38 Akari's game

"She does not like to be noticed?" I pouted my mouth, as I gave her a quick scan. Her annoyance was on display through her twisted face "She probably needs to buy a new family and face if that's the case."

I thereby pinched the area between my brows with my thumbs and decided to go with the plan.

Perhaps, I shouldn't act rashly, but the opportunity represented itself.

Therefore, I waited until we are abreast, and seized her wrist lightly, stopping her from advancing further. Akari stopped at her track, speechlessly shifting her gaze to match mine, "What do you think you're doing?"

I released her arm and asked, "Can we go somewhere else?"

She wore a baffled expression on her face.

"Why?" at last she said.

"Those eyes," I pointed forward at the students, who in part just began noticing me. "I don't like them."

"Uhm? Ah... well, I don't mind them," Akari said, consecutively thinking, "I don't like them either."

From her face I thought she wanted to ask more about what I specifically didn't like about being so feverishly gaped at, but she decided to push the thought away from her mind, it is more likely a natural response.

"Alright then, I will accept your request, though, as my personal bodyguard, you really need to toughen up." She smiled, acting as if she's not the one bothered here.

"Is there some private place in this library?"

"Yes, there's the reading club, situated right behind that door." She gave a nod to the librarian sitting behind the bureau and pointed me to follow her.

Soon, we reached a smaller book gallery, enclosed by book racks and sprinkled by sofas and ottomans. Only students who were part of the Renaissance book club can use this place I later found out, and so we only found three people in the space, two boys sat quietly around a wooden table, while a girl was laying down on a purple cushioned sofa, all of them had novellas on their hands.

Akari plopped down on a long comfortable couch, signaling me to keep standing.

"Does bodyguards usually put up with this shit?" I thought, standing awkwardly in the center.

<Mission accomplished>

<+5 infatuation points>

<Current infatuation: +7>

Akari finally said something, "I'm bored. Read me a book,"

"Huh?"

"I do not doubt you can read, but I could be mistaken"

"Which one?" I said, annoyed.

"Whatever you think it's fun."

I was taken back for a while, but Narcos immediately pointed me to a novel in the right bookcase, shelve 3.

I found the novella, it was to my horror a copy of a Chinese erotic novel dating back to the 17 century.

"Are you fucking kidding me, you want me to choose this?" I said inwardly to Narcos.

<Yes>

<A double opportunity has represented itself >

Akari had a grin on her face, her head nestled in a cushion.

I skimmed the book to chapter 1 and started reading out loud.

Akari wasn't affected, I presumed she already knew I will try to pull something to embarrass her.

<Failed attempt of embarrassment>

<The target is amused by your pathetic ways>

<+2 infatuation points>

"Aren't those 'your' ways not mine?" I thought.

But, the palpable change happened to the spectators, the two boys blushed like adolescent girls, while the other girl on the sofa stirred around.

Just when things started to heat up between the main character and the heroine, the youths had enough of my shamefulness and hurried outside.

<+5 infatuation points>

<The target is greatly entertained>

The other girl also had enough. She put down her book which was covering her face, and finally had a look at my face.

Her visage was as red as wine but I still recognized her, she was undoubtedly one of my targets, 'Aiya.'

<Opportunity had reached its crux>

<The host is obligated to act as if he has a crush on Aiya>

"The fuck? Why?" I thought back. Narcos offered no further explanation.

Aiya regarded me, shocked. She then looked at whom I was reading to, and saw Akari beaming, her arms outstretched on the sofa.

Akari felt the stare and shifted her gaze to follow it. Their eyes met for a second.

I stopped reading at that moment, and walked up to Akari, whispering in her ears, "That's Aiya, a classmate of mine, can I stop reading now?"

Akari frowned, "Why is that? It was your choice right?"

"I don't know, I just don't want to be embarrassed in front of her."

"You still did not say the reason, why must you stop reading?"

"I think I have a faint crush on her," I said.

Akari drew back, shooting her eyebrows halfway up her forehead.

She saw my blush and sighed, "First your half-sister and now your classmate? I didn't know I hired a lecherous Casanova."

"That is the way of man," I shrugged back.

Akari appeared to have entered a deep musing, and after she spoke again, something was off with her voice.

"I decline your request," she said, "In fact, I have an additional order."

She patted the spot beside her on the sofa, "Sit down here."

I complied—though, perplexed by her sudden request.

"Closer," she added after I edged myself a bit farther than her.

I slid myself deeper beside her.

"More closer."

I kept sliding until I was particularly itched to her side.

"Good."

I was close enough I could smell the shampoo in her hair, and as I reveled in the pleasant scent, I felt something warm touch my shoulder— it was her cheek.

My heart skipped a beat.

"What kind of game she's playing now," my mind screamed.

Her finger crawled to my chest, tracing a little circle.

"Now you read," she decreed in a mellowy voice so foreign to her original one.

"Why is she doing this?" I felt my blood race through my body, her touch was cold on my chest, but it still sent shivers up my spine.

And then I saw it, she was eying Aiya from the corner of her pupils. Aiya's mouth fell down at once, the redness stretching from her face to her ears and neck.

Akari's lips edged slightly, forming a smirk.

"Oh, I get it now, this is why Narcos told me to act as I did. All to trigger Akari's hidden urges, which in this case were to try and ruin my romantic interests."