A few minutes later, I found us a not-so-quiet café near the train station. Nevertheless, it was a cozy place with soft jazz music playing in the background and tables sparsely spaced enough to give Yuika-senpai the sense of privacy she needed.
After ordering the cafe's specialty, a warm cup of lavender mint tea for her and a strong black coffee for myself, I led her to a corner table,, which I deemed to have the highest privacy.
The café was cozy, with walls painted in a soothing shade of mint green and decorated with potted plants that gave off a faint, earthy scent. The jazz music played softly in the background, its rhythm was soothing to one's ears. It was the kind of place that whispered 'serenity' with every sip of the aromatic tea.
It reminded me somewhat of the cafe I went to with Juri back then.
"Senpai, are you okay?"
Opening the conversation with the same question I'd already asked her before, I was aiming for a gentle start, one that would take away her mind from the unpleasantness of her encounter.
"I am. You came to get me. That's... all that matters."
Yuika-senpai nodded with her eyes glistening with gratitude. I couldn't help but smile warmly at her words as I once again reached for her hand, using my thumb to gently rub the soft spot on her palm.
"That's good to hear then. Now let's put it behind us. By the way, I failed to say this earlier but you look so beautiful today, senpai. I wanted to use more flowery words, but I think 'beautiful' is enough to convey it," I said with a gentle smile, watching as she blushed slightly at the compliment.
"Y-you look great too, Onoda-kun. Your haircut suits you," She said shyly, her eyes briefly flickering to my new look.
"You noticed? It was only trimmed though."
"Uhm... It's noticeable, you're more... handsome?" Coupled with an awkward laugh, Yuika-senpai tried complimenting me more.
Somehow, she was so adorable . And I'm glad she's pretty much forgotten what happened. She's starting to relax again.
Soon, the waiter arrived with our drinks, placing the steaming cup of tea in front of her and the coffee before me. The rich, nutty aroma of the coffee filled the air, but it was the soft scent of lavender that lingered, mingling with the sweetness of her presence.
After thanking the waiter, I urged Yuika-senpai to take a sip of her tea. The warm liquid successfully soothed her rattled nerves as she closed her eyes and let out a small sigh of relief.
I ended up watching her enjoy her drink and I got caught by her.
She pouted and then pointed at my drink, "You should try yours too, Onoda-kun." Newest update provided by novel⁂fire.net
"Sorry, I got distracted by how adorable you are," I said with a chuckle, picking up my coffee and taking a sip. The rich flavor coated my tongue, giving me a jolt of energy, and replenishing what I've exerted from the small scuffle.
"Geez. You're so cheeky, Onoda-kun. Your tongue never stops, does it?"
"It's merely stating facts though. Besides, I'm enjoying admiring the blush on your cheeks, senpai," I teased, watching the shade of her face deepen as she tried to hide her face by lifting her cup again.
But because of how hurried she did that, her hand shook slightly, sloshing some tea onto her clothes.
I hurriedly stood up, picked a napkin and gently dabbed at the area where the tea had spilled. Her cheeks were burning redder than a ripe tomato as she looked down at her shirt, a few drops of tea staining the fabric.
"Senpai, it didn't burn you, did it?" I asked with concern, my voice low and comforting.
She shook her head, her eyes not leaving the stain.
"Let's go to the bathroom, I'll help you clean up."
Upon hearing that, Yuika-senpai's eyes widened just a bit, a mix of embarrassment and something else I couldn't quite put my finger on. She nodded, and together we headed to the café's bathroom, her hand in mine.
Only when we stepped in did I realize the blunder with my words.
Damn it, Ruki! When did you become oblivious?! I nagged at myself inwardly.
But it was too late, we were already inside.
I glanced at Yuika-senpai, her hand covering the part of her chest that had been stained.
Should I step out and let her deal with it? But then again, she agreed when I offered...
Yuika-senpai and I were now standing in the cramped café bathroom, the air thick with the scent of mint and lavender from her tea. She looked up at me with those wide doe eyes, her cheeks stained red with embarrassment.
"Uhm. Let's see, what can we use here?" I said, looking around the tiny bathroom. There wasn't much, just a sink, a mirror, and a few towels.
"I-it's okay. I-I can do it," Yuika-senpai stuttered, reaching for the towel dispenser.
But before she could, I grabbed one and handed it to her with a gentle smile. "Here, let me help."
Her eyes searched mine for a brief moment, filled with something akin to hope and relief.
With trembling hands, she took the towel, and I stepped aside and turned around, giving her space. I heard the sound of the sink opening and then the rustling of fabric as she began to wipe the tea away from her shirt.
"Senpai, are you sure you don't want me to help?"
What am I asking, really? I should just shut up, right? Yet, somehow, I couldn't help but be drawn to the vulnerability she was displaying right now. It was like watching a caterpillar transform into a butterfly right before my eyes, except she was more like a kitten that had just fallen into a puddle.
I thought she was not going to answer but then I heard her. Her voice was so small and tremulous, I could hear her heart beating through the fabric of her shirt.
"O-Onoda-kun... Can you... help me?"
It was barely a whisper, but it echoed through the small bathroom like a shout. I turned around, seeing her looking at me with a certain glint in her eyes. She was standing there, her shirt half lifted, exposing her stomach. The fabric clung to her skin slightly due to the spilled tea.
Without another word, I stepped closer, taking the towel from her and started to gently wipe the stain away. Her skin was soft, almost as soft as the silk of her shirt. Each press of the towel brought her closer to me as the warmth of her body seeped through the fabric. I could smell the lavender tea on her skin, mixing with the faint scent of her sweat.
This temptation was too great and obviously, it's not just happening to me. It's also affecting Yuika-senpai. As her forehead rested against my shoulder, she pressed herself closer, allowing my hand holding the towel to slip further up, just grazing the underside of her breast.
Her body quivered slightly but she didn't pull away. Instead, she leaned into me more, her hand holding onto my wrist, guiding the movements of my hand with the towel.
I felt a strange power in this moment, the kind that came with knowing you could corrupt the purest of hearts... Really, I'm the worst. I already corrupted Misaki and Marika. And now, here's Yuika-senpai.
But she's not just anyone. She's been through so much, and here I was, standing in a position to either comfort or... I don't know. I was torn between the desire to help her feel safe and the temptation to push her boundaries. I could see the tension in her body, the way she leaned into me, searching for something more. It was like she was begging me to take control, to show her that not all touches had to be feared. That with me, she didn't need to feel frightened anymore.