79 Entwined
Riri-chan’s lips were on mine.
Soft and warm.
A sweet fragrance, Riri-chan’s scent, wafted through the air.
Riri-chan’s long eyelashes, her eyes closed, were right in front of me.
My first kiss.
The suddenness of it left me speechless.
After a while, our lips naturally parted.
“…”
“…”
Silence between us.
But Riri-chan looked directly at me.
Her eyes seemed to burn hotter than usual.
This… seriousness… is what I wanted.
“R-Riri-chan, this is…”
“This is the answer.”
“The answer…?”
A kiss as a response to a confession.
Is that… what this means?
“Yeah, don’t you understand?”
“Well, I think I do, but… I want to hear you say i—mmn”
Riri-chan didn’t wait for me to finish and covered my mouth with hers again.
The second kiss was more aggressive than the first, her lips devouring mine.
Riri-chan’s lips pressed against mine repeatedly.
Each time, it felt like our saliva mingled, becoming indistinguishable.
It felt… indecent.
The second kiss was long.
“…Haa… Riri-chan, I… I can’t breathe…”
I was nervous because it was my first kiss, and I didn’t know when to breathe.
“Calm down, Suzuna.”
“I can’t! You might be used to this, Riri-chan, but I’ve never done this before…”
“This is my first time too.”
Her face was too close, our bodies pressed together.
So her voice resonated directly in my ears, making my heart pound.
“Suzuna…”
“Eh, ah, wait…?!”
Riri-chan leaned over me.
Before I could resist, I was pushed down, my gaze fixed on the ceiling.
Riri-chan looked down at me, her long hair brushing against my cheek.
I didn’t notice it earlier because of the pain, but the floor against my back was cold.
“R-Riri-chan…? Um, let’s… sit up and talk…?”
I just want to hear her response to my confession.
I have a feeling it will be positive.
So I want to talk to her, not do this.
I tried to push myself up with my elbows.
“No.”
“Oof.”
She pinned my arms to the floor.
Riri-chan was straddling me, and she was stronger than me, so I couldn’t move at all.
“Just stay still.”
Riri-chan’s voice was lower than usual.
It felt like I was seeing a side of her I didn’t know, and I was filled with both anticipation and anxiety.
“Um, what is… this…?”
“It’s your fault, Suzuna. I was trying to hold back, but…”
“H-Hold back… from what…?”
She placed her hand on top of mine.
Not just holding hands, but intertwining our fingers.
“If you bring me to a deserted place like this and suddenly tell me you like me… I can’t stop myself.”
“C-Can’t stop…?”
What is she talking about…?
It seems like we’re on the same page, but also not.
“Listen to me for once.”
Riri-chan’s tongue traced a wet path along my neck.
She moved upwards, her lips brushing against my cheek and then my earlobe.
“Riri-chan, wh-where are you biting…?”
Riri-chan nibbled on my earlobe.
Her warm breath against my skin sent shivers down my spine.
“You always bite me hard enough to leave a mark. This is nothing.”
“That’s not the poi—mmn”
Now Riri-chan’s tongue traced the outline of my ear.
From the outside to the inside, her tongue delved into my ear.
The unfamiliar sensation made me react.
“Suzuna, did you just… moan…?”
Riri-chan’s whisper, mixed with her breath, teased my ear.
“Th-That’s… because you’re… licking me there…”
This doesn’t make sense, this doesn’t make sense.
Please, stop doing strange things.
I can only react instinctively to these unfamiliar sensations.
This is bad, I thought, and put strength into my arms.
Perhaps because my focus on resisting had wavered, my arms, pinned to the floor, lifted slightly.
“Not yet.”
But it was only for a moment.
Riri-chan quickly pinned them down again.
“Ugh.”
And this time, she pinned both my arms together, holding my wrists down with one hand.
I’m so weak.
“You’re the one who started this, Suzuna, so you have to deal with the consequences.”
“Consequences… of what…?”
I feel like Riri-chan is skipping a step.
Maybe it’s my fault, but it feels like the brakes have stopped working.
“I’m going to touch you.”
“Eh?!”
Riri-chan’s free hand lifted my skirt.
I couldn’t see it, but I could tell from the rustling sound and the feeling of air against my skin.
And there’s no doubt about it, since Riri-chan’s gaze was fixed on my lower body.
“You have beautiful legs, Suzuna.”
“Wh-Where are you looking…?!”
My face flushed.
This is embarrassing, so embarrassing.
My legs aren’t meant to be seen by anyone.
“I’m looking at your legs.”
Don’t say it like it’s the most natural thing in the world!
“No, no, no! Put my skirt down!”
“Your legs are thinner than mine. I’m jealous.”
“I didn’t ask for your opinion! Put it down!”
