I sat on my bed, watching Kaori as she entered my room. Her eyes darted around, taking in every detail. I couldn't shake the feeling she was cataloging everything for future reference.
"Nice place," she said, running a finger along my desk. "Very... you."
"Thanks, I think." I leaned back on my hands. "So, about that discussion?"
Kaori's lips curved into a mischievous smile. "All work and no play makes Yoichi a dull boy." She plopped down on the bed next to me, close enough that our legs almost touched. "How about we make this fun?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Define 'fun'."
"Twenty questions," she said. "Or truth or dare, if you're feeling brave."
I snorted. "What are we, twelve?"
"Scared?" She leaned in, her voice dropping to a mock whisper. "Afraid I'll discover all your deep, dark secrets?"
"Please," I said, rolling my eyes. "My life's an open book."
"Then prove it." She poked my chest. "Unless you're chicken."
I caught her finger before she could poke me again. "Fine. Twenty questions it is."
Kaori's grin widened. "Excellent. I'll go first."
"Of course you will."
She tapped her chin, pretending to think. "Hmm... What's your most embarrassing childhood memory?"
I groaned. "Starting with the heavy hitters, huh?"
"Go big or go home," she said with a shrug.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Fine. When I was six, I thought I could fly."
Kaori's eyes lit up. "Oh, this is gonna be good."
"I climbed onto the roof of our house," I continued, "made a cape out of my mom's favorite curtains, and jumped."
"Holy shit," Kaori said, leaning forward. "What happened?"
"Broke my arm in two places," I said, rotating my left arm. "Mom was furious about the curtains."
Kaori burst out laughing. "That's amazing. I can totally picture little you thinking you're Maverick."
"Yeah, yeah," I grumbled. "Your turn. What's your biggest fear?"
Her laughter faded, replaced by a thoughtful expression. "Losing myself," she said quietly.
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
Kaori shook her head. "Nuh-uh. One question at a time, remember?"
"Fine," I said, filing that tidbit away for later. "Your turn."
She seemed to shake off whatever mood had come over her. "What's the story behind that lotus pendant?"
I glanced down at the necklace. "Gift from my mom. She said it would protect me."
"From what?"
I shrugged. "She didn't say. My turn. Why'd you really come here tonight?"
Kaori's smile turned enigmatic. "I told you. To spend time with you."
"And the other part?"
She wagged a finger. "One question at a time, remember?"
I rolled my eyes. "Fine. Your turn."
"Who's your favorite hero?"
"All Might."
Kaori rolled her eyes. "Boring. Everyone loves All Might."
"Hey, you asked. My turn. What's your quirk called?"
She hesitated for a moment. "Rodent Mimicry."
I blinked. "That's... not what I expected."
"What were you expecting?"
"I don't know. Something more... flashy?"
Kaori's eyes narrowed. "Are you saying I'm not flashy enough for you?"
I held up my hands. "Hey, you're plenty flashy. I just meant-"
"Relax," she said, her smile returning. "I'm messing with you. Your turn."
I thought for a moment. "What's your favorite food?"
"Cheese," she said immediately.
I couldn't help but laugh. "Seriously?"
"Hey, don't judge," she said, poking me in the ribs. "Cheese is amazing."
"I'm not judging," I said, still chuckling. "It just fits the whole rodent theme."
She stuck out her tongue. "My turn. What's your biggest regret?"
The laughter died in my throat. "That's... a heavy question."
Kaori shrugged. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to."
I shook my head. "No, it's fine. I just..." I took a deep breath thinking about my past life. "I guess... not getting to know my dad better before he died."
Kaori's expression softened. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."
"It's okay," I said, offering a small smile. "It was a long time ago. My turn. What's your favorite memory?"
Her eyes grew distant. "The first time I saw the ocean. I was... young. I remember standing on the beach, feeling the sand between my toes, watching the waves crash against the shore. It was... peaceful."
I watched her, struck by the vulnerability in her expression. "Sounds nice."
She blinked, seeming to come back to the present. "It was. Your turn."
We continued like that for a while, trading questions back and forth. Some were light and silly, others more serious. With each answer, I felt like I was getting closer to unraveling the mystery that was Kaori Sakurada.
"Okay," she said, after what must have been our fifteenth or sixteenth question. "Time for the big one."
