Chapter 163: Love...?
At the same time, Aria trembled violently behind Kouhei, her fingers buried deep inside her own quivering pussy as her own climax rocked her to her core. Her hot breath spilled against his back as her juices gushed between her fingers, dripping down her thighs in a warm trail.
Suddenly —
A powerful explosion of light burst forth from their bodies, vibrant and blinding.
Golden hues swirled together with deep crimson and sapphire blue, intertwining like streams of energy. The radiant glow engulfed the room, spiraling upward and surging outward like a beacon piercing the air. The force rattled the very walls, the powerful surge shaking the ground beneath their feet as their souls intertwined.
The light pulsed with intensity — chaotic yet beautiful — before fading slowly, leaving the room bathed in a soft, lingering glow.
All three of them remained frozen for a moment, their bodies twitching with the aftershocks of their powerful release. Their ragged breaths echoed in the quiet room, each gasp a reminder of the overwhelming pleasure they had just shared.
They had achieved Connective Love Link — a rare and powerful bond forged through unrestrained ecstasy.
Later, Hina and Nagisa spotted the three of them emerging from the bathroom. Yuuna and Aria's bodies seemed to shimmer faintly, their skin practically glowing beneath the towels draped loosely over them. Their hair clung to their damp skin, and their flushed faces still carried the remnants of their lingering pleasure. Meanwhile, Kouhei's disheveled hair and haggard face made it clear he was more exhausted than usual.
"Hey, Nagisa…" Hina muttered, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "Don't you think those two are… glowing? I don't think that's something that happens just from taking a bath." Her voice was cold, yet sharp with suspicion.
"Yeah…" Nagisa muttered, her gaze lingering on them. "And I can feel it — their aura's gotten stronger. That's not normal." She pouted, her tone laced with playful jealousy. "You two are unfair for not inviting us…"
"Fufufu…" Yuuna giggled softly, placing a hand over her mouth with a teasing smile. "Well… it just happened in the moment. We forgot to invite you two. But… maybe next time."
Kouhei shifted awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck as his gaze flicked between them. The faint tension in his face broke as his expression suddenly turned serious.
"Um… everyone," he said firmly. "I need your help. It's about Yuki-san."
The lighthearted air instantly faded. The four girls exchanged glances, their eyes hardening with concern before they turned back to Kouhei.
"You can ask us anything, Kouhei-kun," Yuuna assured him. "All you need to do is say the word, and we'll help you."
"So?" Hina asked, stepping closer. "What exactly is happening with Misuzu that you need our help?"
***
Misuzu lay on her bed, her gaze fixed on the ceiling above her as she tried to drift off to sleep.
"I wonder... what is this...?" she murmured to herself, her voice barely audible. Her eyes remained locked on the ceiling, her mind clouded with thoughts she couldn't quite grasp. Slowly, she raised her hand toward it, her fingers outstretched as if trying to reach something unseen.
But no matter how much she stretched her arm, the ceiling remained distant — far out of reach. Just like the answers she was desperately searching for.
What exactly is this feeling?
"It's strange... I don't think I've ever felt anything like this before..."
Misuzu's thoughts circled back to the same troubling sensation. Whenever she thought about Kouhei, her chest would tighten, and her heartbeat would quicken. It was an unfamiliar warmth — one that left her flustered and restless.
And when she remembered that Kouhei was likely with Yuuna right now, the uneasiness grew stronger. A strange knot twisted inside her, a discomfort she couldn't ignore.
What exactly are these feelings...?
The confusion overwhelmed her, and she realized there was no way she could figure it out alone. Perhaps... perhaps she needed to ask someone.
"I think that's love, Misuzu."
It was the next morning when Yumi gave her that unexpected answer. Misuzu had approached her before class started, hoping to make sense of her feelings, and Yumi had answered almost instantly.
"Love?" Misuzu repeated, her brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean... love, exactly?"
"How should I know?" Yumi shrugged. "I've never experienced emotions like that. It's all just... human nonsense." She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "But I've heard my human friends talk about it a lot. And from what you're describing, it sounds exactly like what they've mentioned."
