
“You really are a handful, milady.”
The words had barely left Koichi Kimijima’s lips before he suddenly swept Suzuran off her feet into a bridal carry.
“W-What are you doing—?!”
She squealed, blushing furiously, her fists gently thudding against his chest—but there was no strength behind them.
He didn’t respond. Calm and steady as always, he carried her across the slick pavement as if it were second nature, like he’d done this a hundred times before.
He placed her gently into the back seat, and before she could even protest, he’d opened the trunk, pulled out a towel, and knelt before her to dry her rain-soaked hair.
“W-Wait! I can do it myself—”
“Please be quiet, milady.”
His tone wasn’t harsh, but left no room for argument.
She blinked in surprise, lips pouting slightly, surrendering as the soft towel moved gently—but quickly—through her wet hair.
“Ow, ow, ow—! You’re being way too rough!”
Suzuran cried out, panicking as he worked downward, the towel now nearing her shoulders and collarbone.
Then—suddenly—Kimijima froze.
A faint blush had crept across his face without her noticing.
And now his hands halted completely, like someone had hit the pause button.
She blinked, confused, and followed his line of sight—
He was blushing. He was actually blushing.
He abruptly lifted a hand to his forehead and mouth, coughing lightly, turning his head sharply away as if to mask it.
“W-What’s wrong with you, Koichi?”8Please respect copyright.PENANAv3V7A6ejXu
8Please respect copyright.PENANAleCLZD9f3p
She tilted her head, asking innocently—though her heart had already started pounding.
He looked away, voice calm but so low it was nearly a whisper:
“…Take a look at yourself.”
“Huh?”
She glanced down—
“AHHHHH!!!”
She shot back into the seat like she’d been electrocuted.
Her white shirt was completely soaked. And under the fabric, the pink lace of her bra was clearly visible.
The curves, the detail—nothing was hidden. Her chest was practically on full display, and the air thickened with instant, undeniable tension.
Her whole face turned crimson. She grabbed the towel and pressed it against her chest in sheer panic.
“Y-You—you—TURN AROUND RIGHT NOW, YOU PERVERTED IDIOT BUTLER!!”
Kimijima had already turned away in silence. He simply held the towel out toward her and, in his ever-calm tone, said:
“Cover up. I’ll take you home.”
She curled up like a furnace, burying herself in the towel, too flustered to even speak.
He started the engine, fastened his seatbelt—though the redness on his ears still hadn’t faded.
Kimijima Koichi silently carried her into her room.
She didn’t resist—maybe because her legs still hurt… or maybe because she was just exhausted.
He laid her gently by the bed, fetched the first-aid kit, and crouched to examine her scraped knees and elbows.
After assessing the wounds, he began cleaning them with practiced precision.
“…Ow. That stings…”
“It’ll hurt a little. Please bear with it.”8Please respect copyright.PENANAWeLIRV59m7
8Please respect copyright.PENANAtNWhZqhaB7
She bit her lip and furrowed her brow, looking utterly pitiful.
As he applied the medicine, she muttered quietly:
“…This is all your fault…”
“Hmm? How so? Weren’t you the one who ran out?”
His voice was as composed as ever. His movements, careful and exact.
“If you hadn’t made me mad, I wouldn’t have run out. Wouldn’t have slipped…”
“I see. Then I suppose it’s my fault.”
He nodded solemnly, like he was genuinely reflecting on his error.
“In that case… may I offer some compensation, milady?”
“Huh?”
Before she could react, he leaned in.
He gently took her injured hand, and before she could pull away—
He lowered his head and pressed a kiss to the back of her hand.
It was as if hot water had been poured directly into her chest.
“Y-You—you—what are you doing, Koichi?!”
She practically exploded. Her face lit up like a sunset, torn between yanking her hand away and not moving at all.
“Just proving something.”
His voice remained calm—like he was simply completing a formal ritual.
“Proving…?”
“That milady is the person I cherish and respect the most.”
“…!”
Suzuran’s entire face turned scarlet. She hugged a pillow to her chest like a shield, practically shrieking in mortified rage.
“This is your idea of social distance?!”
Kimijima looked at her innocently.
“This is perfectly gentlemanly. A common gesture among the nobility.”
He nodded with an air of gravity, as though explaining the most basic of etiquette.
“It signifies respect and loyalty.”
“My loyalty to you, milady, is unwavering.”
“LOYALTY MY ASS!!”
She nearly lost it, hurling the pillow at him. He caught it one-handed, unshaken.
“And besides, I kissed your hand, not—”
He stopped mid-sentence. His gaze flickered away.
Suzuran’s instincts went on high alert. “What?! What were you about to say?! I know you were about to say something dangerous again!!”
He looked at her, lips curled slightly, but said nothing—only murmured:
“You misunderstood, milady. My apologies.”
“You—you—you—You’re a walking misunderstanding machine, that’s what you are!!”8Please respect copyright.PENANAr1nieSvdLB
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