Chapter 407

No matter how much I thought about it, Hiyori was just too sexy.

It wasn't just her body or her outfit; the very aura she exuded was provocative.

Especially the curve extending from her waist down to her hips.

That alone was enough to drive a man crazy.

Her incredibly pale skin was a bonus, making desire surge within me just from looking at her.

I felt the urge to pounce on her right this second. Was there really any need to hold back?

I watched Hiyori walk over to the fridge and grab some water, acting as naturally as if this were her own home, and asked:

"What did you go downtown to buy?"

"Deco supplies."

"Deco? Ah... journal decorations?"

"Yep. A friend wanted to buy some and asked me to tag along."

"So, did you buy everything?"

"We did."

"And you didn't buy anything for yourself?"

"It's not really my hobby, so I didn't feel like buying anything. But the bird's nest on your head suits you. It looks way better than having your bangs down."

Why did Hiyori keep paying so much attention to my hair?

Did she mistakenly think I had kept my bangs down because Miyuki asked me to?

Maybe that was why she was keeping her guard up.

"There you go, saying weird things again."

"When are you going to get a haircut?"

"Not sure. I'm thinking about going today."

"Then do you want to go with me and grab some beef tongue after?"

"It's good, but it's not very filling."

"We can just order other stuff too."

"Should we do that, then?"

"Yeah. But why are you lying down?"

"Let's rest a bit before we go."

"Then I'm going to lie down too."

"Go wash your feet first."

"They don't smell. Want to take a sniff?"

Saying that, Hiyori moved over to the head of my bed.

Her face, visible past the soft swell of her chest, looked incredibly sexy today.

Trying my best to look nonchalant, I glanced up at her and nodded toward the bathroom.

"Cut the nonsense and go wash up. Hurry."

"So annoying."

Hiyori grumbled as she walked into the bathroom.

A moment later, the sound of running water echoed from the shower.

It didn't take long for her to emerge holding a damp towel and ask:

"Where should I put this towel? Laundry basket?"

"Just hang it up."

"Even though I wiped my feet with it?"

That was exactly why I told her to hang it up.

"It doesn't matter."

"Won't it be dirty?"

"You just washed them. It's only wet."

"What's with that carefree logic?"

"Just hang it up like I told you."

"Nope."

After firmly refusing, Hiyori chucked the towel into the basket and stared at me proudly.

Seeing her flaunt her rebellious streak like this, she must have wanted her mouth inspected again.

I let out a dumbfounded chuckle and pointed to the closet, watching Hiyori stick her nose in the air like a triumphant teenager who had just won an argument against her parents.

"Open the second drawer and you'll find some t-shirts and shorts. Pick whatever you want and change."

"Why?"

"You're showing too much skin."

"Oh, come on...! I wore something modest that doesn't even show my belly, so what's wrong with this...!"

"You call that modest?"

"Yes."

"We must live in different worlds. Change your clothes."

"I'm going out exactly like this."

"Listen to me."

"Don't want to."

She was steadily piling up karma. I needed to make her pay the price for fearlessly waltzing into my house dressed like that.

"Then we aren't going out."

"I don't care. Now make some room so I can lie down too."

"Change your clothes, and I'll make room."

"I can just make room myself, you know."

I was hogging the exact center of the mattress, bundled up in the blanket, but Hiyori shoved her body in right next to me.

She rolled onto her side like an armadillo, using her whole body to push against me. But there was no way her delicate frame was going to budge my heavy, boulder-like body.

Still, I figured I should move over, if only to reward her effort.

Plus, there was something I wanted to do.

With that in mind, I slowly shifted over, acting as annoyed and sluggish as possible to make room for her.

"See? I made room. Now give me some blanket."

Time to take her down a peg while she sat there all high and mighty, completely unaware I'd let her win.

There were plenty of ways to do it, but I could think of one perfect method that suited her current outfit.

"Why the blanket?"

"I'm cold."

"You're cold because you're dressed like that."

"It's because of the AC! Hurry up. I'm going to catch a cold."

"You don't catch a cold just from being a little chilly."

"Hand it over."

"How many times have I told you to ask nicely?"

"You're acting weird today."

"What's weird about it? I tell you that all the time."

"I know, but it's just weird today."

She must have picked up on the suspicious atmosphere.

Deciding I needed to make my move before Hiyori could slip off the mattress, I spread the blanket out and tossed it over her.

"Better?"

"Yep. It's warm."

"Change your clothes."

"Ugh, why do you keep nagging me...! I'm barely showing any skin...!"

"You genuinely think you aren't?"

"I really do."

That was exactly the answer I had been waiting for.

Before Hiyori could even react, I closed the distance between us, pressing in close enough that she would undoubtedly feel the proximity.

"Ah...?"

Lying on her side and facing me, Hiyori flinched.

Her body went stiff, and her eyes trembled as if an earthquake had just struck.

It was painfully obvious just how tense she had become.

I didn't break eye contact as I slipped my hand down and placed it directly onto her thigh.

Then, with the practiced casualness of an office worker going about their daily routine, my fingers began to toy with her inner thigh, right up near the juncture of her legs.

"Wh-what are you doing...?"

I didn't answer Hiyori's shocked question. Instead, I silently curled my fingers inward.