“You’ve been looking at my legs and even biting me. Isn’t it a little unfair to say you don’t want the same?”
Don’t compare me to you, the exhibitionist!
I always keep my skirt below my knees, making sure no one sees.
“Just… stop…”
“This is what you did earlier, Suzuna.”
Riri-chan’s cold fingertips touched my thigh.
But it wasn’t just a touch; she caressed my leg, tracing its shape.
She ran her hand up and down repeatedly, as if to savor the texture of my skin.
“I didn’t… I didn’t touch you like that!”
“Hmm? You think this is… indecent, Suzuna?”
What is she talking about?
“Don’t talk about me like I’m a pervert.”
“You are one.”
Anyone would think that after being licked and then touched like this!
And Riri-chan’s hand kept moving upwards.
Closer and closer to a sensitive area, reaching my inner thigh.
“Riri-chan, that’s…”
This is bad, going any further is bad.
I’m already a mess from having my ear and leg touched; anything more, and I’ll lose my mind.
I instinctively kicked my legs.
“Suzuna… you don’t like it?”
Just as I felt her fingers brush against my underwear, she stopped.
Riri-chan looked into my face, as if trying to confirm something.
Please don’t look at me with such a sad expression.
“B-Because… I don’t know what will happen if you go any further…”
“It’s fine, it’s me.”
“That’s not the point…”
Riri-chan stared at me for a moment, then said,
“You… like me, don’t you?”
“…!”
…That’s not fair.
That’s so unfair.
Using my own words against me like that.
That’s a low blow.
“Suzuna, do you?”
But how should I answer?
It’s not good, and it’s not bad.
But if that’s what Riri-chan wants, then I think it’s fine.
But it’s still embarrassing to admit it.
Completely confused, I looked away.
“…”
“Suzuna, I don’t know if you don’t say anything. I’ll stop if you really don’t like it.”
She’s acting kind, but she’s not kind at all.
Making me decide on such an important matter.
I’ve already stopped struggling, I’ve closed my mouth.
I’ve compromised and chosen silence.
It’s mean of her to make me say it.
There’s no way I can refuse.
She knows that.
“What do you want me to do?”
She whispered like a devil with the voice of an angel.
“…Do what you want.”
That was the best I could do.
80 Say You Like Me
“Do what you want,” I said, putting on a brave face.
“Suzuna.”
And just as Riri-chan’s hand reached for my “Secret place”—
Clatter
The sound of the door opening.
“…Eh?”
A girl’s voice.
““Eh?””
Our voices.
Kanaori Reika had entered the music room.
“What are you two doing?”
D-Did she see…?
Did Kanaori-san see?
Well, Riri-chan was leaning over me, so for better or worse, nothing else should have been visible.
My skirt was also back in place, so she shouldn’t have been able to tell what we were doing.
Riri-chan quickly stood up.
If we play it cool, we might be able to get away with this…
“I-It’s nothing! What are you doing here?”
Riri-chan, you’re panicking too much!
You’re stuttering!
Look, Kanaori-san’s expression hardened…
“Who are you? Don’t call me ‘you,’ it’s rude.”
And Kanaori-san also said something strange.
“Huh? What’s that? What kind of joke is that?”
“…? You’re the one being rude to someone you’ve just met. Do you think I’m the one making a joke?”
Kanaori-san, with a straight face, insisted that she didn’t know Riri-chan.
“It’s Hinase! Hinase! Hinase Riri!”
Kanaori-san’s eyes widened at those words.
“Oh, it’s Hinase-san. I didn’t recognize you.”
“So you’re the one who’s making a joke.”
“No, you weren’t wearing your usual… indecent attire. I didn’t know who you were.”
It’s true that Riri-chan is wearing a maid outfit, not her usual disheveled uniform, but…
“Don’t talk about me like you identify me by my clothes.”
“How else am I supposed to identify you?”
“By my face, obviously!”
“I couldn’t bear to look at someone so… indecent, so I didn’t observe you any further.”
Kanaori-san shook her head and then turned her gaze towards me.
“Anyway… who is the other person?”
I couldn’t run away after being called out by Kanaori-san.
I stood up.
“…Sorry, it’s me.”
“Oh, Amatsuki-san…”
Kanaori-san sounded surprised.
She didn’t expect it to be me, it seems.
“I heard noises coming from the music room, which is usually empty. I thought it was… another couple engaging in inappropriate behavior…”
Kanaori-san looked back and forth between Riri-chan and me.
“What were you two doing here?”
She asked a natural question.
“It’s none of your business.”
Riri-chan brushed her off.
“It is my business. Amatsuki-san has an important appointment, and you’re interrupting her.”
She’s talking about what I told her in the hallway earlier.
“I-It’s fine! That appointment is… over!”
“Excuse me…?”
