"Let's go, Machida-neesan."
Seeing Machida Sonoko standing there in a daze, Arthur smiled faintly at her.
"Ah—oh!"
Machida Sonoko hurriedly responded, pretending to be calm as she walked past Arthur.
It wasn't that she disliked him or didn't want him coming to her apartment.
It was just that, from their conversation yesterday, she'd noticed something different about him.
He seemed… more assertive.
She had a vague feeling that if she really let Arthur come over, something might happen.
But now that things had reached this point, she could only take it one step at a time.
They took the elevator up to the twelfth floor.
Machida Sonoko lived in Room 1202.
Click. She unlocked the door.
"Please come in."
"Sorry for intruding."
Arthur stepped through the entryway. Machida Sonoko closed the door, then took out a brand-new pair of slippers from the shoe cabinet.
After changing into slippers, they entered the living room.
Smiling, she asked, "I only have barley tea and water. Would you like something to drink?"
"I'll take a cup of barley tea," Arthur replied after a moment's thought.
"Okay, wait just a second."
Machida Sonoko headed for the kitchen.
Arthur sat down on the sofa in the living room, glancing around.
The room wasn't cluttered, and everything was neatly arranged—evidence that Machida Sonoko paid attention to cleanliness.
A moment later, she returned with two cups of barley tea.
"Here."
She handed one to him and sat down beside him.
Sitting next to Arthur, her gaze drifted toward his face, especially those eyes—calm yet bright, like they held starlight.
Her heartbeat quickened.
Then she remembered what she'd been thinking yesterday.
When she'd thought about having a boyfriend, Arthur's face had appeared in her mind.
What if Arthur were my boyfriend…?
The thought suddenly surfaced again.
"Machida-neesan…"
Arthur's voice broke the silence. He looked at her after taking a sip of tea.
"Huh? What is it?"
Startled, she snapped back to reality, quickly averting her gaze.
She'd nearly gotten lost staring at him again.
Machida Sonoko, what's wrong with you?
He's thirteen years younger than you!
Ashamed of her thoughts, she felt heat creeping up her pale cheeks—thankfully, the faint blush left over from drinking still masked it.
Seeing the flicker in her eyes, Arthur narrowed his own slightly.
"Do you like me?"
"Ah!!!"
Machida Sonoko's eyes flew wide, disbelief written all over her face.
"What… what did you just say?"
Had she misheard him?
Arthur smiled lightly. "I said—Machida-neesan, do you like me?"
"!!!"
There was no mistaking it this time. Ripples spread across her blue eyes as she stared at him, unable to speak.
She hadn't expected Arthur to ask her something like that.
What kind of like did he mean? There were many kinds of affection…
Before she could gather her thoughts, Arthur continued:
"Machida-neesan, I like you."
"Hah?!"
Her pupils quaked as if struck by an earthquake. She let out a startled cry and shot to her feet, staring at him wide-eyed.
Arthur's sudden, straightforward confession had completely blindsided her.
Standing up as well, Arthur met her gaze with a smile.
"So I want to know—Machida-neesan, do you like me or not?"
"I want to hear the truth."
"I…"
Machida Sonoko's heart fluttered in panic. She didn't know how to respond.
Her face flushed crimson, her eyes darting everywhere but his.
She couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze.
She'd been confessed to before, back in her school days—but she'd never felt anything for those people.
Arthur, however, was different.
She'd already realized, deep down, that she did feel something for him.
But he was thirteen years younger!
The age gap was too big.
Ten years from now, he'd be twenty-six… while she'd be pushing forty.
She couldn't hold him back like that.
And when she was old and faded, would Arthur still love her?
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she met his eyes and forced a smile.
"Xiao Lin, I admit that I do feel a bit of affection for you—but it's not the kind that leads to… that sort of relationship."
"The age gap is too large."
"We're thirteen years apart. Ten years from now, you'll be twenty-five or twenty-six, while I'll be nearing forty—a middle-aged woman."
"I know you're at an age when emotions can run strong and impulsive."
"You might mistake a passing feeling for love."
"But we're not suitable for each other."
"To me, you're more like a younger brother."
"Besides, you and Xiao Utaha are a much better match."
"I can tell she has feelings for you."
"Xiao Lin, do you understand what I'm saying?"
Her hands, hidden behind her back, clenched into small fists. She'd spoken mostly truth… but not entirely.
She really had been trying to push Arthur and Utaha Kasumigaoka together—and it was obvious to her that they liked each other.
That's why she said what she did.
"Not suitable? I don't understand."
But Arthur only smiled and shook his head, locking eyes with her.
Machida Sonoko sighed helplessly. "You…"
Arthur continued, his tone steady:
"My liking you isn't just some impulsive phase."
"I won't deny that part of it is because of how beautiful and attractive you are…"
"But that's only part of it."
"These past two years, you've helped me so much—I remember every bit of it."
"As for the thirteen-year age gap… I honestly don't care."
"And Machida-neesan, you look so young. Without makeup, you could easily pass for a college freshman."
"If we wore matching outfits and went out together, people would think we were a perfect couple."
"!!!"
Listening to his words, Machida Sonoko's eyes slowly widened again.
Her heart pounded wildly.
Like a deer caught in headlights—nervous, elated, flustered.
A swirl of emotions tangled inside her.
Desire tugged her toward him; reason held her back.
She wasn't a teenager anymore, but an adult.
Teenagers could throw caution to the wind for love—but adults had too much to consider.
"Since you already said you have feelings for me," Arthur said softly, stepping closer, "that's enough for me."
"What are you doing?"
Sensing something, Machida Sonoko's heartbeat grew erratic.
Reason screamed for her to stop him—but her heart whispered otherwise.
Arthur reached out, pulling her gently into his arms.
His left arm encircled her waist, his right hand tilted her chin upward—
And then he lowered his head and captured her lips.
"Mm—!"
Caught in his embrace, Machida Sonoko froze completely.
When she felt his lips on hers, her eyes went wide with shock.
…
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