Chapter 338: Chance Grab

What kind of answer was that? This girl. Did she lie to me about being interested in Ogawa or is she like Hina who ended up liking both of us?

I don't know. If I base it on my observation of her from the few minutes we were interacting today, that didn't seem the case.

If I could relate her to someone, then it would be Otsuka-senpai and her curiosity.

Looking at the glossy lips of hers, I admit that despite me having the thoughts of stopping and ending this act, I was already tempted enough to take it.

Did she perhaps get drawn in by this situation I created? Or was she someone who would just go with the flow?

Either way, I didn't have that much interaction with her.

There's also a possibility that this girl developed a crush on me. If that's the case then I guess that's understandable.

However, the way she dug and jumped through the hole by herself… By answering like that…

She's probably someone who'd grab on every chance she could get whenever it presented itself.

We're outdoors and in an obviously open area. Even though it's still safe at this moment, there's the risk that anytime, someone could pass by and catch us in the act.

If it's someone that could recognize both of us... This moment would become another rumor with definite evidence right here.

Now I couldn't help but wonder how many rumors involving me were currently circulating.

At this point, I was already kind of afraid to ask.

"What about now, Imada? Nami's not around. Tell me your honest answer."

Because of her interesting answer, I swiftly came up with a response after that rush of overthinking.

There's no going back now and the urge to continue teasing this girl was still here.

My hand slipped towards the back of her neck, preventing her from distancing her head further.

As she felt my hand holding her in place, Imada couldn't help but gulp down before averting her gaze to prevent herself from getting overwhelmed by me. At this point, her exposed pair of ears was already as red as tomatoes. Perhaps if I nibbled on it at this moment, this girl would feel a pleasure she hadn't felt before.

From pursing her lips, Imada started biting it, perhaps by doing so, it was helping her to think about how she would answer me.

I had no idea if it was a slip of her tongue that led her to answer like that or if it's really what's on her mind.

However, props to that answer of hers, I could feel the growing boldness in me to take this teasing session to another level.

I was aware that she's not one of my girls. And I was also aware that doing this was somehow reverting me back to how I was before. Before the realization that led to the situation wherein I took back all of the girls chasing after me from my past.

Unfortunately, my desire to tease this girl was currently triumphing inside my mind.

"… Isn't that clear enough with my previous answer?" With as low of a voice as possible, Imada whispered.

So, she didn't slip at all. That's what she really meant, huh?

My hand that was already removed from her cheek was still tightly clasped by her own hand. And through it, I could feel how Imada was currently sweating. Perhaps from nervousness or her growing excitement. Both or either of the two.

"Let's move to a place not exposed like this. We can't have them catching us in the act here, right?"

I stood up and pulled her up from the bench.

From how easy I did that, it was all too clear that Imada obediently let herself be pulled up by me.

With her eyes still averting my gaze, she probably failed to notice how I smiled at her reaction.

Before going, I fixed my hand that she was clasping and turned it over to return the favor of holding my hand.

And as expected, she only slightly trembled upon noticing it before her fingers opened wide, allowing my fingers to slip in between the gaps.

Is this girl too easy? Or is it my previous guess? I don't know yet.

In any case, that's what I was going to find out.

With our hands tightly clasped together, Imada silently followed my lead.

While doing that, I refrained from looking back to see her expression and only focused on finding a secluded spot we could settle in.

While minding the eyes of the other students that were scattered throughout the various points of the school ground, making sure that no one would see us, it took me only a minute to find a place.

It was directly in front of us.

The school's baseball field.

Although it's open at this moment, it was clearly rude to just enter it.

However, without any eyes looking at us, it was easy to sneak in.

Ah. Obviously, we wouldn't do it in the middle of the field but inside one of the two dugouts.

With it being roofed and currently empty, it's a perfect secluded place for us at the moment.

Unless someone specifically entered the field, no one would be able to see us.

Leading her inside, I had her sit first before taking the place beside her, removing any distance we had earlier when we were seated at the bench.

As soon as we settled ourselves inside, Imada covered her face with her free hand as she lowered her head.

She was silently mumbling something that I couldn't quite catch.

"Are you nervous? You can still back out if you like. Since nothing happened yet, we could just make it as if we did an activity for the Mentor Program."

I opened my mouth first, breaking the silence that was slowly engulfing us.

Her hand was still sweating but it didn't have any intention to let go. In fact, her hold was even tighter than mine.

"Ah and also, did you lie to me about you being interested in Ogawa?"

Before she could answer, I added another one.

Naturally, with the short time we spent walking from outside to inside here, I already somehow regained control of my desire.

However, since we're already here, it's a waste to let go of this chance. I was just checking if she would eventually back out after coming this far. And if she decided to do so, I would wrap up this urge to tease her.

Taking her time to answer, Imada slowly lifted her head to look into my eyes, "Uh… It's true. interested in him. That's a secret, you will keep, right?"

"Naturally, I stand by my words earlier. But Imada, are you sure about this? Coming with me here. And this…"

I lifted our clasped hands and held it between us.

Upon seeing that, Imada curtly nodded, "You only asked about Kazuo. I'm interested in you as well, Onoda-kun."

"I see. So it's like that. I only mentioned Ogawa. It's strange though. Why are you suddenly fine confessing this to me?"

She didn't have an ulterior motive, did she? In any case, her reactions from earlier couldn't be faked unless she's a great actress.

Moreover, now that we started this conversation, her previous nervousness was being cast off. That excited and confident glint in her eyes was even more apparent.

"You're the stranger one, Onoda-kun. Teasing me like that and asking me about that… kiss. You presented me with a chance, why will I not grab it? This might be my only chance to make a move on you. Most importantly, Nanami is not here."

"Even if this means I will be cheating on Nami?"

"What cheating? You're close not only to Nanami but also to Hina, Maemura and Rindou. There's also Harada who will often circle around you."

This girl… I guess she's truly interested in me for her to keep tabs on who's close to me. Nonetheless, her eyes were limited only to our class.

"You have a keen eye, Imada. Well then, since you're fine with this…"

I placed my free hand on her cheek and traced her lips with my thumb.

And that immediately took effect when Imada slowly closed her eyes, waiting for me to do what I must.

Because she's starting to gain momentum from our conversation, I steered it back to our topic at hand, the kissing experience.

If I continued answering her there, it would eventually reveal my relationship with all the girls she named.

For now, I needed to take back this wheel.

She's neither my girl nor my target at the moment. Even if she said she's interested in Ogawa, that's not enough.

Moreover, her straightforward way of telling me how she's interested in me was more effective than that.

"I'm going to kiss you now, Imada."

"Un. A-and, call me by my name."

With her eyes firmly closed, even without me guiding her head, she already lifted her chin to give me easy access to her glossy lips.

"Alright, Saki."

Granting her wish, I whispered her name to her ears before I dropped my head down to plant my lips on hers.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

In that span of time, I could feel Saki's racing heartbeat that was filled with anticipation.

I guess at this point, I could only believe that confession of hers.

This girl was totally interested in me that she grabbed the chance I presented without any hint of hesitation.

Somehow, I wanted to know more about what's in this girl's mind.

Before her interest with Ogawa became known… Would it not be better to claim her for myself?

With that thought in my mind, my lips had finally reached hers. Pressing it firmly on her sweet lips, I let Imada savor this first kiss of hers.