"Asuka, I really didn't go to that ramen place," Haruto finally broke the silence, his voice calm but tinged with nervousness.
They had been locked in an intense, silent stare for the last three minutes, and the weight of it was suffocating.
"I mean, why would I? You know I can't handle spicy food."
Asuka sighed, her arms still crossed. "I believe you," she said, though her tone carried a trace of skepticism.
"But your friend? He's terrible at lying."
Haruto winced internally. 'Damn you, Enji.'
"Why don't you just tell me who it was?" Asuka continued, her gaze sharp.
"If you're honest with me, I'll drop this and never bring it up again."
Haruto hesitated. His mind raced. Should he tell her? Asuka was notoriously hard to read, and he had no idea how she'd react if she learned that the woman with him earlier was Mari.
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as if grappling with the weight of his decision. "Fine, I'll tell you," he said at last, his voice steady.
"But you have to promise me—don't try to meet her, not here at the ryokan, not outside, nowhere."
"Sure," Asuka replied with a shrug, though her eyes gleamed with curiosity.
"I won't do that."
"It's... Chiyo," he said after a pause, crafting his lie carefully.
"You remember her, right? Last time you two met, it didn't go well. She was furious with me. It took me two hours to calm her down and stop her from crying."
He dropped his gaze, feigning sadness. "I just didn't want her to go through something like that again."
Asuka's expression shifted, her hands moving to her hips. She tapped her foot rhythmically against the floor as if trying to gauge the truth in his words.
Her silence stretched, and Haruto's heart began to race.
Then, to his surprise, she leaned in close, her lips brushing his ear as she whispered, "Haruto, I'm just joking. I'm not mad at you. But I am glad you fell for my little lie."
She pulled back, smirking triumphantly.
Haruto blinked, his mind struggling to process her words. Then, the tension broke, and he laughed—a mix of disbelief and sheer relief.
"God, I feel so stupid," he muttered, rubbing his temples.
"You should," Asuka teased, grinning. "But I have to admit, it was fun seeing you squirm."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Haruto sighed, relieved beyond words that he hadn't told her the truth.
He stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her in a hug. "Asuka, please don't mess with me like that again. You almost gave me a heart attack."
She laughed softly, leaning into his embrace for a moment before stepping back. "I couldn't help it. I realized I've never really been angry at you before, so I wanted to see how you'd react."
"You're evil," Haruto said with a grin, shaking his head.
"Maybe," she replied playfully, reaching up to pinch his cheek. "But I love seeing how scared you are of losing me. It's adorable."
Haruto chuckled, though a part of him shivered at the thought of truly angering her. "It might be fun for you, but for me? Never again."
His mind wandered briefly to Mari, remembering how she paid back to him, that inferno ramen, he could still feel it in his throat.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, Host!]
[Asuka's Deprivation Matrix Updated!]
[Corruption: 85]
[Lust Affinity: 95]
[Based on the interaction between the host and Asuka, 200 EXP has been gathered!]
[Host Status Update!]
[Level 35 → Level 36]
Haruto chuckled to himself, a flicker of pride lighting his eyes. He didn't even need to rely on system items or potions to leave her trembling.
Gazing down at Asuka's flushed face, he gently brushed a strand of hair from her cheek and leaned in, whispering, "Dead fish? You're already this much of a mess, and I haven't even begun to ravage you yet." His grin was playful, his tone teasing.
Asuka managed to recover enough to pout at him. "Ugh, you're right—it's impossible to punish you properly."
Her lips curled into a mischievous smirk.
"What if I got you a cock ring, though? You wouldn't be able to sleep with anyone else, only me."
Her tone was joking, but the idea sent a shiver down Haruto's spine. "If you do that, I swear I'll leave Japan and never come back."
"Aww, so your love for me is that shallow?" she teased, feigning a hurt expression.
"Of course not. But no one gets to mess with my dick except me," he shot back with a wicked grin, making her burst into laughter.
Haruto eased her onto the futon, ensuring she was comfortable as he positioned her leg over his shoulder.
He leaned forward, grinding teasingly against her slick folds, brushing against her sensitive clit.
The motion drew soft whimpers from Asuka, her breath hitching with every movement.
"Ahh... just put it in already, Haruto," she pleaded, her voice dripping with sultry desperation.
Her half-lidded eyes and flushed cheeks were proof of her need.
"I want to feel your hard, big cock inside me."
He smirked. "Be patient, will you? You'll get it soon enough." He continued teasing her, letting her frustration build before finally aligning himself.
"Here we go—one big, hard cock coming in."
As he thrust into her, her warmth and tightness enveloped him, drawing a deep groan from his chest.
"Ohhh! Hnnnggghhh!" Asuka cried out, her body arching as he filled her. "Move faster, Haruto! Don't make me wait!"
Haruto exhaled sharply, savoring the way her body gripped him. "Let me enjoy your tight, wet pussy first," he said with a sly grin, remaining still just to tease her further.
But just as he was about to move, the room's door slid open with a sudden *whoosh*.
"Asuka, why did you leave me alone? Why are you being so cold to me?"
The voice made Haruto freeze mid-motion, his heart dropping into his stomach. He knew that voice too well.
Standing in the doorway was none other than Mr. Inoue—her husband.