For the following minutes, the situation failed to prepare. It became my turn to probe her intention yet no matter what I said, Kazuha-nee would simply wave it off or outright ignore the logic in my questions.
She stuck with her explanation about how she’s willing to be stolen by me without giving a proper reason why.
Because of that, I gave up trying and adopted a different approach. Since the woman was so immersed in acting that she enjoyed the comfort of my shoulder and being next to me, I upped it another notch by disengaging my locked arm and letting it slide from her back to her waist. Furthermore, I used my other arm to grab her hand and interlocked our fingers together.
Her first reaction was to squirm her way out of it but almost instantly, as if that reaction was just a fluke, Kazuha-nee became more way into it.
For all I know, she must be playing a game with me. A game with unknown rules and stakes. If Ogawa would see this scene, will he finally fall into the darkness? Will it be the birth of emo-gawa?
Somehow, that’s kind of funny to think about.
Anyway, since I stopped probing and just committed to the act that she started, I didn’t let our time be wasted over this. I brought up various topics but mostly, it’s all about understanding her character.
As though she prepared for it in advance, her answers came as soon as I brought up a topic.
For example, her age. She’s within the range of Shio and Eguchi-sensei. Then her career… she’s formerly a nurse but at the moment, she’s working at home, doing online tutorials. She even added a detail saying how popular she is which leads to her class becoming more than a premium which equals having flexible times. Still, people lined up to take a lesson from her.
And that’s the reason why she could act carefree most of the time.
“Hmm? Do you want to know more about me, Ruki-kun?” Upon noticing that I stopped asking for her personal history, the woman smilingly lifted her head wearing a look of eagerness to bare more of her story to me.
Although I couldn’t really confirm if they were true or not, I doubt she would tell a lie. I have Hina that could confirm those pieces of information about her, after all.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“I think that’s enough, Kazuha-nee. This situation isn’t improving at all. You never asked the questions I thought you were going to ask. Instead, you act this intimate even though this should be our third time meeting each other. I might be a child in your eyes but only idiots will take this situation with you as a dream come true.”
As I laid all of those out to her, I let go of her wonderful waist and pulled my hand back before distancing myself from her.
Kazuha-nee didn’t react that much to it. She watched in interest but never made a move again.
A while later, she crossed her arms and giggled for the third time.
“And here I am wondering how far you are going to take advantage of the chance I’ve given. Ruki-kun, your self-restraint is admirable.”
Is she admitting that this is a test? Or is she just commenting on my performance? Perhaps neither. I can’t really get a proper read of her intention.
“Oh. If only you can read my mind, you’ll be speechless.” I answered along with a shameless smile.
“Really? Let me guess, have you stripped me bare and pressed me under you?” Kazuha-nee twirled her hair through her finger, looking like she truly contemplated that answer.
Too bad for her, she still fell short.
“More than that. I imagined Kazuha-nee riding me. I see. you’re underestimating my imagination.” I mockingly clicked my tongue while I proudly puffed up my chest as I declared that.
And upon hearing it and watching my act, Kazuha-nee’s laugh naturally came out, “That shamelessness is hilarious, Ruki-kun. You’re right. In this place, that’s the second most ideal position if we’re going to do it.”
As expected, she’s not really the kind of woman who’d act like a maiden through and through. It’s only her appearance but deep inside, she’s probably wilder than some of my girls. Just that, her experience was still up in the air.
Although her actions put her in some kind of an ‘easy girl’ label in my mind, it is, in the end, just an act on her part.
Hell, even until this moment, I couldn’t fully understand this woman.
Anyway, we’re derailing to the main point again. I better steer it back in the right direction.
“So, have I passed your test?” I said, acting like I was already convinced that she truly tested me.
Kazuha-nee pursed her lips and outright put that down, “I told you, Ruki-kun. I’m not testing you. This is all for this…”
As her voice trailed there, Kazuha-nee approached me again but this time, she didn’t only go for my ear to whisper the continuation of her words, “… little act for my little brother.”
An act for Ogawa?
Wait. Could it be…?
Confirming the doubt in my head, Kazuha-nee pulled her phone tucked within that deep crevice created by her chest. She then showed me the screen and sure enough, there was an ongoing call there.
This woman… She acted all that out for Ogawa to hear. And here I was, a clueless guy who played along with her.
However, that still didn’t answer her reason for doing this. What was the act for? To make her little brother jealous or…?
Don’t tell me Kazuha-nee is like that…?
“That expression. Ruki-kun, you get it, don’t you?” With a meaningful smile on her lips, the girl tapped the end call button on her phone. And as soon as that happened, the door we used to enter this place opened, revealing Ogawa, red-faced, not with anger but embarrassment.
“I knew it! Aneki, you’re playing with me again!” The guy pointed at his sister as though he completely understood the situation.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmThis guy… Most likely, he’s thinking that everything was just an act and we were never close or even intimate with each other.
As I waited for Kazuha-nee to react, the woman stood behind me and without warning, hugged me from behind before slipping her head from my underarm.
“Kazu-kun? Did you come here to see this?”
“That… G-get away from him! O-onoda, stay away from my sister!”
“Dude, my hands are tied,” I answered with a shrug which made Kazuha-nee laugh once more.
This devilish older sister… I finally understand her deal.
She’s the type to torment her little brother…
“Kazu-kun. Do you know? I’ve had boyfriends before but none of them was as stalwart as Ruki-kun here. They never tried knowing what women liked to experience. That’s why… I’ve never been in a long-term relationship. The longest is a month and the shortest, three hours.”
Okay? How is that relevant in this situation?
“Like I said, if ever Ruki-kun decides to steal me, I’m sorry but I’ll go along with him.”
“Aneki!” Upon hearing that, Ogawa’s face transformed from being flustered to utter despair.
But to his saving grace, Kazuha-nee let go of me as she went down the steps and stood before Ogawa.
Putting her hands on top of his head, she whispered, “I’m kidding. There’s no way I will like Ruki-kun as my little brother. He’s just as shameless as me, we don’t fit.”
However, while she saved the guy from falling into despair, she drove another nail in his coffin, “Ah, right. I now understand why Hina-chan switched over to him. Ruki-kun is every woman’s ideal boyfriend. He’s considerate yet he’s not afraid to match his girl’s wavelength. What do you think? Should I steal him from Hina-chan?”