"Finally."
"How'd you get lost, Amane? You idiot~"
"I was too busy imagining my new life with you."
"Oh ho~, someone really is more bold today!"
Click~
I unlocked the door to my apartment, feeling all of the anxiety leave my body. I got super lucky that Amane had a group chat with his parents that had the address to his apartment pinned. My genius for checking it should be studied, but more importantly, I wanted to eat proper food first.
"Come on, come on~, I want to see our home!"
"Haha~, sure. Do you want to bathe first, though?"
"Join me~?"
"Sure, but then we should eat first."
"But you can't cook, right? I remember you said you sucked."
"N-Nothing delivery can't solve, Yuuko!"
"I've been wondering for a while now, actually. The world is really different from when I was alive... do you think you can fill me in?"
Staring into her curious red eyes, I felt myself smile gently. The great thing about being home was that I didn't have to hold back.
"Why? How about you experience it with me instead?"
"W-Woah~! You aren't good for my heart, A-ma-ne~!"
"Pfft. You are too good for mine."
Patting her head, I walked her to the living room. The two of us sat side by side, her head leaning on my shoulder while I checked the menu for the previous Amane's go-to pizza place. My left hand held the menu while my right hand hugged Yuuko's waist. She didn't try anything seductive, and I didn't try to take advantage of her. A beautiful balance that I've never once experienced until now but have always wanted.
Some might find it strange how quickly I've come to accept things, but the truth of reality is that perception is the one law. I've always liked Yuuko's character, and now I get this chance to be with her. Sure, it wasn't exactly the love that she had, but I just loved that I even got this chance.
"Let's get pepperoni!"
"Just that? I think we could add bell peppers as well."
"I've never had bell peppers on pizza."
"I'm surprised you've even had pizza."
"I've stolen a few slices from the cafeteria!"
"Pfft, of course you have."
Flick~
"Ouch! Jerk~!"
Yuuko dug into my chest with her head as deep as she could, getting even closer. My hand naturally went deeper as the distance fell. It rested on her navel, a perfect distance between the garden and her stomach.
"Be careful, Yuuko. Anymore and you can't blame me."
"Hmm~, well, if you want, I wouldn't mind."
"I guess. I think we should enjoy ourselves slowly, though. I couldn't treat you so horribly as to rush things."
"I know. I love you, you know."
"That makes me extremely happy to hear. I've come to love you myself."
"Why say it so weird, you idiot!"
Flick~
"You'll have to flick harder than that, beautiful."
"You can't handle my ghostly prowess; don't you dare get cocky!"
"P-P-PFFT~!" I covered my mouth as quickly as I could. If I laughed at her, I was scared she might do dangerous things without realizing it. The slowness that I wished for would be swapped out instantly knowing this flirtatious girlfriend of mine.
"Laughing, are we?"
Yuuko did exactly what I thought.
"Now~ Now~, with you under me like this, how dare you laugh!"
"You're playing a dangerous game, Yuuko."
Yuuko straddled my lap, the sudden weight of her pressing me deeper into the couch cushions. Her knees dug into the sofa on either side of my hips, locking me in place. Her striking red eyes stared into mine, not with a ghostly hollowness, but with a full, seductive glint that reflected her feelings clearly. I could feel the heat radiating from her thighs through my clothes.
"Then, how about we play this dangerous game?"
"Yuuko, Yuuko, Yuuko. You dangerously seductive girlfriend of mine."
Pa~!
The sharp sound of my palm against her soft skin cut through the air.
"Aaaa~"
Her body jolted, a visible tremor running through her frame as she bit her lower lip.
"Behave."
"Hmph~, to think you would spank me."
"People who don't listen get spanked, beautiful."
"Yeah, yeah. You just wanted to feel me, didn't you?"
"Hahaha~, a little bit of both."
"Good! At least you're honest. How about we eat, then?"
Yuuko didn't end her straddle. She hugged me while keeping her same position. This time, though, her head snuggled into the side of my neck. My free hand stroked her head, playing with her hair while I ordered us our first dinner together.
"Hey, Amane."
The call ended perfectly with no mishaps.
"Yes, beautiful?"
"I... I won't disappear, right?"
"That's become impossible since earlier, Yuuko."
"How?" I felt her body fidget against me with our close contact.
"Do you think I won't tell you?"
"I just don't want to pry. I would hate—"
"Then listen clearly."
While we waited, I told Yuuko everything about the System and how it worked. I gave her an altered truth about myself, but I left out the part about her being a character in a story, or anything specific about my actual original world.
"So, we'll have a big family, is what you are saying?"
"That's what you focus on?"
"Well, the supernatural stuff isn't all that crazy to me. I am a ghost."
"Tch. Tch. My ghost, Yuuko."
"..."
"Yeah, that was cringe. Oh god. That was cringe."
"Bhehehehe~, you're such an idiot!"
I didn't even need to see my face to know I formed black lines like those scenes in anime. What just left my mouth would never be uttered again. The amount of damage I was feeling could be described as worse than death.
"Hehehe~, you really are adorable."
"Y-Yeah."
Muah~
"There~, I've claimed what's mine. Of course, there are still a few 'firsts' I have to take before any other pest wants to get involved."
"Don't worry. Remember: quality over quantity? You have nothing to worry about for a while, I promise."
"Hmph! Aren't you supposed to say something else?"
"If I did, then it would be a lie, no?"
"Yeah. Can I at least control who gets close and who doesn't?"
"If that would make you happy, then you may have that privilege since you are eternally first."
"Good~ Good~!"
Yuuko, much like her cat-proven tendencies, snuggled even more. A calm silence filled the room as she got as close as she could to me while I gently played with her beautiful raven-black hair.