Chapter 313: Wild Imagination
"What happened all of a sudden?"
Amamiya looked at Umi, confused by her muffled sounds.
"Mmmmm—"
Umi appeared anxious, pointing urgently at the popsicle still lodged in her mouth. She had a dead mosquito smeared on her hand, and it looked so disgusting that she didn't want to touch the popsicle at all.
Realizing the situation, Amamiya sighed and reached out to pull the ice cream from her mouth.
You really are something.
You managed to keep a popsicle in your mouth all this time. Why didn't you just eat it before swatting the mosquito?
Pop.
The popsicle slid free.
Umi narrowed her eyes and let out a satisfied sigh.
"Finally, it's out..."
---
Behind the bathroom door, Sajuna, still eavesdropping, felt her head spin, as though she was running out of air. Her legs wobbled, barely supporting her weight.
"Pulled it out…"
...No doubt about it.
They're absolutely doing that kind of thing!
They could've gone to their room, but no—they just had to do it in the living room. Are they really trying to drag me into this?
No!
There's absolutely no way I'll agree to something so shameless!
---
In the living room, Umi exhaled in relief and muttered, "That was so scary. I thought I was going to die for a second there."
Behind the door, Sajuna clutched her towel tightly against her body and bit her lip, her mind racing with embarrassment and indignation.
Isn't that a bit too dramatic?
Amamiya, staring at the half-melted ice cream in his hand, couldn't help but complain, "Why didn't you just stop first?"
"If I stopped, it might've escaped!" Umi shot back, pouting slightly as she looked at the bloodied smear on her hands. She stretched them out toward Amamiya. "Amamiya, help me clean this up! There's so much blood!"
Amamiya pulled a tissue from the nearby box. "Yeah, there really is a lot of blood."
---
...Blood?
Sajuna's heart skipped a beat behind the door, her face growing pale as she pieced together the fragments of their conversation.
Why is there blood?
No matter how she spun it, this couldn't have been their first time. Her mind raced to conclusions as her lips parted in silent horror.
Could it be...
Her eyes widened further as she raised a trembling hand to cover her mouth.
Hentai!!
Degenerate!
Beast!
You've bullied Umi like that… You deserve nothing less than the gallows!
---
Meanwhile, the conversation in the living room continued.
"I'm so mad! How can one mosquito have this much blood?!" Umi huffed.
"Maybe it had a big meal next door," Amamiya replied nonchalantly.
"Then why fly in and bite me?"
"Maybe it wanted dessert after dinner."
"…"
---
...Mosquito?
Sajuna blinked in confusion, her mind coming to a screeching halt.
Did they just say… mosquito?
What mosquitoes?
Where did mosquitoes even come into this?
---
Umi broke the moment by instructing, "Amamiya-kun, go close the doors and windows. We don't want more mosquitoes flying in."
"Got it."
"I'm going to wash my hands," Umi added as she headed toward the bathroom. Her footsteps thudded against the floor as she approached.
---
In Japan, bathrooms are often separated into three sections: a washbasin area in the middle for washing your face and brushing your teeth, a small compartment on the left containing the toilet, and another small compartment on the right for the shower and bath.
"JuJu-sama, are you done washing?"
Spotting the pink-haired girl peeking through the crack in the bathroom door, Umi asked casually.
"Ah..." Sajuna's mind was hazy, and her gaze unconsciously landed on Umi. "I just finished washing..."
Her clothes were perfectly arranged—neat, without a trace of disorder.
So... I misunderstood?
"When you were showering earlier, I opened the doors and windows to get some fresh air. A big mosquito flew in—it was buzzing around and really annoying," Umi began explaining. "I chased it for ages before I finally killed it. I swear, I'm never trying to swat a mosquito with a popsicle in my mouth again. My mouth nearly froze!"
"…"
Sajuna lowered her head, consumed with embarrassment, wishing the ground would just open up and swallow her.
She was only swatting a mosquito? What on earth was I thinking?!
