NOVEL WEB Chapter 3: Chapter 3
Ogiwara Sayu followed Sengoku Chihiro to a small office tucked away on the first floor of Sakurasou. The faint scent of cigarette smoke lingered in the air, mixing with the faint aroma of spilled coffee. Chihiro lazily reached for a form from the cluttered desk and handed it to her.
"Here, fill this out with your basic details," Chihiro said, yawning.
Sayu obediently took the form, filling in her details with neat handwriting. Once done, she handed it back with a small bow. Chihiro glanced at the form, and her brows arched in mild surprise.
"Hokkaido? You're from way up north? And you came all the way here on your own?" Chihiro asked, her voice carrying an edge of curiosity.
"Yes," Sayu replied softly, her hands tightening around the hem of her skirt.
Before she ran away, her older brother had slipped her 300,000 yen, urging her to take a break and clear her mind before coming home. But the idea of returning to that cold and suffocating house had been unbearable. Using most of the money, she bought a one-way ticket to Kyoto, putting as much distance as possible between her and that unwelcoming place. She spent the rest on food and lodging until it finally ran out. When she had nothing left, she found herself sitting in a quiet corner of the street, alone and uncertain.
It was during that low point that he appeared.
A lecherous middle-aged man had approached her, his gaze predatory as he leaned down and whispered, "Why don't you come home with me, little JK?"
Sayu had frozen in place, unsure how to respond. But just as the man got closer, a tall boy with sharp eyes and a confident smirk appeared in front of her.
"Come with me instead," the boy had said casually, extending a hand toward her.
The middle-aged man scowled. "Oi, kid! I saw her first!"
Without missing a beat, the boy pulled out his phone, his smirk widening. "Oh? Hello, police? Yes, I'd like to report a suspicious old man harassing a schoolgirl. He's right here, wearing a—"
"Fine, fine! I'm leaving! What a pain..." the man muttered, stalking off in defeat.
Left with no other choice, Sayu accepted the boy's hand. Compared to the creepy uncle, this boy was her only lifeline. His name? Hozuki Nozomi.
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Chihiro's voice snapped Sayu out of her memories. "You're still in high school, right? Do you even have proper ID?"
"Only this," Sayu replied, pulling out her student ID.
Chihiro inspected it, tilting her head. "Hmm, well, this works... barely."
Sayu felt Chihiro's eyes on her, scrutinizing her silently. While student IDs weren't typically acceptable for check-ins—especially for students transferring from another school—Chihiro didn't question it further. After all, Hozuki Nozomi had already called ahead, personally asking Chihiro to help Sayu get settled.
As a teacher at Suimei University of Arts High School, Chihiro was used to dealing with these situations. With a knowing smirk, she handed Sayu a laminated card with bold lettering: "Sakurasou Manager: Ogiwara Sayu."
Sayu blinked, staring at the card in disbelief. "Manager…?"
Chihiro waved her off with a sly grin. "Don't overthink it. Just go back upstairs. Nozomi might throw a tantrum if you take too long."
Sayu's cheeks turned scarlet at the teasing remark, but instead of arguing, she quickly left the office, clutching the card to her chest. Her heart pounded as she approached the door to Nozomi's room.
Sliding it open, she was greeted by the rich aroma of freshly cooked food. Inside, Nozomi stood at the stove, wearing a simple apron, his sleeves rolled up as he plated a dish.
"Oi," Sayu huffed, hands on her hips. "You promised I'd be the one cooking!"
Hozuki Nozomi smiled and playfully pinched Ogiwara Sayu's puffed-up cheeks. "Today's your first day moving in, Sayu-chan. It's tradition at Sakurasou to throw a proper welcome party," he explained, his tone light and teasing. "That means I'll cook up a feast and invite everyone over. You, however, can help me prepare."
Sayu tilted her head in confusion, pouting slightly. "I thought I was supposed to be the one cooking? That's what you said earlier, Nozomi-kun!"
"Don't worry," Nozomi replied with a smirk, ruffling her hair affectionately. "The kitchen is yours starting tomorrow. I'm the laziest person here, after all."
