Chapter 2331: Are you flirting with me?

Chapter 2331: Are you flirting with me?



"Shameless brat, I haven't asked for a massage yet, why are you already there?" Hayashi- sensei asked with raised eyebrows.

She then lifted her chin, her sharp gaze seemingly piercing through me. No matter how much she tried to act upset, I could feel slight amusement flickering behind her composed demeanor.

I just finished my short report regarding everything that happened around me yesterday. With nothing really special happening, Hayashi-sensei also had less to say about it.

"I thought you'd need a massage after dealing with me all the time, sensei. Consider it preemptive care." I cheekily replied, flashing her a grin that had her narrowing her eyes in return.

"Hmph, what an incorrigible brat. At least take up from your father. He's a witty guy who always has a way to explain everything. If he's the one standing there, explaining why he has to massage me, he will say something like, 'It's to keep my sensei in tip-top shape for the upcoming cultural festival' or something like that," Hayashi-sensei replied, though her stern expression was cracking into a smile.

She's fantasizing. This woman... She still hasn't moved on from him, has she? Or maybe, she's just using him again to compare me with. Now that she's becoming more conscious of me after these repeated meetings, she needed something to keep her in check.

"Mhm. I can imagine him saying that, but sensei, I think it's only applicable if you're my mother. Otherwise, it's no good. He cannot be compared to a shameless brat like me."

"You don't have to rub that in my face. Ugh." Hayashi-sensei frowned as she waved a dismissive hand at me.

She leaned back as the tension in her shoulders loosened slightly beneath my touch. Despite her complaint, I already started my usual massage, relieving her.

"Enough about that. Since you won't stop, just do it right. I hate to admit but you have a way of twisting the mood, Onoda-kun. It's both frustrating and oddly... refreshing. But don't get carried away. I'm not praising you!"

Although she said that, Hayashi-sensei's protest was clearly half-hearted. Soon, she closed her eyes, allowing me to continue massaging her shoulder.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Don't worry, sensei. I'm only like this because I respect you."

Her eyebrows twitched again, maybe finding it unbelievable how shameless I was. "Respect, you say? I'll be enlivened if that's really the case. Don't think just because I'm inexperienced, I won't know that you're flirting with me. You're really insatiable."

"Flirting? Sensei, I'm not doing that yet. You'll know I'm flirting if I start to be more... affectionate," I replied with a lowered voice, just enough to tickle her ear. My hands moved from the broadness of her shoulders to her neck, gently working the tension out of her muscles.

Her eyes snapped open, and she shot me a glare that could melt steel. But she didn't stop me.

still didn't push me away,

"Then why aren't you stopping me?" I teased, lowering my voice again as I rested my chin lightly on her shoulder. "Maybe you enjoy this too much to resist?"

She scoffed but she couldn't hide the faintest hint of pink tinging her cheeks. "Enjoy it? You must be delusional. I'm simply too tired to deal with your nonsense right now. I'm just using you for comfort. Give and take, that's how it is."

"Right. Of course," I replied, my tone humoring her. "Whatever helps you sleep at night,

Sensei."

She let out a defeated sigh, leaning further into me as if surrendering to the moment. "You're insufferable, Onoda. If I didn't know better, I'd say you were a professional at this."

"Rather than a professional, I'll say I'm used to this. I've fallen for a lot of girls. If I can't even make you comfortable, shouldn't I consider myself a failure?"

She stiffened slightly at my words, her sharp intellect undoubtedly picking apart my statement for any underlying motives. "You sure know how to twist words to your

advantage."

"Well then, what if I acted more audacious like... kissing you?"

"If you did that, I'll throw you out of this room right away."

"Alright. Forget that. But honestly, sensei..." I said softly as I slotted my head closer to her that our cheeks were now touching. "You do so much for everyone, Sensei. You deserve to feel

appreciated too."

Her lips parted as if to respond, but she hesitated, her expression softening. For a moment, the strict, no-nonsense teacher persona seemed to fade, replaced by a woman who carried a quiet vulnerability beneath her composed exterior.

"You're too smooth for your own good," She finally muttered, turning her face slightly away, though she made no effort to break free from my embrace.

We sat like that for a while, the atmosphere calm and intimate. It was a rare moment where words weren't necessary and the silence felt more comforting rather than awkward.