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
She leaned in close, her eyes locked on mine. "Who do you like?"
"You really want to know?" I shifted closer, watching her reaction.
She nodded, trying to maintain her playful expression but I caught the slight tension in her shoulders.
"I like a few people," I said, keeping my voice low. "Including you."
Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second before she caught herself. "A few people?"
I shrugged. "I'm greedy. Why limit myself?"
"That's..." She paused, searching for words. "Not what I expected."
"What did you expect?"
"Some fumbling denial. Maybe a blush and stammer." She tilted her head. "Not... this."
"Disappointed?"
"No." She moved closer, her thigh now pressing against mine. "Intrigued."
I reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. Her breath hitched at the contact. "Your turn."
"What?" She blinked.
"The game. It's your turn to answer. Who do you like?"
She let out a small laugh. "After that confession? You're making this complicated."
"Life's complicated." I let my hand drop to where hers rested on the bed. "But you didn't answer the question."
"I..." She glanced down at our hands, then back up. "I think I like you too. But..."
"But?"
"But there are things you don't know about me. Things that make this... difficult."
I traced patterns on her palm with my finger. "Like what?"
"That's another question." She tried to sound teasing, but I heard the tension underneath. "And it's my turn."
"Ask away."
"These other people you like... who are they?"
I grinned. "Now who's being greedy with the questions?"
She poked me in the chest. "You started it with your 'I'm greedy' declaration. Spill."
"Make me."
The words had barely left my mouth when she moved, quick as a thought, straddling my lap. Her hands pressed against my shoulders, pinning me to the bed.
"How's this for motivation?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.
I could have broken her hold easily. We both knew it. But I stayed where I was, looking up at her. "Better. But still not enough."
"No?" Her face lowered towards mine. "What would be enough?"
Instead of answering, I reached up and pulled her down, pressing my lips to hers. She made a small sound of surprise before melting into the kiss. Her hands slid from my shoulders to tangle in my hair.
When we finally broke apart, she was breathing heavily. "That was..."
"Yeah." I ran my thumb along her bottom lip. "It was."
She shivered at the touch. "You're dangerous."
"Says the girl who just pinned me to my bed."
"Fair point." She didn't move from her position. "You still haven't answered my question."
"Hitomi," I said. "Jiro. Maybe others. I'm still figuring it out."
She raised an eyebrow. "Ambitious."
"Like I said. Greedy." I traced the curve of her hip. "Problem?"
"Should be." She leaned down, her lips brushing my ear. "But for some reason, it's not."
"No?"
"No." She sat back, still in my lap. "Maybe I like a challenge."
I reached up, my fingers finding the small, rat-like ears poking through her hair. "What challenge is that?"
Kaori stiffened for a moment as I touched them, then relaxed, leaning into my hand. "That's playing dirty."
"Says the girl who climbed into my lap." I traced the edge of one ear, fascinated by its softness. "Sensitive?"
"Very," she breathed, her eyes half-closed. "You should stop."
"Should I?" I kept stroking, watching her reactions.
"No." She pressed closer, her hands gripping my shoulders. "Yes. Maybe." She let out a shaky laugh. "I'm not usually this indecisive."
"I've noticed." I moved to the other ear, earning a small gasp. "You're usually three steps ahead of everyone else."
"Hard to plan ahead when you keep..." She trailed off as I found a particularly sensitive spot. "That's not fair."
"Life's not fair." I pulled her down for another kiss, slower this time, savoring it. When we broke apart, I asked, "Still want to run?"
"Yes." She kissed me again. "No." Another kiss. "I should." Her hands slid into my hair. "But I won't."
"Good." I rolled us over, pinning her beneath me. "Because I wasn't done with twenty questions."
She laughed. "Seriously? Now?"
"What better time?" I nuzzled against her neck. "You're trapped."
"Am I?" Her tail wrapped around my waist. "Looks like you're trapped too."
"Fair point." I propped myself up on my elbows, looking down at her. "So, about those things I don't know..."
Her smile faded slightly. "Yoichi..."
"Just one thing," I said. "Something real. No deflections, no games."
She studied my face for a long moment. "You make it hard to keep secrets."
"Good." I brushed my lips against hers. "That's the point."
She sighed, her fingers tracing patterns on my back. "I'm not who you think I am."
"That's what makes you interesting."
