The sun was warm on Yumi's skin as she followed Pherrie through the field, petals brushing against her ankles with every step. Her fingers still tingled from the lingering touch of his hand, and she kept stealing quick glances at him, her heart fluttering each time their eyes met.
Pherrie's smirk appeared suddenly, slow and deliberate. "You're awfully quiet, Princess," he teased, his voice carrying just enough playfulness to make her cheeks burn.
"I… I'm just enjoying the flowers," Yumi mumbled, looking down, trying to hide the blush spreading across her face.
"Mm-hmm," Pherrie said, leaning a little closer as if he could read her thoughts. "Sure, enjoying the flowers…" His thumb brushed against hers again, light but teasing, sending a shiver up her arm.
Yumi's breath caught. "Y-You're… close," she whispered, voice shaky.
He chuckled softly, eyes glinting with amusement. "Am I? I'm just walking beside my Princess." He let the words linger, the teasing edge making her heart race.
Every step seemed to heighten the tension between them. Pherrie reached out suddenly, plucking a small blossom and tucking it behind Yumi's ear. The gesture was sweet, yet his smirk lingered, daring her to react.
"You look… perfect," he said softly, his tone low, teasing, and intimate all at once. "I might have to get used to this view."
Yumi's cheeks flamed, and she fumbled with her hands, trying not to seem flustered. "I-I'm not that special," she whispered, though her racing pulse betrayed her words.
"Not that special?" Pherrie raised an eyebrow, stepping a hair closer, playful intent in his gaze. "Princess, you're glowing. And trust me, I notice everything."
Her knees felt weak, and she stumbled slightly over a root. Pherrie caught her gently, holding her hand and letting his fingers brush hers intentionally. "Careful," he murmured, voice low, teasing, and a little possessive. "I can't have my Princess tripping in front of me."
Yumi's face heated hotter than the sun above them. The teasing tone, the close proximity, the warmth of his hand—it was all too much, yet thrilling. Her heart pounded like a drum, and for the first time, she realized how dizzying it felt to be noticed this way.
Pherrie leaned back slightly, smirk still in place, watching her reaction with deliberate amusement. "Relax, Princess," he said softly. "We have all the time in the world."
Yumi let out a shaky breath, a mixture of nervous laughter and relief. The flowers around them swayed gently in the breeze, petals drifting like tiny confetti, and the world seemed to shrink to just the two of them—walking, teasing, and discovering the subtle thrill of being dangerously close.
Every brush of his hand, every teasing glance, made her pulse race. And though she wanted to resist, a small part of her loved the warmth, the intimacy, and the delicious tension that came with being so near to Pherrie.
This walk, this moment—it was hers, chosen, and spiced with the unpredictable thrill of Pherrie's playful attention. And Yumi couldn't help but wonder how much more dangerous, yet exciting, it could get.