Chapter 41: Playing a prank on my sleeping childhood friend

Playing a prank on my sleeping childhood friend

I was staring absentmindedly out the window from the classroom. On the desk were the question papers and answer sheets. It was the last day of the mid-term exams, the final subject.

“Alright, that’s it. Collect your answer sheets, everyone.”

As the teacher’s voice echoed, the tension in the silent classroom instantly relaxed.

“We’re done!” “Good job!” voices like these started to rise. Everyone seemed to bask in a sense of relief.

“Phew…”

I also took a deep breath and turned my answer sheet to face me.

I think it went pretty well.

This past week, I probably studied harder than ever before in my life. I really wanted to score well on this mid-term exam.

Next week, I’m planning to visit Aya’s family to introduce myself properly. I want to talk about us being together. If they find out I let my grades slip because I was too engrossed in love, it would lack credibility.

So, I stayed up late studying last night as well.

Even though my sister warned me that cramming all night wouldn’t be effective and that I might make mistakes if I overdid it, I thought I’d manage to keep my energy up during the test period.

Thanks to that, my vision is so blurry right now and I’m incredibly sleepy.

Unconsciously, I glance towards Aya.

At a desk near the entrance of the classroom, she’s leaning back in her chair, looking utterly drained. Her gaze seems vacant as she looks downward.

Aya must have been studying hard this past week as well.

After studying together at her place, she must have continued to work at her desk at home. Although we didn’t discuss it, she was probably conscious of introducing me to her parents.

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Also, the promise that her father would buy her fishing gear if she scored well on the test must have been a motivating factor.

『Aya, let’s go home together tod—』

I pause while trying to send a text message on my smartphone.

A group of female friends has gathered around Aya’s desk.

“Aya, let’s have a celebration!” “If we’re doing that, let’s have a party!” “Let’s go to the arcade!” “Aya, I’m tired, stroke my head!”

They immediately start hugging her and messing around with her. She’s still quite popular.

Aya is responding with a tired smile, petting their heads as they request.

“Hey, are you all going to the arcade too?”

“If we’re going, let’s all go together!”

In no time, a mix of boys and girls forms a group. It seems like about half of the class is planning to hang out at the arcade. Thanks for reading on ManaNovel!

The arcade, “Spochi”, is an amusement facility near the train station. It houses a game center, a bowling alley, karaoke rooms and even a roller skating rink indoors.

It’s not a place I’m very familiar with.

“Hey, Boyan, you should come too!”

One of the girls in the lively group calls out to me.

When I look over, my eyes meet Aya’s, who is glancing in our direction.

Her gaze seems to ask, “Are you coming?”

I have a feeling that if I refuse, Aya won’t go either.

Lately, she’s been quite busy with things mainly related to me and she hasn’t had much time to hang out with her friends. Her relationships with her friends are important to her.

“…Yeah, I guess I’ll go.”

“Alright, let’s all head there together!”

The girls cheer with excitement.

Aya is already engaged in laughter with her other friends. Her profile somehow seems happier than before.

As I stand up and look around the classroom, I notice that Tokita is no longer here. The soccer club is already practicing outside the window. I suppose Tokita must have joined them.

I tag along, trailing behind the group of students heading towards the station.

Even though it’s getting cooler, the afternoon sun is still enough to induce drowsiness. While walking, I feel like I might fall asleep if I let my guard down.

Suddenly, I catch snippets of conversation from the boys at the back of the group.

“…Tokita got confessed to, you know?”

“Ah, the girl who’s the manager for the basketball club?”

“Yeah, the one who got rejected by him when she confessed before.”

“Did he accept this time?”

“Haven’t heard that far.”

“So, they broke up for real?”

“Seems that way. Also, there’s a guy from the badminton club who seems to be planning to confess to Aya.”

“But wait, I thought Aya…”

The boys fall silent with a start.

They must have noticed that I’m right behind them. Awkwardness radiates from their backs.

