They had only taken dozen steps, but Ai's eyes flickered back him, equal part appriaction and equal part wanted him reveal what was beyond.
"Ne, ne, you seriously aren't going to tell me? I have asked you like hundred times." Ai said, puffing her cheeks out.
Shiki's only responce was a low hum, his eyes straight ahead, his hands stuffed in his pocket as if she wasn't even their.
Her lips curled down Into the most dramatic pout. Cheeks puffed. Brows furrowed. Face turning red, not from the walk, but from how stubborn he was being. She honestly looked like a kitten that'd just been told no.
"Ne, ne, Shiki." She called again, this time, cutely, tilting her head adorably.
Shiki just hummed.
That did it.
She huffed sharply through her nose, then, without even thinking it through, she suddenly hooked her arm around his... tight... and in the process pressed his arm right up against her chest.
Now, Ai didn't had a clue what this meant outside this world. To her, it was just... hey, I'm holding onto you so you can't escape. But to Shiki…
Yeah, no, he couldn't feel anything in real life. But watching himself getting smothered like that...
Yeah, no, he flinched. Not in a bad way... more in the oh crap what do I do with my hands way. And unfortunately for him, his avatar's reaction mirrored it perfectly.
Ai stared at him, pouting, "Even if you won't answer me, don't you dare ignore me." Her tone is softer than how threatening she was trying to sound.
Shiki blinked down at their joined hands, "Why did you..."
"Shut up."
He shut up.
She looked as if she will cry. Her eyes filled up.
Shiki understood. She had already told him. She feels all echoy inside her head when has no one to talk to.
Shiki raised his free, resting it firmly on her head, letting her. "Cute, kitten."
"Don't say that." Ai blushed through her glassy eyes.
His palm slid away from her head, but the effect still lingered.
"Still cute."
"Seriously, stop saying that." Ai pouted.
"No my fault." Shiki said, "You make it too easy to tease you."
"What does that even... Ugh." Ai growled.
She tried to free his arm, but held it tighter instead.
"Kitten, if you keep holding onto me like that, people are gonna get the wrong idea." Shiki smirked.
"Their are no people here." Ai said, looking anywhere but him.
"Still counts."
She huffed, turned her head away… and then suddenly leaned into him hard enough that he stumbled a step.
"Oi—"
"Mm. Fits better now," she said, smug like she'd just won some invisible game.
Shiki raised a brow. "You… just shoving yourself against me for fit checks now?"
"Shut up."
When they hit a patch of uneven ground, she used the excuse to hook her hand higher up his arm, practically clinging. "Don't let me trip," she said, casually.
"You planning to trip?"
"Maybe."
The ground leveled out again, but she didn't move away. Instead she leaned just enough to throw off his balance, making him swerve toward her.
"You're doing that on purpose."
"Maaaybe," she sang.
He side-eyed her. "You're clingy."
She looked at him cutely. "I'm making sure you don't run away."
Shiki chuckled. "From you? Nowhere to run."
For a moment, her steps slowed, and without thinking, she leaned all her weight on his arm. It pulled him slightly toward her, close enough that her hair brushed against his coat.
"Heavy," he teased.
Ai's pout came back full force. "Are you calling me fat?!"
"Nope. Just saying you're really leaning on me."
"Good," She said simply, pushing his arm tighter into her chest. "Means you can't ignore me again."
Her grip never lossened and everything their was rock or patch of ground, leaned in just enough to say, I am not letting go.
Finally, Shiki tilted his chin toward the distance. "You see that cliff?"
She followed his gaze. "Yeah?"
"If we reach there, you'll see it."
Her brows knit, but her mouth curved into a smile. "Fine. But if it's something dumb—"
"You'll still think it's cute," he cut in.
Her hood's ears flopped forward as she groaned. "You're soo smug."
"And?"
"Handsome." She giggled.
Then, without warning, she pulled his arm, dragging him forward. Her grip didn't loosen, if anything, she pulled him closer, the side of her chest brushing him with every step as they broke into a run.
"Come on, slowpoke!" she yelled. "What's wrong? Afraid I'll find whatever you're hiding before you."
Her foot caught on something.
A rock? A root? Didn't matter. The ground just vanished under her.
"gah!"
She fell down with zero grace, on her back, and something heavy fell on top of her.
The gravity decided that Ai will be on her back and Shiki above her.
She blinked, dazed, trying to figure out, anything.
Shiki was there. Above her. On all fours. Close enough that the ends of his stupid dramatic scarf brushed her cheek with every little shift. His hair fell forward, shadows cutting sharp lines over his face.
And his hands?
She looked lower.
Damn! They were planted farmly atop of her boobs.
Not slight touch, brush, atop!
