Peppermint Candy

Many years later, facing the family portrait on the wall, Kamuro Masumi would still recall that night Kitagawa Kai took her to taste a mint candy.

Ten minutes earlier.

Kamuro Masumi pulled open the wardrobe door. Inside, most of the clothes were comfortable, casual loungewear.

Her fingers brushed over each piece.

Too dressy—like I'm going out on a date! No good!

Too sloppy—like I'm just running down to toss the trash! No good! What if he thinks I'm a mess?

In the end, she changed out of her pajamas and put on a standard blue-gray polo shirt with cream-white high-waisted straight-leg casual shorts. (Picture in the author's note.)

Alright, this is fine.

Kamuro Masumi nodded at the mirror, trying to convince herself she only dressed a bit more carefully because of the heat.

Just as she was about to head out, she hesitated, turned back, and pulled a very light-tinted lip balm from a drawer. She pressed her lips together in the mirror.

After doing that, she froze for a moment herself, then made an annoyed face at her reflection. "Kamuro Masumi, are you stupid or what?"

The night was quiet outside the dormitory building.

Kamuro Masumi tried to walk as softly as possible, took a deep breath, and glanced around like a thief.

At this hour, most students were either in their dorms or out socializing.

The open space behind the dorm building, connected to a small grove of trees, was especially secluded. Only a few dim streetlights and an old bench occupied it.

Then, her heart skipped a beat.

He was already there.

Kitagawa Kai sat on that bench, leaning back, his head tilted slightly, eyes closed. He looked relaxed, waiting, even a little lazy.

The distance shrank. Ten steps, eight steps, five...

Kamuro Masumi still carried that heavy sneaky vibe, just like the first time they met.

"Here you are, little cat. Not tired from standing?"

Kamuro Masumi's heart jolted at his gaze, as if her cautious approach and scrutiny had all been seen through.

"Who—who's tired from standing! I just got here!"

Words could lie, but actions couldn't.

"Oh." Kitagawa Kai gave a noncommittal reply, his gaze sweeping over her clearly deliberate outfit, lingering a moment longer on those straight, long legs.

Mm, legs for days.

"Guess I was wrong. Thought a certain little cat had been watching me from under that tree for a while."

"!!" Kamuro Masumi's face flushed crimson. He did see! This bastard!

"Who—who was watching you! Don't flatter yourself!"

She retorted angrily, almost tripping over her own feet as she stiffly walked to the other end of the bench and sat down at the farthest edge.

The old bench was short. Even pressed against the armrest, the distance between them was only a few dozen centimeters.

Masumi could even feel the aura radiating from him, mixed with the warm summer night air, faintly drifting over.

Kitagawa Kai naturally scooted closer and reached out to wrap an arm around Masumi's waist.

"Masumi," his voice brushed against her ear, carrying a smile, "you look really pretty today."

Her breath caught, and her cheeks instantly burned.

"I just threw this on!"

"Sure, you can fool yourself with that, but don't try to fool me."

This bastard—if he guessed, why say it out loud? Kamuro Masumi cursed inwardly, her face burning even hotter, but trapped in the circle of his arm with nowhere to hide.

Kitagawa Kai seemed to read her silent complaint. He let out a low laugh, raised his other hand, and gently touched her burning earlobe. "Your ears are red."

"None of your business! Where's the candy?" Her voice was tight, her fingertips gripping the fabric of her shorts.

"Candy's coming. Let you try it too."

The moment Kitagawa Kai's deep voice faded, Kamuro Masumi realized what he was about to do and instinctively took a deep breath.

She watched helplessly as he leaned in to kiss her.

His face drew closer in the dim light, his eyes unreadable in the shadows. Only the cool, minty scent mixed with a warmth that belonged to him reached her.

The sensation made her eyelashes flutter violently. Her hand, pressed against his chest, unconsciously clutched his shirt.

A few seconds later, he pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against hers.

"Did you taste it?" he asked softly, his breath brushing her moist lips.

"Pervert Kitagawa. The feeling you give me? Just average."

Kamuro Masumi deliberately kept her face taut, her violet-gray eyes wide as she tried to muster her fiercest expression, her voice even pitched higher than usual with forced disdain.

But the reddening tips of her ears and the faintly moist lashes silently betrayed her.

Kitagawa Kai just looked at her, amusement glinting in his eyes.

"Is that so, Masumi? Then teach me the *un*ordinary kind."

"Fine, I will!"

Masumi felt blood rush to her head at the provocation, stiffening her neck before she raised both hands and wrapped them around Kai's neck.

[Ding!]

[Kamuro Masumi Affection Level +10. Kamuro Masumi current Affection Level: 72 (Devotion)]

[Affection Level Reward Received: Master-Level Combat]

A long moment passed.

Masumi shuddered, wrenching a sliver of awareness back from the prolonged kiss, belatedly catching the unmistakable strange sensation at her chest.

Kai's hands, without her noticing, had already slipped past her stomach, trending upward, resting at the edge of softness, his fingers even curling slightly—the intent all too clear.

Slap! Slap!

She knocked them away.

"What are you doing?"

"Sorry," Kai said slowly, his tone carrying a hint of innocence. "Auto-pilot."

Masumi pulled her hands back, crossing them over her chest, and stared at him with disgust. "I knew it. Pervert Kai, getting off on a girl's body."

"That's not important. What matters is—"

"Masumi, I like you. From now on, you're my exclusive little cat."

When Kai said those words, his gaze was tender and burning, so sincere it shattered the girl's defenses.

That was way too unfair.

So direct. So absolute.

Lost.

Lost completely again.

But...

It didn't feel quite so unwilling anymore.

The elevator rose smoothly, the metal walls reflecting two figures pressed close together.

The numbers ticked up slowly: 1... 2... 3...

In the cramped space, it was eerily quiet, broken only by the faint hum of machinery.

Masumi, her left hand held by Kai, could clearly feel the warmth of his palm.

She turned her face away, staring at the blurry reflection on the elevator doors. The blush on her cheeks hadn't fully faded, still vivid under the cold white light.

"We're here," Masumi said softly, her gaze drifting toward the end of the hallway.

"Take this."

Kai responded but didn't let go immediately. Instead, he gently turned her slightly relaxed palm and placed something into it.

It was a small square tin, still carrying his body heat.

Lemon Mint Candy.

"When you think of me, remember to find me. Or you can have one."

"Good night, Kai."

Her voice was barely a whisper.

"Good night, Masumi."

"Good night," Kai said to the closing metal doors, the smile spreading from his eyes into his voice. "Masumi."

The elevator went up.

Two spaces, one above, one below.

One holding candy.

One holding a condom.

(I'm dead on my feet, writing myself into exhaustion.)