After gathering the trash, Sasaki didn't wait for any further instructions from the girl.
He grabbed the bag of trash and headed to the door:
"I'll be going now, message me if you need anything."
Although she wasn't sure if Sasaki's action was for show or genuinely meant to avoid causing her trouble, the fact that he knew to leave together would cause her issues and chose to avoid it made her feel quite comfortable.
Sitting in the chair, Nanao showed the first smile since he had expressed his feelings:
"Okay, good."
Understanding that he now needed to ensure his favorable impression in her heart didn't fade, Sasaki nodded in acknowledgment before pulling open the wooden door and stepping out.
After buying a bottle of water from the vending machine and returning to class, he took out the textbooks needed for the afternoon classes, waiting for class to start.
The afternoon classes felt short, seeming to pass just as he daydreamed in his seat.
By the time he returned to his senses, the classroom was almost empty.
As usual, he headed to the first-floor library.
Upon opening the door, what Sasaki saw was Yukiha weaving through the coral-like bookshelves like a little fish.
This girl's work ethic was something he couldn't match.
Except on the rare occasions she had to be on duty, she had never arrived later than Sasaki.
Stepping quietly, he closed the noiseless sliding door behind him and tiptoed up behind Yukiha Serizawa.
According to school rules, students must wear uniforms.
So in school, one will never see girls dressed in flashy clothes.
Naturally, Yukiha's clothes were also the same: a white shirt and a pleated skirt.
Although clothes make the man and saddles make the horse, the same is true in reverse.
The same piece of clothing gives different feelings when worn by different people.
Just like the girl in front of him, although she was wearing very ordinary and normal clothes, because of her plump and flexible figure, the ordinary clothes became eye-catching like a transparent plastic bowl of pudding.
Seeing her tiptoeing in her white indoor shoes and trying to reach out for the book, Sasaki took a step forward, leaned close behind her, and raised his hand to take the book.
It was like a small fish wrapped by an octopus, being held tightly and unable to move.
She was startled and was about to open her mouth to shout, but the scent of laundry detergent and a familiar smell that emanated from the man's hand made Serizawa Yukiha stop her action of opening her mouth to shout.
Taking the book he handed to her, the girl opened her arms slightly so that he could better hug her waist, and then breathed a sigh of relief:
"Scared to death~"
As she said this, she wanted to reach out and touch her chest, but when she noticed that someone was already touching it for her, she put her hand down again.
One hand around the waist, the other hand attacking... Is this okay?
cough~
Discussing the possibility of comforting his chest, Sasaki did not feel guilty for startling her and released his embrace, slapping her skirt sharply:
"Your guard is still too low. I'll often do this from now on, and if you don't notice, you'll be punished."
"Punishment?"
Though their relationship had not been officially defined, the interaction between Serizawa Yukiha and him was no different from that of lovers.
So, although the girl was shy about the close nature of a 'lover', more outrageous acts than those involving drinking yogurt had occurred more than once.
Despite her shyness, she had made no resistance.
More than the physical interactions expected of 'lovers', she was more focused on the punishment mentioned by him.
Hugging Serizawa's waist, as soft but firmer than a sponge, Sasaki buried his face in her warm hair, softly biting her small, heated ear, gently stating his demands.
"That is, let me eat jelly-filled sandwiches, hmm… three, no, four!"
Rather than jelly-filled sandwiches, Sasaki would rather have the large, round, white sugared dumplings that looked like the moon on the fifteenth of the first lunar month.
But the timing was not right...
The location... although it could be appropriate, he hadn't figured out how to tell Serizawa about the other 'sisters', so dumplings were off the table for now.
He had to settle for sandwiches.
"Four... four?!"
Unaware of her 'lover's' ill intentions, Serizawa's soft and tender voice trembled slightly upon hearing his demand for four sandwiches.
She knew how to make jelly-filled sandwiches.
It was easy for her, but though it was easy, making one took at least twenty minutes.
Their library duty time was from three to four-thirty in the afternoon.
Did he mean they should eat sandwiches all afternoon today?
She could endure it, but Sasaki's request... it wasn't the same as described in the books.
Thinking she was afraid of being discovered, Sasaki hugged her even tighter, gently rubbing her soft, flushed earlobe:
"Don't be afraid~ go to the counter... Yukiha~ is it okay?"
"Um~"
Her voice was as soft as she was, Serizawa responded, indicating she didn't mind, while sincerely adding:
"Sasaki~ eating too much is bad for your health. I'll be careful so you... so you won't have to eat so much, okay~"
"We'll see how you do. I'm really hungry anyway."
"Um~"
.
.
.
Perhaps it was due to being heated in the microwave, the cumin tofu in the lunchbox felt warm and comforting.
The teeth easily broke through the crispy, spicy outer layer, revealing the soft tofu inside.
Sasaki ate the cumin tofu one bite at a time as if it would melt in his mouth, feeling as if he himself was being melted away bite by bite.
"Hiss~"
Perhaps the tofu's crust was too spicy, as Sasaki found himself taking a breath with every bite.
Fortunately, the library was usually empty; otherwise, he would surely be complained about for eating inside.
Hmm... Serizawa would be complained about, too.
But knowing that aside from the two in the study room, there was no one else, Sasaki and Serizawa dared to make 'eating' noises without any inhibitions.
Influenced by the girl, who always focused intently on her tasks, Sasaki also concentrated exceptionally on eating the tofu, taking half an hour to finish.
