After capturing the pair of beetles, we checked our other traps. The honey we’d smeared on the trees had only attracted small insects; the beetles we were actually looking for were nowhere to be found.
It turned out the banana trap in the stockings had been the most effective after all.
"We caught two! A male and a female! We did it, Ryouta!"
Airi chattered happily all the way home, constantly peering into the insect cage.
At any rate, I was glad she was in a good mood. I’d been worried about what we’d do if we didn't find any, but they’d turned up in the end—though seeing them already "at it" had given me quite a shock.
"Is catching only two enough, though? Don't people usually get way more?" I asked.
"Hmm. Well, I’m sure there are times when you can catch a whole bunch, but I’m totally satisfied." Airi pointed inside the cage. "I'm naming the male Ryouta and the female Airi!"
"Wait, what? You’re giving them our names?"
"Well, they were already stuck together and getting along so well even before we caught them. Since they’re such good friends, our names are a perfect fit, don't you think?"
H-hey now. If you put it that way, it makes it sound like she and I are already in a relationship where we... do stuff.
"Is that okay, Ryouta?"
"E-err, yeah. I don't really mind."
"Then it’s settled! From now on, you two are Ryouta and Airi!"
I didn't mind her using our names, but beetles have short lives. I truly hoped these two would live as long as possible.
(If the male is named Ryouta, does that technically mean I’ve finally lost my virginity? Even beetles are graduating before me... At this rate, I feel like I'll be a virgin for life. Even though I slept in the same room as Airi last night, nothing erotic happened at all. Sigh.)
Then again, for someone like Airi, these kinds of innocent games were probably more fun anyway.
"Ah! Ryouta is on top of Airi again! They really are the best of friends!"
Airi might have the body of a gravure idol, but her sexual knowledge was stuck at the level of a grade schooler. Still, the day would come when she’d learn "adult games" from someone. With breasts that big and a face that cute, if she ever went to a city university, she’d be the first one targeted...
Just thinking about it made my heart feel heavy.
"Ryouta, Ryouta! I want to send photos of the beetles to Yuria and Rui-chan. Take a picture of me with them!"
"......"
"Hmm? Ryouta?"
I was still lost in my brooding when Airi gave my sleeve a light tug.
"What’s wrong? Why the grumpy face?"
"Ah... no, it’s just... well... I was just thinking that I want you to stay exactly the way you are, Airi."
"Stay the way I am?"
I’d blurted it out without thinking, and she looked at me blankly. What the hell was I saying? Talking about wanting her to stay the same, even though I’m nobody to her! How arrogant could I get?
"I said something weird, didn't I? S-sorry!"
"No, it’s not weird at all. I don't really get what you mean by 'me as I am,' but I’ll always be me. And I’ll... always be with you, Ryouta."
In contrast to my self-inflicted gloom, Airi answered with a genuine, brilliant smile.
Always... huh.
"Thanks, Airi. Honestly, I like you better when you're acting childish like usual. I guess I just hated the thought of you suddenly becoming an adult."
"Hey! I'm not a child!"
"No, that was just a figure of speech."
"Well, if Ryouta says he likes the way I am now, then maybe I'll just stay this way? Besides, I don't really get the definition of being an 'adult' anyway!"
Airi grinned, showing off her white teeth. Between that 100-point smile and her softly swaying, massive chest, I don't think I'd ever seen a girl as lovely as her. With this much destructive power, if she weren't so innocent, she probably could have devoured every boy in the school by now.
"Anyway, focus! The photo! Take a picture of me and the beetles!"
"Th-the photo?"
"I have to send it to Yuria and Rui-chan!"
"They both hate bugs. I really don't think you should."
"It’s fine! Especially Rui-chan. She was really insistent that I report back on every single thing that happens."
I suspected Rui meant something very different by "anything that happens," but I didn't say it. Suppressing a grimace, I snapped a photo of Airi smiling brightly while holding the insect cage.
☆☆
Our two-day bug-hunting trip finally came to an end. We planned to catch the 10:00 AM bus, so we packed our things and moved to the front entrance.
Airi cradled the insect cage containing "Ryouta" and "Airi" as if it were a holy relic. In exchange, I ended up lugging all her bags... and honestly, I really wished she’d left that Battle Doll behind.
"Well, Grandma, we’re heading out."
"Th-thank you for everything. The food was delicious."
"Oho, think nothing of it. More importantly..."
Airi's grandmother pulled something red from inside the front of her shirt.
"Here, Airi. I finished fixing up your bra for you."
She pulled an extra-large, deep red bra decorated with rose lace from her chest and... wait, th-th-th-this was!
It was one of Airi’s bras!
"Hey! Grandma! Don’t just pull that out in front of Ryouta!"
"Oh my, forgive me. I must be getting senile in my old age."
Despite her words, the old woman gave me a knowing wink. As expected of a former "busty grandmother," she knew exactly what buttons to push. A true pro.
"Ryouta... did you see that just now?"
"I... I did. It’s a surprisingly... adult bra, isn't it?"
"Mnnngh! They don't make any other kind in my size! Just forget you saw it!"
"Y-yes, ma'am!"
And so, our eventful bug-hunting journey came to a peaceful close.
Well... at least until I get home. I have a feeling a certain someone is waiting there to give me my "punishment."