Finally, as she served dessert, Kominami leaned down and whispered to Sumika, "He's a catchgo for it!"
But Sumika still couldn't pull it off. Maybe I can try after finishing this afternoon's plan she thought.
Yet trouble struck sooner than expected. Right after delivering the dessert, Kominami's head spun:
"Ugh"
She wobbled, stumbling forward. She felt herself pitching to the ground, certain she was about to hit her head. But the expected pain never came, for a sturdy arm caught her.
"Kominami-san, are you alright?"
Rei Ao's swift reflexes steadied her.
"Eh? Kominami-san!"
Sumika realized a second too late.
"I"
Kominami, relieved she hadn't collapsed outright, gave a pained smile:
"I feel a bit dizzy."
Considering Kominami Asumi's condition, Rei Ao and Sumika halted their meal to help her sit and rest. Meanwhile, Rei Ao discreetly provided a bit of healing. She seemed more fatigued than seriously ill, just exhausted.
"Kominami-san," Rei Ao said once she looked better, "how many part-time jobs are you juggling to wind up this worn out?"
Sumika asked worriedly, "Are you sure you're okay now?"
"I'll be fine,"
Kominami sighed apologetically.
"I'm not just overworked from part-time jobsI've also got cram classes to juggle"
~~~
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Chapter 623: Get a Room!!! (Bonus Chapter)
Rei Ao's face took on a slightly odd expression.
"Because she got tired from studying?"
Hearing Kominami Asumi's explanation, Fujimiya Sumika felt surprised.
"Umyeah."
Kominami Asumi sighed openly.
"In the end, it's my own choice."
She straightforwardly shared her situation:
Her family ran a clinic bearing their surname, with her father the only doctor there. Because her science scores hadn't been ideal, she hadn't passed the entrance exam for the national medical university she wanted. Determined to try again next year, she chose to repeat a grade, hoping to one day take over her father's clinic.
But sadly, her confidence in her grades still wasn't great, so she'd been staying up nights studyingleading to her current predicament.
"I see,"
Sumika said.
"But don't push yourself until you collapse. Your health comes first."
"Sumika's right,"
Rei Ao agreed.
"Haha."
Kominami Asumi shook her head.
"It's all right. I'm fine nowjust need to be more careful, that's all. Don't worry about me; you two should do your own thing."
She stood and headed back into the restaurant, not wanting to disrupt their date.
"You think she'll be okay?"
Sumika asked, still a bit concerned.
"She'll be fine,"
Rei Ao answered confidently, sure her health would recover. But if she kept this up, she'd face trouble in the future.
"Let's finish our meal."
"Right."
After that little interlude, the warm, flirty atmosphere they'd had was largely gone. They soon finished lunch, paid the bill, and prepared to leave. Once again, Kominami Asumi appeared. She hurried over to Rei Ao, slipped something into his pocket, and gave him a knowing wink before saying, "Hope you'll come again!"
As they left the restaurant, Sumika couldn't help asking,
"What did Kominami just give you?"
"Nothing important."
Rei Ao's hand went to his pocket, feeling the item. He didn't elaborate, though, instead changing the subject:
"So, where to next?"
"Oh, right, the aquarium!"
That afternoon, they followed Sawae's plan. At the aquarium, their little moments of "ambiguous intimacy" went more smoothly now that Sumika had some experience. Rei Ao, having already seen through everything, not only accepted her hints but upped the ante with teasing of his own, leaving Sumika's face burning.
Then came dinner, a stroll around the area, a movie, a late-night snack By the time they felt tired, it was already past nine p.m. Streetlights cast a warm glow over them as they walked side by side in a quiet neighborhood. Occasionally their arms brushed, and neither of them pulled away.
"Did you have fun today?"
Sumika asked softly, absently twirling the hem of her skirt.
Rei Ao halted, turning to face her. Under the streetlight, his features were highlighted in gentle relief.
"I did. It was great,"
he said softly.
"Mostly because I got to spend it with a lovely girl like you, Sumika."
She looked up at him, finding his gaze warm. A night breeze stirred the space between them, carrying away that last bit of distance. Rei Ao slowly reached out and took her hand.
"Maybe next time"
"Can I be the one to invite you?"
"!!!"
Sumika felt her heart lurch as if it might leap out of her chest. She nodded blankly, returning his grip. Somehow, their fingers were already entwined, so naturally that she barely noticed it happening.
"Sure. I'd like that."
