It was the smell of food that lured her away from laying back down. Or maybe it was the sudden desire to see Yuhi, but after the call, she came downstairs.

There is something about Terashima Yuhi cooking that has her feeling nervous and in a daze. She has not moved for the last few minutes and stared at him. 'Somehow, this feels like they are married.' Him cooking for her like this after she wakes up feeling unwell. Since they moved in together, Sumire noticed these things, but she didn't pay much attention to it until now.

This is very strange.

Why is Yuhi cooking for her like this?

"Hey, love." Yuhi greeted with a bright smile. "Come over here? I haven't finished yet, but I want you to get closer."

Sumire nodded dumbly, and it felt like he used a spell to call her over since she walked over obediently.

The moment she came over, Yuhi stopped cooking and backed her against the counter. He intertwined their hands together.

"So, how do you feel?"

"Better."

She woke up feeling oddly refreshed. It seems talking with Yuhi got rid of the negative feeling.

"That's good. Also, I hope you don't mind that I changed you."

"Why?"

"A fever. You were burning up."

'So it was something like that.' Then again, she did come here without anything. So it made sense Yuhi changed her into his clothes. Of course, that is the reason. This man does not have any ulterior motives.

Sumire spotted the book in the corner. "Hamlet?"

"Mm, you like it, right?"

"I do. Shakespeare's tragedies are my favorite."

"Then what about his comedies?"

"I don't dislike it, but I am not fond of them either." She replied honestly.

"Ah, so you don't believe in happy endings?"

For some reason, when Yuhi said that, she sensed something different in his tone. 'I don't believe in happiness, to begin with.' But Sumire knew better than to reply that way.

She took a deep breath before she answered. "I don't believe in a happy ending without misfortune. Before we can even get our happy endings, we have to experience much hardship and pain first."

"So, your saying true happiness cannot exist without misfortune?"

"There can be no light without darkness."

Yuhi laughed. "That's true. But you know Sumire, I believe in happiness without misfortune."

Sumire already felt like she knew what he was hinting at, but she asked anyway. "You do?"

"I believe in happiness with you."

"Yuh-" Sumire realized that he was just waiting for a chance. She noticed that he was gradually getting closer the more they spoke, but she ignored it. She is in a half-dazed state when Yuhi closed the remaining distance between them and kissed her.

The way he gently held her face and softly called out her name made her feel like crying. Why does he treat her so preciously? Why does this man love somebody like her?

It was the usual passionate kiss, and yet the atmosphere did not get heated up. There was something sweet about the way he kissed her. After a few minutes, Yuhi drew back, but he still cupped her face in his hands.

Sometimes whenever Yuhi kissed her, she felt disgusted with herself. How could he touch somebody as vile as her?

He brushed their foreheads together. "Good morning."

"Aha." She laughed softly. This man has the odd ability to make her smile despite feeling so upset moments ago.

"Are you happy?"

"Yes."

She is, she is happy when she is with him.

A pleasant meal, cuddling and playing games after they finished. Then a bit of kissing led to this situation with her on the couch. Her shirt half raised, exposing her stomach.

"Does it hurt?" Yuhi asked.

Yuhi currently had his face buried between her legs. She felt his lips move, and she gasped at his touch. It was an odd feeling, and yet she liked the attention he gave her. It was strangely pleasant.

Sumire shook her head. "No, but uh, it feels good."

Yuhi chuckled. "You're driving me crazy." he kissed her gently. "But are you sure you want to continue? I know your still not feeling well."

'But didn't he want to do something?' Rather, in this situation, how can he think of stopping?

"You know I can control myself. We can stop now."

Holding back must be painful for him, though. She extended her hand out and gently caressed his hair.

"Yuhi, you don't have to stop."

"Mmm, thank you." He kissed her again. "But I won't do much."

'Why is he so careful with me?'

She clenched the sheets tightly when she felt him move inside her.

"Ah--!"

"Damn…wait." Yuhi put a few extra pillows around her. "Sorry, that was too sudden."

He seemed genuinely regretful, so Sumire leaned forward to kiss him. "It's okay, Yuhi."

"You really need to have more awareness. My Sumire."

…

She heard of many tales of after sex talk from her classmates before, but Yuhi is not the talkative type, and neither is she. After such a passionate moment, Yuhi would normally go out to the balcony and smoke. But he had his moments like today where he would spoil her.

Sumire's gaze fell on the man who was caressing her hair as he spoke on the phone. 'Waking up to him caressing me like this is so nice.'

"I got it already. But let me spend some more time with her. Cool, I'll fax you the stuff over."

'Oh…he is doing it again, skipping work for me.' But Sumire didn't want to let him go. It's okay to be selfish, right? Sumire sat up and wrapped her arms around him, clinging to him tightly.

"You already heard what happened, right? Make sure to take care of it. Yeah, I got it. Later." With those words said, Yuhi closed the phone.

Yuhi turned to her. "Did you sleep well?"

Is he asking that kind of question now? He gently caressed her cheeks again. "Don't act so shy. I know it's hard to adapt to, but I want you to get used to it." Yuhi trailed off. "Or maybe it's unpleasant for you?"

Sumire frantically shook her head, and Yuhi laughed.

"Then that's good."

"Yuhi, uh, can I get some new clothes?" It was awkward asking.

"Right." Yuhi trailed off. "I asked Atushi to get your stuff, but he isn't here yet."

"You have other shirts, though?"

Yuhi blinked before he awkwardly looked away. "That was just a last resort."

A last resort? But she likes wearing his clothes, and it has his scent on it. A scent that she cannot get rid of, something she wants more of. She felt a throbbing pain in her eyes, and she wants this person so much.

Oh, it's this feeling again, a scorching sensation in her throat and her desires. Her thoughts broke off when Yuhi caressed her cheeks again. "It's okay."

Just two words, and in the next second, Sumire pinned him down onto the bed. Her lips at his neck. "This is crazy." She mumbled.

"Crazy, but this is what we are. Don't be afraid, Sumire."

How can she be afraid when he is here next to her? This person underestimates her feelings for him.