Chapter 386: You're Shy, but You're Still Playing Around
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 386: You're Shy, but You're Still Playing Around
Thwip.
A single drop of sauce fell onto Hiyori’s upper chest as she was about to take a bite of her yakitori.
She casually wiped it off with her finger. Just as she was about to clean her finger on a napkin, she saw me staring at her and smirked.
Then, she held out her sauce-covered index finger.
“Say ah.”
What a bold move, I thought. Especially since her face would turn beet red if I actually licked it.
It felt like watching a virgin pretending to be a slut.
What was the technical term for this again? I couldn't quite remember.
“Don’t do weird things.”
“What’s so weird about this? I’m just trying to feed you so the sauce doesn’t go to waste.”
“Just fix your robe properly. And stop showing off your chest on purpose.”
“It’s fashion.”
“What part of wearing a robe is fashion? Aren’t you going to cover up?”
“Nope.”
“So you’re not going to listen?”
“Nope. Ah, ow...! That hurts...! Don’t hit me...!”
As Hiyori defiantly stuck her chin out, I took a step toward her, and she immediately put on a ridiculously fake show of being in pain.
I looked down at her sudden pitiful act with a dumbfounded expression, then properly fastened her slightly open robe.
“Please, stop exposing yourself all the time. You’ll get caught by some weird host like last time, you hear?”
“What hosts are there around here?”
“It’s just an expression. Anyway, you’d better remember what I said. Got it?”
“Dunno.”
“Knew you’d say that. Just eat your skewer before it gets cold.”
“Why aren’t you eating, senpai?”
“I’m going to eat at the hotel restaurant.”
“You can have a skewer now and still eat at the restaurant later.”
“My stomach isn’t that big.”
“What are you talking about? Just eat less at the hotel. Come on, have a bite of mine.”
Hiyori held the skewer out to my lips.
Her pose was unnecessarily confident, which was, in its own way, kind of cute.
I let out a dry laugh at her mischievous antics and took a bite of the chicken thigh from the top of the skewer.
The juice bursting in my mouth enhanced the texture; it was quite delicious.
Do they have some kind of secret? No wonder the place was so crowded... I should bring Miyuki here next time.
“It’s good, right?”
“Yeah. It’s delicious.”
“Want another bite?”
“Stop forcing it on me.”
“This isn’t forcing! I’m giving it to you because I’m thinking of you!”
“Alright, alright. Stop shouting.”
“Hmph.”
Hiyori took a large bite of her skewer.
I thought she looked pretty, eating well without pretending to be demure. As she grumbled while eating, I started heading back to the beach with her.
Just then,
“Asahina!”
A man’s voice, full of cheerful welcome, called out from behind us.
Wondering what it was, I turned around to see a guy walking quickly toward us.
Was he a student from Hiyori’s class? His face looked familiar, so I thought that must be it.
“Hey, Kobayashi.”
She waved the hand that wasn't holding the skewer.
He waved back at her, then his eyes swept over me once before he asked.
“What are you doing here? The others are waiting. Aren’t you going to hang out with us?”
It was obvious she was with me, yet he was being shamelessly rude.
This kind of thing happened often when I was with Hiyori.
The glare of a jealous man.
It reminded me a little of Tetsuya being jealous of Miyuki and me, and a wave of disgust washed over me.
“I told you I was hanging out with my senpai today. Anyway, aren’t you going to say hello?”
“To what?”
“You should greet my senpai.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize he was a senpai. Hello.”
The student called Kobayashi gave a slight nod.
He didn't seem like a delinquent, but he was getting on my nerves.
I could see in his actions and tone that he was subtly trying to dismiss me.
I wanted to respond in kind, but I figured that acting friendly, rather than stooping to his level, would be a better way to raise Hiyori’s affection for me.
Having made my decision, I smiled and said to the guy.
“Yeah, hello.”
Hiyori then spoke to him in a joking tone.
“I said I was hanging out with my senpai, so if he’s next to me, of course he’s my senpai. Are you an idiot, Kobayashi?”
“I guess so?”
“Anyway, I have to go help the student council with senpai, so you guys have fun without me.”
“The student council?”
Kobayashi tilted his head.
The disconnect of Hiyori, who always avoided the student council, offering to help them seemed to be considerable.
She was lying so she could spend time with me, but her excuse didn't quite add up.
I chuckled to myself. After exchanging a few more words with Hiyori, Kobayashi walked away with a disappointed look, and I gave her a light tap on the back.
“What kind of lie was that?”
“It worked, didn’t it? Anyway, let’s go back to the ocean.”
“Change out of your swimsuit first.”
“This is the only swimsuit I brought.”
