The sa as earlier, this place was kind of deserted even during the night. We could see lights from over the street from the streetlamps and the nearby establishnts. However, there was little to no foot traffic.
In a way, this gave us peace of mind, allowing us to move to our destination without facing any problems.
Perhaps due to the lack of urban developnt in the area, the night breeze, brought about by the lush trees still standing on the sidewalks, felt cooler than normal despite the approaching sumr season.
It sohow reminded of the early spring, before the start of the school year, and when I had just cut off everyone connected to . That experience was still vivid in my mind. Oftentis, I would walk outside without any aim, just feeling that cold spring breeze seeping into my skin.
And on my return, Akane would be waiting at my doorstep, sotis with a warm beverage in her hand to be given to .
That’s a sweet mory, now that I think about it.
“Ruki?”
Perhaps noticing that I started staring off into the distance as I recalled that mory, the girl beside called out to .
“Nothing. I just rembered sothing. Anyway, do you feel cold? We can still go back in and get you a scarf.”
The girl stared at for a few seconds first before answering. Perhaps, she’s wondering what I rembered. “Yes. Your hand and arm are warm enough, Ruki.”
And following that, her grip tightened and she pressed herself closer to . She moved her body slightly, rubbing the warmth of my arm to her. Along with that, a satisfied smile peeked out on her lips.
Feeling the softness of her chest and how my arm sunk into her valley, I couldn’t help but react a little to it. She’s acting realistically like I told her but sohow, I was the one slipping off of it.
I inwardly shook my head, warding off the unnecessary thoughts about our current situation.
I then t her gaze and returned the sa smile, “Alright. If you say so… Feel free to huddle closer if you feel cold. I’ll keep you warm.”
Hearing that, Juri’s affable expression heightened and her unmistakable joy radiated from her smile, “Then I’m in your care, Ruki. It’s been a while since I felt the warmth of soone else other than Setsu.”
So, did she have no other friend aside from Setsuna-nee-san? Or she’s just not close enough to the others?
Anyway, I grabbed that as a topic of our conversation while we waited.
“Now that’s an interesting bit. Are you and Setsuna-nee-san always together?”
“Most of the ti, yeah. Oh, right. We’re not cuddling each other all the ti – if you’re wondering. And she’s the one who always squeezed to my side!”
Answering right away, Juri made a face as though telling not to get the wrong idea.
She probably thought I might get the impression that she’s soone leaning on that side.
Given her attitude, she might be a cool beauty but she never strikes as a lesbian. She’s even more feminine than that shorter and longer-haired Satsuki lookalike. That girl sure was rough. Sakuma could attest to that.
I readily nodded, easing her mind. A second later, the girl continued, sharing her thoughts that she probably wouldn’t talk about with anyone else.
“You know, whenever I sleep over in Setsu’s room or their house, she would surrender the bed to . Then she would either place a futon on the floor or slip inside her sister’s room.”
Juri emphasized that last bit and turned her head to , checking my expression even in this darkness. The moon was partly covered by clouds, after all. And even if it wasn’t, there’s no way it could give sufficient light for the two of us to clearly see each other’s expression.
Anyway, I could certainly imagine Setsuna doing that just to annoy Satsuki. In fact, Satsuki already told sothing like that.
She suddenly woke up in the middle of the night only to see her older sister snuggled inside her blanket and using her body as a hug pillow. Satsuki kicked her out of the room and locked it. But then she still let her in after a while.
That’s so sibling bonding, right?
“Setsuna-nee-san is doing that? Now, that’s what I call enviable.” Continuing our conversation, I used that as a topic and acted a little out of character.
Juri leered at , a humorous smile hanging on her lips.
“Ruki, do you imagine yourself taking Setsu’s place to slip into Satsuki-chan’s room?
Well, she’s not wrong. That would be exciting. But instead of admitting it, I put on a playful expression.
