“Kuroha~?”

For some reason, Kuroha immediately felt a shiver run down his spine. Himiko didn’t pay attention to his reactions as her hand slowly reached his private and...Gripped them.

“Do you have something to tell me?”

The slowly tightening of her hand told him that his future would depend on his answer.

Silence filled the room, only the sound of their heartbeats could be heard.

Right now, Kuroha's thoughts are running faster than light. This situation was perhaps the greatest challenge in his whole life until now. Sure, he could regenerate his private part. But, yeah...He rather not have them crushed in the first place.

He could heal any physical damage as long as he had enough energy, but mental ones were in a whole different league.

Now, how do you calm a girl who holds your balls in her hands? There should be a solution, my childhood friend can’t be this scary right? He thought as he tried to reassure himself, but, looking around and seeing all those posters and plushie dolls, he answered the question himself, Yes she can!!!

Kuroha was wholly unprepared to deal with the current situation. No amount of books could help him right now. Himiko was a doll that would simply accept the situation without thinking. This wasn’t the kind of harem story where all the girls somehow became friends and always smiled at each other.

If he wasn’t careful in how he handled the situation, he wouldn’t be surprised if Himiko would one day simply poison Momo or kill her after taking another appearance.

Kuroha was right to worry. Right now, Himiko was in a very unstable situation. After all, even though she was ready to create a harem for him, in her head those harem members would only be a necessary evil. The number one spot would always be her. But, right now, it seemed like her position was being threatened.

Who was it? She didn’t know what it was that had stolen but she wouldn’t let it go.

What should I do to her? Frankly, she wanted to destroy the bitch who dared to be currently one step ahead of her. But, this wasn’t the solution. Killing would simply ensure Kuroha wrath and would make him feel sad. No one, not even her should make Kuroha sad.

What should I do? Looking at his usually expressionless face, Himiko could see a lot of guilt hidden in it. Her rational mind told her to use his feeling of guilt for herself. This was the best situation ever. If she did well, she would always be his first concern. But...

*Drip*

“Huh?!…”

A tear suddenly landed on Kuroha torso, Himiko looked incredulously at this tear before touching her face, she could feel the moist feeling, asserting the situation.

I am crying? How could it be possible?

She should feel elated, even if a little angry. After all, her plan worked right? With that, the Yaoyorozu would protect Kuroha with all their might, wouldn’t they? She was the one who made sure Momo never gave up, didn’t she? So why?

Why do I feel so sad?

She released Kuroha part and began to curl on her herself.

*Drip* *Drip* *Drip*

More tear began to gather and roll, try as she might she wasn’t able to stop them

“Himiko…?”

“Ahahah...What is happening I wonder?”

An awkward laugh escaped her lips as she repeatedly wiped the corner of her eyes again and again, but they wouldn’t stop falling.

Why?

She couldn’t understand. No, perhaps she refused to understand. After all, if she understood, she would have no one to blame than herself.

Was my resolve so weak?

She always prided herself on being able to do everything for Kuroha. But her current reactions showed that she wasn’t as ready as she thought she was. If so,

Does it mean that all my resolves wouldn’t be able to survive the first contact?

She couldn’t help but doubt herself. If she was sad despite her plan succeeding then what about the others? Perhaps one day I would betray Kuroha? Such thought couldn’t help but appear in her head, tormenting her even more.

*Thump* *Thump* *Thump*

Her heart began to beat painfully in her chest, the simple act of breathing became so hard that she was becoming short on breath. The simple thought that she could ever betray Kuroha no matter what the reason was so painful that she basically having a seizure.

It was when she was falling in an endless phase of self-questioning and depression that, She felt herself being hugged in a tight embrace.

This sensation brought her out of her stupor, but, when she raised her tear-stained face to look at Kuroha,

“I…”

*Kiss*

Her lips were suddenly sealed by Kuroha.

“Nn…”

Instinctively, she tried to resist, by pushing him aside, but the difference in power was evident the more she struggled, the more he tightened his embrace. Of course, he was careful to not hurt her.

Moments passed by and Himiko’s attempt eventually stopped. The warmth bit by bit melted all her resistance and fear as she began to enjoy her first kiss. She had many fantasies about her first kiss. Never would she ever thought that it would happen in such a situation.

Still, The long mind-numbing kiss sapped her body of all strength and her mind of the desire to think. She wished that this moment would never end, that she would eternally kiss him, sadly, nothing was eternal.

Kuroha took back his lips and gazed into Himiko's watery eyes filled with reluctance.

There were so many things he wanted to say. It was the first time he hated his lack of eloquence so much. When he saw her cry, it felt like his head went completely white. As his heart was slowly being cut. He didn’t wish to see her in pain, he didn’t wish to see her cry, in his mind, Himiko should always be laughing, always be happy. She might be a little creepy, she was a little crazy, but,

But so what if she was?

Once he reached this conclusion, he felt like a shackle had been released from his heart as if a heavyweight fell off from his shoulder.

He swallowed all his hesitation and whispered,

“Himiko...I love you.”