Chapter 358

"Hanazawa sunbae-nim, do you ride in Matsuken sunbae-nim's car often?"

"Every day."

"Every day? Morning and evening?"

"Yeah."

"Wow."

Hiyori let out a soulless exclamation and turned to me.

"Matsumatsuken sunbae-nim."

"What is it?"

"Want a piece of candy?"

"Not craving anything sweet."

"Then save it for later. Here."

Hiyori reached forward between the front seats.

Keeping my eyes on the road, I reached back. I flinched inwardly when the keychain dangling from Hiyori's Cell Phone rattled against the case as she handed me the candy.

"Aren't you going to say thank you?"

I placed the candy in the cup holder and answered her demand for gratitude.

"Yeah, thanks."

"Why so bland?"

She was acting extremely chummy, not caring in the least that Miyuki was holding my hand. Did she have a cuckolding fetish like me?

Whatever her deal was, I just hoped she wouldn't say anything weird today.

No major disasters were going to happen, of course, but Hiyori was a loose cannon. Naturally, she put me on edge.

Rolling the refreshing orange-flavored candy in my mouth, I looked at Hiyori through the rearview mirror.

"I'm just focusing on driving."

"I don't think so."

Those were heavily loaded words.

Did she say that on purpose? Given how sly Hiyori could be, it was highly possible, but it could also just be a thoughtless remark.

Still, it seemed Hiyori had toned down her personality quite a bit today.

I could confidently say she wasn't intimidated by Miyuki's presence; it felt more like she was testing the waters.

"What do you mean, you don't think so? Instead of chatting, use this time to study like Mitsushima."

True to my words, Miho was staring intently at the book resting in her lap.

It didn't seem like she was actually studying, though. Instinctively reading the subtle battle of nerves between Miyuki and Hiyori in the car, she was probably just pretending not to notice.

"Ugh, why do you always bring up studying! I can take care of it myself, you know!"

"But you don't."

As a sulky Hiyori leaned back against her seat, Miyuki, who had been listening to our conversation, spoke up.

"What do you want to do today?"

"Weren't we going to play a game?"

"Before that, let's go pick up a few things at the supermarket. I promised to make you a bento."

Her tone felt like a deliberate attempt to confirm to Hiyori just how exceptionally close our relationship was.

Why did I feel like a shrimp caught in a whale fight?

No, I couldn't let myself be intimidated. If I was afraid of a trivial conversation like this, how could I ever build a harem?

"Got it."

"A game? What game?"

Hiyori perked up and jumped back into the conversation.

Looking for a spot to pull over briefly, I replied.

"Animal Crossing."

"Oh, that? Should I give you some items today too?"

"Give me a few if you have spares."

"Okay! But where do you play? Do you take your console to a cafe or something?"

"No. At Home."

"Home? At Matsuken sunbae-nim's house?"

I was about to say yes to Hiyori's curious question, but Miyuki answered for me.

"Yeah. We live together."

"I see. You two are cohabiting?"

Surprisingly, Hiyori didn't seem shocked at all.

Did she have friends who lived with their boyfriends?

Seemingly flustered by her nonchalant reaction, Miyuki fell silent for a moment before shaking her head.

"We're not exactly living together... more like half-living together..."

"That sounds fun."

"F-fun...? No... I wouldn't call it fun..."

She had been slightly overpowered by Hiyori.

Well, Miyuki probably had no resistance against such boldness.

Meanwhile, having arrived at the station, I turned on the hazard lights and pulled over. Hiyori flashed a bright smile.

"Thanks for the ride. See you tomorrow."

"Yeah. Get home safe."

After receiving a polite word of thanks from Miho as well, I watched Hiyori wave until they entered the station, then started the car.

I supposed Hiyori was the victor of the light skirmish that had just taken place.

Anyway, it was a relief that Hiyori was keeping herself in check.

Would she use this against me later? Knowing Hiyori's personality, it seemed likely.

"She's cute."

Miyuki mumbled, looking out the window.

That was definitely a trap, and I'd be glared at if I agreed, but I had to compliment Hiyori here.

If I constantly walked on eggshells around Miyuki, my ultimate goal would remain a distant dream.

So, I felt the need to be a little selfish.

"She has a bright personality."

At that, Miyuki whipped her head around and glared at me. She then peeled the wrapper off the candy in the cup holder and popped it straight into her mouth.

Then she spoke.

"I can eat this, right?"

"You already did."

"I guess I did. I really like Mitsushima."

"Why? Because she seems like a model student?"

"Yeah. She's well-mannered and gentle."

It sounded like a roundabout insult directed at Hiyori. Or was I just imagining things?

"I see her around occasionally, and she's very polite."

"Right? By the way, Matsuda-kun."

"Yeah?"

"Is it true you keep telling Asahina to study?"

