My Scumbag System - Chapter 240

Chapter 240: Her First Bullseye Was My Heart (or Somewhere Lower)
Her back pressed flush against my chest.

And her ass nestled perfectly against my groin like it was custom-made to fit there.

My body reacted instantly. A Pavlovian response to the soft curves suddenly pressed against me. Blood rushed southward with such speed it left me momentarily lightheaded.

I was rock hard in seconds.

And given our position, there was absolutely no way she didn’t feel it pressing insistently against the curve of her backside.

She froze in my arms. Breath caught audibly in her throat. The sword clattered forgotten to the floor. Her hands instinctively clutched at my forearms where they encircled her waist.

Slowly, seemingly against her will, she turned her head. Looked up at me over her shoulder. Face burning crimson. Her gaze dropped momentarily. Then snapped back up. Eyes widening as she processed exactly what was pressing against her.

“S-S-Satori-kun!” she stammered. Voice rose several octaves until it threatened to be audible only to dogs. “I’m s-so sorry! I-I tripped and y-you’re… um… there’s a…”

“A what?” I asked. Voice dropped to a teasing purr.

I didn’t immediately let her go. Allowed the moment to stretch just long enough to brand itself into her memory.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s a perfectly natural reaction when a cute girl falls into your arms.”

I finally released her.

Watched with barely disguised amusement as she practically teleported three feet away. Clutched the fallen sword in front of her like a shield. Her entire face and neck had turned the color of a ripe tomato. Looked like she might spontaneously combust at any second.

“Okay,” I said. Mercifully changed the subject before she passed out from embarrassment. “Swords are clearly not your thing. Let’s try something completely different.”

I took the training sword from her trembling hands. Replaced it with the recurve bow and a quiver of blunt training arrows. The bow was simple but well-crafted. Limbs made of laminated wood and fiberglass.

She looked at it. Expression still flustered but now curious as well. Fingers traced the smooth curve of the upper limb.

“I’ve never shot one before,” she admitted. Examined the weapon with a mixture of trepidation and interest. “It looks complicated.”

“Perfect,” I said. Grateful for the change of pace. “No bad habits to break. Sometimes a complete beginner is easier to train than someone who’s been doing it wrong for years.”

I positioned myself behind her again. This time to guide her form with the bow.

This position was even more intimate than before. If such a thing were possible.

My body formed a complete frame around hers. Chest pressed against her back. Legs slightly outside hers to brace her stance. My left arm extended alongside hers. Helped her hold the bow steady. Hand wrapped around hers on the grip.

My right hand covered hers on the bowstring. Helped her draw it back to the correct anchor point at her cheek. Fingers brushed against hers. Felt their slight tremble.

My chin hovered just above her shoulder. Breath whispered across her ear with each exhale.

“Breathe,” I instructed. Voice low and intimate in the quiet gym. “Don’t aim with your eyes. Aim with your intent. See the target in your mind. Feel the tension in the string like it’s an extension of your body. Now… release.”

She let the arrow fly.

It cut through the air with a whispered hiss. Then struck with a solid thwack. Right in the dead center of the target dummy’s chest. Where the heart would be.

We both froze in surprise.

Emi stared at the target. Then at the bow in her hands. Then at me. Eyes wide with disbelief and dawning excitement.

“I… I did that?” she whispered. Like speaking too loudly would break whatever magic had just happened.

Holy shit.

“Do it again,” I said. Voice more intense now. Stepped back to give her space. “On your own this time.”

She nodded. Shock gave way to something else. She nocked another arrow with surprising dexterity. Movements became more natural. Like her body instinctively understood what to do.

She drew the bowstring back to her cheek. Took a steady breath. Released.

THWACK!

The second arrow hit right next to the first. Barely a finger’s width separating them. A perfect shot that would have dropped any Gate-spawn instantly.

“Emi,” I said. Genuinely impressed despite myself. “I think we just found your weapon.”

Her face lit up with pride and excitement. A radiant smile broke across her features. She bounced on her toes. Clutched the bow to her chest like it was the most precious gift she’d ever received.

“Really? You think I can actually be good at this? Like, really good?”

“I think you already are,” I replied honestly. A rare moment of sincerity breaking through my usual facade. “With proper training, you could…”

A soft sound from the shadowed entryway cut me off.

A muffled whisper. Followed by a sharp “Shhh!”

The noise was barely perceptible. But in the stillness of the empty gym, it might as well have been a thunderclap.

I held up a hand. Silenced Emi instantly.

