Chapter 316: A Woman's Mouth, Full of Lies
In front of the rental apartment.
"Alright, can you tell me now why you ran away from home?"
"Because of you, idiot!" Nakano Nino said irritably.
"Huh?" Sakurai Saki didn't really get it.
Why was Nino running away from home related to him? Wasn't she the closest one to the other sisters?
"I had a fight with Miku." Nino muttered: "She didn't want you to quit your job, but I said quitting is your freedom, she has no right to interfere."
Sakurai Saki reached out and pinched her cheek: "Tell the truth."
"Mumumu~ She said I'm annoying, said I'm just causing more trouble for them. That happened right on the day you told my dad you planned to quit." Nino slapped his hand: "That hurts, idiot, let go already!"
Sakurai Saki let go: "That's all?"
"What do you mean 'that's all'? Miku scolded me! And I don't even understand why she scolded me!" Nakano Nino said resentfully.
"Today Ichika even told me not to be mad at Miku anymore. I wasn't mad to begin with, but right after she comforted me, I felt even worse."
Sakurai Saki continued her words: "So you got upset, secretly ran away from home, and came to find me for comfort, right?"
This idiot — did she ever think about what she'd do if he wasn't home?
"I'm living with my girlfriend, you ever think about that?" Sakurai Saki said in frustration.
He took out his keys, getting ready to unlock the door.
"I already investigated. Hayasaka-san sleeps over at Vice President Shinomiya's house several days a week," Nino said confidently.
Sakurai Saki: "..."
You investigated this deeply? That's honestly kind of scary.
From a loyal little puppy, you've evolved into a full-on stalker, huh?
He unlocked the door and stepped into the entryway.
Nino closed the door behind them and locked it.
"Actually, I don't want you to quit either, but I know you must have your own reasons. When you like someone, you should respect their choices — that's what I think."
"All of you, one by one, come to persuade me, like I'm some kind of villain." Sakurai Saki said helplessly.
First it was Ichika, then Yotsuba, now Miku and Nino.
And Itsuki? Her mind was filled only with studying and eating.
She loved food so much it could make a devil cry.
"That's just how it is — after a year, everyone's developed feelings for you. Now you suddenly say you're quitting without a word of explanation, of course they can't accept it."
"And what about you?"
"Of course I can accept it!!" Nino hugged him from behind. "I don't even care that you have a girlfriend — so something small like this doesn't matter at all, does it?"
"This scent… smells familiar." Sakurai Saki sniffed lightly a few times.
"It's the perfume you gave me. I thought it suited me, so I still use it." Nino was talking about the Christmas gift Sakurai Saki had given her.
Even though they didn't spend Christmas together, he still gave her a present.
The other four sisters got theirs too.
"Stop hugging me, I can't even walk like this." Sakurai Saki kept pulling her along toward the living room.
"Don't wanna~" Nino said in a spoiled tone.
So the two of them ended up stuck together all the way to the sofa.
Nino rested her head on Sakurai Saki's shoulder, her voice soft and coy:
"I don't want to go home. Can I just stay here?"
"Sure." Sakurai Saki picked up the remote, intending to turn on a variety show.
"Didn't think you'd actually know how to say something comforting."
"No, I'm serious. This rental apartment still has a month left on the lease. Tomorrow, Hayasaka and I are moving into the new place. During that time, if you stay here, it's fine."
…What was this supposed to be? Hiding a mistress at home?
Nino froze for a few seconds, then blinked: "Really?"
"Are you planning to stay here for a whole month?" Sakurai Saki turned on the TV, but there wasn't anything worth watching.
Or rather, the scent coming from Nino made it impossible for him to focus.
With a beauty in his arms, shouldn't he be doing something… a little more stimulating?
"Of course not, but I don't want to go back that soon." Even though Nino didn't intend to hold a grudge against her sisters, it would be way too embarrassing to run away from home and then go back immediately.
That kind of thing would definitely be used against her later for teasing.
'Aiya~, remember that time Nino said she ran away from home, but came back the same day? So funny! LOL~'
Nino absolutely didn't want to become the butt of that kind of joke.
Running away from home was embarrassing enough already — if she had to go back, at least one of her sisters should come persuade her first.
"Nino, how long have you been gone?"
"Three hours."
"Anyone texted you?"
"No." Nino looked puzzled.
Sakurai Saki rubbed his forehead.
Damn it, don't tell me no one even knows you ran away? They probably think you're still in your room.
Good grief, running away from home and no one notices — that's just pitiful. Better not tell her the truth.
"What is it? You suddenly look like you're thinking about something." Nino asked curiously.
She reached out and pinched Sakurai Saki's cheek lightly.
"Nothing."
"Is that so? Then I'll go take a bath first~"
Sakurai Saki: "?"
What do those two sentences even have to do with each other?
Soon after, the sound of running water came from the bathroom.
He walked to the bathroom door, saw her faint silhouette through the frosted glass, and asked:
"You didn't bring a change of clothes, did you?"
"What? You wanna come in? That's fine too~"
"I'll get your clothes."
Sakurai Saki turned back to his room, opened the closet, and took out one of his own shirts and a pair of lounge pants.
Underwear was out of the question — unless she didn't mind wearing his.
There was a dryer in the bathroom, it'd be dry after a few dozen minutes, so for now, she'd just have to stay naked.
Sakurai Saki placed the clothes in the basket in front of the bathroom door, then returned to the living room.
Half an hour later.
Nino dried her hair, wearing Sakurai Saki's white shirt as she stepped out, revealing her delicate collarbones and long, pale legs, looking like a child wearing an adult's clothes.
"Look, how do I look?" Nino twirled once in front of him.
A girl wearing her boyfriend's shirt after a bath always had an inexplicable charm.
"I did prepare some pants for you, didn't I?" Sakurai Saki turned away, blushing. Though he had seen a lot before, this was still the first time he'd encountered such a sight.
His shirt simply couldn't cover the pair of massive 'mochi buns' on her chest.
"I'm not wearing them anyway, since I'll have to take them off soon."
The corners of Nino's lips curved up slightly — today she had come here with one very simple purpose.
"Ehm, I've been feeling tired lately… can you let me off early tonight?" Sakurai Saki said weakly.
Being constantly "drained" like this — he really couldn't take it anymore.
"Just once is enough. Besides, it's already been half a month since our last date, right?" Nino raised her right index finger, making a "one" gesture.
"That's good then."
Sakurai Saki let out a small sigh of relief.
...
The next morning.
Sakurai Saki brewed a cup of floral tea, adding quite a lot of goji berries and dried red dates inside.
A woman's mouth — truly a weapon of deceit.