Night had fallen.
The campfire had been lit again, casting a circle of comforting warmth across the beach.
Aoyama twisted open two cans and handed one to Kasumigaoka Utaha.
It was Canned Beans and Meat.
The rich aroma drifted into the air, and on a deserted island like this, it felt like an extravagant feast.
He casually placed a split coconut beside the fire to roast.
The coconut juice gently bubbled inside the shell, releasing a sweet fragrance.
Utaha accepted the can, scooped up a spoonful, and narrowed her eyes in delight.
“Mmm…
I never imagined canned food could taste this good!”
“That’s normal.
When you’ve been hungry long enough, everything tastes amazing.” Leaning against a reef, Aoyama shoveled a spoonful into his own mouth.
“I suppose that’s true.”
They ate quietly beside the fire for a while.
The sea breeze swept glowing embers into the air before scattering them into the darkness.
After emptying her can, Utaha set it down on the sand, picked up a coconut, and took a sip before turning toward him.
“Aoyama-kun, you stayed underwater for such a long time today.
Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”
He shook his head.
“I’ve already adapted to the water pressure and temperature changes.”
He looked back at her.
“What about you?
You waited here on the beach all alone for so long.
Nothing happened, did it?”
“Nothing particularly interesting.” Setting the coconut aside, she leaned back on her hands and gazed up at the star-filled sky.
“A few seabirds flew over and circled me a couple of times.”
“I almost thought they were going to attack me, but they just landed in a tree to rest for a bit before flying away.”
“That’s good.”
Aoyama tossed another piece of firewood into the flames.
The fire flared higher, illuminating the graceful curve of her profile.
Utaha lowered her gaze from the sky to the neatly folded pile of clothes nearby.
Her eyes lingered on the Black Pantyhose and the Bodycon Dress drying beside the fire.
After a brief pause, as though reaching a decision, she stood up.
“Aoyama-kun.”
“Hm?”
“I’m going to…
try that dress on.”
Her tone sounded casual enough, but the tips of her ears had already turned a faint shade of pink.
After all, she’d promised him a surprise.
This was her reward for him.
A stir of anticipation rose in Aoyama’s chest.
“Go ahead.
I won’t peek.”
Utaha picked up the clothes and walked toward a large reef bathed in moonlight.
Her pace remained steady, but her back looked noticeably tenser than usual in the glow of the fire.
I’m suddenly looking forward to this.
With that thought, Aoyama turned his attention back to the campfire and poked at the burning logs.
His ears, however, remained focused on the faint rustling of clothing behind the rocks, accompanied by the soft whisper of fabric sliding over skin.
Several minutes later, footsteps approached from the direction of the reef.
“Aoyama-kun…”
…
The instant he looked up, his breathing caught.
Utaha stood beneath the moonlight.
The black lace Bodycon Dress hugged every curve of her body.
Its plunging V-neck traced a line from her full chest to below her collarbones, while the cinched waist emphasized her elegant figure.
The hem barely covered the tops of her thighs, leaving a long stretch of shapely legs wrapped in Black Pantyhose on full display.
The stockings extended smoothly from her ankles to the edge of the skirt, and beneath the sheer black fabric, the soft contours of her thighs appeared and disappeared with every subtle movement.
The sea breeze lifted her long black hair, a few loose strands brushing against her bare shoulders.
Her crimson eyes glowed brilliantly in the warm firelight.
She stood there with her head tilted ever so slightly, quietly waiting for his reaction.
“Well?” she asked, a hint of nervousness trembling in her voice.
Aoyama drew a slow breath.
Several seconds passed before he finally spoke.
“You look beautiful.”
“Just three words?”
She was clearly dissatisfied.
“Do I really need to say more?”
“I think you do.”
She walked a few steps closer.
There were no high heels, of course, but even across the sand, her stride retained its effortless elegance.
Stopping beside the campfire, she slowly turned in front of him.
The hem of her dress fluttered slightly, revealing a delicate band of lace at the top of her stockings.
