Глава 11

Реакция Фумики Огавы немного удивила Сюити Тибу. Он не был каким-то ходячим извращенцем, просто обменялся взглядами, а ее реакция была такой сильной? Неужели она действительно настолько чувствительна? Однако... это делало ее еще более intriguing.

Саюки Огава была quite helpless по поводу lack of composure сестры. Сдалась так easily — неудивительно, что ее всегда bullied.

— Я возвращаюсь supervise the renovation progress. Ты должна остаться здесь на некоторое время, Сестра.

Фумика Огава была taken aback и быстро схватила младшую сестру за рукав. — Я... я вернусь с тобой.

Саюки Огава закатила глаза. — Какая польза от того, что ты пойдешь? Ты слишком scared to speak up, и все равно всю работу делаю я. Ты будешь только hindrance.

— Но... мне не очень хорошо оставаться здесь, верно? Тиба-кун... будет troubled, — сказала Фумика Огава, furtively glancing at Сюити Тиба.

— Troubled? — Саюки Огава looked at Сюити Тиба with a half-smile.

— Нисколько. Это управляющий офис, который здесь, чтобы служить tenants of the shopping street. Фумика, feel free to stay here.

Сюити Тиба почувствовал tinge of anticipation. К его surprise, у них уже была opportunity for some one-on-one time on just the second day. Moreover, considering how Саюки Огава had previously been protective of her sister and wary of him, now she was actively creating chances for them to be alone, it was clear that Фумика Огава must have been interested as well.

— Just like that, don't follow me and cause trouble, — сказала Саюки Огава и, не говоря ни слова, оставила сестру и вернулась в магазин.

Фумика Огава почувствовала себя немного anxious. Она села на стул, чувствуя себя stiff as Сюити Тиба's gaze continually assessed her, making her nervously rub her legs. After a while, Сюити Тиба suddenly spoke up.

— Could I ask Фумика-сан for a favor?

— Ч-что? — Фумика Огава была startled.

Сюити Тиба pointed to his ear and said with a hint of frustration: — Lately, my ear has been itching, but I can't see it myself, and cotton swabs aren't very effective. Could you help me out, Фумика-сан?

— Ох, no problem, — Фумика Огава agreed without hesitation. This was something she was good at; her beauty salon even had an ear-cleaning service.

— Then let's go to the room next door. It's quieter there, — suggested Сюити Тиба, standing up. For ear-cleaning, a quiet environment is indeed necessary.

Фумика Огава hesitated a bit, but considering that the room was still part of the first-floor management office, a public area, it should... be okay, right?

On the first floor of the management office, besides the semi-open hall visible from outside, this was the only relatively private room. If Сюити Тиба had suggested going to the second floor, Фумика Огава's timid nature might have made her reluctant. So, Сюити Тиба decided to go with this alternative, and as expected, she hesitated for a moment before agreeing.

Фумика Огава hadn't brought any tools, so Сюити Тиба went upstairs to get an ear-cleaning tool. When he returned to the room, Фумика Огава had already moved a chair to the only small window in the room.

Сюити Тиба sat down in the chair and handed the ear-cleaning tool to Фумика Огава. As she took it, her hand brushed lightly against his, causing her heart to skip a beat.

— Sorry to trouble you, Фумика-сан.

In the sunlight, the young man's smile was pure and untroubled, as if the recent touch had been a mere coincidence. Фумика Огава felt a moment of daze, her thoughts drifting to the romance novels she had read in her youth. In one such novel that she had endlessly admired, the young man in the story might have looked just like this.

— Фумика-сан?

Сюити Тиба noticed her dazed expression and gently reminded her.

— Ох, sorry, — Фумика Огава said, blushing slightly, and quickly began her work. As she looked down at the young man's slender neck and delicate profile, her heart raced a bit as she reached out her hand. His hair was warmed by the sun, carrying a refreshing scent of shampoo.

Фумика Огава's gaze focused on Сюити Тиба's ears. — Тиба-кун... your ears are quite nice-looking.

— Really? — Сюити Тиба was also a bit distracted at the moment.

Госпожа Огава emitted a rich, elegant fragrance, but it was neither overpowering nor cloying. As he was seated and she was standing, Фумика Огава had to lean over, и вид, скрытый под ее воротником, вновь открылся.

— There is quite a bit in there... — Фумика Огава said softly as she examined Сюити Тиба's ear. Her warm, moist breath brushed against his ear, giving Сюити Тиба a bit of a ticklish sensation — this was like real-life ASMR.

— We're starting now, so please don't move, Тиба-кун, — Фумика Огава gently advised, then carefully inserted the ear-cleaning tool.

The ticklish, tingling sensation spread from his ear to his brain, then seeped into his heart. Since the posture was quite tiring, Фумика Огава had to frequently shift her legs, causing the collar of her dress to sway back and forth.

Сюити Тиба couldn't help but speak up. — This must be tiring. Would you like to change to a more comfortable position?

— Ох? I'm fine... but it's true that it's harder to see inside like this, — Фумика Огава said softly.

Once she removed the ear-cleaning tool, Сюити Тиба got up and brought over three more chairs, placing them in a row.

— It's a pity there's no bed here. This setup is a bit makeshift. Фумика-сан, you should sit down as well. It will be more comfortable, — suggested Сюити Тиба.

Фумика Огава complied and sat down, though she was puzzled about what kind of position would be used. It didn't seem very convenient for ear-cleaning. Until... Сюити Тиба lay back on the chairs, resting his head on her lap.

Фумика Огава froze. She hadn't expected that the more comfortable position Сюити Тиба mentioned would be a lap pillow. Is... is this a bit too forward? But why is Тиба-кун so natural about lying down like this? Is this position really that common?

— Фумика-сан?

Сюити Тиба looked at her with apparent concern. — Are you tired? Do you need to rest before we continue?

— Э? — Фумика Огава snapped back to reality and quickly shook her head. — No, no, I'm fine. We can continue.

— Thank you then, — said Сюити Тиба, enjoying the soft, smooth sensation of her lap, relishing the feel of her stocking-clad thigh, and inhaling her subtle fragrance. He felt as if he were floating on a cloud and slowly closed his eyes.

Seeing the young man's peaceful, closed-eyed face as he lay on her lap, Фумика Огава felt her heart flutter. The afternoon sunlight filled the room, and the scene of the young man resting on her lap was exactly like something she had once dreamed of.

As Фумика Огава continued with the ear-cleaning, she worked carefully and quietly asked: — Are my legs... not looking good? Does it bother you to rest on them, Тиба-кун?

— They actually look very nice, and it's quite comfortable, — Сюити Тиба сказал, слегка коснувшись ее бедра рукой, словно проверяя ощущение и подтверждая свои слова.

Фумика Огава was startled by his bold move and quickly stopped her ear-cleaning. — Т-Тиба-кун?

— Хм, that's right, Фумика-сан's legs are fantastic, — Сюити Тиба сказал, его рука задержалась, и он с удовольствием ощущал мягкость ее бедра.

— Ммм... — Фумика Огава издала приглушенный звук глубоко в горле, ее ноги напряглись от смущения и дискомфорта.

— Are you uncomfortable, Фумика-сан? — Сюити Тиба спросил, зная, что делает.

— No, not at all... — Фумика Огава said, her eyes growing moist, reflecting her fluttering emotions.

S3