Makoto and Mayu left at 2:30 in the afternoon.
Originally, Mayu had planned to leave after lunch, but Makoto got her so engaged in conversation that she refused to leave.
In the end, it was Mrs. Yukinoshita who stepped in to prevent her husband from continuing to get drunk and saying nonsense.
Before leaving, Yukino quietly approached Makoto and asked, "What did you talk about with my father?"
Makoto's response was, "I just chatted with him like an adult, talking about work and life pressures, and the more he talked, the happier he got.
He even drank a few more cups and insisted on making me his brother."
Yukino: "…"
On the way back, Mayu also asked about it, and Makoto gave the same answer.
To this, Mayu covered her mouth and chuckled. "You're so annoying. You must be lying to me. Mr. Yukinoshita looks like such a serious person."
"He is serious, but the thing is, once a person gets drunk, even the strictest people will show a side of themselves they usually hide," Makoto explained.
"True," Mayu said, nodding thoughtfully, then tilted her head cutely.
"So, as it turns out, alcohol is harmful to both body and mind."
Don't give me that cute act, or I won't be able to hold back.
Makoto knew she didn't mean it, but it was precisely this unintentional display that made her even more adorable.
Seeing that she was still thinking seriously, Makoto couldn't help but reach out and pinch her soft, fair cheek.
"Ow, what are you doing?" Mayu's cheek flushed, and instinctively, she tried to pull away.
But seeing that Makoto wasn't being mischievous, she allowed him to do so.
"Matsukaze-sensei's skin is really nice," Makoto complimented sincerely.
Mayu, caught off guard, smiled happily. "Thanks."
Makoto continued, "Only people with particularly good skin have such a nice feel to their cheeks."
Mayu blushed and asked, "Do you want to pinch it again?"
I do. Very much so.
Not just the cheek, but…
Makoto quickly stopped himself.
"The Yukinoshita house is pretty big. I heard from Mrs. Yukinoshita that they have a house in Chiba too, and this house is just for occasional visits," Mayu said with some emotion.
Makoto replied, "That's nothing. I know a woman named Celia, and her family's house is really spacious—enough to fit eight million people."
"I don't believe it!" Mayu laughed.
When they passed by a supermarket, Mayu remembered she needed to buy a new desk, so Makoto naturally accompanied her the whole way.
He took charge of the desk's transport and assembly.
This was how he ended up visiting Mayu's bedroom for the first time.
The whole bedroom was clean and bright, with white walls paired with light-colored curtains.
Sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting parallel shadows on the floor. The water-blue bed sheets and matching quilt were neatly arranged, and the floor was spotless.
It was an entirely different style from Ichika's room, which Makoto had seen last time.
"All done," Makoto wiped the sweat from his forehead. Assembling the desk was quite fun—it felt a bit like assembling a figurine.
"Don't just wipe it with your hand," Mayu hurriedly pressed his arm down and grabbed a handkerchief to wipe the sweat.
"Thank you," Makoto said, feeling the alluring fragrance from the beautiful teacher, his eyes unintentionally falling on her face and body.
Mayu clearly noticed this, her cheeks slightly flushing, but she didn't say anything.
After wiping the sweat off him, she tried to compose herself and said, "Let's have dinner at my place tonight. I'll cook."
"Sure," Makoto naturally agreed.
Then she added, "Do you want to take a shower first?"
"Sure, I'll go back home for a bit."
"There's no need to go all the way back. You can shower here. I'll run the water for you."
"Hm?"
Makoto sensed something.
Mayu couldn't withstand his gaze.
With a flustered and shy expression, she turned her face away. "Why are you staring at me like that?"
"Because you're beautiful, I love looking at you, I want to look at you," Makoto didn't voice his suspicion but joked instead.
Mayu playfully scolded, "You're talking nonsense again."
Makoto took out his house key and handed it to her. "Matsukaze-sensei, could you grab some clothes for me?"
"Sure."
Mayu didn't hesitate and quickly took the key from him.
At that moment, Makoto confirmed his suspicion.
She really does want to sneak into my house and spy on me!
