"Haruki?"
"Yeah?"
Kyouko turned around, lifting her arms slowly. "Can you help me with this stretch? I can't quite reach."
She faced away from him, exposing the elegant curve of her back and the gentle lift of her arms. Haruki stepped closer, placing his hands on her sides. Then, instinctively, he wrapped his arms around her from behind to support her posture.
His chest brushed against her back. As his hands moved upward to guide her arms, they grazed the side of her chest.
Kyouko didn't flinch.
She exhaled softly, her body relaxing against his. It was just part of the exercise—at least, that's what she told herself.
Haruki's breath caught. The feel of her warm, soft body in his arms was too real, too close. He tried not to think about it, but her scent—subtle and comforting—lingered. It wasn't perfume. It was her.
She smells nice. Sweet...
And she has a soft, small body. I don't think I can stop myself from noticing.
Something about it made it hard to let go.
Kyouko leaned slightly into him, her hands gently lowering as she held the stretch. She could feel the firmness of his abs against her back, the warmth of his skin. It wasn't awkward.
He has the body type I like...
As Haruki's arms wrapped around her to help with the stretch, Kyouko's breath caught—but not from the stretch itself.
Warmth.
Security.
That feeling of being held by a man.
It had been so long since she'd felt this closeness. Even longer since she'd been embraced—really embraced—not just in passing or out of obligation, but with intention.
Her husband hadn't touched her like this in years. Their marriage had become a quiet companionship, polite and distant. A shared house, not a shared heart.
Not a kiss, not a hug, not even a touch like this.
But Haruki… he reminded her what it felt like to be a woman again. To have something stir inside her chest.
Her body didn't tense. Instead, she found herself leaning into the sensation, even if just for a second.
So this is what it feels like. To be held by someone who makes your body remember things your heart has almost forgotten.
His breath warm on her shoulder, his strong arms supporting her—it was supposed to be just another stretch, but her mind began to wander. What other stretches could we do? she wondered, her pulse quickening. What excuse could I find... just to feel this again?
She knew this wasn't right. But it wasn't wrong either. They hadn't crossed a line. It was all innocent. It was... just part of the exercise.
Still, her cheeks warmed as she slowly lowered her arms, letting the stretch end while wishing it could've lasted a little longer.
Maybe... just one more set, she told herself. Just to feel it again. To feel Haruki's hands on her body.
"Haruki," Kyouko said softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, "can we try the front stretch? The one you showed me last time?"
"Sure," he replied, wiping light sweat from his brow.
She turned to face him—close, perhaps a little too close. But she smiled innocently, giving him no reason to question it.
"Like this, right?" She raised both hands, leaning in just slightly.
Haruki nodded and stepped forward to guide her arms gently. But she didn't step back. Their bodies met—barely, just a brush—but it felt intentional, and she didn't pull away.
His hands moved to correct her posture, fingertips trailing along her arms. The distance between them kept shrinking. As he raised her hands above her head, she tilted her chin up—close enough that he could smell her breath. Soft, warm, faintly sweet.
Haruki froze. Her lips were just inches away, her breath ghosting over his skin.
Kyouko didn't meet his eyes, but she didn't look away either. She maintained a gentle smile, as if this was all part of the stretch. But she was aware of the tension coiling between them.
He knew it.
And so did she.
When he adjusted her shoulder, her chest brushed against him. Light, but deliberate. Her breathing remained calm and controlled, as if nothing unusual was happening.
Haruki's throat tightened. "Umm… is this… okay?"
Kyouko finally met his eyes, her smile unwavering. "Mm. You're helping me stretch… right?"
Her tone was light, but the look in her eyes—half-lidded and soft—said more.
He placed his hands on her wrists, guiding her into the stretch. As her arms rose, her top shifted, the fabric pulling tighter across her chest. Haruki noticed the outline of her cleavage and how the light fell across her smooth skin—especially her exposed underarms. She didn't flinch or pull away. This was normal for workouts, and she seemed unbothered.
Still, his heart raced.
She exhaled softly, her breath brushing against his neck. "Am I doing this right?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder—close enough that her cheek nearly touched his.
"Yes..." he said, adjusting his grip and trying to focus on the stretch while secretly savoring the closeness.
Kyouko leaned forward slightly to deepen the movement, pressing her back lightly against his chest. Just a little. Just enough. She didn't pull away or say anything. Her breathing stayed steady, her expression calm. It felt natural... yet something unspoken hung in the air.
Haruki tried not to overthink it. This was just stretching. A routine. Normal.
His eyes drifted—to her neckline, her collarbones, the softness of her skin.
She raised her arms again, giving him a full view of the delicate lines beneath them. He swallowed quietly, hoping she hadn't noticed where his gaze had wandered, but she showed no sign of discomfort.
Kyouko lowered her arms and turned to face him, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Should we do the front pull next?" she asked, stepping closer.
Haruki nodded, his mouth dry. "Y-yeah. Sure."
She offered both hands, and when he took them, she leaned back slightly, creating tension in the stretch. Her fingers curled gently around his—something tender in her touch.
After the last set of stretches, Haruki let out a small breath and leaned against the wall, wiping sweat from his brow. His heart wasn't racing from the workout. It was because of her. Kyouko.
He'd touched her skin during the stretches, felt her warmth, been so close… and she never pulled away. She let it happen, as if it were perfectly natural.
Being next to such a beautiful woman, breathing in her soft floral scent, seeing her so radiant in that tight outfit—it was impossible not to feel something stir inside him.
"You know, Haruki?" Kyouko picked up her towel and gently dabbed her neck.
He glanced at her, still catching his breath. "Yeah, Kyouko-san?"
"We should do this more often." She looked at him with a small, genuine smile.
Haruki chuckled lightly, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I agree."
His voice was calm, but his relaxed, confident smile made Kyouko's chest flutter. That smile... that effortless, boyish charm made him look even more handsome than usual.
Without thinking, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him.
"Thank you, Haruki."
He blinked, a little surprised, but instinctively returned the hug. The embrace was warm—comfortable. Familiar.
"Don't worry about it, Kyouko-san." His voice softened. "I'm happy too."
For a moment, neither of them moved. The room was quiet, the air still faintly warm from their exercise. As they held each other, something inside them quietly shifted.
( End of Chapter )