Chapter 448

I'd slept my usual number of hours, but waking up in the middle of the night, idling around until dawn, and then going back to sleep left me exhausted when I finally opened my eyes.

The human body was a strange thing, I thought, staring at the closed window.

The rain was still falling.

The news said the monsoon season hadn't arrived yet, but looking outside, it was a torrential downpour.

The weather forecast wasn't always right anyway; I might as well assume the rainy season had begun.

I suppose this meant my luck was finally taking a turn for the better.

Spending the morning healing with the cheerful Chinami would be perfect.

With that thought in mind, I called her right away.

"Hello?"

Unlike the other heroines, Chinami's greetings were always simple.

But after talking to her for a bit, it didn't take long to realize just how peculiar she was.

It made me want to pinch and stretch her chubby cheeks.

I suppressed the sudden urge and spoke.

"Good morning, Master."

"Good morning to you too, Junior. Have you eaten?"

"Not yet. How about you, Master?"

"I haven't either."

"Really? Then do you want to wait? We can eat together."

"Oh, should we?"

"Yeah. I'll wash up and head over, so hold on a bit."

"I can just come over to your neighborhood."

"It's raining. Just wait there."

"I feel bad..."

"Don't say that. I'll be there soon."

"Okay. I'll get ready then."

"Yeah."

Hanging up, I immediately washed up and got into my car without even drying my hair.

I sent her a message right before reaching her apartment complex, and just as my car pulled up to the entrance, I saw her walking out right on time.

She was wearing a short-sleeved blouse and a sky-blue skirt. Holding an umbrella in one hand and tightly gripping the strap of a handbag adorned with a small Momo-sama face in the other, she stared in my direction, looking so cute I could die.

Still, Chinami really did love her blouses.

I'd have to ask her why later.

Clack.

"Hello, Junior."

She opened the passenger door and bowed, her sandals catching my eye.

Her dainty little toes were incredibly pretty.

"We already said hello on the phone, and you're doing it again?"

"We're meeting face-to-face now, so of course I should."

"Fair enough. Hello, Master."

"Hehe. You are very kind, Junior. Where should I put this umbrella? Do you happen to have a plastic umbrella bag?"

"Give it here."

I took the wet umbrella from Chinami after she climbed in and placed it under the backseat.

Chinami's eyes went wide.

"Isn't it bad if the seats get wet?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Aha..."

"Shall we go?"

"Ah, you must have already chosen a menu. Understood."

Such innocent words. Typical Chinami.

Glancing sideways at her as she smoothed out her skirt, I took my foot off the brake.

The car pierced through the rain, crossed the city, and headed toward my neighborhood.

Chinami, who had been chatting idly with me, tilted her head in confusion as the car pulled into a quiet residential area.

"Hmm...?"

Letting out a puzzled sound, she turned her gaze toward me.

"Junior, aren't we going to get food?"

"We are."

"Isn't this the residential area where your house is? Are there any restaurants nearby?"

"There are, but we're not going to one. We're going to my house."

"Why is that? Did you leave something behind?"

"No. We're eating there."

"Ah."

"Why? Do you hate the idea?"

"N-no... Of course not... I was just a little surprised."

"After eating, we can finish the drama we were watching last time, too."

"S-sure..."

Chinami lowered her head slightly.

She looked as if she had just remembered how she was held tight in my arms back then.

Chuckling at her adorable reaction, I drove the rest of the way to my house in silence.

I watched as Chinami hesitated in front of the gate, fidgeting with the hem of her clothes.

"Shall we?"

"Ah, yes."

We sat facing each other and ate a meal accompanied by Midori's side dishes, then cleaned up and sat side by side on the tatami mats.

"I should offer you a cushion, but I'm sorry to say I don't have one."

It was a remark directed at Chinami, who was kneeling on the floor because of her skirt.

She shook her head with a bright smile.

