Published at 23rd of September 2024 2:04 pm

Chapter 2087: You can rely on me

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

I halted the kiss just an inch away from touching Minori-senpai's lips. Not because I changed my mind. I just wanted to see if she's going to take it herself.

She's pretty sure that she didn't want to forge a special connection but she hadn't realized that what she was doing with me could bring that kind of connection.

Granted, there were relationships where 'no strings attached' could be applied. But that was between two consenting people who were only putting out the fires of lust they felt for each other.

On the other hand, Minori-senpai thought she was doing the same thing by asking me to help her with her urge, and yet, I could sense desperation from her.

Was it because we started on the wrong foot? Was she afraid that I wouldn't change my mind about her? But that's over and straightened up with her opening up to me. I understood where she was coming from and would gladly help her if that's what she needed.

However, I don't believe she's incapable of forming a special connection. It's nothing but her coping mechanism to avoid getting attached to someone. She's still being haunted by her past and she's not making any effort in stepping out of it.

Of course, it was her choice whether she wanted to continue like this or not. It's just that... as someone who cannot turn a blind eye and is easily moved by the girls around me... I feel like I have to do something.

Just like how I want to comfort Yuika-senpai and slowly walk away from the traumatic experience of having her face hurt and scarred, I would love to help Minori-senpai step back into the light.

Actually, Haruko told me about this girl's past. She was a star gymnast who even won competitions before. Although she didn't tell me the reason why she quit the club and stopped pursuing that passion, hearing about her past cleared that up.

She stepped out of that spotlight and hid in the dark corner where she couldn't be bothered by anyone.

After a few seconds of not feeling the soft touch of my lips on hers, Minori-senpai opened her eyes and backed away, her face showing signs of frustration.

"Onoda-kun, you're a meanie. What's that talk about this being quick? Did you change your mind?"

With her every word heavily dropping to my head, a wry smile formed on my lips. Moving my hand from her chin to her cheek, I gave her an honest answer, "I didn't change my mind, senpai. I simply wanted to check."

"Check what?"

"If you mean it when you said you're not expecting anything."

"I didn't say that."

"You did. Not vocally though."

After all the talk of being incapable of forming a special connection to someone, even saying that what she had with Haruko wasn't that deep, that's the only conclusion I could arrive at with it.

This woman... She's trying her hardest not to get too attached to someone, and yet, she gets embroiled with their group. She even started caring enough for everyone to think of sacrificing herself for Yuika-senpai.

If she's someone who couldn't form a special connection, then what would we call that?

"Hmm... So, what's your verdict?"

"You're expecting something from this." I put on a smile that's not a smile, moving my hand from her chin to her cheek, caressing it gently.

Her gaze momentarily focused on it before biting her lip as she resumed eye contact with me.

I could see my reflection within it and she's probably the same.

"... Let's say you're right. Will that change anything?"

"Nothing much but I can say it proves that I can form a special connection to you."

Minori-senpai's brows jumped and her shoulders jolted, astonishment filling her eyes which eventually turned into puzzlement.

Whatever thoughts ran in her head, she couldn't fully understand what I was getting at.

"You've proven what? You didn't do anything."

"Oh. I will do it but senpai... if I start, you may not be able to get away anymore."

Once again, I laid my cards on the table, wanting her to make a conscious choice whether to continue with this or not.

However, she probably failed to understand what I meant by that.

A frown formed on her face as she placed her hand on top of mine, clutching it with force.

"I see. You're planning to make me fall for you... You're going back on your word."

Am I? Nah. She's wrong about that. After talking to her for this long, I found an answer on how to navigate my way to the maze she built surrounding herself.

"It's the other way around. I think I'm now interested enough to fall for you, senpai. What do you think?"

"Huh? You... You're being utterly ridiculous right now." She let out an exasperated sigh but her confusion once again set in. I could feel her hand trembling as she was truly shaken.

It probably felt like I was banging onto the wall of her maze, startling her who was hiding in the deepest part of it.

"I'm aware of that. But tell me, will it make you uncomfortable?" As I whispered that question, I curled my fingers to properly hold it, my palm feeling the rising temperature of her cheek.

At the same time, I lifted my butt off the edge of my seat to lean forward.

Minori-senpai looked up at me, not breaking our eye contact. And slowly, her eyes started trembling.

"I... I don't know. Try it if you can."

"Well then, excuse me, senpai."

With her words taken as permission, I smilingly nodded before placing my other hand on her cheek, cupping her face completely.

As I watched her eyes close to once again wait for our lips to touch, I began by dropping a kiss

on her forehead.

That made her face scrunched up again but she didn't open her eyes this time.

Next, I went down to her nose and then her ear, whispering something to her, "Minori- senpai, it's fine. You can rely on me. You can stop acting strong now. Give yourself some

slack."

Minori-senpai tightened her grip on my hand and the other hooked around my head, clutching a fair clump of my hair.

From that, I could feel her frustration being conveyed, as well as, released.

Although unnoticeable at first, her head moved a little. A silent nod was her response to me. From here, my lips now aimed at hers. After admiring her now-expressively beautiful face, I also closed my eyes before lowering my head and initiating our initial connection.

I first thought of only doing a normal kiss. But upon noticing the turbulent emotion welling up in her chest, I deepened it, parting her lips open with my tongue before sharing a bout of long, intimate kisses with her.

From leaning down, I eventually lowered myself, leveling my face with hers. And then, my hand moved down as I consciously wrapped it around her, lifting her from her seat and moving her to my lap as I took a seat again.

Minori-senpai clung to me, one of her hands even pushed my chest before leaning completely

on me.

I carefully held her by her waist as our kisses continued. A minute or so later, we momentarily paused where we opened our eyes at the same time.

Confusion remained in hers but the trembling already stopped. If I wasn't wrong, she's

probably wondering how I pulled her into this state.

Like always, I put on a genuine smile before mouthing a word, "More?"

With that, Minori-senpai let out a sigh before nodding again. With both of her hands moving

to my cheek, she initiated the resumption of our kisses as she whispered, "Onoda-kun, I'll

have you explain everything to me after this."

"You already understood it, senpai. You're just not acknowledging it."

I managed to get out a reply before silence reigned in the room again with the occasional sound of intimate kisses and breathless sighs.

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