Chapter 457

The heavy rain that began yesterday morning poured on into the next day.

I had brought the plants in from the flowerbed right after getting back from Miyuki's house, but if this rain kept up, they wouldn't even get to photosynthesize.

Should I give them some plant nutrients?

No. I remembered being told I wouldn't need to feed them for a while since I'd already added fertilizer pellets...

I should call and ask later.

Dressed in a ratty t-shirt and shorts, I stepped outside and watched the relentless downpour.

It was really coming down. I could clearly hear the rush of water pouring into the drains.

Normally, rain like this would mix with dirt and turn into a muddy mess, but the runoff streaming across the ground right now was incredibly clear.

It was a really nice neighborhood. Quiet, clean...

I wondered if I really needed to move.

After admiring the rain for a bit, I stepped back inside the Main Gate and casually sat down on the damp engawa.

Listening to the rain drum against the eaves, I gave Hiyori a call.

"Hellooo."

The phone had rung five or six times before she finally picked up.

Hearing her usual energetic voice put me in a better mood.

"What were you doing that you couldn't pick up? Are you out?"

"I was taking a shower."

"Are you still in the shower now?"

"I'm done."

"Surprised you didn't go out for once."

"How could I go out when it's raining this hard? Do you think I just wander around all the time?"

"You are that kind of person. But why the attitude?"

"Because you're prejudiced, sunbae-nim."

"What prejudice?"

"You just assumed I'd naturally be outside."

"You said it yourself. You told me you'd go out every single day during vacation."

"Did I?"

It was cute how quickly her prickly tone shifted to sheepishness.

"You did."

"Well, then... I'll let it slide."

"There you go acting cheeky again. The vibe today is pretty nice, isn't it?"

"Not really."

"Isn't it nice and quiet? Watching the rain is nice, too."

"I closed my curtains, so I wouldn't know."

"You're... hah... never mind."

"What's with that tone? Sounds like you've given up."

Who said I gave up? I was just planning to give her a good scolding when we met.

"So you don't have any plans today?"

"Nope."

"You said you finished showering, right? I'm heading over now, so get ready."

"Right now?"

"Yeah."

"Where are we going?"

"Let's watch a movie and grab some food."

"Sure, okay. But my allowance got cut off, so you have to pay, sunbae-nim."

"What did you do to get your allowance cut off?"

"They told me to stop going out and study."

That made sense.

They had gone through the trouble of attending admission seminars to send her to a prestigious Academy, only for their daughter to goof off all the time and pad the bottom of the grading curve for the other students. It would be a lie to say they weren't furious.

What were Hiyori's test scores again... Second to last?

I didn't even need to see it to imagine the look on her parents' faces when they checked that report card.

"Did they ban you from going out?"

"I fought tooth and nail against that."

"And your parents accepted that?"

"Yeah."

"Your parents are too lenient. If it were me, I would've locked you in your room and starved you."

"Is that really something the guy who just asked me out should say?"

"Why shouldn't I?"

"Are you on my side, sunbae-nim, or my parents' side?"

"I'm definitely not on yours."

"That's mean. I'm not going."

"Then should we meet next time?"

"Ugh, just hurry up and get here...!"

"Why are you getting annoyed?"

"Because you're being annoying...!"

"Such a nasty temper."

"What was that?"

"I'll wash up and text you when I leave."

I hung up and headed straight for the bathroom.

I thought I heard Hiyori say something right before I ended the call... but I wasn't particularly curious.

She was probably just whining out of frustration anyway. As someone with such great tolerance, I'd just let it slide.

Had my lust taken over my brain and made me too impatient?

That was the thought that crossed my mind as I looked at the water pooling on the poorly drained city streets and the cars crawling along at a snail's pace.

At this rate, it looked like it would flood in a little while.

I had planned to go all the way with Hiyori today, and while the mood was certainly right for it, on second thought, I was being too greedy.

Hiyori needed time to mentally prepare herself anyway.

So today, I'd just give her a little teaser and try again tomorrow.

With that in mind, I eventually made it to Hiyori's house. Staring at the windshield wipers swiping frantically back and forth, I sent her a message to come out.

Not long after, the Main Gate opened and Hiyori stepped out under a large umbrella.

She pulled open the passenger door of my car, her face full of worry.

"You actually made it? You didn't get into an accident, did you?"

"I drove slowly, so it was fine."

"Are you sure you can drive in this?"

"I can. As long as you keep quiet."

"Can I sing?"

"Do you want us to die together?"

"That doesn't sound too bad, either."

She was saying some scary things.

A chill ran down my spine.

"Just get in already. Your clothes are going to get soaked."

"Are you sure you aren't just worried about rainwater splashing inside the car?"

"Are you going to keep acting like a brat?"