"Smooth talker." She pushed at my chest until I rolled onto my side, facing her. "But I'm serious. There are things about me that would change how you see me."
"Try me."
She shook her head. "Not tonight. Tonight I just want..." She pressed closer, her body fitting against mine. "I just want this. Whatever this is."
I ran my hand down her side, feeling her shiver. "And what is this?"
"Trouble," she murmured against my lips. "Beautiful, addictive trouble."
We kissed again, and again, each one deeper than the last. Her tail stayed wrapped around me, pulling me closer. My hands explored her ears, her neck, the curve of her waist. She made small, desperate sounds that drove me crazy.
"Stay," I said between kisses.
"Bad idea," she replied, even as she pulled me closer.
"Probably." I nipped at her lower lip. "Stay anyway."
"Ask me again," Kaori whispered, her fingers trailing down my chest.
"Stay." I caught her hand, pressing it against my heart.
She smiled, soft and vulnerable in a way I'd never seen before. "Once more."
"Stay with me." I kissed her forehead, her cheek, the corner of her mouth. "Stay here."
Her tail tightened around my waist as she pressed closer. "You're making this hard."
"That's the point." I traced one of her ears, drawing out a shaky breath. "Is it working?"
She buried her face in my neck. "Maybe."
"Maybe?" I grinned against her hair. "Guess I'll have to try harder."
"Yoichi..." Her voice held a warning, but her body said something else entirely.
"Kaori." I matched her tone, earning a light smack on my chest.
"You're impossible."
"Part of my charm."
She lifted her head, meeting my eyes. "You're going to be trouble."
"Says the girl who started this game."
"Fair point." She traced my jawline. "But I didn't expect..."
"What?"
"To want to stay this badly."
I rolled us over, pinning her beneath me again. "Then stay."
"Ask me properly."
"Please stay." I kissed her neck. "Stay the night." Another kiss, lower. "Stay with me."
"One more time."
"Stay, Kaori." I looked into her eyes. "Just stay."
She pulled me down into a fierce kiss. When we broke apart, she whispered, "Okay."
"Okay?"
"Okay." She smiled.
I pulled her close, claiming her lips in a fierce kiss. She responded in kind, her hands tangling in my hair as she pulled me against her. There was a desperation to it, a hunger that set my blood on fire.
"Yoichi..." Kaori breathed against my lips. "If we start this... I won't be able to stop."
"That's the point," I growled, nipping at her bottom lip. "I want you, Kaori. All of you."
She shivered, her body trembling beneath mine. "You don't know what you're asking for."
"Oh, I have a pretty good idea." I trailed kisses along her jaw, down to her neck. "And I want it. I want you."
She gasped as I found a particularly sensitive spot. "You're playing with fire."
"Mmm, I like the heat." I sucked harder, wanting to mark her, to brand her as mine. "Come on, Kaori. Give in."
She moaned, her nails digging into my shoulders. "You're going to regret this."
"I doubt it." I ground against her, letting her feel how much I wanted her. "Tell me you want this. Tell me you want me."
For a moment, she hesitated. Then, with a shaky breath, she whispered, "I want you. Gods, I want you so badly it hurts."
"That's all I need to hear." With that, I captured her lips again, kissing her so hard it was almost bruising. She responded in kind, her body arching up to meet mine.
Clothes were ripped off in a frenzy, buttons flying everywhere. I didn't care. All I cared about was her - the feel of her skin against mine, the taste of her in my mouth, the sound of her gasps and moans as I touched her.
"Yoichi..." She was panting now, her body trembling beneath my hands. "Please... I need..."
"I know what you need." I kissed a trail down her body, pausing to swirl my tongue around a nipple until she was writhing beneath me. "I'm going to make this good for you, Kaori. I promise."
"Shut up and do it already!" she growled.
I grinned, moving lower. "As you wish." And with that, I buried my face between her thighs.
Her taste exploded on my tongue, a mix of sweetness and something uniquely Kaori. I lapped at her, enjoying the way she bucked and moaned above me. She was beautiful like this - undone, unraveled, completely at my mercy.
"Fuck, Yoichi..." Her hands fisted in the sheets as I worked her over. "Don't stop... please don't stop..."
I didn't plan to. If anything, I redoubled my efforts, determined to make her fall apart. And fall apart she did, coming with a cry of my name that echoed through the room.
