117: So Familiar Already?

Nagisa's voice was like a pair of gentle hands, softly, slowly caressing Takashi's hair.

The warm breath she exhaled between her lips teased the boy's ears.

In the dimly lit theater, the girl wrapped her arms around the boy from behind—this scene looked like it came straight out of a shoujo manga.

To anyone unaware of the context, it would seem sweet—adorable even.

But what if you knew that the girl hugging the boy was someone else's girlfriend, and that her boyfriend was sitting not far away?

Still think it's sweet?

The moment Nagisa's voice came from behind him, sweat instantly soaked through the back of Takashi's shirt.

Crap!

Takashi had to admit—he'd been too naïve.

He had thought that after he talked to her, Nagisa might come to her senses.

But he had forgotten one crucial thing—this was Nagisa.

A terrifying woman who didn't care about anyone else's feelings, who would hire a private investigator just because she was slightly interested in someone, who would threaten him the moment he resisted even a little, and who must have whatever she set her eyes on.

And he actually thought… that a few words would be enough to persuade her.

Is there something wrong with me?

'W-What's the deal with those four?!?'

Just one sentence!

Just one sentence from Nagisa was enough to make Miko's brain fry like an overheated CPU.

What did she mean by "egging Maki on to seduce my boyfriend"?

So that guy is your boyfriend?

Then why do I get the feeling that you don't actually care that much about him being seduced?

At first, Miko thought Takashi and the other three were just friends—she figured that girl named Maki had a crush on that boy named Tanuma.

But now, she realized she was completely off the mark.

Their relationships were way more complicated than she'd imagined—way beyond middle school comprehension. 

Can a high schooler come explain this for her?

'Wait... is this what they call "partner swapping"!?'

Just thinking of that possibility made Miko's pupils twitch and roll like tangled worms. Her fair little face, cupped in both hands, had gone as red as a ripe apple.

Japanese high school girls usually mature early.

No, wait, that's not entirely accurate.

Kids nowadays just... mature early, period.

Some are already doing it by middle school, while meanwhile adults are still out here watching "The Napkin Promise" and playing hand-sign games with their five fingers.

Even though Miko was still young and had always been the disciplinary committee type, everyone knows—Japan's so-called discipline committee members are usually the least disciplined.

She was only fifteen, but she was definitely in her adolescent, awakening phase.

Fun fact: girls are even hornier than boys.

If you think a girl isn't horny, it just means she's not horny for you.

Right now, say "arm" in front of Miko, and she'll think "thigh." 

Say "stay overnight," and she'll think "sex." Say "a threesome," and she's imagining a literal 3P!

"You went to the bathroom?"

"And I'm not allowed to come back after?"

"Your seat's in the back?"

"No, but I bought the back seat for you, Kitahara-kun."

Takashi talked to Nagisa with a calm face, all while placing his hand on her arm.

The girl's arm was soft and pale, the lines graceful, light like a willow branch, embodying everything beautiful about adolescence.

Because they were close, Takashi could even smell a faint fragrance—whether it was from her arm or her body, he couldn't tell.

Sure enough, girls are really made of water.

"Don't move, Kitahara-kun."

Whatever Takashi was thinking, Nagisa saw through it instantly.

She opened her mouth slightly and gently bit his ear, like she was savoring a delicate dessert.

Her lips closed softly, teeth brushing lightly, her breath fragrant like orchids: "If you dare squeeze, I'll scream."

Takashi's hand froze, but he didn't pull away.

It wasn't because he was trying to take advantage—it was because he was trying to gauge whether or not she was bluffing.

"What would Maki think if she saw us like this? Aren't you worried she'd be disappointed in you?"

If Nagisa really liked Maki, then she'd definitely not risk making a sound.

The only thing Takashi couldn't figure out was—did she actually like Maki?

Apparently not expecting him to say that, Nagisa paused—but quickly recovered, her smile turning even more intriguing.

"So, Kitahara-kun has been digging into me too, huh? Looks like we're mutually invested… hehehe…"

Mutually invested, my ass.

Who the hell wants to be invested with you?

Takashi didn't want to see this woman at all. If anything, he wanted to stay as far away from her as possible.

"If Maki really saw us like this, I think she'd be happy."

"After all, this way, she'd have a clear path to pursue Tanuma-kun. Isn't that exactly what you want, Kitahara-kun?"

"Wasn't it you, from the very beginning, who tried so hard to tear me and Tanuma-kun apart?"

Takashi was momentarily speechless.

What now? Everything she said made too much sense.

How was he supposed to argue back?

"Kitahara-kun, you really are so fake. You go on about how Tanuma-kun's such a good guy, how I shouldn't let him down—and then behind the scenes, you're encouraging little Maki to go chase her 'true love.' You sure know how to say whatever benefits you most."

The more he listened, the more awkward Takashi felt.

Because yeah… he had said all that.

Nagisa chuckled softly. "Still, I don't dislike it."

Her slender fingers traced from the boy's brow, down his nose bridge that could double as a slide, past his unconsciously pursed lips, until they stopped at his pronounced Adam's apple: 

"I like the fake, selfish, cold, arrogant Kitahara-kun."

Why are they all flaws?

Do I not have any good qualities?

At the very least, I look pretty decent. And my grades are top-tier, right?

"Kitahara-kun, did you know?"

"Scent plays an important role in falling in love."

"Humans have a special nasal structure that can detect pheromones from the opposite sex."

"The first time I met you, I thought you smelled so, so good. I couldn't help but want to get closer to you."

"How should I describe it? It's not exactly fragrant, but it has an addictive quality. It makes me feel safe. I'm pretty sure it's not any kind of artificial fragrance."

"I think… maybe it's my genes choosing you."

As she spoke, Nagisa leaned forward, burying her face in Takashi's neck, her nose twitching like a cat in catnip, looking completely blissful.

'Is this for real?'

Miko heard every word Nagisa said, and for reasons unknown, she too leaned over and sniffed Takashi's fingers.

Um?

Really?

No, why does he smell so good?

The more Miko sucked, the more she felt high, and her brain was in a state of jealousy, excitement and pleasure.

"Could it be that my genes also chose him ?!!" Miko was greatly shocked, but her little nose kept moving like a drug-sniffing police dog.

Takashi: ".?"

Nagisa: "…."

The two of them just stared blankly at Miko following Takashi's finger all the way up.

Is this kid always this familiar with stranger?

___

20 Advanced Chapters available on p@ tr eon (.) com/HalflingFics

Also, please point out my mistakes in the comment, thank you!

Don't forget to leave a review too~

Check out the other translations too

___