"Okay, Yuuta," Airi said with her hands behind her back and a sweet—yet somehow terrifying—smile on her face. "Punishment starts now."
Yuuta froze. "R-Right now? In front of everyone?!"
Renji, Hikari, and Sakura stood nearby, looking like a live audience at a reality show.
"Oh, we're not going anywhere," Hikari whispered to Sakura, eyes sparkling.
Sakura giggled. "This is pure entertainment."
Renji crossed his arms. "Yuuta's doom has a front-row seat."
Yuuta scratched the back of his head nervously. "C-Can I at least mentally prepare?!"
Airi tilted her head, that mischievous smile never leaving her face. "You had enough time to plan dates with Saya for your 'mission.' But now that it's me, you're suddenly shy?"
Yuuta panicked. "That was different! It was undercover work! Spy stuff!"
"So you admit you dated her," Airi's tone dropped a little.
"I-I mean… yes. But just for the mission! I didn't feel anything!" Yuuta said, waving his hands.
"So," Airi said suddenly, tilting her head. "You kissed Saya."
Yuuta's smile froze. His body stiffened like a statue.
"W-Wait! I-I mean, yes, b-but—" he stammered.
Airi's expression darkened, her shadow almost growing behind her. "You actually kissed her?"
Yuuta looked around, searching for an escape route.
"It was for spying! For the mission!" he said with trembling hands. "I had to get close to her to expose her lies!"
Airi crossed her arms and pouted. "Still doesn't give you the right to kiss another girl."
Yuuta flinched. "I-I swear it meant nothing! Just part of the undercover work!"
Airi tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Hmmm… you know, I was going to be nice and stop at ten kisses…"
Yuuta's face lit up with hope. "R-Really?"
"But now," Airi said, grinning darkly, "I've changed my mind."
Yuuta blinked. "Wait… what?"
"One kiss will now last two hours," she announced proudly.
Yuuta nearly fainted. "HUH?! TWO HOURS?!"
Just as he tried to process that, Airi stepped forward, grabbed his shirt collar gently, and kissed him again.
Right on the lips.
Yuuta's brain exploded.
BOOM.
His thoughts went blank. His face turned even redder than before—almost glowing.
Time slowed.
Birds stopped chirping. The air became still.
Airi pulled away after several seconds, a sweet smile on her lips.
Yuuta inhaled deeply, gasping for air like a man pulled from the ocean.
"S-So… th-that was one kiss…?" he stammered.
"Yes," Airi nodded calmly.
"W-Which means I only have nine left, right…?"
Airi shook her head.
"Kiss number one hasn't ended yet."
Yuuta's jaw dropped. "EH?!"
"I forgot to mention," Airi said innocently, "one kiss lasts two hours… so technically, we're still in kiss number one."
Yuuta's entire worldview shattered.
He looked toward Renji for help—but Renji was already snickering behind Sakura and Hikari.
"That's what I thought."
Renji leaned in to Sakura. "He's gonna die."
Airi was glowing.
Not with fury.
But with affection.
"Okay," she said gently, brushing her bangs aside, "I'll go easy on you… today."
Yuuta slowly lifted his head, eyes filled with hope. "R-Really?"
Airi giggled. "Yes. Just a kiss on your cheek now."
Yuuta blinked. "C-Cheek? Really?! You're serious?"
"Death by love. Not a bad way to go," Sakura said solemnly.
"Fine then," Airi said dramatically. "Since you're scared, we'll start small."
Yuuta blinked. "Start small?"
Before he could finish that thought, Airi stepped up and planted a soft, quick kiss on his cheek.
Yuuta turned bright red, his whole body tensing up like he'd been struck by lightning.
"ONE!" Airi declared triumphantly, holding up a finger.
"I—I—What just—!?" Yuuta was malfunctioning.
Sakura covered her mouth. "So cute I could explode."
Renji chuckled. "He's literally turning into steam."
Yuuta clutched his chest, overwhelmed. She kissed me… I've waited years to confess… and now she's kissing me as punishment? Is this a blessing or torture?!
But before he could recover—
"Two!" Airi said, and quickly kissed the other cheek.
Yuuta staggered back, stunned. "W-Wait! This isn't fair! You're just ambushing me!"
Airi crossed her arms and puffed her cheeks. "You deserve this! For lying, spying, and breaking my heart! This is justice!"
Yuuta almost collapsed. "J-Justice never felt this emotionally confusing…"
"Don't resist, and it'll be over faster," Airi said, walking toward him slowly like a dramatic villain.
"Why do you sound like the final boss in a romance RPG?!" Yuuta cried.
But then, Airi's voice softened.
"Yuuta…"
He looked up, heart racing.
"You've always protected me—even when it hurt you. You pretended to hate me, dated someone you didn't like, and let everyone believe you were a villain… just to keep me safe."
Her expression turned sincere, eyes slightly wet.
"Why didn't you just tell me?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Yuuta looked away, guilt washing over him. "Because… if I told you, you would've stopped me. And then… I wouldn't have been able to protect you. Even if it meant hurting you… I just wanted to fix things."
Airi was silent for a moment.
"I thought you left me," she whispered. "After everything… I thought I lost you."
"You didn't," Yuuta said softly. "Even when it looked like I gave up… I was fighting for you."
She wiped her eyes and smiled.
"Then stop fighting alone."
Yuuta looked at her. "What?"
"Let me be your partner this time. If you're going to battle evil… then I want to be your sword."
"Airi…"
The tension melted. Airi took his hand gently.
"Yuuta. Can I ask you something again?"
"Yeah?"
"Will you… become my boyfriend again?"
Yuuta's heart nearly stopped. He smiled shyly. "That's what I came here to say too."
She beamed. "Then it's official."
But then she raised a finger.
"After your punishment."
Yuuta's soul left his body.
"W-What more do you want?!"
She grinned. "Eight more kisses."
Renji whispered, "Should've run while he had the chance."
Yuuta gulped. "I-Is it too late to appeal to the Supreme Court?"
Airi leaned in close, her lips inches away. "Nope. Case closed."
Just before their lips met, Yuuta heard something again—an eerie whisper inside his head.
> "Save yourself from the kisses…"
His eyes widened. That voice again?! What's future me trying to warn me about this time?!
Airi placed her hands on his shoulders. "Kiss number three… will be special."
Yuuta panicked. "W-Wait, can we renegotiate?!"
Too late.
She kissed him gently on the lips—and held it.
One second… two… five…
Ten seconds?!
Yuuta's mind was spinning. His legs went weak. He tried to pull back—just a little—but Airi pulled him back in.
This is... too long... I can't breathe...!
> "You brought this upon yourself," the imaginary voice whispered again.
When they finally pulled apart, Yuuta was swaying like he just finished a marathon.
"I-I think I saw the stars…"
Airi smiled innocently. "Three down, seven to go."
Yuuta collapsed on the grass.
Renji looked down at him. "How's it feel being loved that hard?"
"Painful," Yuuta gasped. "But worth it…"
And as Airi sat beside him, playfully humming and counting her kisses, Yuuta had one final thought:
This is either heaven... or the start of my punishment arc.
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