If Yui Yuigahama had been beside them, Kotomi Izumi definitely wouldn’t have agreed to Yukino so readily. She would have pretended not to hear it, then waited until Yui had fallen asleep before quietly agreeing.

As for why Kotomi had agreed so quickly, it wasn’t because she truly wanted to go to Yukino’s house to read books.

After all, her reading style was completely different from Yukino’s. When she had visited Yukino’s house before, she had glanced at the books on Yukino’s shelves. There were indeed many books there, but they were either ones Kotomi had already read, or titles whose names and general stories she already knew but had never read because they simply didn’t interest her.

Naturally, she hadn’t agreed so eagerly because she wanted to read those books.

Whether she read them or not didn’t matter.

Kotomi mainly just wanted to go to Yukino’s house.

However, her relationship with Yukino was still only that of friends. Visiting Yukino’s house once or twice was fine, but if she wanted to go there frequently, she would need a proper reason.

—Because I want to write a novel that can win the Akutagawa Prize, so I often go to Yukino’s house to read books and improve my literary cultivation.

That was a very good excuse.

This was also the real reason Kotomi had said earlier to Yukino Yukinoshita, “I want to write a novel. I want to win the Akutagawa Prize.”

From the moment Kotomi Izumi had decided to say those words, she had already begun laying out her plan.

From the moment she spoke until now—nearly an hour had passed—and Kotomi had simply been waiting for Yukino Yukinoshita to invite her to come read books at her house.

Despite her cold appearance, Yukino Yukinoshita was actually very warm-hearted toward friends. In simple terms, she was cold on the outside but warm on the inside.

Before meeting Kotomi Izumi, Yukino Yukinoshita didn’t have a single friend. Because of that, even she herself hadn’t realized that her personality was actually the “cold outside, warm inside” type.

Seeing that Kotomi had the dream of writing a novel and winning the Akutagawa Prize, yet was troubled because she didn’t know how to begin writing, Yukino naturally thought of the many literary novels in her own home—among them, quite a few works that had won the Akutagawa Prize.

Kotomi is struggling because she doesn’t know how to start writing a novel. I don’t understand how to write novels either, but writing certainly can’t be achieved overnight. However, reading more books—especially novels that have won the Akutagawa Prize—would definitely help Kotomi’s writing. If I invite Kotomi to my house to read, she might gain some inspiration.

That thought appeared naturally in Yukino Yukinoshita’s mind.

Once the idea formed, Yukino—who was cold on the outside but warm on the inside—only waited a few seconds before voicing it aloud, inviting Kotomi to come read at her house.

And all the subtle hints Kotomi had woven into her words earlier were precisely meant to make this idea arise in Yukino Yukinoshita’s mind so she would invite Kotomi to come over.

When Yukino actually invited her to read at her house, Kotomi kept a calm expression on the outside, but inside she couldn’t help cheering:

Step one of the grand plan—complete!

Kotomi Izumi loved playing board games. Although her skills were extremely “unorthodox” and “legendary”—in simpler terms, she was absolutely terrible at them—she still liked them very much.

There were many games she could name, but she only knew their names. She didn’t know the rules.

Nor did she know how to actually play them.

Even so, that didn’t stop Kotomi from enjoying the idea of playing games. In her view, games were essentially a form of strategic contest between people.

Ryu Hishinaga had once sighed regretfully and said, “Kotomi’s personality is perfectly suited for playing strategy games. It’s just a pity she can’t actually learn how to play them. Otherwise, with her temperament, she could definitely become Japan’s youngest Dragon King or Meijin.”

The reason Ryu Hishinaga said Kotomi’s personality suited strategy games was because when it came to planning things, Kotomi was truly monstrous.

Take a strategy game as an example.

Most people focus their attention on the immediate one or two moves, trying to secure a small advantage.

But at that same moment, Kotomi’s thoughts had already advanced to the fifth move—or even the sixth.

That was why Ryu Hishinaga believed Kotomi was perfectly suited for games like that.

When Kotomi heard her grandfather say this, her eyes immediately lit up.

So I’m actually that amazing?

She instantly became motivated to continue studying shogi.

However, three days later, Kotomi still couldn’t understand how shogi was supposed to be played.

The objective of the game was simple—checkmate the opponent’s King.

The movement rules for each piece were also written clearly in text.

Kotomi recognized every single character.

But once those characters were combined into explanations of the rules, she couldn’t understand them at all.

And so, Kotomi Izumi once again gave up on learning shogi.

