Chapter 115 - Haruno Kasumi Discovers a Secret
Inside the cafeteria of Ousei Academy, it was the peak dining hour. Students were clustered in groups, engaged in lively conversations and laughter, while the clinking of utensils created a backdrop of cheerful chaos.
In a quiet corner of the southeast section of the cafeteria, Ito Yoshito and Mitarai Keiko had temporarily set aside their work discussions.
Keiko, tranquil as she enjoyed her meal, opened her lunchbox. The array of dishes was well-balanced and visually appealing, igniting a strong appetite.
She picked up a piece of sausage, savoring it slowly, taking her time to enjoy each small bite.
"Huff... huff..."
The cafeteria's air conditioning hummed gently, dispersing cool air, yet...
In this cool environment, why was Keiko's face growing increasingly flushed, resembling a ripe apple?
Was she feeling hot? That seemed unlikely, considering her lunch was cold.
Perhaps, Yoshito knew the answer.
"Swish, swish."
A sudden sound of water, not from sipping miso soup, echoed, seemingly originating from beneath the table. As her gaze shifted downwards, a large hand emerged from under the table, resting itself on her thigh, which was as white as snow, gradually disappearing from sight...
"President Pervert, how's my service as a dining companion?"
Yoshito wore a calm expression, his eyes gleaming with amusement as his hand playfully caressed Keiko's soft thigh.
It felt incredible, soft and delicate; a gentle press created a delightful indentation. It was like a milk-filled candy, with a smooth exterior but soft, tender insides.
"Mmm..."
With half-lidded eyes, Keiko looked slightly parched. She licked her soft lips, took a small bite of the sausage, and let out a soft, muffled moan—perhaps the sausage was just too delicious.
"Pfft!"
Yoshito, taking a shallow sip of the complimentary barley tea with his left hand, sought relief from a dry throat. The perverted president's voice was so enticing it made him feel more restless.
"I'm talking to you, why the silence?" He teased, a smirk playing at his lips as he watched Keiko's labored breaths, applying a bit more pressure with the hand he had resting on her thigh.
Keiko's beautiful eyes widened as she leaned onto the table, a moment later slowly lifting her head from her crossed arms. Her face was flushed to the point of resembling ripe fruit, and her shy gaze toward Yoshito brimmed with seduction and fervor.
'He's so experienced... Many girls must have fallen victim to the great demon's advances! No, as president, I must protect the girls of this school. I'll bear the brunt of the evil Ito!'
"I'm sorry..."
With her fighting spirit undeterred, Keiko employed a strategy of retreat to ensnare her foe.
Just as predicted, Yoshito fell for her trick.
"..."
Gradually, Keiko's beautiful gaze became veiled with a film of glistening moisture. Her delicate body trembled slightly, yet she seemed to be putting up a fight against Yoshito, biting her lip tightly and remaining silent.
Though commendable, Keiko's bravery was no match for Yoshito's strength. Ultimately, she suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the great demon, leaving the booth in disarray...
"Hehe~"
"Trying to challenge me? You're still too inexperienced, President~"
Yoshito picked up a blue cloth to wipe his hands, only to suddenly realize—this was Keiko's underwear!
"Perverted freak! Lewd wolf!"
Keiko's hazy eyes suddenly went wide with realization, looking at Yoshito as if he were kindred.
"..."
...
As evening approached, the sky was adorned with pure white clouds, resembling a fading old man casting a golden net over fish, allowing them to be caught in a hue of gold.
Under the sunlight's golden glow, students chatted joyously as they linked arms and strolled out of the campus with their backpacks slung over their shoulders.
The evening breeze carried the day's warmth, creating a languid atmosphere that made even the cicadas hiding in the shade sing their songs.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Yoshito took one last look at the view outside before shifting his gaze to the desk in front of him, where the serene Daimon Naoko, the director, was slightly dozing with her eyes closed.
"Director, unless there is anything else, I'll take my leave."
