Although everyone knew the true nature of this trip to Kamakura, the reserved girl ultimately ended up with Banami having a room to herself, while Aine shared a room with Motoyo.

Through the sliding door, Aine saw Banami, wearing a bathrobe, leave the room and go downstairs, and she immediately felt a little restless.

Although the rooms were separated, she never forgot the true purpose of this trip.

She couldn't waste the opportunity that Su Shi had sacrificed herself for, and she would definitely show her best side before meeting Banai.

However, just as she was about to quietly leave the room, Su Shi called out to her: "Um, Aine-neechan, do you know when Onii-chan's birthday is?"

After hearing this, Ai Yin turned to look at Su Shi with some confusion: "I know, so what?"

Su Shi said in a low voice, "Onii-chan is so good to me, I'm thinking of preparing a birthday present for him."

Aine was eager to go to the hot spring with Hanami, so without thinking twice, she told Hanami about her birthday.

Then she said casually, "I'm going to go take a look at the pine forest outside. It looks very beautiful."

Su Shi watched the other person leave with a cold eye, thinking to herself: Why bring a swimsuit when going to see the pine forest? So eager to send her away, how shameless.

For some reason, Su Shi found this idiot with the pink hair increasingly annoying, especially when he tried to take over Banami's place.

Once she was alone in the room, Su Shi took out her phone without saying a word.

Although she still felt it was unlikely, she held her breath and typed out Banami's birthday on the screen with trembling fingertips. The moment she pressed the confirm button, her heart jumped into her throat.

With a soft click, the light from the unlocked screen illuminated her face.

"Liar..." She looked incredulous. Her unlock password was actually Onii-chan's... no, Hanami's birthday.

Suddenly, she remembered what Banami had said: she was only experiencing temporary amnesia and her body had shrunk.

In other words, the relationship between "the future self" and Hanami has actually reached the point where they use each other's birthdays as their phone unlock passwords?

No matter how much she changes, Su Shi is very clear about her selfish and intolerant nature, which makes her unable to tolerate others entering her heart.

Therefore, anyone she uses as her unlock password must have special meaning to her.

Soon, Su Shi, having figured out how to confirm, opened the photo album. Then, she saw her future self, who looked more mature and voluptuous than her current self, and seemed more attractive than her flat-chested self.

However, this was to be expected. What surprised her the most was that the album was full of intimate photos of her and Banami.

There is a photo of me with him at the school gate;

There were also times when I would sit on the back of his bicycle and secretly take pictures of his back.

There are also strange photos of people smearing birthday cake frosting on his face to make him look like a white-bearded Santa Claus.

What moved Su Shi even more was a picture of Banami fast asleep in an old apartment, with her future self secretly kissing him on the lips and taking a selfie.

At this moment, Su Shi looked at herself in the photo, her delicate, cautious, and happy appearance making her heart pound wildly.

Even her cheeks became incredibly flushed.

These photos all prove one thing to the current Motoyo: that Onii-chan and all that is a lie.

In the future, she is deeply in love with a boy named Hachimi Yuu, and the two even lived together...

"It's actually true......"

Su Shi slumped onto the tatami mat, her phone falling onto her lap with a "thud".

She was not an orphan living under someone else's roof, but rather a close lover of Banami.

What about Chihaya Aine?

Su Shi gripped her phone tightly, her knuckles turning white, her eyes instantly turning cold as she recalled the explanation that Banami had given her.

She understood immediately.

As expected, Chihaya Aine's idiotic act was all an act.

She deliberately used those strange props to steal her body and memories, shrinking herself into a cow, and then used that time to steal her boyfriend and seduce him!

She even wanted me to call her "Mom".

At this moment, Su Shi was so angry that her shoulders were trembling.

Chihaya Aine, you despicable scoundrel, I'm not finished with you!

The Battle to Protect Dad Begins!

Chapter Seventeen: One Kind of Longing, Two Kinds of Melancholy

The open-air hot spring was filled with steam, moonlight filtering through the rising mist and casting shimmering silver rays. The warm water washed over Banami's chest, making him sigh softly in comfort, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the surface of the water. Just as he closed his eyes, he heard the soft clatter of wooden clogs on the stone path, and Aine's voice, carried by the rising steam, drifted over: "Um, is anyone in there?"

