《Mizuki's Sky》 1: Laughing A T-shirt dropped in front of her suddenly and a man''s voice asked, "Is this funny or is it too creepy?" She turned to look at the man holding it, and had to look up farther than she expected. She gazed at him a moment and said breathlessly, "Oh wow¡­" He blinked and grinned down at her and asked, "Do you think a pregnant woman who doesn''t want to be pregnant would find it funny? I want to send her something to cheer her up." She looked back at the T-shirt and asked dubiously, "Does your wife like zombies and stuff?" He replied doubtfully, "I have no idea, and she''s not my wife." Mizuki asked with interest, "If you want to cheer her up, why didn''t you just bring your girlfriend on vacation with you?" He gave her a sardonic look and said rather dryly, "No, I don''t have a girlfriend right now, thanks for asking. It''s for my friend''s girlfriend, I think bringing her on vacation with me would be a really bad idea." "Oh," Mizuki replied with an embarrassed grin. He laughed and turned away from her and hung the shirt back on a rack. Mizuki looked around herself and said, "I hadn''t realized I''d wandered into the maternity section." "What were you looking at then?" he asked curiously. She pointed to the display of shirts pinned to the wall above the racks and explained enthusiastically, "They have so many kinds of Pikachu shirts! I especially like that one that''s all shadow and lightning." He looked down at her and replied dryly, "I see. Maybe this is a good time to mention that I have no interest in dating a child either." Mizuki glared up at him and declared, "Pikachu is a classic, he''s older than you are!" He shrugged, glanced back up at the shirts and said agreeably, "That''s definitely the best one of those." She nodded and then she arched her back and gestured toward herself and asked plaintively, "And even though I''m small, is my body so bad that you have to call me a child?"You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. He ran his gaze appreciatively over her curves and agreed, "It''s very nice. So how old are you?" He raised his eyebrows at her. She flushed with embarrassment as she replied a little defiantly, "Seventeen, almost eighteen." He covered his eyes as he laughed. "Call me in a couple of years?" he suggested with amusement after he''d recovered. Mizuki glared at him for a moment but then suddenly grinned and agreed, "Okay, give me your number?" He shook his head and said, "No, sorry. I was just teasing." She pouted at him and he grinned at her and picked up a different shirt and asked, "How about this one?" She sighed and examined it before she agreed, "It is funny, but if she doesn''t want to be pregnant I think it might make her sad." Then she looked up at him and asked, "What''s your name? You can at least give me that can''t you? Mine is Mitsukuni Mizuki." He hesitated before replying, "Konami Sora." She grinned at him and then suggested, "What about that one?" "Which one?" he asked. She brushed against him as she squeezed between him and the rack and pulled the shirt out. "This?" she suggested. He laughed and then agreed, "It is funny, but I think she''d be too embarrassed to wear it." They searched the racks for a little while, showing each other the best ones until Mizuki said, "This one, this is it, it''s perfect." "Oh?" he asked, looking over at her. She held the black T-shirt up in front of her body and gestured. "It''s simple, it will go with anything, and it''s humor is a little dark, but nothing gross or embarrassing." It had the words ''The Bomb'' printed across the chest in white letters, and where a pregnant woman''s round belly would push it out, was a curve suggesting a round bomb with a lit fuse illustrated at the top. He grinned at her and agreed, "It is perfect, I''ll get that one. Thank you Mizuki-chan." She grinned back at him as she asked boldly, "Are you sure you can''t date me?" He gave her an exasperated but amused look as he replied firmly, "Yes." She pouted but didn''t have time to respond because her sister poked her head into the store and called out, "Hurry Mizuki! I found out which bus to take, and it''s leaving right now!" Mizuki stared at her for a second, then looked at Sora with a pained expression. She suddenly grabbed his hip pocket and pulled him toward her as she told him quickly, "It was really nice to meet you Konami-san, I really want to talk more, but I''ve got to go now." He gave her a confused smile and replied, "I enjoyed meeting you too." Mizuki ran after her sister, who was struggling with both bags. She picked up the largest one and they hurried to the bus. When Sora reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet to pay for the shirt, he touched an unfamiliar surface. He pulled out Mizuki''s phone and stared at it. After a moment he grimaced and stuffed it back into his pocket. 2: Coincidence Mizuki sighed as they rode the bus across the island, and her sister Shizune looked at her and asked, "What''s wrong? I''m finally feeling cheerful again and now you''re moping." Mizuki replied, "Nothing. I''m glad we found a replacement hotel that we can afford, even if it is out away from anything else." "Oh, but the bus isn''t expensive and the scenery is really nice?" Shizune protested mildly. Mizuki nodded and smiled at her sister, and then Shizune sighed and added, "I still can''t believe that hotel double booked our reservation." Mizuki suggested darkly, "Maybe that jerk called and cancelled it and they just didn''t want to tell you." Shizune objected immediately, "They refunded the reservation fee even though I showed up late, if it had been cancelled they wouldn''t have. And don''t call him a jerk." Mizuki sighed again and then said apologetically, "Sorry." Shizune hugged her little sister impulsively and told her, "Thank you for spending your savings to come with me when he cancelled." Mizuki asked laughingly, "Who doesn''t want to spend a week of summer vacation on a tropical island? I don''t mind at all. It''s too bad we couldn''t get me a ticket for the flight you originally had though." Shizune replied quickly, "It''s fine, it''s not even a whole day less." -- When they arrived at the hotel, which seemed to actually be a series of low bungalow style buildings squeezed up against each other to look out at the ocean, they were welcomed warmly. The cheerful older man who checked them in encouraged them to order the daily fruit basket, if they weren''t sure what they planned to do for lunches. He explained that they only served breakfast for an hour, and then the supper was provided as an evening beach party style of thing. He showed them to their room, and Mizuki exclaimed, "Wow! This is amazing!" Shizune agreed enthusiastically, and as soon as their host left, she flopped onto the bed nearest the picture windows looking out at the beach and said, "I call this one!" Mizuki pretended to pout at her, then smiled. "I get the shower first then," she bargained laughingly. Shizune agreed, "Go, take it. I have an ocean to stare at." Mizuki took a shower, changed clothes, and then asked, "Can I borrow your phone?" Shizune sat up and asked with concern, "Why? Where''s yours?" Mizuki blushed and looked away before replying, "I left it somewhere, but maybe someone will find it if I call it." "Mizuki!" Shizune scolded, "You need to be more careful, we''re a thousand miles from home." "I know, I know," agreed Mizuki. "So lend me yours?" Shizune handed over her phone and Mizuki couldn''t help but add, "It''s not really a thousand you know, it''s only a few hundred?" She carried it out the door to make the call, as Shizune