Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Why Are You So Skilled?
After what felt like an eternity, a soft sigh escaped Shiina Mahiru's lips. With her fair, delicate hand, she gently pushed Renji Kamisaka's chest, a small gesture filled with shyness.
"What's wrong?" Renji asked, his voice slightly hoarse, his eyes still burning with unextinguished passion. He reluctantly released the girl's cherry-red lips.
Mahiru blushed deeply, her face lowered. "You... you can't continue." Her voice was barely a whisper, timid and embarrassed. "That frightening thing... it makes me uncomfortable."
Renji gazed at her stuttering, cute expression, how utterly shy she was to even mention its specific 'name.' A small smile played on Renji's lips, unable to suppress a laugh. "Shiina, why don't you just give in to me?" There was an amused tone in his voice. "It's not just you who's uncomfortable; I'm even more uncomfortable."
Hearing this, Shiina Mahiru turned her face away, her cheeks flushing deeper. "No..." She shook her head gently, looking down nervously. "I'm not ready yet."
"Understood. I respect your feelings." Renji didn't appear angry. Gently, he stroked Shiina's golden hair, his touch soothing. "To be honest, you're so well-behaved and helpless that I worry."
Upon hearing this, Shiina Mahiru couldn't help but puff out her cheeks and immediately retort, her tone a little sulky. "I'm not helpless against everyone... it's just... like this with you."
Renji Kamisaka immediately felt a surge of happiness. To be able to say such words frankly, it seemed he already held a very important place in Mahiru's heart. "I love hearing that, Shiina..." As he spoke, he couldn't resist bringing his mouth closer again.
Shiina Mahiru swiftly blocked his advance with her hand, a spontaneous reflex, saying with dissatisfaction, "Are you still going to call me Shiina?"
Renji Kamisaka immediately understood, his smile widening. "Mahiru, you're so cute."
Called by her given name intimately, this time Mahiru didn't block him with her hand but instead hugged Renji's neck tightly. Her heart pounded, a secret melody only she and Renji could hear.
At this moment, no one in Sakurasou would disturb them. Sayu and Misaki-senpai were out shopping. The manager, Chihiro Sengoku, was fast asleep, probably still feeling the effects of last night's alcohol. Ryuunosuke Akasaka? That person was extremely reclusive and wouldn't come out unless the sky was falling; no one needed to pay him any mind.
If the people at school knew that the angelic and exquisitely beautiful girl, Shiina Mahiru, was actually sitting on Renji Kamisaka's lap and intimately cuddling with him in broad daylight—it would probably make a large group of boys cry, some might even have heart attacks. But there was no use for them to be envious. As for Mahiru, Renji Kamisaka would certainly not let her go.
After a while, Shiina Mahiru leaned into Renji Kamisaka's embrace, feeling his warm hug envelop her. She felt her body go soft, utterly unable to gather the strength to leave this embrace. Meeting Renji's teasing gaze, she couldn't help but raise her hands to cover her blushing cheeks.
"Um... Renji Kamisaka, do you think... I'm very shameless?"
"Nonsense, what are you thinking about?" Renji chuckled, then looked at her seriously. "If you're shameless, then what am I? A scoundrel?"
"Ugh... People don't think you're a villain." Shiina Mahiru said seriously, then showed an expression of frustration, a small frown appearing on her beautiful forehead. "I'm the one who's too shameless, clearly knowing you're bad, but still not refusing; in your eyes, I'm the one who's seducing you, right?"
"Pfft, that's right, you managed to seduce me, Mahiru, I'm going to start doing bad things!" Renji said with a mischievous grin, his hands moving to pull her closer.
"Ah! No! Be honest and listen to me first!" Mahiru panicked, lightly hitting his arm.
"Alright, I'll listen to you before doing anything bad." Renji relented, though his smile was still full of temptation.
The girl immediately puffed out her cheeks, glaring at him with a fierce yet cute expression, like a kitten trying to threaten. "I told you, don't do bad things!" She looked at him exasperatedly, then let out a deep sigh, a heavy breath escaping her lungs. "Hey, Renji Kamisaka, what do you think our relationship is like right now?"
Hearing this, Renji Kamisaka showed a serious expression, casting aside all his teasing. Then he held the angel's small hand, feeling the softness of her skin, and said sincerely, "I like you, Mahiru. Go out with me and be my girlfriend!"
"Ah! You... how could you confess to me?!" Mahiru covered her small mouth in surprise, her eyes wide. Her heartbeat suddenly quickened, pounding loudly in her chest.
"Why can't I?" Renji Kamisaka countered, his gaze steady.
Shiina Mahiru shifted her gaze, stammering, "You already have Sayu and Misaki-senpai, don't you? I know your cheating thoughts..." There was a hint of sourness in her voice, a sudden honesty.
"Then, can't I turn over a new leaf because of you?" Renji tried to reason, his tone full of hope.
"Don't want to." When she uttered those words of refusal, Renji Kamisaka was even more stunned, confused.
"What? You don't want me to only have you?"
"Don't want to." She still uttered those few words, lowering her head.
Renji Kamisaka helplessly wrapped his arms around her slender waist and lowered his head to kiss her small mouth, a short, questioning kiss. "What exactly don't you want? Explain it clearly!"
Shiina Mahiru bit her lip, leaning into Renji's arm like a wounded little animal, seeking both protection and comfort. "Sayu can't leave you anymore, can she?" She whispered, her voice barely audible. "And... I... I can't do it, do you want to destroy me?" She almost called him a beast, but the words caught in her throat.
