The Saint Next to Me Who Sometimes Comes Without Wearing Underwear Tells Me What’s Under Her Skirt in Secret - 34-35

Chapter 34

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“Sorry to keep you waiting. What do you want to do next?”

“…It’s about time for the fireworks. Want to go to my room?”

“Oh my, is it that late already?”

Seira tilted her head at my suggestion. There was still plenty of time, but the crowd was starting to build, and I didn’t want to rush around. More than anything else…

“Y-Yeah. …I kind of feel like settling down a bit.”

Our load had started to grow. I was carrying all of Seira’s things and the prizes we’d won along the way in both hands. On top of that, we had food we’d bought at the stalls. It wasn’t heavy, but it felt bulky. Honestly, it was getting hard to carry and difficult to walk, so I really wanted to call it quits.

“Ri-Ri-Right… Y-you’re right. Let’s wrap it up for today, then.”

She must have picked up on my intentions. Seira averted her eyes shyly. Even though I was carrying the bags, both of Seira’s hands were occupied with cotton candy and a candied apple. On top of that, she was wearing a mask on her head. She was definitely enjoying herself a bit too much.

“For now, I’ll hold either the cotton candy or the candied apple.”

“Are you sure? You don’t look like you’ve got much room to spare.”

“It’s more dangerous walking around with a stick in both hands.”

I had more items, but they were all in plastic bags. Holding one more stick wasn’t a problem for me.

“Okay. Then I’ll give you the cotton candy.”

Seira handed me the cotton candy she had in her left hand. Then she wrapped her now free left hand around my arm. I could feel the softness of her chest.

“That kind of defeats the purpose of freeing your hand, doesn’t it?”

“It has a purpose. This way, I won’t trip.”

For some reason, Seira said that with a smug look.

Not a bad feeling, so I’ll let it slide.

****

“Ahh,  we finally made it.”

Kicking off her geta sandals with obvious joy, Seira stepped into my place without hesitation. As expected, walking in unfamiliar sandals must have been tough on her. I understood her feelings. I’d been wanting to take off mine, too.

“Hey, can I borrow a plate? I want to set down the candied apple.”

“Sure. Can you grab the Ramune from the fridge while you’re at it?”

“Got it.”

While Seira got a plate, I pulled out the folding table and chairs. Then I set them up on the balcony. Next, I arranged the food we’d bought.

“Haruki-kun, where are you? What should I do with the drinks?”

“I’m out on the balcony.”

When I called back, Seira soon came out to the balcony. She placed the Ramune and the candied apple she’d brought on the table.

“Ahh, it’s so nice to be able to sit.”

She sank into the chair and stretched with a big yawn. Then, she returned to a normal posture. I instinctively looked away.

“What’s wrong?”

“…Your chest is showing.”

Yukata tended to loosen or come undone while walking. That stretch earlier must’ve been the final blow. Not only was her cleavage visible, but it was dangerously close to showing even more. …I could clearly tell she really wasn’t wearing a bra.

“Oh no, you pervert.”

Seira covered her chest and scolded me. Though her tone was playful, her cheeks were tinged red. She was clearly embarrassed. Of course she was. She wasn’t wearing any underwear after all. 

“Just go fix it already.”

“Y-Yeah, you’re right.”

Seira held down her yukata and hurried off the balcony.

“No peeking, okay?”

She made a point of saying that before pulling the curtain shut. I heard the rustling of fabric behind it.

Is Seira completely naked behind there?

That thought stirred something inside me.

“Hey, Haruki-kun.”

“What is it?”

“Can you help me out a bit? Is that okay with you?”

“Eh!? …Are you sure?”

“I just need you to hold it in place!”

I stood up and opened the curtain. There was Seira, struggling to keep her yukata closed with both hands. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a sexy scene to behold.

“Hold this part. Make sure you don’t let go.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Don’t let go, okay? If you do, I’ll be totally naked!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

When someone says “don’t let go,” it makes me want to.

Resisting the temptation, I helped her rewrap the yukata. Every time Seira moved, a sweet and tangy scent drifted past me. A mix of sweat and deodorant. It wasn’t unpleasant. In fact, it was the kind of scent I wanted to smell more of.

“…Thanks. All done.”

At her words, I let go of the yukata. Now fully dressed, the saintly Seira stood before me. Seeing her like this, she looked completely normal…

“What?”

“I was just thinking… You’re really beautiful.”

“What’s with you, all of a sudden? Don’t joke around. Come on, let’s eat.”

Seira turned back to the balcony with a cool tone, but the tips of her ears were red.

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Chapter 35

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“There’s about fifteen minutes left until the scheduled fireworks start, but should we just begin now?”

“Yeah. Alright then, cheers.”

“Cheers.”

We lightly clinked our ramune bottles together and then dropped the glass beads. I brought the mouth of the bottle to my lips. The carbonation fizzed and popped inside my mouth.

“Chilling the ramune in the fridge—good call.”

“I’m honored by your praise.”

After quenching my thirst, I turned my gaze to the food we had bought from the stalls. Yakisoba, takoyaki, yakitori, etc… We had picked up all the classics. Originally, we had planned to eat after getting back home, so at the festival, we’d only had things like shaved ice. In other words, I was hungry.

“Seira, which one do you want to open first?”

“Feel free to eat whatever. I’m going to finish this candied apple first.”

“Fair enough.”

Seira had bought a candied apple and hadn’t finished it yet. Waiting for her to finish would just be boring, so I decided to start eating on my own.

“Hey, Haruki-kun.”

“Hm?”

A little while after I started eating, Seira called out to me. Her tone was soft and coaxing, like she was feeling me out.

