I'm trying to wrap my head around my current situation, but no matter how you slice it, it's all because of the guy who's got me in a tight embrace. Whenever his soft, ticklish breath brushes against the back of my neck, it makes me feel a bit uneasy. His body gradually inched closer to mine, radiating warmth.
"Hey, Kiyoshi, is our relationship really this close?" I could hear the nervousness in my voice, but I didn't have any other option when it seemed like this guy wasn't planning on letting me leave anytime soon.
What happened earlier was incredibly fast, catching me completely off guard. I was left speechless by the sweet words he spoke, and before I knew it, we were thrilled in this peaceful spot. A sturdy tree provided us with shade while we enjoyed a view of the expansive sports field.
"If you truly didn't want it, you would have simply walked away from me or clearly expressed your feelings so that I could understand."
"I'm not sure what happened to me either," my voice returned to its passive state, lacking strength. This was also due to Kiyoshi's attempt to hold my hand intimately.
His current behavior towards me is quite strange. I find it hard to believe that a man and woman can be this close as friends. I've been trying to distract myself, yet I couldn't derail that train of thought:
'Don't we seem like a couple at this moment?...not that I know, but I've seen it in dramas or novels... So, the question is, does Kiyoshi also know about that?'
I quickly learned that not everyone is as inexperienced as I was when I first entered this school. I've been hearing some rumors about third-year students dating people outside of school. Apparently, the new students have been labeling them as "naughty girls." It makes me wonder if I'm now part of that group too.
'I can't believe I didn't see this coming... Kiyoshi and I are supposed to be friends, but now I can't help but question his actions. I need to talk about this and let him know that I'm not okay with what he's doing.'
My mental struggles seemed to be on full display as Kiyoshi's hand gently touched my cheek and then rested on my forehead. His soft voice whispered in my ear, close and comforting.
"What's the matter? Your ears are really red! Are you feeling embarrassed?"
I can't quite decipher the expression on his face, but it feels like he's making fun of me. As a result, my initial nervousness has significantly diminished and has been replaced by an indescribable feeling of irritation.
"Hmph, that's enough, I don't want to put up with your nonsense any longer," I tried to wriggle free from his grasp. But just as I was about to break away, he unexpectedly pulled me in closer, causing me to stumble and rest my head on his thigh.
"What are you doing-" I was on the verge of getting angry, but as soon as I caught sight of his face, I paused for a moment. Instead of mocking me, he wore a sad and tired expression, as if he carried a heavy burden he didn't want to share with anyone.
"I understand that this may seem like a selfish request, but would you mind accompanying me for a moment? Just you, not anyone else," his hand casually invaded my personal space once again as he purposefully caressed my cheek with intimacy.
Let out a deep sigh.
"So, it seems like there might be something bothering you. Mind sharing what's going on?... don't think anything strange, this is because I can't help but be curious when I see your face like that."
I'm not sure if I expressed myself in a natural way, but besides being curious, I also wanted to lend a hand if possible. However, I was too bashful to voice my intentions. As I stole glanced at him, I anxiously awaited his response.
"It seems you don't know about this. President Mari has made the decision to cancel the scheduled holiday for male students."
So that's how it is, which explains why he appears down. Even though I'm not exactly sure about the specifics of how the boys are being punished, I've witnessed Meiko-senpai and Hana-senpai being pretty tough on them multiple times. It's not hard to see why they might be feeling frustrated.
As my attention wavered, Kiyoshi's hand, which had been gently caressing my cheek, shifted its focus to my hair. He gently brushes aside the bangs that obscure my vision.
I felt compelled to voice my objection as he insisted on having me rest my head on his thigh. However, just as he didn't stop leaving me alone, the sunlight filtering through the foliage caught my eye, momentarily blinding me. As I regained vision, the first thing I saw was Kiyoshi's smiling face. I didn't sense any mockery in his smile, just a gentle tenderness.
'Ahhh, I don't understand anymore... what he really wants... if he keeps doing this, I... I'm afraid something inside me will change, something I never knew before.'
"It's great that we bumped into each other. spending time with you really calms me down."
I'm not sure what expression I have on my face at the moment, but it feels like it's burning. I can't really blame the sun for that.
"Well, that's how it is... I can't quite grasp your thoughts, but I can definitely relate to your frustration," I stammered out my response, realizing I couldn't quite match the smoothness of this man's speech. I quickly shifted my attention back to our earlier discussion.
Eventually, we continued our conversation for a bit longer. Mostly, it was Kiyoshi who shared his experiences as a prisoner of the Underground Student Council. Whenever I hear it, my heart aches, and guilt weighs me down. The one responsible for it all is none other than my sister, Mari.
"I've gotten used to it by now, or you could say I don't really care, but after meeting people like you, I feel hopeful again. So when President Mari made that decision, I felt desperate."
"What's the deal?" I asked because I sensed that Kiyoshi had something on his mind, although he appeared uncertain. Consequently, I persisted in urging him to share his thoughts. However, the response he provided caught me completely off guard.
"I was actually thinking about asking you out… but I guess that's not important anymore."