Chapter 2967: Sneaky Squeeze

Suzuki Yumika scanned Sakuma from bottom to top. She probably found it unbelievable that someone could call me their friend.

Still, she was sensible enough not to mention it. She put on a small smile as she greeted back, "Hello, Sakuma-kun. It’s a pleasure to meet someone who can tolerate Ruki-kun’s personality for more than an hour."

"Ah, haha... I think he’s actually a good guy," Sakuma stammered, his face turning a light shade of pink. He looked completely overwhelmed, caught between the intimidation of Yumika’s beauty and the sudden, inexplicable urge to defend me.

"A good guy? This pervert?" Suzuki Yumika smirked, her gaze sliding back to me with a playful intensity. "You’re far too kind. Don’t get influenced by him, understand?"

"Oh. I got it!" Sakuma replied with an eager intensity that made me want to laugh. He was already completely captivated by her.

I guess it still hadn’t settled in his mind that this girl had already been intimate with me. After all, the girl truly gave off something more like a mature, untouchable goddess vibe than a girl who had been thoroughly conquered by me.

There wasn’t any hint of affection in her eyes yet. She was still at the stage of savoring the fruits of that curiosity that took root in her from everything that happened yesterday.

"Alright, it’s our turn. Senpai, pick yours first. It’s my treat." I said as we moved towards the vending machine. I pulled out a 10,000 yen bill and fed it into the machine.

Suzuki Yumika didn’t stand on ceremony. She happily picked her drink and gracefully picked it up from the chute. "Thank you, Onoda-kun. You’re surprisingly generous when you aren’t being a nuisance."

Sakuma, meanwhile, looked like he was witnessing a miracle. He stared at the interaction, his eyes wide, probably still wondering how I could be so casual with a senior of Yumika’s caliber.

"When am I a nuisance? Senpai, you’re slandering me." I joked, putting on a wronged expression before signaling for Sakuma to start going down the list of drinks our classmates had requested.

"If I didn’t know you, I’d probably think you’re a decent student," Yumika teased with a giggle as we waited for the machine to dispense the bulk of the orders. "But since I’ve seen the real you, I know better. You’re just a little devil in a school uniform."

"A little devil? Now that’s new." I’ve been called a lot of nicknames lately, but this one felt like it was meant for someone else.

I leaned in, lowering my voice just enough so Sakuma, who was frantically pressing buttons for the drinks, wouldn’t catch it. "Careful, senpai. If I’m a little devil, I might decide to show you more of my devilish side today."

Yumika’s face flickered with a momentary surprise before the crimson hue crept up her neck, mirroring the flush I’d seen in the storage room. "S-sure. Show it to me."

This... Now it’s my turn to be taken aback. I guess I’ve underestimated how much I corrupted her yesterday.

Instead of replying verbally, my hand moved to her back, sliding down to the supple curve of her butt and cupping it firmly.

The girl flinched as she immediately tried to look behind her, afraid that someone might be watching. Luckily for her, I wouldn’t be doing this if there was someone watching. She’s already half my girl. There’s no way I’d let anyone else see her this way.

"S-stop it, Onoda-kun! What if Sakuma-kun..." She whispered, her voice trembling with a mixture of panic and pleasure.

But in response, I simply smiled before deliberately giving it a gentle squeeze, feeling the springy texture of her butt through the fabric of her skirt. The sensation of her sudden intake of breath was more rewarding than any verbal confirmation.

She had no choice but to reach behind her, placing her hand over mine in an attempt to pry me away.

She failed though. My grip was a little too firm, and the way she tried to push my hand away only served to press her body closer against mine. Before she knew it, she was already leaning close to my side, her eyes darting between me and Sakuma, who was still busily gathering the cans from the dispenser.

"I’ll inspect your club later, senpai. You know. To make sure my sponsorship is being put to good use," I whispered into her ear as my fingers continued their slow, rhythmic exploration.

Yumika let out a soft, muffled sound. It was something between a gasp and a whimper. Her hand, which had been trying to push me away, suddenly tightened around the back of my hand. She was now pressing on it as though encouraging the very thing she was pretending to protest. The contrast between her refined, senior-class aura and the way she was trembling against my side was intoxicating.