Sayu couldn't help but giggle at his carefree attitude. "Okay, okay. Just for today, I'll let you off the hook."
After a while, the delicious aroma of stir-fried dishes and a bubbling hotpot filled the room. Plates of food were spread across the table, looking so enticing they seemed to sparkle like something out of a gourmet anime scene.
"All right, Sayu-chan, time to call everyone!" Nozomi announced, gesturing toward the door.
"On it!" Sayu chirped, dashing out with newfound excitement.
Her first stop was Chihiro-sensei's room. "Chihiro-sensei, Nozomi-kun says dinner is ready!" she called out cheerfully.
Chihiro Chihiro peeked out of her room, raising an eyebrow. "Dinner, huh? Leave it to me. I'll summon the rest."
Within minutes, the residents of Sakurasou began trickling out of their rooms one by one.
The first to arrive was Kanda Sorata, a shy, cat-loving boy who seemed perpetually flustered. When his eyes landed on Sayu, his face immediately flushed a deep crimson. "U-uh… um…"
"Don't even think about it, Kanda," Chihiro-sensei cut in sharply, her tone half-joking. "Sayu-chan is spoken for."
"Eh?!" Kanda stammered, scratching the back of his head nervously. "I wasn't thinking anything weird!"
Before Sayu could respond, a burst of energy swept into the room in the form of Kamiigusa Misaki, a third-year student with a boundless amount of enthusiasm. "Whoooa! You're the new girl? You're so cute! I'm Kamiigusa Misaki, a third-year at Suimei High! Let's be friends, okay?" she said, practically vibrating with excitement as she grabbed Sayu's hands.
Sayu blinked, a little overwhelmed, but managed to smile politely. "Ah, yes! I'm Ogiwara Sayu. Nice to meet you, Kamiigusa-senpai."
"You can just call me Misaki-senpai! Don't be shy!" Misaki declared, pulling Sayu into a tight hug.
Not far behind, Mitaka Ren sauntered in, his expression one of casual charm. "Well, well, another lovely addition to Sakurasou. I'm Mitaka Ren, the resident heartthrob. Feel free to call me Ren-senpai," he said, throwing a wink in Sayu's direction.
Misaki immediately puffed up her cheeks in annoyance. "Ren! Don't you dare flirt with Sayu-chan! If Nozomi-kun finds out, he'll kick you out of Sakurasou faster than you can say 'love hotel'!"
Ren raised his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, Misaki. I'm just here to extend a warm welcome. Sayu-chan, I hope you enjoy your stay." With that, he turned on his heel, muttering something about a date waiting for him outside.
Sayu watched him leave, her curiosity piqued. "Is Ren-senpai always like that?"
Misaki let out an exaggerated sigh. "Yup. He's got six girlfriends and somehow juggles all of them without breaking a sweat. He's the ultimate playboy."
Nozomi, who had overheard the conversation, chuckled. "I swear, that guy must have unlocked some secret cheat code for time management. It's almost impressive, in a weird way."
"Cheat code or not, he's still a scumbag," Misaki muttered, glancing away with a flicker of sadness in her eyes.
The lively atmosphere continued as the group gathered around the table. The dishes Nozomi had prepared were an instant hit. Misaki, in particular, seemed to be enjoying herself, her cheeks flushed from the sake she had "borrowed" from Chihiro-sensei.
"Uwah! Nozomi-kun, your cooking is amazing! Why didn't you tell us you were this good?" Misaki exclaimed, her words slightly slurred.
Nozomi shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. "I don't usually have a reason to cook like this. But don't get used to it. From now on, Sayu-chan's the one in charge of the kitchen."
"Don't bully Sayu-chan!" Misaki protested, slamming her hands on the table for emphasis. "She's too precious for your laziness!"
Sayu giggled softly, her cheeks turning pink. If every day could be this warm… I wouldn't mind being "bullied" by Nozomi-kun forever, she thought to herself.
As the night wore on, the group gradually dispersed, retreating to their respective rooms. Even the reclusive Akasaka Ryunosuke participated in his own way, sending a digital message of welcome via his AI maid.
Back in his room, Nozomi was just about to relax when he felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist. He froze, his breath catching. "Sayu-chan?"
