Wait, what was happening now?

Airi Sakura tried to process the situation.

Kaoru had said he wanted to take photos, so she changed into pajamas and lay on the bed.

Now Kaoru was shirtless, lying on the same bed with her.

They were practically shoulder to shoulder.

She could even feel Kaoru's body heat and hear breathing that wasn't her own.

Even though nothing was happening, an odd electric current seemed to run through her entire body.

Especially when recalling what she'd just seen—who would have thought Kaoru Mitoma had abs?

His youthful body was full of powerful muscle definition, creating such contrast that Airi felt completely flustered.

As the light faded, the room was left in complete silence.

Outside the window, the moon was about to rise, its silvery glow casting a pale sheen on the windowsill.

The floor shimmered with faint shadows as a slightly chilly breeze drifted in from outside.

The girl's exposed shoulders trembled slightly.

She lay on her side, her soft, full breasts pressed together, their rounded shape almost threatening to spill out from her collar.

Her delicate collarbone looked particularly alluring in the dim light, and her long hair cascaded down as her eyes remained fixed on Kaoru.

Her hands clutched the blanket tightly, hiding her flushed cheeks, though her perked-up ears betrayed her readiness to bolt at the slightest sound.

The only illumination in the room came from the glow of Kaoru's phone screen—though, until recently, it had been Airi Sakura's phone.

Now, it was about to be used to message a stalker.

"Alright, we're starting now," Kaoru said, turning to the girl beside him.

Even though she was fully dressed, her appearance was still irresistibly tempting.

Hearing this, Airi let out a sigh of relief, completely overlooking one crucial fact: she didn't actually need to go along with this.

Simply proving she was with a man would have been enough to lure out the stalker.

And, for that matter, Kaoru didn't need to be shirtless either.

"Should I close my eyes and pretend to sleep?" Airi asked nervously, feeling as though every breath she took was mingled with his scent.

A warmth pooled in her lower belly.

"Yeah. Keep them shut until I say you can open them," Kaoru replied, holding up the phone.

Before climbing onto the bed, he had tossed Airi's uniform and his own clothes onto it, making the whole scene look suspiciously like something illicit.

True to her nature, Airi obediently closed her eyes, her fingers unconsciously twisting the blanket.

Even though she couldn't see anything now, her vivid imagination refused to quiet down.

'If my eyes are closed… the next step is a kiss, right?'

At this point, even the faintest sound—any slight movement on the bed—sent Airi's heart racing.

She couldn't stop picturing Kaoru's expression and actions right now.

Creak—

Airi's heart clenched.

'Is he going to kiss me now?'

She had completely forgotten about the stalker, her mind wholly occupied with what might happen next.

'Uwah… Sneaking a kiss while a girl's eyes are closed? That's totally cheating!'

With her eyes shut, she had no way of knowing when it might happen.

Even if she wanted to resist, she couldn't—she could only wait helplessly.

This feeling was even more unbearable than when she'd posed for gravure photos, as if ants were crawling all over her skin.

If they really kissed… would the next step be something even worse?

Would she have to stay with Kaoru from now on?

Kaoru had so many girls around him—she'd never stand a chance.

Would they tear her apart?

Wait… wait a second.

Was he targeting her because she seemed easy to bully?

With her around, Kaoru would have the perfect excuse to redirect everyone's hostility onto her while he continued cozying up to other women.

And if he ever turned abusive… what could she, weak as she was, even do about it?

'This is the end,' thought Airi Sakura, feeling her future looked bleak.

Although she firmly believed that Kaoru Mitoma wouldn't bully her, even if he didn't, the other women surely would!

"No, no!" Airi suddenly opened her eyes and flailed her arms, trying to push Kaoru away.

"I'm too weak—they'll definitely kill me!"

She wanted to be the main wife too, but the price was terrifying!

Airi had personally witnessed Sakayanagi Arisu and the others bickering before.

Honestly, she doubted she'd even have the courage to stand on stage, let alone face their piercing glares.

"Who's going to kill you?" Kaoru was baffled.

He had been about to take a photo when Airi suddenly shoved him aside, nearly making him drop his phone.

Airi caught sight of his exposed collarbone and chest—it seemed he really wasn't wearing anything underneath.

Her face flushed red, and her entire body grew hot.

"N-no… it's nothing… I just couldn't sleep…" the girl murmured softly, forcing herself to look away.

For the first time, she realized her heart could race like this because of a man.

"Is it because of me?" Kaoru's voice carried a hint of guilt as he recalled something.

"Sorry for suddenly lying on your bed. Having someone watching must be uncomfortable. I'll get up right away."

That wasn't the reason…

Well, it was partly true, but mostly, she was afraid of being "dealt with" later.

Airi was too embarrassed to admit it.

Sneaking under the covers with Kaoru behind their backs—if they found out, they'd surely tear her apart, wouldn't they?

