A few minutes later, I opened the door and found Azusa standing there with her arms crossed. She scanned me from top to bottom with her eyes lingering slightly on my crotch.
Well, there's no way I could calm it down right away and… do I need to be embarrassed in front of her? Obviously not.
The girl's lips twitched as she met my eyes again. Moments later, her sharp eyes narrowed further as she craned her neck, trying to peer past my shoulder.
At this point, Hanabi had just scrambled off the bed in a flurry of goofy panic. Her one-piece dress was hastily tugged back into place as she didn't want me to leave her on the bed. Although I could've fixed it for her, the goofball herself told me to hurry and answer the door before Azusa pushes it open.
Her long black hair was a wild mess, the ribbon now clutched in her fist like a guilty secret, and her cheeks burned a furious red that spread down to her neck.
She stood behind me, her chest pressed on my back while heaving slightly as she tried to calm her emotions down. Maybe if not for not wanting to make a scene in front of Azusa, she'd also wrap her arms around my waist and lock me in a possessive grip.
Unfortunately, Hanabi wasn't as shameless as me yet.
Before Azusa could say anything, I reached for her chin, lifting her head slightly to get her to look at me again.
She sneered at first before pouting.
Ignoring that, I put on my usual unaffected smile.
"Senpai, what is it? It's only twenty minutes. Are you always this impatient?"
"Hmph. Impatient? You slipped away with that girl right as we finished dinner. Is that how a host should act? Shouldn't you accommodate all of us? Especially this queen."
The girl's eyes trembled slightly as she huffed, acting unbothered by my touch. Crossing her arms in front of her, her ample chest became strained slightly against the tight blouse. Her high ponytail swayed with the motion as she shifted her weight, thighs pressing together to ease whatever emotion she was holding back.
She's calling herself 'queen' now? Elizabeth will not be happy to have another queen in their midst. I can already imagine a rivalry forming between them. One was a chuunibyou who could definitely act her part, while the other, an egotistical girl who believed herself superior in every aspect.
"Accommodate. Right. What could I do? This goofball dragged me away. You should've stopped her, no?" I teased as my thumb brushed her lower lip, feeling it quiver under my touch. She tried to bite it – playful and defiant – but I pulled back just in time, smirking wider.
Azusa's cheeks flushed a deeper pink. Her egotistic mask, while still on, was already showing a few cracks. Of course, that's only visible to me.
"Tch, jealous? Of that goofball? As if! I just... don't like being ignored. You owe me attention too, shameless junior. Nao-senpai said this sleepover was for fun, not for you to hole up with one girl."
Ah. Deny as she might, she still came off as jealous. Well, what do I expect? This girl's fixation on me had been thoroughly amplified just from our few meetings that always ended with her surrendering to me.
Back then, I told her I was rewarding her. And she took it as her win while asking for more. She never believed she was losing out at all.
She's conveniently ignoring the notion that I was intentionally relenting to her. That's how she was able to keep up this pretense. Deep inside, however, Azusa had long fallen under my charm.
Ah… Right. That sounded conceited of me. Forget that.
Behind me, Hanabi peeked out like a curious puppy, her goofy grin peeking through the embarrassment as she also tried to appear normal.
She clutched her ribbon in one hand, the other still fisted in the back of my shirt, her still-sensitive breasts brushing my back with each breath.
"Hehe, Azusa-chan, you're totally jealous! I was just… showing babe my surprise. Right?"
"Your surprise? Does it need you two to stay in this room for twenty minutes? And…"
Azusa's voice trailed off as her sharp eyes zeroed in on Hanabi's disheveled state. The wild tangle of long black hair, the flushed cheeks that hadn't faded and the way the goofball's one-piece dress clung slightly askew, one strap slipping off her shoulder to reveal the lacy edge of her white bra.
The egotistic girl's high ponytail whipped as she tilted her head, her arms uncrossing to plant her hands on her hips. Her tight blouse strained further, the buttons threatening to pop from the motion, and her high-waisted skirt rode up just enough to flash more of those skin-colored stockings hugging her thighs.