She smiled, not stammering this time. But the thought of soon parting made her look reluctant. Right then,
"Ding-dong!"
Her phone chimed. Sumika guessed it was from Sawae.
"Sorry, let me just check this."
She apologized, pulling out her phone with her free hand.
Sawae: "How's it going? Have you kissed yet? Hugged? Held hands?"
"???"
K-kissed?!
Sumika's cheeks went hot.
Sumika: "Th-there was no kissing, okay?!"
Sawae: "Huh? With my super-ambiguous plan, getting to a kiss should be easy."
Sumika: "We didn't! Not at all!"
Sawae: "Tsk, must be you being too shy. Well, at least a hug, right?"
Sumika typed nothing for a moment.
Sumika: "We justheld hands just now."
Glancing at their interlaced fingers, then following his arm to Rei Ao's facehe was politely not looking over, giving her some privacy. Her ears went hot.
Sawae: "Ohh, so you're holding hands. Guess it's not all bad."
Sawae: "Maybe my final technique is still an option."
She paused. Next message:
Sawae: "But I have to ask you one last time: You really do like Rei Ao, and you want to stay together with him, right?"
This question felt so serious that Sumika's mind flashed with possibilitieslike marrying Rei Ao, having kids. The feelings weren't fear or mere embarrassment, but joy and anticipation. That clarified how she truly felt.
Sumika: "Yes, I'm sure I like Rei Ao-kun and want to keep going with him."
Sawae: "Okay, so you have your answer. Then I'll tell you the final move."
Sumika read on:
Sawae: "Get a room!"
""
Seeing that, she froze, face instantly flustered. Geta room?
Sawae: "I know, it probably shocked you. But this is the fastest way to break through and get closer to Rei Ao. It's fine if you don't do anything, but it's your choiceI won't push you."
Sumika stared at her phone, brain going haywire. Staying overnight with himthat was way too bold! She had zero experience.
"What's wrong?"
Rei Ao suddenly asked.
"N-nothing!"
Sumika quickly dismissed him, thinking Sawae, you're kidding meI can't do that!!!
~~~
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Chapter 624: Situation in the Hotel Room!
Because of what Sawae said, Sumika's face suddenly went hot.
Stammering, she said,
"W-we should head home! Sawae's just joking around again"
She hadn't even finished speaking when a muffled rumble of thunder sounded overhead. Immediately, fat raindrops poured down in a torrent.
Rei Ao reacted quickly, leading her under a nearby overhang, preventing her from getting wet. He was certain this downpour wasn't his doing. Though they weren't soaked, the chill made Fujimiya Sumika shiver. Rei Ao frowned at the ever-intensifying rain.
"Sumika, let's catch a cab back."
Sumika bit her lip. She'd never expected their romantic date to end in a heavy rainhow unromantic! But soon a thought struck her. Could this storm be some kind of destiny? Sawae's message flashed in her mind, making her curl her toes with embarrassment.
"Um"
Her voice was nearly drowned out by the rain.
"It's already late, and it's pouring W-why don't wego to a nearby hotel and get two rooms?"
Acting on impulse, she blurted it out. It took all her courage. She didn't dare look at Rei Ao's face, only stared at her half-soaked shoes.
Rei Ao stayed silent for a few secondsthough those seconds felt unbearably long to Sumika, enough that she regretted suggesting it. Thankfully, he did respond:
"Alright. I know a decent place nearby."
"Shouldshould we run for it?"
"Mm."
Sumika nodded shyly. Then they dashed through the downpour toward a hotel not too far away.
By the time they arrived at the hotel, both were in disarray, dripping wet. Sumika's hair was plastered with water; her dress clung to her body. Meanwhile, Rei Ao's white shirt had turned translucent, faintly revealing his abdominal muscles.
The lobby was empty except for a well-made-up woman at the reception desk. Noticing their drenched state, she smiled knowingly without a word. Before they could speak, she announced:
"We only have one room left today."
""
Rei Ao raised an eyebrow. Was this real or just an excuse?
After double-checking the computer, the receptionist looked regretful.
"So sorry; with the sudden rain, many people came in for the night. The last room left is one with a single large bed."
Sumika felt her face go hot all over. A single large bed? With Rei Ao? Her mind went blank. Is this fate?
"I'm afraid other hotels are probably in the same situation,"
the woman added gently. "It's tough to find anywhere in this weather."
Rei Ao glanced at Sumika with a silent question in his eyes. Sumika took a deep breath, recalling what Sawae always said about fortune favoring the bold.
