The Gemini Princess wants me to confess my feelings!

Chapter 70 Holding Hands

Kirihara Akira felt that this scene was familiar, as if something similar had happened before.

The last time was no different from this time. Kirihara Akatsuki would bite the hook without hesitation and then watch Mori Kiyoha break down.

So he decisively took Mori Kiyoha's hand, and with a wicked grin, squeezed his fingers between the white jade-like fingers of hers, turning their fingers into an intertwined one.

Akira Kirihara could feel her tremble.

He thought the girl would soon break free of his grasp and then fly into a rage.

But...no, nothing happened. Time seemed to freeze at that moment, and everything outside the two of them was silent. Kirihara Akira could only feel the pulse connecting his palm to hers throbbing gently.

The man's broad, warm, and powerful hand sent a chill down Mori Kiyoha's spine.

She had to exert all her strength to suppress the restless expression on her face and prevent the corners of her mouth from turning up.

When Mori Kiyoha saw Kirihara Akira's hateful handsome face and his adorably bewildered expression, she couldn't help but feel delighted.

This is unusual, and perhaps wrong—Mori Kiyoha knows this, but she just can't help it.

What's wrong with me?

Kiyoha Mori might know the answer, but she wouldn't think about it that way.

The first sign of true love is timidity in boys and boldness in girls—this is what Mori Shizue told her from a book. But Mori Kiyoyo was stuck on the first step; she didn't think the feelings in her heart were love or liking.

She enjoyed the feeling, yet feared admitting it.

It's so hot, yet so reassuring, and... so uncomfortable.

Kirihara Akira was even less likely to let go. Although he was no longer at the age where he would get aroused by holding hands with a girl, he still felt happy to be close to pretty girls and take advantage of them.

However, the two of them got a little carried away.

Suddenly, Kirihara Akira noticed that the people in the private room who were either singing or whispering in each other's ears had suddenly fallen silent, and the people who were singing loudly had fallen silent, leaving only the lonely accompaniment played by the machine.

Looking up, Kirihara Akira realized that almost everyone in the room was staring at her and Mori Kiyoha.

"Uh." Kirihara Akatsuki realized that she had indeed forgotten what heaven and earth were, and awkwardly let go of her hand.

"Ah." Only after he withdrew his hand did Mori Kiyoha realize what had happened, feeling a sense of loss.

However, she quickly regained her composure.

Li Changqing, standing in the distance, looked at Wuyuan Xiao with an indescribable expression.

Because he remembered what he had said to Kirihara Akira earlier.

He desperately wanted to grab Kirihara Akira by the collar and yell, "Bullshit! You call this 'no big deal'?!"

Even someone as thick-skinned as Kirihara Akira felt a little embarrassed and guilty at this moment.

In the past, he would have felt innocent.

Now, he doesn't have the face to do that.

Mori Kiyoha said arrogantly, "Now that you've touched a woman's hand, here's your reward. Thank me."

In one sentence, the relationship between the two was put back in its proper place. This may not fool everyone, but it makes everyone accept it and breathe a sigh of relief.

In truth, who can really fool whom? Mori Kiyoha is someone who almost never appears in social situations. As graduation approaches, rumors have been circulating ever since Kirihara Akira transferred to their school. Today, she even appeared at a karaoke bar with him, turning the rumors into a scandal.

Kirihara Akatsuki was never deceived.

Even if he were as slow-witted as a block of wood, he should know by now that a proud girl like Mori Kiyoha wouldn't casually have any physical contact with the opposite sex.

Moreover, Kirihara Akira is not actually an emotional idiot.

He sighed inwardly, thinking: "Seriously, real interpersonal relationships are really difficult. It's much easier to just follow the old formula, get things done, and leave without owing anyone anything."

After agonizing for a while, Kirihara Akira realized that agonizing over it was pointless and just talking to herself, so she decided to stop thinking about it.

It was just a joking handshake, nothing serious. He attributed everything to friendship, only friendship.

Kirihara Akira leaned close to her ear and said, "Singing at Kisaragi-sensei's place every day, and then having to sing here too, is really getting a bit boring. How about we go for a walk?"

Mori Kiyoha stepped aside, glanced at Kirigawa Akira with her eyes, and said coldly, "Suit yourself."

......

......

Kirihara Akira greeted everyone and left with Mori Kiyoha.

"It's hard to imagine what kind of rumors will circulate at school afterward," Kirihara Akira said.

"I don't care," Mori Kiyoha said. "There are already enough rumors about me at school, and graduation is approaching, so who cares what they say?"

"That's true," Kirihara Akatsuki said. "But aren't you afraid that Madam might hear something about it?"

"I'm used to it. Mori Akari has always had a less controlling attitude towards me, and she's used to it too." Mori Kiyoha didn't seem keen on continuing the conversation: "What do we do next?"

Kirihara Akira smiled slightly and said, "I think I've been with the Mori family for about half a year now?"

"almost."

The two were wandering aimlessly along the roadside, so it's no wonder that Mori Kiyoha would ask this question.

"I haven't been here long, and it's been even shorter since I've been able to talk to you," Kirihara Akira said. "Shortly after I arrived, I encountered the most important birthday of your and your sister's lives. To be honest, choosing a birthday present almost drove me crazy."

Mori Kiyoha turned to look at him, surprised, and said, "Worried about something like this? How silly."

"That's pretty silly," Kirihara Akira said with a smile. "After all, I'm living in the Mori family's house now, and I'm using money given to me by the madam. If I buy you anything, it's like I'm just using someone else's money to offer to someone else, which is a bit insincere."

Besides, I don't really understand your preferences, and I don't know what you want.

Mori Kiyoha blinked, unsure how to answer.

In her memory, her father and mother would also prepare gifts for her and her sister, but no one had ever asked for her opinion like this.

Birthdays seem to be just meaningless symbols, and even coming-of-age ceremonies are merely an excuse for the aristocratic circle centered around the Mori family to gather together.

Kiyoha Mori even believed that the coming-of-age ceremony was an exhibition, a venue for the lady to display the artwork she had been polishing for eighteen years.

So her first thought was confusion: "What do I want...?"

"Didn't expect that?" Kirihara Akira asked.

Mori Kiyoha composed herself, raised her head, and said, "Wouldn't it be incredibly boring to just tell you like that?"

"Oh, so what do you want?" Kirihara Akira said.

"Come with me to play. Go a few more times, and you'll know what I like, won't you?" Mori Kiyoha said, raising her head.

Kirihara Akatsuki laughed and said, "That's great! There are still a few days until her birthday. By the way, could you tell me what your sister likes?"

"If you satisfy me these past few days, I'll tell you what my sister wants."

It's a deal.