"F-fine. I’ll show you what we’re preparing." Yumika replied, trying her best to sound normal.

"Mhm, good. By the way, senpai. You’re not here for me, right?"

"Of course. It’s a coincidence. I’m also going to get some drinks. Everyone is so busy now."

"Oh. Now I’m also curious about what your class is preparing."

Although I know she’s also a third-year student like Marika, Kana, Rumi and Minori-senpai, she’s not from the same class as them. Besides, those girls also weren’t that involved in their class booth.

"Don’t bother. I won’t be there. My focus will be on the Archery Club’s booth."

"Oh. Then, I’ll just visit the Archery Club’s booth and play a bit. Who knows? I may be able to get a photo with you."

Upon hearing that, the girl couldn’t help but giggle. If it’s just a photo, she could certainly give it to me anytime but hearing me say it like this made her feel appreciated.

Of course, she also understood that I was just flirting. But the way I did it, with a level of confidence that bordered on arrogance yet remained playful, was exactly the kind of tension she was currently enjoying with me. It was a game of cat and mouse where the roles shifted every few seconds.

"A photo? How bold," Yumika whispered, finally pulling away as Sakuma finished gathering the last of the cans. "But you’ll have to earn that, Ruki-kun. If you miss any shot, the reward is off."

"That’s harsh. But that’s fine by me. It’s going to be a challenge."

After saying that, I gave her butt one last squeeze before finally letting go. Sakuma finished loading the last of the cans into the bags, completely oblivious to the silent, intimate exchange that had just taken place. To him, we were just chatting. But to Yumika, she had just been subjected to a bold, public claim of ownership that left her legs feeling a bit like jelly.

"Alright, let’s get these back before the class starts wondering if we’ve been kidnapped by the vending machine," I said, shifting back into the role of the dependable friend. "Senpai, see you later."

"Right. See you later," Yumika replied, her voice still carrying a slight breathlessness. She gave a small, elegant wave, though her eyes lingered on me with a hint of frustration and longing.

As we walked away, her gaze followed me for a few more seconds, a silent admission of how much she enjoyed being shaken up. Beside me, Sakuma was still oblivious but the glint in his eyes told me enough that he was still thinking about my suggestion earlier.

"Onoda, that senior. Should I also try talking to her?" He asked after we walked out of Yumika’s earshot.

I stopped in my tracks and looked at him. He was genuinely considering it. He didn’t realize that the ’goddess’ he had just started admiring was currently processing the fact that I’d just squeezed her backside out in the open.

If Sakuma tried to hit on her now, he’d be walking into a wall of indifference or, worse, a laughingstock.

"Come on, start small. That senior is still out of your league. Although she’s probably on par with Satsuki and Setsuna-nee-san, they’re your childhood friends, whereas she’s only an acquaintance," I lied smoothly, steering him away from that thought. "Focus on that second-year you mentioned. A girl who actually knows you exist is a much better starting point than the Archery Club goddess who barely recognizes you."

Sakuma sighed. "You’re right. I guess I got carried away. I’ll try to find a way to talk to her next time she visits the club."

"That’s the spirit," I patted his shoulder. "Just remember: don’t be a puppy. Be the guy who’s almost too busy to talk to her. That’s how you get them to wonder where you went."

"Un. Thanks, man."

"Just don’t mention it to anyone yet, alright? I’ll also keep my mouth shut. You know Setsuna-nee-san, she won’t be happy to hear you talking to another girl when you’re trying to court her."

Uh. Alright, that’s a load of bullshit. Knowing Setsuna-nee, she’d probably be relieved to hear that Sakuma is finally looking elsewhere. But the lie served its purpose; Sakuma nodded solemnly, convinced that he was protecting his chances by remaining discreet.

"Oh right. I forgot to ask. What happened to your club’s female managers? Why are they trying to get the Student Support Club to lend a hand?"

Because of Yumika’s appearance, I forgot to ask what I was actually supposed to be asking.