Chapter 546: That's bold of you

After a few minutes of Shizu’s venting the bad air that built up inside her, she left my lips alone and gently tapped my shoulder to let her down while sporting a full blush on.

Perhaps embarrassed for the others to see her face after that outburst, she buried it on my chest while trying to recover from what happened.

Naturally, I held her tight and comforted her until she calmed down.

“... I’ll go in.” Shizu silently muttered after she stabilized her breath. She still had her head down but her hold onto me already softened.

“Un. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“...Mhm.” After that silent acknowledgment, Shizu hurriedly moved to their gates, entered it and in less than a minute, she already disappeared inside their house.

The girl was extremely embarrassed so it’s understandable. Considering she successfully released what’s pulling her face down, that’s just her real self – finding it hard to look me or the other two girls in the eye after everything that transpired.

I waited for a minute just staring at their front door before deciding to leave. And right at that moment, I saw a light turned on inside a room on the second floor of their house. A few moments later, a window opened slightly and Shizu’s beautiful face that’s still sporting a red color peek out.

When our eyes met, she smiled beautifully before waving her hand.

I smiled in return and waved back before continuing on my steps to rejoin Hina and Saki.

There’s no need for words now. We both understood each other’s feelings anyway.

In any case, saying it and listening to it will still be soothing. There were just times like these that we already understood what we both felt for each other. So instead of saying it, we’re showing it in our actions.

When we resumed our steps, the two also remained silent. They were still somewhat shaken by how Shizu acted given that they’re both tightly holding onto me.

To give them a sense of safety, we stopped by in a rather secluded place and I hugged them both tightly, comforting them.

Letting them feel safe in my arms is worth more than repeated comforting words.

After spending a few minutes there and making sure that they both calmed down, we resumed our walk.

As soon as we reached their street, I followed what Hina requested earlier. Saki, understanding the situation, put a bit of distance between us.

And just like this, we began our steps to Hina’s house while no one would mistake us for only being friends and not lovers.

Compared to the street where Nami and Shizu’s houses were located, this street was kind of active despite the time of the night.

Just by the entrance of the street, a middle-aged man inside their backyard already called out to Hina, recognizing her.

And naturally, given how I was holding her closely, he asked who I am.

From the tone of his voice and the way he even mentioned Ogawa, it’s probably well-known that Hina was chasing after Ogawa.

Although somewhat meddlesome, Hina unhesitatingly answered that I am her boyfriend, leaving that middle-aged man speechless.

According to Hina, their neighborhood was kind of active, they often have barbeque parties during summer vacation and sometimes they get together when there’s a special occasion.

Due to that, most of the people we had run into recognized her and greeted her like a close acquaintance.

By the time we reached the front of their house, the question of ‘who I am’ to her was already asked more than five times.

Although there’s a chance for those in the older generation to spread gossip to their children that were attending the same school, none of them actually tried to look at my face clearly.

They would only be aware that Hina got herself a boyfriend.

“With all these eyes... Do you want to...?” I asked vaguely.

She understood what I meant though. Her head instantly scanned our surroundings until it rested on the house left of theirs.

It’s easier to guess that it was the Ogawa household. Compared to Hina’s house that had a slightly modern design, the Ogawa household was more like those houses commonly seen in anime.

That coward completed that naïve protagonist profile of a harem anime with that kind of house.

The lights were on in their living room and a room located on the second floor. But there’s no annoying face of Ogawa outside.

If I had to guess, he’s in his room, mulling over his idiotic choices.

“Kazuo is in his room.” After staring at it for a while, Hina said.

I followed her eyes and she’s looking at that room on the 2nd floor with its lights on.

It was a room at the side wherein its small balcony was close to Hina’s house. And as expected, there’s a window there.

And if I had to guess... It was Hina’s room. From there, they could talk to each other or rather, Hina could take a glimpse of him from there.

If I recall correctly, Nami also told me that Tadano’s room was just in front of her room. And they sometimes talk to each other through their side windows.

Typical childhood friends.

In any case, the time they were talking to each other through their windows was already reduced to a point that... the longest conversation they had was a greeting.

Perhaps when the time comes to visit her room, that guy will be in his room, wondering what’s happening beyond Nami’s curtain.

And that’s also what will happen here with Ogawa. Just that... that guy wouldn’t even think of Hina.

“I see... We will not be able to show off to him then.”

“Mhm... It doesn’t matter. There are still more chances to do that, right?”

She knew that even if we showed our relationship to Ogawa, that guy wouldn’t have any reaction. He’s numb that way. Nonetheless, it’s Hina’s wish. Now that he was about to lose everything... that guy would surely be affected if he saw us more intimate than before.

And... even though I already inflicted a lot of damage in his mind... I somehow wanted to see him in despair...

Wait... Nami will be hurt if she finds out about this thought of mine... Then I’ll just do it for the sake of Hina. He deserved it anyway.

“Naturally, I will walk you home whenever I can.”

“That’s enough... Uhmm... I’ll go in then.”

Hina awkwardly tried to turn around to enter their house but I stopped her by stretching my arm to the wall behind her, barring her path.

And soon after that, I raised her chin. “No goodnight kiss?”

“Idiot, don’t make me blush here.”

Contrary to her words, she’s already blushing.

“What? We already announced that I am your boyfriend. Tomorrow they will surely tease you about it.”

“Ugh... That’s right.” Hina facepalmed but the slight smile on her lips was clearly captured by me.

It’s as if she’s not just expecting it, she’s looking forward to it.

“Will you be fine?” Pretending I didn’t notice her smile, I acted concerned.

“I’ve been teased by you more times that I am probably already numbed to it.”

“Then a kiss is fine.”

“This pervert...”

And like earlier, her words were contrary to her action, she’s already caressing my face, waiting for me to cover her lips with mine.

“It’s not as lewd as what we did on the bus, you know?”

Reminding her of what happened earlier, the crimson streak on her face deepened.

“Really a big pervert.”

After saying that, Hina initiated the kiss herself. This time there’s no more reservation in her movements. Just like with Shizu earlier, Hina hooked her arms to the back of my neck, locking us in a passionate exchange of kisses.

We were in this kind of situation when the sound of the opening gate reached our ears. Following that, a figure covered the light from the streetlamp nearby.

“Hmm, Hina-chan? That’s bold of you. Kissing a guy right in front of your house...”

Upon hearing that voice, Hina broke away from our kiss and opened her eyes wide.

Slowly, her head turned to the source of the voice. And likewise, I curiously followed her gaze to check who it was.

However, because the figure was covering the light coming from the streetlamp, I couldn’t see the figure’s face well but one thing was for sure... It's a woman.

A few seconds later, her identity was silently muttered by Hina. “Kazuha-nee.”