Chapter 458

"So good."

Hiyori gave her verdict after dipping a piece of pork cutlet into the demi-glace sauce.

I pulled a tissue from the corner of the table and handed it to her.

"Wipe your mouth."

"Why?"

"You've got sauce on it."

"I can just do this."

With that, Hiyori stuck out her tongue and licked the sauce away.

Seeing a former neat freak act like this meant she had definitely grown comfortable around me.

I let it slide, setting the tissue down next to her and staring intently.

"Hey."

"Yeah?"

"Want to meet up again tomorrow?"

"Are you going to make me exercise?"

"I wasn't planning on it, but we can if you want to."

"Then why do you want to meet?"

"Because I like seeing you. Do I need another reason?"

Hiyori's eyes went wide, and she started blinking rapidly.

The gap between her usual confident demeanor and this sudden shyness was incredibly arousing.

What kind of reactions would she show right before we actually did it? The curiosity was driving me crazy.

"What was that?"

She tilted her head to one side. I simply shrugged and jutted my chin toward her plate.

"Then we're meeting tomorrow. Now eat up."

"I never said I was free tomorrow, though?"

"If I want to see you, I see you. What's with all the chatter?"

"Wow... You were super obnoxious just now."

"I know."

"How can someone be so selfish?"

Despite her grumbling, the corners of Hiyori's lips curled upward.

My subtle confession had put her in a good mood.

I let out a soft chuckle and finished my meal in silence.

Afterward, we left the restaurant. I looked up at the sky, noting that the rain had eased up significantly.

"I'm stuffed."

Hiyori followed me out, lifting her T-shirt to rub her belly.

I had to admire her absolute consistency in doing whatever she wanted regardless of who was watching, but I grabbed her arm and forced it down anyway.

"I told you not to show your stomach to other people."

"Ugh, why? No one's paying attention to us anyway."

"That's just what you think."

"Why are you nagging again... So annoying."

Smack!

"Eek!?"

Hiyori stopped grumbling and stiffened her entire body.

She inspected her thigh, which was already turning a bright crimson, and scowled heavily before glaring at my lowering hand.

"Why are you being so violent...!"

"You're the one making me act this way."

"Stop hitting me...!"

"You're just exaggerating. It doesn't even hurt."

"It does hurt, you idiot...!"

Seeing her stamp her feet in frustration only made me want to smack her again.

As a silent apology, I lightly flicked her cowlick. Hiyori continued huffing and jutted her lips in a pout.

"I want to go home."

"All right."

"Are we really going?"

"You said you wanted to go."

"It's a little disappointing, since I wanted to make you waste your money, sunbae-nim."

'Oh, it's not a waste. It's an investment.'

Swallowing those words, I offered a bland smile and shared an umbrella with Hiyori as we headed to the parking lot.

Since the rain forced us to press close together, Hiyori's unique lemon scent wafted strongly toward me.

Was I just imagining that it smelled particularly strong today?

With that thought in mind, I got into the car. As I started the engine, I saw Hiyori taking off her sandals.

"What are you doing?"

"I want to sit comfortably."

"You're dead meat."

"Why? I washed them, so they're clean."

"It's not about being clean, it's about safety... Wait, when did you even wash them?"

"I washed them in the rain."

"Stop saying crazy things and sit properly."

"Okay."

She had looked ready to cross her legs on the seat right then and there, but she listened to me and sat up straight. It just showed how inherently good-natured she was.

I shook my head, watching her silly behavior with affectionate eyes. She smiled brightly and asked a question.

"When are you coming tomorrow? Or should I go to you?"

"No, I'll go to you. Sometime in the afternoon?"

"What time in the afternoon?"

"I think four o'clock would be about right."

"Why four o'clock specifically? Are you meeting Miyuki Hanazawa in the morning?"

"Are you jealous?"

"I'm not jealous, I'm calling you out, sunbae-nim."

"Calling me a womanizer?"

"Yes."

"Thank you."

"That wasn't a compliment."

"I know."

"Are you even listening to me?"

"Of course."

"It doesn't seem like it. You're thinking about dirty things right now, aren't you?"

