45 - Something is erect
I BECAME a girl because of that freakin wish!
Right now, Yuichi and I were in the spiritual clubroom, quietly eating our lunch together. I wonderedâ just how long had it been since we last ate together?
It must have been about two weeks. A lot had happened during that time, so we didnât have the chance to follow our usual routine.
I had been looking forward to lunchtime, knowing that I would be able to eat lunch with Yuichi again. At first, I was excited. However⦠it wasnât like I had hopedâ
Yuichi, still looking annoyed, was eating her lunch in a hurry. She didnât start a conversation, nor did she even look at me.
"Yuichi⦠are you still mad?"
The only thing that crossed my mind was the dirty joke I had made about Yuichi during class earlier. Maybe that was what made her mad.
It seemed like I went a little overboard with itâ¦
Yuichi looked at me with tired eyes and let out a long sigh. "No," she replied curtly before continuing her meal.
"I mean, you're not mad about the dirty joke I made earlier, right?" I asked again, still unsure.
"I said no."
â¦
Hmmâ¦
I started analyzing Yuichiâ her personality, her attitude, and the way she usually acted. I focused on her expression, scanning her over and over to figure out what she was thinking.
If it were the old Yuichi⦠when I made a dirty joke, she wouldâve pinched or hit me by now. But strangely, her reaction was different this time. But⦠if itâs not the joke, thenâ¦
What else could it be..?
"Give me a hint," I said in a low voice, feeling defeated because I couldnât figure it out.
"Hmph! No way. Figure it out yourself!" she snapped back.
Girls' thoughts sometime can be pretty troublesome, huhâ¦
But I couldnât just let this moment pass. Even if Yuichi was sulking, I had to carry out the plan that Chiharu and I had put together.
We had discussed it at our round tableâthe strategy to win over a girlâs heart! Chiharu and I talked about it for two whole hours. The most important thing: being straightforward like a real man.
"Girls of any age donât like guys who beat around the bush. Thatâs a fact," Chiharu told me.
Her words from a few days ago replayed in my head.
"Most girls like being dominated by a man. So you have to push Yuichi-san directly! Donât let her fight back," Chiharu had said enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling.
"But thatâs most girls, right? Are you sure Yuichi is really the M-type?" I asked hesitantly.
"Donât worry. Trust me! Hold Yuichi-sanâs cheeks gently, then stare into her eyes with intensity. That way, youâll definitely make her melt. Iâm 100% sure!" Chiharu declared. Her breathing grew heavier, as if she had some ulterior motive behind helping me.
Wellâ¦
Chiharu did say thatâ¦
Butâ¦
I glanced at Yuichi uncertainly.
To be honest, Chiharuâs advice didnât sound very convincing. But I didnât have a better plan.
So whether I liked it or not, I had to do what she suggested. But⦠even though I wanted to, it felt⦠ugh, how do I put thisâ¦
Yuichi was softly illuminated by the sunlight streaming through the open clubroom window; her long eyelashes glowed under the light.
Her beautiful gemstone-like eyes were focused on every bite she took. Her slightly parted lips revealed a mouthful of food, making her look incredibly adorableâ just like a hamster enjoying its meal.
I took a deep breath and exhaled. I repeated the process a few times.
HOW COULD SHE BE BOTH BEAUTIFUL AND CUTE AT THE SAME TIME?!
Impossible.
I clenched my fists tightly, feeling like I could cry at any moment.
Ah! I donât care anymore!
I stopped eating, stood up with determination, and walked confidently toward Yuichi.
Without taking my eyes off her, I stood right in front of her, staring intently. The moment she swallowed her last bite, I bent down, cupped both of her cheeks with a gentle touch, and let my fingertips feel the warmth of her skin.
Only now did I realize how small Yuichiâs face was. The sensation on my fingertips as I touched her cheeks⦠it was so soft..! Meanwhile, from this close, I could see that her lips were actually quite plump and sweet-lookingâ completely opposite of what I had always thought.
I had always assumed her lips were thin, but that was just an illusion of perspective. Our size difference was significant, making everything look different from up close.
â¦
Should I call her "cute" or "beautiful"? No, Yuichi was clearly BOTH.
Yuichi looked at me in confusion. Her annoyed expression was still there, but the red blush spreading across her face only made her look even cuter.
"What is it⦠Nagi..?" Yuichi gazed at me with tired eyes, her face slightly flushed.
I swallowed nervously.
I steeled my gaze and mustered up all my courage to act cool. "Yuichi⦠I just have a feeling. Could it be⦠youâre mad because you think I didnât take our hand-holding this morning seriously?" I asked confidently. This was my last guessâ if this was wrong, then I had no idea anymore.
Yuichiâs face turned even redder. "N-noâ¦!" She weakly shook her head. But her half-hearted denial only confirmed everything.
JACKPOT! I was right⦠Yuichi was sulking because of thatâ¦
I never expected Yuichi to get this flustered over something as simple as holding hands. I thought I was the only oneâ¦
I was still a little unsure, butâ Yuichi really did seem to have feelings for me.
â¦
"Yuichi, youâre really beautiful."
â¦
"Mm..!?" Yuichi reflexively turned her face away, her cheeks burning red. I even caught a glimpse of a satisfied smile that she unknowingly showed for a split second.
"W-what the heck..?!?" she shrieked, her voice cracking. Her small body trembled as I continued teasing her. "W-why all of a sudden�"
Oh noâ¦
My heart was pounding wildly. It wasnât just Yuichiâ my face was burning up too. My grip on her cheeks weakened, and my breathing grew heavier.
"Youâre beautiful."
"I-I know that already..! Iâve always been beautiful! But why are you suddenly saying it..?" Yuichi stammered. She was clearly trying to act normal, but her expression told a different story.
"DONâT BACK DOWN!" Chiharuâs voice echoed in my head. Her advice to keep dominating Yuichi fueled something inside me, making my instincts burn with excitement.
"Yuichi⦠can I pounce on you right now?" I asked nervously. My eyes were locked onto hers, waiting for her reaction.
"H-HAH..!?! W-what do you⦠um⦠m-mean..?" Yuichi stammered again. She quickly turned her face away, unable to meet my gaze.
"I want to pounce on you. Something on me is now erect (my water bottle). I canât hold it in anymore," I said, deliberately making my voice heavier.
"E-EH..!?! A-are you serious..? W-what do you mean by âerectâ..?!" Yuichi asked again, this time squeezing her eyes shut in embarrassment.
"Very serious. Erect means erect." I placed my water bottle on the floor and intentionally made it stand upright. "See? Itâs standing."
"D-DONâT!! Donât say that so openly⦠Idiot⦠You perv!" Yuichi quickly backed away from me. "I-Iâm not ready yetâ¦!"
Poke!
POKE-POKE-POKE-POKE!!!
I gently pressed my water bottle against her cheek.
"KYAAAAAAAAA...!!!!!!" Yuichi immediately smacked the bottle away with full force, sending it flying across the room and smashing it into pieces.
"..."
TO BE CONTINUED.