The Saint Next to Me Who Sometimes Comes Without Wearing Underwear Tells Me What’s Under Her Skirt in Secret - 19-20

Chapter 19

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“Shall we take a break soon?”

It was eleven o’clock when I made the suggestion to Saotome. It was a bit early for lunch, but if we waited until lunch time, it would get crowded. If we were going to enter a restaurant, now would be the perfect time.

“Sounds good. …Do you have any places in mind?”

“Let’s see. Looks like there are a decent number of stylish cafes around.”

“Then I’ll leave it to you. Pick somewhere nice.”

“Don’t get your hopes up too much.”

So I said, but the truth was, I really wanted to choose a place she’d enjoy. 

That’s just how guys are. But what kind of place does Saotome like?

She was an ojou-sama, so maybe somewhere with a classy atmosphere would be best? But for that very reason, she was probably already used to high-end Italian and French cuisine. So I couldn’t just take her to some half-baked place.

Instead, I figured a specialty restaurant that focused on one thing might go over better. Like ramen, maybe. But ramen on a first date seemed kind of inappropriate. If I suggested it, she’d probably just glare at me in silence.

So with that in mind, I aimed for something a little stylish…

“An omelet rice specialty restaurant? Huh, I didn’t know such places existed.”

“What do you think?”

“Sounds good to me.”

Thankfully, she reacted positively. The two of us headed for the restaurant. To get there, we had to go upstairs, so we took the escalator—but…

“Himuro-kun.”

“What is it?”

“Make sure to guard my back, okay?”

“…Your back?”

Before I could even tilt my head and ask what she meant, Saotome stepped onto the escalator. I followed behind her and then, I finally understood what she meant.

Her skirt was dangerously short.Not so short that you could see it just by standing behind her, but short enough that if someone wanted to peek, they probably could.

…Come to think of it, she isn’t wearing any today, right?

I remembered that fact I’d forgotten, and I couldn’t help but become acutely aware of what was underneath her skirt.

“Thanks.”

As we stepped off the escalator, Saotome gave me a wink. I suddenly felt guilty and averted my eyes. Since it was still early in the day, we were able to get seats right away.

“I’ll have… The plain one.”

“Then I’ll go for the Japanese-style.”

A plain omelet rice and a Japanese-style omelet rice. We each ordered one. The food arrived about fifteen minutes later. I scooped up some Japanese-style omelet rice with my spoon and brought it to my mouth. The base was classic omelet rice, but as the name “Japanese-style” suggested, it had a subtle flavor of soy sauce and dashi.

I thought it might be gimmicky, but it was actually pretty good.

“Is it tasty?”

“Pretty decent.”

“Can I have a bite?”

“Sure.”

Do they have any small plates?

I looked around the table, but there didn’t seem to be any.

Guess I’d have to ask for one.

Just as I was thinking that and turned to face forward again, Saotome was leaning in with her mouth open.

“…”

After thinking for a moment, I pulled a fresh spoon from the cutlery case. I cut into the other side of the omelet rice from where I’d been eating and popped it into Saotome’s mouth.

“How is it?”

“…Not bad.”

She answered after chewing. But despite her words, she somehow looked a bit displeased.

Was it not that good after all…?

“Can I try yours too?”

“…Sure. I don’t mind.”

Saotome also picked up a fresh spoon and cut into her omelet rice. Then she thrust the spoon, loaded with omelet rice, toward me.

“Uh, you could just put it on this plate…”

“Come on!”

She forcefully pushed the spoon toward my mouth. Left with no choice, I took the spoon into my mouth and chewed.

“Well?”

“…It’s good.”

“Glad to hear it.”

Saotome said that with a small snort from her nose. It seemed like her mood had improved a little.

“What should we do after we’re done shopping?”

“Let me think…”

We chatted as we ate our omelet rice. After finishing about half of it, I reached for some water…

“Ah.”

Clatter.

With a loud noise, the spoon fell to the floor. I crouched down to pick up the spoon from the floor. Then, on a whim, I looked up. Right there were Saotome’s white legs. Long and slender, they stretched out before me, and just above them, a skirt that only covered about half of her thighs. My eyes naturally drifted upward toward the inside of that skirt…

“Did you find the spoon?”

“Y-Yeah… I got it. Ow!”

I tried to stand up in a hurry and bumped my head on the table.

“What are you doing?”

“…Good question.”

Seriously, what was I doing? Trying to sneak a peek was wrong. …But if I asked, would she show me? No, not that I’d actually ask, though.

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Chapter 20

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After the meal, we went back to shopping again.

“I was thinking of going to that store next.”

“…Ah.”

The place Saotome pointed to was a lingerie shop. It sold colorful underwear in a variety of shades.

“Care to help me pick something out?”

Saotome said that with a sly grin. She had to be joking.

“Sure.”

“…Eh?”

Saotome’s expression froze at my response. Her pale cheeks flushed faintly in pink.

“I-I mean, well…”

“I’m kidding.”

When I said that, she kicked me in the shin. Then she snorted and walked off into the store by herself.

You’re the one who started teasing me first…

A little while later, Saotome came back holding a shopping bag.

