Stealing Spree

Chapter 2892: Bold Honesty

And from that sight, her pupils seemingly dilated as she seemed to get more engrossed.

”Cat got your tongue?”

Suzuki Yumika’s body quivered when I punctuated the question by spreading my knees slightly wider. The fabric tightened conspicuously and she unconsciously inched closer.

”...Yes,” She replied in an almost inaudible voice.

Yeah. She’s already too embarrassed but she could still boldly admit to what she’s feeling.

At the moment, the glint in her eyes was part troubled, part intrigued. While she admitted she didn’t know how to answer, her reaction alone already gave away her thoughts.

Her fingers twitched against her skirt again, as if she wanted to reach out but hesitated. The sight of her biting her lower lip was quite enticing, she looked like she was holding herself back from doing something reckless.

Perhaps realizing she was staring too openly, Suzuki Yumika abruptly straightened her posture, smoothing her skirt with trembling fingers. ”I-I should go. The festival preparations won’t wait, and you clearly have... other priorities.”

She averted her gaze, clearly afraid for me to catch her reluctance to leave.

My lips curled up before shaking my head, ”If that’s the case, I won’t hold you back, senpai.”

I know I can stop her from leaving if I just say the word but now’s not the best time. I still have Hana to handle. I can’t just forget about her as soon as another girl presents herself.

”Un. I’ll find you later, Onoda-kun. We need to buy those materials for the club soon.” Suzuki Yumika nodded as she breathed out a sigh of relief. As for what burden had been relieved, I couldn’t tell exactly.

With that, she stood up. But before letting her leave, I had to give her something to remember, right? That way, she wouldn’t stop thinking about it.

Although my feelings for her were virtually nonexistent yet - just a passing acquaintance who boldly used my name even though we didn’t have a prior connection - I was quite entertained by her reaction.

I stood up as well, closing the distance between us in a single stride. Suzuki Yumika stiffened when I reached for her wrist, her pulse hammering against my fingers as I turned her palm upward.

”Since senpai saw something so private...” I murmured, pressing my lips to the center of her palm in a lingering kiss that left her trembling. Her breath hitched when I nipped lightly at the base of her thumb. ”...You should know how it feels firsthand.”

Suzuki Yumika’s entire body went rigid as my lips lingered against her palm. Then, I slowly guided it down, pressing her palm against the unmistakable bulge tenting my pants.

Her fingers spasmed against the fabric, her breath catching as she realized exactly what she was touching. ”There,” I murmured against her ear. ”Now senpai knows exactly what she missed.”

She made a strangled noise, part protest, part helpless arousal, before wrenching her hand free and staggering back.

Her face burned crimson, her lips parted in stunned silence. For a long moment, she just stared at her own hand, flexing her fingers as if the heat of me still lingered there.

”Onoda-kun, you’re a bad junior,” Suzuki Yumika stared at me with eyes that seemed to reflect how I wronged her.

I calmly smiled and took a step back. ”Mhm. I’m not an outstanding junior, senpai. But I do know how to treat my seniors properly. If that offended you, I’ll apologize wholeheartedly. But I think we both know that senpai’s reaction says otherwise.”

Suzuki Yumika frowned at first, then it slowly turned into the same adorable expression with puffed-up cheeks and looking a little bit aggrieved, ”Ugh... I never thought you’d be like this.”

”Like what, senpai?”

”A pervert.” She directly answered while still moving her hand as if trying to remember the sensation that she felt.

”Hehe. Now you know. Does that make me lose your favor, senpai?”

Suzuki Yumika’s fingers curled inward, brushing against her skirt as if trying to physically wipe away the memory, or preserve it. Her throat bobbed with a slow swallow before she exhaled sharply through her nose. ”If I said yes, would you even care?”

”I will. After all, I have already become a little fond of you, senpai. I’m liking your bold honesty.”

Although a few of my girls shared the same trait, theirs didn’t actually manifest before having a relationship with me. But this girl? She’s upfront about her desires. That made her a little different compared to the rest.

