Inside the restaurant's private room.
Arthur's words had just fallen when Kasumigaoka Utaha slowly opened her eyes. Her face was still pink from the kiss. She shot him a charming, pretend-annoyed glare.
"What kind of 'compensation' was that? You were clearly just taking advantage of me."
"I didn't even say yes. Who told you to just kiss me on your own?"
"Believe it or not, I could call the police and have you detained."
"And that was my first kiss."
As she said the last line, a real shyness flickered in her eyes.
"Oooh, scary. But I don't believe you'd actually let them take me away," Arthur said, the corners of his lips lifting. Then he added, all calm and cheeky, "Besides, it was my first kiss too, Utaha. So you didn't lose out."
…Today's first kiss.
…Wait, no — today's first kiss had already been given to Akasha Bradlipa.
Then we'll… borrow tomorrow's first kiss.
"That is absolutely not the same," Utaha said, rolling her eyes at him.
Then — a beat.
Her wine-red eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Hold on."
"You said it was your first kiss… so why were you so good at it?"
She stared straight into Arthur's eyes.
She clearly wanted to see through him.
After all, in that kiss just now, she — a total newbie — had been pulled along the whole time. His rhythm, his pressure, his teasing… none of it felt like a 'first time.'
Hearing her go full white-room deduction mode, Arthur's heart moved, but his face stayed relaxed. He smiled like it was nothing.
"Maybe I'm just self-taught."
"You know I'm a super genius. Picking up kiss technique fast is perfectly reasonable, right?"
"Really?" Utaha's eyes narrowed again, still suspicious.
Their gazes met.
Arthur stayed calm and even nodded. "Of course. If you don't believe me… I can put my hand on your heart and say it."
"Put your hand on my… heart…"
Utaha blinked.
Then she instantly realized what he meant.
Her pretty face flushed bright again and she gave him another sideways look.
"So kouhai-kun has stopped hiding his pervy little desires, huh? If you dare, then go ahead."
The words had barely left her mouth…
"Okay."
Arthur's smile hooked — and he reached out.
"—!!"
Utaha's eyes went wide, her lips parting just a little as she stared at his hand right on the center of her chest.
Her peach-colored face turned even more pink.
Right then Arthur withdrew his hand.
"Someone's coming."
Knock, knock, knock.
There was a knock at the door.
Utaha snapped back, both hands flying up to cover her chest. She glared at him with shy, watery eyes, then hurried back to her seat and sat down like nothing had happened.
"Come in," Arthur called.
"Excuse us."
The staff pushed the door open and brought in their drinks.
The food would take a bit longer.
When the door closed again, Arthur glanced at Utaha — and yes, his gaze very naturally swept over her just-now-molested curve.
"...Pervert."
Seeing him smile like that — and seeing where his eyes were looking — Utaha felt a weird, tingly sensation right where his hand had been a second ago.
Her face, which had just cooled down, started heating up again.
She glared at him and snapped in embarrassment.
How could she forget?
Arthur was an action-type man. If you gave him a chance, he would absolutely do it.
And she'd just handed him one.
Arthur only laughed. "That was great. Scold me a few more times."
"If you're still not satisfied, you can even take off your shoes and step on me with those black-stocking legs."
Utaha: "…"
All right, so that's how you wanna play it.
She gave him a long white-eyed look, cheeks still pink, and snorted, "So you want a reward? No."
"That's really a shame," Arthur said with exaggerated disappointment.
Lunch passed just like that — bickering, flirting, pushing, pulling.
About half an hour later, at 12:20, Arthur and Kasumigaoka Utaha left the restaurant.
They went to Chidorigafuchi.
Fingers interlaced, they strolled slowly along the lakeside path.
There were almost no other people around.
It was lunchtime.
Utaha tilted her head slightly to look up at him.
Sunlight was pouring over his shoulders.
Arthur's perfectly sculpted profile was right in her field of view.
She… stared a little too long.
She wasn't the type to swoon over looks.
But this was the boy she liked — and he was stupidly handsome — so she couldn't help it.
Maybe this was what people in Huaxia called "in a lover's eyes, even a cabbage is a beauty."
Arthur felt her gaze, so he turned to meet it. Their eyes touched. He smiled. "Like what you see?"
"...I do."
Utaha came back to herself.
Her cheeks reddened again, but her lips couldn't help curving up.
Then she stopped.
"What is it?" Arthur stopped too, facing her.
Utaha looked straight at him and smiled. "So… what are we now?"
Arthur smiled back. "We're boyfriend and girlfriend, obviously."
Utaha's heart gave a happy little thump.
The smile on her lips instantly grew brighter — she couldn't hide it.
But she still blinked and said, "But kouhai-kun… you haven't actually confessed to me."
Arthur's eyes rolled playfully. "And why can't you be the one to confess to me, Utaha?"
"Eh…"
Utaha froze.
Then she laughed. "Because usually the boy confesses to the girl?"
Arthur chuckled. "You said it yourself — usually."
"We're not 'usual.'"
"Tell you what — do you think I like you more… or you like me more?"
"Uh…"
Utaha blinked, brought her hands together in front of her, and pinched her chin like she was thinking seriously.
Arthur watched, amused. "Does it take that long to think?"
Utaha's eyes rippled. Then she said, a little embarrassed, "Then I'll say… I probably like kouhai-kun a little more."
Her cheeks reddened again.
Being the one to admit it out loud was still embarrassing.
"There we go." Arthur's lips hooked, like a fox who'd just tricked a rabbit.
Utaha: "?"
Arthur smiled wider. "Since you like me a little more… of course you should be the one to confess."
"Ah…"
Utaha stared at him, a little speechless, then finally gave him a helpless, sweet look and said with a smile:
"Then… kouhai-kun, would you like to be my boyfriend?"
"Of course. I'd be honored."
Arthur nodded, still smiling.
Hearing that, Utaha's face bloomed into a clear, happy smile.
She and Arthur had finally made it official.
Arthur pulled Kasumigaoka Utaha into his arms and, close to her ear, said softly:
"Then, Utaha… would you like to be my wife forever?"
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