Kyouko knew full well how dangerous this comfort was.
To be this relaxed—this close—with a young, handsome man like Haruki… a man in the prime of his desires, instinctively driven to chase, to conquer. She wasn't naïve. She understood what men wanted and what might be running through Haruki's mind.
Especially with his hand on her shoulder. She noticed how his fingers sometimes drifted lower, testing boundaries, inching toward her breast.
And yet… she couldn't resist.
Because all of this—his gaze, his silence, his attention—confirmed something she desperately needed to feel.
She was still attractive. Still desirable. A young, handsome man like Haruki could easily charm women outside if he ever felt lonely.
And yet here he was. Looking at her body with unmistakable hunger.
If it wasn't because she was beautiful, then what else could it be? She was already past 40, and Haruki was only 26.
"Haruki?"
"Hmm?" he replied without looking up, his eyes still flicking back to her chest every few seconds.
"Don't stare too much at my breasts," Kyouko said with a teasing giggle.
Haruki finally met her eyes, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips. "How can I not?"
She chuckled and leaned her head back against his lap, the curve of her smile soft but satisfied.
"Naughty boy~" Kyouko said playfully, unlocking her phone and quietly opening the camera app.
She angled it casually toward Haruki, focusing on his face—his relaxed expression, the way his hair fell slightly over his eyes. Click.
The shutter sound made Haruki glance down, raising an eyebrow. "What's with the secret photo shoot?"
Kyouko grinned. "Hmm? I was just capturing the ceiling. Didn't you notice how beautiful it is tonight?"
Haruki narrowed his eyes, clearly not buying it. "Oh yeah? Let me see that 'ceiling photo.'"
He leaned forward with a mischievous grin, reaching for her phone.
"Haruki!" Kyouko laughed, pulling it away like a child hiding a secret.
He grinned wider, leaning in. "Oho~ What are you hiding, Kyouko-san?"
Their playful struggle continued, the air between them electric and warm. Kyouko sat up with a teasing smile, reaching for her phone again, but Haruki held it high above his head in triumph.
"You're not getting it that easy," he said, his eyes dancing with mischief.
"Oh really?" Kyouko's voice dropped to something softer, more daring.
She leaned in closer—deliberately, slowly—until her body pressed against his. Her breast grazed his cheek, then his face found itself nestled in the soft warmth between them.
Haruki inhaled her sweet, natural scent. The faint, intoxicating fragrance of her skin surrounded him completely, and for a moment, the world narrowed to just that sensation—her warmth, her closeness, the racing of his own pulse.
"Naughty boy~" she whispered near his ear, her voice like silk.
In that distracted moment, she snatched the phone back with a victorious smile.
Haruki leaned back, laughing breathlessly as Kyouko glanced toward the stairs—just making sure no one was around—then scooted even closer to him.
"Come here," she said quietly, opening her camera and switching to selfie mode. "Let's take one."
Haruki blinked. "A selfie?"
"Just one," she said, her tone teasing as she tilted her head toward him. "To celebrate our... friendship."
Haruki chuckled and leaned in. Their faces were close—too close. The camera clicked.
"Hmm~ Not bad," Kyouko whispered, studying the photo. "We look cute together."
"Yeah..." Haruki replied, his eyes lingering on her instead of the screen. "We really do."
"Another friendship picture," Kyouko said softly, a playful glint already sparking in her eye.
She moved to sit in front of him, folding her legs to the side as she pulled him closer. Without hesitation, Haruki rested his head on her shoulder, breathing in the warmth radiating from her.
Kyouko leaned her cheek against his hair, feeling her heart beat just a little faster.
"Ready?" she whispered, lifting her phone.
"Mhm," Haruki replied, closing his eyes with a faint smile.
As the camera focused, Kyouko tilted her head and pressed a gentle kiss on his cheek, soft, slow, and warm.
Click.
She glanced at the screen, a smile spreading across her face. "Perfect."
Haruki opened his eyes and turned to her, amused.