called out, "Don''t go down to the water without me, just let me shower and change too!" "Okay," Mizuki agreed. Then she nervously called her phone. Sora pulled out the phone and stared at it for a few minutes before answering reluctantly, "Hello, Mizuki-chan''s phone." Mizuki said, "I know. Um, hi." Sora replied flatly, "I really hate this kind of thing."Stolen novel; please report. Mizuki winced as she protested, "But I really wanted to talk to you more, and I didn''t have time." He replied grimly, "Well I don''t want to talk to the kind of girl who does this sort of thing." Mizuki gulped, and asked miserably, "Why didn''t you just throw it away then?" He grimaced and covered his face with his other hand as he replied, "I don''t know, you would have deserved it." After a moment Mizuki asked, "Where are you? I can take the bus back in a little while and get it." Sora replied grouchily, "What if I don''t want to see your face again today." "I could call again tomorrow," she suggested a little hopefully. "No, let''s just get this over with," he muttered. "I''m at my hotel though and I don''t think you should come here, because now I think you''re the kind of girl who will stalk me. Where are you staying? I''ll bring it there tonight." Mizuki gave the name of the hotel and it''s general location and Sora didn''t respond. After a moment she asked, "Konami-san? Are you still there?" He sighed audibly, and told her, "I''m laying under a tree in front of the second building." Mizuki took a moment to process this response and then ran down the steps and out a little ways to look back along the row. "I see you," she gasped and then stuffed the phone into her pocket and ran over to him. When she reached him, she hit her knees beside him, and he held out her phone. She reached for it hesitantly while he glared at her. Mizuki gulped and then told him unhappily, "I slipped? my phone into your pocket, that is my fault. But I wouldn''t stalk you, I really just wanted a chance to talk to you again. This is not my fault. I''m sorry." Sora sighed and covered his face with an arm. "What''s so good about me anyway that you wanted to talk to me that much?" She gazed at him for a minute and then said, "I like you." He informed her bitterly, "You don''t even know me." Mizuki frowned at him and agreed, "Not very well yet." She blushed as she explained shyly, "I admit that at first I just thought you were hot." She swallowed nervously and continued without looking at his face, "But you laughed at all the things I thought were funny, and I really like the way you laugh. And you''re sweet, I like how you''re trying to cheer that girl up. And you''re right, I don''t know you very well, but that''s why I wanted to be able to talk to you more!" He uncovered his face and looked at her, and then said, "That''s a lot to like about someone in only a few minutes." She nodded. He sighed again, and then told her, "Alright. I''m not angry with you anymore, but I still can''t date a kid." He stretched his arms out and stared at the sky. Mizuki looked at him for a moment and then flopped down beside him with her head on his arm. He turned his face toward her and asked, "Weren''t you listening?" "Yes, I''m not kissing you," she replied. He breathed a laugh and said, "I don''t know how to deal with you." He looked back at the sky. "How long are you here for?" she asked, watching his face and the way the sun lit the copper strands in his hair. "We''re here for a week," she volunteered. "Two more weeks," he answered wryly, but then asked, "Who''s we?" "My sister and I. Her boyfriend dumped her right before they were supposed to come. And she said she couldn''t go alone even though her tickets were already paid for, so I got tickets and came with her," Mizuki explained. "Jerk," he commented. Mizuki grinned at him and agreed, "That''s what I keep saying, but she asked me to stop calling him that." He turned and looked at her for a minute. "How old are you anyway?" she asked. A smile lurked at the corner of his mouth when he replied, "I just turned 27, definitely too old to date a kid." Then he sighed, looked back up at the sky and added, "Not that I want to date anyone right now." "That''s why you came to a tropical beach to stare at girls in bikinis?" she asked skeptically. He laughed and told her, "It seemed like a good idea at the time!" "I have one," she offered. "What?" he asked. "A bikini," she explained while grinning at him. He stuck his tongue out at her, and she asked, "Are you sure I can''t kiss you?" "Stop," he pleaded helplessly. "Fine," she agreed grumpily and stared at the sky. After a minute he asked, "How long are you going to lay on my arm?" "Am I hurting you?" she asked without moving. "No," he replied after a moment. She looked at him and he was still watching her. Her sister called out, "Mizuki?" from the direction of their room and Mizuki sighed and sat up. "Only that long," she said regretfully. "Bye," he said quietly. She looked at him and told him, "I''d rather say see you later." He shrugged. 3: Walking Mizuki got up and went to meet Shizune. When she got close enough, she silently handed her sister''s phone back. "I told you not to go down without me! It''s dangerous to walk near the ocean alone. Promise you won''t go again," Shizune scolded. "I didn''t go down to the water, I went and got my phone," Mizuki protested quickly. "I won''t go near the ocean alone, don''t worry so much." "Okay," her sister replied. "Did you drop it when we were checking in?" "It was here," Mizuki replied evasively. "Anyway, let''s go walk the beach, should we go north or south first?" -- They walked south along the curve of the beach. The sand was pale and bright in the afternoon sun, and they covered quite a distance. After a while Mizuki commented, "I don''t think I quite believed that scenes like this were real. I can''t get over how blue and clear the ocean really is here." Shizune nodded, but only sighed instead of replying. Mizuki looked at her depressed expression and then asked, "Are you thinking about that¡­ I mean Mori-san again?" "He was going to take me snorkeling," Shizune explained unhappily. "I bet there''s a class or something somewhere on the island," Mizuki suggested helpfully. Shizune nodded but her steps slowed and she stared out at the ocean. Mizuki looked along the beach when music started playing. A group of people, with a handful of small boats pulled up on the sand, appeared to be starting a beach party. She froze in utter disbelief, because she thought she recognized one of the men standing at the far edge of the group, with his arms wrapped around a girl. She glanced at Shizune who was still staring at the ocean and looked around frantically for a distraction. A man walking toward them from higher up the beach caught her eye, and she dashed up the slope to meet him. He looked at her quizzically and she told him, "You''re pretty. Will you do me a favor for a minute?" He raised his eyebrows at her in surprise and without waiting for his answer she pointed at Shizune, and asked, "Will you flirt with that girl, and keep her from looking for me for a couple minutes?" The man ran his eyes over her sister with an evaluating gaze, and replied, "Maybe?" Mizuki hesitated a moment, and then insisted anxiously, "Don''t do anything weird to her though, she''s my sister!" He grinned at her as she ran up the beach. -- The man continued toward the water, and passed the girl before glancing back at her. She noticed him look and blushed. He turned and said, "Hi, are you here on vacation?" She blinked at him and then asked, "Aren''t you?" He shook his head in a