---
Walking out of the bathroom in a daze, Sajuna entered the living room. Her gaze flicked to the sofa, where Amamiya was casually watching TV, his clothes neat and tidy.
Amamiya glanced over and commented nonchalantly, "You just showered—why's your face so red?"
"Hmph, it's none of your business."
Sajuna turned her head away in embarrassment, cheeks puffed slightly.
"Classic tsundere," Amamiya teased with a sigh. "Be careful you don't trip again."
Sajuna wrapped her bathrobe tighter around her, puffing up her cheeks indignantly as she walked past him toward the refrigerator.
"If you keep saying that, I'll beat you until you're unconscious—ah!"
Before she could finish, Sajuna's foot slipped on something slick. Her balance vanished in an instant, and she toppled forward... landing squarely in Amamiya's lap, in a posture far too perfect to ignore.
"…"
Their eyes met.
Without thinking, Amamiya raised his hand and brought it down lightly.
Pop.
The unmistakable sound echoed, followed by the soft recoil under his palm.
Sajuna's entire body stiffened. Her eyes widened in shock, filled with a mix of shame and indignation. "You hit me again?!"
"I'm sorry," Amamiya apologized, sounding almost sincere. "Your pose was just... too perfect. I couldn't help it."
Sajuna: "…"
"Eh? Hey! What are you two doing!?"
Umi, having just finished washing her hands, walked into the scene and puffed her cheeks in outrage.
Hearing Umi's voice, Sajuna shot to her feet and quickly retreated to the far end of the sofa.
"Sajuna just stepped on something and slipped," Amamiya explained, pointing to the floor. "It looks like some cream you dropped earlier."
"Oh, you're right." Umi smacked her forehead, turning to fetch the mop.
In the meantime, Amamiya grabbed a tissue and wiped up the mess. Together, they quickly cleaned the floor.
Umi turned to Sajuna and clasped her hands together in apology. "JuJu-sama, I'm so sorry. I didn't notice the cream earlier."
"It's fine." Sajuna shook her head, feeling a little guilty. "I wasn't paying attention to the floor either."
Umi walked to the refrigerator. "Do you want a drink or ice cream, JuJu-sama?"
"Ice cream," Sajuna replied softly.
"Here you go."
The three of them sat back in the living room, chatting casually while eating their treats.
---
After finishing her ice cream, Sajuna stood up abruptly. "I should head home now. If I don't, my mom will start to worry."
Umi nodded. "Okay, JuJu-sama. Go to the bedroom and change into your clothes."
"Mm."
Sajuna quickly changed, said her goodbyes, and prepared to leave.
Amamiya checked the time and set down his water. "It's almost nine. I should head back too." He held up the game Umi had recommended. "I'll rest after checking this out."
Umi walked them to the door. "Be safe, and send me a message when you get home."
---
Amamiya and Sajuna left the apartment, walking side by side into the quiet night.
The streets were silent, save for the sound of their soft footsteps under the glow of streetlights.
The stillness reminded Sajuna of their eerie adventure in the haunted town. Unconsciously, she drifted a little closer to Amamiya.
"Sajuna," Amamiya said, glancing down at her.
Sajuna stiffened and looked up warily. "...What is it?"
He smirked faintly. "I just realized I didn't give you any anti-evil spirit skill. Do you want me to copy-paste it?"
"Hmph. It's not like evil spirits are breaking into my house every day," Sajuna muttered, though her tone softened. She held out her small hand toward him.
Amamiya reached out and gently took her hand, giving it a light squeeze. "Your hand is so soft."
"Wh-what nonsense are you spouting?!" Sajuna yanked her hand back, glaring at him with a flushed face.
We just left Umi's place, and he's already saying ridiculous things. What if Umi-chan is hiding behind the curtains, watching us?!
Amamiya tilted his head and finished his thought with a smirk: "It's just that you're such a tsundere."
"I'm not a tsundere!"