NOVEL NEXT Chapter 81
“Haa... Are those people who deceive others not afraid of the law’s hammer?”
A sigh, heavy with restrained anger, burst from Chinami’s lips.
It’s a bit funny to say this, but her line sounded like something a cheerful magical girl protagonist would say.
In Chinami’s hand, who was listlessly kicking her feet, was an envelope of money returned by the scammer, tightly clutched.
Pointing at it and gesturing towards her crossbody bag, Chinami quickly stuffed the envelope inside and hugged the bag to her chest.
As I watched her eyes nervously dart around, I said,
“People like you, who are too kind and forgiving, only encourage them to become bolder.”
“What can I do... He cried and swore he’d never do it again... And to think he didn’t even take good care of Miss Momo’s doll!”
Chinami shook her head like the tragic heroine of a story.
That’s somewhat absurd.
“Well... the station staff took him away, so they’ll either hand him over to the police or deal with him properly.”
“Yes... But did I really look that easy to fool?”
Honestly, you did look a bit easy to fool.
I was going to check the doll myself earlier, but you carelessly handed over the money.
Swallowing those words, I comforted Chinami.
“There will be other chances to find a Miss Momo doll. Don’t be too discouraged.”
“Sigh... Maybe I should have negotiated with the scammer to get Miss Momo’s doll for a cheaper price... Seeing it in person, it keeps flickering before my eyes.”
“Doesn’t it feel a bit wrong to get a second-hand doll that others have used?”
“That’s true. Sigh... If it weren’t for you, hubae-nim, I could have been in real trouble... Thank you so much.”
“It’s best to avoid things like second-hand deals in the future. If there’s something you really want, make sure to go with me or Inoo sunbae.”
“Okay...”
Chinami’s response trailed off as she lifted her head.
She walked straight, her cheeks slightly flushed.
It was as if she was blushing from the cold winter air, which made her look adorable.
Slowly, I ruffled her hair with my hand on her shoulder.
“Huh?”
Then, as she flinched, I gently pressed down with my hand.
“Don’t be so downhearted. I prefer seeing you cheerful.”
“.... Mmnh...!”
It was unclear whether that was a reply or a moan.
Still sensitive, I see.
It feels like touching her would make her burst out right away.
After giving Chinami’s shoulder a firm squeeze, I removed my hand.
“Feels good, right?”
“Gah...! N-no, it didn’t feel good...!”
Chinami’s response came as her tensed muscles relaxed.
Looking down at her as she slightly hunched her upper body and scrunched up her face, I smiled and said,
“That’s a pity. I’ll learn more then.”
“What are you planning to learn more about...?”
“Massages. I’ve taken it up as a hobby recently, and I’ll make sure to give you a proper one sometime.”
“.... A massage... If I receive that...”
What, it will ruin you?
Chinami’s response sounded like something straight out of a corrupt, NTR-themed adult game, which was amusing.
Kneeling down and placing my hands on my knees, I met her gaze.
“It’s because I really want to give one to you, so please let me try later. Of course, if you don’t like it, I won’t do it.”
“.... Well, in that case... I’ll consider it positively...”
Chinami replied in a subdued voice, her head bowed.
With my face close and a beaming smile, she seemed to feel both overwhelmed and embarrassed.
“Alright, shall we head back then? I’ll take you home.”
“Yes, yes...”
“Go home, take a shower, and rest. Don’t even think about browsing second-hand sites. Got it?”
“I got it...”
“Shall we make a promise?”
As I extended my pinky towards Chinami, she flinched before asking,
“Do we really need to make a promise about this...? Don’t you trust me?”
“It’s just a precaution. You said earlier that it keeps haunting you.”
“...That was a joke...”
“It sounded serious to me. Come on, pinky promise.”
My finger was right in front of her nose. Shifting her shoulders side to side in embarrassment, she eventually extended her slender finger and hooked it with mine.
Her fingernails were painted a very attractive pink.
Staring at them, I grinned.
“So, we’ve made a promise? We’ll forget about Miss Momo today?”
“Yes...”
“Your nails are pretty. They suit you.”
“Th-thank you... Should I paint your nails too...?”
One hand by you, the other by Miyuki. Hmm, doesn’t sound too bad.
“In this color?”
“Yes... in peach color...”
“That doesn’t seem like it would suit me.”
“On the contrary... I think peach color would suit you even better...”
She’s good at retorting without even making proper eye contact.
Enjoying the suddenly soft atmosphere, I unfolded my knees.
“Let’s head to the parking lot.”
“Ah... I’ll pay for the parking...”
“You don’t want to owe me anything?”
“It’s not that... You helped me today, so it’s only natural...”
“Please, take a favor as a favor. Alright?”
“Yes...”
“You’re sweet. Shall we go then?”
“Yes...”
