Chapter 29: Clearly, There Are Still Things Left Unfinished Tonight

Who knows if anyone kind-hearted will take them in tonight.
What a mysterious city this is, where the price of a single dinner is enough to enjoy the company of youthful high school girls—such are the maidens of the age of gods.
With these thoughts, Haruhi glanced sideways at the girl beside him, Seiryo Miryu.
“Idiot, what are you staring at me for?” Seiryo Miryu shot Haruhi a glare, her cheeks tinged with red.
Still as hot-tempered as ever; she would need plenty of guidance yet.
The two of them boarded the train. At this hour, it was nearly empty, and they found seats at the rear.
Perhaps it was the fullness from dinner, but as soon as Seiryo Miryu sat down, she yawned, her small cherry lips parting, and then, slowly, she leaned against Haruhi’s shoulder and drifted off to sleep.
Her long lashes quivered ever so slightly; her skin was as pale as mutton fat jade, delicate to the touch. Her breath, even and soft, reached his ear, her little head resting quietly on his shoulder, a faint scent of her clinging to the air—a moment of perfect peace and beauty.
Haruhi let out a deep sigh. At times like this, she truly resembled an obedient daughter; all he could do was give this wayward girl a sense of home.
He had never asked about her family, preferring to wait until she opened up of her own accord.
[Seiryo Miryu: Affection: 76]
Stage two of his mission had already failed, but Haruhi felt no regret. Letting things take their natural course was best.
Trying to force it would probably lead to similar results, but he didn’t enjoy that approach. The pleasure of anticipation, the thrill of the process, always surpassed the bluntness of undressing at the outset. That’s why, even in action films, a brilliant plot could make all the difference.
He was a notorious lecher, yet who would have thought he could be so enlightened? Perhaps the sage’s calm hadn’t quite faded. Once hunger is sated, a person begins to aspire to something higher—but when hungry, the madness returns.
The six pairs of discarded long socks in the trash were proof of that.
The train soon arrived at their stop. Haruhi reached out and pinched her soft cheek, waking her.
“Hmm?”
Seiryo Miryu stirred groggily, rubbing her sleepy eyes, and then, quite naturally, wrapped her small hand around Haruhi’s arm.

They stepped off the train, the soft body of the girl at his side, guided by the amber glow of the streetlights, returning home to that old, shabby apartment building.
As soon as they got inside, Seiryo Miryu kicked off her shoes by the entryway, stretched her limbs, and sprawled most unladylike on the sofa, closing her eyes and not moving an inch.
Haruhi shook his head with a smile. He was tired as well. Gathering up his change of clothes, he went into the bathroom. The sound of splashing water filled the air, and the girl who had seemed fast asleep on the sofa opened her eyes, wide awake and watchful.
When Haruhi emerged from the shower, he saw Seiryo Miryu still lying there in the same position.
Her pure white knee-high socks revealed a stretch of pale thigh; the pleated skirt barely hid anything beneath, and her white shirt was just as rumpled, a slender waist exposed. Her golden hair, tied in a ponytail, had loosened, some strands sticking to her lips in a way that was especially enticing.
“Hey, Miss Seiryo, wake up, go take a bath before bed,” Haruhi said, giving her a light pat on her upturned backside.
But she didn’t wake; instead, she batted his arm away in annoyance, smacking her lips as if to say, don’t disturb my dreams.
Haruhi could only sigh in resignation. If she slept on the sofa, she’d wake up aching all over.
Besides, these days, he’d grown used to holding something as he slept—especially his right hand, which always seemed to find itself clutching something each morning.
Her aches were one thing, but what mattered most was that his own sleep not be disturbed.
Scooping up the delinquent princess in his arms, he gave her a little bounce. Not heavy at all. What he didn’t notice was that, in that brief moment, a smile flickered across her delicate face, vanishing as quickly as it came.
Murmuring something under her breath, she instinctively draped her arm over his shoulder.
He placed her on the bed, yawned, and was about to settle in and hold her for the night when he realized her clothes were in the way.
Sleeping fully dressed like this would be uncomfortable, wouldn’t it, Miss Seiryo?
Let me solve this problem for you—no need to thank me!
Haruhi started with his favorite part, lifting her slender calves onto his stomach, sliding his fingers beneath the edge of her white socks, and, tracing the smooth skin, slowly peeled them off.
In no time, her legs beneath the skirt were bare and delicate, her thighs snowy white, her calves shapely and taut; the entire limb beautifully proportioned, her ankles as dainty as the tip of a bamboo shoot breaking through earth.
Though he’d seen them countless times—used them, even—Haruhi couldn’t help but marvel again at their perfection.

Perhaps sensing his touch, Seiryo Miryu gave a low, disgruntled whimper and shifted, her long legs coming to rest right against the fork of his pajama bottoms.
Placing her socks aside, Haruhi began removing the other trappings from her body.
He was practiced at this: unfastening the buttons of her shirt one by one, sliding the pleated skirt down her legs, tossing both aside with the socks.
After all this, he yawned again, pulled the girl into his arms, and prepared for sleep.
It had been an exhausting afternoon; all he wanted was a good night’s rest to recover the energy wasted at the convenience store earlier.
Cradled in his arms, Seiryo Miryu frowned. Why was there no movement?
She hadn’t even rewarded him tonight—she’d undressed, and yet he was content just to hold her and sleep!
She opened her eyes wide, only to see Haruhi already fast asleep, making her grind her teeth in frustration!
Nothing had happened at all! Why had this idiot gone straight to sleep?!
Suddenly, Haruhi’s arm moved. Under her watchful gaze, his strong arm wrapped around her back and seized her chest with a powerful grip.
Seiryo Miryu inhaled sharply in pain.
Haruhi, as if having completed some important task, seemed to smile in his sleep, as though lost in a pleasant dream.
Seeing that right hand stubbornly clutching her, Seiryo Miryu grew even angrier. So that’s why, every morning, her left or right chest would ache—
The real culprit was this damned oaf!
With such practiced skill, clearly this was no one-off.
Scoundrel!
And she’d always thought she was just developing!