"You also know that I'm just sick.
I just came back from the hospital, and I'm still a little weak. It's normal to waste a little time. Why are you so anxious?"
After flicking Okino Rinka's forehead, Sasaki Fuyumi took out his mobile phone from his pants pocket and glanced at the time:
"It's not too late. Don't knock on the door next time. You..."
Glancing vaguely at the girl's chest, which was not even a third of Otome's, he swallowed back what he wanted to say.
Fortunately, Rinka, who was being lectured by Sasaki at this time, looked back at her brother, so she did not notice his very rude look.
Turning to her brother and seeing that he had no intention of defending her or asking where Otome was, the girl felt a mix of happiness and sadness.
But before she could turn around, she heard extremely familiar footsteps and a questioning voice coming from behind.
"What are you guys doing standing here?"
At the same time, she also noticed that her brother's originally absent-minded expression suddenly became excited and focused.
Seeing her brother acting like this, Okino Rinka didn't have any happy thoughts in her heart, and even the complicated expression on her face became extremely gloomy in an instant.
However, because her back was to Sasaki and her head was slightly lowered, no one except Okino Kazuki, who was in front of her, could see her gloomy look, which was completely opposite to her usual lively and energetic look.
But because the latter's attention was focused on Sakuragi Otome, who came out of the house, he didn't notice the change in his sister at all until she walked past them.
"Rinka is asking why you are so slow."
Hearing the voice from behind and the quietly approaching scent of cherry blossoms, Sasaki turned his head, winking at the now normally composed Otome Sakuragi.
Noticing his teasing, the girl pursed her lips and pretended not to notice.
But her walking pace involuntarily moved to his side, and after the two were side by side, she quietly stretched out her little hand.
Kneaded the cheek and rotated it.
'hiss...'
Taking a deep breath, even though he didn't feel anything at all, Sasaki Fuyumi frowned slightly and put on an expression of 'I'm in pain, but I'm enduring it.'
Then, just when Otome thought she had pinched him hard and wanted to rub the spot to soothe the pain,
She felt a large, warm palm stealthily glide over her lower back.
And this bad hand slid extremely slowly along her waist towards her tailbone...
'Hmm~'
Otome Sakuragi's whole body jolted, even the antenna-like tuft of hair on her head stiffened as she slightly tilted her face, revealing her snow-white neck and biting her somewhat pale cherry lips hard.
Her face, which had just regained its paleness, started to flush with a hint of red again.
"This is a return gift~"
Looking at Okino Kazuki approaching with a smile on his face, Sasaki retracted his palm, turned his head slightly, and whispered against the girl's somewhat red ear.
Then he leaned forward and took the dark blue schoolbag issued by the school from Otome's tightly held hands.
"Otome, are you feeling unwell?"
Walking in front of Sakuragi Otome in a few steps, Okino Kazuki's happy expression faded slightly.
Looking at her pretty face that slowly became rosy, he thought it was because she was tired from taking care of Sasaki, so he hurriedly asked.
Holding her schoolbag and moving her hands back to smooth the hem of her skirt, Sakuragi Otome smiled sweetly and slowly shook her head:
"It's okay... I just came out in a hurry. I went to the bathroom just now."
"Let's go, or we'll be late for school, Rinka-chan? What's wrong? Are you mad at your sister?"
After politely replying to Okino Kazuki, the girl crossed him, came to Okino Rinka's side, and lightly bumped her with her shoulder.
"ah?"
Startled, Rinka, who was both annoyed and angry, came back to her senses and instantly reverted to her lively and cheerful demeanor, showing a goofy smile to Otome standing next to her.
"No way. How can I be angry? Just now, I was wondering if Otome-san was doing some intimate things with Fuyumi-san and then lost track of time and got distracted... Is that right? Is that right?"
Originally, it was just a joke to change the topic, but Otome's subsequent shy and awkward reaction after hearing this instantly cheered up the girl.
When Okino Kazuki, who was standing aside, heard this, he immediately looked up at Sasaki, who was closing the door.
After finding that the latter didn't respond, the boy hurriedly followed the two girls who had walked to the side of the road.
But seemingly trying to show nonchalance, he stayed about two meters behind the girls, all ears to Otome's response.
And Sasaki Fuyumi, who had closed the door and just turned around, looked at Okino Kazuki, who wanted to get closer but was worried about something, and shook his head speechlessly.
Strictly speaking, the relationship between the four of them could be regarded as childhood sweethearts.
Living nearby and being the same age, they easily bonded and played together as children.
In the process of getting along, Okino Kazuki fell in love with Otome Sakuragi, who was beautiful and had a good figure, at some point.
It's just because of his indecision and slow personality he couldn't perform as well as his predecessor's silent temperament, or one could say his approach was never as smooth as his predecessor's.
While the predecessor might not have had feelings for Otome, he was attentive enough to notice when she needed help and acted accordingly.
Instead of being like Okino Kazuki, who would only ask, 'What's wrong? Are you okay?' nonsense.
So naturally, Sakuragi Otome developed a very high impression of Sasaki.
Of course, If Sasaki Fuyumi had continued his previous indifferent attitude toward Otome, Kazuki might still have had a chance.
After all, no one wants to wait around for an unresponsive program.
However, after Sasaki Fuyumi took the initiative this morning, the possibility of Otome liking Okino Kazuki was completely eliminated.
But, coming back to the point, the reason Otome chose him also can't solely be attributed to Kazuki's shortcomings.
After all, with such a brother-obsessed sister beside him, the latter rarely had the opportunity to develop a relationship with Otome.
Even when they had the chance, it was often interrupted by Okino Rinka.
Therefore, this is also the reason why Kazuki is subtly annoyed with Rinka and deliberately avoids her.
But even with his sister partly to blame, his own indecisiveness, hesitation, and obliviousness still accounted for the main reason.
To love is to fight for it, to want is to seize it.
He who does not seize the given opportunity will ultimately suffer the consequences; he who does not act in time will face misfortune.
Nothing in this world will come to you unless you fight for it; if you don't compete or fight for it, you'll end up with nothing.
Of course, whether you have the ability to keep what you've seized is another matter.
Sighing slightly to himself, he finally decided not to bother with others' emotional affairs anymore.
He stepped forward, patted Okino Kazuki on the shoulder as a sign to hurry up, and then jogged to catch up with the two girls.
"Ahem~"
Standing less than ten centimeters behind Sakuragi Otome, Sasaki Fuyumi stretched his neck and gently coughed right next to her ear.