negative answer. "You live here?" she asked with surprise. "Yes, at least for another year," he replied with a grin. "Oh wow!" Shizune exclaimed. "That must be nice. It''s so beautiful here." "Yes," he agreed, "that''s why I decided to get a three year lease here." She gave him a startled look, and then asked, "You''re not working at one of the resorts or something? Are you rich?"This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. "If I say yes will you date me?" he questioned a little bitterly. Shizune stared at him for a moment, and then told him, "No." "I am rich," he replied seriously. "I don''t care," she replied just as seriously. He laughed and then asked a bit incredulously, "Really?" She nodded as she explained unhappily, "I just broke up with someone, I don''t want to date anyone right now." "I see." He glanced along the beach, then shrugged and said, "Well, I just came down to swim a bit, so, unless you want to join me, I''m going in." Shizune shook her head and he walked down to the water and out into the waves. She watched him swim for a little while before she looked around and wondered where Mizuki was. -- Mizuki ran up the beach, and when she reached that jerk Mori she came to an abrupt halt, and then said quietly but viciously, "It really is you. Is this your dead grandmother? You''re such a complete jerk. I guess now we know how the room got double booked." He stared at her incredulously and asked, "What the hell are you doing here Mizuki-chan?" "I came with Shizune of course, since her boyfriend dumped her right before the trip because his grandmother died, and he''s just under too much stress to be in a relationship right now," Mizuki replied mockingly. He flushed and told her, "You don''t understand." Mizuki explained seriously, "I understand that you''re going to leave right now. And stay within a half mile of your hotel, or I''m going to break your leg, and you can spend your vacation in the hospital." He sneered at her, and she kicked out and hooked his ankle, dropping him on his back. He gasped and stared up at her. "You think I''m joking?" she snarled at him. He looked around at the other people who were just watching in surprise. "Are you all just going to let her do this?" he complained as he scooted away from her. The woman he''d been hugging earlier exclaimed, "We''ve been dating for six months! You two timing bastard, I''ll help her!" He stared up at her and protested desperately, "It''s a misunderstanding." Mizuki told him sharply, "I don''t care, just leave." She added quickly, "Now, before Shizune sees you like I did, because if she sees you I''ll do worse than break your leg." He crawled to his feet and retreated quickly towards the colourful boats. The other woman gazed at Mizuki for a moment, and then chased after him, cursing at him and forcing him to keep backing south along the beach. One of the bystanders handed Mizuki a beer and said, "Cheers." Mizuki watched the couple for a bit, and then looked at the beer. After a moment she shrugged and took a sip. "Thanks," she said, and then turned and walked back toward Shizune who was apparently still standing alone and looking at the ocean. -- Shizune looked around and finally spotted Mizuki walking toward her with a can in her hand. When she got closer Shizune gasped and asked, "Is that a beer? What are you doing Mizuki?" Mizuki shrugged and explained, "It was given to me. You want it? It tastes horrible, so let''s head back soon and get something else instead." "You drank some?!" Shizune almost shrieked. Mizuki rolled her eyes as she replied, "Only a sip, you don''t have to freak out." Shizune snatched the beer from Mizuki''s hand and instructed, "Don''t do anything like that again! What will I tell okaasan?" Mizuki shrugged and walked north around her sister, forcing her to turn, and then suggested, "The truth? It''s not like you gave me the beer. Or like I drank a whole can. How can you even drink that stuff anyway?" "What do we do with it? It seems like littering to pour it out here." Shizune complained. Mizuki shrugged as she replied, "Either you can drink it, or we can carry it back and dump it out. I''m not going to drink it." "Drink what?" asked the man that Mizuki had asked to distract her sister, as he waded back out of the ocean beside them. "This," complained Shizune, holding out the can. He took it and drank a sip. He looked at the shocked expression on Shizune''s face and grinned before asking, "Indirect kiss?" "With Mizuki!" she protested. "What''s your name then?" he enquired. Shizune blushed and Mizuki spoke up, "Mitsukuni Shizune and Mizuki, and you?" "Hattori Shinichi," he informed them cheerfully. "What are your plans during your vacation?" Shizune shrugged. "She wanted to learn to go snorkeling," Mizuki suggested helpfully. "Snorkeling is fun," he agreed. "Have any recommendations for finding a snorkeling class?" Shizune asked shyly. "I could teach you," he offered. "I don''t want to bother you," Shizune protested. He shrugged and said, "If it seemed like a bother I wouldn''t have offered." Mizuki rolled her eyes when Shizune protested again, and then asked, "Can you guys just exchange phone numbers?" "Mizuki!" Shizune protested. "Fine," Mizuki said. "Will you give me your phone number Hattori-san?" He laughed and gave her the number. "Thanks, then see you again maybe," she told him. "Let''s go back Shizu-nee-chan, I don''t want to miss supper," she complained. "Call me if you decide to go snorkeling!" he called after them as he headed up the rise. 4: Wavering When they got back to their room, Shizune laid down on her bed and sighed. "I feel so tired now, I guess jet lag is a real thing," she said after a few moments. Mizuki agreed questioningly, "I guess so? Well, we have been awake for 16 hours now, but aren''t you coming to supper?" Reluctantly Shizune got up again, and they left their room and walked down to the place where the grill was set up. Shizune looked at the food for a moment, and then said tiredly, "I''m not really hungry. Do you care if I just go back and sleep? It''s been a really long day." Mizuki shrugged. "I guess not," she replied without protest. Her own stomach felt empty at the sight of the food, so she started filling up a plate while Shizune headed back, and then she looked around. She spotted Sora sitting to one side and grinned. Sora looked at her in surprise when she sat down beside him. After a moment he asked, "You''re not eating with your sister?" Mizuki shrugged but explained, "She''s depressed, so she said that she''s not hungry and went to bed." She looked at what he was drinking and asked, "You got a beer?" He replied defensively, "I''m only having one." Then he gave her a sharp look and added, "And you''re too young." She frowned at him as she protested mildly, "I know that, but where did you get it? Did they have any other drinks?" He pointed to a cooler that she''d missed and told her, "There were sodas and stuff too." She set down her plate beside him, and went to look. After a moment she chose a bottle of cold tea. When she returned, he looked at it and then asked, "Is there another one of those?" She nodded and went back for another. When she returned with it, he said, "Thanks." She settled beside him and they ate quietly for a little bit and then she asked, "Why does it matter if you only have one?" He sighed before replying, "It''s a long story." Mizuki suggested after a moment, "I like listening to you talk." Sora laughed, but didn''t say anything else for a while. After a bit she said apologetically, "I was just curious, I''m sorry." He sighed again and then admitted, "It''s