After Airi called me "cool," my heart wouldn't stop pounding. Like the textbook virgin I was, I waited for her at the entrance, holding a plastic bag full of foul-smelling banana stockings, a jar of syrup, and a brush.
"Finally... I’ve actually become a man worthy of Airi's praise."
(It’s true. Lately, I’ve been holding my own in conversations with Yuria and Rui. It’s high time I graduated from being a mere Loner Otaku.)
Lost in the delusion that I’d ascended to the rank of "Elite Loner Otaku," I stood by the sliding door with a smug look on my face. Suddenly, the door rattled open.
"Ryouta, sorry to keep you waiting!"
Airi stepped out, sporting a straw hat.
She had let down her usual Under Twintails, and her hair was every bit as glossy and silky as Rui’s. As it caught the breeze, a gentle fragrance tickled my nose.
The countryside, a natural beauty, a straw hat... it was the kind of setup a creator like Ke would die for.
Except for one thing you wouldn't usually see in his work: those massive breasts.
"Ryouta, what’s wrong? Ah! Ryouta, you're staring at Airi’s chest again!"
"Well, yeah, I was looking... but you're the one who told me it was okay to look before, right?"
"T-That’s true, but! Geez! Don’t you even think about trying to hide it a little?"
"Once I have permission, I don't hold back. That’s what it means to be a man."
"Sigh... Ryouta, you pervert."
I wondered if I was the only one who thought Airi was a huge pervert for giving permission in the first place... (No. Airi is definitely a huge pervert herself).
"Boobs aside! Let’s go catch some bugs!"
Apparently, her boobs were being set aside for now.
Airi started walking briskly down the country road, and I followed along behind her.
"So, where exactly are we going to catch these beetles?"
"The Village Head’s mountain!"
"Wait, the Village Head?"
"The Village Head owns the mountain behind us!" Airi said, pointing toward the massive peak looming in the distance.
Apparently, the "back mountain" was a ridiculously large mountain located at the edge of the village.
"It looks like Grandma got permission from the Village Head for us to go bug hunting."
"Airi, your grandmother is way too well-prepared."
"Well, everyone in the village is like family, after all~"
Everyone is like family... huh?
For someone like me, who has almost never spoken to my next-door neighbors, it was a sensation I didn't quite understand. Is this what they call the difference between the city and the country?
We continued talking as we moved to the entrance of the mountain path and began walking up the trail, bathed in the glow of the setting sun.
"Hmm, this tree looks good too."
As we walked, Airi carefully examined the trees along the path to decide which ones to use. It would be dark soon if we took too long, and there were plenty of mosquitoes, so I wanted her to set the traps quickly.
"Hey, Airi. I don't think the trees really matter that much... Wait, huh?"
As I waited behind Airi for her to finish picking a tree, I heard the sound of wings buzzing above my head. H-Hey, wait!
"Whoa, a bee!"
I’ve had a crippling phobia of bees since I was a kid. The moment I spotted one hovering above me, my body moved on its own.
"Ah—"
The footing on the mountain path was treacherous. My frantic scramble caused my feet to slip, and I went tumbling forward with full force.
"A-Airi! Move!"
"Eh?"
I screamed desperately, but it was too late. As Airi turned around, I dove straight into her chest. The impact knocked her back, and we both went down in a heap.
"Oof! Huh? That... didn't hurt. And what’s this... soft..."
When I tried to lift my head, I felt something wonderfully springy and soft pressing against both my cheeks.
"Ow... Wait, Ryouta?! Why?!"
My cheeks were sandwiched between Airi’s massive breasts. Forget the "marshmallow" metaphor everyone uses in light novels—this was something else entirely. It was firmer yet more yielding, a springy, cushiony embrace. Her massive breasts enveloped my face, the "breast sandwich" cradling me like a premium memory foam cushion.
B-Boobs?! Is this the feel of real, live boobs?!?!
The raw sensation was so moving it couldn't even be compared to an Oppai Mousepad; I was genuinely moved from the bottom of my heart.
"W-Wooooaaaahhhhhhh!"
"Ryouta, hurry up and get off!"
"Ah, yes."
When I tried to let out a roar of emotion, Airi scolded me.
"Geez! You jumped into Airi’s boobs on purpose, didn't you!"
Airi asked while dusting off her butt, looking clearly annoyed.
"This is the one time you've got it wrong! A bee was flying over my head!"
"Suspicious... Besides, there aren't any bees here."
"I-I was really startled! Believe me!"
"Hmph, it’s because your daily behavior is so bad, isn't it?"
Airi puffed out her cheeks and shot a doubtful look my way.
(D-Damn it! Even though it's the truth!)
I had never hated my reputation so much.
"Sigh. But I'm glad you're okay, Ryouta."
"Eh?"
"Since you came all the way to the mountain just because Airi asked, I’d feel terrible if you got hurt. So, I’m glad."
Airi smiled gently and reached out to brush away the dirt that had gotten on my face.
"A-Airi... Thanks. Also, sorry for suddenly tackling you like that."
"It’s fine already. Airi just fell on her butt, and I’m not angry at all, okay?"
Airi... she really is just a concentrated mass of kindness.
"But you know, you should be careful. If you do something that looks like a perverted accident to anyone but Airi, they might hate you. Especially Yuria, she's scary."
I felt like Yuria had said something similar to me before.
"Now, let's find a good tree and head back quickly. You might get stung by that bee that we don't even know is actually there~"
"I-It was there! Really!"
While being teased by Airi, we finished setting the traps and headed back down the mountain path.