Chapter 223: Take me

After her confession, Himeko didn't say for a while and instead of that, she held onto me tightly as if I would vanish if she let go of me.

I didn't expect her confession. Nonetheless, it truly made me happy. I was just wondering how she fell for me. All I've done is to take advantage of her introversion whenever we're alone.

Err… It's not like I'm not hoping for her to fall for me but I thought I still needed to work more for it. And in this case, I didn't have any chance to do that.

Around 10 minutes after that, Himeko broke the silence between us as I heard her whispering while she's still stuck onto my chest.

"It's weird, right? I fell in love with you when I'm still only at the level of like for you."

She also hit what I was being troubled about, eh? It's because she's probably the first who told me directly that she loved me when I was still a bit unconvinced if I deserved that yet.

"It's not weird, Himeko. It will eventually reach that point for me. In fact, I'm really happy with your confession. Look at this, I'm smiling."

Upon hearing that, Himeko raised her head and looked at me. She reached for my face and traced my lips with her thumb.

"Stupid guy, you have this charm that is unique to you. I don't know if you're aware of that or you're still the dense Ruki back when you visited our clubroom."

Unique charm, eh? But she's right, at some parts, I'm still too dense to notice something.

Himeko continued on caressing my lips as her eyes never left my face. I could see her fondness in her eyes and the expression on her face told me that what she told me was not false.

"I am aware and I accept what you truly are that's why I can let myself fall in love with you. But the others… Even if they like you or they already love you, after knowing they won't be the only one, they will be averse to it at first. If that aversion never eased up, it's possible that they will eventually give up. But looking at how many you have now, all of their aversion eased up, and they became open to this kind of relationship with you. Am I correct?"

I see. This girl and Mina have been this sharp back then as well. Because she was more open and possibly not minding sharing me with others, she could see the situation better than the other girls.

"Maybe?"

"Just continue on what you're doing for them, but you also have to exercise restraint. You kept moving from place to place as if you're running out of time. When we accept you, we're prepared to only have you depending on your availability. If you collapse, then everyone will be worried and will suffer a loss."

Restraint again, eh? However, I seem to keep on failing at exercising that kind of restraint. Her observation that I was moving as if I'm running out of time is correct. Most of them are saying that to me, though indirectly. Just like what Shizu-senpai said yesterday.

But how will I restrain myself? Tie my hands and feet together?

"Am I getting lectured?"

"Yes, you are. If I don't lecture you this time, who knows when you will push yourself until your utmost limit again. I still want to hear you say 'I love you' to me in the future. And I'm still hoping to bring you to my father. Introduce you as the man who changed me and the man who I wanted to be with. I can't have you collapsing on me."

"This… I'll keep that in mind and if you see me being stupid again, lecture me. Also, I'll make sure not to collapse on you."

I will expect another set of scolding with my girls. Maybe Haruko will say something when we go out later.

"Haru told me to be honest with my feelings, and this is it. When in front of you or Haru, I will clearly express what's on my mind."

"I see. I love this part of you, Himeko."

"Why not love me as a whole?"

"I told you I will soon reach that. I want to say it to you with my genuine feelings. It wouldn't be fair if I said it just for the sake of saying it."

It's not fair for her and also for the others. But yeah, just by how lovely this girl is, it's just a matter of time. When that time comes, I'll probably get myself more involved with that family problem of theirs. Even if she doesn't want me to involve myself, surely I will be stubborn enough to find a way to help her.

"You're right. This is why I love you."

"I like you, Himeko."

"Un, I know. Kiss me more…"

Himeko whispered before pulling my head towards her. Since she was asking for it, I didn't hesitate and gave it to her.

I immediately covered her red lips with mine. From there, it didn't take long for us to evolve from just a normal kiss to something more passionate. With our lips overlapping each other, our feelings for each other were being poured in it. Although mine was losing from the love she's pouring in, I accepted everything.

And as we continued on that, the bed was eventually used by us.

I picked her up and put her down to it. Following that, Himeko extended her arms and pulled me on top of her. While fully utilizing the softness of this bed, we once again became entangled to each other.

With my weight pressing above her, Himeko gave me full control of our current situation.

From her lips, I went down to her neck, showering it with my kisses while also picking out the spots where it would produce a reaction from her.

As I indulged myself on her spotless white neck, along with the emotion she has towards me, Himeko seductively whispered to me.

"I want you, Ruki…"

Upon hearing that, I went back up to look at her and confirm what I just heard. There's a possibility that she only got taken in by our current situation.

"Are you sure, Himeko? It will be different than what you experienced."

"I know… Even so, this is what I feel right now. Take me and teach me… This room is special for me and Haruko. That's why… I want it to become a special place for us as well."

Himeko replied. Though she's now expressing her thoughts honestly, her inherent shyness is still there.

"A special place…"

For me, this might just be a hidden room that was being used by Haruko and her girls. I only got access in here through Haruko. But for Himeko, this is probably where she built her relationship with Haruko and also this is where we first met each other. It's already special enough just by that. If her first time with me will also be conducted here, then for her, this room will become even more important than her room.

"Do you not want me?"

Since I didn't answer immediately, Himeko probably thought that I was hesitating.

"Of course, I want you. That's what I told you when we first met. I'm just thinking if there will be a more special place than this room. But now that I think of it, this room is the most special for you."

"Y-yes. This room is where I started to change. From being an introvert to how I am right now. It's more than special now that I confessed to you here and also… I want my first time to be done here."

As she recalled the things that happened in this room, I could somehow see the journey that she took. From being a castaway of her family because she couldn't take the pressure to becoming an introvert, this is the room that started to change her. It might've originated from such twisted relationships with us but even so… she managed to crawl back to the surface.

"I heard you and I understood. Let's make this place more special for you."

"Un. Hold me, Ruki."

With a beautiful smile on her lips, Himeko stretched her arms wide, waiting for me to fill the space between it.

At this moment, I already cast off the unnecessary thoughts. Even the thought of being late for going to the club to meet Kana and Rae was temporarily put at the back of my mind. There's only Himeko in my eyes.

As my lips fell upon hers again, another passionate kiss between us ensued. I'm going to answer her love for me. I want her, ever since Haruko introduced her, that's the thought that filled my mind. Now that we're at this point, whether I like her or I love her, I couldn't make the distinction anymore. Maybe after this, I will finally be able to let her hear it from me. I don't know but maybe I'm just trying to make the distinction when it's all the same in the first place.

In any case, this lovely girl in front of me, she's mine now.

"Himeko…"

"I want to say it again. I love you, Ruki."

As the words left her mouth, that became the trigger for everything that was about to happen.