just embarrassing." He paused and collected his thoughts, before explaining, "I guess it started when my girlfriend of three years decided to marry someone else and I went drinking." Mizuki looked up at him with a startled expression, and Sora explained bitterly, "I refused to buy her a car. She immediately got engaged to a man who would. I got a little drunk again on her wedding day and went to her wedding¡­ and realized that I felt more sorry for the guy than jealous." She looked at him unhappily but she didn''t know what to say. He went on after a moment, "And then I went home and got very very drunk. I went in to work the next day, still drunk, and got fired. I looked around and realized that I hadn''t had a vacation in more than two years and said screw it." Mizuki leaned against Sora tentatively and patted his arm. He looked down at her uncomfortably, but went on, "I figured I might as well go play around for a month or two, so I sold most of my stuff and my car. Threw the rest in storage and went to ask Takumi to come on vacation with me. Only I found out he has knocked up his girlfriend and is trying desperately to convince her to marry him, so he couldn''t leave." He shrugged. "So I stayed with them for a week, and then came here alone. And when I go back, I need to look for a new job. And I decided that I wouldn''t have gotten so drunk and been fired if I hadn''t been in the habit of drinking too often anyway, so I''m limiting myself to one drink at a time."This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. "Good idea," she complimented him. He gave her a look, and she apologized defensively, "Sorry, I know it''s not my place to say, but I do think it sounds like a good idea?" Sora shrugged again, and then he looked down at her leaning against his side and asked with quiet exasperation, "So now you know everything, can you just give up please?" Mizuki sat up and objected, "I haven''t said anything else tonight!" Then she looked up at him for a moment, grinned and added, "But I''m kind of glad you''re still thinking about it." He covered his face and groaned. She patted his arm again gently. When she finished her food, Mizuki sighed and said wistfully, "I''d like to go look at the waves." "So go," Sora suggested. "I can''t, I promised I wouldn''t walk near the water alone," she muttered regretfully. He sighed and said, "Fine, let''s go." She looked up at him in surprise and then smiled happily. He shrugged as he told her, "I was going to go watch the water for awhile anyway." They disposed of their plates and walked down to the water. The waves were growing dark in the evening light, but not as uniformly dark as Mizuki had imagined. They rolled and shimmered, and the water''s transparency showed even in the low illumination. Sora picked a spot and sat down before they went very far. Mizuki stood beside him for a few minutes and then shivered. "I didn''t expect it to feel so chilly at night, it was so hot during the day." Sora glanced up at her. "It''s the wind." He added dryly, "And now I suppose you''ll want to sit in my lap." Mizuki laughed and replied, "I''d love to, yes, but I won''t unless you''re okay with it." "What the hell," he said after a moment, and spread his arms. She didn''t give him a chance to change his mind and sat quickly. He wrapped his arms loosely around her and then asked, "Warmer?" She nodded. The bare skin of Sora''s body was warm against Mizuki''s back because his shirt was unbuttoned, but even more heat radiated up into her from below. She felt extremely aware of it and of everywhere that their skin touched. They watched the dark waves glisten and roll in the lights from the low buildings for a while. He looked down at her after a bit and said, "You''re still cold." "I''m not at all cold," she objected quickly while tilting her head back to look up at his face. "What''s this then?" he asked and pointed to her breasts, where the evidence was visible in the dim light. She repeated, "I''m not cold," but added with embarrassment, "I''m just turned on." He shifted a little and warned her uncomfortably, "You shouldn''t be sitting in my lap, I could molest you right now." She grabbed his hands and placed them on herself. "You can, I want you to." His hands caressed her breasts reflexively and she arched against him, but a moment later he stopped, and said, "No." He took his hands away as she demanded, "Why not?" "You''re still just a kid," he replied achingly. Mizuki turned and rose to her knees in his lap, then wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed him. "Stop, Mizuki-chan?" Sora whispered. "I don''t want to, and I''m not a child!" she protested. She laid her hand against his bare stomach and tucked her fingers into his waistband. He froze and she insisted, "You can''t pretend you don''t want me at all when I''ve been being warmed by this since I sat in your lap Sora!" He groaned, then grabbed her hand, and said firmly, "Mizuki don''t." "Why?" she asked plaintively. "You want more than this," he told her harshly. She closed her eyes and then admitted, "You''re right, I won''t lie to you. I do want more." She looked at him again as she told him seriously, "I really like you. I wish you''d date me. But if this is all I can have with you, I still want that." Then she begged, "Can''t I have you for this week?" "God Mizuki, I just can''t win against you." He groaned and let go of her hand to cover his own face. She caressed him again, and he dropped his hands to her hips and pulled her roughly against him as he asked bitterly, "Is just a week really enough?" She looked into his face for a moment. "I want more, but if that''s all you can give me, then yes," she agreed. She swallowed and then promised, "I won''t ask for more than that." He kissed her hard before agreeing tightly, "Okay, one week." She nodded, then bent down, and he gasped. A few minutes later he warned her, "I''m going to come." Afterward he pulled her up and kissed her. She wrapped her legs around his hips and plastered herself against him. His hands ran down her back in a warm wave. He tucked them beneath her hips and lifted her into his kiss and probed her mouth with his tongue. "Do you have a condom," she whispered achingly when he let her down a little and looked into her face. "In my room," he replied hoarsely. "I think we should go to your room," she told him after a moment. He whispered, "Yes," and rolled to his feet somehow with her still wrapped around him. He cradled her in his arms, and they kissed hotly all the way to his room as he carried her. 5: Already Sora laid Mizuki on the bed, and then dug into his bag. After a minute he got exasperated and picked it up to dump the contents onto the floor. He picked up the box of condoms as she finished kicking off her sandals, and she laughed. He looked at her and raised his brows as he stood. She grinned at him as she asked, "You don''t want to date anyone right now, but you brought a whole box?" "Better safe than sorry," he replied with amusement. He shed his clothes on his way back to her, then reached out and began pulling hers off. She sat up and helped until he pushed her back into the bed with his hands and looked at her. "Gods Mizuki, everything about you is so cute and round," he exclaimed and squeezed her hips? lightly. She looked away as she replied unhappily, "Fat." "Not fat," he denied her. "Beautiful, sexy, cute. Not fat." He cupped her face in his hands and told her, "Your cheeks are round, and your nose, and your chin." He kissed her slowly in each spot, and then dropped his hands downward as he added, "Your breasts are round." He slid farther