The luxurious guest room had settled into a gentle twilight, with only the soft glow of a bedside lamp casting warm amber light across the space. The rest of the room existed in that perfect romantic dimness that seemed designed specifically for moments like this.
This lighting is almost too perfect. Like someone planned it specifically for… well, exactly what's happening right now.
I found myself standing at the massive floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the sprawling tapestry of Tokyo's nighttime landscape. Skyscrapers stretched endlessly in every direction, their windows twinkling like earthbound stars. Neon signs painted the streets below in brilliant blues, electric pinks, and vibrant greens—the city's pulse made visible through light and color.
It's like looking at the heartbeat of an entire metropolis. All those lights, all those people, all those stories playing out simultaneously…
The distant stars above seemed to be having a conversation with the artificial constellation spread out below, creating this dreamlike atmosphere that made everything feel surreal and heightened.
And here I am, in this incredible room, with the most amazing girl I've ever met, looking out at one of the most beautiful views in the world. If someone told me a week ago that this would be my life, I'd have laughed them out of the room.
I could feel Kana's presence behind me even without turning around—that subtle shift in the room's energy that happened whenever she was nearby. When I caught her reflection in the window glass, I saw her sitting on the edge of the bed, her gaze fixed on me with an intensity that made my skin tingle.
Is she… watching me? There's something different about the way she's looking at me. Something that's making my heart do acrobatics.
Her face was flushed that beautiful shade of pink I was becoming addicted to, and there was something dreamy and unfocused in her expression. Her breathing seemed a little quicker than normal, causing the gentle rise and fall of her chest to become more pronounced.
She looks… affected. Really affected. By what, exactly? Just standing here looking out the window?
Even though I'd never particularly thought of myself as someone who could captivate anyone just by existing, there was something undeniably thrilling about seeing that kind of reaction from her. The way she was looking at me—like she was seeing something she'd never noticed before—sent electricity coursing through my veins.
Maybe there's something to be said for the romantic atmosphere. Or maybe… maybe she's just as caught up in this moment as I am.
I heard the soft rustle of fabric and gentle footsteps against the plush carpet. Through the window's reflection, I watched her rise from the bed and move toward me with deliberate, almost hypnotic slowness.
She's coming over here. My heart is about to explode out of my chest. Stay cool, Sousuke. Whatever happens, stay cool.
Then I felt it—the gentle pressure of her delicate hands against my back, her touch so light it was almost like a whisper against my skin.
Oh. Oh wow. That feels… incredible.
Her palms were warm through the thin fabric of my shirt, and I could feel her exploring the contours of my shoulders and back with a curiosity that was both innocent and incredibly intimate. There was something almost reverent about the way she was touching me, like she was discovering something precious.
The sensation of her hands tracing the lines of muscle along my back sent waves of warmth radiating through my entire body. I'd never realized how sensitive that area could be, how much meaning could be conveyed through such simple contact.
Despite the racing of my pulse and the heat building under my skin, there was something incredibly calming about her touch. It was like being wrapped in the world's most perfect security blanket—warm, safe, and completely right.
Then her arms slid around me from behind, crossing over my chest as she pressed herself against my back in the most tender embrace I'd ever experienced.
The two of us stood there like that, silhouetted against the glittering cityscape, her smaller form molding perfectly against mine. In the reflection of the floor-to-ceiling glass, we looked like figures in a contemporary masterpiece—all soft edges and warm light and quiet intimacy.
If someone could capture this moment and hang it in a gallery, it would probably be called something like 'Modern Romance' or 'City Dreams.' And people would stare at it and wonder what the story was behind it.
The silence stretched between us, filled with the kind of contentment that didn't need words. I could feel every breath she took, could sense the way she seemed to be breathing in my scent, could practically hear her heartbeat against my back.
Without warning, I turned around in her arms, the sudden movement catching her completely off guard. In one fluid motion, gathered her against my chest, my arms encircling her as I looked down into her startled face.
Well, maybe one thing could improve on it.
Her cheeks were painted that gorgeous shade of rose pink that never failed to make my chest tight, and her eyes—those beautiful dark eyes—were darting everywhere except directly at mine, shy and nervous and absolutely captivating.
She's so beautiful it actually hurts to look at her sometimes. Especially when she gets all flustered like this.
The way she was avoiding my gaze, the little tremor running through her body, the quick flutter of her breathing—everything about her was screaming that she was feeling exactly the same overwhelming rush of emotion that I was.
Time to stop overthinking and start doing what protagonists are supposed to do.
[Super-fast response skill: activated]
Let's see just how beautiful that blush can get, Kana-chan.