Back To Our Home

(Shin's PoV)

–

And then, we walked the rest of the way toward home in our usual "quiet", with the difference that Akane was holding tighter than usual.

"F-Fuck... I feel cold..." She said. "Your jacket is useless, Ishikawa. 5/10." 

"Blame the school, not me," I replied. "Don't think that you're the only one who's suffering." 

"I have every right to express my discomfort, Ishikawa. And you're supposed to endure everything." Akane squeezed my arm. "Ah, damn... I–" And she sneezed.

"Are you okay, Akane?" I asked. 

"Yeah... It's just the cold, I think," she said, scratching her nose. "Tch– move your ass." 

"Okay," I replied, actually worried. Dealing with a normal Akane is hard, but dealing with a probably ill Akane would be hell.

And so, we walked faster and then reached home in about fifteen minutes.

"Finally..." Akane said.

As soon as we stepped inside, the warmth hit us both like a wall. The lone wolf kicked off her boots without slowing down, then ran straight to my room and came back wearing only one of my oversized hoodies. 

Then, she went straight for the kitchen, pulling the fridge open with the authority of a military commander.

"Okay. Let's see..." She announced, watching what was there. "Leftovers remaining: Mazesoba: Gone. Rice: Minimal. Egg: One." She then closed the fridge, moving her gaze to me. "We're ordering. Any objection?"

I raised my hands.

"No, boss. No objection." I replied, trying to contain my laugh.

"Good boy. Ah– ATCHOOO!" She sneezed, but this time she sounded like an atomic bomb.

That was hilarious.

"Well..." I giggled. "Need something?" I asked, handing out a small tissue.

"Yeah... thanks..." She said, grabbing it and cleaning her nose. "I hope I didn't catch a cold, because in that case I won't let you leave my side even for a single instant, you know?" 

"It's fine. I have a first aid kit in the bathroom with some medicines if you need them. Maybe... wanna prepare some tea after dinner?" I asked.

"Oh! That's a nice idea. It's been a while since we had it, but..." She started thinking. "There's no Lapsang Souchong here, I'm sure. So no."

"Okay, we'll go to your apartment tomorrow, then," I said. "I only have simple green tea, but that should work, at least for tonight." 

"Tch–I hate simple things; otherwise, I wouldn't have gambled for 8 years, you know?" She then leaned close to land a small kiss on my cheek. "Now... comes the hardest decision of my life..."

She then dropped onto the couch, grabbed her phone, and started scrolling through the delivery apps with a focus I've rarely seen in her.

"Come here, Ishikawa. I need your physical presence to feel better. Don't distract me." She said, patting the spot next to her. 

With a sigh, I sat down next to her, and she immediately swung her legs across my lap as if it were a reflex. 

I rested my hand on her ankle and looked at the ring again. The kanji were hard to read in the low light of the living room, but I could feel them under my thumb when I turned the band.

For an instant, I imagined an old man's hands, years ago, carving words he believed in.

"One day, the right owner will arrive." 

"Shin, I'm about to ask a life-or-death question." Akane said, her voice sharp.

"What is it?" I asked, while my hand gently caressed her skin. I could even feel her body reacting to me, as sometimes she involuntarily pulled her leg back when the touch tickled her.

"Udon or curry? I won't ask again, so think about it." She asked. I knew she was deadly serious.

"Udon. 100% sure." I replied.

"Wrong answer. We're getting curry." She typed furiously. "Extra rice for me and normal rice for you. And... Side of gyoza because I've earned them."

"Huh? When did you earn gyoza?" 

"By being your girlfriend. This is an ultra-full-time job that requires a lot of effort. And I've never received a paycheck until now, you know?" She didn't look up from the screen. Not once. "The gyoza are my bonus."

"Understood. I won't ask any further questions or ask why my answer was not correct." I sighed.

"Well, you know I like food with a particular flavour. Curry was the only right choice, darling. Remember it for next time." She then looked up at me and smiled mischievously before returning to the phone.

And then, she finished the order, tossed the phone onto the cushion beside her, and wriggled her toes against my thighs.

"Forty minutes until the rider arrives," she said. "Entertain me, Ishikawa."

"How? Be specific, please." I said.