“No. Rather than that, I imagined myself to be in the sa room as you, sleeping on the floor. You know, it will be easy for to crawl up and join you on the bed in the middle of the night.”
Not expecting that, Juri was taken aback. She stared at with a serious expression. Yet, little by little, I noticed her eyes and lips starting to tremble even in this darkness.
As she tried to regain composure, the girl squeezed my hand tightly before averting her gaze to the side.
“You. Isn’t that a little inappropriate? And here I am, expecting a gentleman.”
“Heh, why so? If our relationship flourishes, aren’t we going to sleep on the sa bed, in the sa room and under the sa roof?” Without taking a step back on teasing her, I pushed on. Furthermore, since she averted her gaze, her ear beca wide open. I leaned closer, whispering all that.
In a matter of seconds, Juri flinched as if tickled by my warm breath. I thought she’d rise up with a retort ready. However, that’s not what happened.
Lowering her head further, the girl muttered in an almost inaudible voice. “Our relationship…”
Uh. Should I continue teasing her? Is she not an impregnable fortress that was too susceptible to a siege? Have I broken into her defenses already?
Perhaps?
I turned my gaze back to the front, giving her the ti to process all that while pretending not to hear what she just said.
I kept holding her hand and the girl never moved from my side. She’s still hugging my arm tightly as we waited here in the dark.
A while later, Juri turned her head back to . Peering into my playful expression, realization dawned on her. Her shaky eyes suddenly beca still and an amused expression settled on her face.
“What can I say? You’re too settled into the act, Ruki… I almost fell for that.”
While sighing in obvious relief, the girl then let go of my arm as she looked around us, perhaps searching for sowhere to escape from.
No doubt, she was a little embarrassed yet she didn’t want to admit it.
When she started walking towards a bench close to a flower bed, I followed after her and using the sa tone as earlier, I joked, “Hey, what if it wasn’t an act?”
Not buying it, the girl hastened her steps and quickly reached it.
Upon sitting down, Juri cutely stuck her tongue out and laughingly declared, “Co on. If you’re out here to get flustered, you have to do better than that, Ruki.”
Still acting tough, huh?
I approached her. But instead of taking the empty space next to her, I crouched down and placed my hands on her legs. Their softness was heavenly even though her short pants still covered it.
When I looked up, I captured her beautiful face staring down at . She then amusedly reached for my shoulder and patted it.
Actually, I didn’t do this to feel her up. This was hardly the ti for that.
As for the reason… it’s because the ti has finally arrived.
BEEP! BEEP
,m As the two of us exchanged glances, communicating wordlessly, a car pulled up nearby and honked loudly, clearly trying to get our attention.
Although my back was turned to it, I could hear the sound of the engine dying out followed by a car door opening.
And not long after, one set of footsteps made its way to our location.
“Miss Koizumi? Who is that guy?” The newcor asked. From how dismissive his tone was, he’s clearly not waiting for an answer.
Clearly disregarding my existence, he then flamboyantly said, “Eh, no matter. Must be soone you asked to escort you here… Anyhow, I never thought you'd be this eager to wait for here, I’m flattered. Co, I reserved us a table at a nearby gourt restaurant. I’m sure you’ll love it.”
Judging from Juri’s expression, the man most likely stretched his hand out.
Too bad for him, the girl had no intention to take it.
And through our wordless communication, I deed it ti for to act.
Using her legs as my support, I pulled myself up and vigorously turned around, covering the girl sitting behind .
As I took in the appearance of the man that looked a little younger than I thought, I matched his gaze and proudly took a stance, “Hmm? And who might you be? To dare ask soone’s girlfriend to dinner… Are you looking for a beating?”
This ti, instead of trying to be civilized, I put on the straightforward character who had no qualms about whoever he was facing. And to complete the package, I cracked my neck and knuckle, intimidating him.
Behind , I heard Juri’s snort as she laughingly whispered, “What an amazing actor… Very impressive, dear Ruki.”
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