[Sorry, my sister is a bit bro-con. If she acted inappropriately in any way, I apologize on her behalf.] 19:40 "Read"
This was Sasaki's response to Sasaki Yukina's close gesture of massaging his feet.
Although Tachibana Yuka didn't say anything outwardly, her gaze was so cold it could freeze.
Her rejection of the two women was fully apparent.
After all, Yukina was Sasaki's sister and had helped them.
So, faced with her rejection, both Hamazaki Reina and Sasaki Yukina didn't dare show any displeasure.
After Sasaki Yukina briefly discussed the move with Sasaki, the two of them rested for a while before suggesting they should leave.
In Yuka's eyes, they were both injured and couldn't possibly make it home on their own.
While she disapproved of how close they were to her brother, it didn't rise to the level of dislike, at most she found it irritating.
Besides, even if she threw a tantrum and refused to take them home, her stupid brother would definitely offer to escort them.
So, when the two of them mentioned leaving, Yuka took the initiative to help them out the door.
After they left the house, Sasaki stood in the kitchen and sent a message to Hamazaki.
She wasn't injured, and her place was only a few steps away from his.
As soon as the message was sent, it showed as read.
[Haha, it's fine, really. Sister Yuka is actually very nice. Otherwise, she wouldn't have gone to so much trouble to help us. She's way better than Yukina's overly protective brother.] 19:40
[Huh? Sasaki-san has a brother?] 19:40 "Read"
[Yep! You don't know how much Yukina's brother is obsessed with his sister. Whenever he sees her, he just talks non-stop... It's pretty funny for us, but Yukina finds him really annoying.] 19:41
[That's why Yukina doesn't want to go home, even with her injured foot.] 19:41
[Oh, so Sasaki-San really finds her brother that annoying?] 19:41 "Read"
[Exactly...~] 19:42
Tap~
As Sasaki was casually chatting with Hamazaki, he suddenly heard the sound of someone carefully opening the door and then quickly sent her another message.
[Sister Yuka's back, let's stop here for now.] 19:42 "Read"
After sending the message, he slipped his phone into his pocket, rolled up his sleeves, and turned on the faucet, scrubbing the dishes.
Sneaking quietly into the house, Yuka swapped her shoes for slippers and, under the cover of the running water, slowly made her way to the kitchen.
Upon reaching the living room, she looked at Sasaki's tall figure standing in the warm glow of the lights.
Even from just his back, one could tell he was outstanding.
His every move was effortless, yet he always drew people's attention.
He had been like this since childhood.
Strangers would stop him on the street, asking for his contact information, and his desk would be stuffed with chocolates every Valentine's Day…
Back then, he'd foolishly bring all those chocolates home for them to eat.
Thinking of those childhood memories, Yuka couldn't help but smile as she quietly approached.
"Sister Yuka, could you hand me that plate over there?"
The sudden voice startled Yuka for a moment, and she instinctively passed him the plate beside her.
"..."
Sasaki turned to look at her, and Yuka blinked in confusion... She had forgotten to walk quietly because she was smiling.
Thinking about this, the girl's long lashes fluttered quickly as she hurriedly covered up her embarrassment from sneaking around.
She wanted to put on a nonchalant expression, but remembering that she had come to confront him, she quickly adopted a fierce and angry look, demanding in a stern voice:
"Forget the plates! Let's talk business first!"
"What's with the attitude?"
Without any sense of guilt for provoking her, Sasaki stopped scrubbing the dishes and gave her a surprised glance.
"I'm angry! You got a problem with that?"
Like a little puppy baring its teeth, Yuka made a mock growls, her eyebrows raised, as she asked:
"Tell me, what's the relationship between you and those two girls just now?"
Sasaki didn't take hee questioning too seriously.
He turned his head away, focusing back on the dishes in the sink as he continued scrubbing:
"What relationship? They're just ordinary classmates."
To Yuka, his casual response seemed evasive.
She stepped forward, cupped his face in her hands, and forcefully turned his head so that his eyes were locked with her fierce gaze as she continued questioning: "Just ordinary classmates? And you're massaging her feet?"