Fortunately, it seems that the incident where Aya and I kissed on the rooftop hasn’t been overly publicized. I don’t intend for Aya and me to become a conspicuous couple like when she was dating Tokita. Not for now, at least.

I don’t want to cause confusion for Aya or have rumors spread about her being fickle. It’s possible that people might speculate. I don’t want to add unnecessary stress to Aya, who cares about friendships and appearances.

But if there’s a guy trying to approach Aya without knowing, I might need to reconsider things a bit.

Maybe due to drowsiness, I can’t help but think about Aya.

Well, that’s nothing new, I guess.

Even though we went to Spochi as a large group, eventually, people split into smaller groups and scattered around to enjoy different activities.

Aya vanished into the game center with her usual group of close friends.

As for me, I joined some guys in playing table tennis, air hockey, mini basketball and the like.

Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I hung out like this with someone other than Aya.

I expected people to ask about Aya and me, but there’s no sign of that. We’re just sweating together, playing sports like normal.

Well, it’s probably difficult to bring it up.

It feels like they’re deliberately creating an atmosphere where it’s not easy to ask. Even though I’m a bit dense when it comes to things other than Aya, I can faintly feel my classmates’ consideration and it warms my heart.

“I’m going to take a break.”

“Hey, Boyan, don’t fall asleep somewhere!”

Exhaustion and sleepiness accumulate and after engaging in intense physical activity other than sex, my body feels wobbly.

To escape the indoor heat, I head to the top floor of the facility.

When the elevator doors open at the highest floor, cool outside air rushes in.

There’s a large futsal court and a covered resting area. College students or working adults seem to be enjoying futsal enthusiastically.

I sit on one of the benches placed in the resting area and gaze up blankly. Even though it’s not even seven o’clock yet, the sky is already dark.

I absentmindedly open my smartphone’s message app.

Just then, I receive a message from Aya.

『Where are you now?』

The straightforward message makes me feel oddly happy.

『I’m on the rooftop.』

I send the reply and quickly get a response from Aya.

『Alone?』

『Yeah, I’m alone. Want to take a break too?』

『Sure.』

Within five minutes or so, Aya arrives.

Exiting the elevator, she walks towards the resting area where I am. Her cheeks are slightly flushed, probably due to the indoor heat.

“Boyan, sorry to keep you waiting~”

Rolling up the sleeves of her long-sleeved blouse, Aya walks over fanning her face with her palm.

Her usual smile, cheerful and bright, is on her face. No, her eyes seem a bit dreamy. She looks quite sleepy.

“Aya, want some Pocari?”

“Oh, thanks.”

I hand her a bottle I had bought beforehand.

As she takes it, she sits down next to me.

Perhaps due to her drowsiness or her exhaustion, she’s sitting closer than our usual childhood friend distance. My knees and thighs are touching her in a way that a couple’s would. Every sense in my body becomes aware of her presence.

“What were you up to, Boyan?”

While sipping from the Pocari, Aya asks. She must have been thirsty – she drinks about half of it in one go.

“Hanging out with the guys, playing various things like table tennis and basketball.”

“Table tennis!? I… kind of wanted to see your table tennis skills.”

Aya chuckles merrily.

Indeed, since I’ve never played table tennis, I ended up being the last in a makeshift tournament that somehow began. I’ll just keep the results to myself when it comes to Aya.

“What about you, Aya?”

“Mmm, I was at the karaoke.”

Karaoke, huh.

I’ve never been with Aya. Well, I’ve only been to karaoke a handful of times myself.

“What kind of songs does Aya sing?”

“Hmm? Anything really. Popular ones, old ones, a variety.”

“I see. I’d like to hear.”

“Yeah… well, someday.”

Aya isn’t particularly fond of karaoke.

She’ll go if invited by friends and she’ll sing along. But I know that deep down, she’s quite embarrassed about it.

“For me… the only song I can sing properly is probably the theme from ‘Pig Samurai’.”

“Ah, nostalgic! I still remember all the lyrics. You used to sing that all the time, Boyan.”

