Chapter 2086: Numb

Naturally, I didn't continue reaching for her shoulder after that kind of reaction. Instead, I looked at her straight with an inquiring gaze to push down the pressure on her. It's my turn, I guess.

Noticing that, Minori-senpai noticeably fixed her hair and then wet her dried lips before gulping down.

That simple action actually made her more human, or rather, it hit me that she was not really as still as I thought she was. She could still be shaken and exhibit traits a girl her age would do.

"Haa... There is no escaping those keen eyes of yours, is there?"

"I apologize, senpai."

"Give me your hand."

"Hmm?"

"Just hurry and give it to me. You want to know, am I correct?"

"Yes. Then, here."

Upon saying that, I brought my hand to her which Minori-senpai immediately grabbed.

While holding that, she used her other hand to unbutton her uniform; the first two below her neck.

Due to that, the smooth part of her upper chest came into my view along with a glimpse of her valley.

But well, that's not the focus here because she placed my hand there. She even had me uncurl my fingers and straighten them, allowing my palm to land on her smooth skin and a touch of softness.

I could already feel her heartbeat drumming up. Not to mention, her face, despite maintaining its calm, was showing signs of reddening.

This girl... What she's trying to do must've been something she already planned before this meeting. And obviously, what she wanted to feel with my hand was the thing I suspected.

With her guidance, the tip of my fingers slid within the right side of her shoulder. It was still smooth halfway through until I felt a bump.

From how it felt, it was probably the beginning of a stitch mark and it ran horizontally across the lower side of her shoulder blades and close to her right chest.

My fingers even slipped beneath the strap of her bra and only stopped right before her underarm.

"What do you think?" She asked me as she let go of my hand but did not pull it out. She's biting her lip, maybe enduring the foreign sensation of someone else touching it.

Unlike Yuika-senpai who'd probably panic if someone touched or focused on the scar on her face, Minori-senpai directly let me feel it instead of simply showing it.

"This is a long cut. Did someone attempt to...?"

"Go on, I'm not a prude. I can take explicit words."

"... Assault you?"

"Yes. He was unsuccessful because of that cut."

"Huh?"

As my head drew question marks from her answer, Minori-senpai flashed a bitter smile before starting her recollection of events.

"I tried to escape but he tripped me and I fell over, hitting a corner of my drawer. That corner was sharp enough to draw a line so long, it almost felt like I was cut open."

"When he saw the blood was drawn. He hurriedly escaped, leaving me there to bleed. I cannot scream for help because of the shock and pain but luckily, my father passed by."

"He took me to the hospital and when I came to, the cut was already stitched close. I was unconscious for two days."

"I remembered everything that happened so I asked my father if he caught that bastard." "Regrettably he escaped. He disappeared somewhere. Until now, he was in hiding."

"That man wasn't anyone close to me. He was a guest that my father invited for a drink. A former colleague."

"He just so happened to see my door open and I was out asleep. I woke up from his disgusting touches. When he noticed I was awake, he tried silencing me and I kicked him in the groin. It's unlucky that before I escaped, he tripped me when he also started panicking. And there, the rest is history."

Upon finishing that tale, Minori-senpai closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Most likely, calming down her emotions that have been stimulated by recalling that incident.

I removed my hand from her scar and reached her left shoulder. This time, I pulled her into an embrace, ignoring any of her reminders earlier.

"... I know this isn't enough but I'm sorry that it happened to you, senpai."

"Indeed, that's not enough. But you don't have to feel bad. I've gotten over it already. And as you might've guessed, my trust in men went down the drain after that." Minori-senpai didn't resist my embrace and even buried her face on my shoulder. She then giggled, her attempt to take this lightly in order not to feel the heaviness from it, "Wait. It's quite wrong. I can still trust men. However, I made it my creed not to get too close. No matter the advances they made, they were all shot down before it even manifested."

"You're the first guy I spoke to the longest after that incident. And now, you're even the first guy I opened up with about this."

Still feeling her drumming heartbeat that probably would take a while to settle down, I continued caressing her back to bring her comfort like I always do. However, it's actually doing the opposite as Minori-senpai was reacting differently from it.

Before long, she reciprocated my embrace, pulling me closer to her. I had to move to the edge of my seat to not make it look so awkward.

"I see. It's my luck to get that privilege."

"Stop with your sweet words. It won't work on me. And I have to tell you something. Haru and the others may fall for you. However, I'm different. I don't think I can form a special connection with someone else anymore."

"It's the same with Haru. What happened between us isn't that deep. I came to care about them the same way Mutsumi-senpai does. And like you already know, Haru brought all of us together. Despite that, Haru only truly loves one person. And it's you."

As Minori-senpai finished speaking, I found her lips clamping the side of my neck.

I don't know what she means by this but I just let her be at the moment.

Her words and actions might seem contradictory but I could sense a pattern.

As seconds passed, Minori-senpai started kissing that part of my neck. Her fingers slowly dug into my back as she seemed to begin getting into the mood.

Perhaps noticing my lack of movement or reaction, she arbitrarily stopped and whispered, "I understand now. You also have some self-control."

"Are you testing me, senpai?"

Yeah. She's dead wrong about it. I also have little self-control when it comes to things like this. However, her abrupt attempt like this wasn't going to trigger that. I mean, we're talking about her and I'm trying to comfort her.

I guess she's also someone who can't read a proper mood on this kind of thing. "No. I'm genuinely trying to turn you on. You see, I still have the urges of a woman. I'd rather have you than some random guy. Not that I've tried looking for one. It's too troublesome. But you... I see you every day and you seem trustworthy."

"I see. But senpai, I don't think this is the way to go about it."

"Is it because I treat it lightly?"

"I'm afraid I have to answer yes. I won't try to wash my hands to say I never did it with someone who's not my girl yet but... it's the lack of emotion that I think isn't right. It may be just an urge to you, senpai. But you'll understand that it's more than that. Will you feel

excited from my touch? My kisses?"

"I see... You're right. I'm taking it too lightly... Sorry."

"You don't have to. Aren't I here to help you?"

Upon saying this, I brought my hand down to her nape, slipping it behind her flowing hair.

Then, as I slowly tightened my hold on her, I lifted her chin and parted her trembling lips.

"A-are you sure you'll help me in this way?" Perhaps realizing that I wasn't going to pull back from this, a hint of astonishment flashed on her face.

"Yes. Senpai, you said you cannot form a special connection with someone anymore. What do

you think will happen if I manage to do that?"

"T-that's... I don't know. I've been numbed for so long."

"I see. Then close your eyes, senpai. This will be quick."

As I put on a gentle smile to diffuse her floundering, I pinched her chin and lowered my head

further.

Listening to my words, Minori-senpai closed her eyes to wait for the eventual meeting of our

lips.