Chapter 171: Shizuka be my girlfriend...

The setting sun painted the sky with hues of orange and gold, casting a warm glow over the beach.

Woosh!

Gentle waves lapped against the shore, creating a serene, romantic atmosphere.

Walking barefoot along the sandy beach, Hiratsuka Shizuka felt her restless thoughts gradually settle into calmness. Moments like this, where she could truly unwind, were rare in her hectic life.

But despite the picturesque scenery, romance was far from her mind.

She glanced at Rei Ao, walking silently ahead of her.

How had she ended up in this situation? A mysterious student who persistently, almost relentlessly, pursued her?

The entire day had been a whirlwind of teasing and flirty advances from him. Even when he stepped in to help Michiru Hyodo, she couldn't help but feel drawn to his composed and heroic demeanor.

For a fleeting moment, she had imagined herself in Michiru's shoes—being the one he saved. Her heart would have been racing, no doubt.

"Ugh!"

Lost in her thoughts, Shizuka suddenly yelped, her body jolting as pain shot through her right foot.

"Tss!"

She sucked in a sharp breath, feeling a stinging sensation.

Before she could even assess what had happened, Rei Ao was already crouching down, lifting her injured foot with care.

She winced as she noticed a small cut caused by something sharp buried in the sand. Blood trickled lightly from the wound.

"It's nothing serious. Just disinfect it when we get back," Shizuka said, brushing it off.

Broken glass or litter on the beach wasn't uncommon—it was simply an unfortunate reality.

Rei Ao, however, didn't share her casual attitude. His tone turned firm. "Don't move."

Placing a hand over the sole of her foot, his touch was surprisingly gentle.

"Ah!"

Shizuka shivered slightly, feeling a ticklish warmth spread from his hand.

"All done. You're fine now," Rei Ao said with a calm smile.

"Huh?"

Looking at her foot, Shizuka was astonished. The pain was gone, and not only was there no more blood—the wound itself had completely disappeared.

"Is this… one of your abilities?"

"Healing something like this is a piece of cake," he replied as he stood up.

"But I don't think this beach is safe anymore. Let's head back."

"Oh… okay," Shizuka agreed, still marveling at what had just happened.

But as she was about to turn, her balance wavered—not because she tripped, but because Rei Ao had suddenly swept her up into a bridal carry.

"What are you doing?!"

Rei Ao smiled down at her. "Hold onto my neck. I just don't want you stepping on any more broken glass or litter."

"Ugh!"

Her heart thudded painfully against her chest, betraying her attempt at calmness.

Trying to regain her composure, she muttered, "I'm the teacher here! Don't you think you're being a bit too bold?"

Rei Ao chuckled lightly, choosing not to argue. Instead, he began walking toward the road.

Shizuka fell silent, too flustered to say anything further.

She could only glance up at his defined jawline, her face burning with embarrassment.

This entire day had been a series of overwhelming and unexpected events.

Now, with the warmth of his body against hers and the feel of his strong arms supporting her, she couldn't ignore the realization—Rei Ao wasn't just any student.

The strength of his build and the quiet confidence he exuded…

He felt like a mature man, not a boy.

…

Back on the roadside, Rei Ao gently set Hiratsuka Shizuka down.

"Let's rinse off our feet and grab a taxi," she said, trying to calm her racing heart. Awkwardly, she ran her fingers through her hair, hoping he wouldn't notice how flushed her face was.

But even as she tried to avoid him, Rei Ao turned to face her.

"What are you doing?"

The intensity of his gaze made her heart tremble, and she instinctively stepped back. Before she could take another step, he caught her hands in his.

"Shizuka, be my girlfriend."

"What?!"

His straightforward words nearly made her heart leap out of her chest. Her mind blanked for a moment.

"Wh-what are you talking about?!" she stammered, her eyes darting around to avoid his.

Rei Ao remained composed. "I've been clear about my feelings for you from the very beginning."

His voice deepened. "If you truly object to me, then resist."

"Huh?!"

Before she could process his words, Rei Ao pulled her into his arms.

Their sudden closeness made her heart pound like a drum. And as he leaned in, his intentions were unmistakable.

Shizuka knew what was coming. She should stop him. She should push him away.

But for some reason, her body refused to move.

The next thing she felt was the warmth of his lips against hers.

He kissed her.

She didn't fight back.

And when he deepened the kiss, exploring more boldly, her resistance completely melted away.

Shizuka found herself lost in the moment—a sensation she had never experienced before.

When the kiss finally broke, Rei Ao cradled her trembling figure, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.

"You didn't resist, Shizuka. Does that mean…?"

"It was an accident!" she blurted out, her face burning. "You caught me off guard—I didn't have time to react!"

Rei Ao chuckled and tightened his hold on her waist. "If that's the case, let's try again, shall we?"

"Wait, wha—"

He kissed her again, briefly this time, leaving her flustered.

"???"

Shizuka had braced herself for another long kiss, but when she opened her eyes, she found him gazing at her with a playful smirk, their faces mere inches apart.

Following her instincts, she leaned forward and kissed him herself.

Minutes later, they broke apart.

Shizuka slumped against him, her strength completely drained. Her entire body felt alive, her senses buzzing in a way she couldn't describe.

He had completely disarmed her, leaving her feeling utterly powerless.

"Shizuka, can I get your answer now?"

She shot him a flustered glare, her voice tinged with frustration. "You've already cornered me like this. What else am I supposed to say?"

Rei Ao smiled, rubbing his nose against hers. "I'd still like to hear you say it directly."

Shizuka's expression softened, but a shadow of doubt crossed her face. "I'm older than you, by a lot. I drink, I smoke… And who knows? I might hit menopause soon. I'm not worth it."

Rei Ao gently cupped her face, his voice warm and steady. "None of that matters to me. I've already told you—I want you, Shizuka."

He leaned in and kissed her forehead.

Before she could respond, Shizuka felt a strange heat rising from her body. Flames erupted around her.

"I'm on fire! Rei Ao, get away!"

She panicked, trying to push him away, but he held her close, calming her.

"Don't worry. These flames are under your control. Just think about extinguishing them."

Tentatively, she did as he said, and the flames disappeared.

"What… just happened?"

Rei Ao smiled. "It's a gift—a blessing. My power is now yours."

Shizuka stared at him, her emotions swirling. "You gave me your power? What's the price for this?"

"There's no price. It's nothing for me," he reassured her, then leaned in closer. "And I should tell you a little secret."

"What secret?"

"Mature women like you are exactly my type."

"You… pervert!" she shouted, her face burning brighter than the flames had. "You're just shameless!"

She tried to cover her embarrassment, but he simply laughed.

"Even if you don't mind my flaws," she muttered, "what about your other girlfriends? Surely they'll care."

"Oh, that reminds me," Rei Ao said casually. "I should start calling you 'Shizuka-chan' like Yukino-san sister does."

"Why?"

Without warning, Rei Ao scooped her into a bridal carry.

"Because one of my other girlfriends is also named Shizuka. I don't want to mix things up."

"Huh?!"

The absurdity of his reasoning left her speechless.

Looking up at his confident expression, Shizuka sighed inwardly. She realized there was no escaping him.

"Why are you carrying me again?" she asked, glancing nervously around. Thankfully, the area was deserted.

Rei Ao smiled down at her. "Where do you live? Anyone at home?"

"Uh… I live at ×××, and no, I live alone. Why do you ask?"

"Why? Isn't it obvious? We're going to do what couples do."

With a snap of his fingers, they disappeared from the beach, leaving behind only a trail of footprints.

~~~

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