Unaware of the girls' conversation, after warning the delinquents, Sasaki headed to the convenience store, now standing outside the manager's office, lightly knocking on the door.
Knock knock—
"Come in~"
"Come in~"
Hearing the response, Sasaki skillfully pressed the door handle and walked in.
Wearing a pure black spaghetti strap dress with a tea-colored women's blazer on top, Ayumi, who was sitting upright in her office chair, glanced at the boy as he entered:
"You little rascal, why do you always have to come by before your shift?"
After glancing at the time on her computer, she continued:
"And this time you're even late for your shift."
Ignoring the contradiction in her words, Sasaki placed the few bottles of milk he was carrying into her black leather bag on the sofa, then walked over to her side.
Unlike he had done many times before, he didn't sit on her desk and interrupt her work.
Growing closer to her, Sasaki squeezed into her office chair, then placing his hands on her slender waist, he settled her onto his lap.
"I just wanted to make sure my dearest Sister Ayumi knows I'm here."
"Otherwise, Sister Ayumi would definitely miss me if she didn't see me all day."
Not shy about his affectionate gesture like some little girl, the latter lightly punched him and glanced at her bag on the sofa, asking softly:
"What did you just put in my bag?"
Through the luxurious black dress, Sasaki gently tugged at the black garter stockings she was wearing under her skirt, inhaling the fragrance of her hair while casually answering:
"Milk."
"Milk…"
Remembering the milk tea from last time and thinking of something else, Ayumi's mature and beautiful face turned slightly red as she lightly punched the rascal who was about to tear her stockings:
"Don't wear yourself out like this~"
"Huh? No…"
Hearing this, Sasaki paused his tugging, and Ayami, who reacted immediately, cursed herself in her heart for being so stupid.
That large bottle couldn't possibly contain that; even if he were exhausted, how could he possibly produce that much...
Oh god! Really!
Feeling that she had been single for too long, and now that she had suddenly tasted meat, everything looked like meat
Ayumi clenched her small fists, pretended nothing had happened, and added while looking at the computer:
"I meant, don't waste your money… It's expensive, that big bottle."
"Uh… Sister Ayumi, you run a convenience store."
"Are you saying the milk is from my store?"
Loosening her fists, wanting to give him a chokehold, Ayumi turned her head with a sweet smile.
"No." Feeling a bit nervous, knowing the truth would get him kicked out, Sasaki shook his head decisively:
"Buying it outside is a bit expensive and wasteful, I'll be more careful next time."
"You still haven't said why you gave me milk."
"You haven't said if you missed me yet."
Holding the soft, warm person in his arms, Sasaki rested his chin on her shoulder, looking at her tofu-like soft and tender face hidden under her dark red hair, and her lips that puckered like a morning glory.
Feeling the slightly wet suction on the side of her face, sensing his affection, Ayumi, though feeling a bit ticklish, did not push him away:
"I do miss you. Without you, little rascal, talking to me, work does get a bit boring."
Although slightly dissatisfied with her work-related response, Sasaki didn't mind.
Holding her waist, which was softer than that of a young girl, he buried his face in her fiery hair, and murmured softly:
"Even though it's faint, Sister Ayumi, you drink every night, right?"
"If I tell you that drinking is bad for you, but Sister Ayumi, you wouldn't listen to me and would make excuses. But if you drink some milk after drinking, Sister, you'll agree to that, right?"
Hearing him mention something she never told him and his concern for her, although Ayumi's face didn't show it, but her body, leaning against him, grew even softer.
Glancing at the bag on the sofa, she nodded with a smile:
"Alright~ I promise to drink less in the future. If I do drink, I'll have milk too."
"Mm~"
To avoid diminishing the goodwill he had just built up, Sasaki didn't take advantage of Ayumi's touched state to make any excessive demands.
He just quietly held her, watching her work.
Sitting on his lap, Ayumi stared straight at the computer screen but her whole attention was fixed on the hands around her waist .
After waiting for a long time and not hearing any impatient demands from him, her heart felt touched by his consideration for her feelings.
But the desire for such things is not only a male trait.
As an older woman, she also had a strong desire for such things.
Although the final step couldn't be taken lightly, other requests were still acceptable to her.
Seeing that Sasaki's time to leave was approaching, and not wanting to waste the day just sitting like this, Ayumi gently twisted her waist tightly held by him.
Then, seemingly unintentionally, she knocked the pen on the desk to the floor.
Plop—
Sliding back in her chair, Ayumi, supporting herself on the edge of the desk, leaned back.