"And what? Your 'surprise' left you looking like you just wrestled a tornado. Don't tell me you two were…"
Hanabi squeaked, ducking halfway behind me again as she clutched my shirt tighter. "N-Nothing happened! Right, babe? We were just… reading! Yeah, reading a super old letter. That was totally innocent!"
Her voice cracked on the last word. It was so goofy and unconvincing. The most update n0vels are published on Novᴇl_Fire(.)net
I chuckled, not bothering to correct the goofball. I stepped aside just enough to let Azusa get a full view of the bed, rumpled sheets, and pillows unorganized which truly looked like we were just rolling on that bed a few seconds ago.
"Senpai, you're free to join if you're that curious. The more the merrier. Or maybe… you also want to talk to me alone? Babe, will you be fine with that?"
Azusa's face exploded in crimson, her egotistic facade cracking as she stomped one foot, the heel of her shoe clicking sharply on the floor. "J-Join?! You shameless junior, how dare you suggest something so… so vulgar! I'm not some desperate girl to beg you for attention!"
On the other hand, Hanabi shook her head. Clearly, she didn't want our moment to end yet. Although we got interrupted, the girl remained in the mood to deepen our bond.
However, when she saw Azusa about to turn around and leave, Hanabi's good nature kicked in like a reflex. She reached out, grabbing the egotistic girl's wrist before she could storm off in a huff. "W-Wait, Azusa-chan! Don't go. It's not like that. Come in. I finished showing him my surprise. I can leave you two alone..."
She paused for a moment, tugging my shirt to have me glance back at her, "And babe, I'll... wait downstairs with Nao-senpai and Sister Akane."
This girl. This is another form of consideration that my girls had already picked up. But it's more natural for Hanabi. After all, she may be a goofball and truant but she's a kind girl. It didn't really look like she was regretting what happened between us there. She's simply suppressing her desire.
Hanabi's fingers lingered on my shirt for a second, her goofy grin flickering back as she gave me a quick, playful wink. Her way of saying 'I'll get you back for this later, babe'.
Then she let go, smoothing down her one-piece dress with shaky hands, the hem. She tied her ribbon back haphazardly into her long black hair as she bounced past Azusa with exaggerated nonchalance.
"Hehe, all yours, Azusa-chan! Stop acting like a queen and tell him what you truly feel. Babe will appreciate that!" She called over her shoulder, teasing the egotistic girl who was still processing what just happened.
I thought of grabbing the girl's wrist to prevent her from leaving but alas, she understood my character perfectly. She quickly dashed away and disappeared on the stairs.
Azusa stood frozen in the doorway, her high ponytail swaying like a banner of defiance as she glared in the same direction before whipping her gaze back to me.
Her arms crossed tighter under her ample chest before she loosened them up and sighed.
"Tch, that goofball… acting like she owns you," She muttered, her voice sharp but breathy. The egotistic edge was dulled by the sense of defeat that she probably felt from Hanabi.
"You didn't sound like you're pissed, senpai. So, you also appreciate kindness, huh?"
"What do you think of me? A boorish person who doesn't know how to appreciate kindness? Tch, shameless junior. Don't put words in my mouth."
She took a step forward as she reached for the hem of my shirt before leaning her forehead on my chest as she whispered, "I… appreciate it. Fine. That girl is too nice for her own good. Happy now?"
"Mhm. This is why I like you, senpai. Even if you can't admit how you keep losing against me, you'll never act in a way that will demean other people's good intentions." I placed a hand on her head, patting it gently. "So, shall we talk here at the door or… do you want to come in?"
"Don't patronize me, shameless junior." She lightly hit my chest and then pushed me with zero force behind it.
In any case, I played along, taking a few steps back as I pulled her in before gently closing the door behind her.
Let's hear this girl out first. Pampering Hanabi can still be continued later.