teasing voice—everything connected and made my heart race in a way that was impossible to ignore.

The sound of the shower stopped.

The door opened.

And there she stood—

“…!”

Wrapped in nothing but a towel, Kagura emerged, gently drying her hair with another towel.

Her damp skin glistened, and droplets of water traced a path down her collarbone.

I caught my breath.

“What’s wrong? You’re staring so hard.”

Her hair, still wet, clung to her shoulders and chest. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and the light in the room made her dewy skin glow.

“Uh… don’t you have clothes to change into…?”

Avoiding eye contact, I managed to get the words out. Kagura giggled, clearly enjoying herself.

“I do, but it’s fine, isn’t it? I’ll dry off soon enough.”

She lightly pinched the edge of her towel, swaying it teasingly as she tilted her head in a seductive way. Each little gesture threatened to unravel what little self-control I had left.

“Why don’t you take a shower too, Hajime? It'll make you feel refreshed.”

“Wh-why should I?”

“Hmm? I mean, I like your scent, so you don't have to.”

Kagura leaned in close, bringing her face near my neck. She deliberately inhaled deeply, her nose brushing lightly against my skin.

“W-wait, Kagura…!”

I instinctively tried to pull away, but the soft feel of the bed beneath me reminded me that there was no escape.

“Are you… maybe trying to tempt me?”

Kagura smirked down at me, her lips curling up mischievously. Her playful gaze was fixed on me, clearly enjoying my discomfort.

“N-no! That's not what I'm—”

Panicking, I placed my hands on her shoulders. Her skin, still warm from the shower, felt soft and smooth.

“Kagura, this isn't something you should do on impulse. You need to take care of yourself… and save moments like this for someone you really care about.”

My voice trembled as I tried to reason with her, but Kagura's eyes changed.

The teasing and playfulness were gone, replaced by a serious, piercing gaze that held me in place.

“I do care about you.”

Her words were so direct that my heart skipped a beat.

“…What?”

“I like you, Hajime.”

There was no hesitation or pretense in her confession.

“At first, I was just curious about the person who wrote such novels. The contrast was amusing to me. And I loved seeing your embarrassed face—it was adorable. But then, somewhere along the way, it stopped being just that.”

“Kagura…”

“I wanted to touch you, to know more about you, and before I knew it, I couldn't stop these feelings from growing. I've never felt this way before. You're the first person I've ever wanted like this.”

“When I saw you on that livestream with Ranko, talking and laughing like you were having the time of your life, my chest tightened. I get it—there are fans of your novels. But seeing you talk to another girl like that, in such a special way… it hurt.”

Her voice trembled slightly.

“But you know, I'm not usually the jealous type. I'd be fine if the person I loved was popular. Honestly, I'd probably even forgive cheating, as long as they loved me.”

Kagura let out a small, self-deprecating laugh.

“But you’re different. From the moment we met, something was different. I've never been this obsessed with someone, never wanted to keep anyone all to myself… until you.”

Kagura's fingers, trembling slightly, tightened around mine.

“So even if you get distracted by someone else, as long as you come back to me, I'd forgive it. But… that only works if you love me, Hajime.”

Her smile wavered as if she were holding back tears, making her look like an ordinary girl, far removed from her usual mischievous self.

“I'm serious about you. I just want you to understand that.”

As she spoke, Kagura’s fingers tugged at the edge of her towel.

“That's why I want you to know—this is the first time I've ever done anything like this…”

The towel slipped from her fingers and fell softly to the floor.

In the dim room, the soft glow of the lights illuminated Kagura's bare skin, hiding nothing.

She was breathtaking, so beautiful that I forgot how to breathe.

“So, what will you do?”

Her voice trembled, but her eyes were resolute.

The sound of my heart echoed loudly in the room, thundering in my chest.