I Was Cheated on by My Girlfriend but My Devilish Junior Now Yearns for Me - Chapter 40

Chapter 40   The Little Devil Junior Attracted by the Pamphlet

Several days had passed since the hot spring trip with Ayaka was planned.

With just over a week left, and it being spring break, time felt like it was flying by. As I sat on the edge of my bed, I flipped through a pamphlet detailing the attractions of the hot spring town. I shifted positions restlessly. While I was excited, there was also a sense of unease. The reality of having to go into the hot spring by myself loomed over me. The highlight of the trip, I figured, would be the luxurious dinner at the inn.

“Hm?”

Sensing something, I looked away from the pamphlet.

Suddenly, I felt hair brush against my nose.

“Whoa!?”

I instinctively leaned back, causing my leg to lift. My leg caught on my junior, Shinohara, who was standing nearby.

“Ahh!”

As a result, Shinohara fell right on top of me. From an outsider’s perspective, it would look like she had pinned me down. Shouldn’t it be the other way around?

Something soft pressed against my face, and I quickly tried to wriggle free. As a normal guy, there was definitely a part of me tempted to indulge in the sensation, but thinking of the consequences, I immediately abandoned the idea.

I grabbed Shinohara by the sides to push her off, but she let out an unusual sound.

“Wait, Senpai…!”

Hearing a tone I wasn’t accustomed to, I hesitated, trying to figure out my next move. Should I apologize? Play it off? Maybe even get angry?

—The best defense is a good offense.

Once I finally freed myself from Shinohara, I stood up, arms crossed.

“What are you doing, falling on top of me!?”

“Huh!? Why are you getting mad!?”

Shinohara, still sprawled on the bed, looked completely stunned.

She was wearing casual clothes, with her outdoor outfit hanging on a nearby rack. That must have been why the sensation had felt so real. I unconsciously pinched my cheek to snap out of it.

“Well, yeah, I guess I was wrong for silently sneaking up to peek at your pamphlet, so your reaction isn’t entirely unjustified…”

While speaking, Shinohara gently placed her hand over her chest, likely the spot where my face had just been. Remembering the softness, I muttered under my breath, “I mean, I guess it’s partly my fault too.”

The leg getting caught was pure accident, but Shinohara hadn’t really done anything to warrant being blamed. Plus, she didn’t seem too angry about the situation, making my earlier outburst seem childish and unnecessary.

“Well, when you’re around someone, accidents like this are bound to happen sometimes, right? Probably.”

Shinohara said this with a laugh.

Seeing that she didn’t seem too bothered, I realized I should have just apologized right away. But given the suddenness of the situation, it was hard to stay calm and make the right decision.

“So, how was it?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, your thoughts. How was it?”

I stared at her, scrutinizing my junior, who was lying in front of me, to see if she was serious.

Finally, she averted her eyes, as if embarrassed for the first time.

“…Stop staring at me like that.”

“That’s what embarrasses you?”

“I’m not embarrassed. It just got awkward.”

“Yeah, right.”

“Liar.”

We were getting nowhere, so I decided to drop it. She was definitely embarrassed, but at such a strange moment. Asking for a “review”—did she have no sense of shame?

“So, how was it?”

“Eh, it was… alright.”

This kind of question wasn’t one you answer seriously.

I casually brushed it off and sat down on the floor.

“‘Alright,’ huh… I see…”

“Hey.”

For some reason, Shinohara looked dejected, and I bit my lip.

If I’d said, “It was really nice,” she would’ve teased me endlessly for sure.

But, even though it was an accident, calling the feeling of touching her chest just “alright” might have hurt her feelings.

“…It was very nice.”

I offered some resistance by speaking in a theatrical tone.

Shinohara listened and raised the corners of her mouth into a dazzling smile.

“Well done. You’re so not honest!”

“…So that’s what this was about from the start, huh?”

“Of course! I’m not so cheap that I’d let it go for free. At the very least, I expect some compliments to make it worthwhile.”

“Got it…”

Seeing me utterly drained, Shinohara tilted her head.

“Even considering all that, I bet any normal guy would be happy.”

I couldn’t deny that there was a certain perk to the situation. But I couldn’t just say that out loud.

The unspoken trust between us—doing nothing inappropriate—was what sustained this strange cohabitation with Shinohara.

…For better or worse, I seemed to have grown fond of this life.

“I’m getting hungry.”

“How about mapo tofu for dinner, then?”

Shinohara easily shifted the topic and stood up.

Whenever I get hungry, my adorable junior would whip up something delicious. Given that, surrendering to fleeting impulses just seemed like a waste.

As I watched her tie the apron around her waist, I reaffirmed this thought.

“You’re distracting me, so just go read your manga like usual, okay?”

“Sorry for always making you do this.”

“I do it because I like to. In exchange, though, I’d like a Vivienne Westwood ring, please.”

“Doesn’t that seem a bit out of place? No way I can afford something that expensive.”

I’d just given her an expensive wallet recently, so I had to reject her request for now. After all, gratitude isn’t something to be expressed solely with money. Though, I knew that was an idealistic stance… I just hoped she’d understand, considering the financial limitations of a college student living alone.

“It’s just a joke. I’m fully aware of your budget situation.”

Shinohara grinned mischievously before rolling up her sleeves.

Her figure, now standing in the kitchen with an apron on, had already become a natural part of this home.