Ichika's cooking skills were not very good, and on top of that, she was currently affected by Makoto, making it even harder for her to help with cooking.
After a while, Makoto washed his hands and started chopping vegetables. She leaned weakly against a chair and rested for a full ten minutes before recovering.
"I'll help you," she said, holding onto the chair as she stood up.
At this moment, her smooth, fair legs were completely exposed to the air, and under the kitchen light, the saying really applied: so white they seemed to glow.
As for the knee-high socks she originally wore, she had already given them to Makoto.
She had actually had a similar idea before—to borrow knee-high socks from Nino, wear them herself, and then give them away.
But she hadn't expected this day to come so soon.
What surprised her even more was how weak she felt. Just letting him play with her legs for a while had made her body go soft—she couldn't even stand properly anymore.
"You go chat with them. Leave the rest to me," Makoto said.
Ichika understood he was concerned for her, so she deliberately said, "You don't think I'm too weak now, do you? I was just taking a short break."
"I noticed you're pretty stubborn," Makoto said, then gave a look toward the knee-high socks in his pocket. "Are you sure you want to leave the socks with me?"
Ichika slyly blinked, "Don't you like them?"
"I don't really have that kind of collecting habit. By the way, aren't you worried about Nino questioning you?"
"Don't worry, I know how to handle Nino."
Thinking that she really couldn't help much, Ichika opened the front camera on her phone, tidied her hair, and then left the kitchen.
Makoto was still savoring the earlier benefit.
Especially the image of Ichika sitting half-reclined on a chair, cheeks flushed, breathing heavily, her beautiful eyes shining as she took off her knee-high socks and gave them to him.
It was truly overwhelming!
This scene was not something he had anticipated.
According to his original plan, he intended to use today's prank to raise Nino's favor toward himself.
But because of the massage's "benefit," Ichika got encouraged by a jealous mood and decided to come to the kitchen to cause some trouble.
At a time like this, Makoto of course would not back down.
So he boldly made that request.
As the saying goes: Small Head Daddy, Big Head Son.
He had to admit, he really was controlled for a while just now.
Living room.
Ichika returned nonchalantly and sat down. With her personality, she quickly joined the conversation.
Nino hadn't paid attention at first, but as the talk went on, she suddenly remembered Ichika's knee-high socks were missing.
Her mouth was always quick: "Ichika, where are your socks?"
"Oh, I got a bit sweaty helping in the kitchen, so I took them off and put them in my pocket," Ichika answered, having anticipated the question.
No one doubted her.
Nino didn't at first either.
But when everyone started talking about the club with Makoto, Nino keenly noticed Ichika zoning out.
It wasn't ordinary spacing out, but the kind with occasional shy blushes and secretive silly smiles.
Plus, Nino also noticed Ichika would quietly keep her legs tightly together.
The clever detective Nino immediately found something suspicious.
Ichika's expression was very strange!
That shy little expression, and the occasional shameful act of closing her legs—why did it seem so familiar?
Nino quickly recalled: wasn't that exactly how she looked after being massaged by Makoto earlier?
So... those two were massaging each other in the kitchen?
But the kitchen was such a small space—what position did Ichika use to massage?
Nino blushed too.
You should know, she still felt a chilly sensation...
If Mayu hadn't suddenly appeared, making it hard for her to leave, she would have been ready to go home and change her underwear on the spot.
Thinking about that, Nino felt inexplicably awkward.
Although she knew Ichika and Makoto were close, Ichika shouldn't have secretly gone to the kitchen for a massage.
Why avoid everyone? I'm friends with Fushimi too, and so is Itsuki.
With that strange emotion, when everyone was helping serve dishes, Nino took the chance to quietly ask Ichika, "What were you two doing in the kitchen just now?"
Ichika remained calm: "Don't you already know? I just went to help, but Makoto thought my cooking needed a lot of improvement, and since I'm a guest, he just sent me back."
Nino's little face stiffened: "You definitely asked him to give you a massage, right?"
Looking at her sister's suddenly serious expression, Ichika skeptically asked back, "Nino, you care a lot about this kind of thing?"
"Huh? What a stupid question! You're family, of course I care," Nino quickly replied.
"Nino, you're acting suspicious~" Ichika deliberately dragged out the tone.
Nino's face turned slightly red. Seeing Itsuki coming over with dishes again, she hurriedly said, "If you don't want to say, it's fine, I was just asking casually."
As Ichika watched her turn to leave, she suddenly spoke:
"You guessed right, I did have Makoto give me a massage. But because there wasn't enough time, he just gave me a couple of quick presses—I even feel a little regretful."
"Oh, is that so?"
Nino faced away from Ichika, feeling a bit happy inside.
Looks like she was the only one who got to enjoy it.
Watching Nino's steps relax little by little, Ichika finally realized a very serious problem.
Nino was very appearance-conscious!
She hadn't been in a relationship before, and suddenly having so much contact with a good-looking boy—who could guarantee she wouldn't have other thoughts?
Ichika took a deep breath, feeling her prank plan today had been too reckless.
Itsuki might not care about romance, but Nino might be unpredictable.
I'm the big sister! I came first!
Ichika absolutely wouldn't allow anyone to jump ahead.
Even if it was her beloved little sister, she wasn't allowed to get ahead!
After dinner, Mayu saw that Makoto and the others were still discussing club matters, so she kindly chose to leave.
Makoto walked her to the door and, noticing she seemed distracted, lowered his voice to ask,
"After I finish the club stuff, should I come find you, or will you come find me?"
Mayu was startled, a look of surprise and restraint on her face: "Um, you don't have to specially worry about me, just focus on your main task first."
"I'm almost done here."
Makoto was telling the truth.
He had even written out a detailed plan, so now it just required the three Nakano girls to carefully read through it, and he would handle any questions.
"…Got it."
Mayu was a little shy, but her voice was very gentle: "Then I'll come keep you company tonight."
Just chatting, huh?
Makoto saw through it but didn't say anything.
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