Returning to the main point—ever since Kotomi told Yukino, “I want to write a novel,” she had already begun advancing the “chess pieces” in her plan to the fifth move.

She had been confident that saying this would lead Yukino Yukinoshita to invite her to come read books at her house.

That was why when Yukino finally extended the invitation, Kotomi secretly let out a long breath of relief and told herself:

Mission accomplished.

As for why Kotomi wanted to go to Yukino Yukinoshita’s house so much, there wasn’t any particularly special reason.

She simply wanted to grow closer to Yukino.

It wasn’t just because of the “request” from Haruno Yukinoshita. After becoming lovers with Yui Yuigahama, Yukino Yukinoshita—who had long been one of Kotomi’s targets—naturally became one of the girls Kotomi considered “very likely to become my third girlfriend.”

Kotomi Izumi liked far too many girls.

At least she was somewhat aware of that herself.

Since she liked so many girls, who knew if that number might increase in the future?

So who exactly would become her third girlfriend?

Even Kotomi herself wasn’t entirely sure.

It might be Yukino Yukinoshita.

It might be Mashiro Shiina.

Or it might be some other girl.

After Yui Yuigahama finished showering and blow-dried her hair, she walked out of the bathroom and casually switched off most of the lights in the room, leaving only the small bedside lamp on.

Once the three of them lay down, they quickly noticed a small problem.

There were only two pillows.

Although the bed in the large-bed room was big, it had been designed for two people.

Besides, when people checked into the large-bed room of a couple’s hotel… how many of them were actually planning to sleep at night?

Lying in the middle, Kotomi Izumi felt a little awkward.

After a moment, she got up and walked toward the wardrobe not far away.

This wardrobe hadn’t been opened yet.

When Kotomi pushed the door open and saw the dazzling variety of clothes inside, she let out an amused chuckle.

The wardrobe was filled with all kinds of outfits in countless styles and categories. Practically any type of clothing one could imagine was inside.

She had originally assumed that only themed rooms would contain things like this. She hadn’t expected even a normal large-bed room to have them.

Fortunately, once the wardrobe door was opened, people lying on the bed couldn’t see what was inside.

Otherwise, if Yui and Yukino saw it, they would first feel confused and curious. Then they would definitely ask Kotomi about it. And once Kotomi explained everything to them with that mischievous grin of hers, the two of them would probably be so embarrassed that they wouldn’t be able to sleep all night.

Kotomi Izumi’s gaze was quickly drawn to a pink-and-white magical girl transformation outfit hanging inside the wardrobe. There were also matching white pantyhose, a magical girl wand, a gemstone necklace, and a pair of cute pink high heels…

Seeing all of that made Kotomi feel a little restless.

Becoming a magical girl who saves the world had been Kotomi Izumi’s childhood dream!

What if…

She tried putting it on?

…

Kotomi really wanted to try it on, but after thinking about it for a moment, she gave up on the idea.

She was already a little sleepy. If she actually put on that magical girl transformation outfit, Yukino Yukinoshita’s reaction was hard to predict—but Yui Yuigahama would definitely blush and turn into a little beast that desperately wanted to eat meat.

Did Kotomi not understand her own girlfriend’s personality?

Yui Yuigahama was usually very well-behaved, but when it came to that kind of moment, she would turn into a wolf-like little beast that only wanted to devour meat.

If Yui turned into such a hungry little beast right now, setting aside how they would explain things to Yukino afterward once Yui was satisfied, Kotomi definitely wouldn’t get any sleep tonight.

Thinking this, Kotomi glanced at the clock.

It was already almost five o’clock.

Of course, it was winter now, so the nights were long and the days were short.

If it had been summer, the sky would already be starting to brighten at this hour.

Kotomi reluctantly gave up the idea of trying on the magical girl transformation outfit. Just by looking at it, it clearly wasn’t the kind of magical girl outfit from a normal anime.

Forget magical girls representing love and justice—if this appeared in a proper magical girl series, even the villainess wouldn’t dare dress like that.

The style of that outfit…

Actually looked more like something the magical girl protagonist in certain RPG games would wear during the early stages of the game.

After putting the magical girl outfit out of her mind, Kotomi began searching the wardrobe for a pillow. The reason she had opened the wardrobe in the first place was to find one.

Generally speaking, hotel wardrobes usually contained spare blankets, pillows, and bedsheets.

But after rummaging through the wardrobe, Kotomi discovered that while the clothing selection was extremely comprehensive, there wasn’t a single spare pillow.