"I'm perfectly fine. We'll be heading out soon anyway, won't we?"

"No?"

"Oh, we aren't?"

"It's raining. There's no real need to go out, is there?"

"I was thinking we could go to an indoor board game cafe together... Renka mentioned she was bored today too, so..."

"Did you guys make plans?"

"Well, no, but..."

"Then we can go to the board game cafe later."

"Still... I thought it would be fun if we all played together..."

"I'm sure it would be, but not today. Let's finish watching that drama from last time."

"S-should we?"

I could see Chinami's pink eyes darting back and forth.

She seemed to be recalling how we watched the drama while she was tucked in my arms.

"Do you want to brush your teeth first? If you look in the bathroom, there's a toothbrush..."

"It's fine. I brought my own."

"You're thoroughly prepared."

"I figured I'd be spending quite a long time with you, Junior, so I prepared in advance."

"Is that really the only reason?"

"Excuse me? Would there be another reason?"

I had been trying to make her imagine a kiss, but it seemed I had beaten around the bush too much, forgetting her innocent disposition.

Feeling a little awkward for no reason, I replied.

"No, well... there isn't."

"I'll excuse myself for a moment, then. Which bathroom should I use?"

"The big one."

"Understood. May I borrow a towel?"

I really liked how Chinami politely asked for permission before using things.

"Of course."

"Thank you. I'll be right back."

"Yeah."

Watching Chinami enter the bathroom, I quickly stood up, grabbed my toothbrush, applied toothpaste in the smaller bathroom, and returned with it in my mouth to lay out the mattress and blankets.

After brushing my teeth, I waited until Chinami stepped out, demurely dabbing her mouth with the towel like a napkin.

"...U-um, where should I put the used towel...?"

She flinched as she saw the fully laid-out bedding and me sitting on top of it with my legs spread wide. In response to her question, I silently pointed to the laundry basket.

Carefully placing the towel in the basket, Chinami stammered.

"Um..."

"Come here."

"T-then, excuse me..."

Wearing a resolute expression like a general marching to their death on the battlefield, Chinami awkwardly shuffled closer.

Finding the wiggle of her toes incredibly charming as she walked, I immediately wrapped my arms around her waist as soon as she gingerly sat down between my legs.

"Mmph...!"

Letting out her trademark squeak, she leaned her back right into my chest.

Pulling the blanket up to her waist, I operated the remote and lowered my voice.

"Master."

"Yes...?"

"Don't be too disappointed. We can have fun with the President later."

"I-I will... But..."

"But?"

"Your hand... feels like it keeps slipping lower..."

The great thing about Chinami wearing a skirt was that I could slip my hand inside without even having to take it off.

Slide.

My hand trailed from her waist down to her hips, and from her hips along her thigh, lifting her skirt upward.

At this, a distinct gulp came from Chinami, who was staring at the TV as the drama's opening sequence began.

I traced her soft, tense thighs with my fingertips, watching her reaction.

Then, right when her whole body began to tremble, I moved my hand to the center... right to where her underwear was.

"Mmph-ah...!"

Did the pressure of my middle finger pressing firmly against her lower abdomen through her panties send a thrilling sensation shooting through her?

Sucking in a sharp breath, Chinami curled her body and clamped her legs tight.

I could feel her squirming right against my chest.

Finding the sensation incredibly arousing, I began to gently massage her lower half as she let out a long, shuddering breath through her nose.

Rub, rub.

Through the fabric, I could feel Chinami's underwear growing warmer and increasingly damp.

Perhaps it was because it had been a while since she received this kind of physical touch, but she was getting aroused incredibly quickly despite the lack of foreplay.

I had only intended to give her a little taste to see her reaction, but at this rate, it felt like I could just go all the way.

"J-Junior... wait..."

It was Chinami calling out to me, though she made no attempt to stop my fingers from gently pressing into her nether regions.

I paused my teasing middle finger and answered.

"Why?"

