Alya was like a vision sprung from an ethereal dream, the embodiment of sweetness and grace. Her apron subtly shaped her curves, while her delicate clothing added an almost hypnotic charm. The skirt, a little above the knees, innocently revealed her fair skin, but just enough to leave Ryan unable to tear his gaze away from that Russian beauty.
She moved through the kitchen with enchanting lightness, her delicate hands cutting the vegetables with almost surgical precision. The comforting aroma of the soup began to fill the room, enveloping Ryan in a cozy warmth that had nothing to do with the food itself. The truth was, he already felt invigorated just by watching Alya, absorbing every small gesture, every shy sigh, every averted glance.
Finally, she approached with a steaming plate in her hands, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. The gentle smile adorning her lips was an irresistible invitation.
"Here it is... I made it with care. I hope you like it," she said, her voice filled with tenderness.
The scent of the soup warmed his chest, but the real delight was seeing her like this: face softly flushed, a perfect contrast against the long, silvery strands that framed her shy and charming expression.
Alya tilted her head slightly, a naturally endearing gesture. "Would you prefer to eat here on the sofa or would you rather go to the table?"
Ryan flashed a smug smile, winking slightly at her. "I'd rather you feed me."
She gave a small jump in place, her ears turning red in an instant. "W-what!?" Her eyes began to dart from side to side, as if searching for an answer in the air. But, gathering courage, she forced a hesitant little smile and murmured, "W-well... You're hurt, so... I guess I can pamper you a little..."
With careful steps, she sat beside him on the sofa, folding one leg beneath her and holding the plate on her lap. Taking a little soup with the spoon, she blew gently before hesitantly raising her hand. Her face was a spectacle in itself—cheeks tinged with a soft red, trembling eyes betraying her shyness.
"I... made it with care, so... I hope you like it..." Her voice came out in a delicate, almost inaudible thread.
Ryan felt his heart race with such sweetness, but he knew how to contain himself. He just enjoyed the moment, letting Alya lead the situation. The spoon trembled slightly in her hand, but Ryan, without hesitation, accepted the first portion, savoring the smooth and comforting flavor. Each ingredient was perfectly balanced, the seasonings enhancing the shredded chicken and the vegetables cooked just right.
Alya watched him anxiously, her lips slightly pressed together as she waited for his verdict. "So...? What do you think?" Her voice was filled with expectation, her fingers lightly squeezing the hem of her apron.
Ryan smiled with natural charm. "It's delicious, Alya... The way it's going, I'll end up wanting you all to myself."
Her heart leaped at the statement. Her hands trembled slightly, and she instinctively took more soup, trying to hide her embarrassment. "K-Kuze-kun! Don't say that kind of thing!" Her voice wavered, but she soon composed herself, lifting the spoon to him. "Here, hurry up and eat!"
He chuckled softly, clearly amused by her reactions. But he decided to push it further. With a swift movement, he took Alya's small hand, feeling her warm and soft skin, and brought the spoon to his mouth. Then, without letting go of her hand, he took her spoon and, with the same calmness, filled it again with soup.
Alya widened her eyes, a nervous smile playing on her lips as she watched Ryan raise the spoon towards her.
"You need to eat too, Alya. It would be unfair if you went hungry..."
It was the final blow for the poor girl.
Her eyes flickered, her face becoming a true mosaic of conflicting emotions. "H-HE'S FEEDING ME!? AND WITH THE SAME SPOON!? DOES THIS COUNT AS AN INDIRECT KISS!?" she thought, her cheeks burning.
Ryan let out a long sigh. "Come on, my arm is aching from holding this..."
Alya made a cute, incomprehensible noise before, almost on impulse, giving in. She bit her lip, hesitated for a second, and finally accepted the spoonful. The warmth of the soup spread through her mouth, but what really made her dizzy was the intimacy of the moment.
She pulled away quickly, bringing a hand to her face and murmuring to herself, "Mmmm, did I really do that!?"
Still absorbed in her reverie, a sudden epiphany struck her. Her eyes turned to Ryan, narrowed in an expression that mixed indignation and embarrassment.
"Hey! You could have eaten by yourself the whole time! Moooou!~" She pouted adorably, her arms crossing over her chest.
Ryan twirled the spoon between his fingers with a satisfied expression. "Yes, I could have... But I much prefer it when you do it for me."
Alya remained silent for a moment, biting the inside of her cheek as if trying to suppress a smile. But in the end, she huffed softly, taking the spoon back. If her intention was to look angry, she failed miserably—she was simply too adorable.
The two continued sharing the soup, exchanging spoonfuls with each other between shy laughs and furtive glances. The blush on Alya's face only intensified until the end of the meal, and when it was over, her voice still carried a hint of tremor.
"I-I'll do the dishes... It's getting late, so I'll have to leave after..." She stood up with quick steps, holding the dishes with both hands, hoping Ryan wouldn't notice her silly smile.