“…”
Aoyama’s gaze, entirely honest, settled there.
Utaha noticed exactly where he was looking.
Instead of avoiding his eyes, she deliberately slowed her turn, allowing that angle to linger for another heartbeat before facing him again.
With both hands folded before her, she waited expectantly for his verdict.
“…You did that on purpose.”
He swallowed.
“Did what?” she asked innocently, tilting her head.
“I simply wanted Aoyama-kun to check whether the clothes you worked so hard to bring back actually fit me.”
“They fit.
They fit perfectly.”
“Really?”
She sat beside him, noticeably closer than usual.
Drawing up her knees and wrapping her arms around them, she turned to face him.
“So, Aoyama-kun…
just how satisfied are you?”
He nodded honestly.
“Satisfied enough to want…”
“Aoyama-kun, honestly…”
She froze for a second before the blush at the tips of her ears deepened.
Turning her head away as if to watch the fire, she tried to hide it, but the smile curling at the corners of her lips refused to disappear.
“Your straightforward honesty can catch people completely off guard sometimes.”
“Then maybe I’ll try a different approach next time.”
“No.”
She turned back to him.
The dancing flames reflected in her crimson eyes.
“Straightforward is perfect.”
Moonlight shone from behind her, causing the lace around the neckline of the black dress to glimmer faintly.
Her stocking-clad legs rested lightly against the outside of his arm.
Even through the thin fabric of his clothes, he could feel the warmth of her skin.
Aoyama didn’t move away.
Setting down the piece of firewood in his hand, he turned to face her.
“When you walked over just now…
I almost lost my self-control.”
“So you’ve finally admitted it?”
“In front of you, I’ve always been honest.”
A soft laugh escaped her lips, clear and melodious in the night.
Stretching out her legs, she idly traced half a circle in the sand with the tip of her foot before turning toward him and resting a hand on his knee.
“Aoyama-kun, do you know something?”
“What?”
“Your reaction right now…”
Her fingertips lightly tapped a certain part of him.
“It makes me feel like putting on this dress was completely worth it.”
…
As she spoke, she leaned in slightly.
The neckline of the dress shifted with the movement, opening just a little wider.
Black lace clung to her skin, casting an alluring shadow in the glow of the fire.
Aoyama lifted his arm, slipping it around her back until his hand rested on her far shoulder.
Utaha didn’t shy away.
Instead, she edged even closer, erasing nearly all the distance between them.
“Your breathing just got a little faster again,” she murmured in her characteristically languid tone.
“You caught me.”
“And your heartbeat too.”
She gently pressed her hand against his chest.
For a moment, she quietly felt the steady, powerful rhythm beneath her palm before looking back into his eyes.
The neckline of her black lace dress rose and fell subtly with her breathing.
“Do you know how irresistible you are right now?” Aoyama asked.
Utaha blinked, then laughed.
“Aoyama-kun really does say heart-racing things with the straightest face.”
Her laughter was soft, half swallowed by the crashing waves.
When it faded, she rested her forehead against his shoulder and muttered quietly,
“Sometimes, Aoyama-kun…
you seem like an expert when it comes to romance.”
“I’m only telling the truth.”
“That makes it even more unfair.”
She buried her face against his shoulder.
As the sea breeze swept past, she curled up slightly.
Aoyama tightened the arm around her shoulders.
Utaha looked up at him, an unfamiliar emotion shimmering in her eyes.
Her slender fingers gently pressed against his lips in an intimate gesture.
“Aoyama-kun…
let’s do it…”
The campfire crackled softly.
Moonlight spread across the beach, illuminating the shadows of their intertwined figures.
The sea breeze carried glowing embers into the endless dark blue sky before scattering them into the night.
Leaning against his shoulder, Utaha tucked her stocking-clad legs beside herself, the hem of her dress riding up ever so slightly with the movement.
She said nothing else, simply rested quietly against him, watching the flames dance.
“Aoyama…
slower…”