Chapter 367: Even if we're like this now?

"There's no other idiot in this room and there's no other idiot who approached her and took her interest. No doubt, that's me."

I grabbed her finger and bit it lightly.

And as a reflex, Mina immediately pulled it out before delivering a slap.

"Idiot. When I first saw you, you're too hateful. You looked at us in an extremely perverted way even if that was the first time you met us. Even if I heard things about you from Haru, I instantly deemed in my mind that you're nowhere close to who she described and that I wouldn't let you steal Haru from us."

Ah. That's why, huh? Back then I'm still the same desire-driven guy. And when Haruko told me that I was going to steal them, my desire for Himeko and Mina was ignited.

The two of them got a really bad first impression of me. I remember that when I first met Himeko alone, she was like a warrior going into a hopeless war. But despite that, she's so brave that I ended up getting fond of her. That's why the next time I met her, I didn't stop until I got her to open up to me.

"But now, I'm about to steal you from her. No. At this point, I'm not stealing you from her. It's like I'm the outsider entering your relationship."

That's like that. The initial premise was to steal their affection but what's really happening was that I was butting into their forged bond. With Haruko as the middleman, I was introduced to them to be the… Key for Haruko to continue being with them.

Because if that didn't happen, Haruko would eventually choose me.

That might sound arrogant but that's how it was to that girl.

That's why, if I failed at opening up the other three seniors, Haruko would end up letting them go despite their clear feelings for each other.

"Psh. You're still way off the mark. You have to do more work. And I… still want to see your sincerity. You're keeping up with your promise now but what will happen after I accept you?"

"A promise is a promise. I will continue dropping by to see you. Naturally, I can't promise that it will be everyday. We're just lucky that my destination these past few days always includes the Book Club."

Well, it's not entirely true, because there's a lot of them, I was now keeping a tight schedule. Since I was already visiting the Book Club, it's already a waste to not visit her here.

Nonetheless, if something really came up that I wouldn't be able to fulfill my promise for the day, I would let her know in advance.

"There you go being stupidly honest again. Can't you lie to make me feel even better?"

"Nope. Not gonna do that. As long as it's not something I deemed to be something I needed to hide from all of you, I will continue being honest. Lying once will eventually become twice and in the end, I might get too used to lying that every word leaving my mouth is a lie."

"That one too, you're always too serious. There are things that girls rather don't want to hear. Keep that in mind."

"If it's something like that, I will prefer not talking rather than delivering a lie. And as long as you ask me something, I will give an answer truthfully."

"… And another one. You're too stubborn, Onoda-kun."

That's three, huh? Stupidly honest, Serious and Stubborn. Are they bad traits? I don't know but I was already like this way before the change in me. Even when I was still solely driven by my desire.

I was stupidly honest to tell them upfront how I wanted to steal them.

I was too serious when it came to stealing them that I was ready to do anything to succeed.

And I was too stubborn when it came to protecting them after the conquest.

"Un. I'm aware of that. By the way, you can call me Ruki from now on, Mina."

Honestly answering her again before changing the topic, Mina was taken by surprise that she ended up stuttering.

"N-no. I won't call you that. You're still not up to my standard."

"Even if we're like this now?"

We're sticking close to each other that at this point, we could now accurately measure each other's temperature.

Our faces were too close to each other that while speaking, we could smell each other's breath. A little nudge was enough for us to overlap our lips again.

"Even if we're like this now. Alright. Time's up."

Mina repeated my question as her answer before removing her hand and preparing herself to stand up from me.

"I see. Too bad."

Using this chance, I acted as if I was disappointed that our time's up.

And surprisingly, that's effective. Instead of standing up, Mina reached for the teapot in the middle of the table to fill my cup again. "Idiot. Finish this first then."

After taking that cup and downing it in one gulp, I then grabbed her head and kissed her once more.

This time, Mina accepted my kiss without any fuss as if she expected that I would do this.

Holding her tight as our kiss gradually deepened, I slowly laid her back down before continuing on it.

Focusing on her lips and tongue and eventually, her neck, Mina didn't reject me. However, I restricted myself to go lower than that and Mina did the same.

Even if we had the tacit understanding of what we feel for each other, it's not the time yet.

There's no need to rush.

Even if Mina was refusing to admit it, I knew that I had successfully climbed up to her heart. The final key for her to admit it is that upcoming match with her mother.

Once that event ends, Mina will become mine.

-

-

"Thank you for the tea. I look forward to tomorrow."

"Shameless guy, which part are you looking forward to?"

"Everything, of course."

After hearing my answer, Mina blushed once more before firmly closing the door of the club on me.

The way she stuck her tongue out again was too adorable. Because a few minutes earlier, I was just sucking on it.

Well, there's still tomorrow and the days after it. Let's be patient.

Leaving this part of the Club Building on a good note, I made my way to my next destination.

The Student Support Club.

Without Ogawa today, I wonder what's happening there. Do they still function as a group or a sense of dissonance is already eating away at them?

Ah. Even if he's there, there's already that sense of dissonance. Their group isn't centered around him anymore.

Ever since I went there and introduced myself as Nami's boyfriend, the core of that group has changed to me and my relationship with Nami.

"You're here."

As always, Saki opened the door for me. The visible smile on her lips was like yesterday, filled with different meanings.

Before she could ask for it, I pulled her close and kissed her.

"I guess this is how we will greet each other now," I said after releasing her lips.

Not knowing what to answer, Saki could only lower her head to escape from my gaze