But I wasn't done with her yet. Not by a long shot. I wanted her to cum again and again until she couldn't remember her own name, let alone protest.
So I kept going, moving back up her body to kiss her deeply. She tasted herself on my lips and went wild, her hips rolling to meet mine. It was all the invitation I needed.
With a single thrust, I was inside her, sheathing myself in her heat. She cried out, her nails digging into my back, but I didn't give her time to adjust. Instead, I set a punishing pace, driving into her again and again.
"Yoichi... fuck... you're going to break me," Kaori gasped, her body moving in counterpoint to mine.
"That's the idea," I panted, angling my hips to hit that spot inside her that made her see stars. "Want to see how many times I can make you come undone."
"Oh gods..." She kissed me then, messy and desperate, her tongue tangling with mine. It was filth and it was beautiful all at once.
I could feel her tightening around me, her body preparing for another fall. I reached between us, my fingers finding her clit, rubbing in tight circles. It didn't take long before she was coming again, her inner walls clamping down around me like a vice.
It was too much. With a final thrust, I followed her over the edge, spilling myself inside her with a groan of her name.
We collapsed then, a tangle of sweaty limbs and racing hearts. For a moment, all I could hear was our combined panting, the sound of our bodies cooling down.
"Yoichi..." Kaori's voice was soft, almost shy. "That was..."
"Incredible." I rolled onto my side, propping myself up on an elbow to look at her. "You were incredible."
She blushed, burying her face in the pillow. "Don't get cocky."
I grinned, trailing my fingers down her side. "Can't help it. You bring it out in me."
She swatted at my hand, but there was no real force behind it. "You're insufferable."
"Only with you." I kissed her shoulder. "And you love it."
"Hmph." But she was smiling, even as she tried to hide it. "I suppose I do."
I rolled on top of her then, pinning her beneath me. She looked up at me, her eyes wide. "What are you doing?"
"Round two," I said with a wicked grin. "Think you can handle it?"
She rolled her eyes. "Bring it on, hot shot."
And with that, I did. We went at it again and again and again, lost in a world of our own making. There was no tomorrow here, no complications or consequences. Just us, raw and real and more honest than we'd ever been.
Sometime in the early hours of the morning, we finally collapsed, exhausted and sated. I pulled her close, burying my face in her hair.
"Yoichi..." Kaori's voice was soft, almost vulnerable. "What does this mean?"
I knew what she was asking. What did this mean for us? For our future? But I didn't have an answer. Not yet.
"I don't know," I admitted. "But I know I want to find out. With you."
She was quiet for a long moment. Then, finally, she nodded. "Okay. Let's see where this goes."
I smiled, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Sounds like a plan."
And with that, we fell asleep, tangled together, dreaming of a future that was suddenly full of possibilities.
==========
[Next time on "My Hero Academia: Limitless"]
"Hey everyone! Yoichi here to tell you about our next exciting-" I paused, grinning like an idiot at the camera while sitting in the recording booth. The events of last night played through my head, sending heat to my cheeks. "Actually, you know what? Life is pretty great right now."
I leaned back in my chair, stretching my arms overhead. The studio lights caught the silver lotus pattern spinning lazily in my eyes.
"Yoichi-kun!" Midoriya burst into the booth. "Where were you this morning? We were supposed to train together and- wait, are those..." His eyes narrowed at my neck. "Are those bite marks?"
"Oh, uh..." I tugged at my collar. "Something came up."
"Multiple somethings, from the looks of it," Todo's voice came through the speakers. He must have hijacked the sound system again.
My satisfied smirk froze, then slowly melted away as a horrible realization hit me.
Protection.
Did I use...?
No.
No, I didn't.
Multiple times.
Oh shit.
My mom was going to kill me.
No, scratch that - she was going to resurrect me just to kill me again.
"Yoichi-kun? You've gone pale..."
I barely heard him. I was too busy calculating how many times... with how many... oh god.
I slumped forward, head hitting the desk with a thud. "I'm so dead."
"Yoichi-kun?" Midoriya's concerned voice barely registered.
"Before my mother ends my existence," I lifted my head, forcing a smile at the camera. "Don't forget to drop those power stones and add this story to your library! You'll want to see if I survive what comes next..."
My head thunked back onto the desk. "Mom's going to make me write my own obituary..."