Sakurabara Momo felt as though time had slowed to a crawl.
Seconds stretched into what felt like eternities as she remained wrapped in Nozomi's warm embrace. That warmth wasn't just physical—it spread through her body like wildfire, igniting her nerves and setting her face aflame. Her cheeks burned, her heart pounded, and her breathing grew rapid, each exhale hotter than the last.
Her lips tingled.
First kiss.
She hadn't prepared herself. At all. She had no idea what to do. The entire moment had hit her like a freight train of raw emotion. Panic, joy, disbelief, and excitement all swirled in her head like a whirlwind of sakura petals. She was so overwhelmed that she even forgot to breathe through her nose.
Her lungs screamed. Her vision blurred.
Noticing her growing faint, Nozomi gently released her.
"Haa... Haa...!"
Momo gasped for air, her chest rising and falling with visible effort. Her eyes were slightly moist, lips slightly parted, and face redder than a steamed bun.
"N-Nozomi-kun... you... you're so bad!"
Nozomi just smiled, unfazed. With a familiar boldness, his hand traced a smooth path along her slender waist, his touch filled with silent confidence. Momo's body tensed, and before she could say anything, she found herself clinging to his neck.
Her face was scarlet. Her entire body buzzed.
He wasn't even trying to hide it.
Capital letter bold: shameless!
Yet despite the shame and embarrassment, she didn't push him away. His touch made her head spin—light, teasing, and firm all at once. Her heart thudded like a taiko drum.
"What's wrong? Regretting it already?" Nozomi teased, watching her teary, flustered expression with obvious amusement.
Momo shook her head slowly, pressing her cheek against his chest to hide her embarrassment.
"No... I don't regret it. After all, I dragged your name through the mud... I deserve a little punishment. I just... I'm not used to it yet..."
Nozomi's lips curled into a smug grin. He didn't let her go. Instead, he continued his gentle teasing, admiring the gorgeous senior in his arms. Her beauty was undeniable—and her curves, unforgettable.
Hazuki Yasuo was a complete fool for rejecting someone like this. But Nozomi? He knew better than to waste such an opportunity.
"Don't be scared, Senpai," he whispered, leaning closer. "This is all part of adapting, right? Besides, don't forget who I'm playing today."
Without warning, he smacked her gently on the butt.
"Kyaa!?"
Momo yelped, glaring at him with teary eyes. "Wuwuwu... It hurts! You're not pretending at all—you're just being your shameless self!"
Nozomi didn't deny it. With a mischievous sparkle in his eyes, he leaned in again, capturing her lips in another kiss.
Her heart trembled.
Momo stared at him with teary eyes—this infuriating, audacious boy who acted with such clarity and confidence. Yet instead of resisting, her arms gently wrapped around his neck.
He wasn't like Hazuki Yasuo. He wasn't afraid to see her. To acknowledge her.
Unlike Hazuki Yasuo, who had turned away from her feelings.
Nozomi embraced them—embraced her.
That alone made her want to believe in him.
Her eyes fluttered closed.
Somewhere deep in her chest, a little voice whispered: This boy sees me.
But as sweet as the moment was, another pair of eyes watched from the shadows.
Behind a tree, a flat-chested girl wearing a baseball cap clenched her fists, her glare burning holes into Nozomi.
Her idol—President Sakura—was being devoured by that shameless pervert!
She pulled out a pair of small scissors, trembling with rage.
How dare he!?
He had kissed her... held her... even smacked her!? Unforgivable!
"Tch! He really is a disgusting pervert!" she growled.
Her eyes blazed with yandere fury.
Nozomi, however, didn't even glance her way. Let the yandere stew in her envy. If she tried something, she'd find he wasn't so easy to handle.
But... hadn't he come here just to play pretend?
Now, it was hard to tell where the line had been drawn—or if it ever existed.
Momo clung to him, trying to push him back, but her hands refused to let go. She felt like she was melting.
The heat between them was unbearable.
Nozomi continued, unwavering.
He told himself it was part of the act.