When Banami turned around, he noticed that Aine wasn't wearing a bathrobe, but rather a dark blue school stylist's swimsuit. The wet fabric clung tightly to her body, outlining her soft, full curves. Water droplets from her hair slid down her neck and into her collar, making her appear even more radiant and full, thanks to the good nutrition she had inherited from Suze. This caused the boy's Adam's apple to bob slightly.

Seeing the surprised and amazed expression on Banami's face, the girl with 5.0 vision seemed very satisfied, and then said in an exaggerated tone, "Sorry, Yu-kun, so this is the men's bath. I'll leave now."

Although she had come in on purpose, as a reserved young woman, how could she do something so shameless? So she slowly pretended to leave.

As expected, Banami stepped out of the hot spring bath, reached out and pulled her into his arms somewhat forcefully, and said, "You didn't go to the wrong place, this is a mixed-gender bath."

Banami naturally knew what this silly Anon was thinking, but the girl's little bit of shyness was so cute that he couldn't bear to expose her.

Aine subconsciously looked at Banami's firm abdomen, her breathing became a little rapid, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she said in a rather fake manner, "Hey, Yuu-kun, you're lying~ I clearly saw that it said 'men's bath' just now, how could it be a mixed bath?"

Banami's lips twitched involuntarily. Seriously, can't you at least make your lies more believable?

He seemed a little impatient as he said, "You think you can get out now that you're in?"

After saying that, he scooped up the girl, startling Aine into screaming, and then he was carried into the hot spring bath by Banami.

Immersed in the warm water, Aine's breath hitched slightly, and she pouted, saying, "Yu-kun is bullying me."

"It wasn't my choice to come; you forced me to stay."

Even so, Ke'aiyin leaned closer to him, her warm body pressed against his arm, her fingertips, damp with moisture, gently tracing his chest: "Hehe, Xi-kun, don't we look like a couple stealing some time together while the kids are sleeping?"

Banami wasn't really paying attention to what Aine was saying. Instead, she couldn't help but put her arms around Aine's waist and look at the girl's amazing figure, which looked as if her skin was coated with a bright, clear oil, even though she was wearing a conservative swimsuit.

With her delicate face and curvaceous figure, Anon-chan is now a hexagonal female warrior who even makes Banami somewhat unable to control herself.

"The child's mother, are you able to feed the child now?" Banami asked in a slightly hurried tone.

Aine immediately realized what the other person was implying, and her pretty face flushed slightly. Then she whispered, "Yu-kun, you're so annoying."

However, sensing the boy's gaze, she couldn't help but feel a little smug.

Then Aine said with some dissatisfaction, "Couldn't you have said something more tender first, like 'The moon is so beautiful tonight' or something like that?" But the boy's undisguised, seemingly burning hormones made Aine feel somewhat bewildered.

When Banami felt Aine's body soften slightly, she couldn't help but lower her head and gently kiss her crimson lips.

"Compared to the moonlight, my gaze is still fixed on Anon-chan." Hanami took a step forward, seemingly aggressively.

Then, he paused for a moment and said, "Besides, I already saw the recent moon with you, Aine, when we were in Kyoto last time."

Aine recalled the scene between the two of them at the castle tower, and her heart was slightly touched. She said with a hint of annoyance, "You're only saying this now. You're too cunning, Yu-kun."

Seeing the warmth in her soft voice, Banai reached out and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. The hot spring water rippled with their movement, and the moonlight shone on Aine's flushed cheeks, making her look exceptionally beautiful.

Ai-yin's breathing became erratic instantly. She reached up and hooked her arms around his neck, tiptoed and lightly pecked his lips. Just as she was about to tilt her head back to meet his kiss, she heard a clear, slightly aggrieved voice coming from the entrance of the hot spring—

What are you doing?

The two turned around at the same time. Su Shi was standing by the hot spring wearing a white one-piece swimsuit with lace trim. The hem of the skirt just reached her thighs, revealing her slender and fair calves. Water droplets dripped from her ankles onto the bluestone slabs.

