Chapter 174: She Was Already Waiting

After Urume took care of me with her hand. I stood up, pulled my pants back on, and put the chair away in my storage.

"Still, you shot an absolute ton, Sousuke."

Urume had been staring at the white fluid on her hand with a look of amusement, but then she abruptly brought it close to her face and gave it a lick. Instantly, her face twisted. She tilted her head, letting out a strange groan.

"Ugh... Hmm... What is this, like a hard-boiled egg smoothie? I wouldn't call it gross... but it's weird."

"I-I see..."

Having the person who just got you off give a culinary review of your semen was a pretty weird feeling for me too.

However, watching her put what I had just released into her mouth inevitably made my groin flare hot again.

"Anyway, it's sticking to my throat! Give me some water!"

Just as Urume asked, I placed a cup filled with water right in front of her and handed it over.

"Thanks... Gulp, gulp... Mm, it still feels like it's lingering. Everyone drinks this stuff down, right? Incredible... That's true love right there..."

Urume's eyes took on a distant look. I felt like the sound effect "drinks it down" didn't quite fit... but considering my stamina lately, it wasn't exactly wrong either, so I couldn't correct her. Besides, the fact that everyone took it into their mouths as if it were the most natural thing in the world was, just as Urume said, an expression of affection. Thinking about it that way filled me with happiness all over again.

"But yeah, I've gotta do my best too."

"No... you don't have to force yourself, okay?"

I had no intention of forcing her into anything.

"Huh? But it makes you happy, right, Sousuke?"

"Well... yeah."

"Then I'm gonna do it. After all, you're always working hard to make everyone happy too, Sousuke."

Was she talking about the various things I crafted or the actions I took? It was true that just seeing them happy made me feel rewarded, and I had never found it painful.

Part of it was that Crafting itself was fun... But even when things took a long time or were difficult, seeing them rejoice made me as happy as if it were my own success. I wondered if the various things the girls did for me came from that same feeling.

"Plus, I need to appeal to you more, Sousuke. The way you saved Serina today was seriously cool. I want to be cherished that much too."

Urume smirked.

My rush to save Serina seemed to be a massive event among the girls. Everyone besides Urume had mentioned it too.

"You don't have to worry. If you ever end up in a pinch, Urume, I'll save you."

Not just me—everyone would. I said it in the sense that it was only natural since we were companions.

Urume froze, and then her face rapidly turned red. Before long, she was as bright red as if she were boiling.

"Wha— Hey! Saying stuff like that out of nowhere is totally unfair!"

Flustered, her gaze drifted about erratically. "Ah, it's hot. It's so hot in here because of you, Sousuke!" she said, fanning her face with her hand.

"Ah, Urume!"

Your hand is still totally covered in slime, so using it like a fan and waving it around is...

"Gyah?! It totally flew all over my face!"

...Yeah, of course it did. I immediately placed a towel and a bucket filled with water.

"Sob, sob. My very first hand-job and I get face-shotted by Sousuke."

"That's a false accusation."

"Well, whatever. I guess I'll be getting covered in it plenty of times from here on out anyway."

I wished she wouldn't say things like that. It was going to get me excited.

A little later, after Urume finished cleaning her hands and face.

"For now, let's call it a day. You're a busy guy, aren't you, Sousuke?"

Urume said with a smirk. It looked like she was fully aware of who was on nightly turn tonight.

"...Um. Thanks, Urume."

Without reacting to that, I simply thanked her for what we had just done.

"Yeah. Make sure to call me whenever you're feeling horny again. For me, it's a great chance to farm favorability points with you."

Urume pumped her fist.

"I appreciate it... but I'm pretty easy, so your favorability with me will go up even without doing that."

"For real? Like what?"

"Like playing bowling together."

When I said that, her eyes went wide for a fraction of a second before she broke into a massive laugh.

"Ahaha! I like that. We are definitely doing that!"

Her bursting smile was incredibly captivating.

◇

The moment I stepped out of the game room, Chiyu met us in the hallway.

"C-Chiyu?"

"Mm. Advanced Heal, Energy Up, Purify."

A faint light enveloped my body.

"Ah, Chiyu-chii, me too!"

Without showing any surprise, Urume made her demand of Chiyu.

"Purify."

"Thanks!"

"Mm."

"...Don't tell me you were waiting for us?"

"Helping to run a healthy harem is also the duty of the legal wife."

The one who had proposed the harem... or rather, granted permission for it, was Chiyu. So she was cooperating to maintain it.

Whether she was open-minded or just completely devoted, if Chiyu hadn't been Chiyu, I wouldn't have been able to live this kind of deserted island life.

"Sorry. And thank you."

"Don't mention it. I'll take my reward, though."

Chiyu stepped in front of me, stood up slightly on her tiptoes, and lightly pressed her lips against mine. Her lips were incredibly soft, moist, and warm.

In that single instant, my mind was dyed completely in Chiyu's colors.

"This is plenty for the fee, So-kun."

Chiyu flashed a quick peace sign with her index and middle fingers before heading back to her own room.

"Whew! Chiyu-chii is so cool!"

Urume flattered her.

"Seriously, I'm no match for her."

I could only give a wry smile. Chiyu really was an incredible girl and a dependable childhood friend.

"Well, see you tomorrow, Sousuke. Mwah."

Urume blew a cute kiss my way. It was the first time in my life anyone had ever done that to me, and though it startled me, the sheer destructive power of it was remarkable.

"A-Ah, good night."

Parting ways there with Urume, who looked thoroughly satisfied with my reaction, we headed off to our respective private rooms.

"It's lights-out time!"

Ms. Luminous came out into the hallway and called out.

"Sorry, I'm heading back now."

"Good night, Kuno."

Was it just my imagination that her face looked faintly flushed as she looked at me?

"Good night, Ms. Luminous."

The moment I opened the door and stepped inside, the lighting in the hallway shut off.

"Shoot... I don't have a light."

Whenever I wanted to do things in my room after lights-out, I usually made sure to light a lantern ahead of time, but with everything that happened today, I had completely forgotten.

However, my bedroom was already faintly illuminated. The light of a lantern was swaying softly.

And it wasn't mine.

"Welcome back, Sousuke."

Serina was already waiting for me inside.

She approached me, her eyes heavy and dreaming.

"I've been waiting. Come on... let's hurry up, okay?"

I swallowed hard.

It looked like it would still take a little more time before the eleventh day finally came to an end.