Chapter 383: What we want

"I understand, senpai. No wonder she instantly warned me. Well, there's also the fact that I am Nami's boyfriend and I'm trying to make a move on you."

Well, showing it in front of someone would naturally garner some kind of reaction.

I was lucky enough that the two of them kept it to themselves.

And now that I was targeting the two of them… With this story of Arisa-senpai… It would be a challenge to make her accept my multiple relationships.

In fact, it was even worse than her previous relationship when she was led to believe that she's the only one.

But according to her, she's attracted to me… That's a plus but not enough to make her mine.

She's anchored to the current society's moral standing. What I wanted to happen was immoral. And perhaps even if she ended up falling for me, she wouldn't accept entering a relationship with me.

"Un. I appreciate your honesty, Onoda-kun. However, you can't just tell someone that you're interested in her when you're the boyfriend of her friend. I ought to hate you but… surprisingly, I can't push myself to do that."

As Arisa-senpai twisted her body to completely face me, her hand grabbed my shoulder before it crept up to my face.

Holding my head still, Arisa-senpai stared straight into my eyes, conveying whatever she's thinking at the moment.

"Onoda-kun… You're distancing yourself from me, right? But why can I see in your eyes that inexplicable desire you have for me? You're not just interested in my story. You're interested in me as a person…"

"Like I said before, senpai. I'm not normal. Whether you believe it or not. However, after hearing your story this time… I'm starting to think that it's really impossible for us. You will not bend just for that attraction you have for me." I lifted my hand and clasped it on her hand cupping my cheek "Being this close to you, feeling your warmth… This is probably the last time you will allow this to happen."

"Correct. I'm sorry for suspecting you earlier but you're the one who gave me reasonable doubt to point at you. Now that we're clear… Let's get going." Arisa-senpai promptly stood up after pulling her hand out of my grasp.

Judging from her expression, she's also feeling disappointed that the attraction she had for me wouldn't bear fruit.

At this point, what I need to do is to not make her fall for me. It's to make her believe that my abnormality is possible.

"Un. Then I will stop, senpai. Thank you for telling me about that past. But before we leave, will you also lend me your ears? Of course, only if you're interested and I'm not taking your time."

I reached for her hand and pulled on it, making her fall back in her seat.

Naturally, I supported her so that she wouldn't hurt herself.

Arisa-senpai was hurt by a guy with a glib tongue. And she even fought her best friend for him. It could be said that she's now wary of boys to not repeat the same thing.

But even when she was wary. That thing happened between us. Judging by Izumi-senpai's reaction, I was the first to become that close to Arisa-senpai after what happened to her last year.

"… Your story? Will that be long?"

"I'm afraid it will be."

Even though I planned to only tell her enough to slightly understand why I'm like this, 30 minutes will still not be enough.

"Then keep it for next time. Izumi will look for me soon. You'll be in trouble again if she finds me with you."

Not really in trouble but that girl would surely double her efforts to stop me from going after Arisa-senpai.

Yesterday was just her first attempt. Since they would swap mentee again on Monday, she would most likely warn me to not make a move to this girl or she might stop the swapping altogether.

For Izumi-senpai, her pursuit of Ogawa's affection was lower than her care towards Arisa-senpai.

"Ah. You're right. Then senpai, see you on Monday?"

Even though I said that, I kept my hold on her hand.

And upon hearing what I said, Arisa-senpai alternately looked at me and our joined hands.

This was still a rare chance and even though I said I would stop. It's just for her peace of mind. There's no way I would just give up. It's not even a week since I began approaching her with that kind of intention. We still have the rest of the school year and if that's not enough, the next school year before they graduate.

"Onoda-kun, you said one thing but you're doing another. If you keep on holding my hand, how will I leave?"

"For starters, you can pull your hand away, senpai."

"… Your shamelessness is at it again."

"Take this as my last attempt to be close to you, senpai. As you can see, I'm finding it hard to let go of you." I shrugged my shoulders before reaching in for her other hand.

Putting both of her hands on my shoulders, I boldly made a move by grabbing her by her waist.

Just like what I did with Izumi-senpai this Tuesday, I carried her from her seat to my lap.

However, unlike what happened with Izumi-senpai, Arisa-senpai was aware of what I'm doing and… she's letting me do it.

"Are you trying to take advantage of how I admitted that I'm attracted to you?" She asked as soon as I loosened my grip on her waist after settling her down.

The way she's currently heating up, it's not an exaggeration to say that… Arisa-senpai also wanted this.

Her hands on my shoulders slid to the back of my neck, enclosing my head in her embrace.

"Not trying to take advantage. But senpai, let's be honest. I'm attracted to you, perhaps the same way as you are… Holding your hand, embracing you, and now holding you close like this… Even if my mind was saying I shouldn't do this, my body's not responding to me. It's a lame excuse, I know. However, I can only explain it like this."

"Closed room, alone together and this kind of atmosphere… I'm afraid, Onoda-kun. I don't want to betray a friend."

Even as the way she looked at me gradually became heated and filled with the same desire I was feeling for her, Arisa-senpai was trying to find a reason to stop this… madness.

This desire. I guess it's not the ordinary attraction I had for my girls. This… is like I am lusting for her and she's the same.

We're standing on that thin line. Even Arisa-senpai was firm with her decision to stop my attempt on making her mine. At this moment, at this place, our bodies knew what we both wanted.

Do I want to push through this? Hina was just next door. I thought of spending the lunch break with her after what happened with Ogawa but now that I'm here with Arisa-senpai… my mind was already entirely focused on her.

"I understand. In your mind, you're betraying Nami by being like this with me. Then, senpai. You can blame it on me. Make it so that I force you to be in this situation."

Using the same thing as what I told Satsuki back when I was still trying to steal her love, my hand moved up and pushed Arisa-senpai's head down.

Amidst her shaking eyes that were still contemplating on what I said, our lips pressed onto each other.