"A game, huh?" She echoed as she looked up at me, her lips curving up slightly. "You’re not trying to slack off or just flirt with me, are you?"
I pushed my chair closer to her, enough that our shoulders touched.
"You wounded me, senpai. Think of it as my way to give you some stress relief. Remember last week? You looked so tired from all the work handed to you. I didn’t have time back then but now… I think I can spare some time before we go and help them out in the conference room."
Minami Shouko exhaled through her nose as she pretended to contemplate. "And what exactly do you have in mind? Don’t tell me it’s the same ’one question, one answer’ game."
"Not this time," I replied as I inched closer to her, my naughty hands gradually stretching around her back, "How about something simpler? Rock-paper-scissors."
She noticed what I was doing and immediately leaned back, trapping my hand between the backrest of her chair and her back.
With an impish smile, Minami Shouko raised an eyebrow, "Seriously? That’s it?"
I acted like nothing happened as I nodded. "With stakes, of course."
Her eyes shone with interest as if she was confident to win against me in a simple game, "Alright, I’ll bite. What are the stakes?"
"You can decide what you want to do if you win, senpai. I’ll do anything you want. On the other hand, I’ll simply ask you to stick close to me today if I win."
"Stick close to you?"
"Mhm. Just like what I intended to do just now."
Minami Shouko narrowed her eyes at me, her lips twitching as if she was suppressing a smirk. "What a flirt, Onoda-kun. You’re really something else. But is that all? You just want me to stick close to you?"
"Mhm. That’s all. Just for today. Think about it as us deepening our genuine connection."
She huffed and crossed her arms, squeezing the modest bulge of her chest. Catching me staring at it, Minami Shouko flicked a finger towards my nose, "My eyes are up here, Onoda-kun. Really, what are you scheming? Do you want me to become one of your girls?"
Feigning innocence, I raised my hands above my head. "Would I ever scheme against you, senpai?"
"Yes. Didn’t you scheme to catch me, the mastermind of the pranking incident?" She answered with a deadpan expression.
"Alright, that’s fair. But no tricks this time. I promise. Just a simple game."
Minami Shouko studied my face for a few seconds before sighing in resignation. "Fine. Let’s get this over with."
She fixed her seating position and turned slightly towards me. Likewise, I did the same as I held out my hand, ready for the game.
"Best of three?"
"Confident, aren’t you? Alright, best of three." Your next chapter awaits on Freewebnovel
We raised our fists, locking eyes as the tension over a simple game seemingly grew thicker.
"Rock, paper, scissors...!"
Our hands shot forward at the same time.
She threw paper.
I threw scissors.
Her confident smirk twitched slightly as I held up my winning hand.
"Heh. Looks like I won the first round, senpai," I teasingly smiled, watching her huff in mild frustration.
"Don’t get cocky, Onoda-kun. This is just the beginning."
"Of course. I wouldn’t dare underestimate you."
We went for round two.
"Rock, paper, scissors...!"
This time, she threw rock.
And I threw paper.
I won again.
Minami Shouko blinked, visibly stunned. She couldn’t believe it. She lost. Just like that.
"...Huh?"
Leaning forward, I rested my elbow on the table with an amused expression. "Two-zero, senpai. That means I win."
She stared at our hands for a moment before shifting it to me, "No way… Did you cheat, Onoda-kun?"
"Are you doubting your skills, senpai?" I teased, nudging her arm. "Or are you just bad at this?"
She gritted her teeth before pouting, "Ugh. Fine, fine. I lost. So now I have to stick close to you, huh?"
"Mhm." I nodded, leaning in just slightly, watching her reaction. "You don’t seem that mad about it."
She rolled her eyes but didn’t move away. "I just hate losing. But I suppose I don’t mind… Just for today."
"Well, I’m feeling generous. I’ll give you one last chance, senpai. If you win this, you can overturn my win."
"Huh? Onoda-kun, do you actually want me to win?"
"What if I say yes? But of course, you have to beat me first. And this is the last chance."
Minami Shouko narrowed her eyes on me. She’s really suspicious that I was doing something to feel her out. I mean, she’s not wrong. I could somehow guess what she’d throw based on the movement of her fingers before she lifted her hand.
Nonetheless, my accuracy wasn’t going to be 100% accurate. It just happened that I guessed it right twice in a row.
"You’re way too confident. This feels like a trap."
I shrugged. "Maybe it is. Maybe it isn’t. Do you want to take the chance, or are you accepting defeat? I look forward to having you stick close to me. Then watch me flirt with my girls."
Her lips pursed in determination. "You’re horrible, Onoda-kun. Fine. One last round. But if I win, you have to do something for me instead."
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what would that be?"
"I’ll think about it after I win," She said with a smirk as if she already had a plan in mind. "Now, stop stalling."
Good for her, I guess? She’s not hopeless yet.
"Alright. Let’s do this."
We both readied our hands once more, eyes locked in fierce concentration.
"Rock, paper, scissors…!"
Our hands shot forward.
Minami Shouko threw scissors.
And I… also threw scissors.
A tie. There we go. I guessed it wrong this time.
She clicked her tongue. "Tck. Again."
"Rock, paper, scissors…!"
At the same time, we revealed our choices.
Her fingers formed scissors. Mine? Paper.
A victorious smirk visibly crept onto her face. "Oh? Would you look at that? Looks like I won, Onoda-kun."
I sighed in exaggerated defeat. "Congratulations, senpai. So, what’s your demand?"
She tapped her chin, feigning deep thought. Then, a hint of mischief appeared in her eyes. "You said you’d do anything, right?"
I nodded. "Of course."
Minami Shouko leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping to a teasing whisper. "Then… carry me to the conference room."
I blinked, acting surprised.
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"Wait, seriously?"
She grinned. "What? Scared?"
I chuckled, shaking my head. "Not at all, senpai. Just surprised you’d ask for that. And here I thought you don’t want me to get close to you. I mean… you prevented me from holding you earlier."
"Well, I was going to make you do something embarrassing, but this seems more fun. Besides, if I have to work hard, I might as well enjoy some perks, right? Also… I prevented you because you’re being naughty. Don’t think you can just hold me intimately that easily"
I put on a defeated smile before pushing my chair back and standing up. "You’re right, senpai. I shouldn’t act like that. But since you asked for it… allow me to carry you."
Before she could react, I already moved in front of her and reached down, effortlessly scooping her up into my arms.
"Huh? W-Wait—!"
Too late. She was already securely in my hold. Her arms even instinctively wrapped around my neck as I lifted her princess-style.
"Onoda-kun, you idiot!" She hissed as her face gradually turned pink. "I didn’t mean this kind of carrying!"
"Oh. You mean piggyback? Sorry. It’s too late to back out now, senpai."
Minami Shouko groaned, burying her face in my shoulder, "I swear, you’re the worst…"
But even with her complaints, I could feel her shoulders shaking slightly, trying to suppress a laugh.
She’s enjoying this, right?
Mission accomplished then.