She must have completely figured out the sleazy vibes I had been giving off at the movie theater and the restaurant.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have brought up my dirty thoughts out of nowhere.

Would I be able to make my move tomorrow?

It felt a little rushed... but since I usually just did whatever I wanted with the other heroines whenever the urge struck, it was hard to gauge the right pacing.

Habits were scary like that. My insight was fading.

"What dirty thoughts? Aren't you the one having them?"

"No, I'm noooot!"

She joked around, swaying her head back and forth to tease me.

Clicking my tongue, I put the car in drive and used one hand to smack Hiyori's thigh one more time.

Smack!

Afterward, I let her squawking complaints go in one ear and out the other as I steeled my resolve.

I had already done everything I wanted to do with Hiyori, short of actually sleeping with her.

Hiyori definitely knew what I was hoping for, too...

If we didn't go all the way now, when would we? I would make my attempt tomorrow.

The next afternoon.

I tidied up the house and headed out to pick Hiyori up at our agreed-upon time.

When she walked out of her house right on time, my eyes widened in surprise.

Instead of her usual casual style, Hiyori was wearing an outfit that made her look quite mature.

A white, short-sleeved dress that resembled a dress shirt, cinched at her slender waist with a brown belt...

It was out of character for Hiyori. It was the sort of outfit Renka might wear... something that would look completely appropriate at a formal occasion.

Seeing her fashion choice today gave me the feeling that she had firmly prepared herself.

Pondering this, I let out a dry laugh when Hiyori opened the passenger door and coyly raised one hand in greeting.

"Was that a greeting?"

"Yes."

"Do it again."

"No."

"Fine... Setting that aside, what's with the outfit today?"

"What about it?"

"It surprisingly suits you."

"Surprisingly? That sounds slightly offensive."

"You're getting cheeky again. Get in."

"Okay."

As Hiyori climbed into the passenger seat, the sight of one of her shoulders slightly damp from the rain looked incredibly suggestive.

It was proof that my mind was completely clouded with lust.

"What excuse did you give your parents to come out today?"

"Same as usual."

"That you're studying?"

"Yes."

She was such a good liar.

Wait, strictly speaking, it wasn't a lie; it was the truth.

It was a different kind of studying than the usual academic sort, but it was still studying.

"Let's go."

"Where are we going today?"

"Who knows. I don't really have a plan. Should we head to the outskirts?"

"Isn't it a bit too late to go there now?"

"So what? We have a car."

"This is setting up that kind of vibe, isn't it? 'It's late and your house is far, so let's rest at my place for a bit...'"

"The distance to my house and your house isn't even that different... You've been watching too many dramas."

"It's not that? Oh well. But this rain really doesn't seem like it wants to stop."

Hiyori spoke as she watched the rain lashing against the car windows.

I took my foot off the brake and agreed.

"Yeah, no kidding."

"Doesn't it kind of drain your energy?"

"Do you mean you lack motivation, or do you mean you literally feel physically drained?"

"Both."

As she spoke, Hiyori kept her gaze fixed on the view outside the window.

It felt like she was making a rather meaningful statement, but it was hard to grasp her exact intentions.

She didn't want to wander around, but she also didn't seem to want to go straight home... Was I understanding this right?

"Then do you just want to rest inside instead of driving around?"

"Where? At your house, sunbae-nim?"

"No."

"A multi-cafe? I do want to lie down and read manga."

"Something like that, but not quite. They do have manga and things to watch, though. They sell food, too."

"Really? Is it like a new type of room cafe? Let's go there, then."

She sounded so naive.

It would be fun to see how that intrigued expression of hers would change.

"All right."

With that, I drove toward the city center.

We didn't go too deep into the city. Our destination was located somewhere between downtown and the outskirts.

A street lined with stylish buildings that were neither too tall nor too short.

As the car turned onto the street, Hiyori's expression shifted into bewilderment.

To be exact, it changed right after she read the signs on the buildings.

"This is that place..."

"What place?"

"A love hotel...! The place where couples do dirty things...!"

"There are plenty of places here that aren't love hotels."

"Really? So we're going somewhere other than those?"

"No. Our destination is definitely one of them."

"Ugh, what the heck...!! How are we supposed to read manga in a place like that...!?"

