[78] Hachiman: You Should Know I'm a Gentleman

"If the girl truly has genuine feelings for me," Hachiman contemplated, "I wouldn't mind taking things further. But if there are other motivations at play, I don't want Saeko to use her body as a bargaining chip."

Although Hachiman was undoubtedly tempted by the girl's advances, it didn't mean he had no principles. After all, he regarded himself as a gentleman.

In situations like this, consent was paramount. If ulterior motives were in play, it would reduce the interaction to a mere transaction of physical desires.

"Alright, let's call it a day," Hachiman declared, sensing the situation becoming increasingly uncomfortable. He swiftly extricated himself from Saeko's embrace and stood up.

"Ah..."

As her hands were abruptly released, a soft gasp escaped from Saeko's alluring lips. However, her previously hazy gaze now cleared, and despite her mature demeanor, she couldn't help but feel a tad embarrassed.

How did I let things progress this far? Could it be that I truly have feelings for Hachiman...

Saeko's heart wavered, but before she could delve deeper into her thoughts, Hachiman had already swung open the bathroom door.

"I'll head back now, Saeko. You don't need to see me off," he uttered and made a hasty exit from the bathroom, as if fleeing the situation.

Observing his hurried departure, Saeko couldn't help but chuckle to herself.

Am I that imposing?

She cast a fleeting glance at her voluptuous figure adorned in the one-piece swimsuit, undeniable in its allure.

Speaking of which, she had been rather overt with her advances, yet Hachiman had managed to stand firm.

It seemed his moral fiber was commendable.

However, upon assessing the state of her own body, a blush tinted Saeko's cheeks.

It appeared she needed another shower now.

Since she was still in the bathroom, Saeko nonchalantly shed her sole article of clothing, revealing her flawless, silken skin. She eased her enticing figure into the bathwater.

Taking a deep breath, Saeko needed to contemplate what Hachiman meant to her. Was he merely a worthy adversary, or was there something more to it?

On Hachiman's side, when he returned home, it was already past 5 PM.

"I'm back," he announced.

As he opened the door, he was greeted by a curious-looking Komachi.

"Welcome home, Onii-chan."

"Hey, Onii-chan, how was your day at the senpai house from the kendo club?"

Hearing Komachi's question, Hachiman paused, once again reminiscing about the steamy backrub session in the bathroom.

"Uh, it was alright."

Well, it was more than alright, considering he had been on the verge of losing control.

"Uh... What do you mean by 'alright'? I asked if you made a good impression on that senpai."

A good impression? Probably.

Otherwise, why would Saeko have come to the bathroom to give him a backrub?

And he managed to keep his composure, which should have left a good impression on her.

"Hey, Onii-chan, tell me what you guys did. I can help you analyze it."

Here she goes again.

Hachiman was bewildered by her persistent curiosity.

How did an inexperienced little sister like her become so knowledgeable about these matters?

Of course, he wouldn't tell her that Saeko had given him a backrub, including a suggestive moment of pressing her breast against him.

"What else could we do? We simply practiced kendo together," he responded tersely before making his way to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

"Onii-chan, wait, don't go! Besides kendo practice, there must be something more. Please, tell me..."

Despite Hachiman's efforts to evade her questions, Komachi persisted, trailing after him into the kitchen.

By 8 PM, Hachiman was once again ensconced in his room, diligently working on his writing. His daily goal was to craft 10,000 words, and he had already conquered nearly half of the fourth volume.

*Ding.*

Just as he was engrossed in his typing, an email notification materialized in his inbox. The sender was none other than the illustrator, Ms. Izumi, and the subject hinted at updated character illustrations.

He eagerly clicked open the email and was greeted by the sight of revised character illustrations.

The level of detail in the artwork was breathtaking, a testament to Ms. Izumi's illustrious talent.

The character designs had notably improved from their initial drafts. Although they still retained a hint of sensuality, they were now much closer to Hachiman's envisioned vision.

At that precise moment, Hachiman's phone chimed with a text message from Ms. Izumi.

[Dear Sensei, I've already dispatched the modified illustrations to your email. Please take a look and inform me if any further alterations are required.]

[Alright, I've received them, and I must say there are no issues at all. They impeccably capture the character images I had envisioned. You're genuinely gifted, Ms. Izumi.]

[Oh, you're too generous, Sensei. If everything looks good on your end, I'll proceed to send them to Miss Machida, our editor.]

Ms. Izumi's responses were swift and efficient.

[I can confirm that everything is flawless on my end. Thank you immensely, Ms. Izumi.]

[You're most welcome; it's all part of the job. Well then, I won't keep you any longer, Sensei. Goodbye.]

[Very well, goodbye, Ms. Izumi.]

Setting his phone aside, Hachiman refocused on the illustrations. Given that he was releasing two volumes concurrently, there were a total of fifteen chapters' worth of illustrations, enough material to assemble into a standalone art book.

As he gazed upon these exquisitely detailed creations, Hachiman couldn't help but be filled with a sense of wonder.

It was challenging to fathom how anyone could dismiss light novels as mere combinations of text and illustrations.

Nevertheless, he held unwavering confidence that his light novel would effortlessly match this level of artistry.

After shutting down his computer, Hachiman lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.

Unknowingly, it had been two months since he crossed over to this world.

Not only had he earned over ten million yen through his light novel, but he also built good relationships with several girls.

He was gradually transitioning into a more fulfilled life, leaving behind the lonely existence he had in the original story.

The only regret was the lack of significant interactions with Yukino.

Perhaps it wasn't time for the events of their second year of high school yet.

Hachiman didn't mind, though. His personality was naturally laid-back, and he didn't feel the need to force interactions with Yukino just because she was the original story's female lead.

He believed that everything would happen when the time was right.

Lying in bed, Hachiman drifted into slumber without realizing it.

Outside, the night had deepened, and there were hardly any people on the streets.

Only the glow of streetlights illuminated the quiet, deserted roads.

A gentle breeze rustled through the trees, and silver moonlight bathed the surroundings, casting dappled shadows on the pavement.

Everything appeared serene and peaceful.

The entire city seemed to have fallen into a deep slumber, with only the various neon lights emitting their unique radiance.

The lights flickered, creating an illusionary and yet authentic atmosphere.