She briefly considered checking the other cabinets.

But after thinking about it, she decided against it.

This was a couple’s hotel, after all.

Just the wardrobe alone was already filled with such a dazzling assortment of outfits.

If she opened the other cabinets, she might very well discover some mysterious little treasures.

If it had been ten o’clock at night right now, Kotomi would definitely have been very interested in investigating. But it was already nearly five in the morning, and sleepiness was starting to catch up with her. She just wanted to go to bed as soon as possible.

Since she couldn’t find a spare pillow, Kotomi had no choice but to return to the bed.

“I searched the wardrobe for quite a while just now, but there really wasn’t a spare pillow…” Kotomi said helplessly as she sat back down on the bed and stretched.

Almost the instant Kotomi finished speaking, Yui Yuigahama reacted with unusual speed. Her excited voice even trembled slightly, as if she were afraid that if she were a second too late Kotomi would be taken away.

“Kotomi, sleep on my pillow with me!!!”

Yukino Yukinoshita—who had still been hesitating because of her shyness about whether she should suggest that Kotomi share a pillow with her—stared at Yui Yuigahama with an expression that seemed to contain a thousand unspoken words.

All the countless thoughts in Yukino’s mind could be summarized in one sentence:

Yui, that’s completely unfair! Do you have to react that fast? Aren’t you usually a little slow? How did your reaction suddenly become light-speed? And why are you speaking so loudly—are you afraid Kotomi won’t hear you?

After grumbling inwardly for a moment, Yukino Yukinoshita suddenly felt a wave of helplessness.

That’s right. Yui is Kotomi’s girlfriend. Of course she should be the one sharing a pillow with Kotomi. I’m ridiculous… what right do I have to share a pillow with her? Yui is Kotomi’s girlfriend, while I’m only her friend. Even if I could share a pillow tonight, it would merely be a pitying favor from Yui.

Yukino Yukinoshita smiled bitterly to herself.

Even if she could share a pillow with Kotomi tonight, what would it change?

Could she become Kotomi’s girlfriend?

It would only be drinking poison to quench thirst.

To make herself feel a little better, Yukino Yukinoshita simply lay down, turned to the side, and presented her back to Kotomi and Yui.

Both Kotomi Izumi and Yui Yuigahama assumed Yukino was simply too sleepy, so neither of them thought much about it.

About ten minutes later, Yukino Yukinoshita seemed to have fallen asleep, her breathing steady and quiet.

“Yukino’s asleep. Let’s go to sleep soon too,” Kotomi whispered softly.

“Okay.”

Yui Yuigahama nodded obediently, then with a blush on her cheeks, she whispered shyly yet expectantly:

“Kotomi… you said earlier that once Yukino fell asleep, you’d let me kiss you…”

Only then did Kotomi remember the promise she had made earlier. Even though it was already very late, seeing the hopeful look in Yui’s bright eyes made it impossible for Kotomi to refuse.

She could only sigh helplessly, lean down, and gently kiss Yui Yuigahama on the cheek.

“Honestly, I really can’t do anything about you, you little dumpling… fine, but only once. And keep it quiet—don’t wake Yukino.”

“Yay! Kotomi, you’re so good to me~”

Yui Yuigahama whispered happily.

“Well, that’s because I’m your girlfriend—”

Before Kotomi could finish speaking, Yui Yuigahama suddenly wrapped her arms around Kotomi’s neck.

Kotomi had originally planned to prepare herself and try to take the initiative for the first few minutes.

But under Yui’s overwhelming offensive, she could only obediently play the role of a meek little wife.

Three minutes later.

The sacred bell of the sage echoed gently.

Yui Yuigahama buried her face in Kotomi’s chest, too embarrassed to look at her. A mixture of shame and frustration made large tears roll down Yui’s cheeks.

Three minutes… only three minutes! Yui wailed inwardly.

That was even counting the first twenty seconds at the beginning—only then did it barely reach three minutes.

If those twenty seconds weren’t counted, it would only be a little over two minutes.

Kotomi, smiling softly, kissed Yui’s cheek while comforting her.

“Silly dumpling, don’t cry… don’t cry. When you’re in an unfamiliar place, it’s normal to get nervous and not perform very well.”

“Waa… but it was only three minutes… Kotomi, do you think I’m useless?”

“Of course not~ Three minutes is fine. You were satisfied, and it didn’t take too much time.”

Kotomi said with a smile as she gently patted Yui’s hair.

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep