Chapter 515: Aware

I looked back as well and noticed the silent guy hiding in a pole. To lose him, I grabbed Saki’s arm and sped up our pace. The direction she was going was towards the school or specifically, the bus stop past the school.

Once I saw a corner, I made a turn there, dragging Saki with me.

It’s a narrow street with houses on both sides. That’s why I continued walking until the third block before turning again. I did that at least five times while memorizing the turns we made.

Although Saki was kind trying to squirm out of my hold at first, she eventually silently followed me.

“Ruki…”

“Shhh… Let’s just continue, alright?”

I stopped any idle talk for now since I was already planning to talk to her later when we’re out of this neighborhood.

Perhaps understanding my intention, Saki slightly nodded while moving my hands from her arm to fit her fingers on the gaps between mine.

This girl… I intentionally didn’t aim for her hand. However, she fixed it by herself this time. Without any of our classmates’ eyes, she’s once again grabbing the chance presented in front of her.

If only she would also be this bold towards how she acts when in front of their circle. Like Nami and Hina said, she’s still thinking that she didn’t deserve to be leveled with them… Or better yet, she only wanted to be their Friend A. Someone that was only in the background.

I managed to dig at her personality of how she’s a chance-grabber by presenting her chances she could easily grab and take. And that led to what happened to us last Friday…

In a way, now that I got a better look at her personality, I want to see her becoming more confident in herself…

True. I could help her do that without being thoroughly involved with her. But after what happened to us… I couldn’t just treat it as nothing. That’s just not in my personality.

If someone would ask, what ended up happening between us was all my fault… And that’s the truth.

And on that note, we couldn’t rewrite the past anymore. What happened had already happened… That’s why I would now approach her in hopes that I could make her mine.

Still, the decision would be in her hands, if she decided to not continue and end whatever connection we had, I would accept it.

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With our hands switched to being locked tightly together, we continued walking along the narrow streets of this neighborhood that was near the school.

Looking at Saki this time, her high bun-hairstyle was more emphasized especially thanks to her glittering pair of earrings. She’s wearing a long-sleeve white shirt that was somewhat loose on the arms. It was tucked in her short denim short pants while a thin hoodie was tied around her waist. She’s probably trying to have that cool girl vibe but because of her somewhat small stature, Saki was more adorable than most. Totally in contrast to how erotic she was with her hair down last Friday.

After I made sure that we already lost the silent guy who was following Saki, I stopped my steps after a turn and faced her. “Ah. Right. I forgot to tell you something.”

As my free hand tugged at her loose sleeves, I continued, “You look great in this outfit, Saki.”

“Eh?! Isn’t that totally out of nowhere?” Saki instantly blurted out a question. However, what I said made an effect on her as I noticed how her ears suddenly gradually reddened.

I shook my head and stepped forward. “Not really. I just want to say it before I forget again. By the way…”

With my hand pinching her chin, I gradually pushed my head forward while eyeing her somewhat dry lips.

Within the few seconds before reaching it, my tongue wet my lips in preparation to kiss her.

However, before I pressed my lips on hers, I abruptly stopped and stared at her who already had her eyes closed and was waiting for our lips to be connected.

“Saki… Can I?” I asked her while our lips were still in close proximity. I watched how she suddenly inhaled as my breath blew onto her face when I uttered that question out.

It was out of reflex on her part. However, as soon as she did that, Saki, instead of answering me, pushed her face forward and pressed our lips together.

Thirty seconds later, Saki somewhat shakily retracted her head before opening her eyes. She first stared at my lips before answering, “You don’t need to ask me… You know how I am…”

“I know but I still feel that it’s appropriate. You’re still a girl, Saki. I will not be like a savage who will just do what I want to without asking you.”

“Then… I’m telling you now… If we’re alone like this, you don’t need to ask for my permission, Ruki.”

“I see. Then it’s common courtesy to say the same in return. If we’re alone, you can be however you want.”

After saying this, I held her at her waist and kissed her again. This time, without holding back.

From sucking her lips to entwining our tongues, I went deep with our kisses that Saki eventually had to rest her back on the wall behind her.

Her arms were tightly clinging onto my back, pulling me closer to her. And to answer that, one of my arms also moved to her back and made a push near her spine, leading to her lower body pressing forward instead.

However, it was at this point that someone appeared from the peripherals of our vision.

Perhaps I got too into it or I failed to hear him because of his silent steps, the silent guy Taku stopped right at the turn where we were currently entwined with each other.

Saki realized it too late and only when she felt that I stopped did she open her eyes. And to her curiosity, she followed the direction of my eyes.

With his eyes widened and his mouth opened, the silent guy issued a low grunting sound as if he wanted to say something but he couldn't.

At this point, I had already thought of our next move. Holding Saki’s hands once more, I pulled her out of that spot as we continued to make a round in this neighborhood.

Saki followed me but she remained silent throughout.

After making more complicated turns and seeing that no one was following behind us, I then retraced our steps and circle back to where we entered and returned to the original street where I first greeted her.

Whether that silent guy still followed after us or not, it didn’t matter anymore.

“Taku saw us…” Saki silently lamented as we continued on our way towards her bus stop.

However, once we reached the street leading to the school, I turned towards it and continued until we reached the school gate.

The cars were still there but there’s no one outside. Most likely, they’re all inside the Administration Building, including Shizu, Satsuki and Aya.

Due to that, I continued with our steps and went in the opposite direction of the Administration Building or specifically towards the Club Building.

After entering it, I continued towards the abandoned club room that was being used by us for the Mentor Program.

Once inside, I faced Saki again who still had the same expression as earlier. We were supposed to talk this coming Monday about each other. But because of this opportunity that I… somehow exploited. That talk might already happen today.

However, that’s after clearing this girl’s mind who was probably shocked that the silent guy Taku saw us, passionately kissing each other.

Given that he wasn’t talking or he seldom talks, I was actually not worried about him knowing that… his long-time crush had already fallen into my hands. He already had his suspicions after all and that just proved it.

“Saki…” I called out to her and that immediately got her attention. “Does it bother you that he saw us? You’re aware of it, right? That he’s following you. That’s why you looked behind when I appeared next to you.”

“That… Yes, I am aware.” Saki tried to answer differently but still ended up nodding.

“He likes you. Are you aware of that too?”

And with this follow-up question after revealing his not-so-hidden secret infatuation towards Saki, I got an expected answer from the girl.

With her eyes lowered, Saki answered in a low voice. “I… Yes, I’m aware…”