Kotomi?!

The instant she was hugged by Kotomi Izumi, countless emotions erupted from deep within Yukino Yukinoshita’s heart. There were so many that she could not even distinguish them clearly. She only knew they were all tangled together.

The strongest among them, the ones she could feel most clearly, were joy, confusion, happiness, and nervousness.

Yukino Yukinoshita felt joy and happiness from being held by Kotomi Izumi, like a player who never should have won the game yet somehow managed to claim victory through sheer luck. At the same time, she felt confusion and tension. She did not know why Kotomi had suddenly hugged her from behind.

And she worried whether Yui Yuigahama, who looked as though she had already fallen asleep, might actually be pretending—just as Yukino herself had been earlier.

Yukino felt as if there were a lively, energetic little deer living inside her chest, making her heart pound wildly. She could not help but press her lips together slightly.

Even though it was her own heartbeat, a thought surfaced in her mind—Kotomi is hugging me from behind right now… can she hear my heartbeat too?

Yukino Yukinoshita assumed Kotomi knew she had been pretending to sleep earlier. For a moment, she did not know what to say. She had never been good with words to begin with, and now she felt even less capable of speaking.

People often said that those who read a lot were eloquent, silver‑tongued, able to speak with effortless brilliance.

Yukino Yukinoshita felt that statement was completely wrong. She read plenty, yet she had never liked talking. And now, she could not even squeeze out a single word.

Just as she was bracing herself to force out even one syllable to break the awkward silence, Kotomi Izumi spoke first.

“I wanted to hug you back on the train earlier. Mm… holding Yukino like this—well, you’re not as comfortable as Yui. The difference in figure is just too big. But it still feels pretty nice. It’s like holding a disobedient little kitten in my arms.”

Kotomi chuckled softly, her voice low. As she spoke, she tightened her embrace.

When Yukino heard that Kotomi had not noticed she had been pretending to sleep, she first let out a quiet breath of relief. But when she heard Kotomi mention the difference between her figure and Yui’s, something in her chest flared up like a tiny flame bursting into life.

How terribly sorry for you that my figure isn’t as good as Yui’s! Poor little penguin!

She was so annoyed she wanted to roll over, extend her little claws, and scratch Kotomi’s beautiful face wildly.

Scratch that pretty face until it was covered in marks. Let’s see if you’d still dare to flirt around and attract butterflies after that!

Unaware that Yukino was still pretending to sleep, Kotomi held her close and gently bit at a strand of her hair, smiling teasingly.

“A cool and tsundere little kitten during the day… I guess only when she’s asleep will she show a clingy side to her master.”

That single sentence instantly turned Yukino’s cheeks a deep crimson. The small flame that had been burning in her heart vanished in an instant, replaced by overwhelming heat spreading across her face.

If someone were to place a fluffy marshmallow against Yukino Yukinoshita’s cheek right now, they might soon harvest a perfectly toasted one.

Cool and tsundere little kitten? Isn’t the nickname you gave me supposed to be cool little tigress? And since when did you become my master?!

Yukino’s emotions felt like a ball of yarn that a mischievous kitten had clawed into complete chaos. Her heart was a mess, and the embarrassment only made her cheeks burn hotter.

For a moment, she wanted to struggle free from Kotomi’s embrace. Yet that embrace felt like a swamp from a fairy tale—so beautiful, so warm. She knew it was a swamp she should stay away from, yet she still wanted to sink into it.

The swamp did not look fierce at all. It seemed to whisper to the girl sinking into it that if she wished to escape, she only needed to struggle a little before being completely swallowed, and she could easily free herself.

But for the girl who had already fallen in, how could she leave so easily?

From the moment she touched the swamp, her heart had begun dissolving within that fairy‑tale mire. She no longer wanted to leave. She only wanted to be swallowed bit by bit.

If Kotomi Izumi was the swamp of a fairy tale, then Yukino Yukinoshita was the girl who fell into it willingly, allowing herself to be devoured by this swamp named Kotomi.

