You looked so cool back there, Ruki. Youre so talented in a lot of things.

In between our kisses, Juri cupped my cheeks and stared straight into my eyes as she praised me out of nowhere. With my head filled with thoughts of her, it took me a while before understanding what she was praising me for.

Am I? Believe me, I just dont want them to lose.

Is that so? Thats even impressive then. I thought you were there to cheer for Satsu-chan up close. When Eguchi-sensei called for the timeout and let you take over, I found myself engrossed even if I could not hear you from up there.

With her eyes shining in enthusiasm, Juri narrated her point of view. Though I did see her earlier when I looked, I had no idea she was watching me that closely.

Ah. Well, everyone possibly did. But this girl... anything I do is guaranteed to earn her praise.

How do I look in her eyes?

Come on, youre going to make me blush, I replied as I pressed my lips close to her again.

Her eyes focused on it and welcomed it wholeheartedly. After another satisfying exchange, she chuckled, Un. You also look great whenever you blush. As expected of Onoda-kun, youre so handsome.

This girl and her praises. Wheres the propriety freak now?

If not for the place and the constant shaking of the bus as it rolled along the road, I wouldve been unable to resist the temptation of pushing her down.

Is she praising me a lot to provoke a reaction from me? No... Shes always been like this ever since that day I first interacted with her in Setsuna-nees room.

Well then, I just have to also dish out my praises for her, right? That way... well be even.

Now youre teasing me, Juri. Should I also start showering you with praises on how beautiful you are? Or how attractive your figure is? Wrapping my arms around you was more than enough to make me excited.

Matching her movements, my lips slid down to her neck before I worked my way to her ear, nibbling the side of her neck and leaving a glistening trail through my kisses. And once I caught her earlobe, those words naturally flowed out of my mouth, tickling her senses.

Juris body squirmed as though she was being touched all over but then her hold on me tightened. She had me pressed against her further that it wouldnt be wrong to say that were now occupying a single seat instead of two.

If Setsuna-nee could see us here, thered be no excuses to make.

Uhh... I thought I wouldnt be as affected if you did the same. I believe myself to be susceptible to praise after years of being a model... But I was wrong. Ruki, I think Ill love being praised by you more. Is it inappropriate?

After exhaling that was close to a moan, Juri brought my face back in front of her. With her eyes drilling into my face as though she was trying to memorize its structure again, she started that response and kissed me every sentence.

And by the time she reached that last question, this cool fashion model who loved photography prolonged the connection between our lips and slowly, she was dragging me further into her world.

Even though were not going overly intimate, the warmth of her body and her minute movements were enough to convey how much she loved this moment. Her affection for me which I thought was already at max steadily rose.

Likewise, I could feel my chest throbbing.

Nope. Not inappropriate at all. Get ready, as much as you want to praise me, Ill also fire back and make you flustered. And even if I lose on our bet... Ill walk the path of being a model. Or you can take my photos too but I guess, itll be more exciting if were together.

This guy... The way you jumped to that topic is kind of off but I dont dislike it. You wont win the bet anyway. Wait for a week, well hear from the organizer that your photo won the top prize.

A week, huh? Although it felt like it's been so long since she sent my photo to that contest, its only a few weeks since that day we met at the mall. In any case, she sounded so sure that Id win.

Uh. I guess its nice to have that much positivity, huh?

Anyway, our talk continued from here and to avoid the growing risk of being caught by Setsuna-nee, we concluded our intimate moment.

The model contest aside, I told her about Yua. The contract offered by their agency and my decision to try it out. Upon hearing that, Juri appeared conflicted at first since she possibly thought Id go for her agency. However, upon hearing how they were already preparing my first shoot, her excitement returned, saying she wanted to be there.

Well, as someone who didnt even sign an agreement, its out of my authority to bring her with me. At the very least, I told her wed both talk to Yua. Or rather, before I could even bring that suggestion to her, she already contacted the girl.

And due to that, our conversation halted when the two had begun their exchange.

At this point, Satsuki mustve thought that we were finished with our moment, she stopped blocking her sisters view and returned to my side.

Have you satisfied Juri-nee? But what happened? Shes fiddling with her phone looking so excited.

Oi, Onoda. What did you do with Juri?

Satsuki inquired but before I could answer her, Setsuna-nee interjected. Judging by the tone of her voice, she may or may not have caught a glimpse of us in that corner. Whichever the case, her voice wasnt too confrontational this time. Its more like curiosity. And with Satsuki next to her, shes holding herself back from acting up like before.

In any case, I pretended not to hear her and focused my attention on my girl.

Ah. Shes talking to Yua. Theyre possibly imagining what kind of clothes they want to see me in when I start modeling for them.

Of course, thats probably not just it but knowing the two, theyd be in some sort of competition on who could praise me more...

And being acquainted with each other before they became connected through me, their difference in age was already bridged. Maybe if I read their current conversation, Id be flustered enough to cover my face from embarrassment.

Satsuki raised her eyebrows and then leered at me, her scrutinizing eyes admiring my face again. But as always, she ended up blushing after a while before saying, Idiot Ruki, keep your smug face away or I wont be able to resist jumping at you.

As for my response, I kept my silence and did the opposite of what she asked of me, provoking her completely.

Thanks to that, the girl truly failed to hold herself back and the next couple of minutes we spent sitting on the bus was occupied by our burning passion for each other.

At one point, Juri who finished her exchange of messages with Yua looked like she wanted to jump in as well. However, with Setsuna-nee acting like a hawk while also staring me down as if she was annoyed at how brazen we were in front of her, the girl could only watch from the side.

Naturally, Satsuki and I held back a lot. Its just kissing. Just that, we were so impassioned that we made Setsuna-nee uncomfortable from watching. Also, it gathered the attention of the other basketball club members who woke up from the sound we were making.

By the time we finished, the temperature inside the bus became warmer despite the air conditioning working at full capacity.

In any case, Satsuki seemed to have adopted my thick face. Ignoring all the attention at us, she giggled and took her place on my lap and inside the comfort of my chest.

And while shes at it, Satsuki also expressed her concern about the paths that I was trying out. Its getting piled up, after all.

Boxing Instructor. Keyboard lessons. Business studies. Modeling and a lot more to be decided like being their assistant coach.

Itll be fine, Satsuki. I believe this is all necessary for us in the future. The experience that I will be able to accumulate will be the foundation for whatever path I end up choosing And naturally, my priority will never change.

To ease her worry, I told her my thoughts about it I also let Juri hear it as shed have the same concern soon. As for Setsuna-nee... well, shes free to interpret what I meant by that. Itll probably be tiring but I know that everything will be worth it.

A while later, the bus soon arrived near the neighborhood of some of the basketball club members. It was decided that theyd take the girls near or in front of their doorstep before bringing the bus back to school. Theyre exhausted from the match, after all. They deserve a good rest.