44 Recieving Ichinose's Intimate Hug

The tension in the room hung heavy, a suffocating weight that lingered even after Ichinose's tears had subsided. Ayanokoji recognized the need to break the ice. He cleared his throat, a sound that resonated sharply in the quiet room.

"You know," he began, his voice devoid of its usual monotone, "considering today's the thirteenth of February, I wasn't expecting to be the first one in my 'friend circle' to be sharing a hug with the school idol."

The remark, delivered with a casual air that belied its underlying humor, caught Ichinose off guard. A blush crept up her cheeks, a stark contrast to the paleness that had dominated her complexion just moments ago.

She swatted him playfully on the arm, the gesture lacking its usual force. "Ayanokoji-kun," she mumbled, burying her face further into the crook of his shoulder, "that's not funny."

Ayanokoji raised an eyebrow, a flicker of something akin to amusement playing across his features before disappearing as quickly as it came. "Perhaps not," he conceded, "but it did lighten the mood, wouldn't you agree?"

Ichinose peeked up at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Maybe a little," she admitted, a small smile gracing her lips.

The unexpected humor had served its purpose. The weight of her confession had lessened, replaced by a fragile sense of camaraderie. Ayanokoji, sensing the shift, decided to press on.

He gently released her from the embrace, his fingers trailing down her arm before coming to rest on her hand. His touch was light, almost fleeting, but it sent a jolt through Ichinose. Her breath hitched – a reaction so different from the controlled persona she usually projected.

"Ichinose-san," he began, his voice composed, "I want you to come to school tomorrow."

Ichinose blinked, surprised by the abrupt shift in topic. "But… of course," she stammered. "Why wouldn't I?"

"Good," Ayanokoji continued, his expression unreadable. "And it would be… pleasant if I received a Valentine's Day chocolate from you."

This time, Ichinose had completely recovered from the depression that had kept her holden. Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Ayanokoji-kun," she teased, "I've never given a chocolate to a boy on Valentine's Day. Do you really think you're different?"

Ayanokoji noticed that she was back in her usual joking mood. He responded with a composed look, the corner of his mouth barely twitching. "A man can hope, right?"

"Hmm," Ichinose drawled, leaning back against the pillows, "the answer to your hope will come tomorrow."

There was a playful lilt to her voice, a teasing glint in her eyes. Even the stoic Ayanokoji felt a flicker of eagerness for the 14th of February to come quickly. He wanted to know whether this unexpected development in their relationship meant anything more than a simple chocolate exchange.

Having successfully lifted the weight of Ichinose's burden, Ayanokoji rose from the bed. "Well," he said, "I should be taking my leave then."

Ichinose nodded, a hint of disappointment flickering across her face. But before he could fully turn away, she surprised him with a sudden, intimate hug.

"This," she whispered genuinely, her voice muffled against his chest, "is the proper hug for today's Hug Day!"

Right now, Ichinose's curves, particularly her ample breasts, were pressing against Ayanokoji's chest. It seemed a little too deliberate, a touch more suggestive than a casual hug.

Ayanokoji remained stoic for a few moments, his mind processing the unexpected physical contact. However, he wasn't entirely unaffected. A faint blush crept up his neck, barely noticeable beneath the pale moonlight filtering through the window.

He held her for a few seconds longer than necessary, the warmth of her body a stark contrast to the cool air of the room. Finally, he gently disentangled himself from her embrace.

"Goodnight, Ichinose-san," he said, his voice betraying none of the emotions that might have been churning beneath the surface.

He left Ichinose's room, the echo of his footsteps fading down the hallway. Back in his dorm room, Ayanokoji sank onto his chair, a thoughtful frown etched onto his face. Nagumo Miyabi. The name hung heavy in his mind.

Ichinose's revelation about the student council president's involvement in the rumors solidified his suspicions.

The fact that he had been the one to expose Ichinose's past to Arisu Sakayanagi meant trouble. Nagumo's motives were unclear, but Ayanokoji suspected some form of perverse manipulation.

It seemed Nagumo had been attempting to capitalize on Ichinose's vulnerability, but Ayanokoji had inadvertently (or perhaps not so inadvertently) stepped in and stolen his opportunity.

It was a safe bet that Nagumo would retaliate in some way.

The prospect didn't faze Ayanokoji. He had his own set of tools, his own machinations at play. He wouldn't let Nagumo disrupt his plans. Keeping the student council president in check was just another obstacle to navigate, another variable to factor into the equation that was Advanced Nurturing High School.