"They have manga. They have computers, too."

"Wait, what... Really?"

"Yeah."

"Is that so...? But man, you're a really wicked person, aren't you...?"

"How am I a wicked person?"

"Your motives are impure...!"

"Did I say I was going to do anything weird to you? We're just going to rest."

"That's a classic line used by men with obscene thoughts in their heads!"

"I promise we'll just rest."

"That line is exactly the same!"

Hiyori's pitch was a little high, but it only carried a sense of surprise at ending up here so soon; she didn't sound opposed to it.

Judging that it was fine to proceed, I placated a very chatty Hiyori with short answers and pulled into the love hotel's parking lot.

[Please take your key card.]

The emotionless, mechanical voice echoed from the kiosk.

As I grabbed the key that dropped out with a clatter, Hiyori, who had been observing the modern lobby, spoke cautiously.

"You seem so used to this."

"I don't come often, but I do visit occasionally."

"With who?"

"None of your business, kid."

Flick.

I smacked her cowlick just like yesterday, and Hiyori muttered sullenly.

"You really are a bad person..."

"Let's go up."

"We're really just resting, right?"

"I said we are, didn't I?"

"Really?"

"Yeah. If you say you want to leave, we'll leave right away."

Did that answer reassure her?

Without any further complaints, Hiyori quietly followed behind me and got into the elevator.

What I just said was a line I used often with the other heroines, too...

Hiyori probably didn't know that it was a completely insincere line meant entirely to soothe her.

Then again, maybe she did know. She was quick-witted, after all.

Taking Hiyori to the room in silence, I pressed the key card against the door lock.

With a beep, the door swung open, revealing the room inside.

"It's surprisingly... modern...?"

Listening to Hiyori's impression as she looked around the dark-themed living room, I got the feeling she had been expecting some sort of hospital or prison-themed room.

"Not bad, right?"

"Yeah. But what about the manga..."

"It's over there."

When I pointed to the bookshelf next to the sofa, Hiyori nodded while letting out thoughtful hums.

"Manga somehow feels out of place with this interior. But why is it so spacious? There are two doors, too."

"It's because it's a room for four or more people."

"Like a party room?"

"Probably?"

"I see..."

She looked around the room with fascinated eyes.

She must have found it fascinating to finally see a love hotel in person after only ever seeing them online or in the media.

I sat on the sofa and silently watched her. When she awkwardly said she wanted to go check out the bedroom, I told her to go ahead.

Hiyori went into the bedroom but didn't come out even after a long time had passed.

Was she trembling in fear inside? Or was she taking a shower?

Or perhaps she had fallen fast asleep while checking out the plush bed?

Deciding that I needed to check on her, I very carefully opened the bedroom door.

Creak.

As the well-oiled hinges turned, the room bathed in soft orange lighting came into view.

Hiyori wasn't there. However, I could hear her moving around.

The sound was coming from a corner of the room... a particularly dark spot.

From what I assumed was the bathroom, I heard a rustling sound... It seemed Hiyori was doing something inside.

Unable to suppress my curiosity, I tiptoed inside like a thief and peeked toward the spot where the sounds were coming from.

I saw Hiyori staring directly into the mirror, fastening her underwear.

Her expression was full of resolve, and her hands trembled faintly, betraying her nervousness... She looked incredibly fragile and beautiful.

Not to mention, it was extremely passionate and risqué lingerie.

Seeing the design, I realized Hiyori definitely knew what was going to happen today.

I didn't know if she had brought it to change into here, or if she was just double-checking what she had been wearing the whole time... but I figured it didn't matter either way.

Why were the lights turned off?

Was she checking how she would look to me under the dim lighting when we finally did it?

That was probably it... She was doing something so cute.

Tugging at the straps of her bra and panties, lightly patting her cheeks, clenching her fists tightly...

I had been blankly watching Hiyori do all these things, until...

"Huh...?"

I saw Hiyori let out a confused gasp as her gaze shifted slightly.

And shortly after, our eyes met through the mirror.

"Uh...?"

"Sorry."

"Aaaaaagh!!!"

Her timing for screaming was a little delayed.

Which just showed how badly I'd startled her.