"Figures—there's nowhere around here without people."
"What did you just say? You were too quiet, I didn't catch it."
"I said it's getting kind of late—we should probably head back, right?"
At Shirai Mio's words, Yuigahama Yui blinked, then pulled out her phone for a glance—it was already four in the afternoon.
It still felt early, but the trip back would take over an hour.
It felt like she'd only been out with Shirai Mio for a little while. How had the time gone by so fast?
Yui suddenly remembered something she'd heard somewhere—when you're with someone you like, time flies.
Now she finally understood what that felt like.
The hour-plus passed quickly, and by the time the two of them stepped out of the station, the sky had already gone dark.
Yui didn't want today's date to end like this. She tugged at Mio's sleeve. "Mio, why don't we grab something to eat first?"
"How about we eat at your place?"
"My place?" Yui hadn't expected Mio to suggest that. She froze for a second, then nodded without hesitation.
So far, Mio hadn't found the right opening. If she wanted to finish the task, Yui's house was her only shot.
As long as she didn't part from Yui, the date technically wasn't over—and the task couldn't fail.
Before long, Mio arrived at Yui's home.
When Mrs. Yuigahama heard Mio would be staying for dinner, she welcomed her, delighted.
Yui meant to help out in the kitchen, but the moment she stepped in, her mom shoved her right back out.
"Don't crowd in here. Go take little Mio up to your room and keep her company—I'll call you when dinner's ready."
"...Okay, fine."
There was no way Yui couldn't tell—her mom was running an assist for her.
She hadn't told her mom a single thing, yet her mom acted like she knew everything.
Before, she'd have scrambled to defend herself. But now? She just took it in stride.
Back in the living room, Yui gave Mio a helpless little smile. "My mom kicked me out. Want to sit in my room for a bit?"
"Sure."
This was exactly the opening Mio had been waiting for.
She stood and followed Yui to her room.
The layout was basically the same as last time she'd visited—just a bit messier.
Spotting her clothes strewn across the bed, Yui flushed and hurriedly stuffed them into the wardrobe.
She'd woken up late that morning and tossed the clothes she'd changed out of onto the bed without folding them—she'd never imagined Mio would end up coming home with her.
That was the only reason Mio ended up seeing it.
Otherwise her room would've been spotless, obviously.
Once the room was tidied, Yui calmed down a little. She glanced at Mio, sitting on her bed. "Mio, how'd you feel about today's date?"
"Pretty nice, honestly. Oh right—Yui, could I borrow your lip balm?"
"Sure."
Yui rummaged through her bag and pulled out her lip balm, handing it over.
But Mio didn't take it. Instead she leaned her face in close. "Put it on for me?"
At that, Yui's eyes dropped to Mio's lips—and there was no way she wasn't thinking all sorts of things.
She took a deep breath, then carefully dabbed the balm onto Mio's lips.
Yui found that with the balm on, Mio's lips looked even more tempting—enough to give her the urge to bite down on them.
Mio pressed her lips together, then leaned in by Yui's ear and murmured, "Yui... would you say this counts as an indirect kiss?"
"I-I guess... it does."
She and Mio had already shared plenty of actual kisses, and yet hearing the words "indirect kiss" still set her cheeks burning.
Wait—why does it feel like Mio's trying to seduce me?
Then... shouldn't I do something about it?
Yui hesitated, then couldn't hold back—she edged closer to Mio.
When she saw that Mio didn't pull away, she grew bolder, quickly closing the distance until they were face to face.
"Can I?"
"...Mm."
The instant Mio's reply left her lips, the two of them came together.
The atmosphere in the room turned charged in that moment.
No telling how long passed before a knock came at the door, followed by Mrs. Yuigahama's voice. "You two—dinner's ready, come on out."
Her mom's voice snapped Yui back to her senses. "Coming—we'll be right out!"
As her mom's footsteps faded, Yui let out a quiet breath of relief.
She turned to look at Mio, lying on the bed—flushed face, hazy eyes. It had only been a kiss, and yet she looked like this, like they'd done something unspeakable.
If we'd actually done that... who knows what state Mio would be in?
Whatever it was she'd just pictured, Yui found herself licking her lips.
It took a good while before Mio recovered. She slowly sat up and let out a somewhat dejected sigh.
It's not the first time I've embarrassed myself this badly, she thought, but I still can't figure out why a simple kiss leaves me such a mess.
"Mio, you okay now?"
"Mm."
Embarrassed, Mio quietly avoided Yui's gaze, and with the faint blush still lingering on her face, she looked downright alluring just then.
Enough that Yui kind of wanted to kiss her again.
But she forced the impulse down and walked out of the room alongside Mio.
Mrs. Yuigahama was already waiting at the dinner table.
Seeing the two of them emerge, she beamed. "There you are at last—come on, let's eat."
Mrs. Yuigahama didn't ask a single thing about what had happened in the room, but both Mio and Yui got the feeling she knew something—and that knowing smile was proof enough.
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