"Perfect! Just keep doing that. 3, 2, 1!"
The enthusiastic college girl kept tapping away at Kana's phone, clearly taking her self-appointed photographer role very seriously.
She's really going all out with this photo shoot. I'm starting to feel like we're in some kind of romantic movie.
"Thank you so much!" Kana said gratefully as she reclaimed her phone from our impromptu photographer.
"You're so welcome! You two are absolutely perfect together—I'm honestly a little jealous," the girl grinned before bouncing away to rejoin her friends.
Perfect together? I mean… I'm not going to argue with that assessment.
I watched Kana's face light up with pure happiness at the compliment, and I swear my chest did that weird fluttery thing again.
"Sousuke-kun, how do the photos look?" she asked eagerly, bringing the screen closer so we could both examine the results.
Oh wow. We actually do look… really good together. Like, surprisingly good. The lighting, the pose, the way we're both smiling…
"They turned out great," I said, and I meant it. "You're really photogenic, Kana-chan."
"No way, it's just that the lighting here is so beautiful," she deflected modestly, but I could see her scrolling through the photos with obvious satisfaction, her lips curved in the most contented smile.
She's adorable when she's happy. Actually, she's adorable all the time, but especially when she's happy.
As I was basking in the warm glow of successful photo documentation, something on the other side of the observation deck caught my attention.
"Kana-chan, what's that over there?" I pointed to a row of what looked like suspended seats arranged in a neat line.
Those look… interesting. And slightly terrifying.
We wandered over curiously and discovered it was a VR game experience area—complete with motion-controlled seats that promised to simulate everything from roller coasters to space adventures.
"It looks fun," I said, though internally I was having second thoughts. "Want to try it, Kana-chan?"
"Yes, definitely!" she nodded enthusiastically. "I really want to try everything today."
Her eyes were sparkling with excitement, and she had that determined expression she'd worn during the claw machine conquest.
"I heard these are supposed to be really intense," I warned.
"Hmph, don't underestimate me, Sousuke-kun," she replied with mock indignation, puffing out her cheeks slightly. "Let's do this!"
Famous last words…
After purchasing our experience tickets, the staff handed us each a pair of VR headsets and rattled off the standard safety warnings before leading us to our seats.
Why do I have a feeling I'm about to regret this?
"Please hold onto the handrails on both sides," the attendant instructed. "We're about to begin."
As the countdown ended, I found myself virtually plummeting down what felt like the world's most insane roller coaster. The hyper-realistic simulation had me experiencing every stomach-dropping fall, every sharp turn, every impossible loop with terrifying authenticity.
This is incredible! Also terrifying! But mostly incredible!
I could hear myself letting out excited yells as we virtually soared and plummeted through the digital landscape.
When the experience finally en ded and the seats came to a stop, I was buzzing with adrenaline. But one look at Kana told me she wasn't sharing my post-ride euphoria.
Oh no. She looks… really pale.
"Are you okay, Kana-chan?" I asked, immediately concerned as I watched her carefully climb down from her seat with distinctly unsteady steps.
"I'm fine…" she said weakly, though her face suggested otherwise. "Just a little dizzy…"
A little dizzy? She looks like she just went ten rounds with a centrifuge.
She was trying to put on a brave face, forcing a smile that was probably meant to be reassuring but mostly just made me worry more. When she attempted to stand on her own, her legs looked about as reliable as jelly.
That's it. Operation Steady Girlfriend is a go.
I quickly moved to her side and slipped an arm around her waist for support.
"Let's find somewhere for you to sit down for a few minutes," I suggested gently.
Note to self: maybe ask about motion sickness tolerance before suggesting extreme VR experiences.
I guided her to a nearby bench, and we sat together while she gradually regained her composure. After a few minutes, she waved her hand weakly, indicating she was feeling better.
"Wasn't someone just making big proclamations about not being underestimated?" I teased gently, relieved to see some color returning to her cheeks.
"Shut up, Sousuke-kun," she groaned, though she was smiling now. "I just didn't expect it to be quite that intense."
Quite that intense? It was basically a sensory assault.
"Maybe I'm just getting old—my heart can't keep up with this stuff anymore," she added with self-deprecating humor.
Old? She's like twenty-two. If she's old, what does that make me?
"Can Kana-chan still handle… stimulation like that?" I asked with a playful grin.
Wait. Did that come out sounding way more suggestive than I intended? Based on the way her face just went bright red, I think it did.
"S-Sousuke-kun…" she stammered, lowering her head shyly and fidgeting with her hands.
Yep. Definitely came out wrong. Or right, depending on your perspective.
"Um… speaking of which…" she continued in the softest whisper, her voice barely audible above the ambient noise of the observation deck. "It's getting pretty late… shouldn't we…"
Oh. OH. We're really doing this, aren't we?
The way she trailed off, the shy tilt of her head, the way she was nervously clasping her hands—everything about her body language was screaming that she was thinking about the same thing I was thinking about.
Time to be the decisive protagonist, Sousuke.
"Let's go," I said, standing up and offering her my hand. "When we passed the aquarium earlier, I noticed there's a hotel right next door."
Smooth. Casual. Like I definitely wasn't already scoping out accommodation options.
