Chapter 68 : "Thank you as always, senpai,"
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She looked surprised and almost jumped at my question before giving off a nervous look. "J-Just thinking about something. Nothing to worry about."
I narrowed my eyes at her. "Are you… sure?"
The Himejima blinked and nodded slowly. "I am fine."
'I am fine'.
I gave off a perplexed expression at her answer and pondered how exactly should I tackle this sudden sadness coming from the girl.
Despite being wary of her perverted attitude, that didn't exactly mean that I was supposed to ignore the fact that there was something wrong with her.
"And what if I tell you that I don't believe it and I said that I could offer you a shoulder?"
There was some silence as she went still for a moment and then nodded to herself.
"I would say 'thank you' but then ask to replace the shoulder with your bare back," She replied mirthfully, her smile twitching in weak amusement as I groaned at her surprising response.
"Cheeky, but I am trying to help you there," I pointed out with a hum and then I continued. "What got you this sad, Akeno?"
She tilted her head and then turned her attention back to the sink. "I… guess I was thinking about about my childhood."
Oh.
"My mom was… quite supportive when I wanted to help her around with the house chores. It was fun when we were both doing those and..." Her smile strained a little, more sadness appearing on her face. "Right now I was reminded of those times, when she was… still alive and-"
Akeno leaned a little over the sink and I sighed as I slowly spread my arms open at her. The gesture was caught almost immediately by her attention and she didn't hesitate a single moment to grasp at the opportunity, moving swiftly to softly press her head onto my chest.
The sobbing began a little muffled as Akeno pressed her face close to my shirt.
The girl was crying quite calmly considering the topic as I silently had one of my arms wrapping around her while my free hand started to carefully run through her hair, lulling her as she let out everything she was holding in.
A few minutes of this passed and I didn't speak nor move further as she needed some time to rest.
Finally she started to sniffle a little, her head turning as she looked up with a small smile.
"S-Sorry. I stained your-"
"That's alright." I quickly reassured her with a small smile of my own. Part of me was surprised that she was actually minding that of all things… especially with how shameless she had been just a couple of minutes ago.
"How are you doing?"
Akeno sniffled a little more.
"J-Just a little tired now. But… I feel better." She moved out of the hug and nodded. "T-Thank you."
"You are welcome."
As she used one of the unused towels to clean her face off the tears, the two other girls finally emerged from the kitsune's room and sat prepared for the little Math session.
The study session that followed was quite interesting as Akeno decided to take a more active role than before by joining the group with her own homework, which I had to help with myself as I was the one sharing that burden with her.
It was livelier than usual and it got quite adorable when Kunou asked to the Himejima if she could sit in her lap to see better what was going on the table.
The Yamato nadeshiko blinked and nodded as the little blonde settled on her legs and looked both at the hybrid's and the Nekoshou's homework.
It got real when Akeno patted her head with a smile and let out the strongest kind of Ara, Ara.
"Ara, Ara, aren't you a smart girl?"
Kunou smiled and nodded at her 'newly-named Neechan'.
It was around two hours later, with both girls having completed their homework that I escorted them by the door and out to the open.
"Thank you as always, senpai," Koneko politely muttered, bowing her head a little before taking the first few steps to leave the house.
"And as always, it's just my duty, kohai." I waved at her as she started to get far enough.
The Himejima merely smiled and nodded. "I hope that I could ask to join you all once more if I have the chance."
"If you can come and don't commit anything remotely lewd, then yes."
She giggled. "Now, that is quite the difficult promise to maintain, I hope you understand-"
"Please do and… remember to do that when you feel sad." I whispered at her, the silver-haired girl on the side frowning at the secrecy.
Akeno blinked and hummed comically. "You mean… groping?"
I facepalmed really, really hard at that. Goddammit, you perverted woman!
"Hugging! Ugh, why are you like this?"
"Because I like making people happy," The girl replied mirthfully. "By the way, I know that you like me this way, why would I need to change?"
That very question caused me to frown at her as I… didn't found any reason to rebuke her, knowing that while she was perverted, the situation wasn't as bad as I had expected it to turn out to be.
The lack of any negative reply elicited some giggles from the dark-haired girl... and then she suddenly blinked while focusing on my face.
"Actually, there is something on your cheek. Here, let me..." She had her finger softly touching my left cheek as to clean whatever was there and then…
Chu~
I felt my face explode in red, my brain going a little blank for the embarrassing even currently unfolding as the Himejima pressed her lips on said cheek.
Kunou blinked in surprise while Koneko frowned at the action, both staring and giving their judgment to the situation from afar.
She pulled back with a content smile and nodded.
"That is a 'thank-you' for being there for me… even through I didn't deserve it."
I nodded slowly and dumbly, causing Kunou and Akeno to giggle at it while Koneko cracked a brief smile.
Yet as I waved at them while they walked away from the street and turned the corner, I had in mind to return back home and wait for Baraqiel's return.
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