"The bathroom... I really need to go... just a second..."

"You can do it here."

"Something so indecent... N-no, I can't..."

"I really don't mind."

"I can't possibly do that...! Please, let go of me...!"

"I'll let you go in a little bit."

"N-now see here...! Junior...!"

It was cute how she suddenly tried to act stern.

Judging by her tone and the way she stared up at me desperately with a face so red it looked ready to burst, she really did seem to be in a hurry...

It probably wasn't a normal physiological need. Most likely, receiving such heavy stimulation after so long had left her aching down there.

Bzzzt—!

Right in the middle of my candid tug-of-war with Chinami, my Cell Phone vibrated on the tatami mat.

I threw a sideways glance and saw Renka's name flashing on the caller ID.

Just like back at the Academy, she never failed to interrupt at the worst possible timing.

She was going to need a punishment.

"Go ahead."

The moment I released Chinami, whose whole body had started shivering, she quickly scrambled to her feet and smoothed down her skirt.

"I-I'll be right back..."

Leaving those words behind, she scurried off and disappeared into the bathroom.

She had been so hyper-focused on my hands that she hadn't even noticed the phone ringing...

If she had noticed, the situation could have been even more amusing.

Click!

Hearing the bathroom door shut, I smacked my lips in disappointment and pressed the call button.

"Hello."

"Hey. What are you doing right now?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're meeting up with Chinami, aren't you...!"

"Yeah. How did you know?"

"What do you mean, how?! Because I talked to her right before she met up with you...!"

"Is that so?"

"Why are you only meeting with Chinami...! Just what exactly are you planning to do...!"

Her phrasing felt a little off.

What Renka had originally intended to ask was probably what a shady bastard like me was planning to do with Chinami.

To convey that, she should have said "Why are you meeting with Chinami," rather than "Why are you only meeting Chinami."

But Renka had unconsciously blurted out her true feelings.

She was upset because I hadn't asked her to meet up too.

"I haven't done anything."

"Don't lie to me...!"

What was more, Renka didn't even realize she had unintentionally revealed her inner thoughts.

I found that side of her so incredibly adorable and hilarious that I couldn't hold back and let out a rather loud laugh.

"What the...! Hey! You think this is funny...!?"

Hearing my laughter, Renka raised her voice.

It seemed she thought I was mocking her.

My urge to laugh was only growing stronger, but I needed to suppress it.

"No. My apologies."

"Then you shouldn't do things you need to apologize for...!"

"What should I do, then? Should I just die?"

"W-what... why would you suddenly say that..."

"That's what you always tell me to do, President."

"Are you being sarcastic with me right now...!?"

"No, I'm not."

"Then if I tell you to die, will you die?"

"Try saying it."

"I'm not getting swept up in the schemes of Trash like you."

Every single word she said sounded straight out of a comic book.

That last line felt like the battle cry of a grown-up shonen protagonist steeling their resolve before a duel with their rival.

Whoosh—!

The sound of the toilet flushing and the tap running came from inside the bathroom.

Hearing the noise, I spoke to Renka.

"If that's how you feel, I suppose there's nothing I can do. Understood. I'm busy, so I'll hang up now."

"B-busy...? What exactly are you so busy doing?"

"Persuading."

"Persuading who?"

"I'm going to do what you mentioned yesterday, President."

"W-wait, how can you do that already...! Chinami probably hasn't even mentally prepared herself yet..."

"She's probably doing better than you, President. Anyway, I'm hanging up. We'll talk later."

Beep.

Sending my notice and unilaterally ending the call, I calmly spoke, looking at Chinami's flushed face as she stepped out of the bathroom.

"Sit down."

"Um... How about we watch the drama first...?"

We can do it while we watch. Though I don't know if you'll actually be able to focus on it.

Nodding at Chinami's suggestion while simultaneously shrugging in a vague response, I pulled back the blanket so she could sit down comfortably.