After entering the room, Yukino was about to make tea when Makoto stopped her.
"No need for tea. Let's talk?"
"Okay."
Yukino was curious about what he wanted to talk about, but just as she was about to sit down, she suddenly stopped and stared at him without blinking.
"What are you looking at me for?"
Makoto sat down on the single sofa, puzzled.
Yukino looked perfectly natural, "I suspected you'd sit here with me."
She meant the spacious three-person sofa.
Without giving Makoto a chance to reply, she turned and grabbed an apple, skipping tea, and started peeling it.
"Can I cut it into small pieces?" Makoto suggested.
Yukino glanced at him.
That look said: You have way too many issues.
"Alright."
She still agreed.
"Thank you."
Makoto admired Yukino's fair and flawless hands as he spoke, "What do you think Auntie's real reason was for calling me to eat today?"
Yukino raised her head suspiciously. "Didn't Mother already ask? She thought you knew that Sawamura Eriri."
"Not just that." Makoto pointed his index finger in the air lightly. "Actually, she's concerned about you."
Yukino was momentarily stunned.
Makoto continued,
"Though she didn't say it outright, I guess she's not only worried about whether you can shoot that short film well but also about whether our relationship is still as good as before."
Yukino was about to object, but he picked up his phone and motioned, "Don't rush, just look at this message."
Yukino glanced over, and to her surprise, her mother had sent him a text.
The time was five minutes ago.
The message read: [Seeing that your relationship with Yukino is still so good, I feel relieved.]
Makoto's reply was: [Probably because she and I get along well.]
Mrs. Yukinoshita: ["Get along well"? That phrase can have many meanings if you try to understand it.]
Makoto: [Are you asking if I plan to pursue Yukino?]
Mrs. Yukinoshita: [I haven't thought that far yet, but if you plan to pursue Yukino, I can support you as a friend.]
Not as a senior, but as a friend — instantly making the conversation more casual.
Yukino fell silent.
Makoto put down his phone. "For a high school student to shoot a short film, even if it's shorter than usual, it's still not an easy thing."
Yukino softly hummed in agreement. "That's why Mother doubted whether I could do it well last time."
"Now the chance is right here. As long as you keep your mindset steady and finish shooting the short film smoothly, she will definitely be satisfied."
"So confident?" Yukino looked at his face.
"I've been studying this for quite a long time, plus you, Ichika, and Itsuki — the three fierce warriors — and my friends at school making cameos. It's hard not to be confident."
"Though I don't really like the word 'fierce warriors,' thanks for trusting me."
Yukino returned a very beautiful smile.
Earlier, her mother's concern was all about "benefit," which honestly made her feel rather complicated.
Now, with Makoto openly revealing his intentions, his words practically implied: he would help her throughout the whole process.
The complicated feelings in the girl's heart suddenly cleared away the clouds and let her see the warm sunlight again.
"Here you go."
Yukino put the sliced apples onto a plate and handed it over, then picked up another apple to peel.
Makoto didn't hold back, stuffing a piece of apple into his mouth. "How do you think I should reply to Auntie next?"
Yukino smiled calmly. "Aren't you always bold?"
"Oh, you want me to tell her: I will pursue you relentlessly?"
"You can take out the word 'relentlessly.'"
"Then I'll pursue you with great intensity?"
"Idiot!"
Yukino couldn't help but scold him.
Her mood completely relaxed, and her voice softened a lot. "Fushimi, you should still remember what I told you, right?"
"Yeah, you'll never fall in love with me," Makoto nodded first. "But I always thought people can change."
Yukino looked him in the eye generously. "Too bad, I won't."
Then the girl saw Makoto pick up his phone, his finger tapping on the screen as he obviously started typing.
She was stunned. "What are you doing?"
"I'm going to tattle!"
"Idiot, I'm talking seriously!"
Her face instinctively showed anger, and Makoto quickly raised his phone and snapped a photo of her face.
Now Yukino reacted.
He's teasing me on purpose again!
Yukino put down the fruit knife and glared at him angrily. "Delete that photo."
"Okay, okay, it's already deleted." Makoto nodded.
How could Yukino believe that attitude?
Her originally relaxed legs now pressed firmly against the floor, and her body sat up straight.
Yukino gathering strength.jpg
So Makoto took another photo.
Yukino completely lost it and got up, walking quickly over, but wisely didn't try to snatch the phone directly — instead, she pressed firmly on Makoto's arm to stop him from escaping.
But the moment she pressed down, she found that Makoto didn't resist at all... no, it wasn't that he didn't resist; he seemed weak, and just leaned back with her force.
Because of inertia, Yukino's slender body staggered, and just as she was about to stabilize her balance, a hand appeared on her delicate waist.
The next moment, she was pulled into Makoto's embrace.
The scent of fragrance surrounded her, and Yukino's perfect face was close enough to touch.
Makoto clearly saw her small face turning red little by little, even her snow-white and elegant neck's skin flushed with a tempting rosy glow.
"You're doing it on purpose again... um."
Yukino's voice suddenly became muffled.
Don't misunderstand — Makoto wasn't doing anything improper; he just fed her a piece of apple.
At once, Yukino's expression became even cuter.
"Cute," Makoto let out a wicked laugh.
Yukino's chest rose and fell quickly because she was completely pressed against Makoto's chest; her hands had to support his chest to avoid them sticking completely together.