Hearing my response, Suzuki Yumika scoffed, but not out of annoyance. More like she was trying to hide the way her lips quivered into a reluctant smile. ”That’s a dangerous thing to say to someone who just caught you in a compromising position, Onoda-kun.”

”Dangerous?” I tilted my head, ”Senpai, I welcome you to try and compromise me further.”

Perhaps sensing that I was also growing increasingly bolder, Suzuki Yumika finally decided to escape. Or rather, give herself a way out.

A giggle escaped her mouth before she said, with the crimson on her face not subsiding, ”Alright, I’ll try that.”

Then, before turning around, she added, ”Maybe around after lunch break, I’ll come find you again. You still have to uphold your promise, Onoda-kun.”

”Of course, I’ll wait for you, senpai. I can even carry the materials you’re going to buy for you. Imagine, I’m the only sponsor who’s willing to be a pack mule.”

Suzuki Yumika snorted, an inelegant sound that made her slap a hand over her mouth mid-laugh. Her shoulders shook as she tried to stifle it, only for another snort to slip through her fingers.

”W-what kind of romantic line is that?” She wheezed, her composure crumbling into giggles. ”Then, when you have time, you’re free to watch our practice too, Onoda-kun.”

”Mhm. I’ll take you up on that offer then. But senpai should know how busy I usually am.”

”It doesn’t matter. If it’s you, you can find time.”

Leaving those words, Suzuki Yumika exited with hurried steps, her skirt swishing just a bit too quickly to maintain her usual refined grace.

The door clicked shut behind her, sealing me back into the quiet room.

I exhaled through my nose, running a hand through my hair before walking back to the adjacent room where Hana was currently peacefully asleep.

Seeing the girl asleep on the table, her soft breathing and disheveled uniform revealing glimpses of flushed skin, I felt the familiar warmth tug at my chest.

Hana has always been beautiful. And now, seeing her like this, sleeping peacefully. She felt holier, unfiltered and slightly vulnerable, with her usual sharp edges softened into something tender.

I climbed up the table and lay down next to her, brushing a damp strand of hair from her forehead before pressing my lips to her temple.

Perhaps sensing my presence, the girl immediately snuggled closer, her head moving to my arm, abandoning the crumpled curtain I used as a makeshift pillow for her.

Hana’s arms wrapped around me tightly as she burrowed closer. She’s clearly still asleep but perhaps my absence earlier made her unconsciously seek me out.

Around half an hour later, Hana’s beautiful eyelashes fluttered open, her sleepy gaze focusing on my face with the slow precision of someone still half-drowned in dreams. She blinked once, twice, before her lips curled into that familiar smirk, though softened by the remnants of sleep. ”Un. You’re staring.”

”Can’t help it, my girl is so angelic even when she’s sleeping,” I admitted, brushing my thumb along the curve of her cheekbone.

”Psh. There goes your silver tongue.” Hana huffed before burrowing her face back in my chest.

”You know I’m just being honest.” I caressed her head and back, combing her natural silky hair, ”So, we’ve been out for more than an hour already. Does my Hana want to return or... Can I bring you to the infirmary for a proper rest? After all, it should start stinging by now.”

As if I had reminded her of what she’d been ignoring all this time, a muffled groan escaped Hana’s lips as she shifted against me, her thighs pressing together reflexively.

”Stinging? More like throbbing,” She muttered against my chest. ”But I’d rather walk back with you than get rolled into the infirmary like some invalid.”

Her stubborn pride never failed to amuse me, especially when her legs trembled visibly as she attempted to sit up.

I caught her elbow, steadying her before she could faceplant off the table. ”Easy. Let me carry you. And no, you have to rest. I’ll bring you to the infirmary.”

Her mouth opened and closed, wanting to retort, but in the end, she gave up and just nodded, ”Idiot... No wonder girls can’t get enough of you.”