Hayashi Maki's bold hug closed the distance between them in an instant.
Kasumigaoka Utaha's cheeks turned pink—an unfamiliar flutter in her chest. But she was still a reserved girl at heart. She took a slow breath, patted her full chest lightly, and finally spoke.
"Hayashi-kun, don't just grab a girl like that next time, okay? You'll scare her."
"Did I scare you, Utaha-senpai?"
"Of course I did. But since I said we're even, I won't hold it against you—besides, I was the rude one first."
Rushing up to grab a boy's head and muss his hair out of nowhere wasn't exactly first-meeting etiquette. So yes, she'd been rude. But—what could she do? He was that talented, that impressive. The writer's block that had plagued her for months—he'd dispelled it in a few words.
Those reversals, that melodramatic love-triangle plot—those were exactly what her current novel lacked!
All this time, no boys around her ever moved her. Even Satō—popular, lively—she refused without hesitation. She didn't feel anything; her heart didn't skip. She wasn't the type to settle and was careful in choosing a partner.
But Hayashi Maki's appearance made her calm heart pound uncontrollably. Excited, she'd acted impulsively and done something improper—like slipping off a shoe and stepping on the top of his foot in black stockings.
Maybe because, in his book, Tsukimi Miyabi often expressed her sulking and coquettishness by gently stepping on the male lead's foot, like flirting—so she'd done it without thinking.
A romantic literary girl loves to slip herself into the heroine's role, into the novel's setting. And Hayashi Maki's "right medicine for the illness" hit Utaha squarely in the heart—so the hug actually brought them closer, and the girl didn't dislike it.
Watching the slightly shy Utaha, Hayashi Maki smiled. "Then thank you for being so magnanimous, Senpai. But… I think you shouldn't do that to boys again. It's very… heart-stirring."
"And, well, you know—I got impulsive and couldn't help hugging you."
"Erm… sorry."
"Pfft—okay, let's stop apologizing and call it even. But… I haven't done that with any other boy, you know."
Utaha said it with a smile and a hint of sultry grace—an ojou-sama poise that made Hayashi Maki's gaze heat.
No denying it: Kasumigaoka Utaha's charm drew him in.
They chatted a bit more about plot. Then Hayashi Maki remembered he had something to do and excused himself.
Utaha looked at him, a little reluctant. "Alright, next time then. I'll keep mining your brain for plot points, kouhai—be ready."
Hayashi Maki nodded, smiling. "With pleasure. Also… Utaha-senpai, I want to be impulsive one more time."
He spread his arms, pulled her into a firm hug—then turned and ran.
Utaha stared after him, heart spiking. "Hayashi Maki, get back here!"
What did he mean, "impulsive one more time"? She was a girl—you don't just hug her!
Puffed-cheeked, she glared at his back for a moment—then couldn't help laughing. Pressing a hand to her full chest, she murmured, "Kouhai, if you make your senpai's heart race like this… you'd better take responsibility."
…
Feeling fresh and bright, Hayashi Maki headed up to the rooftop.
There were still thirty minutes before class. He spotted Yukinoshita Yukino sitting on the bench, eyes closed—on purpose.
With a mischievous smile, he strode over, sat beside her, and immediately drew her into his arms; with a pull, he lifted her and set her on his lap.
Yukino flushed and glared at him in embarrassed anger. "What are you doing? I don't think I provoked you today."
"No—you did. This bench is my exclusive seat. How dare you occupy it? I have to punish you!"
Yukino's eyes widened. "It obviously belongs to the school. Since when is it yours?"
Hayashi Maki shamelessly lowered his head, leaning close. "If I say it's mine, it's mine…"
Yukino shot him a look of disdain, that cool expression stirring a conqueror's urge. Hayashi Maki chuckled. "Alright, I won't make things up. No excuses—Yukino-chan, I missed you. I just want to kiss you."
And he didn't hesitate, sealing her rosy lips.
Yukino's face burned; after a few futile little punches, her arms slowly slid around his neck and her eyes drifted shut.
She didn't know what was wrong with her. She'd sworn yesterday she wouldn't come to the rooftop again. But she had no friends in class, and the noise there ruined her lunch. Before she knew it, she'd come up here. At first she was nervous, afraid Hayashi Maki would already be waiting.
But more than an hour passed and the rascal didn't show. Instead, she felt strangely hollow. Not wanting to go back yet, she sat on the bench, letting the wind calm her mood. Then—he suddenly came anyway. Flustered, she reflexively closed her eyes and pretended to sleep. But she underestimated just how brazen he was—he picked her up without a word and even said she needed "punishment" for hogging his seat. When she scorned him, he dropped the act completely: said he missed her, wanted to kiss her—and did so.
What a scoundrel. A shameless demon.
Cursing him in her heart, Yukino's cheeks burned, but her pale hands clutched his neck. Passive though it was, the warmth made her feel oddly at ease.
After a long while, they parted. Hayashi Maki gazed at the rosy-cheeked, breathless Yukino in his arms and felt his heart sway. His eyes drifted to that troublesome bow at her collar, and he slowly dipped his head. His lips brushed her white throat.
"Mm… you bully…"
Yukino tilted her delicate chin up, a small hand pressing tensely on his head. As the red bow fell aside, Hayashi Maki swallowed and said, deadpan:
"Yukino-chan, I'm helping you become even more exceptional. Some things require persistence—stick with them and they work."
Yukino kept her eyes shut and said nothing; she was far too embarrassed to speak. And even if she refused—wouldn't he do it anyway?
While she hesitated, Hayashi Maki leaned down again, grazing her elegant collarbone—then, with "expert technique," set about helping the second heiress make some "positive growth."
~~~
Almost 300! Let's try again!
For Every 100 Powerstone = 1 Bonus Chapter!
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 220+ Chapters Ahead of Others!