Chapter 77
I arrived at the house but stood there lost in thought for a minute or two without going inside.
But suddenly, the door burst open and my view was abruptly elevated.
“Ah!”
Reflexively, I reached out and ended up grabbing onto Claude’s shoulder. He had scooped me up in his arms. Maybe it was because of our height difference, but he’s been frequently lifting me up like this, probably because our eye levels don’t match, and he finds that uncomfortable.
However, the expression on Claude’s face, as he held me, was unusually cold and stern.
“Why are you just getting in now?”
“Ack, am I late?”
Claude didn’t respond and strode through the threshold with long steps.
This was serious. In managing to get out alone, I had made a deal with Claude.
If I was even a second late, he said he wouldn’t let me go out without him again.
Panicking, I rambled,
“That’s impossible! I left with plenty of time to spare! Sure, I walked slowly since I had extra time, and I zoned out in front of the house for a bit, but I wasn’t that late!”
Claude, still silent, swiftly reached the living room and laid me down on the sofa, climbing on top of me.
His red eyes bore down on me mercilessly, reminiscent of the intimidating figure I once feared the most.
Scared, I hastily checked the time on the wall clock. Claude had installed it after my incessant requests.
1:24 PM.
“…I’m not late though?”
It was six minutes before the agreed time of 1:30 PM.
A smirk curled on his face as he looked down at me.
Then, I realized he had played another of his mischievous tricks.
“…You’re really terrible.”
“Are you angry?”
If he thought I was truly angry, he should have apologized.
But Claude just kept poking my cheek, clearly not feeling sorry at all.
“…Stop it.”
“You seem quite upset…”
“Ah, stop it…!”
I turned my head away from his persistent poking, only to be suddenly lifted again.
And then, I found myself sitting on Claude’s lap, my back to him.
What does Claude think of me? I felt like a young niece being dandled on an uncle’s knee.
“Ah, give me some space.”
“What were you doing?”
“…Haaa.”
“Answer me, Rose.”
“…”
“Leaving your Esper like this. Where did you go to have such fun?”
He seemed intent on not letting me go until I answered.
Reluctantly, I responded gruffly,
“I went to meet a friend.”
Claude scoffed as if that was the most ludicrous thing he’d heard.
“Rose, I know you don’t have any friends.”
“Ah, then not a friend, I met my former roommate.”
“Is it that blonde?”
After asking, Claude, seemingly indifferent to my answer, buried his face in my shoulder. His nose and breath touching my skin made me squirm uncomfortably.
“Yes… it was her, the blonde.”
“You don’t like her though…”
“C, can you move? It’s tickling.”
“…”
“Ahk!”
I jolted as if struck by lightning when suddenly he bit my shoulder! Claude easily restrained me, wrapping his strong arms around my waist, and softly licked the spot he had bitten.
I lay there helplessly, just kicking my feet.
“You must be crazy!”
“So, did you enjoy abandoning me to play with that blonde, Rose?”
While I was panicking, Claude seemed utterly relaxed, playfully nibbling on my shoulder and tickling me with his tongue.
His hand wrapped around my waist was unnervingly gentle…
I nearly moaned.
“Ugh, why do you torment me like this after telling me to go out…!”
“I was upset seeing you fully use the time I gave you. I spent all that time waiting, just watching the clock.”
Claude’s voice was laced with laughter. He was teasing me.
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