Big palms cupping her boobs through the fabric of her hoodie like it was the most natural place in the world to put them.
He gave a sudden squeeze, her breath hitched, cheeks flamming up. Her heart thudded against her chest so hard, she was sure he can Hear them.
"What are you–" Shiki asked, "Why are you clinging to me so much?"
Ai blinked, twice, then looked at his eyes. They're looking at her, and not where his hands were.
As Shiki couldn't feel her, he didn't felt the continuous squeezes he was giving her.
"I... What?"
Her hands flew up, slapping on her own burning, as if she could hide her burning face.
She was trembling under him, her breath ragged.
"I was just– ugh..." She started, but his hands didn't moved. If anything, they squeezed her boobs even harder, making it harder for her to speak. He was like boulder, a boulder with strong arms, "I... I was just trying to annoy you... T-that's all."
She shifted, which means his hands shifted on her boobs, which made it impossible to moan, but she pressed her hand on her mouth to stop the sound, her eyes glassy.
A hot rush shot right through her chest, spiraling downward in a way that made her stomach flutter and her knees weak.
"Annoy me... Just by holding on to me." He said, accoysingly, and his finger squeezed even harder.
A moan threatened to escape her lips.
"I don't know!" She blurted before she could stop herself, peeking out from behind her fingers. Her cheeks felt like they'd been left out in the sun for hours. "Your arms are just… different from mine, okay? Not soft. Strong. And it felt kinda… good to hold onto."
The second those words escaped her lips, she regretted them and wanted to vanish.
Because... of course... right then, his fingers curled. Squeezing her.
Ai's breath caught so hard it almost hurt.
Heat surged up her neck, flooding her cheeks until she was sure they were glowing red. Her free hand flew up to clamp over her mouth, but... That little sound that escaped wasn't a normal sigh. Not even close.
"What's up with your face?" Shiki tilted his face, still unaware of his naughty hands. He was trying to figure out why are voice has gotten all weird.
And while he was staring, his hands stayed put. Still gripping. Still pressing.
Another absent squeeze.
Her legs twitched against the grass, toes curling.
She nearly jerked, but he was too heavy... his weight kept her pinned flat, her back arched just enough to make her too aware of the way his hands molded against her. "Y-you're…! Shiki, you're…! Just—get off! You're heavy and it's—"
Another squeeze.
Her voice faltered. "weird…"she finished in a whisper that didn't sound nearly as annoyed as she wanted it to.
He shifted his weight to one hand for a moment, just enough but it increased the pressure on her boobs. Even through fabric, it made something in her belly tighten.
She bit down on her lip so hard she tasted a faint sting, trying to stop the noise threatening to escape.
But then—
He did it again.
And this time, the sound slipped out before she could swallow it. It was soft, shaky, just a breath away from a moan. " Anhhh~"
His brow twitched. "…Mm?"
His hands squeezes again.
She couldn't stop her moan this time, "Ahh~"
Finally, Shiki looked down. His eyes widened, his hands, squeezing her. She was now moaning in controllably.
Then, out of instinct, he squeezes her again, and couldn't stop the loud moan that escaped her lips, "Nghhh~ Ahhh~"
"Oh." His voice dipped low, just for a second. Realisation bloomed across his face.
Shiki pulled back Immediately, hands raised, "I- Ai didn't meant to.
"You—" Her brain stuttered over every possible word. Her tongue felt useless, her chest heaving.
Ai's chest still tingled. Her heartbeat still felt like it was pounding in her throat. Shiki extended his hand. She reached out anyway, letting him pull her up with ridiculous ease.
She kept her eyes anywhere but his.
"I am sorry." Shiki said.
"I- I know. You handsome idiot." She said, her voice small. Still in her haze.
Shiki scratched the back of his head.
"I- I don't even know why I was like that." She muttered.
"Maybe because you enjoyed it." Shiki teased.
"Shut up."
"Just look behind you." Shiki said, pointing behind and her.
She blinked, turned—and her jaw dropped.
Below the hill stretched a sprawling, sunlit town, straight out of a storybook. Stone walls, timbered roofs, narrow streets threading between bustling markets. Smoke curled from chimneys, banners flapped in the breeze. It was alive. A big ass civilisation, surrounded by big ass walls.
Her breath caught... not from him this time... but pure wonder. "Whoa…" She leaned forward like she could fall right into it. "It's… amazing."
By the time she remembered herself, he was already beside her, quiet, hands in his pockets, gaze on the view.
Ai glanced at him, then without warning, hooked her arm through his and tugged him close. "Thanks, Shiki. Thank you very much. I love it. You're the best." she murmured, cheeks warm—but this time, only from the sun.
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END OF CHAPTER : 6 : NOT LETTING GO!
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