“You must have brought a t-shirt and shorts.”
“And you want me to go into the ocean wearing that?”
“Yep.”
“No way. Why should I have to change out of clothes made for swimming?”
“If you wanted to swim, you should have brought a one-piece swimsuit like a school mizu.”
“Whatever. I’m going like this. And my legs started hurting because of your nagging, so give me a piggyback ride.”
Hiyori’s gaze shifted to my arm.
She must have remembered how I’d supported her butt in the water earlier.
Seeing her face start to blush slightly, I laughed as if to say ‘how ridiculous’ and said.
“Stop being so unreasonable. First, finish your skewer.”
“Then I don’t have to change out of my swimsuit?”
“You can go as you are, but you have to go back and change the second we’re done in the water. Don’t wander around trying to show off.”
“Okay.”
Hiyori obediently nodded.
I pulled the loosely tied belt of her robe a bit tighter.
Then, ignoring her complaints about why I tied it so tight and whether I was trying to strangle her, I returned to the ocean with her.
* * *
I didn't spend that much time with Hiyori.
Two hours at most. But I was as completely drained as if we had been playing at full tilt for at least five.
It was truly strange.
My body and mind felt fine, but my head was exhausted.
Could she be a succubus? Maybe she was draining my energy just by being near.
I glanced at Hiyori, who was yawning widely, and we both got off the elevator when it arrived.
Hiyori’s room was three floors below mine.
It would have been perfect if we were on the same floor, but the room number didn't really matter.
Seeing a languid yawn escape from Hiyori, who was just as limp as I was, though not quite to the same degree, I said.
“Go get some rest.”
“I’m gonna go meet my friends~”
“Oh yeah? You’ve got a lot of energy. Make sure you change out of that swimsuit.”
“But why do you keep telling me to change? Is it too revealing?”
“You know it is.”
“That just makes me want to wear it more.”
If Hiyori had been born in the old days, she would have been great at starting rebellions.
She was so full of rebellious spirit that any king who had her as a subject would have lost sleep from anxiety.
I placed my hand on her head and looked straight down at her.
Her mood deflated a little as her eyes met mine, my expression having suddenly turned serious.
“What is it?”
I pressed down on her small head with my hand and moved it back and forth.
Hiyori’s head moved with my arm.
I smirked at the cute sight and expressed my affection in a casual, offhand tone.
“You never listen, do you? So cute.”
At that, Hiyori, who had been making a feeble euuhhh... sound, pursed her plump lips inward.
It was proof that she was feeling incredibly shy.
She’d built up a tolerance to physical affection, but it seemed she still had a long way to go before she could handle verbal expressions of it.
I wasn't sure if I should call her lame for being so bold yet so defenseless, or if I should just enjoy the sight.
I let go of her head and continued in a serious voice.
“Go change. Got it?”
“.....”
“Are you not going to answer?”
“No... I was going to. I’ll change, okay?”
“Good. That’s a good girl.”
“Should I take a picture after I change and send it to you?”
It was funny how she was still trying to joke around in a situation like this, trying to find any way to fluster me.
I shrugged and coolly brushed off her provocation.
“We’re going to see each other tonight anyway, right? I can just check then.”
“.....”
“Right?”
“Ah, yes... I guess so...”
She was so adorable, getting flustered again after I proactively and naturally set up a plan, leaving her unable to get a rise out of me.
Seeing the pouch in her arms about to fall, I adjusted it for her and grinned.
“Have fun with your friends. See you later.”
“Okay...”
After Hiyori gave her shy reply, I gave her a light flick on the forehead and returned to my room, listening to the sound of her slippers dragging behind me.
After showering, I called Miyuki. Then, I headed down to the lobby to meet her, as she had just finished her work.
Bzzzt-!
A message came in while I was on my way to the spot Miyuki had told me about.
I checked it and couldn't help but let out a dry laugh.
Hiyori had sent me a mirror selfie of herself after changing her clothes.
She was striking a rather sexy pose, as if she were taking a picture to post on social media.
She was wearing a tight-fitting t-shirt and shorts that precariously revealed what's known as the 'under-butt'. It was absurd, but I could feel her pathetic attempt at a provocation, which made the corners of my mouth twitch.
I decided not to reply. I'd just have to teach her a lesson when I saw her later.
With that thought, I spotted Miyuki eating cake with the vice class president and Bread Girl at the cafe next to the lobby and quickened my pace.
Should I have the three of them meet tonight?
Even if Miyuki and Hiyori are like oil and water right now, I think it's better to have them face each other to improve their relationship, rather than keeping them apart.
I'm a little worried about what Hiyori might say... but I can probably talk her through it, so let's aim for that for now.