"Mm."
Upon receiving Daimon Naoko's consent, Yoshito quietly exited the office.
"Click..."
As the door gently closed, Daimon Naoko slowly opened her eyes, adjusting her glasses atop her nose, and let out a sigh.
"If only Tabimaku were as considerate as this Ito Yoshito..."
With a regretful murmur, the office fell back into silence.
...
When Yoshito stepped out of the administration building, night had yet to fall; summer nights always arrived late.
As he was about to head back, a pair of delicate hands suddenly covered his eyes, followed by a heavy sense of pressure from behind, soft and enveloping, as though he were surrounded by cotton.
"Guess who I am?"
A faux husky voice, tinged with undeniable allure, drifted from behind him.
'It's Natsuha...'
Yoshito smiled, deciding to tease her a little. He crouched slightly, making it easier for her to stand on tiptoe.
"Let me guess... it's Rina."
"Absolutely not that bad woman!"
Natsuha squeezed in discontent.
This was what they called a "body check."
"Then... is it Reina?"
"Not her either!"
Pouting, Natsuha sprang up, clambering onto Yoshito's back.
"Hey, be careful."
"Hmph! Last chance, guess correctly and..."
The sweet scent of a girl enveloped him, stirring at his ear.
"There will be a reward~ Ha~"
A warm, moist sensation suddenly brushed against Yoshito's ear, almost like a soft, tender whisper teasing him.
"Glurp." The sound of swallowing echoed as Yoshito felt heat rise to his head. "It's Natsuha! My most adorable Natsuha!"
"Hmph~ You clearly knew all along, just pretending to be dense!"
Natsuha playfully slapped Yoshito's shoulders twice before jumping down, sinking into a more robust embrace.
"Hehe, I guessed correctly, so what reward does Natsuha have for me?"
"Hmph~ As soon as you heard 'reward,' you got smarter. You're such a dork, Yoshito!"
"Hey—didn't Natsuha come looking for me just for affection? Honestly, it's you who likes the closeness more, isn't it?"
"Shut up!"
Seemingly struck by Yoshito's words, the delicate fabric of Natsuha's dress blushed a deep red, her fair cheeks adorned with a hint of pink.
Her soft little hands playfully pressed against his chest, starting a delightful tussle.
"Alright, alright, now it's reward time..."
Yoshito took Natsuha's hand, his eyes shining with anticipation.
-----
"Reward…"
Softly mumbling these words, Natsuha frowned as she felt Yoshito's increasingly heated gaze upon her, akin to sparks in a vast meadow that gradually coalesce into a blazing flame, quietly igniting within her heart.
The warmth spread gradually, and her boiling blood surged within her, palpable even through her thin clothing, igniting a deep blush across her skin.
At that moment, at the peak of her rising anticipation, Natsuha couldn't help but bite her luscious red lips, her hands tightly gripping her shirt. The bowtie at her collar seemed to buckle under the strain, creating a deep indentation.
"Come with me~"
Grabbing Yoshito's large hand, Natsuha pulled him along like a girl eagerly seeking love, directing him toward the back door of the library...
Their silhouettes gradually disappeared, leaving behind an enchanting atmosphere lingering in the air.
As early summer dawned, the gentle breeze stirred the romantic flowers on the lawn, swaying their branches in rhythm with the wind.
"Bang~"
A soft sound echoed as the door to the stairwell was gently closed, resulting in a muffled thud.
The back door of the library seldom saw any visitors, making the narrow corridor within the stairwell feel somewhat secluded.
Though the vibrant sunset was too distant to light up the stairwell, it still managed to outline the shapes within the shadows.
Even in the dim light, Natsuha's deep, rose-colored eyes radiated a watery gentleness, clearly visible in this flickering glow.
In the quiet space, the echoing heartbeat and the gradually intensifying breaths grew clearer, the intimacy almost tangible.