Even so, her pure white legs pressed tightly against Makoto's legs, and because of this posture, her skirt lifted slightly, revealing round and fair thighs.
One slipper on her left foot was missing, while the other was still hanging on her right foot, ready to fall at any moment.
This scene might have made an onlooker think Yukino was imitating Mayu, preparing to act out a female knight's charge.
"No more feeding!"
Seeing Makoto picking up another piece of apple, Yukino blushed and warned him.
Then...
She watched Makoto put the apple into his own mouth, looking confused as he said, "I'm eating my own. If you want some, get it yourself. I've already fed you once, which is plenty for a friend."
Yukino decided to hit him.
Unfortunately, Makoto anticipated her move.
The hand around her waist loosened slightly, and the unprepared girl stumbled forward.
Though Yukino's hands were still pressed against Makoto's chest, his sudden preemptive move caught her completely off guard.
As the saying goes, the hardest strike to defend is the first frame.
Not to mention, Makoto liked to play silky combos.
"Let go... um."
Yukino's voice became muffled again.
But this time, it wasn't the apple blocking her mouth.
It was Makoto's lips.
Feeding you apples was a lie.
In an instant, the sweet taste of apple exploded.
Yukino was completely unprepared and defenseless, caught totally off guard.
This guy is doing it on purpose again!
Why didn't I stay alert?
Yukino scolded herself inside.
But she also knew that Makoto wasn't using the same move and that he knew her very well — everything about her.
Of course, she couldn't defend precisely.
Interestingly, although her eyes clearly showed a mix of embarrassment and anger, her heart didn't necessarily feel that way.
Sweet isn't quite right, but at least she really didn't dislike it.
She even thought: apples really are sweet.
Dodge?
How do you dodge a zero-frame start?
Run?
How do you run from silky combos?
With a thud,
Her only slipper fell off.
Those beautiful legs Makoto coveted so much tensed up.
White socks covered her feet, hiding the well-cared-for skin.
But her feet were completely tense, even the socks formed an adorable shape.
After a while, their eyes met, and the whole living room fell into extreme silence.
Yukino's cheeks were already covered with a tempting blush, the anger in her eyes vanished, replaced by embarrassment, shyness, and a final trace of hidden pride in her heart.
She gathered that pride, preparing to counterattack once and then escape from his embrace.
Only that way could she quickly regain her composure.
But at that moment, Makoto held her waist again and asked, "Can I do it again?"
Yukino froze.
Her pride wanted her to resist.
But her true feelings wanted her to continue.
She struggled silently for three seconds.
Those three seconds felt like a century.
In the end, she lowered her eyelids and said nothing.
Her lack of resistance spoke volumes.
Makoto kissed her once more.
This time, Yukino's arms didn't fight back at all.
Gradually, those delicate hands secretly and carefully wrapped around Makoto's waist.
I really can't push him away.
Yukino thought, her gaze becoming hazy and dreamy.
As for whether she was unwilling to push him away, or simply too weak to do so, only Yukino herself knew.
Their foreheads pressed together, noses touching, and the pleasant fragrance from her completely enveloped Makoto.
Her skin was fair and flawless, but at this moment it was like the twilight stolen from the horizon, igniting the afterglow of the setting sun.
The clouds, melted into fiery red glass, all became the blush blooming across her face.
Their warm breaths mingled, and Yukino's previously tense, restless small feet finally found the safest place — she sat down in his arms.
Yukino was already deeply immersed, and the little restraint she had left was thrown away.
Thrown far away.
After who knows how long, the two finally separated again.
Afraid he might pull some sudden trick, she blushed and struggled to get up from his embrace.
Makoto didn't continue; he cooperated by letting go.
Just as he released her, she almost went weak-kneed and fell onto the sofa, but luckily she caught herself in time, barefoot on the floor.
The cold floor couldn't chase away the flush and warmth on her face.
Not only was her face burning hot, but her heart as well.
Her gaze flickered away, avoiding eye contact with Makoto.
Her moist eyes blinked repeatedly like ripples and splashes on the sea, quickly spreading from her brows and eyes, clearly revealing her shyness.
There's a saying: when people feel awkward, they always appear very busy.
Yukino turned her head, quickly put on slippers, and started to walk back.
After returning to her previous seat and sitting down, she was dazed for a second, not knowing what to do.
So she casually picked up the fruit knife, intending to continue peeling.
Then she realized the apple had already been cut into small pieces, making peeling inconvenient.
She put down the fruit knife again, her delicate hands interlaced on her abdomen, trying to do something to ease the awkwardness, but there really was nothing to do.
At that moment, she noticed Makoto staring at her.
She turned her head and caught him suppressing a smile.
Such a face begging to be slapped!
"Sorry, I admit I was too sudden," he said, then couldn't hold it and laughed out loud, "You're just a bit too cute."
Still calling her cute?
Yukino glared at him in embarrassment and anger, "I refuse to accept your apology."
"Then how about I show my apology with action?" Makoto stood up.
Yukino suddenly got clever, and couldn't keep a serious expression, "Sit back down!"
Makoto obediently sat down, looking like he was waiting for her orders.
Yukino stared at him for a while, then finally looked away, as if scolding him but also blaming herself: "Don't do that again."
Her voice was very soft.
Soft enough that Makoto almost couldn't hear.
After she finished speaking, Makoto answered decisively: "I disagree."
Yukino: "Who asked you?"
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