Chapter 1132: Showing gratitude

Chapter 1132: Showing gratitude

As someone who could conveniently throw the not-so-pressing issues to the back of my head, my mind cleared up and I got to spend a few minutes of this morning with both Otoha and Hitomi without mentioning the content of the conversation I had with the head of the Kaneko Family.

Otoha knew that there was something fishy but she was the type to wait until I was ready to tell her everything. And so… she also let go of her curiosity and just savored what little time we have before we go to our respective schools.

As for Hitomi, the diligent woman remained silent most of the time. But from the looks that I got from her, she probably had an idea what kind of message I received from Otoha’s grandfather.

Anyway, after Hitomi dropped me near the school, I just continued the day like normal.

When I passed by Eguchi-sensei, I informed her about the progress of the case.

I was met with her beautiful and proud smile. Perhaps, if we were not in a place where a sea of students was passing by, she’d once again pat my head or shoulder. Yeah, even if it’s still not certain that I could bring Miura Komoe back, she’s already that proud.

Well, it’s a cute expression from her and I would take it instead of letting her return to the strict and seemingly expressionless woman during our first PE class.

The same as yesterday, the fake delinquent waited right in front of the School Building. As soon as she spotted me, the girl grumpily walked over and grabbed my wrist, dragging me back to the infirmary.

Unlike yesterday, there’s no Ogawa to stop us. I also failed to spot Arisa from some corner.

“Senpai, what’s this about?” Upon entering the infirmary, I raised a question even though I already had a clear guess of the reason.

I mean, because she’s not one of my girls yet, I didn’t inform her of the result yesterday. This girl most likely waited for me to check if what I boasted yesterday was upheld.

“Come and sit here.”

Izumi-senpai sat down on the same infirmary bed as yesterday and tapped the space beside her. With her eyes and brows slightly slanted as though she’s going to get mad at any point, I naturally followed her and took that side.

However, instead of obediently sitting down to wait for her to check on me, I sneakily stretched my arm from her back to her waist and pulled her closer. And not waiting for her to have a violent reaction, I blew into her ear and whispered, “Did senpai miss me? After yesterday, I think I’m loving the moments whenever you’re this close to me”

“Who will miss you?! Wait, you’re too close!” Izumi-senpai flinched and tried to push me away.

I grabbed one of her hands, weakening her struggle. “I thought you called me here for this?”

“You thought? Then you’re wrong! I’m only going to check… Come on, shameless junior… Loosen up.” Little by little, the force of her remaining free hand on my chest was almost gone and the tone of her voice transformed into pleading.

Looking at her face that was now devoid of her fierce expression from earlier, the desire to tease her more teetered on whether to continue or let her go.

Well, I better not push her over the edge so… following her wishes, I loosened my hold on her hand and leaned back a bit.

I kept my hold on her waist though… There was just no way I would miss this chance to grow closer to her.

“There. Are you comfortable now, senpai?”

“Your hand.”

“Nope. That’s gonna stay.”

“… When will you stop being shameless?”

Along with her sigh, Izumi-senpai had, more or less, given up. To stop her from being dejected, I stayed my hand and started speaking in a more serious tone, “That’s a trait of me, senpai. I know it’s hateful but think of it as my way to show affection to you. That aside, like I told you, I’m fine. No bruises or cuts.”

Izumi-senpai stared at me for a while. Most likely, she’s trying to come up with a response to the first part of my sentence. In the end, she could only bite her lips in frustration before focusing on the second part.

“How did you do it? There should be at least three groups there. I saw them leaving the school grounds together.” With a hint of worry on her face, Izumi-senpai pressed for my full account of what happened.

“Uh. Let’s just say they’re a reasonable bunch. I only used a punch and a kick to end the conflict.”

It’s the same explanation I gave my girls. And obviously, it garnered the same reaction from her.

“That’s impossible.” Izumi-senpai had a look of disbelief as she leaned closer to check on my face. She’s probably suspecting that I used some kind of makeup to hide a bruise.

“To see is to believe, senpai. Look, am I not in perfect health today? You can touch me or strip me if you’re not convinced.” I stretched my arm to the side, gesturing to her to check me all she wanted.

And surprisingly, her reply wasn’t what I expected.

With narrowed eyes and a stern face, she commanded, “Then strip.”

“Really?” I tilted my head, asking for her confirmation. There’s a possibility that she blurted that out thoughtlessly, after all.

However, Izumi-senpai simply nodded and unwaveringly declared, “I want to make sure!”

“Mhm… Alright, if it’s for my senpai’s peace of mind.” Following her words, I started unbuttoning my uniform and in less than a minute, I stripped out of my top.

While I was doing that, Izumi-senpai’s eyes stared intently at my body. And even when I hadn’t finished, her hand began feeling me up in places where a bruise might be found if I truly took a beating.

Yeah. It probably hasn’t sunk in her mind yet that she’s basically groping me. She’s so focused on making sure that I wasn’t hurt. That’s very charming in my dictionary.

A few minutes later, Izumi-senpai raised her gaze.

“You’re telling the truth.” She said while her hand remained stuck on my stomach.

“When did I lie to you, hmm? I told you I will always be honest. Is senpai satisfied now? Did your worry rest?”

“Yes…” She eventually nodded and released a sigh of relief.

My lips naturally stretched into a smile from watching that. “Great. It’s my time to show you my gratitude then…”

“Huh?”

“Ssh… It’s only natural. You’re the one who informed me about it which allowed me to prepare. And so, you’re deserving of my thanks.”

“… I told you I did that for Arisa.” So, she said, but with her eyes darting from here and there, she’s clearly not being honest with that.

“Even so, you helped me. I wonder, how should I repay you, senpai?”

“That… I don’t need anything.”

“But I want to thank you. What about this…” As my voice trailed, the grip of my hand on her waist tightened. Following that, I leaned closer, returning to the same situation as earlier.

And because she’s still turned to me, with her hand not leaving my stomach, the distance between our faces was immediately closed.

However, before I went in for the kiss, I held her chin and stared directly into her eyes.

Although she didn’t do anything to stop me, the girl was surely aware of what I was going to do, her eyes closed and opened, checking whether I had already done it or not. Her lips closed tight and were shaking slightly from anticipation. And last but not the least, a crimson color covered her neck upwards.

“Senpai, you still have a chance to change your mind. But if you’re not against this I will… take your lips as a show of my gratitude.”

“… H-how’s that showing your gratitude?” Although she asked that, it sounded forced. Furthermore, she didn’t move her head to evade me. She remained motionless, waiting for what was about to come.

“Because that’s the best option at this moment. I won’t force it on you, of course. In any case, I think I have to say this now, I’ve already fallen in love with you, senpai.”

“Shameless junior… love isn’t something you can just give to anyone. It’s not cheap.”

“That’s true. But I’m just this different. You’ve already seen and experienced it.”

Izumi-senpai didn’t have any response to that. A second later, she opened her eyes and looked at me intently. With as small a movement as possible, the girl nodded.

Interpreting that as her permission to take her lips, I didn’t wait any longer. I slowly pushed my head closer and went in for the kiss.

As our lips started to overlap, Izumi-senpai’s eyes closed as her hand on my stomach gradually tightened. Following that, she placed her other hand on my cheek wherein it gradually slid to my nape, pulling my head closer.

She’s nervous and uncertain about this situation but that’s fine. We could work on that. We have a lot of time.