Reira-senpai's voice wavered slightly as she tried to maintain her composure, her arms still crossed tightly over her chest.
Faint flush crept up her neck and the way she avoided my gaze told a different story. One that Chii and Edel picked up on immediately.
"Senpai, you don't have to hide it, you know? Kii has that effect on people. You're not the first to get flustered in his presence." Chii said with a playful grin, popping the cap off her soda with a satisfying hiss. She took a sip before pointing the bottle at Reira-senpai.
Edel nodded enthusiastically from her spot on the sofa, patting the cushion beside her as if inviting Reira-senpai to join her. "Nakanishi-san, it's okay! Ruki likes it when we're honest. Right, Ruki?"
"Alright, you two, don't tease Reira-senpai like that," I said as I stepped behind her. My eyes couldn't help but take in her natural charm that had been further highlighted by the pink flush occupying her neck upward.
Chii glared at me, scolding me for trying to take a side while Edel simply giggled, fully understanding my approach.
Reira-senpai's head snapped toward me, her glasses catching the dim light as she glared. Nevertheless, the intimidating effect was softened by the redness still staining her cheeks.
"Shameless! Don't get full of yourself, Ruki-kun. I'm not jealous. I'm just… surprised, that's all. This place isn't what I expected, and neither are you."
"Surprised in a good way, I hope?" I tilted my head before closing in our distance, my hands landing on the softness of her sides.
She huffed, finally uncrossing her arms to push her glasses up the bridge of her nose. A nervous tic I'd noticed she did whenever she was cornered.
"Maybe. But don't let it go to your head. I'm still deciding if this 'sanctuary' is worth my time."
Reira-senpai muttered. The volume of her voice turned soft as my hands lingered on her sides. The warmth of her body seeped through her uniform and I could feel the subtle quivering in her frame. Part resistance and part something else she wasn't ready to admit.
Nevertheless, she didn't pull away and that spoke louder than her half-hearted protests.
Chii smirked from across the room, "See? You're already warming up to him, senpai. It's only a matter of time."
"Chizuru-chan, don't make it worse," Reira-senpai shot back, though her tone lacked its usual bite. She glanced at me again, her eyes narrowing as if daring me to push her further. "And you, Ruki-kun, stop looking so smug. I'm not one of your conquests."
"Who said anything about conquests?" I replied smoothly as I anchored my chin on her left shoulder at the same time as my arms wrapped around her front, "It's rare to see you this flustered, senpai. Allow me to savor this moment. Have I told you how adorable you are?"
Her glasses fogged up again, and she let out an exasperated groan, swatting my hands away half-heartedly. "You're impossible. All of you are."
She stepped back, putting a little distance between us, but the way her lips twitched upward betrayed her amusement. "I'm far from being adorable, shameless junior. Ugh… Now I'm regretting coming with you here. Am I going to get teased by you three?
Edel giggled again, kicking her legs playfully from the sofa. "Nakanishi-san, I'm on your side. Come sit with me!"
"Kii, let's go check on the garden, stop flirting or we'll get jealous." Chii then called out to me, stretching her arm out with her half-drunk soda bottle.
I chuckled softly at the dynamic unfolding around me. And I'm quite happy to see Edel voluntarily interacting with someone not from the Book Club. She's really opening up to more people now. But well, I'll expect her to cling to me again later.
About that call to her mother, it seems she's being considerate of me, waiting for when I can stay the night with her to do it. That way, she'll be able to properly introduce me to her. And maybe show her how I'm protective of her daughter.
Anyway, Reira-senpai's flustered protests only made her more endearing, and I couldn't resist pushing just a little further. Not to tease her too much, but because her reactions were too genuine to ignore.
She also needed this kind of release, you know? All these years, she only had Nikka-senpai or Enomoto to accompany her there in order to keep hiding from the lecherous gazes of those she could passively charm. Ever since our first interaction, her life had experienced a turn around. And it wasn't all about me, I got her acquainted with more girls who wouldn't see her as some kind of untouchable flower or aloof person.
"Alright, alright," I said, raising my hands in surrender as I stepped back from Reira-senpai. "I'll behave… for now. Chii, let's go check the garden. Edel, keep Reira-senpai company, okay?"
Edel beamed, scooting over on the sofa to make more room. "Nakanishi-san, come sit! It's comfy here, and I'll tell you about Ruki's obsession with potatoes!"
Reira-senpai hesitated, her arms crossing again as she shot me one last warning glance before turning to Edel. "Go, shameless junior. I'll have to scold you later. "
"Noted, senpai," I replied with a grin, turning toward Chii, who was already halfway to the back door leading to the garden plots.
She waved her soda bottle at me impatiently, her pout softening into a smirk as I caught up to her.
"Finally," Chii said, nudging me with her elbow as we stepped outside. "Thought you'd spend the whole visit flirting with Reira-senpai instead of tending to your garden plots."
"Jealous?" I teased, slipping an arm around her waist as we walked toward the small patch of tilled soil behind the clubhouse.
We still didn't have the seeds to plant, so we could only ensure it was properly tended, without grass or weed growing back.
She huffed unhappily but leaned into me anyway, her free hand finding mine again. "Maybe a little. You've been spreading your charm all day. You're not even sparing, Reira-senpai? I'm starting to feel like I need to book an appointment."
I laughed, pulling her closer until her head rested against my shoulder. "You don't need an appointment, Chii. You've got me anytime you want." The source of this content ɪs ɴovelfire.net
Her pout melted into a small smile and she squeezed my hand. "Good answer, Kii. Now, let's get to work. Later, Misaki and maybe Maaya-chi will also come. I have to compete for your attention again."
"What compete? Should I just bring you upstairs? Show you how much I miss you?"
"Hmph. I'd rather wait when I could have you all to myself for the whole night. Kii."
"Alright. That'll come soon. Wednesday?"
"... Yes. Wednesday. We'll sleep over at An-rin's place." Chii muttered softly as she hid her flustered expression by nudging my shoulder.
I didn't say anything else and just led her to the garden.
Naturally, the garden wasn't much to look at yet, it was still desolate but soon, it wouldn't just be filled with root crops, we'd also plant some flowers to decorate it. And eventually, the abandoned greenhouse would also be functional.