Chapter 20: Shoujo Manga – Part 2
During lunch break, a few days later.
On the clubroom’s round table a trade was being carried out.
“This one’s safe.”
Kyouya said.
A mountain of manga and novels were piled up on the table. Kyouya was showing them to Mao before sliding them over to her.
“R-right.”
Mao nodded gravely and brought the “safe object” to her side.
If you were to ask what was safe about them, it meant that they didn’t have any kisses in them.
Mao was “that” kind of person.
The kind of person who just couldn’t get accustomed to things like that.
“T-these are okay, right? T-there’s no risk in reading them, right?”
“It’s fine. They’re safe, no problems.”
“Did you read them carefully? Did you make sure?”
They’re mine to begin with.
But Kyouya didn’t let those words out of his mouth, he replied with a firm nod.
“It’s all verified. I read them over again.”
He had reread 30 volumes for Mao’s sake. It had taken him several days.
As Mao had claimed, kisses were really rare in boy oriented light novels and manga.
“Okay. Well, I guess I’ll do you a favor and read them then.”
“Sis.”
Megumi called out from her back while facing the stove.
“Ugh… thank you… very much.”
As if she was being scolded by an elder sister, Mao put on an eternal little sister’s face and reluctantly corrected herself.
Somehow, having Mao show him that frail expression and speak politely to him gave him an extremely unusual feeling.
He felt embarra.s.sed perhaps. Or perhaps he wanted to hug her.
“There really, really, really aren’t any kisses, right?”
“I told you already.”
He a.s.sured her that the concentration degree of kisses was zero, like a smuggler a.s.suring his customer that his dope is pure.
Kyouya couldn’t understand what made Mao so averted to those things.
Then again, if it came to something more than a kiss, it didn’t even have to be the direct act, if it had too many pointless erotic scenes, even Kyouya didn’t like it.
He didn’t dislike them to the point of waving his clenched little fists in the air in protest like Mao though.
Nevertheless, if he tried pointing out to Mao “You really can’t handle these things, huh?” she’d get angry and deny it; even if he didn’t press her any further she’d bite him in the end anyway. He’d been bitten three times already.
“So? Are these all the safe ones..? What about those?”
Another mountain of books remained at Kyouya’s side. Mao spoke as she looked it with the corner of her eye.
Kyouya considered his answer for a moment.
“Is kissing on the cheek okay?”
“Uh… hmm…”
Mao let out a strange moan and made herself think.
Finally, after agonizing over it for a minute-
“Uh… uuh… i-it’s okay.”
She made her decision with a distressed face.
Kyouya just couldn’t understand why she had to think this much through this. He couldn’t even imagine what was in Mao’s blacklist.
That’s why he had to ask her first.
He moved the small mound before Mao.
“These have kisses on the forehead.”
He showed her another mound.
“That’s the same thing! You don’t have to ask about everything!”
Mao said, getting angry.
He just couldn’t understand her blacklist.
“And stop saying kiss over and over again, idiot! Have some shame!”
Mao said, her face deep red.
He was left with the last novel on his side. He still couldn’t figure out Mao’s blacklist, so he had to try asking her.
Taking the book in hands, he spoke to Mao.
“This one… well, it has a bridal carry in it. Is that… wah!”
Kyouya let out a fl.u.s.tered voice.
Before he could finish speaking, Mao s.n.a.t.c.hed the book from him.
Mao was all over the book.
“Definitely okay!”
Mao embraced the book tightly, not letting go.
For some reason, Kyouya was sure that he’d never get that book back.
CHARACTER PROFILE:
Amatsuka Mao- Part 2
Special skills: Biting attack
Weak points: Shoujo manga, feminine malice