The Hunter's True Feelings (9)
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"Hoo-hoo... hoo-hoo-oot... you idiot."
"...."
"Heu-heung. Heung, heu-heung."
Yuri had now started humming outright. She'd been giggling to herself and knocking back a glass or two whenever one appeared, and in the end, the alcohol had begun to hit her.
Even so, drunk or not, her mood seemed way too high. What on earth had she been cackling about like that for a while now?
"What's so funny?"
"I wonder? That you were actually an idiot?"
"..."
I couldn't make heads or tails of what she meant. I couldn't figure out why she'd flipped her attitude, either.
It didn't feel like her usual giggling when she was scheming to keep me under her thumb. She honestly seemed to be enjoying herself. But why?
Of course, her acting cute was adorable, and it put me in a good mood right along with her, but still.
"Is it really that funny that I'm an idiot?"
"It sure is. Hee-hee. Here, move your hand."
"What're you—whoa."
Yuri twisted her body, perched just her butt on her own chair, and draped both legs over my thighs!
Her toned, straight legs lay across my thighs; at one end, I could see a shoe half-off, exposing the top of her foot, and at the other, even with her body folded like that, her smooth abs barely creased.
I didn't hate it. No, I liked it—actually, I loved it, but...
"Hey, hey. Hold on. People can see."
"Whyyy? Embarrassed?"
Yeah. I was embarrassed. An open display of affection like this, right in front of other people! I'd gotten somewhat used to the opposite sex, sure, but that was strictly limited to the bedroom. I was still way too embarrassed for this kind of public couple-y stuff!
My face flushed bright red. Half embarrassment, half the alcohol.
But this girl was the bigger problem. As if draping her legs over my lap wasn't enough, she even wrapped her arms around my neck and... did she just blow on my ear?!
"Hey, hey. You seem drunk. Cut that out and let's go upstairs."
"Heu-heung... I'm not drunk, you know? What're we gonna do upstairs? More se—mmf!"
I clamped my hand over Yuri's mouth. There were things you could say and things you absolutely couldn't!
"Pfft. Pff-hehe-fft... you're embarrassed, aren't you?"
Th-this girl, somehow she seemed to love it every time I got embarrassed. Was watching someone's face turn red that hilarious to her? This was unfair. No way I was gonna be the only one humiliated.
I grabbed Yuri's chin and dropped my voice low. As low and greasy as I could manage, I spoke.
"Yuri."
"Mm?"
"I love you."
At those words, Yuri averted her eyes and murmured softly.
"I... I do too...."
Huh? Th-this wasn't what I'd planned?
I'd meant to tease her, but when she looked up at me with her eyes sparkling like that, it stopped being teasing!
"Tch."
"Eek?!"
I grabbed Yuri and stood up.
I could have sworn I heard people muttering all around us. Things like, 'The world is going to hell,' and, 'Young people these days have no shame.' Then there was, 'Good times. I remember when I used to fool around like that with you.' 'What? When did I ever?! Who was that bitch?!'
The last part was seriously interesting, but right now, this was more urgent.
I practically carried Yuri up to our room.
# # #
The moment we entered the room, Yuri clung to me.
"Hoo-hee... hoo-hee-hee-heet...."
"..."
This girl—she acted like she wasn't drunk, but she was actually pretty far gone. Was she a lightweight? Well, there was that one past incident where Reni hadn't even given her that many glasses before she'd passed out cold.
Of course, I was a little tipsy too, so my mood was a bit elevated. I'd also caught a bit of Yuri's laughter.
Maybe because of that, I could say things that would normally have made me cringe without batting an eye.
"Yuri, I love you."
"Mm... say it more...."
"I love you? I like you?"
"Heu-heet... me too... hee-hee...."
And then a kiss followed. Yuri pressed her lips firmly to mine, but she kept her lips tightly shut and made no move to open them. Even when I nibbled her lips lightly, even when my tongue knocked, she just held hers against mine.
"...Yuri. Aren't you gonna do it properly?"
"Hmph... look at this hopeless amateur trying to act tough..."
Giggling, Yuri instead invaded my mouth. Acting tough, she said—when she herself literally had Bravado attached as a trait! What nonsense!
I deliberately didn't say that out loud. Tonight wasn't the atmosphere for an argument.
"Pfft... haah... haah.... Hoo-fft, ah...."
When I put my hands on her chest to undress her, Yuri giggled but obligingly twisted her body this way and that to make it easier. A moment later, Yuri was revealed in her underwear.
"...!"
Th-this girl, she'd gone and bought see-through underwear in the meantime. She'd come fully prepared! How did she manage to hit my exact taste like this every single time?
As if she'd noticed my gaze, Yuri flopped backward onto the bed and subtly covered her body with the blanket. A gesture so utterly brazen it defied description.
I moved to close in, utterly worked up, but Yuri stopped my approach with the tip of her foot. Then, staring straight at me, she spoke.
"Heu-heuh... so how is it? Think you might fall for me?"
Pulling a stunt like this now, at this point? But even knowing it, I had no choice but to play along!
"Yeah, I think I might fall for you."
"Did you?"
"Yeah, I fell for you."
"Do you like me?"
"Yeah, I like you. I love you!"
"Kyaaak!"
Unable to hold back any longer, I pounced on Yuri with those final words.