"I don't know. Just try to exist and be interesting, maybe? You're smart, so figure it out." She said, while her left foot gently caressed my inner thigh.

But before I could even do something, her phone buzzed. 

"Ah. Sounds like someone had perfect timing in interrupting a sweet moment..." she sighed before picking up her phone. "Oh. That's a surprise. It's Hoshiko"

She then held the phone where I could see it.

Hoshiko: BABY WOLF! VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION! IT'S A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION! Do you and your boyfriend have plans this weekend? I'm asking because I don't, and my sterilizer is starting to judge me, and if I spend another Saturday alone, I'm going to tattoo my own furniture out of desperation.

Hoshiko: ALSO! Tell your beloved boyfriend that I've found a new manga to give to him, and I also have to discuss something REALLY important about the one we read in middle school! 

Hoshiko: OH! And I found a very nice ramen place. Don't worry, it's not a commercial chain. The owner is 80 and hates everything, and everyone just like us, and apparently the broth takes two days. I would've already gone, but it would be better with you. So... Saturday? Please? I'll bring more chocolate! And... about that request... if you remember... I also prepared very cool concept tattoos for Shin.

For an instant, I saw Akane's eyes narrowing for an instant before she started typing.

"For your information, Shin, my answer is already positive. No objection." She smiled.

"I know. Don't worry about it." I sighed.

"Good boy," She replied.

Akane: Yes. 100% yes. And about the tattoos, the boy here is still not mentally ready. Even for that. So... let's just go there. Saturday, 18.

Hoshiko's reply came almost instantly.

Hoshiko: YAYYYY! GOOD! I'LL MENTALLY PREPARE FOR IT! THANK YOU, BABY WOLF! LOVE YOUUUUUUUUU! 

After reading her energetic reply, Akane smiled and dropped the phone back onto the cushion, settled deeper into the couch, and pressed her cold foot harder against my thigh before slowly moving it there.

"There," she said, satisfied. "Weekend handled, dinner ordered, ring acquired, boyfriend entertained." She folded her arms behind her head and looked at the ceiling with the same expression of someone who won a football game. "I'm an incredible girlfriend, am I not?"

"You are, that's for sure..." I said, and I meant it.

She glanced sideways at me, and the corner of her mouth moved.

"Say it again, ghost boy." She demanded.

"You're an incredible girlfriend." 

"One more time, but slower." She teased, while her foot was now caressing that part of me.

"Akane..." I called her.

"Fine. Once was enough, I guess..." She said, smiling nonchalantly. "But if you say it one more time, I might reward you." 

"Ah... well..." I cleared my throat. "You're the most amazing girlfriend ever." 

In that moment, Akane's foot stopped, and she moved her gaze to me.

"Correct answer, Ishikawa..." She whispered. "You clearly deserve a reward now."

"I'm very curious. What kind of reward, Akane?" I asked, gently caressing her inner thigh.

"Don't ask dumb questions, dumbhead..." She said, her foot now moving against my thing again. "Can we really be faster than the delivery guy? We have thirty-eight minutes left, I guess." Her movement became more specific, with her toes now gently caressing the tip through my pants. "And will you have energy for later? Because I won't make you sleep later. Today I feel more turned on than usual. Sooooo..."

"You know that I always have energy for that, Akane. That's the only thing where I'd never fail, and you know it." I replied. 

"Good. Veeery goood!" She smiled before immediately switching position.

In the blink of an eye, she positioned herself on top of me, with her hands resting on my jawline.

"You know that I love you a lot, right?" She whispered against my ear, moving her hips against me.

"I know that... why?" I couldn't help but caress her curves under the hoodie she wore, with my hands ending on her soft butt. 

The best part was that Akane wasn't wearing anything except that hoodie.

"Because... I will be rougher than usual today, and I want you to be the same. Soooo..." She pulled back a little, enough to stare into my eyes, her lips a few inches away from mine. "Don't hold back. Hurt me if you feel to, okaaay?" She said, smiling, before gently biting her lower lip for an instant.

I stared at her for a few instants. Her words actually hit me.

"Okay. I promise." That's the only thing I could say.

And in that moment, Akane immediately leaned in to kiss me deeply...