"Sorry."

The moment Hiyori offered a coy apology and climbed into the passenger seat, I reached out to grab the back of her neck and press her down.

But Hiyori just pressed her neck flat against the seat and headrest, flashing a meaningful smile.

"You can't do it, can you?"

It seemed she had anticipated my move.

What a wicked little fox, I thought, letting out a dry chuckle.

"Did your parents say anything when you left?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Because I told them I was meeting a smart sunbae-nim to study."

"Stop lying. Your parents know full well whether you're telling the truth or not; they're just letting it slide."

"No, they aren't. And stop nagging me."

"Got it. I'm taking off."

"Can you even see the road properly?"

"I told you I can. Now zip it."

"Because you need to concentrate?"

"Yeah."

"Can't you multitask?"

"No."

"Practice."

"Do you want me to die practicing? And didn't I tell you to shut up?"

"Why should I shut a mouth meant for speaking? By the way, your car smells like a woman, sunbae-nim."

Wasn't that exactly what Renka had said, too?

Did all girls have a super sense of smell? It had been over a day since I gave a woman a ride, yet she could still smell it... It was absurd.

"Isn't that just your smell?"

"Nope."

"Whatever, then. Now seriously, keep quiet."

"Okayy."

"Stop using informal speech."

"Yeah."

Right now, Hiyori had absolutely no idea that my seal had been broken.

That was probably why she was acting so cheeky.

Today... no, tomorrow, I would thoroughly enjoy watching exactly how that expression on her face changed.

By the time we struggled our way to the movie theater, the heavy rain had let up.

It was a relief, but also a little disappointing.

It needed to be pouring like earlier to create the mood I wanted... I wondered if God had decided there'd be no action today and dialed back the rain.

But if He was going to do that, He could've at least weakened it when I arrived at Hiyori's house, or better yet, before I even left.

Was He protesting because my shrine offering was a bit lacking?

If so, He sure was a petty deity.

"It's a relief, though. It might even stop completely by the time the movie ends."

Hiyori said from the seat next to me, hugging a massive bucket of Popcorn.

I gave a nod to the girl happily munching away with an innocent look on her face and replied.

"Yeah. Is it good?"

"Yeah."

"Let me have some."

"Take some."

She turned her upper body toward me and held out the Popcorn bucket.

So she wasn't going to rest it on her cleavage like last time.

I felt a tinge of disappointment.

I grabbed a piece of Popcorn and tossed it into my mouth, the savory aroma instantly filling my senses.

I thought it would get soggy quickly because of the humidity, but it was still crispy and delicious.

Turning my attention back to the screen playing commercials, I popped another piece into my mouth and called out to Hiyori.

"Hey."

"What is it?"

"After we watch the movie and eat, do you want to come over to my place?"

"Huh...? Suddenly?"

"Let's exercise."

"Exercise? Indoors?"

"Yeah."

Even words spoken casually all the time could change the atmosphere completely depending on their nuance.

As if reading that shifted vibe through my deepened voice, Hiyori asked in a slightly intimidated tone.

"Won't Miyuki Hanazawa say something?"

"She won't."

"Really? What should I do...?"

Trailing off, Hiyori hooked a finger into the collar of her t-shirt and gently pulled it forward.

Then she ducked her head slightly to peer inside before voicing her refusal.

"No. I'll just go home today. Exercising is hard."

I had fully expected that kind of answer.

But what was that she just did?

My eyes were on the screen so I couldn't see clearly, but it felt like she was checking her underwear...

Had she realized what would happen if she came to my house today and checked the design of the lingerie she was wearing?

Was she in a tight spot because she hadn't worn her special occasion set?

Given that it was Hiyori, it was entirely possible...

"Then do you want to do it tomorrow?"

"Hmm... I'll think about it."

Judging by her tone, it didn't seem like she thought anything major was going to happen.

Or maybe she had caught on and was just putting on the acting performance of a lifetime to feign nonchalance.

You'd think you understood her, but you never really could. That was the kind of person Hiyori was.

"But does it absolutely have to be tomorrow?"

For some reason, Hiyori's question sounded oddly loaded.

Grabbing a handful of Popcorn from the bucket she was holding, I replied.

"Tomorrow is fine, and the day after is fine too. Today would be even better."

"Why would today be better?"

"It's only right to exercise after eating greasy food."

"We haven't even eaten yet. Are you planning on having something greasy?"

"Everything they sell is pretty much the same."

"You're being weird today."

"Who? Me?"

"Yeah. You're being kinda creepy."

One thing was for sure: whether Hiyori had caught on to my intentions or not, she knew the atmosphere around me was thick right now.

Which was a good thing for me.

I'd just drop a few hints here and there to help Hiyori brace herself.