She wanted a perverted boyfriend?
Fine.
He'd give her exactly what she asked for.
And perhaps, just perhaps... a little more.
...…
Finally, it ended.
Sakurabara Momo slumped into Nozomi's arms like a deflated balloon. Her breath trembled as she leaned on him, her cheeks tinted the color of cherry blossoms in bloom. She looked up at him with a half-resentful, half-shy expression, her large, glistening eyes filled with both fluster and a faint tenderness.
"Nozomi... you really have no self-control!"
He grinned playfully, brushing a loose strand of hair from her cheek. "But Cherry-senpai, wasn't I just following the script? You wanted a perverted boyfriend—so I'm just doing my best to meet expectations."
She pouted and gently thumped his chest. "There's acting, and then there's going too far! You really kissed me!"
Her hand hovered near her lips, as if trying to confirm the sensation hadn't been a dream. Her heart pounded like a taiko drum during summer festivals. The more she looked at him, the more hopelessly handsome she thought he was.
"Do you hate it?" Nozomi asked with a sly tilt of his head.
Sakurabara Momo shook her head slowly. "Even though you're a shameless flirt... surprisingly, I don't hate it. But—don't push your luck. That was my first kiss!"
Nozomi chuckled, ruffling her soft pink hair. "I'll take responsibility then. From now on, I'm your official perverted shield. If any trouble dares approach you, just call me and I'll appear like a summoned beast."
Momo laughed, covering her mouth as her eyes softened. "Alright, Nozomi. I'll make good use of you."
But deep inside, she knew she wouldn't abuse his kindness. She wasn't that selfish.
Nozomi smiled faintly. "Still can't believe that guy rejected you. What kind of blind idiot turns away someone as adorable as you?"
She glanced away bitterly. "Let's just say... some people only see what they want to see. I've stopped caring."
"Then let's not talk about him."
Nozomi gently ran his fingers through her hair again. Today, she hadn't styled it into her usual braided loops or donut puffs. Instead, her long, silky pink hair flowed freely behind her like a waterfall, perfectly framing her elegant face. She looked more like a graceful anime heroine than a student council president.
She looked up at him and sighed. "I thought you'd play along gently. I didn't think you'd go all-out on the first move."
Nozomi gave her a smug grin. "I'm a dangerous man, senpai. You threw yourself into the lion's den—you should've expected to be pounced on. I'm not some sweet, defenseless shoujo lead."
"You're the worst!" Momo squealed and gave him a playful slap on the arm, her cheeks burning red. Then she leaned into his chest again, breathing quietly.
Even though her mind was spinning, one thought remained constant—she didn't want to leave this warmth. This embrace felt like home.
But she knew reality wouldn't let her stay.
She was the student council president of Toshobu High, not a free spirit who could transfer schools. And Nozomi... he had an entire fleet of girls trailing after him back at Sobu High. Was she really ready to battle for a place on that ship?
Maybe it was better this way.
A stolen date. A shared secret. A fleeting warmth under the setting sun.
As the sky darkened into twilight, the two finally parted ways. Nozomi walked her to the tram station.
"See you again soon, Cherry-senpai."
"I'll definitely come find you again. You'd better be ready, perverted boyfriend!"
"Always ready!"
Nozomi waved as the tram doors slid shut.
Back at school, Sakurabara Momo bumped into Kusami Tsukimi.
"Sakura, what happened to your lips? They're all red and swollen!"
"Eh? Oh, um... I just had something spicy for dinner. Really spicy!"
She laughed awkwardly, scratching her cheek. No way she could admit the truth—that she had deliberately baited Nozomi into another kiss... and secretly loved it.
**************
Things are so twisted here, I can't understand who's the stalker. In the anime, Sanshokuin (Pansy), is the yandere stalker obsessed with Amatsuyu "Joro" Kisaragi.
But here, we already know about her and there has been no mention of Joro so far. Besides, it's a girl that's stalking Momo.
If you can figure it out, I'll give 3 extra chapters this coming week.
Have a nice week ahead!!!