Just as they finished, Idiot Chifuyu and Takagi happened to leave the study room.
Hearing the door open, Sasaki quickly pulled his chair forward, sitting up straight.
As they had agreed before, they acted as if they did not know each other in front of Takagi.
So, the contact between him and the idiot was just a brief glance before they looked away.
Only after the two had left the library did Sasaki lean back in his chair and adjust his posture.
Like a dog who had just enjoyed a big bone, he continually poked out his pink tongue, licking his moist lips.
Getting used to such scenarios, Serizawa Yukiha no longer hurried to the bathroom as she used to after their interactions.
After being embraced by her lover, while pursing her lips, she began adjusting the tie that had slipped to the side of her shoulder and straightening her crumpled blouse.
With Sasaki's help, it took her about seven or eight minutes to fasten just one button.
Thus, the two of them playfully reached the end of their shift at the library.
Gently stroking the flushed cheeks of the gurl, Sasaki left a kiss near the tear mole at the corner of her bright eyes.
"I'm leaving, see you tomorrow."
"Uh-huh~"
The two spent every afternoon together.
They could occasionally meet between classes and, having each other's contact information, their parting was brief without much cooing.
Exiting the academic building, Sasaki routinely headed to the convenience store to work his shift for the glamorous store manager.
...
"Stinky boy, you still know to come huh?"
Just as he pushed open the door, before even seeing anyone, the voice filled with deep longing and sorrow reached Sasaki's ears.
It was as cold as taking a large bite of ice cream on a hot day, chilling him to the bone.
After closing the door, Sasaki cheekily grinned, "My dearest Sister Ayumi is here, how could I not come?"
While speaking, he also brought some snacks and a few cans of beer he picked up on the way.
"Want some?"
Whether it was the sight of the skewers or the beer, or perhaps both, Ayumi's eyes brightened noticeably upon seeing the gifts he brought.
Setting aside her earlier reproaches, she straightened up and waved him over excitedly, "Bring them here, quick."
Not teasing her at this time, Sasaki placed the snacks on the coffee table, sat down on the couch, and invited her, "These things are greasy by the keyboard, come over here to eat."
At an age approaching thirty, yet her reaction to food and drink was akin to a...
In Sasaki's view, the stunningly beautiful woman dressed in a simple black tank top and a split pencil skirt resembled a plump, adorable puppy, greedy yet cute.
As if sensing his disrespectful thoughts, the girl's furrowed her brows slightly.
Her original intention to sit on the couch shifted, and instead, she chose to sit in his lap, indulging in the skewers on her own.
From her plaintive remarks earlier, Sasaki guessed she was complaining about his absence the previous day.
Although she had readily agreed to his leave request at the time, even without asking him why, her silence did not mean indifference.
Her current sulking was precisely because she wanted an explanation from Sasaki.
With his hands comfortably supporting Ayumi's 'not quite girl, not yet woman' plumpness, Sasaki caressed the soft, pale waist exposed between her professional skirt and black tank top,
Speaking with a serious tone, he cautioned, "Be careful when you go home after work, Sister Ayumi. This neighborhood doesn't seem very safe."
Knowing the area around her shop, the girl didn't need Sasaki to tell her about safety.
But she did not know where he got his information, so, she took a sip of cold beer, sighed in relief, and turned to ask, "Unsafe? What happened around here?"
"Yesterday, one of my classmates on this street..."
Sasaki modified the story of Natsuha being manipulated by Yuuta, presenting his absence as an unavoidable act of helping a friend rather than fooling around with female classmates.
Catching the underlying purpose of his story as an explanation for his absence, Ayumi nodded satisfactorily and shifted position, apparently intending to reward Sasaki with a bite of food.
But as Sasaki was close to unzipping her skirt, how could he let her go at such a crucial moment?
He tightened his embrace to prevent her from moving.
Resting his chin on her sleek, narrow shoulders while she continued to enjoy her skewer, he whined, "Sister Ayumi, I want to eat too."
Pressing harder with her hips to find he wasn't letting her go, the girl rolled her eyes flirtatiously, obviously understanding his intentions.
However, pleased that he explained his reasons for taking leave, she didn't reject his desires.
She set aside the skewer, reached for a napkin on the coffee table to wipe the grease from her lips and then awaited his advance.
Unconcerned with such details, Sasaki poked his head forward.
The oiliness, the jelly-like softness, and the faint scent of roses mixed with their intertwined breaths, created an indescribably feverish sensation.
He hugged her tightly, kissing her to make it more difficult for her to breathe.
His tongue easily opened her lips and teeth, teasing her tongue, her plump breasts pressed against his chest, rising and falling rapidly.
Feeling his hot, passionate kiss, she couldn't help but extend her tongue to respond passionately.
Her arms had wrapped around the neck without her knowing when, and his hands were gently moving, feeling restless.
And it wasn't just Sasaki who felt this heat.
As a mature woman, Ayumi had her desires too.
At times of affection, the thought of trying something thrilling described in books and comics wasn't far-fetched.
Though she was somewhat willing, she wasn't about to let her judgment be clouded by mere desires.
He might be her chosen young man, but the older she got, the less inclined she was to give herself away easily.
What was the point of her previous defenses if she just gave in to desires?
He was still under evaluation.
The final step was not to be taken.
With this in mind, Ayumi hummed softly, not stopping him as he pulled her skirt zipper.