down as he defined another rounded area, "Your butt." He kissed her stomach, dropped his hands to her knees, and murmured as he moved down her, "Your knees. Even your toes are round." When he finally entered her, she cried out and he protested, "What the¡­?" Sora froze with her pinned, and Mizuki wriggled against him after a moment and begged, "Don''t stop Sora?" After a moment he continued. -- Afterwards, Sora sat up and turned away from Mizuki. His back was tense and he gripped the edge of the bed. "Why are you mad?" Mizuki asked plaintively. Sora replied angrily, "Your first time should be with someone you love!" She crawled to her knees, leaned against his back, and insisted, "I already like you so much, I''m not sorry it''s you." "Why didn''t you tell me Mizuki? God, the way you went down on me like you''ve done it a hundred times, I just assumed¡­" He shuddered and covered his face. Mizuki buried her face against the back of his shoulder and explained apologetically, "I''m sorry. I haven''t done it a hundred times, but I''ve done that part before. And everyone at home knows I''m not a virgin so it never occurred to me to tell you that I was." He dropped his hands and turned and stared at her. After a minute he replied in an agonized tone, "Well you really aren''t one now!" She smiled tremulously at him as she agreed, "Yeah." He looked at her for another moment and then pulled her into his arms and squeezed her until she gasped. "You should have told me!" he insisted with his face buried in her hair. She pulled away a little and asked, "Why? What difference does it make, does it really matter less if you''re not one?" "I could have at least tried not to hurt you like that," he protested unhappily. "I''m fine, I loved it!" she insisted. He didn''t respond and she added with exasperation, "If you don''t like how you did it, you can do it again! It''s supposed to be even better next time isn''t it?"Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. He gave up and laughed, before repeating his earlier complaint "I really can''t win against you." She kissed him. He laid her down and kissed her gently all over. After a while he got out another condom. -- Afterward they kissed for a while, and Mizuki sighed contentedly as Sora rubbed her back. "What did you mean everyone at home knows you''re not a virgin," he asked after a while. She asked a little bitterly, "Do you really want me to tell you my sordid dating history right now?" He hesitated before replying, "Yes, but you don''t have to." Mizuki lay quietly against Sora''s chest for a few minutes before telling him, "My childhood friend, after we started high school, he wanted to fit in with the cool crowd. He lied and said he''d done it with me, and took my underwear as proof." She explained quietly, "I was so angry with him. But we''d been friends for so long that I didn''t deny it, even to my family. But I told him his next story better be that we''d broken up when I found out that he told people, because we were done being friends too." Sora hugged her gently and said, "It sounds painful." She looked at him for a moment and then told him bitterly, "That was just the beginning." She sighed and continued, "After that, this senpai I had a crush on approached me and told me he wanted to date me. And he was kind to me, and he didn''t act like those guys who just want to fool around, so I dated him." She buried her face against Sora''s shoulder and he stroked her hair. "But we hadn''t been dating for very long before he started wanting to do more than kiss. I told myself it was okay, that it was normal, that we were just working our way up to when we''d do it for the first time, and I did what he asked." She clenched her fists as she added angrily, "Until one day when we were working on homework in the park, and he suddenly told me to do that. I refused because everyone would see us, and he grabbed me by the hair and told me that if I didn''t then he was going to do me right there in public!" Sora said suddenly, "I want to beat the crap out of him." Mizuki relaxed, laughed and told him, "You don''t have to hit him, I already did! I punched him in the face and kicked him where it hurts." "I still want to hit him," Sora muttered. She sobered as she explained, "Anyway, he never touched or spoke to me again before he graduated, but he apparently told everyone I let him do whatever he wanted while we were together, and that he''d broken up with me because all I wanted was sex. And everyone believed him, because they thought he was nice, like I had." She sighed and added, "So everyone at school treats me like they think I''m a slut. And my family all think I lost my virginity with my friend before that." Sora looked at her and told her unhappily, "I ?don''t know what to say, and I think I''ve only made things worse for you." Mizuki sat up and protested, "You haven''t made anything worse Sora! Even though I''ve been throwing myself at you, you haven''t ever acted like you thought I was being slutty. Even if I have been," she added guiltily. "You haven''t," he insisted firmly. "I''ve really loved it, everything with you! You even kissed me right afterwards, you make me feel so good!" she explained in a rush. Sora stared at her, appalled, and asked, "That creep wouldn''t even kiss you after? Why didn''t you dump him sooner?" Mizuki shrugged as she explained with embarrassment, "I liked him, and he said he hated the taste of it." Then she asked, "Can we stop talking about it now?" He nodded and pulled her down for another kiss. After a little while he pulled out another condom, and Mizuki asked curiously, "I thought guys were only supposed to be able to do it a couple times a night?" "Are you sore?" he questioned her a little anxiously. She shook her head and he whispered, "I could probably do you all night." -- When they had finished again, Mizuki collapsed on Sora''s chest and told him faintly, "Sora, you might be able to do this all night, but I feel like I''m going to pass out. I don''t even know how long I''ve been awake anymore." He tipped her off of him, into the crook of his arm, and petted her. "Let''s sleep then," he suggested. She sighed and protested mildly, "I shouldn''t sleep here tonight, can I sleep with you tomorrow?" Confused, he replied, "You can, but why can''t you stay?" "I don''t want Shizu-nee-chan to wake up and think I drowned, tomorrow I can tell her I''m going to sleep with you all week," she told him sleepily. "Okay," he agreed after a long minute. He kissed her again and released her reluctantly. She crawled off the bed and he sighed and closed his eyes. She pulled on a t-shirt from the tangle of clothes on the floor, turned off his light and went back to her own room. -- Shizune was snoring lightly, and Mizuki crawled into the other bed and fell asleep moments later. 