After the luxurious experience of us two monopolizing a fireworks display, Alice took me by the hand and we were back at the bazaar.

  [Come on, Kaito-san! Let’s enjoy ourselves to the fullest!!! Alice-chan will now be taking the helm here!!!]

  [Don’t you look rather excited there?]

  [It’s that. Alice-chan has made up, or rather, it’s time for Alice-chan to be serious. Let’s leave whatever happened here behind, and since we had such an opportunity, let’s flirt to the fullest!]

  [……Your face is red, you know?]

  [Turning on serious mode doesn’t make me any less embarrassed!!!]

  I thought she would break through whatever chains she had within her mind, but it seems like she’s still as shy as usual. The fact that she’s standing in front of me and pulling me along…… is probably because she’s trying to keep me from seeing her blushing face.

  Well, she’s already at a level where I could tell that she’s blushing from behind her, so it’s almost meaningless……


  [For the time being, I guess we’ll start with the candy apples!]

  [No, you’re still in the middle of eating something……]

  [Kaito-san, you get the apricot candy. Then, we can exchange bites with each other.]

  [……I see.]

  I was about to say that what she’s suggesting is another over-the-top situation, but I just swallowed those words and nodded my head. Well, Alice seems to like those over-the-top clichés, so I guess this would be typical of her?

  [So, it would be like an indirect kiss or something like that?]

  [……Indirect kisses are just a little too perverted, so why don’t we take a bite in two different areas?]

  [Eeeehhhh…… I can’t understand where you’re basing all that.]

  Feeling embarrassed by an indirect kiss in that situation, I really don’t understand what the heck is her basis.

  I mean, to be honest…… Still faltering before an indirect kiss even now, it’s like she hasn’t broken free at all…… Hmmm, alright!

  [Alice, look here for a sec.]

  [Yes? What is- Nhnn!?]

  I got an idea. If I kiss her first, she probably wouldn’t be embarrassed by an indirect kiss…… Fortunately, we were still holding hands, so as soon as Alice turned to look at me, I pulled her in for a kiss. Of course, taking our height difference into account, I lowered my hips slightly before calling out to Alice.

  As I felt the soft touch of her lips, I saw Alice’s blue eyes widen. We continued kissing like that for a few seconds before I pulled my face away…… Alice, of course, looked at me in disbelief, her face as red as a boiled octopus.

  [……W- W- W- Whoeaahh…… K- Kai- Kaito-san!? W- W- W- Whay., I awe you suddenwy……]

  [No, I just thought that…… if we kissed first, you wouldn’t be embarrassed by an indirect kiss.]

  [What the heck is with that mysterious reasoning!?]

  [Did you dislike it?]

  [N- No, it’s not that I dislike it…… I’m actually happy instead…… B- But you see. It’s just too sudden and it’s bad for my heart. I’d like it if we take a few more steps to build up the mood.]

  She looked very cute while she’s so shy, but I would like to throw a tsukkomi at what she said just now.

  [We’ve been on our festival date for about an hour, and then we watched the fireworks with our bodies glued to each other, you sitting on my lap…… I’d rather not raise the mood any higher than it already is, you know?]

  [……It’s hard to refute that, so I’ll just say it’s my defeat in regards to that mood-raising stuff. However, I still wanna complain about that surprise attack!!! If you don’t inform me before doing things like that, Alice-chan’s face will explode with embarrassment!]

  Whoa there, I thought that that would be where this topic ends, but it seems like she’s going to drag this topic out a bit longer. I wonder why though? I’m well aware about how clever and amazing Alice is, but when it comes to this topic, “I don’t feel like losing at all”.

  [……Should I have declared it in advance?]

  [……Well, yes. As long as it’s declared in advance, it’s not like I’m against it either……]

  [Well then, I want a more leisurely kiss, so I’ll kiss you again.]

  [Whoeeeee!? Aeeehhh? Y- Y- You wanted more!? L- L- Like, now!? Ah, hey, w- wait, your face is getting clo…… You aren’t listening to me at all, are you!? Auuauuu……]

  Putting aside how she normally was, when it comes to love-related matters, Alice is a pushover. Grabbing her by the shoulders, I slowly brought her face close to mine, and although she was flustered, she eventually closed her eyes and received my actions.

  Feeling her love, I once again put my lips on Alice’s. After fully enjoying this bundle of happiness, I pulled my face away and seeing Alice’s cheeks flushed and looking embarrassed, and yet looking so happy, I smiled.

  [……Now then, shall we go? You’re going to take the helm here, right?]

  [……The heck is this…… This feeling of not being able to win at all……]

  [What a coincidence. I don’t feel like I’m going to lose today.]

  [Gununu…… Is it the difference in experience that makes you all composed? Does the fact that Kaito-san had trained well with his multiple lovers that he had an advantage here?]

  [No, rather than me being composed…… It’s more like you’re so flustered that I ended up calming down.]

  [Isn’t that as if I’m blowing myself up.]

  [Can I be honest with you? Yes, I feel like you’re always blowing yourself up.]

  [……I see.]

  With a resigned look on her face, Alice tightly held my hand and started walking again. However, it doesn’t seem like she’s feeling down at all, as it somehow feels like her steps were happier than before.

  **********