Toshima District — inside an apartment.
"Mm…!"
Held tightly by the waist, Machida Sonoko's eyes went wide, trembling as Arthur's lips pressed against hers. Her hands rested lightly on his chest—almost as if she wanted to push him away—but there was no strength in them at all.
Under Arthur's confident, practiced kiss, she quickly melted into it.
Her mind went completely blank.
About two minutes later, Arthur finally released her.
"Haa… haa…"
Flushed and breathless, Machida Sonoko leaned limply against his chest, gasping for air, her whole body weak.
Her first kiss.
And a French kiss, no less.
It had nearly made her faint.
Arthur licked his lips.
Hmm—strawberry flavor.
From that kiss alone, he could tell—Machida Sonoko truly had zero experience in romance.
Nearly thirty years of being single since birth.
"How does it feel?"
Arthur whispered teasingly in her ear, his arms still wrapped tightly around her soft waist.
"You…"
The tickle of his breath made her ears itch, and every inch of her body felt hot—especially her face.
Her first kiss, just gone like that…
And it was taken by a boy thirteen years younger than her, half by force!
What made it worse was—deep down, she didn't feel disgusted or angry about it at all.
"Let me go."
Perhaps out of shame, or from being overwhelmed, Machida Sonoko gave him a small glare.
But she looked anything but intimidating—if anything, there was a hint of seductive charm in her expression.
"Let's do that again."
Arthur's eyes flickered, and before she could react, he leaned in again.
"Mm—!"
Machida Sonoko's eyes went wide once more.
Time seemed to blur.
Without realizing it, they went from standing to tumbling down onto the sofa.
Arthur's hand began to wander upward.
"Wait—no."
Machida Sonoko shuddered.
Her dazed mind suddenly snapped back to clarity. She grabbed his hand, glaring at him with flustered anger.
"That's enough. I'm seriously going to get mad."
"…Fine."
Arthur stopped immediately, letting her go.
He sat beside her, watching as she straightened her wrinkled blouse, her flushed face still burning.
"You've really changed lately," she said, glaring at him again. "What on earth happened? You're like a completely different person."
There was curiosity in her eyes.
Arthur chuckled mysteriously. "Take a guess, Machida Sonoko."
"Wait—what did you just call me?"
Hearing her given name come from his lips, Machida Sonoko froze for a moment, her heart thumping wildly.
"Machida Sonoko," Arthur said again, smiling.
"Call me Machida-senpai," she replied, her cheeks reddening further.
"Okay, Machida Sonoko. No problem, Machida Sonoko," Arthur answered cheerfully.
"…"
Speechless, Machida Sonoko rolled her eyes at him.
Taking a deep breath, she said, "Let's just pretend none of that ever happened. You should go home now."
Her heart was in complete turmoil.
Logic told her she needed to reject Arthur firmly, to stop this impossible relationship before it went any further.
But another part of her didn't want to.
Especially after that kiss…
Instead of anger or disgust, she felt happy—and even… expectant.
Expectant for the next time.
"Alright, I'll go."
Arthur nodded, standing up casually.
"…"
Machida Sonoko's heart tightened, a pang of sadness rising in her chest.
It felt like she was being dumped by a playboy.
She'd never experienced heartbreak before, but she imagined this was what it felt like.
She hadn't expected him to agree so easily—to just walk away like it meant nothing, right after stealing her first kiss.
So this is what they mean by not knowing someone's true heart…
Could Arthur actually be a heartless flirt?
"But…"
Arthur suddenly turned back, smiling at her.
"Pretend it didn't happen? That's impossible. From now on, Machida Sonoko—you're my girlfriend."
"And I won't take no for an answer."
He leaned down and planted a soft kiss on her forehead before straightening up with a grin.
"Bye-bye. Sweet dreams."
Before she could say a word, he was already walking toward the door.
"You…"
Machida Sonoko stared at his back, lips parted as if to speak—but no words came out.
She just watched him leave.
When the door finally shut, she thought about his bold, domineering words—and her face turned crimson all over again.
"Ugh, stupid pervert… who said I agreed to be your girlfriend?"
She muttered under her breath, cheeks glowing.
Her eyes softened with a trace of shyness.
Her right hand rose almost unconsciously to her lips, fingertips brushing gently against them—
Recalling that dizzying, unforgettable kiss from just moments before.
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