Not knowing what to say or even what to think, Yukino simply gave up thinking altogether and closed her eyes. Right now, she only wanted to remain in Kotomi’s arms and enjoy her embrace.

She did not understand why Kotomi had turned to hug her at this moment.

Kotomi had clearly agreed earlier to share a pillow with Yui, and she had been holding Yui just moments ago…

But whatever the reason was no longer mattered to Yukino.

She only wanted to be held like a little kitten.

The next day.

11:30 a.m.

Yui Yuigahama had a long dream.

It was a nightmare.

She remembered dreaming for a very long time. In the dream, she had married Kotomi, and they had a very adorable child.

As she and Kotomi held their child’s small hands and strolled through a park in the afternoon, listening to the child agonize over whether to play on the slide first or the swings, Yui felt like the happiest woman in the world.

Until one day, when her mother said she missed her granddaughter and wanted to take care of her for a few days.

Since giving birth, Yui Yuigahama had not had much time alone with Kotomi. So she decided to prepare a lavish candlelit dinner that evening.

After buying many ingredients that Kotomi loved, Yui hurried home with a paper bag filled to the brim. Just imagining the happy expression Kotomi would show while eating her cooking made her walk faster and faster.

When she arrived home and pushed open the door, she noticed a pair of women’s high heels in the entryway—neither hers nor Kotomi’s.

Had they had a guest?

Thinking that, Yui carried the heavy paper bag toward the kitchen.

The bag was quite heavy, and she wanted to set it down on the kitchen table first.

To reach the kitchen, she had to pass through the living room.

But as she walked past, she heard Kotomi laughing and chatting with another woman.

Yui slowly turned her head.

She saw Kotomi, her clothes disheveled, lounging lazily on the sofa with a woman she did not recognize.

Her eyes widened, as if they might split open.

The paper bag slipped from her arms with a sharp thud, crashing to the floor. It struck her toes, yet she felt no pain at all. Perhaps all sensation had been swallowed by the ache in her heart.

Hearing the sound, Kotomi Izumi and the other woman sat up with slight annoyance and looked toward the doorway where Yui stood frozen.

Kotomi’s expression turned to disgust.

“Ha… I thought you’d come back later. You’ve always been clingy. When we were just dating, it felt kind of interesting. But after marrying you, you’ve only become more and more annoying.

“Since you’ve already seen it, I’ll be honest. I’ve known her for a year now, and we’ve been having an affair. Compared to you—boring and irritating—she suits me much better.

“Yui, let’s get a divorce. I prepared the divorce papers at the beginning of this year. Sign them. I’ll pay for you and the child’s living expenses.”

The woman in Kotomi’s arms spoke sweetly as well.

“Darling~ you promised that once you divorced her, you’d marry me right away~”

Yui Yuigahama stared blankly at them.

She did not walk into the living room to sign the papers.

She did not point at them and scream.

She only felt as if something inside her had shattered with a faint crack.

In a daze, she walked out of the house without even putting on her shoes.

As she passed through her yard, it was as though she had come outside for this very purpose. Her hollow gaze immediately fell upon the chainsaw lying on the grass.

She had taken it out earlier to trim the trees and forgotten to put it away.

With empty eyes, Yui walked over.

She bent down and picked up the chainsaw.

When both her hands finally started it, the wildly spinning teeth and blade let out a chilling, piercing roar.

She turned around and slowly walked back into the house.

At that point in the dream, Yui Yuigahama woke up.

As soon as she opened her eyes, she instinctively touched the corner of her eye. Her fingertips brushed against tears.

Had she cried in her sleep?

She turned over.

After such a nightmare, she urgently wanted to bury herself in Kotomi’s warm embrace.

The moment she turned, before she could even reach out her hand, her gaze froze.

She clearly remembered that before falling asleep, Kotomi had been facing her, holding her in her arms.

