Chapter 95 - The Magazines on the Shelf

"Mrs. Kimura?"

"Ah!"

With a soft and delicate exclamation, Yumiko Kimura lifted her elegantly arched eyebrows, a charming glow dancing in her eyes, which narrowed slightly with a hint of romantic allure.

'I can't believe I... oh~' 

Realizing that under the simple request for a visit from Ito Yoshito, she had instantly conjured up a romantic fantasy in her mind, Yumiko felt her mind blank, as if it were about to explode. The sensation of intense embarrassment rushed through her, with a warm tide flooding her cheeks, becoming even more fervent.

"Mrs. Kimura, are you alright? Your face is so red! Are you feeling faint from the heat?"

Noticing the deepening crimson of Yumiko's face, Ito Yoshito expressed concern and reached out to check her forehead temperature.

"N-no, it's nothing!" Yumiko replied, her previously gentle voice suddenly rising in pitch, sounding as clear as a yellow oriole.

"If the visit is bothering you, we can forget about it."

"N-no, that's not it! It's just too hot, and I feel a little dizzy, so I didn't respond earlier."

"Oh, really..." Watching the beads of sweat slide down Yumiko's fair, graceful neck and tracing the charming curves of her figure, Ito Yoshito nodded. "It truly can get quite stifling!"

"Then, um…" Gazing into Yumiko's anxious eyes, Ito Yoshito smiled and said, "In that case, I won't disturb you further."

"Mm…"

...

As the sun set and the two emerged from the bustling supermarket, the afterglow cascaded like a passionate red tide, dyeing the hazy sky with vibrant hues.

In the evening breeze, Yumiko's ponytail swayed gently, caressing her skin. She reached to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, subtly observing Ito Yoshito, who was carrying two large bags.

Yumiko hesitated, wanting to speak but unsure of what to say. Ever since that enchanting night, facing Ito Yoshito again filled her with a shame beyond words.

'How embarrassing...'

For the duration of the walk, they remained silent, the air thick with unspoken tension. Only when they reached the base of her apartment did Yumiko let out a sigh of relief.

"Yoshito, let's head upstairs."

"Mrs. Kimura, your place is on the third floor, right? If I recall correctly from that night…"

"…"

Receiving no response, Ito turned to look at Yumiko and immediately realized that he had broached an awkward topic.

Yumiko pressed her luscious lips together tightly, her face blushing with a faint hue, exuding a palpable aura of heat as her beautiful eyes trembled, filled with overwhelming shyness.

"Yoshito, um, about that night... I'm really sorry."

"Uh…"

Unsure of what to say, Ito swallowed his urge to suggest that she might want to pursue the matter further and instead chose to keep the tempting thought to himself.

"Let's head upstairs first, Mrs. Kimura."

Wanting to alleviate Yumiko's embarrassment, Ito changed the subject, opening the door to the stairwell and gesturing for her to enter first.

However…

Yumiko didn't seem to understand Ito's intention. She quietly walked into the stairwell, turning her back to him. Her small hand softly rested on her curvaceous hips, her brow slightly creased with concern.

'Am I really getting old? Am I losing my charm with men...?'

Reflecting on how her husband had been increasingly distant and how Ito had seemed hesitant to acknowledge her earlier intimacy, Yumiko sighed gloomily, lowering her gaze to avoid looking at her toes. 'Have I really lost all allure...?'

As Ito approached her side, he caught the faintest whisper from her lips.

"Ha-ha, Mrs. Kimura, if even you, a stunning beauty, are starting to doubt your looks, what would happen to other girls?"

"Yoshito, don't tease me..."

"I'm serious! I really find you very charming, Mrs. Kimura."

"Is that so? Thank you for the compliment, Yoshito."

Despite her mouth curving downward, a gentle smile appeared on Yumiko's face after hearing his words.

'If Yoshito thinks so, does that mean I still have my appeal...? Hmm, maybe Yoshito is just being kind, trying to comfort me... Maybe I should test it later...'

Lost in thought, they had already walked through the doorway into Yumiko's apartment.

"Yoshito, come on in."

Inserting the key and turning the handle, Yumiko swung the door open and stepped inside, inviting Ito to follow.

"Let me see... where are the new shoes?"

As Ito entered her home and stood at the entrance, he caught sight of Yumiko prostrate on the floor, her curvy backside elevated, reminiscent of a ripe peach, wonderfully ample. Her fitted short skirt accentuated her full figure, creating an alluring silhouette, and as she moved, a hint of delicate lace peeked from beneath.

Feeling a rush of heat rise in his nostrils, Ito instinctively licked his dry lips and turned his head slightly away.

'Mrs. Kimura's outfit is quite bold too~'

"I found them," Yumiko said as she raised her head after a moment of searching, smoothly twisting her soft waist to glance back at Ito.

"Yoshito, here, these are the new slippers."

"Oh, uh, thank you."

Firmly pressing against the floor, Yumiko's slender legs flexed as she stood up, only to realize that her skirt had unintentionally hiked up further.

"!"

Flustered, Yumiko quickly covered her voluptuous backside, her long, seductive eyes widening in shock as she furtively glanced at Ito.

Noticing her gaze upon him, Ito instinctively bent down, shyly turning away and stepping further into the room.

"…So, it seems he's not just trying to comfort me after all!" 

Yumiko murmured softly to herself as she licked her glistening lips, feeling her cheeks flush with heat, "Yoshito~ he's looking at me…"

...

As the clock struck six, the last remnants of the sunset faded into the deepening sky.

"Yoshito, could you please turn on the lights?"

Standing in front of the fridge, with its bright white light illuminating everything, Yumiko was busy organizing the groceries she had bought when she suddenly noticed the dimness surrounding her. Peering out from behind the fridge door, she called to Ito, who was in the living room.

