Chương 202: She was with another boy
Walking over to Shinomiya, Sasaki gently lifted her ponytail and reached out to touch her face.
At this moment, her smooth, delicate skin felt like a peeled boiled egg, warm and soft like heated silk.
He gently pinching the soft flesh of her cheek that one would be reluctant to let go of.
Using the method Fujitsubaki had given him to assess the drug's effects, Sasaki found out that Shinomiya Natsuha's current state was similar to being drunk,
At this moment, she was still a distance away from losing consciousness or becoming passionately feverish.
So, he didn't rush to take her away.
His affectionate gesture made Natsuha, who ft the cool touch on her cheek, lift her head.
Blinking laboriously, her blurred vision gradually cleared.
She recognized the person gently caressing her cheek as the 'culprit' who had disrupted her relationship with Yamano Yuuta.
If it weren't for him, today's events wouldn't have happened... Her relationship with Yuta would still be the same, and she wouldn't have discovered that he didn't truly care about her...
Ten years of relationship undone by two photos.
He trusted what he saw more than what she said.
He cared more about her body than their relationship...
To the extent of drugging his own girlfriend...
It's really...
Heh...
With a sarcastic laugh, the gi's strength drained like a receding tide, and Natsuha's knees buckled, making her start to fall forward.
Having a good understanding of her current state, Sasaki, who had been watching closely, immediately caught her by the waist and said something fitting for the situation.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
With her mind turned to mush, Natsuha wanted to say she was fine in response to Sasaki's inquiry.
But all that came out was a sweet, ambiguous hum, sounding like a playful whimper.
"Mm~?"
---------
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Since Sasaki was holding the girl in his arms, Nanao Akane didn't notice her increasingly unusual expression.
Hearing her sweet whimper, thinking she was being coquettish with Sasaki, she teasingly remarked:
"You two seem really close~"
She wasn't envious of the girl being held by Sasaki.
She envied their open, affectionate relationship.
Unlike her.
She couldn't hold Shou-kun so freely without worry.
Not even outside of school.
If classmates saw them, it would cause huge trouble for both of them.
Sasaki smiled but didn't respond to her teasing.
Instead, he seriously thanked her:
"Thank you, Nanao-san, for your help. If anything happened to Natsuha, I..."
Although Nanao Akane's appearance was unexpected, the outcome wasn't much different.
So, he wasn't stingy with a word of thanks.
After all, it was just moving his lips.
"It's nothing, Sasaki-san has helped me before too."
"By the way, Sasaki-san arrived really fast. I thought we'd have to wait a bit longer~"
Waving it off casually, Nanao Akane looked at the boy curiously.
From the time she called him until now, it hadn't even been five minutes.
Was Sasaki working nearby?
"I was working at the Four Leaf Clover convenience store not far from here. When I got your call, I ran straight over."
While dealing with the waiter, Sasaki had already taken leave from Sister Ayumi, who was almost like a half-girlfriend to him.
Naturally, he hadn't been at the convenience store.
He said this offhandedly.
And Nanao Akane didn't dwell on it, as she was merely asking out of curiosity.
After all, from his words, she could sense Sasaki's concern for the girl in his arms.
This made her even more hesitant.
Emotionally, she wanted to remind Sasaki, who had helped her before, since such matters are indeed concerning.
Logically, her relationship with Sasaki wasn't close enough for her to meddle in his romantic affairs.
Her internal conflict was evident in her eyes, and Sasaki, noticing her hesitation, asked:
"Do you know Natsuha well, Nanao-san?"
"Ah? No, not really. I just thought she's really pretty, and Sasaki should—"
Ding ding~ ding ding~
Her words were interrupted by the ringtone of her phone.
Nanao Akane smiled apologetically at Sasaki and took out her phone from her skirt pocket.
The screen displayed a video call request from a contact marked [Shou-kun].
With Sasaki and his girlfriend right beside her, and considering it was the baseball club's break time, Nanao Akane, who was worried about someone discovering her relationship, couldn't take the video call.
So, after declining the call, she sent a message back.
[Shou-kun suddenly called me on video. Is something up? (scratching head, confused.jpg)] 18:37 "Read"
The message status quickly changed to "Read."
Immediately, a reply from [Shou-kun] popped up in the chat.
[Why didn't you pick up the call, Nanao-san? Is it inconvenient?] 18:37 "Read"
It was indeed somewhat inconvenient.
But the main reason was her fear that the other club members might notice she was video calling a boy.
