Chapter Twenty-One: Innocence of First Intentions

A few minutes later.

Rena Serizawa was finally pulled off of Anwa by her sister, Yui Serizawa.

She stood in the living room, wiping tears from her face and sniffling, her eyes fixed on Anwa with a look of silent reproach.

Under her gaze, Anwa inexplicably felt a pang of guilt.

Fortunately, at that moment, his phone rang in his pocket, rescuing him from the awkward silence.

Glancing at the screen, he saw it was his alarm. It was already past five-twenty in the afternoon. Only then did Anwa remember that Sayu Amamiya was still waiting for him at home. He stood and said his goodbyes to the Serizawa sisters.

Yui seemed indifferent at his departure, but Rena’s face fell immediately.

She broke free from Yui’s hand and walked over to the table, fiddling with her sketchpad before holding it up and giving it a shake toward him.

“You’ll come again tomorrow, won’t you?”

Anwa’s eyes lingered on the sketchpad for a moment, then he looked at Rena’s pitiful expression and smiled gently. “Don’t worry, I will.”

“It’s a promise!”

Rena wrote again on the sketchpad.

Anwa nodded with a laugh, exchanged a few final words with Yui, and then headed for the entryway.

Once outside the Serizawa home, Anwa stretched in the dim, old corridor before making his way toward the stairwell.

As he walked, his mind replayed the events of the day, and a smile tugged at his lips.

Clearly, he was very pleased with how things had gone.

“Come to think of it, Rena Serizawa is actually quite cute. It’s just a shame she’s so flat-chested,” he mused, recalling the moment when she bent over and her shirt slipped.

As these thoughts lingered, the sound of hurried footsteps suddenly echoed behind him, coming from the direction he’d just come.

Could the Serizawa sisters have forgotten something?

He stopped, waiting to see who it was.

Moments later, Rena appeared at the top of the stairs, breathless from the short sprint—perhaps a result of always staying indoors.

“Can’t bear to see me go?” Anwa asked with a teasing smile.

Rena’s cheeks flushed red. After a moment’s hesitation, she raised her sketchpad and flipped to the first page.

“You peeked at my chest, didn’t you?”

Anwa’s smile froze. He frantically waved his hands, denying it. “No, I didn’t! You’re imagining things.”

[Hmph! Does a mere girl dare threaten you? Your eyes flash with menace. Seeing no one around, and with the rooftop just above, you consider overpowering her and taking her up there. After all, she can’t speak, and no one would hear a thing up on the deserted rooftop. You could enjoy yourself fully, and even record it as leverage…]

The sudden intrusive narration made Anwa’s expression shift again. Seeing his discomfort, Rena assumed she’d hit the mark. A sly, silent smile played on her lips as she flipped another page on the sketchpad.

“You definitely saw. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.”

Tell what? That you’re poor yet proud, and your chest is as flat as a runway?

Though Anwa grumbled inwardly, he asked, “Why do you say that?”

Rena’s face grew even redder. She glanced around to make sure no one else was present, then quickly scribbled in her sketchpad.

“Close your eyes!”

Close his eyes?

Puzzled, Anwa obeyed.

He heard the quick tap of footsteps as Rena hurried down the stairs.

She’s not going to kick me, is she? Anwa’s heart skipped a beat. After all, the bite mark from earlier still throbbed.

Soon, the footsteps stopped in front of him.

Relief washed over him—at least she hadn’t kicked him.

But then, a hand rested on the back of his head.

Realizing she was standing higher up on the steps, Anwa’s pulse quickened.

Could it be…?

He was just wondering if he should respond should she kiss him, when he suddenly felt his face pressed against something incredibly soft, warm, and delicately scented.

What’s going on?

“What are you doing?” Anwa asked, his voice muffled. Afraid any movement might cause Rena to lose her balance, he dared not budge.

He was quick to understand.

He was genuinely astonished that the same tearful Rena from moments ago now dared to be so bold.

After a while, seeing she had no intention of letting go, Anwa simply extended his tongue and gave her smooth, fair cheek a lick.

The contact made Rena shudder as if shocked. She quickly let go of his head and staggered several steps back.

His sight restored, Anwa shook his head to clear the lingering scent from his nose, then looked up at Rena, standing a few steps above.

“What was that about?” he asked, helplessly.

At the same time, Rena’s current favorability appeared before Anwa’s eyes.

[Name: Rena Serizawa]
[Current status: Girl in love]
[Current favorability: 67 (Secret Yearnings)]

Her face was burning red, but she still raised her sketchpad and flipped to a page for him to see.

“I let you see again. So you have to come back tomorrow!”

She waved the sketchpad in front of him twice, then, without checking whether he’d read it, spun around and dashed up the stairs, quickly disappearing around the corner.

…

“How was I supposed to see? You were pressing my head down in the dark,” Anwa complained inwardly, though he couldn’t stop a smile from breaking through.

It was the first time he’d ever experienced anything like this. He never would have guessed Rena would go to such lengths just to ensure he’d return tomorrow.

Truly, the innocence of youth knows no fear—she’s lucky I’m not the type to haul her up to the rooftop.

Shaking his head with a laugh, Anwa turned and continued downstairs.

After this little episode, his steps felt lighter and his mood much improved.

“Maybe I’ll finish writing the next part of ‘Sword Art Online’ when I get home—as a little thank you. What was her wish again? I’ll ask tomorrow.”

Lost in thought, Anwa soon reached the ground floor.

He hailed a taxi from the street outside the apartment. Just before getting in, he glanced up toward the Serizawa home and caught sight of a small head peeking out the window.

Their eyes met. Even from this distance, he could make out the blush spreading across her cheeks.

He waved, said nothing, and ducked into the cab.

As the taxi pulled away, the little head reluctantly retreated from the window.

But as she turned around, she nearly jumped in fright—someone was standing behind her.

“Still staring? You barely know him, and he’s already got you wrapped around his finger,” Yui Serizawa said, exasperated. Seeing her sister’s blushing face and fidgeting hands, Yui could only sigh and walk away.