As Hachiman's lips gradually brushed against Yukino's, the first sensation he felt was the unexpected coolness her body temperature lower than most, her lips like chilled porcelain.
When their lips fully met, he slowly savored the softness of her kiss. The velvety touch, the faint fragrance lingering at the tip of his nose every detail was stirring something deeper, urging him to take more.
Guided by instinct, Hachiman gently extended his tongue, attempting to part Yukino's tightly clenched teeth, seeking a deeper connection.
But her jaw remained firmly shut, a sign of her nervousness. Understanding her unease, Hachiman raised a hand and lightly stroked her cheek.
Reassured by his tender touch, Yukino began to relax. Her body, initially tense from the unfamiliarity of a first kiss, gradually eased, and she loosened her clenched jaw.
Just as she did, she felt Hachiman's tongue light and tentative like a curious serpent slip past her teeth. Startled by the foreign sensation, she reflexively tried to close her mouth, accidentally biting down on his tongue.
With a muffled grunt, Hachiman pulled back, covering his mouth.
"Hey, are you okay?" Yukino looked up at him in a panic, her usually pale face now flushed pink from the breathlessness and embarrassment.
Hachiman ignored her concern. He simply placed both hands on either side of her face and kissed her again.
Caught off guard, Yukino hadn't prepared her defenses this time. He easily slipped past her lips, this time without resistance.
Hachiman's tongue explored her upper palate with delicate strokes. The subtle brushing sensation made Yukino instinctively push back with her own tongue, trying to fend him off.
But that only played into his hand. Seizing the chance, Hachiman entwined his tongue with hers and began to suck gently. Soft, intimate sounds echoed from where their lips met.
As Hachiman deepened the kiss, the wound on his tongue reopened, releasing faint traces of blood into their mouths. The metallic tang mingled with her saliva, creating a strange and intense intimacy between them.
Only when both began to suffocate from lack of air did they finally part. With a soft pop, a thin, pale pink thread of saliva stretched between their lips before snapping.
From the side, a bored waiter stared at them in shock.
Yukino softly spit out the blood-tinged saliva.
The waiter's eyes seemed to scream: Are you serious? You kissed until you bled? Can you two tone it down for us poor, lonely souls?
Gasping for air, Yukino clutched her chest and tried to calm her breathing. Once she'd steadied herself, she looked over at Hachiman with concern.
"Your tongue... is it okay? I really didn't mean to. It's just this was my first time, and I got a little nervous."
"I'm fine. It's just a tiny cut. It'll heal in a few hours. Doesn't even hurt now."
Hachiman waved her off, trying to ease her guilt.
"Can we go now?" he asked, rising to his feet and glancing at Yukino, who was still seated.
Yukino wiped the light sheen of sweat from her forehead and stood, slipping her arm through his.
"So... where are we going next?" she tilted her head, curious.
"Weren't you the one who invited me out?" Hachiman shrugged. "I figured you had something in mind."
"I didn't plan that far ahead." Yukino tapped her lip with a finger, deep in thought.
Hachiman reached over and smoothed out a strand of her hair that had fallen over her ear.
"Let's start with getting you some new clothes. What you're wearing right now is awful."
She gave him a disapproving look, eyeing the shirt he was wearing bold letters that read I ♥ Chiba.
Dragging him along without giving him a chance to object, she scolded, "And what about the glasses I gave you? Why aren't you wearing them?"
"They're uncomfortable. I'm not used to them, and I'm not even nearsighted. Why would I wear glasses?"
Hachiman scratched his nose sheepishly.
Yukino sighed. "Those glasses don't have any prescription. They were just to hide your hopelessly dead-fish eyes. You're not even bad-looking, but those eyes completely ruin your face."
Hachiman twitched slightly but chose not to argue.
Hand in hand, they strolled through the street, Yukino's eyes scanning the nearby men's clothing stores.
By the time they'd spent the entire morning shopping, Yukino looked utterly satisfied, walking ahead with a bounce in her step.
"Hurry up! I'm starving. Let's find a place to eat. I've been walking all morning I'm exhausted!" she called back cheerfully.
Hachiman trudged behind her, arms laden with shopping bags, his face deadpan. His already lifeless eyes now radiated the kind of despair one might associate with the walking dead.
Many men know this pain: though women generally have less physical strength, when it comes to shopping, it's like they've activated a cheat code for infinite stamina. While their male companions are ready to collapse from fatigue, these women continue to strut confidently in heels, dashing from one store to another cosmetics, lingerie, outerwear, shoes, bags, jewelry.
And for the men? Constantly trying things on and never being good enough. Carrying all the bags. Playing mannequin, servant, and pack mule all at once.
That was Hachiman's morning in a nutshell. Endless cycles of trying clothes, undressing, dressing again and carrying everything like a gentleman.
As a result, Yukino looked radiant and energized, while Hachiman resembled a zombie, shambling along in a way that would require no makeup at all if he were cast in a Resident Evil film.
Just then, he bumped into Yukino, who had come to a sudden stop.
Confused, he followed her gaze and saw a claw machine filled with Mr. Pan plushies.
"Want to try it?" Hachiman asked softly.
"Um... I'm not very good at those..." Yukino looked away awkwardly.
"It's fine. It's fun to try."
Encouraged by his tone, Yukino pulled some coins from her wallet and fed them into the machine. Gripping the joystick, she carefully maneuvered the claw and hit the button when it was aligned.
The claw slowly descended and managed to catch the corner of a plushie. Her face lit up with hope as she watched it lift.
But as expected from machines designed to eat coins, the claw loosened halfway up. With a dull plop, Mr. Pan fell back into the pile.
Not one to give up, Yukino tried again ten more times. Each one ended in disappointment.
She turned around, her eyes shimmering pitifully.
"Hikigaya-kun... QAQ... help me... I really want that Mr. Pan..."
Without hesitation, Hachiman stepped forward and inserted a coin. Timing his move with precision, he maneuvered the claw, and in one clean motion, captured the plush. Mr. Pan obediently dropped into the prize chute.
Crouching down, he retrieved the toy and handed it to Yukino.
To his surprise, as soon as she accepted it, she leaned in and gave him a quick, fluttering kiss on the cheek.
Seeing him freeze in place, she chuckled and took his hand, gently pulling him toward the nearby restaurant.