Stealing Spree

Chapter 2903: Special Swimming Class (5)

When our lips separated, Minori-senpai’s face was a vivid, flushed crimson that clashed beautifully with her emerald green hair. She looked utterly wrecked, her disciplined gaze now hazy and unfocused. I could feel the frantic thrum of her pulse against my palms, a rhythmic drumming that told me exactly how much she had enjoyed the interruption.

"This pervert. You weren’t supposed to do that."

"What do you mean, senpai? I’m just fulfilling your desire."

"... I didn’t ask you to."

"But you told me back then that even though you believe you won’t be able to create a connection with others anymore, you still have a womanly urge. Besides... if you truly hated it, my face would’ve been sore from your slap by now."

"Ugh... At least wait for me to ask for it." Minori-senpai pursed her lips as a complicated expression crossed her face. "You’re so arrogant, Onoda-kun. Thinking you can just... do this and flip my switch, making me lose my composure."

She hit my chest in grievance before planting her forehead against my shoulder, hiding her face as if she could shield her embarrassment from the very air.

Looking at her like this, I naturally get what she’s trying to convey. I’d been forceful. I truly should’ve waited until she asked me for it. Even if she didn’t push me away, there should be a sense of elegance to this process.

"My apologies, senpai. I got carried away by how cute you look when you’re flustered," I earnestly replied before a bit of playfulness in the end.

Minori-senpai rolled her eyes at me but from the subtle smile on her lips, she picked up that my apology wasn’t half-hearted. Still, she hit my chest again in complaint. "Cute? Who are you calling cute?! Now I get it. I should teach you how to respect your seniors!"

"But I respect you?"

"Is kissing me without my permission respectful?"

I scratched my cheek, glancing back toward the shallow end to make sure Yuika-senpai was still preoccupied with her drills.

"Fair point," I admitted, "Then how exactly should a junior show his respect to a senior like you, Minori-senpai? I’m a very eager student."

Minori-senpai clicked her tongue, looking at me with eyes one would give to a shameless person. "You know the answer to that, Onoda-kun."

"Right. I do." I nodded as I put on a serious expression. "However, am I supposed to ignore the desire leaking out from you, senpai?"

"W-what desire?"

"The way you look at me. Honestly, I feel like you’re holding yourself back. You told me back then. You need me to help you curb your urges. And yet... you never approach me for it."

"That... Can’t it be that there’s just simply no opportunity?"

"There were plenty of opportunities. Didn’t I used to visit you in your clubroom? Every time, you’ll just watch on the side. Even now that we’re preparing for the festival, you still never take any opportunity. You only kept on sitting by Yuika-senpai’s side."

Of course, saying all this wouldn’t erase my own fault for forcing her into this situation. But if we didn’t talk about this now, then when?

I slowly loosened my arm around her and gave her sufficient distance, though I stayed close enough that the warmth of our bodies still mingled in the water.

Like this, the silence stretched between us which was broken only by the distant, rhythmic splashing of Yuika-senpai’s kicking in the shallow end.

Minori-senpai looked away, her gaze drifting toward the ceiling of the indoor pool. The water cascaded down her neck, tracing the sculpted lines of her collarbones. Seeing that, I could feel my desire for her urging me to hold her again.

Although I said I would learn to fall in love with her instead of the usual making the girl fall in love with me, I didn’t think it would be difficult to accomplish. After all, I wouldn’t have this desire for her if I didn’t have an ounce of affection for her.

"It’s not that simple, Onoda-kun," She softly murmured, her voice losing its sharp edge and becoming something softer. These were her genuine feelings. "It has become a habit. Once you start letting things slide, you don’t know where to stop. And if I let myself want you out loud, I might actually lose my mind."

"I see. So that’s the case, huh? I understand. Then, it’s up to me to hold myself back from acting like this again. I’ll just wait for you to look for me." I gently smiled, though I didn’t move an inch away from her.

Minori-senpai stared at me, her eyes shimmering. The sudden shift in my tone seemed to catch her off guard, stripping away the defensive wall she had spent years building. She looked at my face, then at the water, her expression flickering.

"You... you’re such a pain. You just teased me and now you’re playing the gentleman," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"I didn’t tease you, senpai. Holding you intimately and kissing you... it’s all because I want you," I reached out to her again, my palm gently cupping her cheek. Her skin, despite being wet from submerging in the water, was almost dry due to her blush becoming a scorching, vivid red. Maybe if we were in anime, steam would’ve appeared on top of her head already.

"And as for the gentleman part... I just want to make sure that when you finally decide to ’lose your mind,’ it’s because you want to, not because I forced you."

Minori-senpai looked at me as if she was recalling that time she opened up to me. My honesty and sincerity allowed me to get a glimpse of the walled-up Minori-senpai who had become afraid to create new bonds.

Without waiting for her to say something, I opened my mouth again. "Alright. Let’s swim back before Yuika-senpai gets more suspicious. We only have an hour for this ’special swimming class’. Allow me to accomplish my role properly."

Minori-senpai’s eyebrows twitched a bit before turning away. "Sure. You go first. If she saw me looking like this, she’d probably think you did something weird to me."

"But I did do something weird to you," I whispered back, giving her backside a firm squeeze that earned me another glare from the girl.

"You total pervert! Have you instantly forgotten what you just said?"

"Well, that was an unconscious action, senpai. You suddenly turned your back on me and I got a glimpse of it. My hand moved by itself." I shamelessly answered before swimming a few meters away to give her space.

Minori-senpai huffed but the sound was half-smothered by a small, genuine smile that appeared on her face. "You’re unbelievable. Just... just go. Before I decide to drown you for the sake of my dignity."

"Yes, ma’am!" I gave her a salute before I quickly dove back into the water and began swimming back toward the shallow end. If I stay a second longer near her, I’ll probably fail to resist the temptation of holding her and kissing her again.

After that talk, I’ll abide by waiting for her to ask for it. Unless she tells me it’s fine to make a move on her whenever I find an opportunity, I will keep the leash tight on my own desires.

With this, the rest of our time in the indoor pool was spent with me instructing both of them, focusing mostly on Yuika-senpai, even helping her swim her first lap without any instability. Minori-senpai simply watched by the side. After all, she didn’t really need my instruction anymore. In fact, she even helped out.

So in essence, this truly became a special swimming class dedicated to the adorable orange-haired girl.

By the time we stepped out of the pool, Yuika-senpai was fairly exhausted. I supported her up as we returned to the changing room area, her limbs feeling heavy and supple as she leaned against me. Minori-senpai followed behind, not saying anything else.

Still, when we reached the door to the shower room, Yuika-senpai held tightly on my arm.

"Ruki. Let’s... shower together again." The girl whispered, her voice enticingly breathy as she looked up at me. She didn’t even try to hide the longing in her eyes, her body leaning heavily into mine, her soft, plush chest pressing against my side.

"Well, I’d love to. But you know... we’re not alone this time." I softly answered before glancing at Minori-senpai to check on her reaction.

Upon meeting my gaze, she simply rolled her eyes and ignored us, stepping inside the shower room.

However, Yuika-senpai took that as Minori-senpai not minding if I went inside with her or not.

"Look, we won’t be in the same stall anyway. Ruki... please?"

Looking at her pleading expression, it was impossible to say no. Yuika’s skin was still glistening with droplets of pool water, making her look like some sort of iridescent sculpture. Furthermore, the desire being emitted by her whole body was undeniable. I wouldn’t be Ruki if I didn’t answer that.

"Mhm. Let’s go in."

With that, I entered the girls’ shower room in this pool area for the third time.