I could feel the firm curve of muscle beneath my hand.

It was the adductor muscle of her inner thigh.

A part of her body that was dangerously close to her most private area.

Was she panicking because of the sudden pressure from my warm touch?

Hiyori's entire body went even stiffer than before.

"Still think you aren't showing too much skin?"

Dropping my nonchalant expression for a mischievous grin, I asked the question. In response, Hiyori yanked her knees upward.

By doing that, she ended up trapping my hand between her legs, inadvertently pressing my hand even harder against her thigh.

"Ah...!"

Every time I did something like this, Hiyori let her instincts take over.

Just like right now. If she hadn't instinctively drawn her knees up, the stimulation wouldn't have increased. She had brought this upon herself.

And the result was vividly painted across her face.

She looked completely lost. Her expression made it painfully obvious that she might have seen things like this, but had never experienced them firsthand.

I played with her inner thigh a few more times, squeezing the firm muscle like a bouncy ball as her breathing began to tremble, and asked once more.

"I asked if you still think you aren't showing too much skin."

Hiyori shook her head with a shudder, finally snapping back to her senses, and answered.

"What does this have to do with showing too much skin...?"

"This entire area is blatantly exposed, and you're telling me you aren't showing too much?"

"Being exposed is one thing, but aren't you just feeling me up, sunbae-nim...?"

"Is it too much or not?"

"I-I suppose it is a bit much..."

"If you know that, shouldn't you change?"

"I don't want to, though..."

Usually, when I pulled stunts like this, Hiyori would act reluctant but still end up listening to me.

But today was different. My aggressive approach still made her timid, but she refused to back down.

Why was she acting like this? Did she feel stupid for always backing down and decide to stand her ground the next time I tried something?

Whatever the reason, and whatever reaction she showed, she was as cute as ever. Since she still refused to listen, I leaned in and gently tapped my forehead against hers.

With a soft tap, Hiyori's eyes squeezed shut before fluttering back open.

Hiyori's expressions were always incredibly diverse.

Because of that, her emotions were much easier to read than the other heroines, and right now was no exception.

Embarrassment, excitement, and a hint of fear.

Staring straight into her eyes, which were blatantly displaying all those mixed emotions, I spoke.

"You're going to change, right?"

"No...?"

"At least throw on a cardigan, then."

"But it's hot outside."

"I'll lend you a thin one. Just wear it. That's a fair compromise, right?"

"...I'll let it slide this once."

I wasn't sure if she even realized who was actually letting things slide here.

I kept gently stroking Hiyori's thigh, which had been shivering for a while now.

"But how long are you going to keep touching me there?"

I gave a small shrug at her words.

"I don't know. It feels good, so I kind of want to keep touching it."

"Well, it feels weird to me."

"Straighten your legs, then."

"No."

"Why are there so many things you refuse to do? You're not a kid."

"Your blanket smells weird, sunbae-nim."

Did she catch a whiff of my sweat or something?

Hearing her say it so bluntly made me feel a little embarrassed.

"What does it smell like?"

"It smells like a greedy person."

Ah, so it wasn't a real smell after all.

I would never truly understand our Hiyori...

Would she still be acting this nonchalantly if we were on the verge of actually sleeping together?

Probably not. She'd be swooning like Chinami and snapping defensively like Renka.

I didn't pull my hand away from her thigh until her previously cold skin had grown completely warm.

As soon as I did, Hiyori smoothly sat up and pointed at the closet.

"Can I wear any of those shorts?"

"I thought you didn't want to change."

"Your hands are too wicked, sunbae-nim. I need to protect myself."

Earlier she had fiercely talked back and refused, but now she was willingly going to change?

My constant stroking must have gotten her a little wet down there.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have made up such an uncharacteristically conservative excuse.

"Can I wear these?"

Hiyori asked, pulling a pair of baggy khaki shorts from the closet.

I nodded, and she walked toward the bathroom with slightly awkward, stiff movements.

Seeing her deliberately turn away so I couldn't see her front, and the way she made sure to grab a black plastic bag on her way in, turned my suspicion into certainty.

She had definitely felt it when I touched her.

As I stroked her thigh, she must have felt a slowly mounting pleasure, letting her wild imagination push that arousal even higher.

But had she brought a change of underwear?

How was she planning to swap her panties?

Don't tell me she was planning to stuff her underwear into the bag and just go commando under my shorts?

While I was pondering this, listening to the faint sound of the shower running again, Hiyori stepped out of the bathroom.

Her legs were still slightly damp, and she casually tossed the black plastic bag into the corner of the room.

She clearly thought that if she acted completely natural, I wouldn't suspect a thing.

"What are you staring at?"

Hiyori scolded me, noticing that my gaze was glued to her lower half. I stretched once, stood up, and replied.

"Nothing. I'm going to wash my hair, alright?"

"Okay."

Hiyori subtly averted her eyes and shoved me in the back toward the bathroom, trying to hurry me along.

The bathroom smelled of Hiyori's signature lemon scent.

I felt like there was an erotic tang mixed in with the citrus, but I figured it was just my imagination.

I let out a soft chuckle as I pictured Hiyori's flustered expression outside, and silently flipped up the faucet.

It looked like a lot of fun things were going to happen today... I definitely needed to enjoy it to the fullest.