They had only taken a dozen steps, but Ai's eyes flickered back to him, equal parts appreciation and equal parts curiosity about what lay beyond.
"Ne, ne, you seriously aren't going to tell me? I've asked you like a hundred times!" Ai exclaimed, puffing her cheeks out.
Shiki's only response was a low hum, his eyes straight ahead, his hands stuffed in his pockets as if she weren't even there.
Her lips curled down into the most dramatic pout. Cheeks puffed. Brows furrowed. Her face was turning red—not from the walk, but from how stubborn he was being. She honestly looked like a kitten that had just been told no.
"Ne, ne, Shiki." She called again, this time cutely, tilting her head adorably.
Shiki merely hummed in response.
That did it.
She huffed sharply through her nose. Then, without even thinking it through, she suddenly hooked her arm around his—tight—and in the process, pressed his arm right up against her chest.
Now, Ai had no clue what this meant outside this world. To her, it was just… hey, I'm holding onto you so you can't escape. But to Shiki…
Yeah, no, he couldn't feel anything in real life. But watching himself being smothered like that…
Yeah, no, he flinched. Not in a bad way—more in the "oh crap, what do I do with my hands?" way. Unfortunately for him, his avatar's reaction mirrored it perfectly.
Ai stared at him, still pouting. "Even if you won't answer me, don't you dare ignore me." Her tone was softer than how threatening she was trying to sound.
Shiki blinked down at their joined hands. "Why did you—"
"Shut up."
He shut up.
She looked as if she might cry, her eyes filling up.
Shiki understood. She had already told him that she feels all "echoy" inside her head when she has no one to talk to.
He raised his free hand, resting it firmly on her head, letting her have her moment. "Cute, kitten."
"Don't say that." Ai blushed through her glassy eyes.
His palm slid away from her head, but the effect still lingered.
"Still cute."
"Seriously, stop saying that." Ai pouted.
"Not my fault." Shiki replied, "You make it too easy to tease you."
"What does that even… Ugh." Ai growled.
She tried to free his arm but held it tighter instead.
"Kitten, if you keep holding onto me like that, people are going to get the wrong idea," Shiki smirked.
"There are no people here." Ai said, looking anywhere but at him.
"Still counts."
She huffed and turned her head away… then suddenly leaned into him hard enough that he stumbled a step.
"Oi—"
"Mm. Fits better now," she said, smug as if she had just won some invisible game.
Shiki raised a brow. "You're… just shoving yourself against me for fit checks now?"
"Shut up."
When they hit a patch of uneven ground, she used the excuse to hook her hand higher up his arm, practically clinging to him. "Don't let me trip," she said casually.
"You planning to trip?"
"Maybe."
The ground leveled out again, but she didn't move away. Instead, she leaned just enough to throw off his balance, making him swerve closer to her.
"You're doing that on purpose."
"Maaaybe," she sang.
He side-eyed her. "You're clingy."
She looked at him cutely. "I'm making sure you don't run away."
Shiki chuckled. "From you? Nowhere to run."
For a moment, her steps slowed, and without thinking, she leaned all her weight on his arm. It pulled him slightly toward her, close enough that her hair brushed against his coat.
"Heavy," he teased.
Ai's pout returned full force. "Are you calling me fat?!"
"Nope. Just saying you're really leaning on me."
"Good," she said simply, pushing his arm tighter against her chest. "Means you can't ignore me again."
Her grip never loosened, and every rocky or uneven patch they encountered was met with a firm reminder that she was not letting go.
Finally, Shiki tilted his chin toward the distance. "You see that cliff?"
She followed his gaze. "Yeah?"
"If we reach there, you'll see something."
Her brows knitted together, but her mouth curved into a smile. "Fine. But if it's something dumb—"
"You'll still think it's cute," he cut in.
Her hood's ears flopped forward as she groaned. "You're so smug."
"And?"
"Handsome." She giggled.
Then, without warning, she pulled his arm, dragging him forward. Her grip didn't loosen; if anything, she pulled him closer, the side of her chest brushing against him with every step as they broke into a run.
"Come on, slowpoke!" she yelled. "What's wrong? Afraid I'll find whatever you're hiding before you?"
Her foot caught on something.
A rock? A root? It didn't matter. The ground just vanished underneath her.
"Ah!"
She fell backward with zero grace, landing on the ground, and something heavy fell on top of her.
Gravity decided that Ai would be on her back with Shiki above her.
She blinked, dazed, trying to figure out anything.
Shiki was there. Above her. On all fours. Close enough that the ends of his dramatic scarf brushed her cheek with every little shift. Shadows cut sharp lines over his face from his hair falling forward.
And his hands?
She looked lower.
Damn! They were planted firmly atop her chest.