I remember singing it often on the way home from elementary school or at Aya’s house.

I sang it so much that Aya eventually said, “You really like that song, huh?” with an exasperated look.

Aya’s body, pressed against mine, feels slightly heavier.

It seems she’s gradually leaning towards me. I can feel her soft warmth.

“By the way, where are the others?”

“Probably still at karaoke. They might be singing in a big chorus.”

There’s something intriguing in her tone.

“Oh, were the guys there too?”

“Yeah, they barged in later. They started getting all rowdy, so I said I’m going to the restroom and got out of there.”

There’s a hint of awkwardness in her expression.

“I see. Well, you don’t have to go back then.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Aya laughs in an amused manner.

I’ve gotten a bit emotional. Maybe it’s because I overheard the guys’ conversation on the way to Spochi.

Aya’s chestnut hair brushes against my shoulder. I gaze at the back of her head.

I contemplate lifting her chin and kissing her but stop myself.

Aya’s head starts nodding like a bobblehead doll.

Ah, she’s dozing off.

“Aya, feeling sleepy? You can rest here for a bit.”

“Will you wake me up?”

“I’ll wake you up by tomorrow.”

I say it jokingly.

“Then, we might get caught…”

Seems like she’s already starting to drift off.

I wrap my arm around Aya’s shoulder and guide her to lean against me. Without resistance, her head finds its place on my thigh. Her hand grasps my thigh, completing what could be considered a lap pillow.

“Hmm, Boyan’s legs…”

“What?”

“Never mind… Goodnight, Boyan…”

What’s up with my legs? It’s bugging me.

But Aya is already starting to emit a soft snore.

“Goodnight, Aya.”

Touching the serene profile of her sleeping face, I place my hand on her small head.

Running my fingers through her silky short hair, Aya’s lips curl into a faint smile.

I decide to gently continue stroking Aya’s head.

Checking the time, it’s already past 7:30.

While continuing to caress Aya, I gaze absentmindedly at the people engrossed in futsal. In my field of vision, the ball moves busily back and forth, almost like a hypnotic pendulum.

Yet, I don’t feel sleepy at all.

“Mmm…”

Occasionally, Aya softly moans and her hand clenches onto my thigh.

It’s just a slight stimulus, but it sends a shiver down my lower regions.

Her head being so close to my fully rejuvenated manhood isn’t helping. The accumulation of sleepiness, fatigue and a few days’ worth of pent-up desire converge into heightened arousal.

“Sigh…”

I let out a deep sigh.

Looking at her defenseless sleeping face, it’s frustrating how easily my rationality could fly out the window.

I brush against her long eyelashes. I touch her closed eyelids, forming a gentle curve. There’s no sign of her waking up.

“You’re such a carefree sleeper.”

I mutter playfully.

Despite my words, I’m captivated by her profile.

Her well-defined features, slightly blushing cheeks, the faintly smiling lips that seem to smile even in her sleep. Everything about her is familiar as my childhood friend, yet my heart still races as if she’s an unfamiliar presence.

Especially those lips, they’re dangerous. Why am I so drawn to them?

I trace them with my fingertip. They’re soft and slightly dry, but when I press my fingertip against them, I feel the moisture within.

“Mmm…”

Aya presses her lips against my fingertip. It’s just a light touch, yet it sends tingles through my whole body.

I wonder what kind of dream she’s having. If it’s a dream of kissing, that would be delightful.

The occasional quivering sensation of her lips is irresistible. I continue touching them with my finger. I push my finger against them, savoring their plushness as I slide along them. With each stroke, Aya’s body twitches. In the process, her slender fingers gripping my thigh exert more pressure, ramping up my desires even further.

I part Aya’s hair a bit, exposing her cute ear.

I pinch her earlobe, feeling its springiness. I rub it with two fingers, relishing its softness. I trace the outside of her ear with my fingertip, encountering a different texture. It’s softer than her earlobe but still maintains a gentle touch. As I move towards the base of her ear, it gets slightly firmer.

