【Update from the Author】
Thank you as always for reading "Red Thread of Fate."
Starting today, I will begin the author's proofreading process.
In other words, we have taken another step forward toward publication.
I believe I will be able to release more information from the end of this month into next month, so please wait a little longer.
「Phew. I really talked a lot!」
「I've certainly been told a lot...」
Her face was all glowing...
In the end, she talked non-stop for two hours. On top of that, whenever I tried to stop her, Mom would hit me, and if I tried to interfere verbally, Dad would put me in a joint lock.
As a result, my mental energy was completely shaved away.
Since she’s going to have dinner at our house, we decided to relax in my room until then... but honestly, after being talked about that much, just being together is embarrassing!
Don't talk that much! To my! Parents!!
Besides, she even told them things I didn't know, and stuff from middle school!
I've never seen my parents grin like that before!
Ugooooooooooo!!!!
「Y-You don't have to writhe around that much. Everything I said was the truth.」
「It's because it's all true that I'm writhing...!」
Well, it's already in the past, so there's nothing I can do.
I had Riran sit on my bed while I sat in the chair.
It’s a sight I’ve seen many times, but the situation of having the person I love on my own bed... it’s nice.
Perhaps Riran's tension had finally faded, as she reached out her arms and began to stretch.
Hmm, maybe because her clothes emphasize her chest, it looks even bigger than usual.
「Even so, your father is really youthful. When I first saw him, I thought he was Akito's older brother.」
「Ah, I get told that by a lot of people.」
Maybe because Dad has such a gentle appearance, sometimes I'm even mistaken for being the older one.
「Your mother is cool and handsome too... somehow, they really felt like Akito and Kotono-chan's parents.」
「...Is that so?」
「Yes, you're just like them.」
Neither Kotono nor I are as gentle as Dad.
That said, we aren't exactly cool and handsome like Mom either.
I'm not quite sure where she’s seeing the resemblance.
While I was absentmindedly thinking about that, Riran, who had been sitting on the bed, approached me.
Gently, she hugged me as if wrapping her arms around my head.
With the softness of Riran I felt on my face and the citrus-like scent spreading into my lungs, the wall known as my reason wavered precariously.
C-Calm down, me. Dad and Mom are downstairs right now, and Kotono is in the room next door.
If my reason flies away in a place like this, I'll definitely be teased for the rest of my life...!
I diverted my consciousness elsewhere and managed to maintain my composure as I looked up at Riran.
「W-What's wrong?」
「After talking so much about Akito, I couldn't stop my feelings of love anymore.」
「I-I don't understand that logic. Besides, flirting is banned until summer homework is finished...!」
「This isn't flirting. I'm just hugging you.」
What kind of crappy rule with such loose settings is that?
Well, but... if Riran looks happy, then I guess it's fine.
One way or another, after being told all that by Riran, I couldn't stop my feelings either.
I also wrapped my arms around Riran's waist and pulled her closer into a tighter embrace.
「Nn.」
「Ah, sorry. Did it hurt?」
「Mmm-mm. It's okay.」
...For some reason, I feel like it's been a long time since we've been this close.
Maybe Riran has been holding back all this time too.
That makes sense. We are connected by the 『Red Thread of Fate』, and Riran has liked me since even before the thread appeared.
Even if it's only been a few weeks of summer vacation, she probably felt stressed from not being able to be close all this time.
「...Akito's head is so fluffy, like a puppy.」
「I'm being praised right now, right?」
「To the highest degree.」
It certainly doesn't sound like it.
Riran placed her hand on my head and started to pet it.
Mofu-mofu, mofu-mofu.
And with each time, oh how soft the chest hitting my face was (brain dead).
「Sniff, sniff.」
「Don't sniff me, it's embarrassing.」
「Why? I like the way Akito smells, you know?」
「If I sniffed your hair, you'd be embarrassed too, wouldn't you?」
「...If it's Akito doing it, I don't mind.」
With that, Riran turned her back to me, sat on my lap, and leaned her body against me.
The softness of Riran transmitted through my legs, her body which was lighter than I expected, and the thick, pheromone-like scent coming from her neckline.
All of those things pierced directly into my brain.
「Here, you can sniff me.」
「Y-You say I can, but...」
「Or do you not want to?」
Riran looked back over her shoulder at me.
Her cheeks were dyed a shy vermilion, but she wore a smile like a mischievous child.
This girl, she thinks I won't be able to do it because I'm too embarrassed, doesn't she?
Fine then. I'll make her thoroughly embarrassed.
I wrapped my arms around Riran's torso and held her in a firm lock.
「A-Akito...?」
「I don't care about the flirting ban or my parents being here anymore. ──If you don't want to be caught, don't make a sound.」
「W-Wait...!?」
◆
「Onii-chan? They said dinner is ready—... Wait, what's wrong with Riran-tan? She's all wrapped up in a futon.」
「Who knows? She seems to have fallen asleep while I was doing my homework.」
「Hmm. Well then, make sure to wake Riran-tan up, okay?」
Click. Patter, patter, patter...
「Hey, she's gone.」
「............」
「Riran, you're awake, aren't you?」
「...Akito, I hate you.」
「It's Riran's fault for provoking me. Come on, let's go.」
「Uuuuuu~!」
With a bright red face, she glared at me with a melting expression.
To think she’d end up like this after just one hour of Rira-sniffing... I fear for what's to come.