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[-Continuation-]
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[-Hachiman's POV-]
"Is that a yes?" I breathed, barely daring to hope.
Yukinoshita's slender fingers curled into the fabric of my shirt with a surprising firmness, sending little sparks of electricity dancing across my skin.
For the past ten minutes, my heart has been racing like mad. It all started when I had taken that bold step, pulling her onto my lap, shattering the careful distance we maintained, bringing her impossibly close. Her body's warmth against mine, her presence so close, was almost overwhelming.
She took a deep breath, her forehead resting against my shoulder, her eyes half-closed, as if she were lost in thought. Yet her grip on my shirt only tightened, as though she needed something to hold onto.
"I am willing to take this leap with you, Hikigaya." She finally whispered.
"But… allow me to express it properly."
A heartbeat of silence stretched between us before she spoke again.
"Please give me your life."
A soft chuckle escaped me before I could stop it. "That's… a pretty hefty thing to ask."
Without missing a beat, Yukinoshita lightly headbutted her forehead against my shoulder, a gentle reprimand that brought a smile to my lips.
"I don't know any other way to say it." She admitted, her voice small and uncertain.
"So what am I supposed to do...?" She pressed her forehead against me again, this time more like a playful nudge, her fingers gripping my collar like a kitten play-biting, seeking a bit of comfort, a bit of closeness.
At that, a wave of affection washed over me.
"Nah, I was just teasing." I spoke softly, my voice as warm as honey.
"Your words were perfect, Yukinoshita." I murmured, my hand moving up to her hair, my fingers threading through the silky strands.
On a sudden whim, wanting to change the pace, I gently moved my hands away from her head. My fingers found a hold on her waist, and in one smooth motion, I lifted her slightly off my lap and set her down beside me on the bench.
Yukinoshita blinked in surprise at the unexpected movement, a flicker of confusion crossing her face. As our eyes met, now level with each other, and I watched as her cheeks turned a soft pink again.
I could almost see the realization dawning on her - how clearly she had shown her disappointment at no longer being on my lap.
She reminded me of a cat at that moment, and I couldn't help but think that if she had claws, she might have dug them into my clothes, refusing to let go.
Not wanting to give her a chance to overthink or retreat into herself, I quickly reclaimed the physical contact, entwining our fingers again in a way that felt significant. Her hand was small and soft in mine, and I gave it a gentle squeeze.
I leaned in, closing the small distance between us until our foreheads touched. Her warmth seeped into me, and for a moment, everything else seemed to fade away.
I found myself lost in her eyes, those deep, mesmerizing pools of midnight blue that had captivated me from day one.
Almost without thinking, my free hand moved up, tracing the delicate curve of her jaw. I cupped her cheek gently, my thumb brushing against her skin.
Her eyes widened slightly at the touch, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she seemed to lean in, her breath hitching softly, and I felt a rush of something tender and fierce all at once.
With a gentle tilt of my head, I closed the final hairsbreadth of distance between our heads.
Our lips met in a featherlight touch, brief as a heartbeat but electrifying enough to set my whole body tingling.
As I pulled back, Yukinoshita's eyes fluttered open, her expression a beautiful mix of wonder and vulnerability.
We lingered in that charged silence, the air between us heavy with unspoken words. Finally, she broke the stillness, her voice just a breath above a whisper.
"H-hikigaya." She stammered, a hint of her usual composure returning even though a rosy blush still colored her cheeks. "Don't you believe it's customary to give some sort of warning before taking.... actions like that?"
Even as she questioned, I noticed the subtle upward curve at the corners of her lips, a small sign of the happiness she was trying to hide behind her typically reserved facade.
"Moreover." She continued, her voice softening. "I find myself... quite speechless. It's quite frustrating, really. How vexing. It appears you have managed to render even my extensive vocabulary lacking."
A warm, genuine chuckle bubbled up from my chest.
"Sorry about that." I murmured, not feeling sorry in the slightest. "Next time, I will make sure to give you a heads-up."
"N-next time?" Yukinoshita repeated herself, her eyebrow lifting in the familiar way she had.
But there was a new softness in her eyes, a vulnerability that made my heart race.
"Definitely." I replied, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "Next time."
….
.
After the confession, followed by our simple first kiss, sealing the start of the Hachiman Hikigaya and Yukino Yukinoshita dating relationship, we picked ourselves and this time for real headed towards the hotel.
Our walk was by far the most silent, aside from our footsteps.
We didn't even hold our hands, apart from the occasional brush of Yukinoshita's shoulder against mine as we walked in sync.
Our reserved action wasn't born out of awkwardness or regret, but a mutual need to process the monumental shift in their relationship. Sometimes, closeness doesn't require physical touch.
It had been a quiet night - but it was without doubt the best kind.
As we reached the lobby, I stopped in my tracks to let Yukinoshita go on ahead as I slightly raised my hand in a casual good night gesture.
"Well, here we are. See you."
Yukinoshita turned, her eyes meeting mine.
"You as well, good night." She replied, a hint of shyness coloring her usually composed voice. "Um, thank you for walking me back and... everything."
With those words hanging between us, she started ahead as the hotel lobby slowly swallowed her up.
I watched her go, noticing that she was still wearing the coat despite us being indoors now. Because she was walking so quickly, the coat's cuffs kept fluttering around.
I thought about useless things like whether she was planning to return the coat back or not while making my way back to my room.
Guess it was easier to focus on these small things than to fully process the enormity of what had just transpired between us.
….
.
As I pushed open the door to my room and entered, it was still being used as an impromptu mahjong parlor.
Totsuka and Zaimokuza were huddled in a corner, engrossed in a game of old maid.
"Ah, Hachiman, welcome back." Totsuka's head snapped towards me at the sound of my entrance.
"Where did you go? You took your time." Zaimokuza, on the other hand, barked a couple of questions at me, barely looking up from his cards.
His glasses caught the light as he focused. However, the accusation in his tone was unmistakable.
I shrugged, aiming for nonchalance. "Has it been that long?"
Well, actually, it has been about three hours since I left.
Zaimokuza, remembering the punishment game, asked pointedly. "So, where's my nourishment and ramen?"
Oh right, the errand. That was the real excuse I came up with to escape from here, wasn't it?
"Ah." I muttered, my brain scrambling for an excuse.
"Don't tell me you forgot?" I paid no attention to Zaimokuza, who looked at me as if I were an idiot.
I squared my shoulders, adopting a cocky stance. "Forget? Me? As if. I have got your nourishment right here."
I pointed sharply at my stomach, and Zaimokuza's face was colored with shock.
"W-What!? You went out to eat… what a frightening man…" He stammered, wiping his brow with the back of his hand, and sent me a look of respect.
Hmph, too ez. I basked in my victory, feeling pretty clever.
But my moment of glory was short-lived. Totsuka, ever perceptive, saw right through my bluff. His smile never wavered as he delivered the knockout punch.
"Then, guess you will be doing another run, huh?" He suggested, his tone light but brooking no argument.
Phew, Totsuka is super scary…
At that moment, I realized that behind Totsuka's cherubic exterior lurked a mind as sharp as a tack.
….
.
[To be continued…]
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