"Do you think I'm stupid? No 'ordinary classmate' is that close!"
"Confess now, and you'll be treated leniently. Resist, and it'll only get worse. Fess up!"
Forced to meet Yuka's stern gaze, Sasaki blinked: "Really, they're just classmates. She hurt her foot, and since I know how to do massages, I helped her out..."
"And Hamazaki's foot is injured too—why didn't you massage hers?"
"Well, because you were clearly upset!"
"So you knew I was upset, yet you still massaged Sasaki's feet!?"
"I only realized you were upset after the fact..."
Having grown accustomed to her strong-willed personality, Sasaki's tone remained innocent and helpless, without a trace of impatience.
This was exactly what allowed Yuka to act unreasonably in front of him, because she knew that he would tolerate it.
Even though he sometimes talked back, it was only a little, and she could handle that.
And it was precisely because she knew he would put up with her temper that Yuka had grown to like him more and more.
But how could this idiot not see that?
The girl was angry at how oblivious he was, but not too angry.
At least from his words, she could tell he was aware of her feelings and tried to be considerate, it's just he was a bit slow and dense.
After his explanation about Hamazaki earned a barely passing grade, Yuka decided to drop that topic.
However, there was something else she wanted to ask.
"When did you start massaging your aunt? Why didn't I know about that?"
Sasaki tried to twist his head out of her grasp, but she held on tightly, clearly not wanting him to break eye contact.
Left with no choice, the boy turned his body to face her directly and responded:
"It's after she takes a bath, usually around ten o'clock or so."
Hearing this, Yuka tightened her grip on his face, leaning her whole body against him as she looked into his eyes and said: "So, why haven't you given me a massage?"
Compared to Tachibana Koharu and Tachibana Kyouka, Yuka's figure was slightly more slender.
But that was only in comparison to those two; among girls her age, Yuka's figure was undeniably well-developed.
Now, wearing her dark blue silk sports shirt as her body pressed fully against his,
The soft, curvy lines of her figure molded perfectly to his, the warmth and firmness of her skin causing Sasaki's throat to go dry and his breathing to quicken slightly.
Feeling that his body was becoming familiar, he quickly reminded himself of the rule: he couldn't let things with Sister Yuka cross the line.
And instead of responding the way he might with other girls, he pulled back slightly, leaning his head away:
"Too close, Sister Yuka~"
However, Yuka wanted exactly that; his retreat and discomfort.
Because, it was proof that he still had feelings for her.
So, she closed the distance he had just created and pressed herself against him again.
Then, furrowing her brows, she leaned against him, straightening his face with a serious expression and said sternly:
"Stop changing the subject.
Tell me! Why won't you give me a massage?"
Suppressing the urge to touch her slender waist as his heartbeat increased, Sasaki tried his best not to think about the inappropriate thoughts stirring in his mind and replied: "You never asked.
I massage Aunt Kyouka because I see how hard she works at her job, but you…"
The unfinished sentence clearly implied that he didn't think she worked as hard.
Yuka understood what he meant, but that wasn't the reason she wanted to hear.
"I didn't ask, so you wouldn't offer? Would I have rejected you if you did? I treat you so well, but you're just an ungrateful brat!"
As she spoke, her hands, which had been gently holding his face, turned into a pinch as she pulled at his cheeks in frustration, venting her dissatisfaction.
"How about tomorrow, when I come over to help you study? I'll give you a massage then… okay?"
The situation was driving Sasaki crazy—the tension between being able to feel but not act was unbearable.
Feeling desperate to calm her down, he went along with her demands.
"No way!"
Tachibana Yuka had already noticed her stupid brother's physical reaction from their closeness, but instead of retreating in embarrassment, she pressed herself more firmly against him, making him acutely aware of the softness of her body.
Even her tone became more forceful as she insisted: "I want you to massage me tonight!"
"But tonight is supposed to be…"
"Just switch with Koharu. More importantly, you—"
*Click—*
"So heavy! I'm exhausted."
"We'll be cooking dinner soon, so don't eat too many snacks, okay, Rinka?"