“Here. Carry this.”

“Got it.”

“Don’t look inside, okay?”

“I’m not going to look.”

“You say that, but aren’t you secretly dying to see?”

“Not seeing it leaves more to the imagination, right?”

“…That’s true.”

Saotome nodded as if convinced by my answer.

Is she really okay with that…?

The next place we stopped at was a swimwear shop. Unlike the lingerie store, this one sold men’s swimsuits too.

“Mind if I take a look too?”

“Oh? You’re buying one too, Himuro-kun?”

“Mine’s getting old.”

It didn’t fit well anymore, and the color had faded. I wasn’t particular about the design, but something too outdated wouldn’t do.

“Alright, then let’s meet in front of the store when we’re done.”

“Got it.”

I headed over to the men’s swimwear section. I picked a swimsuit that wasn’t too flashy or too plain. While I was at it, I also bought goggles, sunscreen, and a swim cap. Even with all that, I finished my shopping faster than her. 

After waiting about ten minutes and just as I was about to go check on her, Saotome returned.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. …Can you carry this too?”

“I don’t mind, but this is kind of a lot?”

“I bought two swimsuits and a rash guard too.”

“Two?”

You don’t really need more than one, do you…?

“One is a regular one. You know, something I can wear in class or for leisure.”

“And the other one?”

“…Something a bit more daring.”

Something daring, huh.

Now I’m a little curious.

Would she show me if I invited her to the beach or the pool?

“We’re already done with shopping for now… But it feels a bit early to head home.”

“Yeah. …Wanna kill time somewhere?”

“If you have a plan, I’ll listen.”

Now, what should we do?

We had a lot of bags, so I didn’t want to move around too much. Which meant…

“How about karaoke? We can leave our bags there too.”

“Karaoke, huh. Sounds good.”

We found a reasonably priced karaoke place nearby and went in. The room they gave us wasn’t that big, probably because it was meant for two people. I sat down on the couch, and Saotome sat right beside me. She could’ve sat across from me, though.

“You can go first.”

“Oh my, how kind of you.”

Saotome immediately started fiddling with the touchscreen to pick a song. I leaned in slightly to look at the screen with her and then, my gaze drifted downward… Saotome’s pale thighs came into view.

“Hey, Himuro-kun.”

“W-What?”

“…Are you that curious?”

“…About what?”

When I played dumb, Saotome let out a small, amused chuckle. Then she deliberately crossed her legs. My eyes were inevitably drawn to them.

“You’ve been paying attention to them all day.”

“That’s not true.”

“But didn’t you try to peek at me at the family restaurant?”

Gulp.

“I didn’t peek.”

“Oh? So… You only tried to peek?”

“…I had a moment of weakness, that’s all.”

When I answered honestly, Saotome laughed in delight. Then she lightly pinched the hem of her skirt.

“If you beat me in karaoke scoring battle, I’ll show you.”

“…Are you serious?”

“Isn’t it more fun with a little thrill? …Though in return…”

“What?”

“If I win, you have to grant me one request. Anything.”

“…Anything?”

“Of course, within reason.”

Reasonable by the standards of someone who came without wearing anything under her skirt? I hesitated a little, then nodded.

“Alright. But just so you know—no take-backs.”

“Naturally.”

And so, we started our karaoke battle and to cut to the chase—I lost. I came pretty close, but halfway through, Saotome started saying she was “getting hot” and unbuttoned her top or deliberately crossed her legs—blatantly trying to distract me. There was no way I could win under those conditions.

She totally played with my pure heart.

“Now then, guess it’s time to have you grant my request.”

With a smirk on her face, Saotome said that. I braced myself, wondering what outrageous demand was coming.

“Call me Seira.”

“…Huh?”

“Not Saotome—Seira. …I’ll call you Haruki-kun, too.”

Saotome’s “request” was surprisingly modest.

“You sure you want to use it on something like that?”

I said with a wry smile, and Saotome snorted softly, turning her face away.

“…It’s not just ‘something like that.’ Or would you have preferred ‘Lady Seira’?”

As she said that, Saotome—no, Seira’s cheeks were slightly flushed. Was she embarrassed?

“Alright then, Seira. Looking forward to what’s next with you.”

“Yeah… Haruki-kun.”

After that, the two of us sang one duet together before leaving the karaoke place.

****

The sea or the pool… I wonder which Haruki-kun prefers?

I—Seira Saotome—was thinking about that as I returned home. Just as I did, my little sister—Sayaka Saotome—rushed out to greet me.

“Onee-sama! A-Are you alright!?”

“E-Erm… I’m home.”

…Alright?

“Did I… do something that made you worry?”

“W-Well, um… I-I mean…”

She seemed hesitant to say it.

“…I was just worried your boyfriend might’ve done something terrible to you…”

“Huh? …D-Done something… Wait-?! What do you mean by a boyfriend!?”

Me and Haruki-kun!?

I could feel my face heating up.

“I-It’s not like that! He’s not my boyfriend or anything!”

“R-Really?”

“Q-Quit with the weird assumptions! We’re not in that kind of relationship!”

After declaring that to Sayaka, I quickly headed to my room.

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