Shouko, who was still on her period, was untouchable. Akira could only obediently listen to her.

But it seemed even if her period was over, he still couldn't mess with her…

He started to wonder if he'd end up becoming a henpecked husband like his own dad after marriage.

"Akira, can I take a look at the first volume of Anohana you finished writing earlier?"

Seeing that everything else was resolved, Shouko immediately pointed at the laptop and asked gently.

"Sure," Akira nodded without hesitation.

Just as she reached out to touch the laptop, he added:

"But—"

"...But what, Akira?" she asked, confused. The scene felt strangely familiar.

"Look, the matter of me going to the Maid Cafe is resolved, right?"

"Mm…" Shouko hesitated, then nodded.

"Right. But when we came back this afternoon, the matter of me being lectured by Shizuka-chin hasn't been resolved."

"…"

"Look, I still paid for the dessert, but I was the one who got lectured. Don't you think I lost out?"

After thinking it over, Shouko finally nodded. "You did."

"So, shouldn't you compensate me?" Akira said, suppressing the smirk tugging at his lips.

"No." Shouko shook her head like a rattle-drum.

Her sixth sense screamed that he wasn't planning anything good.

"Hmm?" He calmly met her eyes.

This wasn't right. Shouldn't the dazed Shouko be nodding by now? Had her CPU been upgraded?

"Akira, why don't you tell me how you want me to compensate you first?" she asked, turning her head away.

"Kiss me." He pointed at his lips. Fresh chapters posted on novｅlfire.net

"No! Absolutely not! Akira, we're still young, this isn't good." Shouko shook her head frantically, her heart pounding.

They weren't even officially boyfriend and girlfriend yet. How could they kiss like that?!

"…" Akira sighed. Honestly, it was just bait. He never expected her to agree.

If she really dared, he wouldn't have had the courage to let her kiss him anyway.

Lolicons should be lined up and mowed down with machine guns—newly manufactured ones, with fresh copper bullets.

"Akira…" Seeing his silence, Shouko thought he was angry. After a pause, she whispered:

"How about I kiss your cheek? Both sides."

"No." Akira refused firmly, then quickly added:

"Instead, lend me your feet to admire for five minutes."

"This…" Shouko hesitated. It was better than the first demand, but she still couldn't quite accept it.

Though she had been diligently moisturizing them with hand cream every night for half a year…

Still, deep down, she thought her cheek-kiss idea was much better.

"It's just these two, Shouko. You choose."

"…Alright then." Resolving herself, Shouko closed her eyes tightly as if facing fate.

"...Huh?!" Akira stared.

What was this? Closing her eyes—didn't that mean she chose the kiss instead of raising her foot?!

"Akira…?" Shouko, waiting too long, peeked through her lashes.

"It's nothing. Didn't you want to see the first volume of Anohana? Look now." Akira sighed.

She was still too young. He couldn't bring himself to push further. Admiring her feet, maybe. But a kiss… no.

"Alright…" Shouko opened her eyes and looked at the laptop, though she felt a little disappointed inside.

"Are you really not asking for compensation anymore?" she asked again.

"No. I've changed my mind. We're still young, this isn't good." He opened the file for her.

"Alright then." She nodded, though a faint disappointment lingered.

Akira slid the laptop toward her. "Take a look. The first volume of the first light novel by a future famous Japanese author."

"Smug Akira," Shouko muttered softly, though in her heart she quietly added learn art to her future schedule.

"It's good!"

About thirty minutes later, Shouko finished reading carefully. Her first words were full of praise.

She had heard Akira tell her the story of Anohana five or six times before, but reading it directly felt completely different.

The written version had more flesh and blood—it moved her more deeply.

Just thinking about Menma's ending made her sad all over again.

"Akira, can Menma's ending really not be changed?" she asked cautiously.

But Akira only shook his head.

"…But."

Seeing her sentimental look, he rubbed her head. "Alright. How about I write you an alternate ending later?"

But this time she shook her head.

"Hmm?" He blinked, confused.

"It's nothing. This way is good too; it makes a deeper impression."

She gently took his hand off her head, her fingers tightening as if to keep him from disappearing like Menma.

Akira poked her forehead. "Get that thought of me dying out of your head, okay?"

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