Kanaori-san tilted her head, looking confused.
“Anyway, we’re leaving now.”
Riri-chan grabbed my hand and started walking.
“Wait, I haven’t heard what you were doing yet.”
But Kanaori-san blocked our path.
Riri-chan faltered for a moment, then…
“This.”
She pointed at her black skirt.
“We were… helping each other… put on our maid outfits.”
“And that’s why you were on top of Amatsuki-san?”
“…That sounds dubious.”
Kanaori-san glared at Riri-chan.
Her eyes were filled with suspicion.
“Is that true, Amatsuki-san?”
Now she was asking for my confirmation.
Maybe she’s worried about me.
“…Yes, that’s what we were doing.”
I’m sorry, Kanaori-san.
I’ll go along with Riri-chan’s lie.
“…I see.”
Kanaori-san sighed, seemingly giving up.
“We have to work at the maid cafe, so we’ll be going now.”
“As you wish.”
I bowed to Kanaori-san and left the music room.
◇◇◇
Riri-chan was holding my hand as we walked.
It’s our usual routine, and yet it felt… different.
“School was a bad idea, wasn’t it?”
Riri-chan spoke in a low voice, only loud enough for me to hear, without turning around.
Remembering what just happened made me feel like I was about to explode.
“Y-Yeah…”
It’s true, we should choose the time and place carefully.
And yet, I’m surprised by how… bold I was, willing to accept it.
But Riri-chan probably feels the same.
Because her fingertips, usually cold, are warm now.
Even though I can’t see her face, I know she’s probably blushing too.
“Let’s go back to the classroom and work.”
“O-Okay…”
Good.
Now I don’t have to be jealous of other people, and I can be with Riri-chan forev—
Wait.
Wait, wait, wait.
Riri-chan kissed me, and she was about to do more, but…
She hasn’t said the important words yet.
“I like you.”
She hasn’t said that yet.
My heart, which had been light just a moment ago, suddenly felt heavy.
This is bad. I’m going to lose it again.
…I need to hear her say it.
“Um, Riri…”
“Speaking of which…”
We spoke at the same time.
Riri-chan, who was walking ahead, stopped, and I stopped too.
Riri-chan turned around and looked at me.
“Suzuna, since when have you liked me?”
“H-Huh?!”
Why is she asking that here?!
We’re still in the special classrooms area, so there aren’t many people around, but it’s not as deserted as the music room.
“R-Riri-chan, what if someone hears you?”
“It’s fine, even if people hear us say ‘like,’ they won’t think it’s that kind of like. They’ll think it’s just as friends. If they think otherwise, they’re the weird ones.”
“Th-That might be true, but…”
It’s still unsettling.
“So, since when?”
“Um, well, that’s…”
What kind of question is that?
I’ve never thought about “since when.”
I thought she was cute and a good person from the beginning, but I also thought she was too popular for me.
My heart raced when I went to her house for the first time, and if that’s love, then maybe it was then…
But I also think it started when I got jealous of Tachibana-san.
Or maybe the jealousy during the sports festival and the cultural festival was stronger…
I don’t know.
But I became clearly aware of it just now.
“…Recently, I guess.”
I gave a vague answer, summing it up.
It’s a gradual thing, a blurry line.
“Then we’re not a good match.”
“…Eh?”
Riri-chan frowned, as if troubled.
Not a good match.
Does that mean… I’m not good enough for her?
I know that.
But I couldn’t help it.
That’s why I confessed.
“Am I… not enough?”
“Yeah, not at all.”
So what happened earlier… was just playing around?
That kind of ending…
“Because, in my case—”
Riri-chan started walking again.
She stood next to me and cupped my ear.
“Since that day, when we first met in town and you saved me… I’ve always liked you, Suzuna.”
Her breath against my ear was warm.
Riri-chan took a step back.
My temperature skyrocketed, and she smiled, watching my reaction.
“So you, saying ‘recently,’ are still a novice. My feelings have been around for much longer.”
“S-S-So that means…”
My mind went blank, and I couldn’t speak properly.
“Ah, no, that’s not the right phrasing either…”
Not the right phrasing?!
My rapidly rising temperature plummeted—
“I really like you, Suzuna. Please go out with me.”
—And then exploded.
“Ehehe.”
And Riri-chan herself was laughing.
And…
“You should have whispered that! What if someone heard you?!”
Fortunately, no one heard, but it was a blatant confession.
“It’s fine.”
“It’s not!”
This is bad.
“More importantly, what do you think, Suzuna?”
“What do I…?”
I was the one who confessed, but now it’s like she’s the one who confessed to me.
It’s strange, and the answer is obvious, and yet…
“…Y-Yes, please.”
“Yes! We’ll be together forever!”
Riri-chan beamed.
I really do like her.
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