Time seemed to stop as Reira-senpai's eyes widened for a split second, the playful defiance in them softening into something more vulnerable and more unguarded.
The faint flush on her cheeks deepened and her lips parted like she was about to fire back with another quip. However, the words failed to come out. Instead, her free hand rested lightly on my chest, grasping my uniform as if she didn't want to let go.
"Disciplinary Officer, huh? But where's your armband?" She forced a smirk as she tried to act unbothered, "You're not wearing it, you have no authority to tell me not to run down the stairs, Ruki-kun."
I grinned, loosening my grip on her waist but I remained holding her close, enough for our breath to mingle. "So, you're going to play like that, senpai. What if I pull out my armband? You can check my pocket, you know?" The source of thɪs content is NoveI-Fire.ɴet
Her eyes narrowed, but the corners of her mouth twitched upward, betraying her amusement. "You're still not wearing it. Case closed."
She then stuck her tongue out as she wriggled out of my hold. But upon finding my hand was firmly stuck around her waist, Reira-senpai lightly hit my chest.
"Ruki-kun, don't tell me you're going to keep holding me . What if someone comes? How will you explain our situation?"
I tilted my head as I chuckled. With the way her gaze flickered away for a moment and the visible tension in her shoulders, she's definitely not used to being close to someone . Just like my previous observations of her, she's pretty much innocent despite her being a natural seductress.
Because she'd still look enticing even without putting in an effort to present herself, she never truly experienced getting close to someone of the opposite gender.
We could argue that Enomoto didn't count as well. That guy merely offered her a refuge, away from the prying eyes of lustful boys, to accompany his childhood friend, Nikka-senpai, in the Alchemy Research Club. It's a fair exchange between them.
But then, she encountered me. Or rather, Enomoto somehow got us to meet. If not for that one instance, she'd still be locked away in that gloomy clubroom as they do their experiments with chemicals.
"How? Simple. I'll just claim to be your boyfriend, senpai." I ended that with a smirk that got Reira-senpai speechless.
She stared at me as if I had just declared something incomprehensible before her fingers, still locked with mine, tightened, putting all of her force into it.
"H-how could you?! That's not good, Ruki-kun!"
"Not good? Ouch, senpai, you're breaking my heart here," I put on an exaggerated pained expression before leaning in closer.
Her eyes focused on my lips before she gathered herself, her pout deepening as she tried to regain control of the situation.
"What's so bad about me claiming you? I think we'd make a pretty convincing couple. It'll also stop those guys who only know how to look at you with their perverse eyes."
Reira-senpai's cheeks flared, and she swatted my chest again, though there was no real force behind it. "As if that's going to happen! Whether or not I'm taken, they'll still be ensnared by my… charm."
She hesitated to say that word. She recognized her natural charm but she didn't want to be so open about it that it'd feel like she's bragging about it.
"I know they will. But what if I deal with them for you? You know. Put me to work. I'd love to help my favorite senpai. With my current reputation, what's another rumor about me? It's not going to weigh me down."
Once again, her mouth opened and closed, not knowing how to respond to that.
In the end, she brought her forehead down on my shoulder as she whispered in exasperation, her voice muffled slightly.
"Don't just say stuff like that out of nowhere, Ruki-kun. I appreciate the thought… But I can't accept it. I won't use you as my shield."
Little by little, she wiggled closer, making it easier for my arm to slide further up her back and hold her closer.
"Alright. I'll honor your wish, senpai. But I won't retract that offer. If I can help you. I won't hesitate to do it."
Reira-senpai raised her head and stared straight into my eyes as if trying to figure out what I was truly thinking. Eventually, she let out a small sigh as she reached for my cheek, pinching it lightly, "Ruki-kun, I swear, you're gonna give me a headache."
She took a step back and slid out of my embrace. However, she didn't let go of my hand and resumed pulling me down the next set of stairs. Her steps were a little quicker now as if she was trying to outrun the flustered feeling I'd sparked. "Come on, we're supposed to be getting drinks, not… whatever this is."
"Whatever this is? Sounds like you're running away from me, senpai. But at the same time, you're not. Tell me, what do you see me as?" I pressed on, keeping pace with her easily.
Reira-senpai froze momentarily before turning her head to me. She pursed her lips as she seemed to be burning my serious expression in her memory.
"Ruki-kun… You're my favorite junior… someone who makes things complicated. But in a good way, I think. You're not just some junior who stirs up trouble. You're… I don't know, you're you. And that's the problem."
I raised an eyebrow as my lips gradually spread into a grin. "And how is that a problem, senpai?"
She groaned, yanking her hand free to cover her face, though I could see the smile she was trying to hide. "Ugh, stop it! You know what I mean. You make me think about things I didn't want to think about. Like… like how I feel when you're around. Or when you're not. It's annoying."
Alright. That sounded genuine of her. It's her honest feelings. And although I was expecting it, it still caught me off guard.
I stared at her, taking in the way her hair fell over her shoulder and the way her eyes nervously shifted back and forth.
Reira-senpai was always so composed, so effortlessly alluring, but right now, she was letting me see past that, even if it was just a glimpse.
"Annoying, huh?" I closed in again, but not as boldly as earlier. Just enough for me to deliver my voice without invading her personal space. "Sounds like I'm getting under your skin, senpai. That's not such a bad place to be."
With that, her face flushed red again and her glasses fogged up slightly. She took a small step back, then quickly returned to my side before bumping shoulders with me, "Sometimes it's so hard to keep up with you, Ruki-kun."
"You don't have to keep up," I said softly, reaching out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Just be you. That's more than enough."
For a heartbeat, Reira-senpai didn't move. She just stared at me with an unreadable expression. Then, like she'd snapped out of a trance, she shook her head and pushed past me, her voice a little too bright.
"Okay, that's enough of your smooth talk! Drinks, Ruki-kun. Focus. We're not here to flirt in the stairwell."
I laughed, falling into step beside her again, letting her set the pace. "Sure thing, senpai. But just so you know, I'm pretty good at multitasking."
She shot me a glare, but the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her. "I know that. You've displayed it multiple times already!"
"You liked it, right?"
Reira-senpai swiftly replied as I dodged her playful swat as we continued on our way out of the Club Building and into the vending machine area nearby.
I stopped teasing her and diligently picked the drinks my girls wanted. Well, Mina would surely scold me since she's still preparing more tea. I'd drink that instead. Like I always do.
Once we're done, I carried the bag filled with cans of drinks while Reira-senpai tried to snatch it from my hand.
Of course, she failed. Instead, I stretched my free hand to her. She only hesitated for a moment before holding it again as we returned to the Club Building.
"Alright, Ruki-kun. You have a place to visit, right? You didn't deny it earlier."
"Well, I do. But are you sure? I can visit them later."
"Just go. It's not as if I am ignorant of how close you are to a lot of girls. They must've been waiting for you too."
"Then, why don't I introduce you to them?"
"And then what? Make them jealous of me? No thanks." Reira-senpai waved her hand dismissively but the way her ear reddened, our continued banter was already affecting her a lot.
Maybe after this day, I might find her more assertive. That's a good thing, right?
After reaching the second floor, we continued on a hallway and turned a corner, reaching the Student Support Club where Arisa and Izumi should still be working tirelessly.