But now…

Kotomi Izumi was hugging Yukino Yukinoshita with both arms, her back turned toward Yui.

Even the pillow—Kotomi was sharing the same pillow with Yukino Yukinoshita.

Looking at Kotomi Izumi holding Yukino in her arms, the expression on her lovely face seemed to say she was peacefully enjoying her sleep.

Yui Yuigahama rubbed her eyes. She could not believe what she was seeing, nor did she want to.

How she wished that she had not truly woken up yet—that everything before her was nothing more than an illusion from a dream.

Even though I just had a nightmare, I wish this scene in front of me is a nightmare too. Because if it’s a nightmare, then I can keep using the chainsaw to cut away everything I don’t want to see.

Kotomi is the person I love most. Yukino is my best friend. The two of them would never do something to betray me. Never!

What I’m seeing right now must be fake…

If a branch on a tree is rotten, you cut it off with a chainsaw.

So if there’s a scene I don’t want to see, as long as I cut it away with a chainsaw, won’t the happiness between Kotomi and me return to perfection?

The chainsaw… the chainsaw… where is the chainsaw? As long as I hold it in my hands, no one will be able to destroy the happiness between Kotomi and me.

Yukino, even if you’re my best friend, I won’t allow you to ruin my happiness with Kotomi. If you really intend to reach out and destroy it, then let me help you cut away that thought that should never have existed… completely.

Don’t be afraid. Don’t thank me. After all, you are my… best friend.

Even in her own thoughts, Yui’s voice remained gentle.

She looked down at her hands. The blood that had completely stained them red in her dream was gone. The chainsaw smeared with flesh and roaring terrifyingly had vanished as if it had never existed.

Just as Yui’s heart trembled, Kotomi Izumi woke up.

Kotomi did not open her eyes fully at first. Instead, she assessed the current situation.

Yui is awake. She’s sitting up and looking at me and Yukino. And right now I’m hugging Yukino, sharing the same pillow with her. I remember that before Yui fell asleep last night, I promised her I would hold her and share a pillow with her…

At that thought, a few beads of cold sweat formed on Kotomi’s forehead. Last night she had been so busy enjoying the feeling of holding Yukino that she had completely forgotten what she had promised Yui before she fell asleep.

Fortunately, Yui had a good temper and was very easy to coax.

If it were Megumi Kato, there might already be a knife gleaming coldly in her hand.

Luckily Yui is gentle and trusts me. Even if she feels hurt seeing me and Yukino hugging in our sleep, she’ll wait for my explanation instead of pulling out a knife without a word…

Kotomi sighed inwardly.

Yui was already awake and staring intensely at her and Yukino embracing. No matter what, she could not continue hugging Yukino right now. The first thing she needed to do was come up with a reason to fool—no, to coax—Yui.

She could hug Yukino again when she had the chance later.

Honestly, although Yukino Yukinoshita’s figure could not compare to Yui Yuigahama’s, she still felt very comfortable in her arms.

Kotomi forcibly suppressed the lingering enjoyment in her heart.

Then, now fully awake, she deliberately put on a half-asleep expression. In a daze, she loosened her hold on Yukino, turned over, and stretched out a small hand as if searching for something—like a baby trying hard to grab a toy.

“Yui… Yui…”

Kotomi opened her watery eyes and called out softly in a trembling voice, as if on the verge of tears.

Yui, whose heart had just been torn apart by the sight of Kotomi hugging Yukino, snapped back to reality the instant she heard her voice.

Seeing Kotomi’s pitiful expression, she immediately forgot all about the two of them sleeping in each other’s arms.

“Kotomi, I’m here. Don’t cry. Did you have a nightmare?”

Yui hurriedly pulled Kotomi into her embrace, moving carefully as she comforted her gently.

To Yui, nothing mattered more than her family.

From the moment Kotomi accepted her confession and became her girlfriend, Yui Yuigahama had already regarded Kotomi as family.

