Since spare dorm keys could be purchased, it was only natural that Ichinose Honami could unlock the door—especially since she had obtained Kaoru's permission beforehand.

After the initial surprise, Kaoru quickly regained his composure, though the sight of a beautiful girl in an apron in his room felt somewhat surreal.

Particularly when she held a ladle, smiling brightly and saying, "Welcome back."

Even someone like Kaoru couldn't help but entertain some bizarre thoughts.

"Honami."

As he approached step by step, Ichinose noticed his unusually intense expression and instinctively grew flustered.

She realized how suggestive her presence here might seem—almost like a newlywed wife.

But he was the one who had given her a ring! If she was having such delusions, it was entirely his fault!

"W-what's wrong?" Ichinose knew she shouldn't panic.

As his girlfriend, her being here was perfectly normal.

"D-dinner isn't ready yet… If you're thinking of doing something… naughty now…"

Her voice trailed off weakly.

Over time, she had learned what "naughty" meant, especially when Kaoru closed the distance without a word.

If even she could imagine herself as a newlywed wife, surely Kaoru's imagination was running even wilder.

Like, say… a welcome-home kiss…

Just as her thoughts spiraled, Kaoru suddenly dropped to his knees, wrapped his arms around her slender waist, and pressed his face against her soft stomach.

"Honami, you'd make such a great mom."

Hearing these words, Ichinose Honami froze completely.

Her previously uneasy mood plunged into utter stillness, her brain momentarily short-circuiting.

"P-please don't say things like that!" Ichinose's face burned crimson.

What kind of remark was that? Shouldn't he have said she'd make a great wife instead?

"I just came to thank you! We can't be talking about... that kind of thing yet!"

"I genuinely believe you'd be perfect as a mother," Kaoru said with complete sincerity.

Nothing was more evocative than coming home to see a high school girl wearing an apron, and now he could even catch the sweet, soft fragrance clinging to her.

"I-I get it! Just get up already!" Ichinose felt strange sensations coursing through her entire body.

His hands were positioned just inches from touching her hips, and his warm breath tickled her abdomen in a way that felt oddly intimate—as if she really had become a mother.

Of course, Kaoru had no intention of obeying.

He let his hands wander playfully along her thighs and the curve of her ass, drawing out adorable flustered reactions until she was genuinely about to lose her temper.

Only then did he casually stand up.

"That was too much! Even I have my limits, you pervert Kaoru."

Clearing his throat at her puffed-cheek anger, Kaoru deftly changed the subject.

"By the way, how did things go today?"

Remembering the day's events, Ichinose's lips curled slightly upward in quiet happiness.

She'd truly intended to handle this matter alone without involving Kaoru, which was why she'd avoided seeing him these past few days.

Kaoru understood her intentions perfectly and hadn't forced his way in.

Yet in the end, he'd still helped her settle scores beautifully.

"I said everything—all the things that had been weighing on my heart for so long." Ichinose's voice softened, then brightened with relieved laughter.

"It turned out so much better than I feared. I thought... no one would want to associate with someone like me anymore..."

Though she'd mustered her courage, the deepest recesses of her heart still held terror.

Even now, retrospective fear gripped her.

That's why Ichinose had come here.

Kaoru gently embraced the girl once more, stroking her small head as he murmured.

"I love being with you, Honami. It's such a comfortable feeling. Maybe that's how others see it too—they trust you, open their hearts to you because being with you feels right. They love the version of themselves they become around you."

As he spoke, Ichinose returned the embrace, her words almost like a soliloquy.

"I... I really like how it feels being with you too. Even when you're doing perverted things... Actually, it'd feel strange if you stopped..."

"Oh?" Kaoru's nose twitched. "Honami, are you making miso soup?"

"Mhm. Don't you like it?" Ichinose sounded puzzled.

"The pressure cooker's about to blow." Kaoru calmly observed the kitchen where steam was erupting like a volcanic geyser.

"Waaah!!"

As the girl's shriek filled the air, Kaoru enjoyed watching her flustered scrambling—though her practiced hands soon had the situation under control.

Without missing a beat, she began preparing tempura next.

Observing the girl in her apron, her perky ass slightly lifting the hem of her skirt, her smooth and delicate thighs pressed together, slender calves wrapped in black knee-high socks—though not much skin was exposed, the apron's coverage lent her a more domestic air, diminishing some of her youthful vivacity.

Yet, this sight was undeniably alluring, like a spring blossom quietly unfurling in the rain, its delicate branches trembling in the downpour while its fragrance slowly wafted forward, so tender it tempted one to pluck it immediately.

From behind, Kaoru embraced her again, whispering in her ear.

"I forgot to mention earlier—Honami looks adorable in an apron."

Ichinose Honami's face instantly flushed crimson, her shoulders trembling faintly as if even her ears had turned red.

Still, she forced herself to remain composed.

"Even if you call me cute, I won't do anything naughty with you right now."

"I don't think about doing naughty things every day either."

"Guh… P-please don't make me say it… Y-your… lower half… isn't it pressing against me right now?"

"..."

Kaoru felt slightly awkward.

Since the girl was busy cooking, her movements inevitably caused her perky bottom to brush against certain areas.

Moreover, due to Karuizawa influence, his desires had gradually been stoked.

"My apologies. I just wanted to hold you."

"You'd better mean that." Ichinose Honami huffed softly, her face still flushed with displeasure.

"But… well, Kaoru is a boy, and a pervert at that, so I can understand what you're thinking right now."

"Does that mean I'm allowed to do something?"

Ignoring her choice of words, Kaoru suddenly grew excited.

"No!" Ichinose Honami's fair complexion grew even redder.

Even if she could allow it, she would never say so.

"Go take a bath already—you smell awful!"

"I want to bathe with you." Kaoru stated his intentions plainly.

"Absolutely not!" Ichinose Honami's stance was firm.

She had only come to help Kaoru cook as a gesture of gratitude, not to offer herself up.

"How about just scrubbing your back? I won't do anything else—you know that." Kaoru refused to give up.

Sure enough, Ichinose Honami began hesitating.

"You scrub mine, I'll scrub yours. We'll both be wrapped in towels, so nothing will be visible."

This was a complete lie—his room was a single, so where would a second towel come from?

Ichinose Honami bit her lip.

If it was just helping him wash his back, she did want to reward him like this.

After all, discipline without rewards was ineffective.

But before giving the reward, she had to make sure he understood how hard-earned it was.

"Fine… but you have to agree to one condition."

"What condition?"

"No matter what I ask, you have to answer very, very honestly."

"...How about a different condition?"

Kaoru had a feeling this line of questioning would be fatal.

No matter how he answered, she wouldn't be fully satisfied and would only press further.

Or perhaps… today was finally the day he'd meet his end.

"No." Ichinose Honami flatly rejected his request.

"Either you answer my question and I'll help wash your back, or you go take a bath by yourself."

Seeing there was no way out, Kaoru had no choice but to agree to her terms.

"Listen carefully. I'll only ask once. You must tell the truth—no lies."

"I promise I won't lie."

Ichinose Honami still trusted Kaoru's promises.

However, she hesitated for a moment before softly asking.

"Is your liking for me... the same as your liking for other girls?"

Kaoru took a deep breath, feeling his scalp tingle.

What kind of terrifying question was this?