Chapter 362

She chattered away enthusiastically when we first started racewalking with the posture I'd taught her, but after a little while, she showed signs of quieting down. By the twenty-minute mark, her mouth was clamped firmly shut.

Sweat beaded on her face, dampening her previously flawless skin.

Watching this happen in real time, I matched Hiyori's slowing pace and grinned.

"Tired?"

"No...? Why would I be...?"

Yeah, right. She was already panting hard enough to taste copper.

I chuckled at her ridiculous bravado.

"Speed up."

"...Okay."

"Fix your posture."

"L-Like this...?"

"I told you to pull your stomach in."

"Like this...?"

"Yeah, like that. But your form is already falling apart again."

"Oh, come on...! It doesn't matter if it falls apart a little...! I don't have to do it by the book...!"

It was cute seeing her screech and whine at the same time.

"You have to get the basic posture down so it's less exhausting later. That way, you'll be able to do it properly even when you exercise alone."

"I won't do it alone...! I'm done exercising after today...! I'll just go to a gym...!"

"You're just saying that because you're frustrated, right?"

"Nope."

"I wanted to keep exercising with you, though."

"...Huh?"

Hiyori went from venting her annoyance to looking puzzled, and then her attitude instantly turned demure.

Clicking my tongue internally at the shift, I furrowed my brow and spoke in a stern voice.

"Widen your stride a little more."

"Haa... I'm hot..."

Hiyori let out a heavy sigh as she scratched her disheveled hair, widening her stride with a look of absolute agony.

She should have at least brought a hair tie... Leaving it down like that just made her look even hotter.

Well, now that she's experienced it, she'll probably tie it up tight next time.

Did her mind wake up because her body was struggling?

Or was she just excited because we'd finally broken the ice with our conversation?

Even while panting heavily, Hiyori kept chattering away without resting her mouth, just like at the start of our workout.

However, about ten minutes later, she clamped her plump lips shut again and looked even more exhausted than before.

"I-I can't do this..."

No longer caring about her posture, she practically melted, leaning her body against a nearby streetlight.

Throwing whatever dignity she had left to the dogs, she plopped her butt right down on the asphalt.

Shaking my head, I scolded her as she stared up at the sky, trying to catch her breath.

"What are you doing? Get up."

"I'm tired... I want to stop for today..."

"Wouldn't it be a waste to go back after only thirty minutes when you came all the way out here?"

"It's not a waste at all...? Aren't you tired, sunbae-nim?"

"Not really. Just hurry up and get up."

"Can't you see my legs trembling? How am I supposed to get up like this...!"

"I'll help you."

When I offered my hand, Hiyori wiped her own hand on her T-shirt before grabbing mine to pull herself up.

Wasn't there supposed to be some cliché where she stumbles forward from the momentum and falls into my arms?

What a shame.

"Your hands are so big..."

Snapped out of my thoughts by Hiyori's awe, I playfully placed my hand on top of her head.

Then, putting pressure into my fingertips, I firmly massaged her scalp.

At the same time, a long breath leaked from her small nose.

It seemed she found the light massage pleasant.

"Feels good?"

"No...?"

Her eyelids had clearly fluttered just now; yeah, right.

After adequately massaging the head of the blatantly lying girl, I pointed in the direction of my house.

"Let's head back now."

Hiyori's eyes sparkled brightly at those words.

"Workout's over?"

"Why? You want to do more?"

"No...! I don't want to. I want to take a shower right now."

"Did we do thirty minutes? Let's add five more minutes next time."

"Shouldn't we decrease it?"

"Who decreases their workout time?"

"Me."

"Stop talking nonsense and let's go. It's getting dark."

"I'm tiredddd."

"Isn't it better to go take a shower and drink some water instead of dawdling around here?"

"True."

Walking alongside the turtle-slow Hiyori, I headed back home, feeling refreshed by the cool breeze blowing for the first time in a while.

Hiyori seemed very satisfied with my house. As soon as she crossed the wooden porch and stepped through the window into the house, she let out a soft gasp of admiration.

"Your house is so nice..."

Looking around—from the kitchen connected to the living room to the door of the bathroom housing a large bath—she nodded heavily and continued.

"It looked huge from the outside, but it's really cozy inside."

"You think so?"

"Yeah. Is it because of the parking lot and the garden?"

"Could be. Wait a sec."

I went to the refrigerator, took out a cold bottle of water, poured it halfway into a mug, and handed it to Hiyori.

Taking the cup, she gulped the water down greedily.

'She should drink a little slower...' Just as I was thinking that, she flashed a bright, satisfied smile and gestured toward the half-open bathroom door.

"Can I shower in there?"

"Yeah. There's a bath too, so let me know if you want to soak."

"A bath? Not a bathtub?"

"A bath."

"What kind of house has a whole bath...?"

"Some do."

"I mean... I guess... Should I shower first?"

"Go ahead."

"What about you, sunbae-nim?"

"There's a separate small bathroom. I'll just use that one."

"Aha... So we can just do it together, then?"

She hadn't particularly emphasized it, but why did the word 'together' sound so arousing?

Hiyori just gave off that kind of vibe.

"Stop chattering and shower before your sweat dries."

"Got it. But sunbae-nim."

"What now?"

"Could you lend me some shorts? I don't have a change of clothes."

Come to think of it, Hiyori had shown up empty-handed.

I don't know why I hadn't thought of that.

That meant she didn't have any panties either... Did she purposely not bring them?

No, it was true that Hiyori was somewhat open-minded, but she wasn't the type to show off her sex appeal like that.