"Th-thenwe'll take it,"
she heard herself say, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Certainly. One moment, please."
The clerk smiled pleasantly and processed their check-in. For Sumika, it all felt like a dream.
"All done. Have a pleasant stay!"
..
In the elevator, the mirror reflected their bedraggled images: wet clothing, reddened faces, eyes not quite daring to meet. Only once they'd entered the room did Sumika feel slightly more alert.
The room was larger than expected, with a big bed in the center, plus a sofa and small coffee table. Sumika stood there, water dripping from her hair onto the carpet.
"Sumika, why don't you bathe first? Otherwise you might catch a cold."
Rei Ao inserted the keycard into the slot, bathing the room in warm light.
"R-right, I will!"
Sumika nodded, grabbing her toiletry bag and hurrying into the bathroom. She shut the door, finally letting out a huge sigh of relief. In the mirror, her face was red as a tomato, yet her eyes sparkled intensely. They'd actually gotten a room together!
Hot water rinsed away the chill, but couldn't wash away the chaos in her mind: She and Rei Ao, alone in one room? The notion both thrilled and terrified her. Rationally, she felt certain nothing would happenthey were just sheltering from the rainbut still!
When Fujimiya Sumika emerged in a bathrobe, Rei Ao was sitting on the sofa, scrolling through his phone. He stood at once upon seeing her. Though Sumika's shy appearance was tempting, Rei Ao averted his eyes politely.
"All set? Then I'll shower, too."
"Mm!"
Sumika nodded stiffly. Rei Ao shed his jacket, set it on the sofa, picked up a hotel bathrobe, and headed to the bathroom. Soon the whoosh of running water reached Sumika's ears.
She sat rigidly on the bed, drying her hair with a towel. Her mind was a battlefield of conflicting thoughts: It's really nothingjust sleeping
Yet she felt anxious, with a glimmer of eagerness.
Time ticked by. Suddenly, rustleRei Ao's jacket slipped off the sofa, startling her from her haze. Going to retrieve it, she spotted a small box fall from its inner pocket onto the carpet with a soft thump.
"Huh?"
She bent down to pick it up, then froze: it was a box of protection. Even if she had zero experience, she recognized it from the grocery store.
"!!!!"
Her mind roared; her body went rigid. Did Rei Aocarry such a thing? Had he been planning this from the start? Did he have that in mind?
Dozens of thoughts bombarded her. She felt helpless. Right then
"Splash"
The bathroom door opened. Rei Ao emerged, towel-drying his hair. Spotting the item in her hand, he, too, paused. Their eyes metSumika's face burned with embarrassment, the box in her grasp practically scalding.
Rei Ao cleared his throat:
"If I say I can explain, would you believe me?"
"II believe you!"
Sumika nodded rapidly, dropping her gaze. Rationally, she trusted him, but she couldn't stop her runaway imagination. The atmosphere in the room became excruciatingly awkward, suffocatingly tense.
~~~
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Chapter 625: Confession, Successful Date Ending!
The mood in the room turned quiet because of the little box of protection. Rei Ao decided to break the silence first.
"Sumika, you were planning to confess to me today, weren't you?"
"Eh?!"
Fujimiya Sumika's mind went blank at his abrupt remark. She'd never expected him to say such a thing at a time like this, leaving her flustered and unsure how to respond.
"If you don't know what to say, you can just nod or shake your head,"
Rei Ao said, coming closer. He rested his hands gently against her cheeks and asked again:
"Have you fallen in love with me?"
""
Looking into Rei Ao's eyes, Sumika's heartbeat thudded faster. There was no mistaking itthis was the feeling of falling in love. She ended up giving a tiny nod, almost involuntarily.
"I suspected as much."
Rei Ao didn't seem surprised. Instead, he let out a small exhale.
"!!!"
Seeing him sigh gave Sumika a jolt of alarm. Could it be that he disliked her? She couldn't help asking:
"Rei Ao-kun, do youhate me?"
"Not at all."
Suddenly, he swept her up, sat down, and placed her on his lap. The sudden closeness and the nearness of his breath caught her off guard, turning her face crimson with heat.
"W-what are you doing?!"
Her fingers gripped his shirt in agitation.
"I'm simply telling you that right now, Sumika, you're incredibly enticing."
Fresh from her bath, she bore a soft fragrance. Coupled with her shy expression and the bathrobe's snug outline, it stirred up an undeniable desire.
