The night grew deeper.
The streetlights by the roadside flickered faintly. Pedestrians gradually thinned out. One by one, the lights in the buildings went dark. Everything became increasingly quiet.
Takumi was still quietly gazing at the girl before him.
Maki had already lowered her head shyly, not daring to continue meeting his eyes.
Thump—thump—
Her heartbeat accelerated once again.
What is this atmosphere? Is this guy thinking of doing that kind of thing again?
Last month at Takumi's house, when he pushed her down onto the bed and kissed her—nearly losing control—Maki could still recall that experience clearly even now, so clearly that it felt as if it had only happened yesterday.
And now, at this very moment, she was already feeling the same kind of stirring as she had that time.
If she continued to stay here, she would definitely… be made to do that kind of thing by him, right?
Maki unconsciously curled in on herself.
Was she looking forward to it?
Was she afraid?
Should she try to run away again?
Yet what resurfaced in her mind was the scene in the corridor earlier, when Takumi had held Chika in his arms and turned to leave.
She had heard what Chika and Takumi said before that.
Takumi had said in the corridor that he had been holding back for many days.
Hadn't he been staying with her all these past few days?
Clearly, after touching her so many times, he still claimed he had endured for many days. As expected, Takumi had already reached that stage with Chika, hadn't he?
They had only known each other for a few days—yet they could already go that far? It was simply too shameless, too brazen. How could they be so casual about it? And after that, did he deliberately give the time to me? What is that supposed to mean—pity?
But if, back when Takumi and I were in close contact, I hadn't chosen to avoid him, perhaps everything now would be… No—what is the point of thinking about that? What I need to figure out is the choice I should make at this moment.
If only making such a choice were that easy…
Maki felt that her mind had already become a tangled mess.
Her heartbeat continued to accelerate.
She suddenly found herself slightly blaming Takumi beside her. He had done nothing at all—just silently watching her, as if he had already handed the choice over to her. If he could act like last time, like that time at his house, and directly force her, then perhaps she would not have to struggle like this. She could simply accept it passively.
But if he really did that, would she truly be able to accept it passively and let things continue naturally?
Someone like me—an unstraightforward fool who cannot face her own true feelings.
What exactly… should I do?
"Maki."
She heard him suddenly call her name.
"Mm…"
As she responded softly, his finger pressed against her chin, gently stroking the side of her face, little by little lifting her head.
Maki felt her heartbeat grow even more intense.
She was almost about to close her eyes immediately, waiting for him to lean down and kiss her.
But Takumi merely watched her silently, saying nothing, simply holding her face and staring at her.
"What are you doing…" Her cheeks flushed under his gaze, the girl could not help muttering softly.
"I was thinking—last time you kicked me once. This time, will you switch to giving me a punch, or maybe kick me twice?" Takumi smiled slightly, teasing Maki in a playful tone.
"What are you talking about… It's obviously you who's bullying me…"
Not expecting Takumi to bring up the past at this moment, Maki puffed out her cheeks and lightly hit him with her hand.
"Then… can you close your eyes?" In the next instant, Takumi's face moved a little closer, and his voice grew lower.
The girl's body trembled once again.
She fixed her gaze on Takumi's eyes, as if her whole being were about to melt into them.
Amid gradually quickening breaths, Maki felt her head growing more and more dizzy, more and more unable to think.
But she already knew what she should do now.
Close her eyes. Lean forward slightly.
This kiss was very light—very light.
Takumi carefully kissed Maki's lips, as if touching a fragile piece of art, cherishing her cautiously and patiently, little by little guiding this easily startled girl to grow accustomed to such a rhythm and atmosphere.
Slowly, he drew a little closer.
He reached out and pulled the girl's slender body into his arms.
Only when Maki began to feel that Takumi was being overly slow did he finally rise, still holding her, and step into the room.
Thud—
The dull sound of footsteps seemed like the beating of a heart.
Even though she had imagined countless times in her heart that this moment would come, when it was truly about to happen, Maki still could not suppress her renewed nervousness.
"Are you afraid?" Takumi's voice sounded by her ear, mingled with his breath.
"…Don't bully me." Maki could only let out a murmur-like voice, impossible to tell whether it was a plea or a coquettish complaint.
Thump—thump—
The sound of her heartbeat was so loud that it made it impossible to calm down.
Then he gently laid her on the soft bed, and she once again subconsciously curled up, her tense body trembling slightly.
"I like you, Maki." His voice sounded by her ear once more, merging with the light kiss he placed on her cheek.
"So, can I ask you to stay by my side?" He asked again in a low voice.
And the girl, already completely immersed in a dazed haze of emotion, could only nod lightly.
...
The night grew even deeper.
That night of clamor and stillness carried on unhurriedly, waiting, welcoming the arrival of the next day's daylight.
Until light slowly spread and rippled outward.
Until the person within the dream gradually awoke.
Takumi opened his eyes.
He turned his head, looking at the somewhat disordered bed, and at the girl sleeping by his side, her hand lightly resting on his chest.
He saw her eyes closed, saw her slightly disheveled loose hair, and the strand clinging to her lips.
He saw her eyes tremble faintly and knew that she had actually long since awakened. Before this, perhaps she had been quietly watching his sleeping face, and after he woke up, had hurriedly closed her eyes again, pretending to still be asleep.
He saw her somewhat helplessly open her eyes, saw her cheeks faintly flushed, her expression shy, subconsciously trying to avoid his gaze—then, as if out of stubbornness, deliberately looking back at him, staring at him without blinking, those bright eyes sparkling with points of light like amethyst.
"Takumi-kun, I like you." The girl gently rested her head against his chest and spoke to him softly. "I'm someone who's very timid, a fool who always lacks the courage to take action."
"So if it's like this, in the future I probably won't be able to say it again, won't have another chance to say it to you, so you must remember it well."
"I like you. I want to stay by your side. I will stay by your side. To me, you are the most important person. This is what I want to tell you—my true feelings. You absolutely, absolutely must not forget, Takumi-kun…"
Her voice was like a plea, filled with wavering fragility.
He knew the fragility and trembling in her heart at this moment, so he extended both hands and gently pulled her back into his arms, holding her tightly.
Then, by her ear, he gave her the reply she wanted to hear.
"Mm. I will definitely remember it in my heart."
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