"I-it's fine, don't worry about it!" Airi raised her voice, then quickly lowered it again when she realized she was being too loud.

"Um… should we take the photo with our eyes open?"

Kaoru thought for a moment before replying, "Sure, but I might need to trouble you a bit."

Airi agreed immediately.

As long as they weren't doing anything bad, she probably wouldn't be in mortal danger.

"Can you bare your shoulder?"

"My shoulder?"

"Yeah, make it look like you're not wearing anything."

"O-okay!"

At this point, embarrassment was pointless.

If she kept hesitating, she and Kaoru might end up spending the night here.

Slowly, Airi undid the first button below her collar.

Halfway through, she noticed Kaoru had turned his head away

. Her shyness lessened—he really didn't have any ill intentions toward her.

But for some reason, that annoyed her a little.

Did that mean she was the only one overthinking things the whole time?

Airi puffed her cheeks in frustration.

Did she really have no charm at all?

Kaoru often praised her for being cute, and while it was nice he didn't leer at her, couldn't he at least… show a little more interest sometimes?

Compared to them, she really had no advantage, did she?

Thinking of Haruka Hasebe only made Airi more disheartened.

Even in terms of bust and figure, the other girl was no less impressive than her.

"Stupid… stupid…" Airi muttered under her breath as she quickly undid the second button.

Her chest was nearly exposed, revealing snow-white skin and a glimpse of her undergarments—far more eye-catching than before.

She carefully pulled down her collar, revealing smooth and delicate shoulders, her hair falling upon them like faint silhouettes.

As if the air outside was slightly chilly, her tender skin prickled with fine goosebumps.

When Kaoru Mitoma turned his head, Airi Sakura was staring at him.

Their gazes met for just a moment before the girl's shyness flushed her fair neck red, her ears twitching slightly as if her face had grown too hot.

"Airi, what should I do? I suddenly don't feel like taking photos anymore," Kaoru murmured, even though he knew he was the pervert in question.

But the way she looked right now was far too heart-fluttering.

"Huh?" Airi was momentarily confused.

If he didn't want to take photos anymore, what were they supposed to do now?

"If I think about it, letting a pervert see even a little bit of your body feels like rewarding him."

Even though Airi had only exposed her shoulders, Kaoru couldn't shake the irritation, feeling like his mind was going a little haywire.

Airi pressed her lips together—if she didn't, she might have burst out laughing.

What was this? So she did have some charm after all!

"I've never posted risqué photos before… Risqué ones… Only you've seen them…" The girl whispered, her face growing redder by the second.

"But we've already come this far. If we give up now…"

Though the pervert Kaoru had been roleplaying as had made her send plenty of photos, she had never sent anything truly revealing—at most, black or white stockings.

And before sending even those, she had always double-checked with Kaoru if it was okay.

Seeing her expression, Kaoru suddenly pulled her into his arms, letting her rest her head against his forearm.

Her delicate face pressed against his warm chest, making them look just like a young couple.

"W-Wah—!"

Airi's lips parted slightly in shock, her entire body stiffening as her heartbeat raced wildly.

Feeling his breath against her, her own breathing grew erratic.

The places where their skin touched faintly burned, his heartbeat and warmth vividly transmitting to her.

The more aware she became of what they were doing, the hotter her cheeks grew.

Overwhelmed by nerves, she even forgot what she was supposed to do—her full chest pressed against his as she instinctively nestled closer.

Kaoru pulled the blanket over her, leaving just a glimpse of her smooth shoulder exposed, then snapped a few photos before turning the phone screen toward her.

"Airi, do you know the ultimate way to deal with a pervert like this?"

"W-What is it?"

"'I'd rather sleep with a stranger than with you. You're seriously disgusting.' See? Just send this, and you'll get a reply right away."

Airi stared at the photo of herself—her flushed face, lowered lashes, delicate skin peeking out, nestled in his arms like a doting girlfriend.

Even though nothing was exposed, it felt as if she were completely bare beneath the blanket.

'Wait, Shizuku-chan, you're lying, right? There's no way you'd sleep with a guy.'

'This is deepfake, isn't it?'

'Do I have to show you cream puffs for you to believe me?'

'No way, Shizuku-chan! This can't be real! You're definitely colluding with this guy to trick me, right?!'

'Haha, why don't you just post them? As for me... there's no going back anyway. Better to become someone else's plaything than be harassed by the likes of you.'

'Stop it! Just wait, I'm coming to save you right now, Shizuku-chan! Don't believe a word he says!'

With that, Kaoru Mitoma handed the phone back to Airi Sakura and said, "Though this method is effective, you shouldn't use it carelessly. If they get enraged and decide to take you down with them in some twisted way, it'll be trouble. Idols getting killed by extreme fans isn't exactly unheard of."

Airi Sakura didn't react immediately.

She was still wondering whether to keep these photos—after all, the two of them looked quite good together in them, like a perfect match.