She went still. Eyes widening with alarm. Bow held protectively against her chest.

I strained my ears. Every sense suddenly on high alert.

There was someone there. No. Two someones.

I could hear the subtle rhythm of controlled breathing. The almost imperceptible shuffle of feet trying to remain still. The rustle of fabric against fabric.

I gave Emi a look. Put a finger to my lips.

She nodded. Clutched the bow tighter. Knuckles whitened around the grip.

I moved silently toward the doorway. Footsteps made no sound on the training mat. Years of practice moving undetected through the seedier parts of both this life and my last.

I rounded the corner.

Found them huddled together. Peeking around the edge of the doorframe like children spying on a forbidden adult conversation.

Natalia and Soomin.

Natalia had her arm clamped over Soomin’s mouth. Apparently trying to stifle a giggle that had nearly given them away.

They were both in their nightwear. Natalia in silk pajama shorts and a camisole that left little to the imagination. Soomin in an adorably oversized t-shirt that hung off one shoulder. Revealed the strap of a tank top beneath.

They both froze when they saw me. Like startled deer caught in headlights.

Natalia recovered first. Dropped her arm from Soomin’s mouth. Straightened to her full height with the dignified air of someone who absolutely wasn’t just caught spying.

Her purple eyes met mine. A complicated mixture of emotions. Jealousy. Amusement. Something else. Something possessive and undeniably turned on.

The corners of her lips quirked upward in a challenging half-smile.

“Well, don’t let us interrupt your private lesson,” she said. Voice a silken purr laden with implication. “It was just getting interesting.”

Soomin looked like she wanted nothing more than for the floor to open up and swallow her whole. Her face was even redder than Emi’s had been. Pink hair partially obscured her features as she ducked her head in mortification.

She clutched at the hem of her oversized sleep shirt. Fingers worried the fabric. Refused to meet my gaze directly.

What little I could see of her expression was fascinating. Embarrassment. Guilt. And was that longing?

Interesting.

I didn’t say anything at first. Just leaned against the doorframe. Crossed my arms over my chest. Took in the scene before me.

A slow, predatory smile spread across my face as the pieces fell into place.

Jealousy from Natalia. Who couldn’t stand the thought of me alone with Emi.

Curiosity from Soomin. Who harbored her own little crush that she thought was a secret.

“Well, well,” I finally said. Voice smooth and dangerous. “Enjoying the show?”

Emi peeked around me. Bow still in hand.

When she saw our audience, her expression shifted from confused to horrified in a split second. Jaw dropped comically.

“N-Natalia?! Soomin-chan?! How long have you been there?”

“Long enough,” Natalia replied. Voice rich with implication. Her eyes never left mine. Even as she addressed her friend. “You’re quite talented with that bow, Emi-chan. Almost as talented as Satori-kun is with his teaching methods. He certainly has a hands-on approach, doesn’t he?”

Soomin made a small, strangled sound somewhere between a squeak and a whimper. Stared fixedly at the floor. Her fingers twisted the hem of her shirt into a wrinkled mess. I could see the pulse fluttering rapidly at the base of her throat.

I watched them all.

Natalia’s defiant stance. Hip cocked to one side. That challenging look in her eyes.

Emi’s mortified flush as she realized all the intimate moments had been observed. Cheeks burning bright red. Still clutching that bow like a lifeline.

Soomin’s absolute terror mixed with undeniable curiosity. The way she kept sneaking glances at me when she thought I wasn’t looking. Then jerking her gaze away when our eyes met.

Something warm and satisfied unfurled in my chest.

This delicious tension. This web of conflicting emotions and desires. All centered around me.

This was power. This was control. This was exactly where I wanted them.

“Well,” I said. Pushed off from the doorframe with languid confidence. “Since you’re both here anyway, why don’t you join us? I’m sure Emi wouldn’t mind showing off her newfound talents.”

My eyes swept over all three of them. Lingered just long enough on each to make them shift uncomfortably.

“And I’ve got plenty more instruction to offer. Enough for everyone.”

Natalia’s eyes glinted with something dangerous. “Is that so? And what exactly would you be teaching us, Satori-kun?”

“Combat fundamentals,” I said. Voice smooth. “What did you think I meant?”

She smirked. “Of course. Combat fundamentals. How could I think anything else?”

Soomin looked like she wanted to die. Or flee. Or both simultaneously.

Emi was still frozen. Caught between embarrassment at being caught and pride at her archery success.

“Come on,” I said. Gestured them into the gym.

“Don’t be shy. The more the merrier.”