The last bit of broth in the pot was still steaming slightly, but the ingredients on the table had been completely cleared away by the two.
Yanami Anna leaned back in her chair contentedly, her hand gently stroking her slightly bulging belly, her face full of happiness.
"Ha... I'm so full..." She let out a comfortable sigh. "As expected, when celebrating, Sukiyaki is the way to go."
"I think you just simply wanted to eat it."
Imaizumi Keita cleared the empty plates from the table, his tone teasing. "It doesn't have much to do with whether we're celebrating or not."
"Hmph! A sense of ceremony is very important. A guy like you who doesn't understand romance would never get it, Keita."
Yanami Anna snorted, stood up from her chair, and took the initiative to help clear the dishes.
"However, considering how much you spent today, I'll be merciful and help you wash the dishes."
"Isn't that only natural? After all, you ate more than half of it."
"You really..."
The two of them bickered as they carried the tableware into the kitchen.
The kitchen space was small to begin with, and with the two of them squeezed inside, it felt warmly crowded.
Imaizumi Keita stood in front of the sink, squeezed dish soap onto a sponge, and washed the dishes under the faucet.
Yanami Anna stood beside him, taking the washed dishes and giving them a final rinse with clean water.
The warm water gurgled, and their arms occasionally brushed against each other.
Yanami Anna was initially a bit uncomfortable, but quickly got used to the proximity.
She even began to enjoy the feeling, as if they were already a couple who had lived together for a long time, handling chores together after dinner.
She secretly turned her head to look at Imaizumi Keita, who was diligently washing dishes beside her.
Under the light, Imaizumi Keita's profile was handsome and gentle, with less of his usual aloofness and more of a comforting domesticity.
Noticing her gaze, Imaizumi Keita turned his head, smiled, and said, "What, are you captivated by my dishwashing skills?"
"N-no way!" Yanami Anna immediately averted her gaze in a panic, a blush spreading across her face.
"I was just supervising to see if you washed them clean!"
After washing them clean, they dried their hands and walked out of the kitchen together.
"Okay, what's next?" Yanami Anna looked around the living room, feeling a bit idle. "It seems a bit too early to go home now..."
"Then let's watch some TV."
Imaizumi Keita picked up the remote control and pressed the power button.
The screen lit up, showing a variety show with exaggerated canned laughter.
They sat on the sofa, with only a small distance between them.
Yanami Anna hugged a cushion, seemingly trying to hide her slight nervousness with this action.
Imaizumi Keita walked to the refrigerator and came back with two cans of drinks.
"Want something to drink?"
He handed one of the cans to Yanami Anna.
It was a Peach-flavored low-alcohol sparkling wine, with cute fruit patterns printed on the can and an alcohol content of less than 5%.
Any higher and people their age wouldn't be able to buy it...
"This is..." Yanami Anna hesitated slightly.
"I bought it on a whim at the supermarket, for celebration."
Imaizumi Keita said, pulling open the tab of one of the cans himself.
With a soft "hiss," a sweet fruity aroma immediately filled the air.
"...Th-then okay."
Yanami Anna took it, imitating him and pulling open the tab.
The cold can against her palm seemed to cool her burning cheeks a bit.
She took a small sip, just like Imaizumi Keita. The sweet peach flavor mixed with a faint alcoholic kick stimulated her taste buds, and it was surprisingly delicious.
Imaizumi Keita's sofa was very soft.
Therefore, as the two sat together, the deformation from their combined weight caused them to unconsciously lean against each other.
The variety show on TV continued, but their attention was clearly no longer on it.
They chatted idly, from interesting school anecdotes to the novel he was writing.
Under the influence of alcohol, Yanami Anna gradually spoke more, and her body relaxed, completely leaning into Imaizumi Keita's embrace.
Unconsciously, after half a can of the drink, Yanami Anna's cheeks were already adorned with a beautiful blush.
Her eyes also became a little hazy, making Imaizumi Keita's heart itch.
Imaizumi Keita stopped talking and just quietly looked at her.
Only the background sound from the TV remained in the living room.
In the ambiguous silence, Yanami Anna also noticed the change in his gaze.
She met his eyes, feeling her heart rate slow down, unable to look away.
Imaizumi Keita slowly leaned closer to her, his warm breath brushing against her cheek.
Yanami Anna nervously held her breath, her hands on her knees unconsciously clutching the hem of her clothes.
She didn't dodge.
Imaizumi Keita's lips gently landed on hers.
The kiss carried the sweet scent of peach sparkling wine.
Yanami Anna felt her body go soft.
The room temperature seemed to slowly rise at this moment.
Just as Imaizumi Keita wrapped his arms around her waist, preparing to pull her into his embrace, Yanami Anna reached out and gently pressed her hand against his chest.
"W-wait a minute..."
Imaizumi Keita's movements stopped, a hint of doubt in his eyes.
"Keita..."
Yanami Anna met his gaze and asked, "Are we... dating now, right?"
She needed a definite answer.
Not a vague tease, nor an unspoken understanding.
She needed Imaizumi Keita to admit it himself.
Imaizumi Keita looked at the stubbornness and unease flickering in her eyes and chuckled softly.
He reached out, enveloped her hand that was pressed against his chest in his own palm, then lowered his head and gently rested his forehead against hers.
Imaizumi Keita brushed Yanami Anna's hair aside, feeling that Anna-chan's forehead was a bit cool.
"Anna-chan, we are dating."
"You are my girlfriend, and I will not abandon you."
"Of course, Anna-chan, as my girlfriend, you can't leave me either."
Yanami Anna's eyes welled up, and all her unease and apprehension vanished at that moment.
"Hmph... who knows if you're like this with other girls too..."
She mumbled softly, but there was no longer any questioning in her tone, only a maiden's playful coquetry.
Having received the affirmative answer, she seemed to let down her last psychological guard.
The next second, she actively hooked her arms around Imaizumi Keita's neck, tilted her head slightly, and met his lips.
Her response was fervent and proactive, pouring all her emotions into this kiss.
Imaizumi Keita was stunned for a moment, then took the initiative to return her passion.
The soft cushions of the sofa supported their gradually warming bodies, and they only stopped when they were breathless.
Yanami Anna leaned softly in Imaizumi Keita's arms, breathing heavily.
Imaizumi Keita held her soft body, feeling that he could no longer control himself.
In other words, in this situation, if Imaizumi Keita could still restrain himself, he would truly be a god.
He pressed his lips against Yanami Anna's ear, asking in an almost whispered volume:
"Anna-chan... I really want you..."
"Will you give yourself to me... can you?"
Imaizumi Keita kept his promise to Yanami Anna, informing her when he wanted to do something naughty.
This time, Yanami Anna did not refuse Imaizumi Keita's request.
In this situation, even if Yanami Anna kept thinking about all sorts of delicious food, she couldn't completely suppress the amorous thoughts in her mind.
Devour Keita... consume him completely...
So that he wouldn't have the chance or energy to flirt with other girls...
Therefore, Yanami Anna buried her burning cheeks in Imaizumi Keita's embrace and softly reminded him:
"...Then carry me to the bedroom."
Imaizumi Keita's eyes lit up, and he immediately adjusted his posture, slipping his arms under Yanami Anna's knees and back, easily lifting her in a princess carry.
"Ah..."
Her body suddenly lifted into the air, causing Yanami Anna to look up and involuntarily let out a gasp.
She instinctively reached out her arms and tightly wrapped them around Imaizumi Keita's neck.
"Don't be so impatient..."
Yanami Anna felt her cheeks burning, and she snuggled into Imaizumi Keita's embrace, gently punching his chest.
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