Early the next morning, Makoto took a day off for himself and also helped Mayu take one.
At first, Mayu was reluctant, saying she didn't need to take a day off.
Makoto responded, "Take two steps, just get up and take two steps."
Mayu sheepishly slipped back under the covers.
Actually, she could walk normally as long as she didn't run, so daily life wasn't much affected.
But the problem was, when Makoto asked her to take two steps, he held the corner of the blanket as if ready to pull it off at any moment.
Mayu understood his logic: If you think you can do it, then so can I.
No way!
She blushed and lay back down.
She had already used up her courage yesterday. It was still broad daylight now — how could she keep fighting?
After all, last night had been in the bathroom.
She was the one who had actively issued the "battle invitation" to Makoto, and the one who suggested not returning to the bathroom.
That's why in the end she was holding onto the wall.
Hence she sighed, the bathroom floor really was very slippery…
Mayu needed rest, so naturally Makoto wouldn't continue the fight.
Even though his cooldown was already over.
They stayed at home almost all day until 4:30 pm, when Mayu got a call from Shizuka, which made her reluctantly get up from Makoto's arms.
"Looks like you've become good friends with Teacher Hiratsuka?" Makoto asked casually while watching Mayu bend down to put on her shoes at the entrance.
"We have always been good friends," she replied with a smile, then slowed her voice, seeming reluctant to meet Makoto's eyes: "Don't worry, I'll try to come back early."
Her shy demeanor looked exactly like a wife eager to return home early to be intimate with her husband.
By now, her body had mostly recovered.
"Are you rushing over to take care of her?" Makoto guessed the reason.
Mayu nodded: "She failed a matchmaking event, right? Yesterday I saw she was in a bad mood, but she kept pretending so I wouldn't worry.
Just now she called me saying she wanted to have a meal together, which means she's still upset."
Makoto wasn't surprised.
Anyone who keeps failing at matchmaking events would be badly shaken.
If the person wasn't good-looking, at least you could find a reason.
But Shizuka was pretty, had a good figure, almost thirty, and still a virgin, and yet her matchmaking record was so bad.
Hard to endure.
"Well, I'm off then."
Mayu grabbed her bag, looking reluctant to leave.
Makoto saw her little expression and teased, "Want me to come with you?"
"No, Teacher Shizuka's already in a bad state. If you found out about her embarrassing situation, she probably wouldn't dare go to school for several days."
Mayu said helplessly. She didn't want to go out either.
Their private world was really intoxicating.
Just chatting could easily lead to feelings.
But Mayu wasn't afraid.
Though she knew her body hadn't fully recovered, she still had a pair of beautiful legs.
If worse came to worst, her eloquence was slowly improving...
After Mayu left, Makoto was about to cook when he got an unexpected call.
It was Yukino.
"You actually called me first?" Makoto said, surprised.
"Because I have something important to discuss. By the way, why did you take the day off today?" Yukino asked with concern, still as a friend.
"I also had something I had to take care of."
"Oh."
Yukino didn't ask more, but then said very seriously, "My mother wants to invite you to dinner."
Makoto was taken aback: "Today?"
"Tomorrow night."
"So you're giving me a heads-up in advance?" Makoto chuckled.
Yukino fell silent.
Makoto could roughly guess her thoughts but didn't mention them: "Tell me, what do you want me to do in front of your mother?"
"You know me very well, why can't you guess now?"
"I only know you, that doesn't mean I can predict the future."
After a brief silence, Yukino seemed to take a deep breath and changed her tone:
"Since my mother found out I went to your place for dinner last time, she's probably suspicious about our relationship, so... please don't say anything reckless in front of her."
This time, Makoto suddenly went silent.
Yukino had been patient, but after waiting for a full five seconds without a sound from the other side, she couldn't help but suspect he hadn't heard her clearly: "Are you listening?"
"Do you want me not to talk nonsense, or do you want me to tell Aunt Yukinoshita that I want to win you over?" Makoto's voice finally came through.
Yukino's tone stiffened: "Are you being stupid again?"
"Give it up, Yukino. You're really bad at changing the subject."
"..."
Makoto continued: "Are you thinking that someone as brazen as me would say to Aunt Yukinoshita, right in front of her, that I want to win you over?
That way, you can find a way to back down in your heart."
Yukino remained silent.
But the more silent she was, the more it confirmed Makoto's guess.
With a way out, she could tell herself that the first kiss incident was his forceful initiative, and she could still keep the promise she made: "I will never date you."
Even if her mother later found out she went to his house, as long as her mother knew he was pursuing her, explaining it wouldn't be too troublesome.
Another benefit was: now that my mother knows your intention, you wouldn't dare to be so reckless with me anymore, right?
Thinking of the scene with the leg play and kissing, Yukino felt a mix of embarrassment and agitation.
Yukino didn't like things slipping out of her control.
So she needed to create a chance for herself, to pull the rhythm back as soon as possible.
But she didn't expect that Makoto knew her so well that he could guess her inner thoughts in just a few words.
"Yukino, have you noticed your personality is actually quite awkward?" Makoto's voice interrupted her thoughts.
Yukino controlled her emotions: "What do you mean?"
"You want to change, but don't know where to start. You want to be as outstanding as your sister, but you're reluctant to ask me for help, even though I'm willing to help you," Makoto said.
Yukino replied, "Because I can handle many things well on my own."
No sooner had she finished than Makoto asked, "Do you want to meet earlier tomorrow?"
"Hm?"
"If we meet earlier, I can cooperate with you. Tell me what you want me to say to Aunt Yukinoshita, and I'll say it."
"Are you an idiot? I'm not going to force you to do that kind of thing."
Yukino lightly cursed.
Then she took the initiative: "After school tomorrow, I'll come to your house."
After hanging up, she leaned on the sofa and slowly closed her eyes.
She still couldn't face her own heart correctly.
That day, when she saw him holding an umbrella with Ichika in the rain, Yukino realized her contradictory heart made her too awkward in matters of love.
She cared and liked him, but early on had firmly decided: I won't date him.
So she tried to keep distance, just staying friends.
But that guy was unreasonable and kissed her directly.
And kissed her twice!
Now, her desire to meet him grew stronger than before, and she could no longer suppress it.
Today, her mother called. Yukino originally thought tomorrow night would be a good chance to meet him.
At the same time, she was conflicted about how not to let him see through her intentions.
In the end, he still saw through them.
And even had the upper hand.
When Makoto asked "Want to meet?" she had a brief thought: if he wants to meet now, should I go to his house, or should he come to mine?
After realizing this, she got annoyed.
How could she care about him this much?
"Tomorrow, I must win him once, and not let him control the conversation rhythm anymore."
Yukino regained her fighting spirit.
She would win.
That night, Makoto received messages from many people, all asking why he took a leave.
Messages from people like Yumiko, Ichika, and Hayato didn't surprise him.
But Utaha also actively checked in on him.
"I had some ideas I wanted to discuss with you, but you weren't at school."
Makoto looked at the chat text and thought his senior probably wanted to ask him for advice.
Just freeloading knowledge.
How can I keep letting you freeload every time?
If this keeps up, how can I keep checking your academic progress?
Makoto typed back: [Next time, definitely next time.]
Utaha on the other end looked puzzled at her phone.
Why did he refuse outright?
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