When she looked up at me, her cheeks were already flushed.
"You know... after... last time..."
Her voice trailed off. She took a breath, then started again, faster:
"I told you I loved you from the beginning. And it's true, Kaito. I've thought about it. I never saw you as family, but as a man."
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear; her gesture trembled a little.
"I have no experience, so I think I was just teasing you to get your attention."
The silence that followed had a strange weight.
I could still feel the coolness of the stone beneath my feet, but inside, it was the rising heat.
Under the bed, a muffled creak made me flinch—a quiet breath I chose to ignore.
I sat down next to her. Our knees brushed, and the world seemed to close in on this trivial contact.
I searched for words, then placed my hands on hers; they were warm, feverish.