She slowly walked into the water, the warm spring water reaching above her knees. She squeezed herself between Hanami and Aine, her little hands tightly holding Hanami's arm, pulling his arm closer to her. She looked up at him pitifully and said, "I'm...I'm sorry, did I come at the wrong time and disturb you?"

Seeing that her previously pounding heart had slowed down, Banai seemed to subconsciously want to say, "You've come at just the right time," but looking at Suze's current appearance, it wasn't appropriate to make such a joke.

Moreover, he has immense patience and affection for Su Shi now.

“There was a cockroach on your mother’s head just now, and I picked it out for her.”

Ai Yin was dumbfounded and muttered in annoyance, "You're the one with cockroaches on your head."

Then, with the same patient tone and a smile, she said, "Su Shi, what's wrong? I thought you were sleeping in your room."

Her tone was very patient and concerned, as if she didn't blame Su Shi for disturbing her and Banami's beautiful atmosphere at all. Su Shi showed a touched expression on the surface, but she was sneer in her heart.

If she was secretly touched by Aine's kindness before she opened her phone, now she was certain that Aine's kindness was all an act.

Hmph, the evidence is that she almost seduced her future boyfriend just now, that pink-haired slut who steals other people's boyfriends!

However, Su Shi still wore a cute and pitiful expression and said, "I was in the bedroom just now, and I dreamt that my parents were getting a divorce in front of me. I woke up in fright, and then I couldn't see Aine-neechan and Onii-chan... I was so scared... I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to bother you."

Her voice was trembling with tears.

To Aine and Hanami, she was clearly a frightened child, hesitantly coming to the hot spring to find the two people she could rely on, caught between being disliked and being afraid.

A pang of sadness struck Ai Yin. She gently embraced him and whispered, "I'm sorry, Soyorin. I shouldn't have left you alone in the room."

After saying that, she pulled Su Shi to the middle of herself and Banai. Although their time together was interrupted, for Aine, there would be many more opportunities like this on the rest of the journey, and she naturally couldn't bear to leave Su Shi behind at this moment.

However, what she didn't notice was that Su Shi, sitting between the two, had a barely perceptible sneer on his lips.

The next moment, Su Shi grabbed Hanami's shoulders tightly and said, seemingly a little scared, "Onii-chan, the water here seems a bit deep... I'm a little scared, can I lean against you?"

"How about you ride on my shoulders like you did this afternoon?" Banami said in a teasing tone.

"You... Mom said that girls shouldn't always ride on boys' heads, otherwise the boys won't amount to anything in the future," Su Shi said in a slightly childish voice, seemingly annoyed, or perhaps coquettish, as if they really were father and daughter.

Aine sat at the other end of the hot spring, looking at Suze who was clinging to Banami, her face full of confusion—it had only been a few hours? How did the girl who was so cautious and wary of Banami suddenly become so affectionate?

Now, she has been left behind.

****

The hotel was so quiet in the dead of night that only the sound of the waves could be heard, filtered softly through the wooden windows like a whisper in one's ear. Su Shi walked barefoot on the cool tatami mat, her fingertips pinching the wooden frame of the sliding door to Ai Yin's room, even her breathing was very shallow, afraid of waking her.

By the light, Su Shi could see clearly: Aine was sprawled out on the bed, occupying most of it. The collar of her yukata had slipped down to her shoulders, revealing a small patch of fair skin, and she had kicked off half of the cherry blossom-embroidered quilt. Glistening drool hung from the corner of her mouth, dripping down her chin onto the pillow, and she mumbled indistinctly, "Xi-kun...it's not right...it itches..."

As she spoke, she turned over and buried her face in the soft pillow, looking just like a defenseless little pig.

Su Shi couldn't help but roll her eyes, thinking that this pink-haired girl was usually so scheming, but when she was asleep she was like an idiot.

Or is it that she's used to acting even when she's asleep?

Unfortunately, the opponent he encountered was himself.

Su Shi quietly left the room and went to the next room. Banami seemed to sense something in his sleep and moved slightly. Su Shi's heart tightened, but in the end, the boy just turned over and continued to sleep peacefully.