In the world of high school students, being close enough to have video calls, even if not dating, indicated a very close relationship.
If this got out, it could be used against her by the likes of Togou...
Though it was just a possibility, the potential consequence was something Nanao Akane absolutely couldn't accept.
So, she couldn't afford to be careless!
But explaining all this to Shou-kun would take time.
She decided not to argue and went along with his assumption.
[Yes, something came up at home, and I'm out now. It's a bit inconvenient… (sorry.jpg)] 18:37 "Read"
[No worries. I just wanted to see you during our break since the team isn't here... After all, I Miss you...] 18:37 "Read"
Though she knew Shou-kun's straightforwardness was due to the influence of certain drugs, it was still something seldom heard from her boyfriend.
So, Nanao Akane felt a mix of shyness and happiness, biting her soft lips.
[Sorry, Shou-kun...] 18:38 "Read"
[It's okay, it's okay… Umm, can I have a selfie of you now?] 18:38 "Read"
[Eh? Right now?] 18:38 "Read"
[Yeah, since it's the first time in a long while we haven't trained together... I really want to see... No... Is that not okay?] 18:38 "Read"
This...
Hurriedly opening the camera app, Nanao Akane looked at her face in the mirror—still flushed from the exercise, with strands of hair sticking to her forehead and cheeks, and hesitated.
Normally, she wouldn't think twice about it.
Her boyfriend asking for a selfie wasn't a big deal...
But she looked so disheveled...
So embarrassing~
Not wanting her boyfriend to see her like this, but unable to refuse, Nanao Akane closed the camera app and messaged him:
[I'm busy outside, and I don't look good. Can I send a regular photo instead?] 18:38 "Read"
[But I haven't seen you today… I want to see you today… If it's really inconvenient, then forget it.] 18:38 "Read"
Sensing the hint of pleading in his words, Nanao Akane, who had never heard her usually confident and sunny boyfriend say such things, felt her mind go blank and her heart warm up.
She reopened the camera app.
Though she didn't care about posing when taking selfies for herself, she wanted to choose a simple and honest pose for her boyfriend.
Extending her right hand to hold the phone, placing her left hand on her flushed cheek, and forming a cute peace sign, she smiled brightly and pressed the shutter button.
Click—
She sent the photo and edited the message shyly, biting her lip.
[Helping my family move stuff, I might not look too good… (covering face.jpg)] 18:39 "Read"
After sending, she waited for over half a minute without a response.
Guessing that the coach might have blown the whistle to gather the team, Nanao Akane didn't mind.
As she was about to put her phone away, he sent another message.
[Okay, the coach called us, I have to go now.] 18:40 "Read"
[Alright, it's hot these days, don't forget to stay hydrated, Shou-kun~] 18:40 "Read"
[Okay.] 18:40 "Read"
Knowing how strict coach's management was, the girl felt slightly disappointed that he didn't comment on her photo, but she didn't mind too much.
Training was important, after all.
Putting her phone away, Nanao Akane walked over to Sasaki and said:
"Sorry."
Already used to their frequent apologies, Sasaki shook his head.
He gently stroked the increasingly restless Natsuha, who was rubbing her head against him, and asked her:
"Was that Katase on the phone?"
Because Sasaki had warned her about a 'beast' targeting her, the girl saw him as a trustworthy friend. Therefore, she didn't hide anything and answered honestly:
"Yes, he wanted to see me, so he called on video, but I was worried someone from the club might see, so I didn't answer."
"Then he asked for a current photo."
Blinking in surprise, Sasaki looked at Nanao Akane's flushed, tender face, slightly messy hair, and loosened collar, revealing a hint of her white skin, and couldn't help but ask with a strange expression:
"You gave it to him?"
Reluctant to refuse Shou-kun's request, Nanao Akane replied a bit helplessly:
"He insisted."
"He insisted, and you gave it?"
Not understanding Sasaki's strange expression and tone, the girl nodded and asked:
"Is there a problem?"
'I don't have a problem… I'm worried your boyfriend might…'
"No, nothing. Can I see the photo you sent him?"
"Sure."
Taking the phone she handed over, Sasaki, still holding Natsuha by the waist, looked down at the photo she had taken.
Nanao Akane's hair, as beautiful as a sea of roses, was slightly sticky with sweat on her forehead, adding a touch of disorder to her appearance.
At this moment, her radiant, white face had a tender blush, like white jade dusted with rouge.
Her slight head tilt and the peace sign beside her face…
Why not look up a bit?