He, in turn, just followed her with his gaze, one arm resting on the back of the sofa, smiling faintly. Alya was, without a doubt, an unexpected gift... and one that he intended to savor for much longer.
Alya hurried to the sink with quick steps, feeling her heart beat erratically. Her hands trembled slightly as she picked up the sponge, her thoughts a whirlwind of sensations.
"K-Kuze-kun, he's... he's..."
Her fingers tightened more firmly around the wet sponge, while she bit her lower lip, feeling her face heat up. "Aii... He's so different today... As if he's..."
Her gaze flickered over her shoulder, catching for an instant Ryan's calm eyes watching her. The way he looked at her, without looking away, without hesitating... It made her heart leap.
Alya turned quickly, returning to what she was doing, trying to push away the thoughts that were growing like an uncontrollable fire inside her. "H-he keeps looking at me like that... Does he think I'm... t-that beautiful?"
Without realizing it, she began to look at herself, adjusting her posture, running her fingers through her own silver hair, feeling a strange anxiety. "Am I attractive to Kuze-kun...?"
Her face flushed immediately. The thought made her press her lips tightly together as she hurried her movements, trying to finish washing the dishes quickly.
"You don't need to worry about cleaning everything, Alya. You can leave that to me," Ryan's calm voice pulled her from her reverie.
She hesitated for a moment before answering, her voice still shy:
"N-no... Not at all. I came here to take care of you, remember?"
Ryan smiled, closing his eyes for a moment.
"Heh... Thank you very much, Alya."
Why did a simple thank you from him make her feel so... so happy?
While Alya finished cleaning, Ryan turned on the living room TV. The sound spread through the room, creating a soft background, but his eyes were not on the screen. His attention was completely focused on the Russian girl who was taking his breath away without even realizing it.
Alya sighed discreetly and approached, sitting next to him on the sofa. Her posture was hesitant, but still, she raised her hand delicately, placing her cool palm against Ryan's forehead.
"Good... You seem okay..." she murmured in a soft tone.
And that's when she realized. Their faces were close. Too close.
Alya's eyes met Ryan's, and she felt her own breath leave her for a moment. She could feel his breath, warm and rhythmic. The world around them seemed to dissolve into absolute silence.
Then, suddenly, she felt Ryan's touch against her face.
Her eyes widened. Her heart leaped so strongly that Alya swore Ryan could hear it. The warmth of his skin against hers was electric, and a wave of heat rushed up her neck, tinging her cheeks with an intense blush.
Ryan ran his fingers through her hair, his voice sounding hoarse and deep.
"Thank you for coming today, Alya..."
She stumbled over her words, her gaze lost in his.
"I-I... C-couldn't leave you alone, c-could I?..."
The silence between them became dense, charged with something Alya didn't know how to name. Her mind was a mess. Why was he acting like this? What did it mean? Did he... really like her?
Then, his voice came, low and hesitant, but direct as a blade:
"Alya... Can I kiss you?"
Her heart almost stopped.
For a moment, Ryan felt his own body freeze. What the heck had he just said? The thought hit him like thunder: "Shit... I can't go back in time now. If she hates this, I'm screwed! Damn habit of speaking without thinking!"
But his eyes soon noticed something unexpected.
Alya's eyes were watery, shining with an emotion he couldn't immediately identify. Her trembling lips curved into an adorable pout, and her voice came out in a soft whisper, filled with contained feelings:
"Mooou~ Kuze-kun no baka..."
She closed her eyes slowly, her breathing quickening.
Ryan widened his eyes, his mind screaming a single thought:
"My God! It actually worked!?"
He swallowed hard, gathering courage, and then, he acted.
His lips touched Alya's.
It was a warm shock, a perfect fit. Her lips were soft, sweet, and had a slight cherry flavor, probably from her lip gloss. A small sigh escaped Alya, an adorable sound that made Ryan tighten his fingers around her waist.
Driven by the moment, he pulled her closer, wrapping her body in a firm embrace. Alya felt her heart race even more as she realized how close they were now—her waist held by Ryan's strong arms, her delicate body pressed against his. Their heavy breaths mingled together.
When Ryan slid his tongue between her lips, Alya shivered. At first, she was so embarrassed that she kept her tongue withdrawn, but Ryan was patient. He teased her, gently swirling his tongue around hers, encouraging her little by little to respond.
And then, she gave in.
Alya wrapped her arms around Ryan's neck, her hands sliding through his hair as she surrendered to the moment. Her mind spun in spirals, unable to believe what was happening. "I-I... I'm really kissing Kuze-kun!? How... How did this happen!?"
But any doubts soon melted away when she felt Ryan's hands slowly slide down her back, reaching her butt. His touch was warm, deliberate, and as she noticed him slightly lifting the hem of her skirt, Alya felt a shiver run through her entire body.
Her thought was almost childish, yet filled with sweetness:
"Mooou~ Kuze-kun, you pervert... But... I kinda don't mind if it's you..."
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