"Then we'll head back first." "Okay, see you tomorrow." "See you tomorrow." "..."
Kasumigaoka Touji and Kasumigaoka Utaha quietly packed up after finishing their club homework.
As they stepped out of the clubroom, the gentle late afternoon sun painted the courtyard in warm hues. Touji checked his phone. 3:30 PM. Half an hour later than usual.
"I'm going to the supermarket later. Want to come along?"
The fridge was nearly empty again. He figured a restock was overdue. Without looking directly at her, Touji threw the question at Utaha.
He wasn't sure if it was because of her period—cold foods were off-limits—but the so-called "good things" his mom had promised still hadn't been delivered. Touji didn't press, and Utaha hadn't brought it up either.
"Mm, I'll help you carry things," Utaha-san replied smoothly, as if she had already anticipated the invitation.
"Alright," Touji said with a small smile.
The two exited campus, heading toward the train station with casual familiarity.
They planned to shop in Wako City—grocery shopping in Tokyo was needlessly expensive and lugging bags through packed trains was a pain. Only a total baka would choose that route.
When they arrived at the platform, a modest crowd was already waiting. Touji sighed internally. He was probably going to be standing again today.
Tokyo trains were a battlefield. Even outside rush hour, getting a seat was like winning the lottery. He'd only been lucky on the first day. The other rides were fifteen-minute standing marathons from Ikebukuro to Wako City.
Fortunately, he was used to it by now.
"..."
"Touji-kun, you've been chatting with her quite enthusiastically lately, haven't you~?"
A voice, sweet and silky like dark chocolate laced with poison, teased him from the side. It was enough to make his skin prickle.
Touji, who had been texting Kani Nayuta on his phone, froze mid-message and reflexively slipped his phone into his pocket.
"You've misunderstood," he replied in a deliberately neutral tone.
"Oh~?" Utaha-san raised a brow, a playful glint in her eyes. Her smirk practically screamed, "Let's hear you talk your way out of this one."
"Actually..."
"Actually?"
Woooo woooo—!
Just then, a whistle cut through the air, and the approaching train came into view. Touji seized the opportunity and quickly changed the subject.
"The train's here!"
"Mm, I see it."
Utaha-san gave a subtle nod, then, without warning, placed her hand on his waist and gave it a gentle yet firm squeeze.
"Let's continue. Actually, what~?"
Touji: "..."
He was caught.
If words wouldn't work, there was only one escape route—!
Kasumigaoka Touji braced himself and threw away his dignity. He gently brushed a lock of hair from Utaha's cheek… and then, catching her off-guard, leaned in and kissed her.
Right there. In public.
People nearby blinked in surprise. Some scoffed and looked away in disapproval, others clutched their chests like it hurt, and a few simply looked on in envy.
Hiss—
A kiss that seemed to stop time. A kiss that defied the flow of crowds.
By the time they finally pulled apart, most passengers had already boarded.
Utaha-san, cheeks flushed a deep crimson, gave him a light but deliberate smack.
"Baka… Hurry up and get on the train!"
Without waiting for him to respond, she grabbed Touji's wrist and pulled him along.
They barely made it inside before the doors closed behind them with a ding.
Back on the platform, a bored-looking station guard who had been considering whether to intervene gave a dry chuckle.
"The world's going to shit, huh…"
"These kids nowadays..."
...
On the train—
His gaze shifted to Kasumigaoka Utaha. Her cheeks were tinged with pink, her eyes glassy with mischief, and her lips slightly pursed into a pout that hinted at both charm and temptation.
Touji unconsciously licked his lips again, a slight restlessness rising in his chest. The image of her smug expression earlier in the club, right after she stealthily stepped on his foot, replayed in his mind.
"Baka... You really think you can get away with that, huh?" he muttered under his breath, the corners of his lips curving into a smirk.
Without warning, Touji reached out and pulled Utaha into a firm embrace—executing what could only be described as a textbook 'hug-and-kill' maneuver!
"One kiss wasn't enough? Should I add another hug to the bill?" he teased, voice low and full of amusement.
Utaha tilted her head slightly, resting her chin on Touji's shoulder. Her voice, breathy and soft, trickled into his ear like silk. "Ara, Touji-kun, is this your way of showing affection? Or are you just addicted to my scent?"
It was the kind of provocative whisper that made even a seasoned playboy's heart skip a beat.
Touji blinked, immediately putting on a deadpan face. "I'm just making sure no one bumps into you. I'm being considerate, okay?"
"Sou ka…" Utaha raised an elegant brow and glanced around the train carriage. While it was certainly populated, it was nowhere near packed. She shot him a look—half bemused, half skeptical.
"If you let go of me, I'm pretty sure I still won't get trampled…" she said with a slight roll of her eyes, her voice laced with dry sarcasm.
The casual flick of her wine-red eyes was so effortlessly charming that a nearby high school boy watching them from the corner of his eye nearly melted.
And just like that, the poor boy experienced his first heartbreak before even confessing to anyone. Tragic.
"I refuse," Touji responded flatly, tightening his hold on Utaha like a possessive octopus. Her breath caught slightly, pressed against his chest—but a moment later, he eased up, just enough to let her breathe without pulling away.
Her heart fluttered in her chest.
"…Baka," she whispered, but didn't push him away.
And so, Kasumigaoka Touji held onto Utaha all the way until they arrived at Wako City Station.
Soft and fragrant, Kasumigaoka Utaha's hugging experience? Absolute five stars. Would recommend again.
"Let's go buy groceries," Touji said casually as they stepped off the train.
Still reluctant to let go, he tugged her along by the hand, heading toward the nearby general supermarket. Groceries first, then pick up his express delivery, and head home.
He had… other plans.
Plans that involved more skinship, more one-on-one time, and less interference from the entire population of Tokyo.
Too many people out here! How was a guy supposed to flirt in peace?!
Utaha, however, didn't resist.
Letting him hold her hand, she quietly followed. Having replenished a bit of her precious "Otouto-kun" element, she was feeling generous for the time being.
Besides, she wasn't quite in the mood to scold him about chatting too animatedly with Kani Nayuta earlier.
Even if she wanted to, what could she do? Force him to block her? Delete her contact?
That wasn't very mainstream. Nor was it her style. Utaha wasn't that kind of clingy heroine.
Also… she had a feeling such forcefulness might backfire on her in the future.
In short—she couldn't do it.
But she wasn't just going to let things slide either.
Utaha narrowed her wine-red eyes, glancing sidelong at Touji, who now stood slightly taller than her. When had that happened?
Well… that didn't matter.
What mattered was that she had a plan.
She would drain him.
Drain him thoroughly, until he had no choice but to pay 'tribute' to her every single day!
Heh. It could begin today…