About the Cool Beauty in My Class Declaring She Won’t Eat Anything Except My Bento - 24

Chapter 24: Lap Pillow With the Cool Beauty

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Ayano lay there with my legs as a pillow. Since she had fallen over while we were sitting side-by-side. She was facing away, so I couldn’t see her expression. Her black hair, which wasn’t tied up right now, spread out, and a sweet scent brushed against my nose. The weight on my thighs, heavy with happiness, didn’t feel bad at all.

“Sorry! Does it hurt!?”

However, since it was an accident I hadn’t imagined in the slightest, I was worried about whether Ayano was okay…

“It doesn’t hurt, but…”

“But what? If anything’s wrong, tell me right—”

“This feels really good.”

Ignoring my panic, Ayano wriggled her head around to find the best position. Turning over on my lap into a posture where she could see my stomach, she rested her right hand on my thigh as if stroking it gently.

Her eyes narrowed blissfully. Her lips let out a thin breath of relief. Her flushed cheeks still held the heat from moments ago. The sight of her being so endearingly spoiled was spread out entirely beneath my gaze. To just look at that… I didn’t have the luxury of remaining that rational.

Squish.

“Nnh?”

“Sorry.”

I placed my left hand against Ayano’s cheek. I traced it as if stroking her healthy, white skin that looked so soft to the touch.

“So smooth and squishy. Like a baby.”

“Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

“The highest possible one.”

“Then I shall forgive you. I put on a little moisturizer after my bath and everything, so I’m squishier than usual.”

“That’s the best.”

When I pressed lightly and gave it a little rub, she changed her expression by pouting her lips. When I gave a gentle pinch and a tug, she narrowed her eyes as if it felt good. I moved my hand as if petting a cat, sometimes poking… and every time my hand moved, a faint sound like “Mnh…” leaked out. I couldn’t help but find the way Ayano accepted it all so adorable, even if she was my classmate.

Perhaps because of what happened during lunch break today, her “cool” side was peeled away even more than usual. She moved her body as if seeking affection, shifting around in search of human warmth. Beyond that, Ayano grabbed my free right hand and placed it on top of her own head.

“Hehe… when we do this, it feels like I’m being enveloped by you, Kirihara-san.”

“No, more importantly, I only just took a shower. Is it okay for me to touch your hair?”

“It’s perfectly fine. Besides, you wash up properly and use toner and cream and everything, don’t you, Kirihara-san?”

“How do you know that?”

“Along with your own scent, I can smell a faint hint of milk.”

(I’d heard that girls are sensitive to even small changes, but do they notice things down to the scent? …No, maybe it’s because we’re this close. I can tell her sweet scent and a faint citrus fragrance apart, too.)

“My scent… I hope it doesn’t smell bad, but it’ll rub off on you, Ayano.”

“Of course it doesn’t smell bad, and it’s not like the scent is strong anyway, right? It’s just a scent that makes me feel safe.”

“You have strange tastes.”

“Maybe so, but I like it anyway. I’m going to monopolize it all for myself.”

“No way. I’d hate it if you monopolized it so much that your own scent got overwritten.”

Rather, the method of how she would “monopolize” it sounded scary, so I decided to drop it. Any more skinship than this was dangerous.

“Then I’ll just have to push mine onto you, Kirihara-san.”

“…How exactly?”

“That’s………… th-that’s…”

Since she had entered little devil mode, I asked back to make sure I wasn’t swallowed up by the flow. Then, whatever she imagined made her turn red and look away. Even if she looked away, she was still on my lap, though.

“…………In whatever way you want me to, Kirihara-san?”

Then, she moved her body again to look at my stomach, lying on her back, and asked while looking into my eyes. She probably intended to ask skillfully so she wouldn’t have to say it herself, but that was the worst thing possible for my heart.

“I was the one in the wrong.”

“Ehh…”

Judging by her reaction, she might have actually been listening, but she grew quiet when I gave her cheek a little rub with my finger. This time, I placed my right hand on Ayano’s head of my own accord and stroked her glossy black hair. It felt wonderful and was clearly meticulously cared for, but I was afraid of ruining that care, so I kept it to a light touch.

“Mnh…, I’m… not sleepy, you know?”

“Why are you acting tough?”

“I-I don’t want to go home yet.”

“Even if you say that… Besides, you’ve been sleepy all day today.”

“H-how did you figure it out…?”

“Because the way you’re acting spoiled is like you’re half-asleep.”

“Uugh…”

“Well, we did have the sports festival. Want to sleep?”

“…………Is it okay if I sleep like this?”

“I shall serve as My Lady’s pillow.”

After that, as we talked a little while I touched her hair and cheeks, Ayano began to let out the rhythmic breaths of sleep. The phrase “a face drawn by God” must have been meant for Ayano. The small breaths she exhaled. The glossy, deep black hair falling over her beautifully refined face. Having a “beautiful girl” that everyone acknowledged sleeping with her head on my lap was a feeling I couldn’t quite put into words.

When I brushed away the hair covering her face, she let out a tiny “Mnh… nngh,” and the corners of her mouth softened.

“I’m gonna need you to be… a little more conscious of me.”

While stroking Ayano’s head, I leaned my back against the leg of the sofa and closed my eyes too.

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