infinite Rebate System: 10x Rewards for Conquering And Taming Heroines

They found a quieter corner away from the main crowd and finally sat down to eat the skewers.

"Here~this one’s yours."

Emma tilted her head, smiling with a mix of playfulness and soft affection as she held out a still-steaming skewer. The smell of grilled seafood and light spice rose between them. Jason took it. She didn’t wait. She immediately took a small, eager bite of her own, cheeks puffing slightly like a satisfied hamster.

"Mmm... so good..."

Her eyes squinted in pure contentment, as if she had just tasted something divine. For a few seconds she looked completely happy. Then, abruptly, she stopped chewing. A troubled little frown appeared.

"What’s wrong?" Jason asked.

"I’m not eating any more. I’ve gotten fat. I need to start losing weight."

She reached down and lightly touched her stomach~perfectly flat, not a hint of softness out of place~with genuine worry in her eyes.

Jason couldn’t help laughing. "Emma. Leave a little room for the rest of the female population, will you?"

She blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

"If you think you’re fat, what are the rest of them supposed to do with themselves?"

"That’s not true! You’re just sweet-talking me. I have gained a little..." She pouted, trying (and failing) to push out a nonexistent belly. "Look. These past few days I swear there’s a tiny bit more here."

Jason watched her, something warm and restless stirring in his chest. He decided to push a little.

"With a waist like that I could probably wrap one hand all the way around it. Want me to prove it?"

He lifted both hands in a playful "come here" gesture.

Emma’s face went scarlet, the color rushing all the way to her ears. Her eyes turned shy and a little flustered. "You already hugged me earlier..."

The soft, almost coaxing way she said it sent a low current straight through him.

Jason put on an innocent expression and scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, but I wasn’t really paying attention that time."

That was a lie. He had felt everything~the smooth heat of her skin through the thin fabric of the dress, the soft give of her body, the clean scent of her hair. He remembered it clearly.

Emma bit her lower lip. In her mind Jason was still her pure younger-brother figure. Letting him hug her again shouldn’t be a big deal... right?

She hesitated, then gathered a thin thread of courage.

"Fine. One time. Only once."

Jason fought to keep the smile off his face. He reached out and drew her in. Emma came willingly, if stiffly, and settled against his chest. A light, fresh scent rose from her hair and skin. He could feel the faint tremor running through her body, the quick beat of her heart against him.

She’s really something, he thought. I was an idiot in my last life. I had this right next to me and went chasing trash like Olivia instead.

Emma suddenly seemed to realize just how close they were. Her face turned an even deeper red. She quickly pushed back out of his arms, head lowered, neck and ears burning.

"O-okay... that’s enough."

Her voice came out small and uneven.

"Something wrong?" Jason asked, still playing dumb.

Emma couldn’t possibly explain the rush of heat that had just gone through her. To her, he was still supposed to be the innocent one.

"N-nothing."

She felt like her whole body was on fire. Her legs were unsteady. Maybe she just needed a minute.

Jason kept a straight face. "Well, scientific conclusion: you’re not fat. Not even close. I could still fit my hands around your waist."

It took Emma a while to calm down and stop trembling. Once she looked a little more composed, Jason smoothly changed the subject.

"You know, over in the States you see people with... let’s just say very generous figures walking around all the time. If your standard for ’fat’ was the rule, half the country would have to go into hiding."

They both silently agreed the hug was a closed topic.

Emma’s eyes went wide. "One-meter-wide? That’s impossible." She even held her hands out to measure. "That would be like three of me. That can’t be real."

Jason smiled at how seriously she was taking it. "Don’t believe me? One day when my mom’s better we’ll go to America together. You’ll see for yourself."

Emma’s whole face lit up. "Really? Deal. When Aunt Sarah is better, we go. Pinky swear."

She held out her slender pinky, expression solemn. "Once you swear you can’t take it back, or you’re a puppy."

Jason hooked his pinky with hers. "Deal. Puppy it is if I break it."

Even though Emma had grown into a sharp, capable young woman, around him she still slipped back into the soft, playful girl she used to be. Jason found he didn’t mind at all. The warmth that settled in his chest felt genuine.

Emma lasted about ten more seconds before the skewer won again. She took another careful bite~then immediately hissed.

"Ah! So spicy~I’m dying~"

She stuck her tongue out, panting in the most ridiculously cute way, eyes watering just a little.

Jason stood. "Stay right here. I’ll grab you something cold."

He crossed the street quickly and came back with a large iced tea, condensation already beading on the plastic. He held it out.

"Drink. It’ll help."

Emma took it with both hands and drank deeply. A moment later she let out a long, relieved breath.

"Much better. My lips were completely numb..."

She absently ran the tip of her tongue across her lower lip, chasing a drop of the cold drink. The sight of her slightly reddened mouth, shiny and soft, hit Jason harder than he expected. He swallowed.

I want to kiss her.

The system chose that exact second to speak again.

[Ding!]

[At nineteen you never even held Olivia Hayes’s hand, let alone kissed her. Kissing a girl still feels like a mountain to you. Crossing that mountain is part of growing past the version of yourself that got used.]

[Mission: Kiss Emma Reed]

[Reward: Stamina Boost Capsule]

Jason stared at Emma’s mouth for a fraction of a second longer, the new mission burning quietly in the back of his mind.

The night was far from over.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!