Without a word, I pointed it out to the attendant, who nodded with a knowing smile and added it to our purchase. Kasumi's face flushed anew, her free hand flying to her mouth as she let out a muffled, embarrassed sound.
The female attendant, ever the professional, pretended not to notice Kasumi's flustered state, but I could see the amusement in her eyes as she rang up our items.
As we left the lingerie store, the weight of the bag in Kasumi's hand seemed to amplify her embarrassment. She walked slightly ahead of me, her shoulders hunched as if she could hide from the world, her kimono swaying gently with each step.
I watched her, my heart full, the sight of her so alive—flustered, worried, but still mine—making everything else fade into the background.
Then, as if sensing my gaze, she glanced back at me, her eyes still wide with a mix of shyness and exasperation. "Jack…" she hissed, her voice a whisper, though there was no real anger in it.