"Sure."

Rising to his feet, Ito glanced around and found the switch on the wall near the entryway. He walked over, pressed it, and indeed, the lights in the living room brightened, dispelling the gloom.

"Great."

Retracting his arm, Ito intended to step into the kitchen to help Yumiko chop the fruit. However, as he turned, his eyes caught sight of a magazine resting on the cabinet beneath the light switch.

"What's this?"

Curious, Ito stepped closer to pick up the magazine and couldn't help but read aloud, "'I Shouldn't Have Gone to the Instant Sale Without Telling My Wife,' isn't this an adult magazine... and it's a doujinshi?"

Pressing his lips together, he found the cover featuring a stunning woman cosplaying as a character from Fate, enticing him to delve deeper into the contents.

'No, no... I can't look at an adult magazine in someone else's house, especially not in a woman's home... If I get caught, it would be so embarrassing!'

Suddenly, a chibi version of Ito sporting angelic wings and glowing faintly with holiness appeared, desperately pressing down on Ito's hands to stop him from flipping through the magazine, urgently warning, "Don't listen to him!"

Another chibi Ito emerged, kicking the angelic one aside. Dressed in black and red, adorned with tiny purple demon horns, he smirked slyly, "You found this in Mrs. Kimura's home. Perhaps she likes this type of doujin... Just read through it now; later, you can talk about it with her without needing to search for conversation starters. Who knows, maybe in the end... heh heh heh~~~"

The devilish Ito's mischievous laughter echoed like a booming bell, shaking Ito's heart and compelling his hands to move. The angelic Ito's attempts to stop him were in vain.

A beam of light seemed to burst forth from the pages of the magazine, brighter than even the room's lights, captivating Ito's gaze, consuming his thoughts and immersing him wholly into the enchanting world of the cosplaying muse before his eyes.

"..."

"To be honest, it was pretty average." Ito exhaled a long, heavy sigh, closing the magazine and placing it back on the cabinet, standing in contemplation for a while.

"Yoshito, what are you doing standing there?"

"Oh, it's nothing."

Yumiko approached, holding a fruit platter, her brow furrowing in curiosity as she noticed Ito lingering by the edge of the living room. "Come, have some fruit."

"Sure, just a moment."

A moment later, Ito adjusted his slightly tight pants and walked back into the living room naturally.

"Crunch~"

Settling back onto the sofa, Ito stabbed at a juicy peach slice with a toothpick and took a gentle bite. The sweet juices burst in his mouth, a wave of refreshing summer bliss washing over him.

"Indeed, Mrs. Kimura, this ripe peach is incredibly juicy! The texture is also fantastic!"

"Right? At this ripeness, the peach is a masterpiece in both appearance and taste, so plump and juicy."

Covering her charming face with her hand, Yumiko's lips formed a delightful curve, her eyes sparkling with joy as she felt pleased that her knowledge could impress Ito.

"Mrs. Kimura, don't just watch; come on, give it a try too."

Stabbing another piece of peach, Ito held it out, preventing any drips from falling as he offered the red-fleshed morsel to Yumiko's lips.

"Ah?" Stunned, Yumiko's beautiful eyes widened, surprised by Ito's sudden intimacy. But after a moment, she regained her composure, her gaze flitting shyly, her full red lips slightly parting, exuding an intoxicating allure that captivated Ito's attention.

"Crunch~"

The succulent peach flesh entered Yumiko's cherry-like mouth, her silver teeth gently biting off a piece, producing a crisp sound.

"How is it?"

"Mm... it's delicious."

"Then, Mrs. Kimura, could you please finish that piece of peach?"

"Crunch~"

"Crunch~"

"Crunch~"

Maintaining the gesture of feeding, Ito watched as Yumiko, like a little guinea pig, savored the peach one small bite at a time. Strangely, the nearer she got to finishing, the more flushed her lovely face became.

Ito was puzzled, but soon after, he felt his heart thump as if struck by a hammer.

'Just now, Yoshito, did I catch the toothpick with my teeth...?' 

With delicate fingers brushing back a stray hair behind her ear, Yumiko's long lashes fluttered lightly, her crimson lips parting slightly as she breathed, seeming to exhale a warm breath.

Slowly, she leaned towards the last piece of peach still on the toothpick, and once it was in her mouth, her luscious lips lingered, not rushing to retreat from the toothpick.

'The last piece is exceptionally sweet~'

With seductive eyes, Yumiko seemed to sense Ito's presence emanating from the toothpick itself.

'Yoshito~ he's watching me...'

With her eyes sparkling, sensing the blazing gaze of Ito, which felt like it could devour her, Yumiko was once again transported back to that unforgettable night—the intensity of heat surging like waves within her.

"..."

The fan in the living room whirred lazily, blowing cool air, yet failing to lower the gradually rising temperature.

"Gulp~"

Yumiko swallowed the last piece of peach, her head tilting back slightly, leaving traces of her sweet saliva clinging to the toothpick.

"Whew—"

Exhaling softly as if eating a peach were a monumental challenge, Yumiko adjusted her posture. The sticky substance on the toothpick stretched like an invisible thread before finally breaking, leaving some smeared on her mouth.

"Hmm?"

Yumiko frowned, wanting to find a tissue to wipe her mouth. Her gaze swept across the table, finally locking onto the tissue next to Ito.

Licking his dry lips, Ito summoned his composure after almost losing himself to the moment, and realizing Yumiko's focused attention, he spotted the tissue and offered, "Mrs. Kimura, do you need a tissue?"

"Mm, Yoshito, could you please help me get it?"

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