Yoshito remained silent, waiting quietly, his gaze locked onto her with an intensity that could almost melt her whole being.
Natsuha felt as if her skin was ablaze, her whole body radiating with an uncomfortable heat.
...
...
"Phew—"
Haruno Kasumi took a deep breath, stretching, easing the tension in her shoulders that had grown stiff from being immersed in her books. Turning her head, she gazed out the window at the evening sky.
The fiery clouds outside the glass shimmered like the glorious afterglow of the sun as it set, wafting and swirling above the city, refusing to dissipate.
"Chizuru, I'll head back now~"
"Yeah, I'll stay a bit longer, Kasumi-senpai. See you!"
"Chizuru, you're working really hard."
It was around 5:30 PM, and even though some students were involved in clubs, most were already headed home.
"Step, step, step."
At 5:40 PM, just as Kasumi stepped out of the library, the final bell rang throughout the school, signaling to all the staff and students that it was time to leave.
"I should stop by the supermarket; our supplies are running low." Humming a cheerful tune, Kasumi rummaged through her bag to check how much money she had left in her wallet.
"Uh-oh—looks like I forgot my wallet in the library!"
Her round, cute face scrunched up in annoyance as she propped two fingertips under her chin and sighed deeply.
After searching for so long and finding nothing, it was most likely left inside the library.
Reluctantly, she decided to jog back inside, but this time she headed towards the back door of the library.
Entering from there would bring her closer to the self-study room where she'd just been. However, the dimness of that area always made her hesitant to walk alone.
But to make it to the supermarket quickly, she had no choice but to take the shortcut.
...
...
"Tap, tap~~"
With a light step, as she approached the stairwell, Kasumi hesitated and slowed down. She was afraid of the dark; although the night hadn't fully fallen yet, the dimness of the stairwell made her heart tremble.
'It's okay, Kasumi, you can do this; just run quickly when the time comes!'
Clenching her tiny hands into fists, she cheered herself on.
When she arrived at the door, Kasumi grasped the doorknob, ready to turn it.
"Hm..."
Suddenly, a sultry moan sounded from inside, startling her and causing her to jump back like a frightened rabbit, her movements delicate and soundless.
Once she managed to gather her senses, Kasumi realized that there were people inside; it wasn't just her imagination running wild.
'It's so late already; what could they possibly be doing?'
Biting her lip, Kasumi knew it was wrong to snoop, but her curiosity gnawed at her like a kitten's soft paws.
Looking around nervously and confirming no one was present, she quietly leaned against the door frame, carefully peeking through the crack like someone poking a needle into a balloon.
With snail-like slowness, she managed to inch the door open ever so slightly, her movements gentle enough that it made no noise, surprisingly creating a gap just wide enough to see inside.
This tiny crack allowed her to catch a glimpse of the stairwell without being detected.
Shrinking her neck, with a thrill of mischief coursing through her, Kasumi squinted one eye and stealthily peeked inside.
...
...
The small stairwell felt stifling, but not the dry kind of stifling one would experience in the daylight; it was thick and humid, causing beads of sweat to form on one's skin. It felt as if a veil of mist cloaked the surroundings, reminiscent of the sultry heat of a tropical summer.
As the door cracked open, the warmth rushed toward Kasumi, bringing with it a thick scent.
The aroma was heavy and layered, a mingling of perfume and a girl's natural scent, punctuated by the unmistakable waves of sweat that surged forward like ocean tides.
Taking a step closer and sniffing, she could also detect a peculiar scent reminiscent of salty sea air, albeit heated.
With the crack widening, the sounds from inside became clearer, like a song shifting in tone, broken and intermittent.
Kasumi's cheeks flushed brighter, her heart racing like a drum, and the air she inhaled was tinged with warmth as the realization of what the people inside were doing hit her.
'How bold!'
With a face as red as a tomato, Kasumi lightly hissed to herself, and when she raised her gaze again, it met Yoshito's eyes, which were directed toward her.