6: Breaking Shizune woke Mizuki up and told her, "Hurry and dress, or we''ll miss breakfast." Mizuki rolled out of bed without replying, rinsed quickly in the shower, and then threw on clean clothes. She was even the first one out the door, although she didn''t outpace Shizune as they made their way up to the center building. There were tables for breakfast on the patio in front, and not many people outside yet, but Mizuki spotted Sora and made a beeline toward him. He brightened as he saw her approaching, scooped her into his lap, and exchanged a kiss with her. Shizune gave an outraged gasp and asked, "Mizuki, what are you doing?" Mizuki sighed, and then introduced Sora to her sister. "This is Konami Sora, we got together last night, and I plan to spend the rest of the week sleeping in his room." "Hi, wait¡­ You''ve already done it with him?!" Shizune exclaimed. "We''re only here for five more nights, if I waited we wouldn''t get any time at all," Mizuki protested. Shizune covered her face for a moment, and then asked faintly, "Are you at least using protection?" "Of course we are," Sora and Mizuki answered in chorus. They looked at each other and laughed. Shizune stared at them as she replied uncertainly, "Good." Mizuki glanced at Sora apologetically, and then uncomfortably told her sister, "But I''ll still spend all day doing whatever you want Shizu-nee-chan, I''m not trying to abandon you." "I don''t know what I want to do today," Shizune admitted after a long moment of silence. Mizuki suggested, "We could go browse the advertisements in the office here, they had a rack. Or we could go swimming?" Sora hugged her against him and then offered, "I have a car rented, if you want to go anywhere that the bus doesn''t run, or at times that it''s not running. There''s a nature preserve and a couple of lighthouses if you''d rather hike than swim." Mizuki looked at Shizune''s face, then sighed and told him, "Thank you for the offer, but maybe I should just meet up with you again at supper." Sora glanced at her sister too, but just shrugged after a long moment. Shizune repeated uncomfortably, "I don''t know Mizuki." Mizuki shrugged and told her, ''It''s okay. Let''s just eat breakfast for now." She kissed Sora again, then slid off his lap and went to fill a plate. -- While they were eating Mizuki suggested teasingly, "We could call Hattori-san and go snorkeling?" Shizune shook her head firmly. "I won''t complain about Konami-san anymore, but messing around with one guy is enough Mizuki." Mizuki stared at her sister open-mouthed for a moment before glancing at Sora who raised his eyebrows at her. "He''s not for me!" she protested. "Well you''re the one who got his phone number, and shared an indirect kiss with him, what am I supposed to think Mizuki?" Shizune asked reasonably. "I thought he looked like your type, and it''s not my fault he drank it," Mizuki muttered. Shizune blushed as she replied firmly, "I know you think that everything is over between Mori-san and I, but he might change his mind after he has time to deal with everything, I don''t want to date someone else right now." Mizuki leapt to her feet and protested angrily, "Don''t you dare get back together with that jerk! He lied to you!"Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Shizune stared at her in shock for a moment, and then objected hotly, "How dare you say something like that Mizuki! Why would he lie about his grandmother dying?" Mizuki froze, torn between admitting she''d seen him on the island and keeping it a secret. She didn''t know which would be better and she didn''t want Shizune to spend the whole vacation locked in their room crying. Sora spoke up hesitantly, "Did you want to go snorkeling?" Mizuki and Shizune both turned to look at him and he shifted his shoulders uncomfortably. Embarrassed, Shizune admitted, "It does sound fun, but I don''t know. I''ll go look at the advertisements." She picked up her plate and took it over to the trash collector. Mizuki moved over to lean against Sora''s shoulder and whispered, "Thank you." He just looked at her questioningly, so she leaned into him and he pulled her close enough to wrap his arm around her and pull her into his lap again. She laid her head on his shoulder and admitted quietly, "I don''t know what to do, that jerk is here on the island with a different girl. But I''m afraid if I tell Shizu-nee-chan that, she''ll just lay in bed and cry all week¡­" He hesitated before answering. "I don''t know Mizuki, but I think if it were me, I''d rather know?" Mizuki sighed and cuddled against him for a moment, before reaching up and pulling his head down for another kiss. "Sorry, I should go after her then," she told him reluctantly when the kiss ended. She stood and then asked, "I don''t suppose I can have your phone number now?" He gave her a long look and asked, "For your collection?" She gave an outraged gasp before he grinned, and he laughed at her. Once she realized that he was teasing her, she replied boldly, "Yes, I''d better start collecting now so I can be one of those grandmothers with a hundred wild stories someday!" He pulled her back to him for another kiss, and told her seriously, "You''ll be such an adorable little grandmother that no one will ever believe you." He pulled out his phone and they traded numbers before Mizuki went after her sister. -- Shizune was frowning unhappily at the advertising displays in the office, and Mizuki approached hesitantly. Shizune looked at her and then asked quietly, "Why do you keep calling Mori-san a jerk, and why did you say he was lying to me Mizuki? It''s not like you and you were really angry." Mizuki asked hesitantly, "I don''t suppose you''d be willing to promise you won''t spend all week in bed crying before I tell you?" Shizune swallowed and put down the advertisement she was holding. "Let''s go back to our room," she said. "I promise not to cry all week, but it sounds like I''m going to cry a little." -- When they got back to their room, they sat on the bed that Shizune had claimed, where they could look out at the ocean. They were both silent for a few minutes before Shizune asked, "Well?" Mizuki admitted unhappily?, "I''ve just been calling him a jerk because he keeps making you cry." "Onee-chan still cries over Kyo-nii-san on a regular basis and you have never called him a jerk Mizuki, you always take his side!" Shizune complained. "I don''t always take Kyo-nii-chan''s side, and mostly Aka-nee-chan cries because of things she imagined," Mizuki protested. Shizune laughed and agreed reluctantly. But her smile didn''t last long and she asked, "And what has he been lying to me about?" Mizuki shifted uncomfortably as she admitted, "I only suspected it at home, but after we got here I saw him on the beach with another girl." Shizune suggested unhappily, "It could have just been someone who looks like him Mizuki." Mizuki shook her head. "You never said anything at home," Shizune protested. Mizuki sighed and covered her face for a moment before explaining, "When I saw him with another girl there, I didn''t get a good enough look to be absolutely certain, and it could have been a cousin or something even if it was him." "That time we went shopping and I bought the green dress?" Shizune asked miserably after a long moment. Mizuki stared at her in surprise and asked, "You saw him too?" Shizune nodded, but added, "I wasn''t completely sure it was him." She pulled her knees up and buried her face in them. Mizuki patted her back gently. "I''m sorry," she apologized unhappily. After a little while Shizune asked accusingly, "But really Mizuki, how can you go and do it with a man you just met?" Mizuki looked at her soberly before asking, "You''ve never complained about my love life at home. Why now?" Shizune stared at her with a shocked expression as she questioned, "Have you slept with men you''d just met at home? I thought you''d only been with Tooru-kun and that jerk from your school?" Mizuki gave her a wry look and answered honestly, knowing that her sister wouldn''t understand what she was actually telling her, "No, this was my first time." Shizune asked hesitantly, "Wasn''t it awkward since you don''t really know anything about each other?" Mizuki grinned as she informed her, "No, it was amazing." Then she recalled how upset Sora had been, and added, "Although I guess I can''t claim that we haven''t had any awkward moments." "Well, just be careful," Shizune