Chapter 598: Status

After resting for a while and wiping ourselves off the sweat and the sticky liquid I shot out which luckily only stained our exposed skins, Nami and I left that place and separated before reaching the Gymnasium.

During the walk, Nami stuck herself to my side, hiding her still blushing face because of how she kept remembering what we did there. She even kept on commenting on how good it felt when our private parts rubbed against each other. She also silently whispered how she’s looking forward to the real thing.

When I told her that the first time would be more painful rather than feeling the pleasure, she rebutted by telling me how we just needed to do it more than once.

The girl’s head was definitely on cloud nine which only revolved around that topic. So before truly separating from her to go to our respective mentors, I woke her up from that kind of dreamland. For sure, Haruko would be able to deduce what happened if she showed up with a pleasant grin on her lips.

A few minutes later, I arrived at the abandoned clubroom expecting Izumi-senpai was already there, waiting.

However, the room was silent and empty. The chairs Arisa-senpai and I used yesterday were still at the same place I last saw them.

Arisa-senpai told me that she would tell Izumi-senpai about what she heard from me. Perhaps I got my guess wrong and Izumi-senpai just decided to not show up after hearing everything.

That’s a possibility.

If that really happened, the anger and disgust that fake delinquent senior had towards me would be amplified. She would hate me more than that ex-boyfriend of Arisa-senpai.

And that’s a totally acceptable outcome.

Even when I was still driven by my desire, not every instance of confessing to the girl I stole about everything about me went well.

And as one could expect, they’re among those who didn’t return and went on with their lives.

In any case, I had no other choice but to wait here so instead of wasting my time overthinking about the thing of the past or the future with those two seniors, I took out my phone and checked on my unread messages.

Same as usual, most of my messages came from my girls. They’re replies from my message during lunch, checking on them.

Apart from reading their messages, I also checked on their attached photos. Elizabeth and Yukari were, as always, goofing with each other. Ah no. It’s just Yukari reprimanding Elizabeth to stop taking pictures and just eat her lunch. Then there’s Yae and Akane along with her best friends Fuyu, Eri and Futaba. They’re at the roof of their school building, eating their lunch there.

There’s more but it’s all about them eating lunch or trying to appeal to me which I always entertained. I miss all of them and surely, they’re the same. So even though I’m not the type of person who will take a selfie whenever I’m alone, I took a photo of myself and sent it to all of them.

In less than a minute, almost everyone, except those who were truly busy with their studies replied with heart emojis.

Anyway, spending my time like this was also quite relaxing. And that’s thanks to Izumi-senpai for not showing up.

After scolding those who confessed that they’re still in class before cheering for them, I then checked on Otoha’s reply from my recent message to her.

Otoha told me that her grandfather woke up again two hours ago but perhaps because of the medicine being administered to him, he was advised to keep resting. She then told me that her parents were ordering her to return to their house or return to school since her grandfather had already seen her when he woke up. However, she insisted on staying there.

With her older brother who also showed up there taking her side, her mother gave up.

As for her update in their family or her worry of that engagement with the idiot being brought up again, she told me how her father put it to the side, stating that it’s not an important issue at the moment.

Well, putting it to the side rather than putting it in the trash was different. That means when the time comes, he’s going to revisit that.

If I had to guess, he’s probably toeing the line making sure that if his father woke up, he wouldn’t be put in a bad light with his decisions for their Family.

Following that, I told her about my plan to go with Nami to her house. Naturally, I didn’t forget about Hitomi. Telling her to let the woman rest or just stay by her side instead of picking me up to send me home.

For her answer, Otoha initiated a video call, showing the two of them inside that hospital room of her grandfather. Otoha appeared cheerful as she recounted how Hitomi told her what happened with us earlier.

But given Hitomi’s personality, the woman’s expression remained cold and somewhat distant even if her ears turned red from possible embarrassment to what Otoha was saying.

“Un. I’ll let her rest today, Ruki. I apologize if this looks like I’m pushing her to you.”

“Don’t be... In fact, I appreciate it a lot. Giving me the chance to get to know her.”

Upon hearing my answer, Otoha smiled and nodded with her arms crossed as if she was proud of her good deed.

However, a few seconds later, her usually gentle and calm eyebrows slanted. She’s probably supposed to look upset but the girl became cuter instead.

Anyway, while looking like that, Otoha started. “But she’s too stubborn! Perhaps even more stubborn than you, Ruki.” She paused, blowing air through her nose before her expression returned to normal, “If someone can change her mind, there’s only you. I’ve known your interest in each other even back then. You’re just too focused on your desire so you did nothing even if her interest in you was already too obvious... Uhm, this might be a selfish request but can you change her mind about treating me as her master? I want her to treat me as a little sister but she keeps on insisting on her status.”

When the woman beside her heard that, she attentively stood up and said, “Ojou-sama, if that’s your order—”

However, before she could finish with her words, Otoha cut off Hitomi, “It’s not an order! See this, Ruki? This is why I will rely on you. I don’t want to order her for that.”

“Hmm? This is just my guess as I have no clear picture about the intricacies of her family’s servitude to your family, Hitomi is protecting your image, Otoha.”

After thinking about how she always acted, Hitomi will always be the loyal servant to her no matter how much Otoha wanted to change that into a more casual or closer relationship. She could order her and Hitomi would follow but in the end, the bottom line would be... she’s just following Otoha’s order.

“Is that really it?” Otoha was downcast upon hearing my answer.

“I know you yourself understand the situation. Even if you’re willing, she can’t do that when your every move will be under scrutiny by your family. Perhaps, your grandfather will accept it but think about the others like your parents or your brother.”

“Thank you, Ruki-sama.” Hitomi bowed. I probably took the words that she couldn’t directly say to Otoha out of her mouth.

But instead of just nodding and accepting that gratitude, I switched my gaze to her after winking at Otoha.

Well, she also caught that but whatever. It’s not like I was about to hide something.

“You’re not off the hook yet, Hitomi. We’ll talk about this topic again. For now, can I expect you to be more open to me when you pick me up tomorrow?”

“... No.” Hitomi took a minute of contemplation before flatly answering like that.

“Right. That’s the Hitomi I know.” I couldn’t help but put on a bitter smile despite expecting that kind of answer. “Anyway, Otoha, I cannot promise to change her mind but I will do my best to get to know Hitomi and understand her.”

“Uhm. I get what you’re saying, Ruki. I’m just as stubborn with what I want...” Otoha guiltily said.

“Don’t worry, if I manage to steal you away from your family, then there will be no difference in status between the two of you anymore.”

To stop her from being gloomy, I teasingly brought that up.

And as I expected, Otoha immediately beamed. “That’s the best solution. Hurry up and do that.”

“Sure. Wait for me. I’ll get a bicycle.”

“The idiot Ruki showed up...” Otoha couldn’t help but giggle at how idiotic my answer was. And soon enough, that giggle turned into a peal of clear laughter.