Kouhei felt like he finally understood her. That feeling of wanting more than just to exist. It was something he knew all too well. He'd once felt like he didn't exist either. After his parents died, it was as if he had disappeared along with them.
Their marriage had been something their families never wanted. So, when his parents passed, the same people who should have mourned them instead mocked their deaths. They stood there, saying his parents deserved it. He remembered hearing everything—every cruel word—but no one even looked his way.
They called him an unwanted child. Said nobody wanted him. He remembered being terrified, wondering who—if anyone—would take him in.
Thankfully, someone did. His aunt. She stood up when no one else would and adopted him. She was only 22 at the time, just ten years older than him. Without her, he might not be standing here today. She was the only one who acknowledged him back then.
So yeah, he understood what Saonji was feeling. That need to be seen.
"Alright, Saonji-san," Kouhei said, his voice firm but soft. "If you really want to know who I am... I'll show you."
***
The room was filled with the rhythmic sounds of button clicks and the electronic hum of video game music. Kouhei and Saonji sat close together on the floor, their backs against the couch, controllers in hand. The blue glow of the TV screen flickered across their faces as they played, immersed in the game. Saonji, though new to this, was putting in real effort, her eyes narrowing with focus as she struggled to figure things out.
"How do I throw the explosives?" she asked, her fingers hesitating over the buttons.
"Here, press this," Kouhei replied, leaning in slightly to show her, his finger hovering over her controller.
"Oh, thanks," she muttered, quickly returning to the game.
Surprisingly, she was taking the game seriously. It was like she really wanted to connect with him, understand him, even through something as simple as a game.
I never thought she'd do something like this, Kouhei thought to himself, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. Still can't believe she's actually here with me, playing video games. Feels like a dream.
It didn't take long before Saonji started to pick up on things.
"You're surprisingly good at this, Saonji-san," Kouhei said, a bit impressed.
"Is that so? I've never really played anything like this before," she replied.
Saonji, in her life, had never touched a video game. But this... this wasn't bad, she thought. In fact, it was kind of fun. She realized she had probably missed out on things like this for years. Then again, when she was younger, stuff like this didn't even exist.
After they finished the game, they switched to watching anime.
"So, what's your preferred genre, Saonji-san?" Kouhei asked.
"I don't know. I've never watched anything like this before."
"Uh… okay. Well, I guess we'll go with some action for now. Or maybe romance? Is that more your thing?"
Kouhei sifted through some DVDs, picking out a couple to start with. He loaded the first one into the player. It was a post-apocalyptic series where robots and humans were locked in a brutal fight for control of the world. The series was pretty intense and gruesome. After that, they moved on to a rom-com about a girl trying to get a clueless guy to notice her feelings.
Throughout all of it, Saonji didn't show much of a reaction. She just stared at the screen, as if watching was something she was supposed to do, not because she was genuinely enjoying it.
Well, introducing her to otaku culture might've been a bit too much, Kouhei thought, sneaking glances at her. I mean, she's the most popular girl in school, practically untouchable. It's obvious she wouldn't be interested in this kind of stuff.
As his thoughts wandered, the episodes ended.
"What are we going to watch next?" Saonji asked, her voice calm but inquisitive.
"Huh? You still want to watch more?"
"These foreign concepts are intriguing to me," she said. "And besides, I want to learn more about what you like. I want to watch whatever it is you enjoy the most."
Kouhei seemed genuinely shock. He never thought she would actually enjoy it.
With that, Kouhei and Saonji ended up watching more series.
***
It was already deep into the night, so late that there was no way Saonji would be able to make it home.
"Uh, do you have someone to pick you up, Saonji-san?" Kouhei asked, glancing at her while she was still fixated on the anime playing on the screen.
Kouhei had even gone ahead and ordered a pizza, along with a large bottle of soda for them to enjoy while they watched. He'd also prepared some food, though it was just convenience store stuff he threw together quickly.
"I don't," she replied flatly, still focused on the TV.
"R-Really?" Kouhei stammered. It was way too late for her to be out this late with no way home. The trains had already stopped running hours ago, and walking home at this hour was definitely not safe. "H-How are you supposed to get home, then?"
"I'm not going home," Saonji said, her voice as calm as ever. "I'm staying here."
"W-What?" Kouhei nearly choked on his words. Did she just say she was going to stay here? As in, she would spend the night? Here?! "B-But that's dangerous, Saonji-san! I mean, even though I might not look like it... I'm still a man, you know? W-What if I do something to you?"
Saonji finally tore her gaze away from the TV, locking her eyes with his. "Do something to me... like what, exactly?" she asked.
Kouhei gulped hard.
"I'm not going to resist if you do something to me, Okumura Kouhei," she said. "In fact, I'd rather you did. I want children. I don't want my race to die with me. I need it to survive. And for that, I need your help."
Kouhei could hardly believe what he was hearing. She wasn't beating around the bush at all. She wanted him to... what? Sleep with her? The sheer gravity of the situation hit him like a freight train. This wasn't just risky—it was practically insane.
Before he could even process it, Saonji leaned in closer, her face now mere inches from his. Instinctively, Kouhei leaned back, trying to maintain some distance, but there was nowhere left to go.
"Don't move, Okumura Kouhei," she said. "I want you to understand just how serious I am."
With that, she leaned in further, her lips pressing against his in a firm, deliberate kiss.
It was the third time they had kissed today.