Chapter 2898: Fulfilling a promise
Chapter 2898: Fulfilling a promise
After sending the girls to our usual lunch break spot, I went back to the Administration Building to visit Shio, Ryouko-san and Orimura-sensei before picking up Hana.
As expected, Hayashi-sensei wasn’t in the infirmary anymore. At this time, she would be in her office upstairs. As for Hana, the girl was already awake and was just lazily waiting for me to come and pick her up.
Seeing her with rosy cheeks and a bright complexion, she had truly gotten sufficient rest.
When I asked her if it still stings. The girl pouted at me before scolding me for being tactless. She then used that point to have me carry her again.
And with that, I carried her, on my back this time, to join the other girls for lunch.
But as always, when we showed up like that, it was the other girls’ turn to criticize me for giving Hana special treatment. What can I say? It truly feels like that. No amount of excuses can erase that. That’s why the only solution to get out of that situation is, as always, to pamper them.
I started with the girl who complained first, Nami, pulling her to my lap. Since she’s the one who had developed a rivalry with Hana ever since the girl transferred in, she naturally wouldn’t let the girl get ahead of her.
Of course, regardless of my treatment of the other girls, even though I wouldn’t confidently say that she wasn’t jealous, part of it was just her own way to get me to pay attention to her.
And that worked perfectly. The moment Nami settled on my lap, she immediately calmed down and happily clung to me. She even looked around us as though telling the other girls that it was her turn. They could only wait until I fully satisfied her.
Perhaps if not for them being on really good terms with each other and knowing that I wouldn’t truly forget about them, they’d still try to compete for my attention.
But with Nami taking the ’throne’, they all stepped back and returned to their seats. Still, they threw us some jealous glances, though. Their own way to appeal to me.
In response, I would playfully send a flying kiss to anyone I caught looking.
Ah. Right. Not everyone was like that. There was Rumi who grumbled at her seat, calling me shameless. There was also Mina who furiously handed me a whole jug of her tea, telling me to drink it all.
As shameless as I was, I also positively took that as their way of showing affection.
Anyway, I fulfilled all of Nami’s requests as we ate our lunch. The girl really liked the feeling of the other girls enviously staring at her whenever I fed her a piece of tamagoyaki or wiped a stray grain of rice from her lip. It was a small, domestic battle for dominance that happened every single day, and while it was a little chaotic, it would always result in my girls becoming more affectionate to me. It’s always a win in my book.
After Nami got her fill, the girl voluntarily climbed off my lap, though she left a lingering, possessive kiss on my lips, saying it was her dessert.
And with that, I used the remaining time going around the table, appeasing the jealousy of my girls.
When it was nearing the end of lunch break, I stayed behind. They didn’t ask why, after all, they already knew my plans after lunch today. And no, it’s not that shopping trip with Suzuki Yumika. It was the special swimming class I promised to Yuika-senpai.
I told her we’d skip a class for it today. And when I went to Orimura-sensei earlier, I asked her for permission to use the pool.
Despite knowing about that swimming class, the woman still acted oblivious. I caught her act right away, of course. She just wanted me to pamper her without her asking for it. Really, in the future, I’d definitely get her to be more honest with me.
Let’s see. I’ll set that to when I finally set foot into her house. She had already stayed over at our house recently. It wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t return the favor, right?
Clearing my thoughts for a moment, I turned around and approached Yuika and Minori-senpai.
They remained seated, watching me send off everyone one by one.
Yuika-senpai had a small smile on her lips. She was clearly amused at how I expertly handled the girls. Her affection for me had already grown to the extent that, despite her usual shy demeanor, simply watching me was already a delight to her.
Minori-senpai, on the other hand, kept her passive expression. She had long become indifferent to the sight of me surrounded by girls. In her own words, why bother caring about something she couldn’t change?
Although she once mentioned being worried about getting corrupted as well if she continued associating with me, that didn’t stop her growing interest in me. Naturally, she’d only show that if we got another chance to be alone.
This time, however, Yuika-senpai might act as a bridge for us to close that distance.
"Ready for our lesson, senpai?" I put on my brightest smile, reaching for Yuika-senpai’s hand and squeezing it lightly.
Yuika-senpai nodded as her cheeks flushed a soft, petal-pink. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze drifting toward the empty hallway before settling back on me with a shy, shimmering warmth. "Un. I’ll be in your care again, Ruki."
On the side, Minori-senpai rolled her eyes at our display of affection. But when we turned to her, she faked a cough before saying, "Ugh... I’m starting to think it’s a bad idea to join you this time."
"Is it? Don’t you want to watch over Yuika-senpai?" I playfully countered, glancing at Minori-senpai’s stoic expression. I knew that mask of indifference was just a thin veil for her curiosity.
Minori-senpai sighed, looking like she had already given up, "Indeed. But I underestimated you, Onoda-kun. Look at her, she’s completely corrupted by you. What use is my watching over for?"
"Hey! What do you mean corrupted, Minori? I... It’s not like that."
"Sure, sure. It’s not corruption but infatuation. You’ve fallen completely for him, haven’t you?" Minori-senpai continued, her voice monotone but her eyes gleaming with a mischievous edge.
Yuika-senpai’s face deepened into a luscious crimson, her hands fluttering nervously. "M-Minori! Stop saying such embarrassing things! It’s just... Ruki is very dependable, that’s all!"
I chuckled, sliding my arm around Yuika-senpai’s waist to pull her closer. The warmth of her body through the thin fabric of her uniform was already inviting, and the way she leaned into me, almost instinctively, told me she didn’t mind the ’corruption’ one bit. "Senpai, am I only dependable to you?"
"Y-you! Now, you’re teasing me, Ruki. Hmph." Pouting slightly, Yuika-senpai crossed her arms, but the effect was ruined by the way she leaned her head against my shoulder. Her voice shifted, becoming airy and melodic, almost like a spoiled princess demanding attention. "A-and for your information, you are extremely dependable. So much so that I... trust you completely."
Minori-senpai let out a dry huff, acting like she wanted to swat away the growing flowery atmosphere, but she didn’t move an inch to leave. "Alright, enough with the sweetness. I’m actually starting to feel like a third wheel here. Let’s just get to the pool."
"You know you’re not a third wheel, Minori! Ruki is also here for you." Yuika-senpai hurriedly refuted. She then glanced up at me with her bright eyes sparkling.
"I know. He’s so shameless he won’t let me off even if I want to." Minori-senpai gave me a side eye and smirked.
"Huh? Senpai, now that’s slander. You know how much I respect you." I clutched my chest and put on a pained expression.
However, the way I was already imagining Minori-senpai in a wet swimsuit suggested part of my respect was also of a very specific, physical nature.
Minori-senpai didn’t even look at me, simply turning on her heel to lead the way toward the pool area. "Save the act for the girls who actually fall for it, Onoda-kun. Let’s go before I change my mind and decide that a nap is more valuable than watching Yuika struggle with your sleazy hands."
This girl. Should I just pull her to the side and remind her of our previous entanglement? But well, with Yuika-senpai here, I should hold back for now. An opportunity would eventually open.