Chapter 102 Back Hug

Back Hug

Following Haruki, who had run up from the first floor as if to escape, Sou climbed the stairs. He entered the second floor, but Haruki was nowhere to be seen.

However, in an unnatural way, the door to Sou’s room is the only one that remains open. He had closed it when he got up in the morning and went downstairs.

Sou easily predicted that Haruki was in his room and went to his room. Meanwhile, the organ in his chest continued to beat irregularly.

He looked into the open room, and as expected, Haruki was there. Haruki sat cross-legged on the floor and looked down calmly. There was not a single sound in Sou’s room.

“Haruki-san.”

Feeling his heart beating in his whole body, Sou carefully called out to Haruki.

“…”

But Haruki did not answer. She didn’t even raise her face.

A sharp ringing sound attacked Sou’s ears. The unpleasant sound reached his brain.

“Shouldn’t you eat the onigiri Manami made?”

Haruki muttered in a low voice while still in a bowed posture. A feeling of melancholy hung over Haruki’s body.

“Well… I guess it’s unfair in a battle, so I left the table….”

Staring at Haruki, who wouldn’t meet his gaze, Sou replied honestly.

“I see.”

Haruki replied indifferently. A heavy silence fell over Sou’s room again. An uncomfortable atmosphere flowed through the room for Sou.

“Um, I’m sorry. I didn’t think enough. If I had convinced Manami-san to have breakfast with everyone at the same time, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Deeply regretting his careless actions, Sou apologized to Haruki with sincere feelings.

“…”

There was no reaction from Haruki.

Only heavy air dominated Sou’s room. Because of this air, Sou couldn’t speak. He instinctively closed his mouth tightly. As if he were paralyzed.

“…I don’t like it.”

Haruki’s usual dignified demeanor is gone, and she breaks the silence with a weak voice that seems to be fading away.

“!? I see. It’s no use. You won’t forgive me that easily.”

With a feeling of disappointment in his heart, Sou looked helplessly at the floor of the room. All he could do at this point was to look down and remain silent. There was nothing else he could do but wait for Haruki’s reaction.

“…Hug me.”

Still sitting cross-legged and looking down, Haruki mumbled a word like a monologue.

“Hug you? Me? Haruki-san?”

“…There is no one else but you. Who else is here?”

When she finally raised her face, Haruki and Sou’s eyes met. Unlike usual, she had a sad aura, but Haruki’s eyes were filled with serious emotion.

“Indeed.”

Sou was stunned by Haruki’s words. There was no one else in this place who could hug Haruki but Sou.

“…”

Silently, Haruki looked at Sou with a serious expression. Her eyes were waiting for Sou to do something.

Staring into Haruki’s beautiful eyes, Sou was startled. A sense of fragility was added to Haruki’s beautiful features, and her charm exploded. She had a weakness that Haruki usually didn’t have.

Of course, Sou didn’t have the courage to refuse.

Silently, he moved through his familiar room and approached Haruki.

“Not from the front… from the back.”

Haruki showed her dissatisfaction. It seems she wanted a hug from behind.

“…I understand.”

There was absolutely no air he could refuse, and Sou accepted Haruki’s request without a single complaint. He moved to Haruki’s back.

“Gulp! Well then, shall I? …L-Like this?”

Swallowing hard to release the tension, Sou gently wrapped his arms around Haruki from behind.

The transparent mass attached to Haruki’s entire body stimulated Sou’s nostrils as if teasing him. Sou felt slightly dizzy from the overwhelming sweet smell. Such a strong smell hit Sou hard.

“Ah….”

On the other hand, Haruki showed a different side. She seemed to be surprised and excited by Sou’s hug.

“Oh, was that bad? Did I do it wrong?”

Taking Haruki’s reaction as a rejection, Sou immediately tried to move away. He tried to quickly remove his arms that were tightly wrapped around Haruki’s soft body.

“N-No!! I like it. Like this!!”

Haruki desperately tried to stop Sou’s arm, which was trying to move away by holding on to it. It was very fast.

“B-But….”

“Can’t you… stay like this?”

Looking back with her eyes raised, Haruki expressed her hope. Her expression was somehow sexy and strangely aroused a desire to protect.

“Well… If that’s what Haruki-san wants.”

Unable to look directly at Haruki, who was looking up at her, Sou averted his eyes as if he wanted to escape.

“Then… please.”

Coaxing in a sweet tone that didn’t fit her character, Haruki grabbed Sou’s right arm with both hands.

“It is comfortable and reassuring.”

From then on, it was just the two of them. A short time later, Mizuki returned home, and the fight continued. But!

The winner this time was Haruki without a doubt.