“No, we’ll save that as a last resort. Let’s first check the other gifts and see if we can find a name.”
“All right.” Chisaki nodded seriously as she reached for the next present. Meanwhile, Masachika watched intently while lightly touching Alisa’s arm.
“…You okay?”
“…Yeah, I’m fine.”
Inside the handmade plush toy from an anonymous sender was a mysterious, rigid object—something that would stir unease in just about anyone, yet Alisa bravely nodded. As Masachika silently admired her courage, she gently placed her hand over his and softly whispered:
“<…Because you’re here with me.>”
“…!”
Masachika, for once, didn’t blush at her trust in him. Instead, he simply made a resolute vow in his heart to protect her, and without a word, their hands found each other, clasping tightly as they watched the remaining gifts being unwrapped…
“…It’s perfume. No signs of tampering.”
Despite the palpable tension filling the room, the remaining gifts were relatively benign and standard feminine fare: handkerchiefs, jewelry, cosmetics. The only “handmade” item in the bunch was a handkerchief embroidered with Alisa’s initials.
It was a tiny bit concerning that there weren’t any easy, go-to gifts like food, and instead were things you would wear or use for personal care. However, food would frankly be more disturbing given the circumstance, so this was probably a blessing in disguise. The real issue was…
“No name or letter.”
“““…!!”””
Not a single sender could be identified thus far. The complete anonymity of it all strongly suggested that these gifts came from either a coordinated group with a unified purpose, or from a single individual.
This is starting to get really suspicious… I hope we don’t have to, but we might need to throw everything away, just to be on the safe side…
But as that thought crossed Masachika’s mind, Alisa’s left hand suddenly began to squirm seemingly uncomfortably in his hand.
Hmm? Am I holding her hand too tight?
After he eased his grip slightly, Alisa readjusted her hand in his, then began gently caressing his palm with her thumb.
Oh? Ah…
He quickly recognized that she was writing on his palm with her finger using the technique he taught her, his brain semi-automatically registering what she was trying to convey.
“Hold me.”
In an instant, an image flashed through Masachika’s mind of Alisa whispering with tears in her eyes, “I’m scared… Hold me.” Yet when he glanced to his side, he noticed her lips were pressed tightly together, faintly wiggling, prompting him to inwardly roar.
Youuu little…!! A surprise attack?! You really thought you wouldn’t get caught, huh? Don’t you dare underestimate me!
Though internally heavily breathing, Masachika managed to write on her palm with his stiff, tense fingers.
“What was that?”
He immediately saw Alisa grinning out of the corner of his eye, but pretended not to notice as she traced his palm once more.
“Hold my.”
You really think you can fool me? Oh, I was one letter off? It felt like an E, but it was actually a Y?
Masachika promptly wrote her back.
“Hold your what?”
“Ribbon.”
Ribbon?
He then immediately looked at the ribbon tied in her hair.
What? Does she want me to hold her ribbon? Does that mean she wants me to untie it for her, too? But…
Masachika inadvertently glanced at the other ribbon—her school uniform’s ribbon tie adorning her neck, only to be met with her chilling glare.
“What are you looking at?”
“Wh-what? Nothing…”
“Perv,” she whispered under her breath before sharply facing forward once more.
Oh, come on. That wasn’t fair at all.
But he still couldn’t help but shrug it off and let it go when he saw her laughing.
…Eh, whatever. At least, it got her thinking about something else.
But right as he shifted his eyes forward as well, Alisa glanced up at his profile, her fingers lightly brushing her ribbon tie as she mischievously whispered:
“<Do you want to untie my ribbon?>” The seductive whisper made his eardrums tremble, leaving him frozen in place. Then, still peering at his profile, Alisa continued in an inviting, alluring tone, “<I don’t mind if it’s you.>”
Don’t you dare tempt me!
The devastating power forced Masachika to seriously reevaluate his life, all while maintaining a straight face. Had they been alone at home, he might have actually lost control and pushed her onto his bed. Meanwhile, entirely unaware of the storm she had stirred within him, Alisa faced forward once more, wearing her usual smug expression—the one she would make when she was so giddy he had no idea what she was saying.
You’re the one who’s clueless. Do I need to show you how terrifying a guy going through puberty can be?
While his cheek twitched on the side Alisa couldn’t see, Masachika directed a strained smile at her in his mind…then exhaled to calm himself. Now wasn’t the time to be flustered by his partner exposing herself through her affectionate Russian whispers.
Hmph! You’re lucky I’m a gentleman!
But he kept that irritated remark to himself while he directed his attention back to Chisaki.
The birthday gift unboxing was at last in its final stages, with only two thin packages remaining. Chisaki promptly opened one of them, revealing some clothes when—
“…!”
With a soft rustle, an envelope sealed with a flower sticker fell to the floor, making Chisaki’s eyebrow twitch. Immediately, Masachika, Alisa, and all the disciplinary committee members held their breath, for a letter—or something resembling one—had finally appeared. However…
“Whoa!” Chisaki suddenly exclaimed, instantly drawing everyone’s gaze away from the envelope on the floor…and to the bright red negligee in her hands. And not just any negligee—one with absurdly thin fabric that was so transparent you could practically see the other side, leaving little to the imagination. But as all eyes were locked on the R-rated attire, Chisaki, mute in disbelief, suddenly muttered:
“…I wonder if Touya likes lingerie like this?”
“““Milady?””” muttered the Sisters of the Four Seasons in unison, their faces unusually solemn, prompting Chisaki to clear her throat, give the negligee a quick once-over, then swiftly set it back down on the table.
“Ah! Uh…! Nothing out of the ordinary here.”
She then reached for the envelope with a sharp, piercing gaze, her expression tightening.
“I’m going to open it.”
That single utterance put everyone on edge. They wondered what a letter from someone bold enough to send such an indecent garment could possibly contain. As every eye locked on her with bated breath, Chisaki opened the envelope and drew out what looked to be a multi-page letter…
“…! This…”
“Sisters of the Four Seasons, unsheathe your blades!”
“““Hyah!”””
“Calm down!” shouted Masachika as they revealed their blades, but they paid no heed to his cries, readying their replica swords…until Chisaki raised a hand to stop them. She thereupon approached Masachika and Alisa.
“…Alya—no—Kuze, come here.”