Kyouko smiled back, her eyes holding something quiet and bittersweet. She saved the photo without another word and leaned her head against his.
Some lines didn't need to be spoken out loud.
Haruki kept his arms wrapped around Kyouko, her body resting gently in his lap. The room was quiet and dim except for the soft hum of the air conditioner.
"Kyouko-san?" he asked, his voice low near her ear.
"Hmm?" she replied, her eyes half-lidded, her hand resting lightly on his chest.
"You wouldn't mind… if we kissed?"
She smiled, warm and playful, and brushed her fingers along his jaw. "No~ Not yet~"
Haruki let out a breath—part chuckle, part sigh. "Okay~"
But he didn't let go of her. And she didn't ask him to.
Instead, Kyouko rested her head on his shoulder, her cheek brushing against his neck.
It wasn't a kiss.
But it was something.
Something that made both their hearts beat a little faster.
"We're friends, right?" Kyouko asked, her voice light and teasing as her fingers idly played with the collar of Haruki's shirt. "They said we should be friends."
"Hmm? I don't know… are we?" Haruki replied, his lips brushing gently against the side of her neck.
"Hey~" Kyouko let out a soft laugh and playfully slapped his hand.
"Don't go that far, naughty boy."
Inside her mind, alarm bells rang. That spot where Haruki kissed was dangerously sensitive—one that could easily make her lose control. And if that happened, she didn't know if she could hold back like before.
Haruki smiled against her skin, not pressing further, but also not pulling away.
The lines of their friendship were starting to blur, but neither of them seemed ready to redraw them just yet.
Haruki leaned in close, his breath warm against her ear.
"You know, Kyouko-san... I really hope we can go further."
Kyouko's smile softened. Her fingers gently squeezed his hand.
"Not yet, Haruki... not now... maybe... soon."
"Mmm, okay..." he whispered, nodding.
"For now, I'm just happy to be close like this," she said, resting her head against his chest.
"Yeah," Haruki agreed softly. "I feel the same. Just being like this... it's enough for now."
Kyouko tilted her head slightly, and Haruki's lips grazed her neck. A soft sigh escaped her before she gently pulled back, feeling warmth spread through her body.
"No~ If you keep doing that... we'll cross a line we're not ready for yet," she whispered, her voice barely above the night's quiet hum. "And besides... I'm already old."
Haruki chuckled, his eyes trailing over her figure.
"Heh~ Old? With this body? You're nowhere close."
"Naughty boy~" Kyouko giggled and playfully slapped his hand.
"Ow! Not so hard!" he laughed.
"Tehe~" she teased, leaning her head against his shoulder again.
"So tomorrow they're heading out of town for work," Kyouko said softly, savoring the warmth of Haruki's kiss on her shoulder. "You have to work too, right?"
"Yeah," Haruki murmured, his lips brushing gently against her skin. "Just need to drop off the finished project... then I'm all yours."
Kyouko fell silent for a moment. She didn't know why the thought of him leaving made her chest feel tight.
She tilted her head a little more, giving him better access. "Can I come with you?"
Haruki paused, then smiled. "Of course... if you want to."
"I just... don't want to be alone tomorrow," she admitted, her voice low and honest.
"Then let's go together," Haruki replied, wrapping his arms around her a little tighter. "We'll make it our little escape."
"Heee~ Dirty boy~ Nope... you're not gonna get that~" Kyouko teased with a playful smirk, her voice dripping with flirtation.
Haruki just chuckled, not pushing further. Instead, he gently wrapped his arms around her from behind, pulling her into a warm embrace.
"I know," he whispered against her ear. "But I still like being close like this."
Kyouko leaned back into him with a soft sigh, a small smile playing on her lips. "Mou~ You really are dangerous, Haruki..."
"Says the one who sat on my lap, Kyouko-san."
"Shh~ Don't ruin the moment," she murmured, closing her eyes and savoring the comfortable silence between them.
( End of Chapter )