Only a girl with a close relationship would do something like this.
Makoto pretended not to notice.
When Mayu finished preparing the water for him, he went to the bedroom to take a bath.
Mayu stood still for a few seconds, staring at the closed bathroom door. Suddenly, she picked up the handkerchief from earlier and sniffed it in front of her nose.
It smelled like him.
This time, her face turned completely red, and a rare, seductive look filled her eyes.
After visiting the Yukinoshita household today and seeing how close he and Yukino were, Mayu's heart felt a pang of insecurity.
Though she knew her thoughts were inappropriate, she just couldn't help herself.
Besides, she had already noticed that Makoto was always attracted to her.
Whether it was her face or her body, she always managed to catch his attention.
"Could this be considered mutual pursuit?"
She thought of the romantic novels she'd read before, giggling to herself before heading to Makoto's house to grab his clothes.
Just as Makoto had guessed, although she didn't rummage through the place, her eyes couldn't stop wandering.
Seeing that Makoto's bedroom was equally tidy and clean, she couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.
Because now, she couldn't take the opportunity to help tidy up the room.
Mayu held the clothes as she returned to the bathroom door. She knocked and said, "Makoto, I found a set of white casual clothes. Is it okay?"
"I'm fine with anything," Makoto's voice came through.
"Then I'll come in," Mayu said.
She pushed open the bathroom door, and in front of her was the washbasin, with a somewhat blurry partition door on the left.
She couldn't see Makoto, but she could hear the occasional sound of water from inside.
"Just put the clothes there," Makoto said, knowing she was looking at him through the door, so he spoke out loud.
"Oh," Mayu responded, but she didn't leave.
She remembered the time she had wrapped herself in a towel when she came out, and Makoto had clearly been attracted to her, unable to take his eyes off her.
After three seconds, she took a deep breath, feeling a mix of anticipation and nervousness, and asked, "Makoto."
"Huh? Matsukaze-sensei, you're still here?" Makoto sounded surprised.
Hearing this, Mayu, who had just gathered her courage, hesitated again.
But the next moment, she heard Makoto speak lazily, "I was just thinking, the bath is so comfortable, but if someone helped me scrub my back, it would be even more relaxing."
Mayu froze for a moment, and without thinking, she responded, "I can do that."
"Do what?"
"Um, I mean, how about I scrub your back?" she asked shyly.
"Well, that sounds very domestic," Makoto replied.
Upon hearing his response, Mayu blushed and laughed.
Because she had indeed thought about helping him with his back, but she hadn't had the courage to say it.
In the bathroom, Makoto relaxed, his hand resting on the edge of the bathtub. He thought to himself that another test was about to begin.
But he welcomed it—more tests, please!
Two minutes later, a sound of the partition door being pushed open reached him.
Makoto instinctively looked up.
He only took a quick glance, but it made him freeze for two whole seconds.
Mayu had actually changed into a new outfit!
No, that wasn't even an outfit—it was just a towel!
She clutched the towel with her hand, covering her full and fair body, but this simple attempt at covering up did nothing to hide her alluring curves.
Whether it was the steam from the bathroom or her shyness, her face was flushed red, her gaze flickering, and her beautiful, white legs were placed delicately on the bathroom tiles.
With a slightly pouty and shy expression, she looked even more seductive, incredibly beautiful.
"I was worried about my clothes getting wet, so I changed," she said with a flushed face.
Alright, so this is how we're playing it, huh?
This was clearly speeding beyond limits.
If she was willing to speed now, she would probably go even further later on!
Makoto didn't expose her clumsy lie.
"Don't just stare at me, turn around first," she said in a soft, sweet voice, tinged with shyness.
Makoto obediently turned around.
He could hear the sound of water splashing as she got into the bathtub.
The water rippled, and she did as well.
As he looked at the gently splashing water, Makoto suddenly recalled the formula from Gazi: the ripples are delicate, and the waterline lingers without fading…
A moment later, Mayu noticed something odd.
"Makoto, why are you bent over like that?"
"It's nothing. Just a little stiffness in one area," Makoto replied.
"???"
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