Chapter 1478 Mutual Understanding

"Senpai, why do I feel like I'm getting spoiled?" I jokingly said a minute after I got subjected to the temptress's caring embrace. She never let up and instead pampered me in her own caring way.

Expectedly, that earned a reaction from her. Guiding my head up to meet her gaze, I noticed how an amused smile gradually bloomed on her face, "Heh. Is that the case? Should I release you, then? You seem to be enjoying the sensation."

"Senpai, won't it be bad if I don't enjoy this sensation? Also, I doubt you'll find someone who will say otherwise." I cheekily answered which instantly made the girl chuckle.

Really, after our few interactions where I mostly controlled the situation while she appeared to only be strung along, Nakanishi-senpai seemed to have gained the ability to play along with me in her own, wholesome way.

"Can I refuse to admit that does make sense? Ugh. Forget it… So, does this feel like I'm spoiling you? And does this make you happy?"

Yeah… You'd think those questions would only come from an innocent girl who doesn't know any better. But then again, as someone who couldn't form a normal bond of friendship with others, I'd bet my money that this was the first time for her to act like this to a guy.

"Happy? No. I'm ecstatic! Also, to be embraced by you for a prolonged duration. It's undoubtedly spoiling me. And as the shameless guy that I am, I wholeheartedly approve of being spoiled by my favorite senpai."

To give her an idea of how ecstatic I was, a smile and a comical grin were not enough. I also had to momentarily embrace her back and let her feel my raging pulse. Flattered, a streak of red gradually covered her gorgeous face.

However, like most girls who didn't want to show any weakness in front of another person, she maintained her calm without succumbing to the feeling of embarrassment.

"This cheeky brat. Wholeheartedly, you say? Aren't you just enjoying being buried in my chest?"

Alright. That's true. But if she's not backing down, so am I.

"Uh. Your words, senpai. If I'm being honest here, I'm not just enjoying it. I'm treating it as a paradise."

"You numbskull… First time I hugged a guy out of concern and this cheeky brat treated it as his paradise… Onoda-kun, thanks for making my day amusing."

Failing to hold her laughter, Nakanishi-senpai seemingly failed to resist conveying her emotion through simple actions. Before I knew it, I got further locked in her embrace before eventually pushing my head back down to that valley of softness.

With her incredible warmth that's proving itself very comfortable, I found my strength losing out as though my body was telling me to submit myself to her care.

Unconsciously, I also found myself unable to resist hugging her once again. And this time, without retracting my arms back.

Although her body jolted for a moment, Nakanishi-senpai let it pass and only pulled my earlobe lightly as a reaction. In a way, that could be interpreted as the girl giving me permission to hold her.

it's kinda funny that even if I harshly criticized Ogawa, I was still the one getting spoiled like this. On the other hand, the guy was left despairing alone with no one by his side.

In any case, that's the result of his bad choices.

"Senpai, many boys are probably dreaming of being hugged by you. And here I am living their dream. I feel like you won't get my appreciation if I don't describe it as such. Allow me to thank you for giving me this exclusive privilege."

Obviously, the mention of the other boys somewhat put her on a retreat. Despite our closeness, she still couldn't stand the thought of being subjected to their lecherous gazes. She said before that she didn't care or she was unbothered if they fantasized about her. But that's just the surface of what she's truly feeling. Deep inside, she still abhorred that thought.

Not everyone will be flattered by being made into a material of other people's fantasies. Especially this girl who's been suffering from it just because of her alluring and irresistible charm.

However, if I didn't word it like that, this girl would probably find it harder to smoothly transition into a college student next year. If Mutsumi, Juri, Setsuna, and even Anzu were getting noticed by men, there's no doubt that what she's experiencing here in this school would be worse in college.

That's why… even if small or not that impactful, I kind of want to help her ease up with that problem.

"Onoda-kun, don't make it sound like I'm an empress bestowing you the favor of allowing you to glance at my visage." Lowering her head and pressing her lips close to my ears, Nakanishi-senpai whispered. "I appreciate your flattery or honesty, if you're going to argue for that…"

She paused for a moment as though she was gathering momentum. And when she was done, she lifted my head again, just enough for our faces to be mere centimeters from each other.

"Even if you're the most shameless guy I know, I can't help but find your presence comforting. That's why… when I saw you looking like you just drank a bitter pill, a certain thought popped up in my head. To return the favor by comforting you in my own way… And now, we're here."

Did I look like that? I don't know. Maybe I appeared that way from her perspective. In any case, she just answered my unspoken question, huh?

"I see. Now I'm the one flattered by your words, senpai. By the way, won't you seek understanding of what's really the deal with me and that guy in the other room?"

"Hmm? No, I won't. I believe it's up to you whether you want to bring me up to date on what's your deal with that boy. Because of your last visit to the club, I grew an interest in your current circumstances. I sought answers from Enomoto-kun and the rumors that are floating around about you. Trouble seems to keep finding you yet you still have the time to bring me out of that clubroom. I can't say I'm not impressed."

Ah. No wonder she seemed so carefree even with what she heard… She believed she already understood my situation and… I unknowingly impressed her by keeping up with my promises

"I told you. You're my favorite senpai."

"One of your favorites, you mean."

"Uh… Alright. I won't deny that."

"Look at your face, numbskull. Don't be guilty. It doesn't matter to me. Remember, I was also expecting you to be ensnared by my charm."

"Huh? How does that connect to my guilt?"

"It isn't. I'm just saying that you already blew away my expectations of you. When I found out how close you are to other girls, I accepted it as if it's normal."

After explaining like that, a hint of helplessness momentarily showed on her face. Whatever that meant, I had no idea.

Taking a moment to arrange my thoughts in my head, I came up with an understanding of what she was trying to say here.… Basically, my relationship with others doesn't matter to her. She appreciates my presence nonetheless.

Just like this… while this started as the girl trying to comfort me, we found ourselves talking about ourselves or how we viewed each other.

I admitted my interest in her and the reason why I keep coming back. Likewise, Nakanishi-senpai admitted her interest in me and the reason why she found it hard to resist me.

In short, we had our first mutual understanding.