Drawing a curve with my finger, I repeatedly trace the outside of Aya’s ear. Soft to firm. I tickle around her temples, then trace back to the soft parts. I squish her earlobe and occasionally flick it with my nail.

Lost in my mischievous exploration of her ear, I sense a presence of many people nearby.

A group of men walks over to the resting area. It seems like their futsal game has ended. They buy drinks from the vending machine at the corner of the resting area and sit down on the nearby benches.

Occasionally, they glance in our direction from a few meters away. They probably see us as a couple cuddling affectionately.

“Aya, let me open your bag for a moment.”

I reach out to Aya’s bag placed on the bench and unzip it, sliding my hand inside.

I try to find what I’m looking for without looking too closely at its contents. I take out her cream-colored cardigan and drape it over Aya’s skirt.

It’s not cold, but I just wanted to cover Aya’s bare legs somehow.

The men seem to have lost interest in us. They’ve formed a circle and are engrossed in conversation, talking about when they’ll play next.

While half-listening to their conversation, I trace Aya’s ear with a gentle touch. It’s become quite addictive.

After gently stroking her temples, I decide to touch the inside of her ear with my fingertip.

As if confirming the smoothness and unevenness, I trace the inside with my finger. It’s softer than I thought cartilage would be, even on the inside.

I touch my own ear with the other finger, realizing it’s harder than Aya’s. It seems there’s quite a bit of individual variation in the texture of ears.

“Mmm…”

Aya emits a faint moan. Her breath holds a hint of warmth.

Each time I gently rub the inside of her ear, she grips my thigh a little tighter.

It seems Aya is awake.

I’m not sure how long she’s been awake.

Perhaps she’s been awake since I started fiddling with her ear, or maybe she woke up earlier. It’s hard to tell whether it’s because of the people nearby from the futsal game or if she’s just feeling awkward, but it seems Aya has decided to pretend to be asleep.

“Mm, mmm…”

As I touch her lips, they tighten slightly. I stroke her stiffened lips. Running my fingertip along the contours, I trace them over and over as if applying lip gloss.

Suddenly, I feel something warm flowing from her lips.

—Enough.

—Lips, over and over.

—Nothing but teasing touches.

—Boyan.

—Do you want to kiss?

—Later, can we…

A surge pulses through my chest. I had assumed she might be upset by my teasing, but her inner voice is gentle, sounding slightly frustrated.

To divert my racing heart, I move my fingers from the corner of Aya’s mouth, where her cheeks are flushed, pressing and kneading the soft skin. Then, gradually, I travel towards her ear.

—Ah, it’s the ear again.

—Boyan.

—Ears.

—No, it’s no good…

Aya is quite sensitive when it comes to her ears.

Tracing the inside of her ear with my fingertip, moving my finger as if poking around the edges of her ear canal, she shivers slightly. Her brain must be hearing the rustling sound near her ear canal. I’m tempted to lick it with my tongue, letting the sound of water echo, but I restrain myself.

With Aya’s fingertips twitching and squeezing my thigh, I continue my mischief around her ear, feeling both teased and tantalized myself.

Eventually, her bag trembles with a soft buzz.

Upon checking, there’s a message on the lock screen.

“Where are you, Aya? We’re about to disband.”

Glancing at the phone’s clock, it’s almost eight o’clock.

I remove my finger from Aya’s ear and instead lean my face closer.

“Aya, wake up. Everyone’s getting ready to leave.”

As I whisper near her ear, Aya’s body shivers.

“Mmm…”

She moans softly and lowers her face.

Her position is almost as if she’s burying her face between my thighs. I hope she’ll spare me a reaction from down there.

“Good morning, Boyan…”

Unlike usual, Aya slowly wakes up. Even though I’ve called her multiple times before, she rarely stirs.

“Good morning, Aya. Did you manage to get some sleep?”

“Yeah… a little.”

Aya sits on the bench, using her hand to fix her hair that was messed up by my ear teasing, not the side where she was sleeping but the one I’ve been playing with.