Morning.
Sunlight streamed through a gap in the curtains, casting a narrow strip of light across the floor. A faint, sweet fragrance lingered in the air.
Uesugi Hara flexed his fingers, only to feel a numbness in his arm.
He slowly opened his eyes and looked down to see Karuizawa Kei sleeping peacefully with her head on his arm.
She'd used him as a pillow for half the night, and his blood had nearly stopped circulating.
She lay on her side, her long hair spread across the pillow, a few strands brushing her cheek. One hand lightly clutched the hem of his shirt, while the other rested on his chest. Her breathing was even and her brow relaxed. The vulnerability and tension from yesterday had faded, leaving her with a rare, gentle softness.
The loose collar of her pajamas shifted slightly with each breath, revealing a glimpse of the pale pink skin beneath—a touch of innocent allure.
Uesugi Hara breathed in the sweet scent lingering around him, then looked away and gazed at the pale ceiling.
Last night's scenes were still vivid in his mind—her red-rimmed eyes as she said, "Even so, it's better than being abandoned"; her trembling hand pressing his against her body; and the scorching warmth of her palm... The soft, delicate warmth still seemed to linger in his hand.
He hadn't chosen to take her up on her offer last night. For one thing, he wanted to give her time to reconsider; there was no rush, and she could decide after they got back to school. For another, it wasn't convenient on the cruise ship, and any traces would be difficult to deal with.
As for asking her to do that, he'd only meant to test her resolve further. He hadn't expected her to be willing