Chapter 1443 You Promised!

"Oi. Stop stripping in front of me. Even if you're that good-looking, I never asked for a show from someone younger than me."

"Hmm? But I'm not stripping for you, Kazuha-nee. I didn't even ask you to watch." I answered in an unbothered tone, tilting my head in the process and without stopping the movements of my hands as I gradually unbutton my top.

At the moment, she was sitting on Hina's chair by the girl's study table.

Although she was asking me to stop, her eyes were still fixed on me as if she was trying to burn the image in my mind.

Or maybe not. Like with Saionji last time, the woman refused to be the one on the losing end here so instead of turning around, she's ordering me to stop.

"Decency! Ruki-kun, do you not have it?"

"Probably not. Remember, I'm just hopelessly shameless. It's a surprise to hear that from you though. Are you shying away from shamelessness now?"

Hearing how I answered, Kazuha-nee clicked her tongue in annoyance. Perhaps if not for Hina by my side, she would have approached me by now, restraining me in the process.

"That's a different kind of thing, you fool! Hina, tell him!" Kazuha-nee facepalmed, looking like she was already done arguing with me. Yet, she remained unflinching. Perhaps thinking that my girl would take her side, she called for her help.

To her surprise, Hina innocently tilted her head as she answered in a matter-of-factly way. "Eh? Ruki is right though. Kazuha-nee, can choose to turn around and not stare at him. He's not stripping for you to ogle at. He's changing."

Right. That's the reason I was stripping. Since I promised to show the girl the cosplay that I wore last night, there's no better time than now.

On another note, I admit that if it is any other person in Kazuha-nee's place, I will be practicing some sort of decency and not show this to her. I only got this brave because she's Kazuha-nee. In our battle of shamelessness that still has no clear winner, I'll take every chance to take her down. Furthermore, I'm certain that no matter how much she found me shameless or how annoyed she became, the woman would remain the same.

In short, there's no risk of being hated by her as long as I don't go over the boundary she set in her mind. Right, despite the likeness, she's still different from Saionji who didn't put up one.

"… Where did my sweet Hina-chan go? I can't believe you'll be easily influenced by your shameless boyfriend."

Hina didn't deny that. Instead, she put all her focus on helping me change, not minding the spectator. I wouldn't be fully naked anyway.

Furthermore, with how skillful and mindful Hina moved this time. She probably got instructions from Akane and the others on how to replicate my image from last night. That probably explained why her enthusiasm was currently at its highest. Besides, even if I could put on the cosplay by myself, some details would be easily done if I get help.

Anyway, Kazuha-nee soon stopped nagging at me for stripping. When I take a glance at her state, she's sulking yet her intense gaze remained focused on me. Whatever was in her mind was already irrelevant at this point.

Although we joked about inviting her into the bed with us, she's the one who chose to come inside instead of sticking to what she previously planned.

Hina also didn't mind her being here, anyway. In fact, she's probably even planning on showing me off to Kazuha-nee because she knew that, in one way or another, Kazuha-nee would tell Ogawa about this. That's another jab incoming for the guy.

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"What do you think, Kazuha-nee? You've been watching Ruki for a while now. Is he handsome enough to make you this speechless?" While sounding a little mischievous, Hina addressed our lone spectator.

It's been fifteen minutes since Hina and I finished the cosplay. Her mother already visited once to bring in the snacks and drinks for us yet Kazuha-nee remained in her seat, still drilling a hole in my back using her eyes.

While Auntie also got mesmerized by my appearance in the cosplay, the woman had no change in her expression. It's like she got frozen in time that hadn't been dispelled yet.

Or at least, that's how it appeared to us. Hina's overflowing excitement also made no effect on her.

And so, Hina, after getting satisfied with filming and taking my photos, retreated to her side and nudged her shoulder in an attempt to wake her up from her trance.

Was it effective? Maybe. Because the woman finally took her eyes off me.

Lifting her head to look at Hina who was still brimming with joy, Kazuha-nee made a gesture, asking the girl to lower her head so that she could reach her ear.

Instead of answering loudly, she opted to whisper it to the girl.

While they were at that, I relaxed my posture, took off some of the cosplay accessories attached to me, and walked to Hina's bed to wait for the girl. Although we're pretty much done with the cosplay, I decided to continue wearing it for the girl. At least until it's time for me to leave.

However, I hadn't even taken a few steps when suddenly, Hina raised her voice.

"Eh? No, you can't!"

Given that we were just in the same room, my attention quickly focused on them, or rather, on my girl's state.

She appeared shocked and agitated that her eyes quickly sought for my figure.

Upon seeing me looking at her, Hina ran to me and hid herself in my arms.

On the other hand, Kazuha-nee stared at us with a playful smile on her lips. When she caught me staring at her, she stuck her tongue out indicating that she messed up.

Of course, Hina reacted like that because of what she whispered and so, to find that out, I called out to the girl who was hugging tightly as if she didn't want me to get taken away.

"What's wrong? What did she say?"

At first, Hina shook her head, not wanting to mention it. But when she eventually calmed down, she lifted her head. Her expression looked like she was about to cry but was steeling herself not to.

"Uhm… She asked me if she can take you home with her."

Take me home?

Alright. Whatever that meant, Kazuha-nee definitely changed her target to Hina because she knew that it was impossible to take me down.

"I'm aware I'm overreacting. It's Kazuha-nee, after all. However, the thought of giving you away to someone else terrified me." Hina continued, this time with a lower volume. She then tiptoed to kiss me, perhaps to calm herself down.

Well, her reaction was, for the lack of a better word, too adorable. Even though it's the result of her getting teased, I couldn't help but feel warm at the thought of Hina loving me dearly.

Due to that, setting aside the mischievous woman, my mind became filled with the thought of making this night more special for the girl.

Wrapping my arms around Hina, I closed her tightly in my embrace, enough to lift her off the floor. And while we were at it, I started making our way to her bed.

From the corner of my eyes, I noticed Kazuha-nee raising both of her arms in the air as an indication of her surrender. Most likely, she's probably thinking that she went overboard on teasing Hina due to the way my girl reacted.

No. It's not just 'probably'. Because at the next moment, she proved that right away by issuing an apology.

"Okay. I apologize for teasing you, Hina-chan. Ruki-kun is all yours. I'll leave the room." Kazuha-nee stood up.

However, even before she could take a step towards the door, Hina snapped her eyes open. Looking like an idea had just popped up in her head, she called out to her, "Kazuha-nee, don't leave, stay here with us."

Upon hearing that, it became Kazuha-nee's turn to become baffled. With her forehead creasing as if she couldn't wrap her head around Hina's request, she asked, "Why?"

"You promised to roll on the bed with us!" Hina replied right away but by the end of that sentence, her lips mischievously curved up.

Yep. She wouldn't accept a simple apology. She wanted to get back at her by teasing her as well. And this time, even if Kazuha-nee knew her intention, she couldn't simply reject it because of what she did. For someone like her who's a master in that field, this was a rare occasion that the tables turned on her.

And so, a minute after that, I found myself sandwiched by Hina and Kazuha-nee who was trying her hardest not to stick close to me. Unfortunately for her, Hina's bed wasn't that wide.