For the record, Misuzu had described her situation vaguely — claiming it was about a 'friend' from the entertainment industry rather than herself. It wasn't that she was too embarrassed to admit it... well, maybe a little — but mostly, she just couldn't make sense of what she was feeling.
"This 'friend' of yours is probably in love," Yumi stated flatly. "Or maybe just developing a crush. Either way, it's nothing but mundane human feelings." Her gaze turned sharp. "Don't get caught up in things like that, Misuzu. It's pointless. We should be focusing on the war with the Souichiro faction."
Before Misuzu could respond, the school bell rang, signaling the start of class.
"Alright, we'll talk about this later," Yumi said. Then her expression softened slightly. "Ah, right. You're having lunch with Okumura-san, aren't you?"
"Ah… well... right..."
At the mere mention of Kouhei's name, Misuzu's heart suddenly skipped a beat, her pulse racing beneath her skin. A warm flush crept up her face, and her fingers twitched nervously.
"Hm?" Yumi gave her an inquisitive look, her eyes narrowing slightly.
It was rare — extremely rare — to see Misuzu react like this. For a moment, Yumi considered questioning her further, but she quickly dismissed the thought. After all, demons rarely suffered from illness, but Yumi figured this must be one of those rare cases.
"You should check yourself in the infirmary if you're feeling strange," Yumi advised. "I'd hate to see you suffering from some weird human affliction. Anyway, if you don't have any more questions, let's get to class."
Despite the confusion swirling inside her, Misuzu nodded. Yet even as she tried to focus, her mind remained tangled in unanswered questions.
Later that day, Misuzu took Yumi's advice and went to the infirmary. The school nurse examined her carefully, checking her temperature, pulse, and overall condition before shaking her head with a small smile.
"Oh, you're not sick," the nurse said with a light chuckle. "You're just in love."
"Ha…?" Misuzu's eyes widened in disbelief.
The nurse, a woman in her fifties nearing retirement, laughed softly to herself. "What? Don't tell me you've never been in love before? Oh my, that's silly." She smiled fondly, her eyes distant as if recalling an old memory. "When I was your age, I remember falling in love too… And now, my husband and I have been married for forty years."
The warmth in her voice shifted slightly as she sighed. "It's a shame we were never blessed with children... but still, sharing a life with someone you love, living your days together, and eventually growing old side by side... That's what love's really about, dear."
"Ha...?" Misuzu could only blink in confusion.
In the end, her visit to the infirmary didn't provide the answers she had hoped for. Instead, she was left even more perplexed than before.
Could it really be love…?
Two people had already suggested it — first Yumi, then the school nurse. Misuzu still wasn't sure what to believe.
Was this strange feeling truly love?
***
By the time afternoon came, classes had finally ended. The school bell rang loudly, and students poured out of their classrooms, filling the hallways with chatter and laughter.
Kouhei stood once again at the front of the school, his figure outlined by the warm orange glow of the setting sun. The fading light cast long shadows across the pavement, and for some reason, the way he stood there — his posture relaxed yet attentive — seemed... almost beautiful.
Beautiful...? Misuzu caught herself thinking. What am I even saying...?
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she approached him.
"Ah, Yuki-san," Kouhei greeted her as she drew closer. His voice was warm with concern. "Are you feeling better now?"
She blinked, a little surprised.
"Oh... Yes," she said softly. "I'm sorry for not showing up at lunch… even though I was the one who asked you."
"Don't worry about it," Kouhei said, waving off her apology with a small smile. "Your health comes first — that's more important than anything." He paused briefly before scratching the back of his neck, as if hesitating. "But... well... the reason I'm here is because I wanted to know if you're still okay to work tonight. Are you feeling up to it?"
His concern was genuine — so casual yet so sincere.
And for some reason... that alone made Misuzu's heart skip a beat.
Why is this happening? she thought, flustered. The warmth in her chest was growing stronger, her pulse quickening the longer she looked at him.
Maybe... she realized, her fingers nervously brushing against her skirt.
Maybe I really am... in love with him... after all.