Renji Kamisaka immediately understood, a sense of helplessness enveloping him. Indeed, with his charm, he was bound to have a harem. What moved his heart even more was that Mahiru had considered this, looking beyond her own feelings.
"Then, Mahiru, what kind of relationship do you think we should have?" Renji asked, his voice calm. Of course, it was impossible for him to only have her; saying that earlier was simply expressing his stance. His goal was to persuade her. Now it seemed the effect was truly good.
Seeing him throw the question back at her, Shiina Mahiru couldn't help but lightly hit him with her small hand, a gentle punch full of frustration. "You idiot, don't ask me about this kind of thing. Anyway... you have to be responsible and handle everything well... otherwise, don't touch me again in the future." There was a sweetly stubborn tone in her voice.
Renji Kamisaka smiled understandingly. "I understand, I'll find a way to make everyone happy." He looked into Mahiru's eyes, promising. "Until then, Mahiru, please stay by my side."
"Alright, I promise." The girl nodded, a faint smile gracing her lips, a sense of security flooding her heart. Where else could she go but here? Back to the cold, empty house where she was alone? She didn't want to go back.
After everything was discussed, the atmosphere between the two became more relaxed, a new, deeper bond forming. Shiina Mahiru didn't agree to officially "go out with him," yet she tacitly agreed to his closeness, which was tantamount to tacitly agreeing to Renji's "cheating thoughts." Renji Kamisaka couldn't help but feel a little touched. Sayu Ogiwara, Shiina Mahiru—both beautiful girls with similar experiences, both so considerate of him. He had to repay this kindness. And as a boy, he could only repay it by making them happy.
Thinking "bad things," something remarkably active and uncontrollable stirred within him. Shiina Mahiru immediately noticed it, feeling an unusual warmth. Her face flushed, she mumbled in a low voice, "Idiot, be a little more honest."
"Can't. Who told Mahiru to reject my confession? I need comfort now..." Renji whined, his tone full of teasing.
"No..." Mahiru glanced at him, looking pitiful. "My hand still hurts, I have no strength."
"In that case, we won't use your hands." Renji Kamisaka showed a mischievous smile, his eyes sparkling slyly.
"If not my hands, then what?" Mahiru looked at him confusedly, following his gaze which was now fixed on her slender, snow-white legs. She immediately understood, her cheeks bursting into a bright red. "Pervert!"
"Eh, don't say that about me. I'll be heartbroken if Mahiru says that." Renji protested, feigning sadness.
"Hmph, you're so cunning and thick-skinned, I don't believe you'd be hurt." Mahiru scoffed, though there was a hint of a smile behind her words.
"Because I care. I really care about Mahiru's opinion." As he spoke, he showed a sad expression, his shoulders slightly slumped.
Shiina Mahiru immediately softened, her small heart touched. She thought she had already made sure they would continue to be together, but because she wasn't ready and was scared, she made him feel bad. This was too irresponsible.
"I can't do anything with you. I'll do whatever you want." A sweet statement of surrender.
A moment later, Shiina Mahiru grabbed two pairs of stockings and ran to the bathroom. Her beautiful face was flushed, and her head was spinning. Renji Kamisaka's thing. It was too scary. Would she really give herself to him in the future? Wouldn't she be ruined? But, he was so gentle... and she liked him so much.
"Ahhh, Shiina Mahiru, you shameless woman!" She shook her head vigorously to dispel those thrilling thoughts. Yet her heart was still restless, a mixed feeling of shame, desire, and security.
After she washed the black stockings and hung them up, Renji Kamisaka carried her again, as easily as he would lift a doll, and returned to the sofa.
"You're annoying, aren't you done hugging me?" Mahiru complained softly, yet her heart was delighted, pounding with happiness. She secretly glanced at the door, making sure there were no signs of Mashiro and Misaki-senpai returning. She let out a sigh of relief, then couldn't help but move closer into Renji's embrace, resting her head on his chest.
"Mahiru is so cute, I'll never get tired of hugging you." Renji Kamisaka stroked her hair, but made no other movements, respecting their tacit agreement. His gaze fell on Shiina's slender, snow-white legs, and he suddenly said seriously, "In the future, when you go out, you must wear stockings or knee-high socks."
"Ugh, pervert... Why do you ask that?" Mahiru hit him again, embarrassed but also a little curious.
"Because Mahiru's legs are too beautiful, and her skin is as white as snow, even whiter than milk. If you go out without stockings or knee-high socks, men will definitely stare." Renji explained with a faint possessive tone. "I don't want other people to see Mahiru's legs."
Although over-the-knee socks and black stockings were also a way to show off beautiful legs, girls in Japan generally wore over-the-knee socks and stockings, so people were used to it. This led to the fact that not wearing stockings or over-the-knee socks and revealing perfect legs was more eye-catching.
Hearing this reason, Shiina Mahiru's cheeks immediately flushed crimson. She raised her hand and lightly hit him, then explained in a soft voice, "Usually I wouldn't fully expose my calves. This is all because of you, you're so mean... You insisted on me wearing stockings..."
"Cough, cough, Mahiru, there's actually another way..." Renji began in a teasing tone.
"Ah, what weird knowledge are you teaching me? I don't want to hear it!" Mahiru closed her eyes and glared fiercely at him, her eyes full of adorable resentment.
This bad guy. Why is he so skilled? She felt a slight sourness in her heart, knowing she was already caught.