Kotomi lifted her head and met Yui’s gaze. She pouted pitifully and struck first.

“Didn’t we agree to sleep on the same pillow, with me holding you all night? Why did I wake up today and find Yukino in my arms instead of you?”

As she spoke, tears slipped from the corners of Kotomi’s eyes. Her rims reddened slightly, making her look heartbreakingly adorable.

In that instant, Yui’s heart nearly melted.

Who cared about Kotomi hugging Yukino all night? Clearly it had been Kotomi who failed to keep her promise, yet after this performance, Yui somehow felt like she was the one in the wrong.

All the jealousy and resentment that had accumulated inside her vanished in an instant.

“I’m sorry…”

She did not even know what she had done wrong. But as long as Kotomi cried, no matter how much Kotomi had wronged her, Yui would believe it was not Kotomi’s fault—it was hers.

Seeing this, Kotomi pressed her advantage.

“Yes, it is your fault. If you had held me last night too, then I wouldn’t have been so groggy that I accidentally hugged Yukino and somehow ended up sharing a pillow with her.”

As she said this, Kotomi rubbed her cheek against Yui’s.

“When I woke up just now and realized it wasn’t you in my arms but Yukino, I thought you’d disappeared. Do you know how worried I was? Bad Yui! Wuu…”

It sounded like she was complaining.

But in truth, she was quietly explaining why she had been hugging Yukino and sharing a pillow with her.

As she spoke, Kotomi even lightly tapped Yui’s chest with her soft little fist. It did not hurt at all, but it made Yui’s heart feel as though it might melt completely.

Yui did not understand what a roundabout explanation was.

She only felt as though she suddenly understood why Kotomi had hugged Yukino all night.

It wasn’t Kotomi’s fault—it was hers.

If she had held Kotomi tightly while sleeping, how could Kotomi have accidentally turned over and ended up hugging Yukino instead?

The last traces of jealousy and petty resentment in Yui’s heart disappeared entirely, replaced only by self-blame.

“Kotomi, I’m sorry. It’s my fault for not holding you tightly. But just now I felt angry when I saw you and Yukino hugging. I’m awful. You can hit me!”

“Silly Yui. How could I ever bear to hit you?”

Kotomi gently caressed Yui’s cheek, speaking in a soft voice.

Poor Yui—played completely in Kotomi’s palm.

…

Who knew how much time passed…

With a beauty in her arms, Yui Yuigahama suddenly felt like she had regained her confidence.

Blushing, her voice tinged with nervousness and shyness, she spoke.

“K-Kotomi… I… I want to… kiss you. Is that okay? I promise, just kissing. I won’t do anything else!”

“Pfft—”

Kotomi could not help laughing.

This silly dumpling had practically written her true intentions all over her face, yet she was still insisting that she would only kiss and do nothing more.

Kotomi wrapped an arm around Yui’s neck and whispered in her ear.

“Alright, stop pretending to be some elegant lady. I’m your girlfriend. Do you think I don’t know what you’re thinking?”

…

Five minutes later.

Kotomi held Yui in her arms and comforted her gently and encouragingly.

“Alright, alright, Yui. Don’t cry. Five minutes is already impressive. You’re probably not in good condition because of the unfamiliar environment. Or maybe you just woke up and haven’t eaten yet—you’re hungry. And compared to earlier this morning, you improved by two whole minutes.”

“Wuuuu!”

It would have been better if she had not said anything.

The moment Kotomi spoke, Yui cried even harder.

While coaxing Yui, Kotomi did not forget to glance at Yukino Yukinoshita, who was still asleep beside them.

Yukino seemed to prefer sleeping on her side. Although Kotomi could not see her sleeping face, she felt that Yukino must be sleeping quite soundly.

Yukino probably doesn’t know I held her all night. I’ll coax Yui first, then wake Yukino in a few minutes…

Kotomi thought to herself.

—

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep