Of course, her smile was kind. Kageyama Sora's description had simply made her think the other girl was an interesting character with a strong personality.
Her teasing made Kageyama Sora's ears burn. He suddenly realized he'd talked too much about Tohka without noticing—and that he seemed to know his cousin rather too well.
They turned the corner, and the shop belonging to the brand Fukuji Mihoko had mentioned came into view.
They pushed open the door and entered. A dazzling array of jewelry glimmered softly beneath the warm yellow lights.
The prices weren't cheap, but every piece was truly unique. The shop even noted that each item was a one-of-a-kind designer piece.
Fukuji Mihoko went straight to a display case in the corner. Beneath its glass cover lay a silver pendant shaped like a mahjong tile. Tiny pearls were set into its circles, and silver vines curled around its edges.
"What do you think of this?" She picked up the pendant and let the light catch the lustre of the pearls. "It suits her tastes, and it carries a special meaning, too."
As Kageyama Sora watched the pendant sway between her fingers, he suddenly thought of Ryumonbuchi Toka's pale fingers as she drew tiles. They were equally graceful, yet carried entirely different warmth.
"This is the one." He took the gift box from the shop assistant. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Fukuji Mihoko carefully choosing a ribbon for the packaging, and, on impulse, said, "Why don't I pick out a gift for you, too?"
"Huh?" Fukuji Mihoko's earlobes instantly flushed pink. "You don't have to. I'm already happy I could help you..."
"Think of it as a thank-you." Kageyama Sora picked up a bracelet from the counter. Tiny strawberry patterns were engraved on it. It wasn't overly classical just because it was a luxury item; instead, it had a playful, girlish charm.
Before she could refuse, he had the shop assistant wrap it and place it in her hands.
Seeing that Kageyama Sora had already paid, Fukuji Mihoko could only accept it with a smile.
As they left the shop, a fine drizzle began to fall again.
Fukuji Mihoko looked a little frustrated. "Ah... I forgot to bring an umbrella."
Before she had finished speaking, Kageyama Sora took off his suit jacket and held it over both their heads. The gesture was so natural, as though he'd rehearsed it a thousand times.
"There's a nice Western restaurant nearby." He lowered his head and met Fukuji Mihoko's dewy, fawn-like... left eye. "The rain won't stop anytime soon. Shall we get something to eat together?"
Fukuji Mihoko had little choice but to agree. The rain wasn't heavy yet, but the dark clouds made it seem as if it would soon pick up.
Inside the restaurant, a crystal chandelier cast a gentle glow across the white tablecloths.
Fukuji Mihoko looked especially serene as she cut her steak. Golden strands of hair fell over her shoulders, shining like honey in the candlelight.
Kageyama Sora swirled the red wine in front of him. He suddenly remembered her intent profile as she leaned over the display case earlier, and found himself gazing at her, captivated.
Fukuji Mihoko blushed a little and awkwardly changed the subject. "Actually, I'm a little envious of that girl. You came all this way just to buy her a gift, and you put so much thought into it."
Kageyama Sora paused, then smiled meaningfully. "Actually, you might know that girl."
"Oh? I know her?" Fukuji Mihoko asked, surprised.
Kageyama Sora didn't keep her guessing. "Yeah. You know Ryumonbuchi Toka, right?"
"So it was her..." Fukuji Mihoko looked rather astonished. "She was the opponent I lost to last year..."
Since Fukuji Mihoko knew Ryumonbuchi Toka and had even played against her, then...
"That's why it was so hard to choose a present. She really doesn't lack for anything."
"From what I know of Miss Ryumonbuchi, she's cheerful and straightforward. I doubt she'll be angry once she gets the gift," Fukuji Mihoko said with a smile. "Actually... when you talk about her, your eyes light up. You don't seem to dislike her as much as you claim... You might even like her quite a lot..."
In an instant, Kageyama Sora pictured Ryumonbuchi Toka looking ready to kill him when she caught him with Amae Koromo...
Red wine went down the wrong way, and Kageyama Sora began coughing violently.
Fukuji Mihoko hurriedly handed him a napkin. Their fingertips touched, and they both pulled their hands back at the same time.
The jazz playing in the restaurant suddenly seemed much clearer. The violin melody wound around their heartbeats, swelling in the intimate atmosphere.
"She's my cousin, after all." Kageyama Sora set down his wineglass and gazed at the streetlights swaying in the rain outside. Even he didn't know why he felt the need to emphasize their family relationship.
"So you're related..." Fukuji Mihoko let out a breath of relief without quite knowing why. A lovely smile appeared on her face.
Looking at the girl's gentle smile, Kageyama Sora suddenly noticed that her blue eyes reflected more than just the restaurant lights. They also held his intent gaze.
He suddenly remembered his butler's old teasing remark: "Whenever you look at someone with that kind of focus, they get the impression you're deeply in love with them. You're quite the flirt—your gaze is so affectionate you even look at dogs that way."
The rain grew heavier, pattering against the windows and mingling with the clink of cutlery in a strange, pleasant rhythm.
The two of them kept finding more to talk about, from mahjong to a few acquaintances they shared.
When Fukuji Mihoko told him amusing stories about the Kazekoshi Mahjong Club, Kageyama Sora couldn't help watching her eyelashes flutter as she spoke.
Fukuji Mihoko really was beautiful and gentle.
Just as dessert was served, Fukuji Mihoko suddenly pointed outside and chuckled. "Look, a rainbow."
When Kageyama Sora turned, he caught sight of her profile, tinted pink by the sunset. Raindrops still clung to her damp eyelashes. She was breathtakingly beautiful.
At the cash register, the gilded clock ticked away. Kageyama Sora quickly slapped his black card onto the marble counter. The sharp clack of metal against stone startled Fukuji Mihoko, and the strawberry plush toy in her hand nearly slipped.
She rose onto her toes to reach for his raised arm. Her hair brushed his jaw, and her sweet, girlish breath warmed his ear. "You already gave me an expensive bracelet. How can I let you pay, too?"
"Maybe after you win the National Tournament." When Kageyama Sora lowered his head, he met her anxious brown eyes, shining with tears, and... the blue eye on her right, open for the first time.
Her beautiful heterochromatic eyes made her look like an adorable, gentle, and unusual plush cat.
"Beautiful..." Kageyama Sora said sincerely, his voice tinged with warm admiration.
Fukuji Mihoko's already-large eyes widened slightly, as if she had been struck by some strange, moving feeling.
While the two of them were still at a standstill, a customer waiting behind them gave a quiet cough. Fukuji Mihoko's earlobes instantly turned bright red, making her look sweet and charming.
In the end, Kageyama Sora paid the bill.
The moment they stepped through the revolving door, the rain had stopped.
Fukuji Mihoko turned to look at Kageyama Sora. Beneath the evening sky, her blue eyes caught the neon lights and reflected tiny halos. "Then I'll really do my best to win the championship!"
As she turned, her silver bracelet struck the ribbon on the cake box with a crisp sound. "Next time, I'll treat you to strawberry daifuku!"
Just then, a bus pulled up.
Fukuji Mihoko spun around and suddenly rushed toward Kageyama Sora like a tired bird heading home.
When she was three steps away, she abruptly stuffed the last strawberry plush toy into his arms. "I'll leave this with you for now."
Perhaps because she'd moved with such force, her gesture looked almost like she was throwing herself into his arms.
After spending the whole day with Fukuji Mihoko, this was the first time Kageyama Sora had seen her show such girlish enthusiasm.
In any case... it was pretty cute.
Kageyama Sora stood there clutching his warm jacket and watched her disappear onto the bus.
A falling petal was suddenly swept up beneath the wheels. It spun through the air and brushed past his burning ear.
The jewelry box in his pocket pressed against his thigh. Only then did he realize that he'd come out to buy Tohka a gift and apologize, but had ended up spending half the day on what was practically a date with another girl.
He had no proof, but he instinctively felt that Tohka would definitely be angry if she found out.
By the time he returned to Ryumonbuchi Villa, the sun had set.
The street, washed by the night rain, gleamed coldly.
Kageyama Sora stared for a long time at the chat window on his phone, where he had been blocked.
After thinking it over, Kageyama Sora went straight to Ryumonbuchi Toka's room to find her.
Toka's door was open. The familiar strains of Chopin Nocturne drifted from inside, mixed with the rush of water from the shower.
"Toka, are you there?" He entered Ryumonbuchi Toka's room. Perhaps the wool carpet muffled his footsteps, or perhaps the Chopin Nocturne was too loud; he received no response at all.
But just as he reached the bathroom...
Steam had fogged the frosted-glass door, veiling it in a hazy mist.
Warm yellow light diffused through the steam, softly outlining a figure behind the glass. Its indistinct outline was mysterious but otherwise impossible to make out.
Droplets crept down the glass, leaving winding trails behind them.
It was an unexpected mishap.
That day, he'd thought the bathroom was empty and had pushed open the door without warning. What he saw had caught him completely off guard.
The girl had been undressed, and water had streamed over her skin. In the warm light and rising steam, her silhouette had been difficult to make out.
Warm, scented air had drifted toward him, making him catch his breath.
For a moment, time had seemed to stop, leaving only the thud of his heartbeat in his ears.
Pale, flushed, flustered, and blushing...
Steam gathered in fine droplets on the frosted glass, turning the warm yellow light into a hazy amber glow.
Kageyama Sora leaned against the carved doorframe, unconsciously rubbing the corner of the jewelry box with his thumb. The tips of his ears had gone pink.
The memory of Ryumonbuchi Toka bathing kept replaying in his mind: her damp black hair against her neck, droplets sliding from her throat to her collarbone. Now, the hazy silhouette behind the door overlapped with that memory.