"So Sousuke-kun had already planned this out…" she said with a coy smile, accepting my hand and letting me pull her to her feet.
Planned? More like desperately hoped.
"I seem to remember that it was Kana-chan who suggested staying out tonight," I replied with a smug grin, turning to look at her.
Checkmate.
Her hands flew up to cover her reddening face, and I could practically see the embarrassment radiating off her in waves.
Too cute. Way too cute for my heart to handle.
Hand in hand, we made our way to the hotel tucked away in a corner of the shopping complex. The building's exterior screamed modern luxury—clean lines, minimal decoration, the kind of understated elegance that probably cost more per night than most people's weekly salary.
Sunshine City Prince Hotel.
The sign seemed to glow with significance as Kana read it, and I caught her glancing at me with an expression I couldn't quite decipher.
Prince Hotel, huh? I mean, if the name fits…
Check-in was surprisingly quick and efficient—either the staff were well-trained in discretion, or couples checking in for spontaneous overnight stays was more common than I'd thought. Before I knew it, we were in the elevator, watching the floor numbers climb toward our destination.
This is really happening. We're really doing this. Try not to have a nervous breakdown, Sousuke.
The carpeted hallway muffled our footsteps as we walked side by side toward our room, the silence filled with anticipation that was almost tangible.
"It should be right here," Kana said softly, checking the room card against the number on the door.
This is it. The moment of truth.
When she opened the door, both of us just stood there for a moment, taking in the space that would be… well, ours for the night.
Holy crap.
The room was absolutely stunning. The entire design scheme revolved around rich browns and deep blacks, creating this sophisticated color palette that somehow managed to be both elegant and warm. Simple, clean lines were enhanced by bold contrasting colors that made everything pop.
The warm orange wood flooring added just the right touch of coziness to balance out what could have been a cold, ultra-modern aesthetic. High-end marble surfaces, precious wood finishes, and gleaming metal accents all screamed luxury without being ostentatious.
This is definitely not a budget business hotel. This is the kind of place where people come to… well, exactly what we're here for.
"Wow, this is even better than I imagined," Kana breathed, her eyes wide with amazement.
I'm guessing her usual business trip accommodations don't quite measure up to this.
She immediately gravitated toward the windows, pulling back the curtains to reveal floor-to-ceiling glass that offered another spectacular view of Tokyo's nighttime skyline.
The view is incredible, but honestly, I'm more interested in watching her reaction to everything.
"It's not as high up as the observation deck," she mused, "but in this cozy room, if we were to snuggle together in front of the window…"
Did she just…? Is she already planning romantic scenarios? My brain is going to short-circuit.
My eyes inevitably drifted to the massive double bed dominating the center of the room, then to the luxurious bathroom area visible through the open doorway.
One room. One bed. Just like last night, but somehow this feels completely different.
There was something about being in a hotel—something about the intentionality of it, the romance of it, the sheer specialness of it—that made everything feel more significant than our spontaneous encounter at the apartment.
Maybe this is why she suggested staying out tonight. Hotels just have a different atmosphere, don't they?
After completing her tour of the room, Kana set down her small purse and then… just stood there.
Uh oh. I think the reality of the situation is hitting her.
She suddenly looked completely lost, fidgeting with random hotel amenities—straightening the water glasses, examining the hair dryer, rearranging things that didn't need rearranging. Her nervous energy was filling the space between us like a tangible presence.
She's adorably flustered. But also genuinely nervous. Time to take charge of this situation before she stress-cleans the entire room.
I sat down on the edge of the bed and gently patted the space beside me.
Come here, Kana-chan. We're in this together.
She understood the invitation immediately and slowly made her way over, settling beside me on the plush mattress.
Here we are. Sitting on a bed. In a luxury hotel room. With the girl I'm crazy about. This is fine. Everything is fine. I'm definitely not internally panicking.
We sat there for a moment, just looking at each other, and I watched as her delicate features flushed that beautiful shade of pink I was becoming dangerously addicted to. She lowered her gaze shyly, unable to maintain eye contact.
She's nervous. Really nervous. Last night happened so suddenly that she didn't have time to overthink it, but now…
Her hands were restless, alternately smoothing the pristine white sheets and then gripping them tightly enough to wrinkle the expensive fabric.
I need to help her relax. She's wound up tighter than a spring.
Slowly, carefully, I reached out and covered her trembling hands with mine. The moment our fingers intertwined, I felt some of the tension leave her body, like I'd flipped a switch that allowed her to finally breathe properly.
There we go. Much better.
Even this simple contact—just hands touching hands, skin against skin—seemed to affect her profoundly. I could see her pulse quickening, her breathing becoming slightly uneven, a flush spreading across her exposed collarbone.
She's so responsive. So beautiful. How did I get this lucky?
She lifted her head again, meeting my eyes with an expression that was equal parts nervous anticipation and unmistakable desire. Her dark eyes seemed to draw me in, holding me captive in a moment that felt suspended outside of time.
This is it. This is the moment everything changes.
I couldn't say who moved first—maybe we both did simultaneously—but suddenly our lips were meeting in a kiss that was soft and hesitant and absolutely perfect.