Like last time, she could only utter brief affirmations, still not fully composed.
I smirked and was about to caress her slender arm but then stopped myself.
Today, this was enough.
It’s best not to stir up Chinami’s emotions any further. Let’s quietly head back.
**
The next day.
As I waited in the car in front of Miyuki’s house, fiddling with my phone, I paused when I noticed that Chinami had changed her profile picture.
It was a disheveled-looking Miss Momo. The image seemed to reflect what she was feeling: embarrassed, dizzy, and troubled.
Speaking of Miss Momo, her expressions are quite varied. I wondered if there’s even an “ahegao” among them.
Thump.
While I was focused on my phone, the passenger side door opened. Miyuki entered the car with a bright face. She casually kissed me on the lips as she buckled up. Then I asked her,
“Did you wait long?”
“No, I just got ready. We’re going to Tetsuya-kun’s house now, right?”
“Do we have to keep bringing along that nuisance?”
“Why do you keep calling him that since last time...! He’s a friend...!”
A friend, sure.
I dismissed the topic with a snort and started the car.
“What did you do yesterday?”
Miyuki asked a casual question as she looked out the window.
I answered calmly as I drove.
“I met with Nanase-sunbae.”
“Nanase-sunbae...? The kendo club manager...? The one we met before?”
“Yeah. She was going to do a direct trade for some second-hand goods, so I tagged along.”
“Why would Matsuda-kun follow her for a second-hand trade?”
“You saw last time, how naive Nanase-sunbae can be.”
“She did seem really simple... But why bring this up all of a sudden?”
“I had a feeling she might get scammed. So I went with her, and she almost did get scammed.”
“What...? Really?”
Miyuki’s face, which was about to turn cold, was suddenly filled with surprise.
I nodded slightly as I glanced at her.
“There’s this popular peach-colored doll called Miss Momo?”
“Oh...! I know that! It’s been really famous lately...”
“I looked it up, and it is indeed famous. The doll costs more than 20,000 yen.”
“20, 20,000 yen...? That’s a lot of money, and she almost got scammed?”
“Exactly 25,000 yen.”
“The doll? You checked it before the deal, didn’t you?”
“Of course, we did. But she just glanced at it and handed over the money. I was about to take a closer look when the scammer tried to run off with the cash, and in the process, the doll fell and its head detached from the body.”
Miyuki fully turned her body towards me, clearly intrigued.
“Were they trying to sell that in a face-to-face deal? Wouldn’t it be easier to scam using delivery?”
“Well, it seems like the scammer underestimated Nanase-sunbae after their conversation. Plus, with delivery, there’s a trail of evidence, isn’t there?”
“True… It’s easier to make excuses with direct transactions. So, what happened to the scammer?”
“We were going to hand him over to the police, but sunbae forgave him.”
“Why...?”
“Must have felt pity after seeing him beg so pitifully. Though the station staff took him away, so he’ll probably get arrested.”
“That’s a relief… It would have been bad if she had gone alone… You did well.”
Miyuki tapped my shoulder approvingly, assuming I followed her out of goodwill.
It might be nice to set up a meeting between the two, to help them get along.
But there’s a lot to prepare first.
“But isn’t Nanase-sunbae too naive? It was a high-stakes transaction…”
“Exactly. She trusts people too easily.”
As we chatted, we arrived at Tetsuya’s house.
I grumbled as I looked at the empty doorway.
“He’s getting a ride and isn’t even ready.”
“He’ll come out soon... And I’m sometimes a minute or two late too.”
“You’re obviously supposed to get a ride...”
As I trailed off, I slipped my hand between Miyuki’s thighs.
She flinched at the sudden touch, and I chuckled and continued,
“Miura is about to be annoyed.”
“Annoyed for what...! First, let go of this…”
“The tinting’s good. No one can see inside.”
As my hand moved deeper under her school uniform skirt, Miyuki gasped and bit her lower lip, struggling to lift my hand.
“Not this early in the morning...!”
“Why is Miura so clueless?”
“I’ll say something...! So let go...! Tetsuya-kun is coming out now...!”
True to Miyuki’s words, Tetsuya emerged from the front door with a slice of toast in his mouth.
“He always interrupts at times like this.”
I withdrew my hand as Miyuki hastily adjusted her skirt.
After grasping her suddenly hot hand firmly, I said,
“We had a deal? You said you’d speak.”
Thump.
Just as I finished speaking, Tetsuya opened the rear door and got into the car.
He quickly swallowed his toast and offered a light apology.
“Sorry, am I too late?”
‘No need to apologize.’
Initially, I was about to scold him, but I can’t help but praise him inwardly.
I hope he continues to come out at such awkward times until I stop giving him rides. His tactless behavior also helps in developing Miyuki’s tastes.
︵‿︵‿୨ * ୧‿︵‿︵
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