144. W-What are you doing now?

Wrapped tightly in the quilt, Yukinoshita Yukino only revealed a tiny portion of her head. Her porcelain-white face was flushed a deep pink, like a steamed bun right out of the pot. She peeked out cautiously, her violet eyes darting to Hozuki Nozomi.

Only to see him staring at her blankly, like an NPC who just encountered an S-rank rare item.

Their gazes locked.

"You... you saw it?" she asked in a voice so soft it could melt even a demon king's heart.

Her lips trembled slightly as she bit them, cheeks puffed like a scolded tsundere. The second lady Yukinoshita was trying so hard not to cry, but her pride was cracking.

Nozomi gulped, his Adam's apple bobbing. "I didn't see anything. You, uh, hid too quickly."

Even as he said it, he subconsciously swallowed.

A fatal mistake.

"Liar! You're seriously going to lie to my face?"

Yukino's voice turned icy, and her eyes shimmered like glass—fragile and furious.

Nozomi sighed, scratching his head. There was no escape.

"Alright, fine. I saw it."

He raised both hands in surrender. "But you can't blame me for that. I did warn you. I said it was a potion that dissolves clothes, didn't I? You opened it yourself and—well, splashed it on you."

Yukinoshita Yukino turned her face away, letting out a long, embarrassed sigh.

Of course he saw it.

And to make it worse, he even muttered something like "so cute"...

She wanted to bury herself.

Just as she gathered the courage to respond, she suddenly felt a warm sensation surrounding her.

"What are you doing?!" she squeaked, her entire body tense as a bowstring.

Nozomi had wrapped his arms around her—through the quilt, sure, but still!

She peeked up at him like she was staring at some indecent beast who just broke into the princess's chamber.

Nozomi grinned with zero shame. "Yukino, look, I'm hugging the quilt. And the quilt is hugging you. So technically, you're not allowed to leave tonight. Looks like you have to stay at my place."

Yukino blushed even harder, lips trembling. "Do you... actually want me to stay?"

"Of course I—!" Nozomi paused, blinking. Then he coughed awkwardly and looked away. "I mean, yeah... I mean, the cats really like you. Every time you leave, they get all depressed and cry like I stepped on their tails. What can I do?"

She rolled her eyes so hard it was a miracle they stayed in her head.

"That excuse is so dumb I actually want to cry."

She took a deep breath. "Nozomi, can you go out for a bit? I need to change."

"Got it."

Nozomi nodded and made his exit like a gentleman—well, as gentlemanly as a guy who just watched a magical potion strip a girl could be.

The door shut behind him.

Only then did Yukino let out the breath she had been holding.

She looked down at the quilt, her blush deepening. There was a faint scent clinging to the fabric.

It was his.

Her heart thumped.

Yukinoshita Yukino, you degenerate!

Shaking off her thoughts, she tiptoed to the wardrobe and pulled out one of Nozomi's oversized shirts.

She slipped it on. It hung loosely off her frame like she was a kid playing dress-up.

Looking down, her expression fell slightly.

Even with movement, her A-cup chest couldn't hold the fabric properly.

But... he did say it was cute.

Still, her legs felt cold, so she found a pair of his sweatpants.

Actually, she spotted her own A-brand leggings nearby—cuter and a better fit—but she didn't want him to see her wearing them and get any funny ideas.

So she stuck with the baggy sweatpants.

"Ahem. Yukino? Are you ready?"

Nozomi's voice came through the door like a voice actor playing a worried protagonist.

"Can I come in?"

"...Come in."

He opened the door slowly.

When his eyes landed on her, his expression lit up like a shounen protagonist seeing his childhood friend in a yukata.

She looked adorable.

Snow-pale skin, soft and flushed cheeks, and wearing his shirt? A critical hit to his heart.

But then—

"Wait... why the long pants? My sweatpants too? Yukino, the fashion police are crying. That outfit doesn't match at all!"

She glared at him. Hard.

"Then how should I dress, huh?"

"Shorts. Definitely shorts."

"Hah! Not a chance!"

Don't think she didn't know. He just wanted to admire her legs again.

He'd been ogling her legs during study sessions, anime nights, even when asking for a lap pillow!

Nozomi shrugged with a wry smile. "As long as you're comfortable."

She crossed her arms, looking proud. But her cheeks still had that stubborn pink blush.

"You... saw everything just now, didn't you?"

"Yes," Nozomi replied boldly. "I was worried! When I saw you in distress, of course I had to look carefully. I had to make sure you were okay."