"I do tend to tell her that whenever we meet."

"But you hate studying, Matsuda-kun."

"You ask me to study with you all the time, so I guess I'm starting to take after you."

"Is that so? When did you get so close to Asahina?"

"We ran into each other a lot around the Academy."

"I see. And what was that about game items?"

Miyuki's current tone was akin to a police officer conducting an interrogation.

Though she didn't seem to realize it herself.

Feeling a heavy pressure bearing down on my back, I answered.

"We were talking and games came up. Asahina said she plays it too and offered me her spare items. So I accepted."

"Were they helpful?"

"They aren't really useful for the early game, so I'm just holding onto them for now..."

"Must be nice using them all by yourself, huh?"

There were definitely thorns in her words.

I had anticipated a bright future, but reality seemed pitch black.

Still, I shouldn't give up just yet.

Actually, I never intended to give up in the first place.

"What do you mean, using them all by myself? I was planning to give them to you when we played together."

"Was that it?"

"That was it."

"Okay."

I thought she was going to lay into me, but she let it slide surprisingly easily.

Was she acting like this because she already knew about my womanizing tendencies from the threesome with Chinami?

No, rather than that, it felt more like she was backing down for now because she lacked hard evidence.

"Matsuda-kun."

When I stepped out of the shower, Miyuki was occupying the middle of the futon, calling out to me.

After vigorously drying my hair with a towel and tossing it into the laundry basket, I sat down, pressing my hips against her waist.

"What is it?"

"What is this?"

"What is what?"

"Someone named Fart Toot-Toot left a message in the guestbook at your Home, Matsuda-kun."

Fart Toot-Toot was definitely Hiyori's character nickname.

When did she even leave a message in the guestbook?

Did she write it while I was organizing the items I received?

Tilting my head, I took the console Miyuki offered me and blinked at the message that read, [Bleh♡].

Depending on how you interpreted it, it could be a deeply meaningful message, or a completely frivolous one.

"You're right. That's Asahina's character name."

"Her name is Fart Toot-Toot?"

"Yeah. She probably just threw it together."

"What's with the heart? Why would she leave something like this?"

"Who knows? Didn't she just add it as a lighthearted joke?"

"Is that so?"

"Considering Asahina's personality, I think that's what it is."

"I don't like this."

Finally revealing her honest feelings, Miyuki shifted her position.

Lying flat on her stomach on the futon, she opened my guestbook and began fervently drawing something on the touchpad.

Pressing myself close beside her to watch the screen, I saw a cute picture taking shape.

It was SD versions of me and Miyuki, just like the ones she had drawn at the ramen shop late at night during our early days.

After carefully drawing the characters holding hands and smiling brightly, she looked up at me.

Her eyes carried a silent question: How is it?

Catching her drift, I gave a beaming smile and replied.

"You drew it really well. Brings back memories."

At that, Miyuki silently posted the message in the guestbook and slowly wriggled her way over like an earthworm to shift her position.

She looked as if she were pouting.

Letting out a soft chuckle despite myself, I gently wrapped my arms around Miyuki's waist and pulled a thin blanket over us.

Then, softly untangling Miyuki's long, still-damp hair, I spoke.

"Aren't you making the bento?"

"I can't be bothered."

"Even after carefully picking out all the ingredients?"

"I suddenly lost the desire to move."

"Then I'll make it. Just let me know the recipe."

Miyuki didn't answer; instead, she bit my chest.

Unlike her usual light nibbles that left no marks and were meant purely as displays of affection, there was actual force behind her teeth right now.

It seemed she was acting this way because she was a bit dissatisfied with how I had handled Hiyori earlier.

Feeling a slight stinging pain, my body flinched when Miyuki's hand suddenly slipped into my shorts and began fondling me.

Her touch glided softly over my underwear.

As I tried to subtly pull my hips back from the erotic sensation, Miyuki slowly lifted her head and spoke.

"Should we play a game?"

She was provoking me.

Blatantly providing pleasure like this, what did she mean by playing a game?

I substituted my answer by pulling Miyuki's head into a tight embrace, and she gently trailed her fingernails across the lower edge of my underwear, as if skimming the skin.

A ticklish sensation spread throughout my entire body, causing my arousal to violently explode.

I thought I'd be fine today since we had enjoyed ourselves thoroughly yesterday, but I guess I was wrong.

My pelvis trembling with every movement of Miyuki's fingers, I—

Slide.

—laid Miyuki, who was holding my waist, flat on her back and climbed on top of her.

Then, I pulled the shoulder straps of her thin camisole down to the sides.

Today, unlike yesterday, I decided I should be a little more aggressive.

Miyuki seemed to want me to do that as well.

Though she didn't say it out loud, I could feel it in her eyes... a silent plea to love her far more passionately than ever before.