She probably just forgot her things in her excitement to exercise with me.

Or she came without thinking at all.

On second thought, the latter seemed a lot more likely.

Dumbfounded, I let out a dry chuckle and spoke.

"Alright. A pair with a drawstring work?"

"A T-shirt too, please."

She sure asked for a lot.

It couldn't be helped since she didn't bring anything, but if we lived together, the whole house would definitely be noisy.

"Sunbae-nim."

"What."

"These are too big."

At Hiyori's words as she stepped out of the bathroom, I turned my head from where I was lying on the futon, having finished my shower first.

She was wearing a pair of obviously oversized khaki shorts that looked ready to slide right down if the strings weren't tied properly.

They were originally three-quarter pants designed to fit snugly at the calves, but it was funny how loose they were on her due to the difference in our leg thickness.

And an already oversized black T-shirt that looked even more massive on her...

Seeing her look so hopelessly frumpy, I bit down hard on my lower lip.

If I hadn't, I would have burst out laughing.

"It suits you. You look like a lazy older sister throwing on whatever to run to the Convenience Store."

"Are you teasing me for looking old?"

Surprisingly, she didn't seem too bothered. Our Hiyori really did show a good-natured side like that sometimes.

As I was having those thoughts, Hiyori started whining about her legs hurting, so I got up from the futon.

"Let's go. I'll walk you home."

"I want to rest a little bit first. I'm tired."

"Suit yourself."

Smiling sheepishly at my response, Hiyori immediately walked over and claimed the futon.

She flopped onto her back and sprawled out with her arms and legs spread wide.

It was such a natural action that for a moment I was confused whether this was my house or hers.

Staring down at Hiyori, I let out a baffled laugh and was about to scold her, but I couldn't help but freeze.

I saw her breasts jiggle beneath her T-shirt, spilling slightly to the sides.

I had thought about her bra while she was showering.

I had even considered buying one at the Convenience Store, but it was quite a distance away and I had already taken a shower myself, so I decided against it, figuring there wouldn't be enough time.

Of course, a part of me did want to see Hiyori like this, too.

That was precisely the reason why I prepared such a massively oversized black T-shirt.

Because it was obvious Hiyori would get embarrassed if I gave her a light-colored one.

While these thoughts ran through my head, Hiyori stretched her arms out above her head.

She let out a sluggish yawn in that position. The shorts, caught between the futon and her butt, pulled taut, subtly highlighting the mound of her lower half.

My eyes were in for a treat.

As they say, rather than blatantly showing bare skin... that kind of subtle arousal that stimulates the imagination is way hotter.

Still, even though it must be uncomfortable and bothersome, she didn't ask for Miyuki's underwear.

I guess even she thought wearing Miyuki's underwear would be taking it too far.

"Are we not going?"

Escaping from the temptation, I asked her. Hiyori pulled the carelessly discarded blanket next to her over her body, drawing it right up to her chest.

"I'm just going to lie down for a little bit."

Even though she had only just laid down, her voice was already losing its energy.

Showering in warm water and then getting hit by the strong blast of the air conditioner had naturally made her body lethargic.

"You can't fall asleep."

"...'kay..."

Hiyori's mouth slowly parted as she answered weakly.

Was the drowsiness already hitting her, pulling her into sleep?

Using the pillow and blanket I'd just used without any hesitation... How could a person be so defenseless?

It made me want to pounce on her and wake her right up.

Since Hiyori was sticking around like a bound spirit, I wanted to do something... but seeing her sprawl out and sleep without a care in the world, I thought I'd just let her be for today.

There'd be plenty of opportunities later, after all.

Smacking my lips in slight regret, I quietly got up, went to the kitchen, and drank some water.

Afterward, I sat down on the tatami mat and scrolled through my Cell Phone, only to notice Hiyori's eyelid twitching slightly just over the top of my Cell Phone screen.

'Hm?'

It was as if she had been observing me, and upon realizing I was facing her and we were about to make eye contact, she quickly shut them... That was the feeling I got.

Growing highly suspicious, I waved my open palm back and forth over Hiyori's eyes.

But Hiyori didn't react.

Were her eyes completely closed now?

"Hey."

"..."

No response even when I called her. In that case, I'd have to poke her.

With that in mind, I extended my index finger and gave her waist a light poke.

Poke.

Right away, "Hwaaak!?"

Hiyori bolted upright with a loud shriek, looking like someone who'd just seen a ghost.

"Wh-What are you doing...! Why would you poke my waist...!?"

Because it looked like you were pretending to sleep.

Hearing that crisp voice of hers confirmed I was right.

By the way, considering what happened at the manga cafe last time, and what just happened now...

Was her waist an erogenous zone? If I grazed it lightly, I got the feeling she'd really enjoy it.

"You weren't really sleeping, were you?"

"...I was asleep, though?"

She should at least try wiping that awkward expression off her face before saying that... There's a limit to how shameless someone can be.

Hiyori must have realized how ridiculous her excuse sounded, scratching her cheek in embarrassment.

"I thought you'd nag me if I kept dawdling..."

Letting out a deflated sigh at those words, I placed my hand on Hiyori's still-damp hair.

And just like earlier, I massaged it as I spoke.

"I won't nag you, so you can rest as much as you want. Just don't stay too late. Your parents will worry."

Was she unable to adjust to my sudden gentleness?

Hiyori's already large eyes went even wider as she stared up at me.

"'kay..."

The girl who normally chattered non-stop was suddenly giving a remarkably demure answer.

Thinking a quiet Hiyori wasn't so bad either, I kept running my hands through her hair until it was a complete mess.