Chapter 7: Laughter and Liberties

Tsukasa was still chuckling as the three of them untangled themselves from the couch, their faces flushed with excitement. Amane, still grinning, reached out and playfully nudged Nene's shoulder. Nene shot him a look, but before she could react, Amane's hand wandered, and he cupped her breast. "Yup!" Amane said, a mischievous glint in his eye. Nene's expression turned from amused to shocked, and she instantly bonked Amane on the head hard with her palm. "Pervert!" she exclaimed, her voice stern. Tsukasa, who had been watching the exchange with interest, suddenly burst into laughter. His eyes widened in amusement as he doubled over, holding his stomach. "Ahahahaha! Amane, you idiot!" he exclaimed. Amane rubbed his sore head, looking sheepish. "What? I was just trying to...uh...make sure she's okay," he stammered. Nene rolled her eyes. "You're not even trying to hide it, are you?" she said, shaking her head. Tsukasa continued to laugh, tears streaming down his face. "Oh man, Amane, you're such a pervert!" he choked out between guffaws. Amane looked defensive, but Nene could see the hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Hey, someone's got to keep things interesting around here," he said, winking at Nene. Nene shook her head, laughing despite herself. "You're something else, Amane," she said. Tsukasa finally managed to compose himself, still chuckling. "Yeah, and I'm going to make sure to keep an eye on you two," he said, grinning. The three of them stood there for a moment, the tension from earlier completely forgotten in the face of their teasing and joking. But as they stood there, Nene couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She wasn't sure if she was ready for the kind of banter and teasing that Amane and Tsukasa seemed to engage in with ease.