Not a light touch or brush—his big palms were cupping her through the fabric of her hoodie like it was the most natural place in the world to be.
He gave a sudden squeeze, and her breath hitched, cheeks flaming up. Her heart thudded against her chest so hard that she was sure he could hear it.
"What are you—" Shiki asked, "Why are you clinging to me so much?"
Ai blinked twice, then looked into his eyes. He was looking at her, not where his hands were.
Since Shiki couldn't feel her, he didn't realize the continuous squeezes he was giving her.
"I... What?"
Her hands flew up, slapping over her own burning cheeks as if she could hide her flushed face.
She trembled under him, her breath ragged.
"I was just—ugh..." She started, but his hands didn't move. If anything, they squeezed her chest even harder, making it difficult for her to speak. He was like a boulder, a boulder with strong arms. "I... I was just trying to annoy you... T-that's all."
She shifted, which made his hands shift as well, making it impossible to suppress a moan, but she pressed her hand over her mouth to stop the sound, her eyes glassy.
A hot rush shot through her chest, spiraling downward in a way that made her stomach flutter and her knees weak.
"Annoy me... Just by holding on to me?" he said teasingly, and his fingers squeezed even harder.
A moan threatened to escape her lips.
"I don't know!" she blurted before she could stop herself, peeking out from behind her fingers. Her cheeks felt like they had been left in the sun for hours. "Your arms are just… different from mine, okay? Not soft. Strong. And it felt kind of… good to hold onto."
The moment those words escaped her lips, she regretted them and wished she could vanish.
Because, of course, right then, his fingers curled, squeezing her again. Ai's breath caught so hard that it almost hurt.
Heat surged up her neck, flooding her cheeks until she was sure they were glowing red. Her free hand flew up to clamp over her mouth, but that little sound that escaped wasn't a normal sigh. Not even close.
"What's up with your face?" Shiki tilted his head, still unaware of his naughty hands. He was trying to figure out why her voice had gotten so weird.
And while he was staring at her, his hands stayed put. Still gripping. Still pressing.
Another absent squeeze.
Her legs twitched against the grass, her toes curling.
She nearly jerked, but he was too heavy; his weight kept her pinned flat, her back arched just enough to make her acutely aware of the way his hands molded against her. "Y-you're…! Shiki, you're…! Just—get off! You're heavy, and it's—"
Another squeeze.
Her voice faltered. "Weird…" she finished in a whisper that didn't sound nearly as annoyed as she wanted it to.
He shifted his weight to one hand for a moment, just enough, but it increased the pressure on her chest. Even through fabric, it made something in her belly tighten.
She bit down on her lip so hard she tasted a faint sting, trying to suppress the noise threatening to escape.
But then—
He did it again.
And this time, the sound slipped out before she could swallow it. It was soft, shaky, just a breath away from a moan. "Anhhh~"
His brow twitched. "…Mm?" His hands squeezed again.
She couldn't stop her moan this time. "Ahh~"
Finally, Shiki looked down. His eyes widened as his hands continued to squeeze her. She was now moaning uncontrollably.
Then, instinctively, he squeezed her again, and a loud moan escaped her lips, "Nghhh~ Ahhh~"
"Oh." His voice dipped low for a moment, realization blooming across his face.
Shiki pulled back immediately, hands raised. "I-I didn't mean to."
"You—" Her brain stuttered over every possible word. Her tongue felt useless, and her chest was heaving.
Ai's chest still tingled. Her heartbeat felt like it was pounding in her throat. Shiki extended his hand. She reached out, letting him pull her up with ridiculous ease.
She kept her eyes anywhere but his.
"I am sorry," Shiki said.
"I-I know. You handsome idiot," she replied, her voice small, still in a haze.
Shiki scratched the back of his head. "I-I don't even know why I was like that," she muttered.
"Maybe because you enjoyed it," Shiki teased.
"Shut up."
"Just look behind you," Shiki said, pointing behind her.
She blinked, turned—and her jaw dropped.
Below the hill stretched a sprawling, sunlit town, straight out of a storybook. Stone walls, timbered roofs, narrow streets winding between bustling markets. Smoke curled from chimneys, and banners flapped in the breeze. It was alive—a bustling civilization surrounded by tall walls.
Her breath caught... not from him this time, but from pure wonder. "Whoa…" She leaned forward as if she could fall right into it. "It's… amazing."
By the time she regained her composure, he was already beside her, quiet, hands in his pockets, gazing at the view.
Ai glanced at him, then, without warning, hooked her arm through his and tugged him close. "Thanks, Shiki. Thank you very much. I love it. You're the best," she murmured, her cheeks warm—but this time, only from the sun.
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END OF CHAPTER : 6 : NOT LETTING GO!
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