Su Shi quietly approached him and looked at his sleeping face, which was exactly the same as the one in the photo on her phone. She gently moved closer to him, and to her future self, the boy in front of her was her intimate lover.

Although she doesn't know what she and he went through in the future to fall in love with him, Su Shi feels a different kind of affection when she sees the boy.

Unconsciously, Banami's arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer to him. Feeling his warm body temperature, Suze's tense body finally relaxed; it seemed the boy was still unconscious.

She couldn't help but gently move closer to the other person's face, and then, with her small lips, she kissed the other person's cheek, just like in that selfie on her phone where she secretly kissed the other person while they were quietly asleep.

The girl leaned on the boy's shoulder, her voice as deep and dark as the ocean waves outside, ethereal and plaintive, "Daddy..."

Chapter Eighteen: The old man finally unleashed the Burning Technique.

The sound of the waves outside the window, accompanied by the morning mist, drifted in, as light as a feather brushing against his ear, waking Banami from his light sleep. The moment his consciousness returned, he first noticed the warmth in his arms—not the fluffy warmth of the blanket, but a vibrant body rising and falling with breath, soft strands of hair brushing against his chin.

He suddenly opened his eyes and was met with a pair of clear, innocent eyes staring at him closely.

"Good morning, Onii-chan..." Su Se's voice was timid, like a startled fawn, her fingertips unconsciously clutching the hem of his pajamas, revealing an uneasy expression.

Banai froze instantly, her mind blank for a few seconds before she regained her voice, her tone full of astonishment: "How...how did you get into my room?"

He remembered clearly seeing Su Shi return to the room she shared with Ai Yin last night, but how come she was lying in his arms the moment she opened her eyes?

Su Shi immediately lowered her eyelids, her long eyelashes trembling slightly with unease, revealing a wronged little face: "Last night before going to bed, I was afraid you would kick off the covers and catch a cold, so I wanted to check if you were covered properly. But as soon as I got to the bedside, Onii-chan, you suddenly reached out, as if you mistook me for someone else, and pulled me into your arms, even rubbing my hair... I, I was afraid of waking you up, so I could only stay here and sleep obediently."

Banami's head exploded with a "buzz," and countless chaotic thoughts surged up—could he be mistaking Xiaosu for Aine or Xiangzi? Or was he just used to sleeping in the same bed with girls at night, and subconsciously pulled the girl into his arms, his body stiffening involuntarily.

He made a mistake that all men make.

A wave of guilt washed over him, and he instinctively wanted to loosen his arms around Su Shi, but then he heard the girl's soft voice again: "But... it's really comfortable to sleep in Onii-chan's bed." She snuggled closer to him, her nose brushing against his collarbone, "It feels like the sense of security I imagined when I was little, sleeping next to my dad."

Morning light streamed through the paper sliding door, casting a warm golden glow on Su Shi's eyes, revealing no trace of deception. Banami's embarrassment was instantly replaced by pity—he forgot that Su Shi was going through her parents' divorce, a time when she desperately needed love.

He raised his hand and gently patted her back, his tone extremely soft: "Yes, if you feel comfortable... that's good."

But as soon as he finished speaking, he felt a little embarrassed. He really wasn't some weird uncle trying to trick little girls into looking at goldfish!

The girl in front of him was not the mature and composed Su Shi he knew, but a naive and immature girl.

Looking into Su Shi's dependent eyes, he felt nothing but love and tenderness, and even had the urge to hold her in his arms again.

Su Shi pursed her lower lip gently, as if she had mustered up a great deal of courage, and looked up at him: "Um, Onii-chan... could you give me a good morning kiss? My mom used to kiss my forehead and say good morning every day before she went to work." Her cheeks were flushed with a faint pink, and her eyes held both expectation and a hint of unease about being rejected.

Banami's heart softened completely. He reached out and gently brushed aside the stray hairs on Suze's forehead, revealing her smooth, full brow. He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead, as if touching a fragile treasure, then said in a voice so tender it could melt water, "Good morning, Suze."

After she said that, even the view outside the window seemed to brighten a bit. Banami thought to herself that perhaps she was overthinking it. The girl simply wanted to snuggle up to her and see herself as someone to fill the void left by her father.

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like