In one fluid motion, I lunged forward and caught Matsumoto Tomoko in my arms, preventing what would have been a catastrophic collision with the hardwood floor.
"Phew... that was way too close for comfort," I said, still holding her steady as my heart rate gradually returned to normal.
"If you'd re-injured yourself, Tomoko-san, we would have had to upgrade from crutches to a full wheelchair situation."
After helping her regain her balance, I couldn't resist adding a bit of humor to defuse the tension of our near-disaster.
"Ah, thank you so much, Sosuke-kun. I was being incredibly careless," Matsumoto Tomoko replied, still wrapped in her fluffy bath towel and looking genuinely shaken by the close call.
Standing there in nothing but terry cloth, she appeared slightly dazed, probably still feeling the adrenaline rush from her near-tumble.
My gaze, despite my best efforts at gentlemanly restraint, couldn't help but drift over her current... situation.
Even with the barrier of bath towel fabric between us, there was absolutely no hiding the perfection of her figure.
No, actually—because the towel was wrapped so snugly around her body, it was somehow highlighting her beautiful contours even more dramatically than usual.
It wasn't just the obvious protrusions front and back that were exuding their natural charm.
Her snow-white neck, the delicate prominence of her collarbones, the flush that colored her skin from the heat of her bath—everything combined to create a vision of pure, devastating appeal.
Every small movement caused the towel to shift slightly, and each adjustment seemed to draw sweet, unconscious sighs from her lips.
She probably wasn't even aware of these minor actions, but they were having a profoundly distracting effect on my ability to maintain proper gentleman-like composure.
After lunch, both Ginjo Sosuke and Matsumoto Tomoko settled side by side on the living room sofa, turning their attention to the television where "Quiz!" was currently airing.
This particular quiz program had been a national institution for over twenty years—the kind of show that practically every household in Japan knew by name and watched religiously.
We found ourselves naturally competing with each other to see who could solve the puzzles faster, turning what was already an interactive show into our own private intellectual duel.
Sometimes we'd both burst out laughing when we got answers spectacularly wrong. Sometimes we'd groan in frustration when we knew we should have figured out something obvious.
We were enjoying this simple time together, riding the emotional ups and downs of televised trivia with the enthusiasm of people who didn't have anywhere else they'd rather be.
As we continued watching the show, something shifted in the atmosphere.
Suddenly, without any conscious planning on my part, I found myself reaching out to drape my arm around her shoulders, pulling her gently into my embrace.
For a moment, Matsumoto Tomoko looked up at me with surprise, her eyes wide as she took in my proximity and the casual intimacy of the gesture.
"It's true—you really can't stop watching quiz shows once you start," I commented, deliberately keeping my eyes focused on the television screen as if this kind of physical closeness was the most normal thing in the world.
Of course, Matsumoto Tomoko didn't resist the embrace. Instead, she simply allowed her head to settle comfortably against my broad shoulder, fitting into the space beside me like she'd been designed for it.
We pressed close together, close enough to feel each other's heartbeats, sharing rueful smiles whenever we both missed particularly obvious answers.
This was that perfect post-meal period where, despite the undercurrent of attraction and tension between us, everything felt inexplicably peaceful and satisfying.
As we sat there, Matsumoto Tomoko's mind began to wander, drifting back through memories of the past two months since Ginjo Sosuke had entered her life.
He's always been so gentle... almost too gentle, like he's some kind of impossibly perfect specimen of masculinity.
Always willing to help with yard work, cooking, shopping, conversation...
And when I got injured, he took me to the hospital and has been taking care of me every single step of the way.
This kind of man... he might actually be the "ideal boyfriend" that every woman dreams about finding.
This is the first time we've spent an entire day alone together like this. I really hope this wonderful time could last forever.
In this brief, peaceful moment, Matsumoto Tomoko found herself experiencing a rather surprising realization:
She was actually feeling grateful that she'd sprained her ankle.
Because it gave us this. This perfect, intimate day together.