"Creak—" The carved brass handle suddenly turned, and Kageyama Sora jumped back half a step.
A scent of cedar and rose came through with the rising steam. Ryumonbuchi Toka stood there in a silver-gray silk robe, its fine fabric outlining her figure.
Water dripped from her hair and slid down her neck. Her robe was slightly open at the collar, rising and falling gently with her breathing.
Her eyes widened, the corners flushed. Droplets gathered on her eyelashes like tiny pearls. "You're sneaking a look again! You're getting a kick out of this, aren't you? Cousin!!"
Her red-polished fingertips trembled slightly. The silk robe shifted with her movement, carrying a faint fragrance.
It was probably the special perfume Ryumonbuchi Toka used.
He remembered her once saying that everything owned by Miss Ryumonbuchi was custom-made to show off her distinguished status.
Kageyama Sora swallowed and hurriedly held up the velvet jewelry box. It was still warm from his hand. "I came to apologize. I called out to you a few times and got no answer, so I came in to check. I didn't know you were taking a bath."
Before he finished speaking, Toka suddenly stepped closer. Her teasing voice, warm from her bath, brushed past his ear. "If you dare do that again..."
Her words trailed off, leaving the air between them charged with unspoken meaning. One corner of her silk robe slipped, revealing her shoulder, and the room seemed to grow warmer.
Kageyama Sora realized that Ryumonbuchi Toka's attitude now was quite different from when she'd caught him with Amae Koromo.
She didn't seem to hate him. If anything, she was drawing closer to him in a way he couldn't quite understand.
Her attitude only left Kageyama Sora more bewildered. He instinctively took a step back. "What's gotten into you...? You're acting kind of strange..."
"What's gotten into you...? You're acting kind of strange..."
Seeing Kageyama Sora's uneasy expression, Ryumonbuchi Toka tilted her head and smiled. A drop from her hair rolled into the hollow of her collarbone. She deliberately lifted her chin, showing off the glistening trail. "Cousin, that's quite an unusual way to apologize—bringing a jewelry box into a girl's room while she's taking a bath?"
Her silk robe slipped slightly with the movement, revealing her delicate collarbone. Steam curled around her like a flowing veil.
Kageyama Sora backed into the vanity. A gilded perfume bottle rocked with a crisp clink.
His gaze fixed on a droplet winding down Toka's collarbone, and his throat tightened. "I just wanted to explain. I'm not the pervert you say I am..."
She cut him off by stepping suddenly closer. Toka rose onto her toes, the hem of her robe lifting to reveal her pale calves, and hooked a finger into his shirt. "Do you need to get this close to explain? You look even more like a pervert when you stand this close..."
The scent of roses mingled with her warm breath. Kageyama Sora felt sweat gather at the nape of his neck.
"You're the one who came that close..." As he spoke, Kageyama Sora abruptly turned his head, as though trying to escape. But he caught an awkward reflection in the vanity mirror: Toka's damp hair fell over his shoulder, while her silver-gray robe was slightly open. The whole scene felt far too intimate.
With his experience, Kageyama Sora could even sense what Ryumonbuchi Toka was hinting at.
"Don't do that!" He reached out to push her away, but his hand accidentally brushed her waist. He snatched it back as if shocked.
Kageyama Sora wasn't exactly a saint, but he was afraid Toka was setting a trap for him.
Ryumonbuchi Toka took the opportunity to grab his wrist and pin it against the wall. The wooden paneling dug painfully into his back.
Toka narrowed her eyes, their reddened corners like smudged rouge. "You stared without looking away when you were sneaking a peek. Now you're pretending to be a gentleman? Didn't you make fun of my pink strawberry underwear before?"
As if to show how she felt, the tuft of hair on Toka's head swayed proudly, as though she were pleased to have cornered Kageyama Sora.
Her red-polished fingers traced his tense jawline. Then she suddenly grabbed his collar and pulled him down until their noses were almost touching.
The moonlight outside made the warm light indoors seem even more intimate.
Kageyama Sora watched the droplets clinging to Toka's eyelashes, his heart beating as if it might burst out of his chest. "Have you lost your mind? You were upset when I did something like that, so why are you standing so close to me...?"
Kageyama Sora truly didn't want to act so timid.
But he was afraid that if he gave Toka any indication he might give in, she would push him away in disgust and condemn him as a pervert once and for all.
Still, he had to admit Ryumonbuchi Toka was very pretty, and she looked alluring like this.
He could only turn his head in a panic, but then heard a faint rustle of fabric. Ryumonbuchi Toka tugged at his shirt and touched his hot collarbone with cool fingertips. "Why are you hiding? Afraid I'll eat you?"
"Toka!" Kageyama Sora's voice trembled. "We... we're cousins..."
Before he could finish, Ryumonbuchi Toka pressed her lips against his. The sudden kiss carried the sweet scent of her bath products.
Before you continue