warned her anxiously. "I know," Mizuki agreed as she leaned over to give her worried sister a hug. "Don''t worry." Shizune stared out at the ocean for a long minute, and then asked a bit sadly, "Well, if I''m not going to lay in bed and cry all day, what should we do?" 7: Glass "Did you see anything that looked fun when you were looking at the advertisements?" Mizuki asked her sister hopefully. Shizune shrugged, but after a moment she suggested, "There was one about a place that lets you watch glass blowing back in the town somewhere?" Mizuki considered it doubtfully, but finally decided that since Shizune knew everything now, even if they did run into the jerk in town it would probably be okay. "That sounds interesting at least?" she agreed finally. She was rewarded with a surprised expression and a small smile, so she pulled out her phone and messaged Sora about their plan to head into town and find the glassworks. Sora replied promptly, ''OK. Don''t take this the wrong way, but we''re not really dating. You don''t have to tell me what you''re doing when we''re not together, you can just tell me when I can expect to see you.'' Mizuki shoved her phone into her pocket without replying after reading the reply. It gave her a surprisingly bitter feeling, but she was the one who''d asked for the short term physical relationship, so she couldn''t really complain. She was silent on the bus ride into town while she thought about her own reaction. Shizune suddenly suggested, "If you don''t want to, we can do something else?" Mizuki looked at her sister with blank incomprehension for a moment, and then asked, "What?" "I don''t know, we could look around?" Shizune replied uncertainly. "I''m sorry, I wasn''t listening. I don''t know what you''re talking about," Mizuki admitted. "What were you thinking about then?" Shizune asked curiously. Mizuki blushed as she admitted, "Sora." Shizune actually laughed, and then spent the rest of the ride teasing her about all the times she''d complained about the way her older sisters behaved when they were dating someone. -- They watched the glass blowing for over an hour, and while it was interesting, Mizuki wouldn''t have exactly called it fun. Afterward they talked about what to do for lunch, even though it was still rather early. Mizuki examined the boards outside of several of the shops and restaurants they passed, and then asked dubiously, "Can we afford to eat lunch every day? I wanted to use some of my spending money on souvenirs." Shizune offered quickly, "I can pay for our lunches, since you already spent so much to come with me." Mizuki shrugged, but then suggested, "Maybe we should look for the grocery store? There must be one here somewhere." Shizune protested at first, but after arguing it back and forth a bit, they searched out the grocery store. The prices there were high too, but not as bad as the restaurants. They tried to pick out things that wouldn''t need refrigeration, that they would enjoy eating with the fruits from the basket in their room. When they got in the checkout line they ran into Hattori Shinichi. He grinned at them in surprise, and they exchanged rather casual greetings. Shizune looked over his purchases dubiously and then asked, "Is that what you eat all the time?" Shinichi took a moment to examine what they were carrying and asked rather critically, "Do you have any room to talk?" Shizune blushed as she apologized, "Sorry." Mizuki asked him with interest, "Does your place lack a refrigerator too?" Before he could answer she added, "We already have fruit that''s being delivered to ours." Shinichi laughed and told them, "No, I have a full kitchen. I just don''t like to cook, so I usually eat lunch and dinner out. These are just breakfast and snacks." They chatted a little bit more and then he asked teasingly, "Since we''re apparently fated to meet more than once, want to schedule the third time in advance?" Mizuki looked at Shizune and told her, "I''m leaving answering that one totally up to you." Shinichi immediately suggested, "There''s a dance tonight in the town square. It''s usually mostly locals, since it''s not on the weekend, or on the beach, but there will be live music?"The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. "I don''t know," Shizune replied hesitantly. "If you don''t want to agree to meet, we can just see if it happens. The dance usually starts about half an hour after sunset. And you''re still welcome to call me if you decide you want to go snorkeling," he offered. She smiled at him shyly and agreed, "Alright." -- In the afternoon when they got back to their room again, Mizuki asked, "Do you mind if I go see if Sora is free for awhile?" Shizune considered her younger sister for a long moment before replying, "I guess not. If we''re really going to try to go dancing that late, I probably want to take a nap now anyway." Mizuki messaged Sora, "We''re back, are you here?" He replied almost immediately, "Yes, I''m laying in the shade on the beach again." Mizuki slipped her sandals back on, and walked out to where Sora lay. He laid his arm out, inviting her to lay beside him. After a moment she settled down beside him, laid her head on his shoulder, and sighed. He glanced at her face and asked, "What''s wrong?" "Nothing," she replied quickly. "Okay, is this one of those nothing-nothings or one of those feminine code you''ve-done-something-and-you-better-figure-out-what nothings?" he asked after a moment. Mizuki snickered but then admitted, "It''s an I-don''t-know nothing." He looked at her searchingly and then asked, "Is it my fault?" She opened her mouth but then shut it again, and he asked more sharply, "You have no trouble telling me that you want me to do you, but you''re reluctant to tell me why you''re unhappy?" She frowned at him, but protested reasonably, "I''m sure it''s my fault, not yours. I agreed that not dating was fine." He covered his eyes with his other hand. "It''s because of my message this morning isn''t it? I told you not to take it the wrong way." "I don''t think I''m taking it the wrong way," Mizuki objected. He uncovered his eyes and laughed. "I can only think of one way to deal with you right now," he admitted before rolling toward her and kissing her suddenly. After a moment of surprise, she responded warmly. When he finally stopped kissing her, she pouted and told him, "That isn''t fair." He gave her an incredulous look as he asked, "You do remember me telling you, ''Don''t Mizuki,'' and, ''Stop Mizuki,'' last night don''t you?" She blushed as she protested, "But your mouth and your body were telling me different things?" He glanced down at her body pointedly and asked, "And yours aren''t?" Her blush deepened, and guilt made her apologize, "I''m sorry Sora." Then she asked worriedly, "Did I hurt you?" He gave her a long look, but instead of answering he asked after a moment, "Mizuki, am I hurting you already?" "No!" she protested immediately. He looked at her doubtfully and she told him, "Sora, I am not really sure why your message this morning made me feel bitter. I''ve been thinking about it all day. But that''s not your fault!" "I''m sorry Mizuki," he apologized while running his hand down her side gently. "I mean it Sora!" she said forcefully. "Okay!" he replied laughingly. "I''ll let you win." She looked at his smile, and then told him suddenly, "I think maybe it''s because I do want to know what you''re doing when I''m not with you, even if it''s only for this week." He asked, "If we share our plans and activities will it make you happier? I was just trying to tell you that you don''t owe me anything. I