The room was quiet for a while, the only sounds were the soft rustle of sheets and the whisper of our mingled breaths.
Tomoko lay curled against me, her head on my chest, fingers lazily tracing circles across my skin.
I turned to lay at her and I noticed something. There was a glow to her now.
I let my hand move gently up and down her bare back, tracing the delicate curve of her spine.
Neither of us spoke for a while but eventually, she broke the silence as she whispered, "... Did I scare you when I said that I love you?"
I sighed. I could hear the vulnerability in her voice. I turned my head and kissed her temple.
"No," I murmured, "You surprised me... in the best way."
"Good," Tomoko replied and before I could respond, she continued, "... And you don't have to say anything back. I am not forcing you. When you truly feel something, then... you can say it to me."
I sighed again.
"Come here," I said, pulling her to lie on my chest again. I rubbed her back, my breath tousling her hair.
"Sleep now. I think you're a little tired after earlier," I told her.
"Yes," Tomoko replied and then suddenly, as if remembering something, she said, "You... um... Sosuke, I am sorry but you have to go back to your room. We can't risk somebody finding about us. You know what people will think and talk.."
I sighed for the third time.
----
An hour later, I stood in front of the full-length mirror in my room, freshly showered.
I felt different.
Lighter. Taller. Stronger.
More like a man.
I opened the system panel.
[Target: Matsumoto Tomoko — Favorability +10]
[System Reward: ¥10,000]
[Current Favorability: 90]
So she's at 90 now, huh?
There's still room to climb.
I threw off my towel and collapsed into bed, a quiet satisfaction stretching through every bone in my body.
A LINE message buzzed on my phone.
Mochizuki Haruka:
"Ginjo-kun, thank you again for your help yesterday. If you're free this weekend… I'd love to thank you in person 💕"
Before I could even respond—
Knock knock.
Crap.
I'd totally forgotten.
Kana Kobayakawa.
I scrambled into a pair of shorts, tossed on a shirt, and sprinted toward the door.
--
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