Returning her phone, Sasaki pressed his lips together, unsure how to warn her.
Unable to find the words, he sent her a picture of a cat to convey his message.
The white cat curled up on a sofa had a bright blush on its cheeks.
Below the blush was a wide-open mouth, revealing a pink, soft, barbed tongue.
Above the blush were large, moist eyes, with a shining pupil and a visible little heart in the middle.
Though the cat's expression differed slightly from the girl's, Sasaki hoped she would understand his point.
Just as he thought, upon seeing the picture, Nanao Akane's eyes widened, clearly wanting to question why he sent her such a picture.
But she wasn't a fool.
She held back the words of inquiry just before they left her mouth, understanding why Sasaki did this.
Covering her tender, flushed face with her right hand, and placing her left hand on her right elbow, she supported her chest, swollen with embarrassment.
Nanao Akane glanced at the seemingly sleeping girl in Sasaki's arms and said:
"I really misjudged you, Sasaki-kun. I didn't expect you to be so… so..."
With his girlfriend in his arms, she didn't dwell on the matter with him.
"Shou-kun would never think that way about me. I told him I was moving stuff, and he'll believe me."
However, Sasaki smiled but didn't respond.
Holding the increasingly heavy-breathing Natsuha, he said:
"It's getting late. I need to take Natsuha home. Let's not chat too long."
"Alright."
Watching the two leave the alley, Nanao Akane looked down at her phone, at the picture of the cat in her chat with Sasaki and quickly typed out a message.
The message contained no embellishments.
It simply described Natsuha's state when she pulled her into the alley and the few words she overheard from the boy before they left the alley.
As she walked home, Nanao Akane frequently checked her phone screen.
She knew she was meddling a bit.
But she saw Sasaki as a friend who had helped her escape despair and didn't want anything tragic to happen to him.
Of course, having done something, one must bear the consequences.
If their relationship remained intact but his girlfriend came to dislike and avoid her, even causing trouble, she would still be happy.
At least the worst didn't happen.
If their relationship broke down, she would feel sorry for Sasaki, but, after all, long-term pain is better than short-term pain...
While she was having these thoughts, the phone she was holding buzzed with a crisp and pleasant notification sound.
Ding~
[I believe her.] 18:50 "Read"
Seeing these somewhat familiar words, a soft, radiant smile like the sunset spread across Nanao Akane's lips...
________
Putting away her phone, Sasaki looked down at Natsuha, who clung to him and didn't want to get up and gently pushed her waist:
"What's wrong? You seem a bit strange."
Saying this, he pretended to check her forehead:
"Why is it so hot? Do you need to go to the hospital?"
His continuous inquiries brought the girl, whose mind was almost burning, back to a bit of clarity.
Why was she like this?
Feeling so hot, dizzy, suffocated, unable to breathe...
Why?
Because...
'No, it's not what you think, let me explain...'
The anxious and guilty face of her childhood sweetheart floated in her mind.
The anger, grievance, and bitterness in her heart surged up like a volcanic eruption, filling her reddened eyes with tears:
"Explain! Explain why you did that! What's wrong with me? Explain!"
Her shrill, resentful cries echoed on the street, drawing the attention of passersby.
Ignoring the varied looks from the onlookers, Sasaki held Natsuha by the waist with his left hand, gently stroked her hair with his right, and let her pound her small fists on him while soothing her softly:
"You're great, Natsuha is the best, there's nothing wrong with you~"
It seemed like she simply wanted to vent her inner sorrow and anger.
Hearing his reply, Natsuha, not caring who was holding her, continued to cry and beat her fists, wailing:
"Why? Why don't you trust me? Why did you do that? Why?"
Bending slightly to let her rest on his shoulder, Sasaki lowered his head, brushing against her temple hair, and kept apologizing softly:
"I'm sorry, it's all my fault. I won't distrust you again, I'm sorry..."
"Ugh, ugh~"
It seemed she got the answer she wanted.
Natsuha stopped hitting him and slightly leaned back.
Sasaki didn't know what she wanted, but he released his tight grip on her waist and met her tear-filled eyes.
Uncertain of her intentions, his hand moved up from her waist, gently cupping her small face the size of his palm, and softly wiped the tears from her eyes.
"What's wrong?"
Receiving no reply.
As Natsuha's breathing grew heavier, her hand, originally pressed against Sasaki's chest, slowly moved up to wrap around his neck.
Seeing the misty, cloud-like water in her eyes, Sasaki knew.
The drug had taken effect.
Well.. time to book a room.
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