"It's me," came her soft reply.
"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice suddenly dry.
Sayu leaned into him, her warmth pressing against his back. "Nothing… I just wanted to say thank you."
"Thank me?" Nozomi turned slightly, glancing down at her. Her eyes sparkled with sincerity, and her tone took on a playful edge.
"Thank you for letting me stay here, Nozomi-kun," she murmured. "You've made me feel like I belong."
Before he could respond, Sayu closed the distance between them, her lips brushing against his. Nozomi's restraint crumbled in an instant. The surprise of Sayu's embrace caught Nozomi off guard, his heart racing as he turned to face her. The look in her eyes was both earnest and flirtatious, stirring a whirlwind of emotions within him.
Her confession of gratitude, laced with a subtle innuendo, left him momentarily speechless. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could form any words, Sayu's lips were on his.
Their kiss was gentle yet intense, filled with the depth of their connection. Nozomi's hands moved to cup her face, his fingers tangling in her hair as their mouths explored one another.
Sayu's tongue danced with his, her lips parting to invite him in deeper. The sensation was electric, his body tingling as their passion ignited. The air between them thickened, their desire for one another palpable.
Nozomi's hands slipped beneath Sayu's t-shirt, his fingers tracing the curve of her waist before settling on her hip. The feel of her skin against his was exhilarating, and he pulled her closer, their bodies melting into one.
Their kiss deepened, their tongues intertwining in a passionate dance. Nozomi's hands roamed, discovering the contours of her body, his fingers dancing over the sensitive skin of her waist.
Sayu's arms wrapped around his neck, her nails gently digging into his flesh as their kiss intensified. The room swirled around them, their world reduced to the intimate connection between them.
Nozomi broke the kiss, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His eyes met hers, filled with a hunger that could no longer be denied.
Nozomi led Sayu to his bed, their eyes locked as they moved, the room spinning around them in a haze of lust. Once they reached the bed, he wasted no time in discarding their clothing, his hands working deftly to remove the obstacles between them.
Sayu's t-shirt was lifted over her head, revealing her lace bra, the delicate straps barely holding her breasts in place. Nozomi's fingers trailed down her body, his hand cupping her breast through the fabric.
He leaned in, his lips capturing one of her nipples through the lace. The sensation sent a shiver down her spine, her breath hitching. Nozomi's fingers deftly unclasped the bra, tossing it aside, before burying his face in her breasts.
Sayu's shorts were next to go, sliding down her legs to reveal the softness between them, her arousal evident. Nozomi's eyes met hers, his gaze filled with a hunger that mirrored her own.
He lay down on the bed, his boxer shorts the last barrier between them. Sayu straddled him, her wetness brushing against his erection, the friction sending sparks through both of them.
Nozomi's hands found her hips, his fingers gripping tightly as she ground against him. Sayu leaned in, her lips capturing his in a deep, passionate kiss.
Their bodies moved together, their kisses growing more urgent as their desire for one another escalated. Nozomi's boxer shorts were discarded, his cock free at last, standing tall and eager.
Sayu positioned herself over him, her eyes meeting his, a mixture of lust and love shining through. She slowly lowered herself onto him, the feeling of his hardness stretching her filling her with a mixture of pleasure and discomfort.
Nozomi's hands gripped her hips, pulling her closer, their bodies melding together. As she sank onto him, a moan escaped her lips, her body adjusting to the feeling of him inside her.
Their eyes remained locked, the intimacy of the moment overwhelming. Nozomi's hands roamed, his fingers exploring her body as they moved together. Their pace grew more urgent, their moans and gasps filling the room.
Their hips moved in unison, their bodies slick with sweat, their connection forged through desire and gratitude. The pleasure built, the tension coiling tighter, until it could no longer be contained.
Their orgasms crashed over them, their cries of ecstasy filling the room as they rode out the waves of pleasure. Spent, they fell into each other's arms, their hearts pounding, their bodies entwined.
In the aftermath, they lay together, their heavy breathing filling the room. The intimacy of their moment, the culmination of their shared gratitude, left them both breathless and content.