Summer break came to an end, and school started again.
For Yuzuru, it meant the return of days where he could eat Arisa’s cooking every week—alongside the slightly gloomy reality of being stuck at school for long hours once more.
On the Saturday after the break.
For the first time in about a month, Arisa came over to Yuzuru’s flat to play games.
Today’s pick was that famously popular racing game series featuring a certain plumber and his cheerful companions.
The two sat side by side in front of the television, steering their characters with their controllers.
Yuzuru was fairly good at this kind of game, having often played it with Soichiro and the others.
He’d even felt confident he could beat Arisa, despite her oddly natural gaming talent…
“Mm… ngh…”
He couldn’t concentrate.
Sitting right beside him, Arisa kept drawing his attention.
Every time she took a corner, she let out a little sound—and leaned her body in that direction.
If she leaned away from him, it was fine.
But when she tilted towards him, it was a problem.
They were already sitting close together, so whenever she leaned in, her slender shoulder nearly brushed against him.
Her beautiful flaxen hair swayed softly with the movement.
And to top it all off—her voice.
She was probably just trying to focus, but there was something strangely sultry about it, making him all too aware of her.
“It’s my win again, Yuzuru-san.”
“Yeah… looks like it.”
“Is something wrong?”
“No, my eyes are just a bit tired.”
He set the controller down, stretched out, and lay back on the floor.
Then he glanced at the clock.
They had been playing for quite a while, so it was true he was tired.
Though… more than eye strain, it was the mental exhaustion from being overly conscious of Arisa.
“Are you alright, Yuzuru-san?”
She didn’t seem aware of any of that.
With a worried expression, she leaned over to peer at his face.
Her beautiful eyes and soft, alluring lips suddenly filled his vision, and his heart jolted.
“I’m fine… I’ll feel better after a short rest.”
As he said that, he covered his eyes with both hands.
It looked like he was shielding tired eyes—
but really, he was blocking her face from his view.
Seeing that beauty up close was a bit too much stimulation.
Yet Arisa, seemingly oblivious, began threading her fingers through his hair.
He could feel the softness of her touch through his hair and scalp.
His heart started pounding even harder, but he couldn’t bring himself to stop her when she looked like she was enjoying it.
He let her do as she pleased for a while…
until her hands moved to his cheeks.
She cupped them gently in her warm palms.
That, however, was a bit too much for him to endure, and Yuzuru decided to stop things from going any further.
“Arisa, can I sit up now?”
“Ah… I’m sorry. I got carried away.”
Yuzuru slowly sat up,
then turned to look at her.
It seemed she had only just realised how bold she’d been.
Her face flushed crimson, and she averted her gaze awkwardly—
only to sneak glances back at him.
(…Cute.)
Yuzuru swallowed.
An aggressive impulse surged through him—wanting to push her down, pin her, overwhelm her with his desires…
“…Phew.”
He let out a deep breath, expelling that urge, and turned his back to her.
Then he pictured the four dogs he kept at home, calming himself down.
(Alright.)
He turned back to face her again.
Arisa looked utterly frightened, her expression filled with worry as she spoke in a trembling voice.
“Um… did that make you… uncomfortable?”
She looked up at him, gauging his mood.
Yuzuru once again pictured his four dogs.
Woof woof.
“No, it’s not that. If anything… it’s the opposite.”
“…The opposite?”
She tilted her head, looking puzzled.
Then her gaze dropped to his lower abdomen—
and her face instantly turned as red as a tomato.
Flustered, she spun around and cried out—
“W-What are you thinking?!”
“No… I mean, you’re the one who made me think about it, or rather… it’s just a bodily reaction… Though of course, I do feel bad about it.”
His instincts had reacted independently of his reason—there wasn’t much he could do.
Besides, it had already started to settle down.
“But let me make one thing clear—I have no intention of hurting you. …That said, impulses do exist, and I am human—well, a man—so I’d appreciate it if you could be a bit mindful… try not to be too defenceless around me. Of course, I’m the one who should be most careful, and it might not be fair to ask that of you.”
After he said that, Arisa slowly turned back to face him.
Her pearl-like skin was still faintly flushed.
“…How far is alright?”
“Patting my head is fine… but I’d like a bit of warning first. So I can prepare myself.”
“I’ll be careful.”
She nodded solemnly.
Unlike before, she now kept a considerable distance between them.
Having her suddenly pull away like that stung a little.
Still, she was probably just startled—not that she disliked him…
or so he wanted to believe.
It seemed Arisa noticed his slight dejection.
She abruptly changed the subject.
“About next week…”
“Yes?”
“This time, may I… be the one to invite you somewhere?”
An invitation.
In other words, she was asking him on a date.
Up until now, Yuzuru had always been the one making suggestions—amusement parks, the pool, the summer festival.
So it was only natural that she would take the initiative this time.
“Sure. …Do you already have somewhere in mind?”
When he asked, Arisa nodded.
“I’d like to go to the cinema. …I’ve never been before.”
And so, their cinema date was decided.