That can’t be a good sign.

“What is it?”

“Want to try a bite of the candied apple?”

“…Are you full already?”

I tilted my head without thinking. Sure, Seira had also eaten shaved ice and cotton candy, but was she really that much of a light eater?

“Well, um… It’s just getting a bit too much…”

Seira averted her eyes as she spoke. Looks like she’d gotten tired of eating it.

“It’s not like I can’t finish it, but… I thought maybe you’d want to try it?”

“…Fine, I get it. I’ll eat it.”

To be honest, I didn’t really like candied apples… From the looks of it, Seira had already eaten about two-thirds of it. If only the last third left, I figured I could take it down if I had to.

“Thanks! Okay then… Aah~!”

“Huh?”

“Aah~!”

Before I could react, she pressed it to my mouth like she was saying, hurry up and eat it. I had no choice but to open my mouth and take a bite.

“So? Is it good?”

“…Not bad.”

It was just an apple coated in sugar. Of course it wasn’t terrible, it was just… You would get tired of the flavor midway through. 

“…Thanks for the treat.”

“You’re welcome.”

As I finished the candied apple, the sound of fireworks being launched rang out. Together, we looked up at the sky. Beautiful flowers bloomed in the dim night sky.

“Wow, so pretty!”

Seira, looking excited, stood up and leaned over the balcony. I stood up too, and stood next to her.

“You really can see them clearly from here.”

Seira watched the fireworks with an enraptured expression. I thought about saying something, but since she seemed so focused, I stayed quiet.

“……”

“……”

We silently watched the fireworks together…

“…Huh?”

Suddenly, I felt a weight on my shoulder. When I turned away from the fireworks to look beside me, I saw Seira resting her head on my shoulder.

“…What is it?”

When our eyes met, Seira gave me a mischievous smile. Feeling a bit flustered, I turned my gaze back to the fireworks.

“Nothing.”

As I said that, I wrapped my arm around Seira’s shoulder. I pulled her closer to me. She didn’t resist.

The fireworks ended. There was no need to keep staring at the sky, and yet we both continued looking up at the night sky while leaning into each other.

“They were beautiful.”

“…Yeah.”

You’re even more beautiful.

That line popped into my head for a moment, but it was too cheesy, so I held back.

“I want to see them again next year.”

“Then let’s go again next year. To the festival.”

“Y-yeah… I mean, that’s true, but…”

Seira fidgeted awkwardly, twisting her body a little. She looked up at me like she wanted to say something—like she wanted me to say something.

“What is it?”

“Um, like, what I meant is… Not just next year, but going forward, I kind of want to keep being with you, or something…”

“You mean you want to be my girlfriend?”

I said it half-teasingly. Her face, bathed in the moonlight, turned bright red at that.

“T-That’s not what I meant! D-Don’t get the wrong idea! I just want to hang out with you, that’s all! It’s not like I like you or anything. N-Now you’re just getting cocky…”

Seira rattled off her words in a rush and then turned her eyes away, clearly embarrassed. Her reaction was so typical that I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Is that so… But I wanted to be your boyfriend.”

“Eh?”

“Yeah… So I guess I got rejected, huh.”

“N-no, wait, that’s not what I meant by that…”

Seira started flailing a bit. It was amusing, but if I pushed too far, I’d probably get scolded.

“I’m kidding.”

“Huh? K-kidding? W-wait! What do you take me for—”

“Seira.”

I turned toward her and gently grabbed her shoulders. Seira flinched slightly.

“W-What!?”

“I like you. Please be my girlfriend.”

When I said it plainly, Seira’s eyes widened.

“You should’ve just said that honestly from the start…”

“Sorry. I just thought it’d be a little fun.”

“…And couldn’t you have said it earlier?”

“You think so? I figured this was the perfect timing.”

Going on a date at the summer festival, watching fireworks, then a confession. I thought the mood was just right.

“Does that mean you’ve already started liking me even before this, Seira?”

“Don’t flatter yourself. That’s not what I meant.”

“Really? …So, what’s your answer?”

“My answer?”

“I’m asking you to be my girlfriend. I’d like a yes or no.”

Even if I already knew the answer… It was kind of like a formality, really. I wanted to hear it clearly, spoken aloud.

“Well… What should I do, I wonder?”

Seira slowly ran her hand over my chest. Then she looked up at me.

“You confessed so late… And you teased me too. Would I really be happy as your girlfriend, I wonder?”

“I said I was sorry about earlier.”

“…If you’re really desperate to be my boyfriend, I might just say yes.”

Seira gave me a playful smile as she looked into my eyes.

Now she’s the one getting cocky…

“If you won’t be my girlfriend, I’m not tagging along with any more of your hobbies. Got it?”

“Wha!? H-Hey, that’s mean…”

Seira sounded flustered, much more than I’d expected. It turned out that part was more important to her than I thought…

“Alright, alright. I’ll be your girlfriend.”

“Thanks. Then—”

“But, on one condition.”

Before I knew it, we were already holding each other close. I could feel Seira’s soft chest pressing against mine, molding to my body.

“If we’re dating… It’s okay to do more intense stuff, right?”

M-More intense stuff…?

“Like what, exactly?”

“Well… I’ll think about it. But for example, um…”

She trailed off there, looking up at me with dewy eyes. I brought my face closer to hers and Seira gently closed her eyes.

Our lips touched.

“Like this?”

“…Yeah. Like this.”

Seira gave a small nod. Then we kissed again. And again and again. We kissed each other softly, tenderly. It was a flurry of feeting kisses, like little pecks.

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