Chapter 1424 Hopefully

Our conversation after that found no progress. Because no matter what I said to her, the girl stubbornly held onto her belief that Ichihara Jun's hostility towards me was because I got close to her. Even if I argued that I was just as responsible as her for this situation because I provoked the guy back when she visited me in my office, the girl brought up the day she picked me up when we took the first photo as her counterargument.

For her, that's the beginning of everything. If she didn't wait for me that day to employ my help, Ichihara Jun wouldn't be this hostile to me.

After that, she refused to listen to my response and simply buried herself further in my embrace.

Yeah. She's just being stubborn to accept that it's not entirely her fault.

Understanding that it would be impossible to change her mind today, I decided to put it aside and revisit it when another chance arose. Or when she stopped being stubborn.

I mean, despite feeling like that, Marika had no intention to sever our connection. Furthermore, after that passionate moment that we shared, our bond became deeply rooted to the point that it's already stronger than what she managed to cultivate with Ichihara Jun for the past two years.

She wouldn't be like this, otherwise.

Look at her sniffing my scent and getting comfortable in my arms when initially, she would freeze and not know what to do.

"Senpai..."

After waiting for a minute, I broke the silence by calling out to her. At the same time as that, I grasped her chin and lifted her face for me to see.

As soon as our eyes met, Marika pouted as though I robbed her of the comfort she was enjoying. That expression alone was enough to bring out a smile on me.

"What is it, Junior-kun?" Not hearing a follow-up from me, the girl eventually asked. Her brow raised, looking a little upset.

She's probably expecting me to bring up the same topic again. I couldn't blame her for that.

In any case, since I already gave up on that, my next words were definitely not about it, "Hmm, nothing? I just like to see your face, I guess?"

I could bring up another topic but if it's about us or our situation, I doubt it would go anywhere with her current stubborn streak. That's why... choosing a mindless conversation like this was better. Besides, we had to leave the room soon, so why not take this chance to further deepen our bond?

Perhaps not expecting that, Marika took a moment to process it but soon, her pout became even more apparent. She didn't like that or... she's just lost on how to interpret my words.

She then squirmed a little to fix her posture, lifting her body to level her head with me. Then, with her hands switching to grip my collar, the ringlet girl grumblingly replied, "Junior-kun, must you tease me at this moment?"

Staring at her beautiful face switching from being embarrassed and upset, I couldn't help but find this amusing. Well, this was my teasing habit again making its comeback.

"Hmm? Am I teasing you, senpai? No, I'm being honest here. It's really what's in my head right now." Upon answering like that, I intentionally let my lips stretch into a grin, earning another pout from the girl.

However, when I saw her do that, my hand moved on its own, letting go of her chin and settling on her cheek. With my thumb landing on her pouty lips, it slowly caressed them.

Naturally, Marika's eyes went to my thumb. However, what she did next also surprised me. Her lips parted slightly followed by her tongue peeking out to lick my finger.

As her face slowly reddened, Marika's lips enclosed around my thumb, taking it in halfway to her mouth. A second later, her slimy tongue wrapped around it as she started licking and sucking on my thumb.

With her face as red as it was, it was certainly an erotic sight.

Unfortunately, that only lasted for a few seconds.

Perhaps finding it salty or she just realized what she was doing was suggestive, the ringlet girl pulled her head away.

"That... Junior-kun, I didn't mean to..." Fumbling with her words there, Marika appeared a little panicky as she tried to explain what she did.

Maybe I could tease her more?

With that in mind, while the girl was still trying to find words, I heatedly stared at my wet thumb and slowly pulled it close to my lips.

Upon seeing that, Marika's eyes widened as she hurriedly grabbed my hand, preventing it from reaching its destination.

"Wait. What are you going to do, Junior-kun?"

Instead of answering her, I simply used my strength, overpowering her. With that, my hand continued moving. To make it a little dramatic, I stared straight into Marika's eyes as I moved it as slowly as possible.

As she watched the eventual arrival of my thumb to my lips, Marika started looking grim.

But at the last moment and when she least expected it, I lowered my thumb and pushed my head forward.

Without any avenue of retreat, Marika could only close her eyes as she waited for our lips to touch.

However, I didn't actually go in for a forced kiss. I once again stopped at the last moment before chuckling.

"Sorry for scaring you, senpai. But is tasting it directly a better choice?"

"Junior-kun..." Not having the time to process what happened, Marika could only grumble the way she calls me. Then, as seconds passed and she finally understood what happened, the ringlet's cheeks turned red from annoyance. Her cheeks cutely bloated as she glared at me.

Nonetheless, even while looking angry, she's still as lovable as before.

Due to that, I couldn't help but face her angry expression with an affectionate smile.

And while doing so, I cupped her cheeks and candidly caressed them.

While it wasn't quick, it gradually melted her anger. However, instead of smiling with me, the anger was replaced by a sad frown as Marika unhappily said, "See, you're just teasing me, Junior-kun..."

At first, I thought of apologizing for teasing her. However, an idea popped up in my mind. Steeling myself to ignore the prickling pain in my chest brought about by her sad expression, I harshly answered as my affectionate smile gradually turned into a forced one, "Hmm? Senpai was acting very stubborn earlier. What I did is payback for that. What do you think? Did I do well?"

"Payback... I'm just doing the right thing, Junior-kun." Marika's voice almost broke but she held on. She's still holding onto that stubbornness.

"Yeah. I can understand that. However, senpai, you're just shutting me off. I said I did everything of my own volition yet you won't even hear me out."

"But… I…"

Not waiting for her to finish her fumbling with coming up with her reason, I opened my mouth again, "It's fine, senpai. I won't force you to agree today. Just that... Please remember that we're already in this together. It's unfair to own up to the responsibility alone."

At this point, Marika's lips closed shut as she had no idea how to respond to that. To save her from it, I pulled her back down to my chest and embraced her again while my hands moved to caress both her hair and back.

Hopefully with this, I made a dent in her stubbornness even if it's just a bit. And although I single-handedly destroyed my chance to be able to kiss her again, this was a lot better than that. We could do more of that in the future. On the other hand, I couldn't stand letting her put everything on her shoulder.