"I'm sorry, Ayumi. I don't think I can do it. In the end, it's too much for me. We should tell her it was all a joke. I'm sure she'll understand us," I said hesitantly.
"Can't you? Are you really pretending to leave me at the mercy of my fate? Don't you care? She's crazy, and besides, she's got me on the ropes - she's the meanest of them all!" retorted Ayumi in frustration.
"All this isn't my problem, is it?", I replied in a slightly firmer voice.
"Do you intend to leave a damsel like me out on the street, alone?", Ayumi spat indignantly.
"You call yourself a 'damsel,' but honestly, you don't fit the role. Damsels are known for their good character and responsibility, and when I see you, who call yourself one, you really don't fit," I retorted with a hint of sarcasm.
"What do you mean?" asked Ayumi, puzzled.
"Well, in my opinion, damsels should be beautiful, but also have a charming personality and be responsible. When I see you, saying you're a damsel, honestly, the role doesn't suit you," I replied without hesitation.
"You really are a...," Ayumi started to say, but stopped when she noticed my chagrined expression. "I'm sorry, I said it without thinking. So stop running away from me. This was all just a joke. Yes, yes, you're a damsel," he said hastily.
"Still, it's complicated. You tell me you're getting married, which means we'll have to prove we're a couple and face surveillance. Doesn't that worry you?", I asked, uneasy about the implications it entailed.
"And that worries you? But tell me, wouldn't you feel good being with someone like me? I'm one of the prettiest girls in school. Honestly, many admire my beauty," Ayumi replied confidently.
"I can't deny that she has a high opinion of herself," I thought to myself. "But that's not the problem. It's dangerous, Ayumi. I can't be with you because if I do, what about Yuna? I like her a lot, at least I think so. She's special. I get all dramatic when I talk to her, and I feel extremely affectionate. Maybe this feeling of wanting to be by her side, to walk next to her, is something really beautiful."
"Sora, if you continue to be lost in your thoughts, you will receive punishment. Here's a little kiss for you," Ayumi interrupted, coming closer to kiss me suddenly.
"I should go see her later...", I thought, but stopped myself as I witnessed Ayumi's reaction. "I said you don't remember!".
"You really have good reflexes, Sora. You surprise me," Ayumi admitted admiringly.
"I guess I still have them," I replied in a nonchalant tone.
"You still have them. What do you mean?" asked Ayumi, intrigued.
"It's nothing important, forget it. Let's better talk about my condition: apart from holding hands, the rest is forbidden in our relationship. Tell me, do you accept these conditions?", I proposed with a mixture of nervousness and determination.
"How can I agree to that, don't you think my mother knows what I'm like, she must think we've already had relations," Ayumi replied with concern evident on her face.
"But don't you think that if you tell her I'm a shy boy, in that respect we can move forward little by little. It's a healthy relationship in a way, don't you think, Ayumi?", I argued, seeking her understanding.
"True, but there must be some progress, otherwise, she'll get suspicious," Ayumi admitted, slowly giving in.
"But we have time. A relationship like ours, or even better, healthy in a way, takes 1 to 2 years to go the furthest.You know what I mean? With that in mind, we have time, and there I'll try to convince your mother," I promised with a hopeful smile.
"...That's not true. There are several girls who have already done it and, paradoxically, they seem the holiest. No one would believe they've done it. Those guys, who are as much virgins as you are, think it's so. Believe it or not, at least in this school, the 'saintly' girls are the ones who do it the most," Ayumi confessed, revealing a shocking truth.
"These stories I've heard and read, it sounds like the shy girls are the most aggressive. But that only happens in movies or series, not in real life. I haven't had personal experience with that, since I don't have a girlfriend, but... if I think about Yuna, is it possible that she did it too?", I asked, with slight concern in my voice.
"If you think about Yuna, I'll tell you that she hasn't done it," Ayumi stated confidently.
"I'm relieved about that. I mean, that wasn't the point," I replied, trying to hide my surprise.
"Do you really like Yuna that much?"
"Why do you say that?", I asked, avoiding answering directly.
"Every time you talk about her, you get lost in your thoughts and stop answering me," Ayumi revealed, watching me carefully.
"That... that's partly true. Yuna is special. I've never felt anything like this before," I finally confessed, letting out my true feelings.
"In that case, if you agree to convince my mother to give in, I promise not to do anything," Ayumi proposed, looking for a solution that would benefit both of us.
"Are you sure?", I asked, needing clear confirmation.
"Yes, I am. Trust me, Sora," Ayumi replied with determination in her eyes.