"Got it, Koharu!"
The sound of the door unlocking, followed by familiar voices, suddenly filled the living room.
And Yuka, who had been ready to tease Sasaki about his reaction and take things further, clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"Tsk—"
There's always tonight!
She reassured herself, releasing Sasaki's face and stepping back to stand upright.
"Don't forget, after dinner, come to my room."
"I know."
After making their agreement, the evening passed quickly, and by the time dinner was over, it was already 8:30.
Since tutoring wasn't something to delay, Sasaki didn't want to give Yuka any reason to say he was slacking.
So, after finishing his meal, he gathered the necessary materials and headed to her room.
"Why are you so slow?!"
Lying on the bed with her phone, Yuka sat up as soon as she heard the door open, grumbling with dissatisfaction.
Sasaki placed the books on the desk near the door, rolling his eyes: "You just finished eating too! What gives you the right to call me slow?"
"I say you're slow, so you're slow. Got a problem?"
Tossing her phone aside, Yuka sat on the edge of the bed, slipping on her slippers, and glared at him.
"No, no~"
Sasaki chuckled softly in surrender, pulling a chair over and sitting down.
He opened the workbook Sister Koharu had bought for him that afternoon at the bookstore.
Seeing him quietly start his work, Yuka didn't act like a normal tutor who would sit beside him and supervise.
Instead, wearing a black camisole, she leaned over and rested herself on Sasaki's shoulders.
"..."
A black ink dot appeared on the white test paper as Sasaki, feeling the soft weight resting on his shoulders, muttered dazedly:
"Sister Yuka, you..."
Before he could finish, Yuka reached out with her delicate, pale arm, releasing a subtle, fresh fragrance from her post-shower skin as she said: "You're doing this step wrong, it should be like this..."
She clearly didn't plan to get up, and Sasaki, not wanting to remind her and disrupt the moment, could only grit his teeth and obediently continue with his work.
After about half an hour, Yuka straightened her slightly sore back and patted the boy on the shoulder:
"Your basics are good. Let's take a break. My waist is a bit sore, so give me a massage."
Saying this, she turned and headed toward the bed.
"..."
Sasaki wanted to blurt out something like, "It's only been half an hour, I want to keep going," or "Of course your waist hurts, you were pressing down on me," to disrupt the mood.
But… seeing her fair back and those shapely legs in light gray loose-fitting shorts, he found it hard to say no.
It wasn't that he lacked resolve,
it was just that her back was too fair, and her waist… too sore.
As a good brother to Sisted Yuka, it was only right for him to help ease her pain.
After all, keeping the family harmony was important, and this didn't seem like crossing any boundaries.
He adjusted his perspective and closed the workbook:
"Alright."
Hearing her stupid brother agree, Yuka, already lying on the bed with her hands under her chin, swung her smooth, slender legs playfully in the air, feeling a mix of joy and anticipation.
Of course, there was also a bit of nervousness.
Even though she often acted boldly and seemed unconcerned about showing her graceful figure in front of him, that confidence came from knowing he wouldn't dare cross the line.
But now, letting him freely massage her back for the first time felt different…
As she nervously curled her toes, Sasaki quietly sat beside her on the bed after removing his shoes and then lightly rested his weight on her thighs.
!!!
Though he wasn't directly sitting on her hips, this felt even more intimate somehow…
Instinctively, the girl tightened her muscles, causing the light gray fabric of her shorts to bunch up slightly, revealing a distinct crease.
She bit her lip, which had gone dry from the heat of the moment, and buried her face into the pillow.
Sasaki wasn't surprised by her tough exterior paired with her hidden shyness.
He placed his broad hand on her smooth, soft back, which felt as smooth as warm jade, and slowly pushed upward, adjusting the thin black straps on her back as he worked.
~~~!
She had asked for the massage herself, so no matter how strange the sensations running through her body felt, she wouldn't back down now.
Thus, Tachibana Yuuka resigned herself to letting Sasaki's fingertips trace the smooth surface of her skin, occasionally brushing against the soft, white curves of her back.
.
.
.