Looking down at the pen on the floor, she straightened her back, leaned forward, and bent down, her plump hips accentuated by the black dress showcasing themselves to the boy.
Sitting in the office chair, Sasaki smiled at her series of somewhat deliberate actions and suddenly asked:
"Sister Ayumi, did you practice martial arts before? Something like kickboxing or judo?"
Pausing her action of picking up the pen, the latter wondered why this bad suddenly asked this, but she answered softly without overthinking it:
"I practiced women's wrestling for a while."
"Why? Do you want to spar with me?"
"Yeah, now that you say it, I feel relieved" Hearing her response, Sasaki leaned forward with a smile and patted her back:
"Ayumi-neesan, stand up straight like... hmm... like you're practicing a sit-and-reach."
"Hmm?"
Not quite sure what he was up to, but feeling it wasn't anything good, Ayame hesitated.
But thinking that he hadn't been in a hurry to touch her before, she figured he wouldn't do anything to disappoint her now.
So, after a brief moment of hesitation, she tied her hair back and straightened her legs as instructed.
Immediately following, she felt the constriction of his arms around her forearm and calf, and then a sudden, alarming feeling of weightlessness.
.
.
.
Closing the office door behind him, Sasaki adjusted his collar as he headed towards the restroom at the end of the corridor.
Looking at his reflection in the large mirror above the sink.
Sasaki slowly walked up to the mirror, tilting his head to examine his flushed face and neck.
The red marks, like those left by a snake's coils, were most prominent on the sides of his neck.
Upon closer inspection, there were several indentations around the edges of the red marks, resembling the impressions left by an adjustable buckle.
Splash—
Seeing that the red marks wouldn't fade anytime soon, Sasaki scooped up a handful of water and splashed it onto his neck:
"Ayumi-neesan really went all out, leaving marks like this. How am I supposed to go back to work?"
Though his tone held a hint of complaint, the smile tugging at his lips was unmistakable.
Despite his outwardly disheveled appearance, it wasn't he who had suffered most during their interaction.
After all, being in a head-down position is uncomfortable for the person involved.
Rubbing his neck, Sasaki knew he couldn't go out just yet so he dried his hands with a paper towel and took out his phone from his pocket.
On the screen were several recent messages.
[Otome: Fuyumi, what do you want to eat tonight? I'm about to start cooking~]17:15「Read」
[Rinka: Fuyumi-nii, when did you teach Otome-nee how to fight? Why didn't you teach me? So unfair! (Angry pouting.jpg)]17:12「Read」
[Chifuyu: Fuyumi, are you free this weekend? (Shy.jpg)]17:03「Read」
Seeing the messages, Sasaki, knowing they had all safely reached home, began replying to each one.
[Otome, I feel like having spicy tofu. (Expectant.jpg)]17:38「Unread」
[Though I only taught Otome for a few days, she learned very seriously. If you want to learn, I'll tell you how when I get home.]17:38「Unread」
[About this weekend, I'm afraid I can't make it. On Saturday, I have to visit some elders, and on Sunday, my sister is coming over. Do you need something, Chifuyu?]17:38「Read」
As Sasaki expected, Chifuyu, likely holding her phone, read the message immediately and began typing.
[Fuyumi, I need to tutor you for your grades... (Small dilemma.jpg)]17:39「Read」
Just as he guessed, she wanted to tutor him.
But as he had already planned, Sasaki would not agree to it.
[Chifuyu, I appreciate your help... but Takagi also needs tutoring, right? (Confused.jpg)]17:39「Read」
[It's okay, we can stagger the times. (Smiling face.jpg)]17:39「Read」
[That's not what I meant. If you tutor both of us, you won't have any rest time.
You'd have to stay up late making practice exercises. Besides... what if Takagi wants to hang out during your tutoring sessions? Wouldn't that be frustrating for you?]17:40「Read」
The chat interface alternated between Chifuyu's contact and "typing..." as she pondered over the situation.
Not wanting to leave her in a quandary for too long, Sasaki, leaning against the sink, swiftly typed out a few messages.
[Chifuyu, I appreciate you wanting to help with my grades. It makes me happy, but I can't let you exhaust yourself. I'd feel guilty.]17:42「Read」
[Don't worry about my grades. I've already asked someone else for help. (Wink.jpg)]17:42「Read」
[It's the other library administrator, Serizawa Yukiha. You've met her, Chifuyu.]17:42 [Read]
[I've already talked to her. After finishing work each day, she'll tutor me. (Don't worry.jpg)]17:42 [Read]