"Even if you were worried, I'm still upset!"

The second lady pouted, turning her head away with a dramatic flair. But the way she fidgeted with the edge of the shirt betrayed her flustered heart.

Nozomi could sense danger in the air.

Yukino stood her ground, arms crossed like a stubborn commander on the battlefield.

Her face was cold, but the flush blooming across her cheeks betrayed her inner turmoil.

She was gearing up to scold him like a high-level boss fight.

Nozomi raised an eyebrow. The usual fierce aura was there, but he could see her mask cracking.

So, without warning, he pulled off his own shirt.

His well-toned physique gleamed under the soft light—defined abs, sculpted lines—a true anime protagonist reveal.

"A-AH?! What are you doing?!" Yukino yelped, staggering back like a startled magical girl.

Her eyes widened in disbelief, staring at him as if he had just unleashed a forbidden technique.

Nozomi only smirked and continued.

"I told you to look, Yukino. You think you're the only one at a disadvantage here? You got to see me, too. Fair and square."

He spread his arms like he was presenting a secret weapon. "Now we're even."

"This—this isn't even close to the same thing!" Yukino stammered, feeling the blood rush to her face.

This guy—was he born just to mess with her?

And worse, why was she reacting like this?!

"S-Stop taking it off, you perv!"

She turned around and covered her eyes with both hands, cheeks burning like an overheated CPU. She dared not glance again. That thing was too much!

Nozomi inched closer, a teasing smile playing at his lips.

Suddenly, he slid an arm around her waist.

Yukino stiffened.

"You hate me that much? Can't even look at me?"

"I... I don't know...!" she whispered, eyes darting everywhere but at him.

His breath brushed against her neck, warm and ticklish.

Her heart skipped like a broken record.

"I... I want to go home!" she squeaked, the panic starting to bubble.

Nozomi couldn't help it—he laughed. Just a second ago, she was giving him the cold shoulder. Now she looked like a cat caught in a rainstorm.

Still holding her close, he leaned in gently and planted a soft kiss on her cheek.

It was brief. Feather-light. But the impact was seismic.

Yukino jolted, eyes wide. She shoved him with surprising strength.

"I'm going back!"

She turned toward the door—but before she could open it, Nozomi swiftly placed a hand beside her head.

Wall-dong.

Classic.

She froze. He had her pinned between him and the wall, their faces just inches apart.

Nozomi's expression was serious now, eyes dark with intensity. Maybe it was the moment, maybe it was the way her scent lingered in the air—but he felt strangely exhilarated.

"D-Don't do this..." Yukino whispered. Her defenses were failing. Her gaze turned soft, glistening like morning dew.

Nozomi exhaled shakily. "Sorry. It's just... you were so cute earlier. I couldn't help myself."

She bit her lip and glared. "Forget it. Forget everything you saw."

"Impossible," he murmured. "That moment's already etched into my brain—like a memory from an epic anime arc."

He leaned in again.

Yukino quickly pinched his arm, hard.

"If you dare mess around again, I'll never come to Sakurasou again. I mean it."

"No! Please don't!" Nozomi gasped, dramatically clutching his imaginary heart.

He immediately stepped back and lifted his hands in surrender.

"Right away, President! I shall stand down!"

Yukino snorted and pushed past him. "Then fetch me a proper set of clothes."

"On it."

Within a few minutes, Nozomi returned with a neatly folded set of Shiina Mashiro's clothes. They fit Yukino surprisingly well.

Finally freed from his oversized shirt, she felt much better, finally able to breathe normally again.

She glanced at the window.

"It's getting late. I should head home."

Nozomi's shoulders slumped a little. "Oh..."

He didn't try to stop her. But the disappointment in his tone was obvious.

Yukino didn't say anything either. She knew exactly what he was feeling.

He wanted her to stay. But...

She was a bit scared.

Not of him.

But of how easily he could make her heart flutter.

"I'll walk you home," he said, grabbing his coat. "Next time you come over, I'll show you something even better."

Yukino rolled her eyes hard enough to send someone to another dimension.

"I'm suddenly not interested anymore."

Nozomi grinned. "Still mad, huh? Well, I did offer to let you see it again—"

"Shut up, you absolute pervert!" she huffed, cheeks flaring red again.

But she didn't pull her hand away when he gently held it.

And so, under the soft glow of the moonlight, the two walked side by side.

One fuming, the other smiling.

But their fingers remained intertwined.