don''t own you, and you don''t have to report to me." He kissed her gently. "It will make me happier," she assured him when the kiss ended. He kissed her again. "Okay," he agreed, and then leaned closer and whispered into her ear, "Want to go to my room?" She shivered and nodded. He got to his knees and scooped her up, but she objected, "Sora, I can walk." He paused and asked, "Do you not like me carrying you?" She shrugged and then admitted with embarrassment, "I kind of like it, but it''s embarrassing. I feel like it makes me look like a little kid." He muttered unhappily, "You are a little kid." "Put me down," she demanded. He set her down and asked uncertainly, "Are we fighting now, or are we walking to my room?" She laughed, and asked him with a grin, "We can''t do both?" He smiled at her, but replied seriously, "I''d really rather not, I don''t like to mix pleasure and pain." She took his hand and suggested, "Then let''s just go to your room?" He smiled, bent down to kiss her again, and complained softly, "But I like to pick you up so I can kiss you easily, you''re too short Mizuki." "I''m not too short, you''re just too tall Sora!" she protested. "Come here," he demanded and dragged her willingly off to his room. -- When they finished, Sora grinned at her and whispered, "You''re so easy Mizuki, I love it." Mizuki stared at him unhappily for a shocked moment, and then looked away as she replied miserably, "It makes me really unhappy when you say that Sora, even if it''s true." He stared at her in surprise and asked, "What? Why?" She glanced at him again and then told him, "I don''t want you to say I''m easy." He groaned and then complained, "Mizuki, that is not what I meant. I meant we fit together so well, that doing it with you is really easy." She looked up at him and asked uncertainly, "Is it not usually this easy?" He stared at her for a moment, kissed her, and then asked, "Haven''t you noticed that every time you get there, so do I?" He kissed her again, and then informed her, "It''s been amazing every time." "Oh," she replied a little breathlessly, and then asked, "Can we do it again?" 8: Dancing When they met Shizune for supper, she asked politely as she buttered the grilled vegetables that filled half of her plate, "Are you coming to the dance with us Konami-san?" Sora finished setting his plate and drink down, and then looked at her blankly, while Mizuki gasped and admitted, "I forgot to ask!" Shizune asked, "What were you doing?" She watched Mizuki blush, quickly held up her hands in surrender, and told her, "I withdraw the question, I don''t want to know!" "Okay," Mizuki agreed with relief, as she sat and began separating her piece of grilled fish into strips. Sora laughed, but then asked curiously, "What dance?" Mizuki quickly explained about how they had met Hattori Shinichi in the grocery store. "He suggested we attend the dance in the town square. It sounds kind of casual and fun," she added, with a look toward her sister, who shrugged. "Will you come?" she asked Sora hopefully. Sora considered her face for a long moment, but then he raised a hand to cover his eyes, and replied apologetically, "I''m sorry Mizuki, I don''t want to go dance with you." "Okay," she replied easily. When she saw him drop his hand with a surprised expression, she explained, "I''m not going to try to force you to do everything with me Sora." Shizune watched them with interest, but Mizuki didn''t notice, because Sora''s expression lightened again and he caressed her cheek. He bent to kiss her suddenly, and then asked softly, "Come sleep with me when you get back?" Mizuki nodded, and promised, "I will." -- After supper Shizune and Mizuki dressed up, and Shizune warned Mizuki, "The bus only runs once every two hours after six, so make sure you have everything." Mizuki rolled her eyes at her sister and replied, "You too." They dashed out to meet the bus, which arrived right on time. Mizuki couldn''t decide if she was impressed by this display of punctuality or not, since there was very little traffic on the island. She and Shizune watched the sunset from the bus as it carried them back into the little island town, a broad sweeping display of light that shifted colors across the darkening sky. Shizune commented suddenly, "It''s so amazingly beautiful here. I''m so glad we came. I''m going to remember it forever." Mizuki grinned at her sister and assured her, "Me too!" The information Hattori Shinichi had given them was accurate, and the town bus station was close to the town square. When they arrived at the dance Mizuki watched men start flocking to her sister and felt envious. Both of her sisters were taller than she and her mother were, so even though they shared the same curves, they always looked curvaceous instead of plump. -- They had been dancing for awhile, and were a little separated in the crowd, when a man threw his arms around Mizuki from behind. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. He triumphantly exclaimed, "Found you!" Mizuki gasped and picked up her foot to stomp down on his, but stopped when he pressed his face into her hair and murmured against her ear, "So now you owe me a dance before you help me find your sister." "Hattori-san?" she asked with surprise. "Who did you think?" he asked, letting go of her enough that she could turn around within the circle of his arms. "I don''t know, but you scared me," she informed him a little tartly. "Oh, sorry," he apologized as he pulled her up against him and swayed in time to the music. It felt strange to feel his body rubbing against hers and Mizuki asked uncomfortably, "Do we have to dance so closely?" Shinichi hugged her tighter against himself, and informed her with amusement, "Yes." But a moment later he examined her face and asked suddenly, "How old are you?" "Seventeen?" she replied questioningly. He bounced away from her and held her at arms-length. She stared as he blushed and told her apologetically, "Sorry Mizuki-chan, I thought since the two of you were here without your parents¡­" He stopped and asked, "Are you here without your parents?" Mizuki laughed as she assured him cheerfully, "Yes, it''s just the two of us." "Your sister is at least eighteen then?" he asked worriedly. "Shuzu-nee-chan just turned twenty-one," Mizuki informed him with a grin. She glanced at his arm length and added more teasingly, "We don''t have to keep this much distance, we were just a little too close before." He relaxed his arms and they danced in a more normal spacing for the rest of the song. Before they looked for her sister, Mizuki told him firmly, "Just because Shizu-nee-chan is older, doesn''t mean you should get too aggressive with her." Shinichi apologized guiltily, "I''m sorry I scared you." "It''s okay," she replied, then spotted Shizune through the crowd and pulled him after her. Shizune greeted her with relief, and whispered, "Don''t dance with that guy in the green stripes Mizuki, he kept groping me." Then she spotted Shinichi and blushed. "Found you," he said over Mizuki''s shoulder. "I thought you were leaving it to chance?" Shizune replied archly. He looked around them and then asked, "You don''t think finding you in this crush took luck? There are at least three times as many people here as usual." Shizune tucked back a strand of her hair and told him a little shyly, "Well, the band is pretty good? And several people have asked me if I came here to see them." Shinichi grinned at her as he asked, "Dance with me?" Shizune protested, "Only if you dance with Mizuki some too." Mizuki rolled her eyes and informed her sister, "We already danced. Go!" Shizune couldn''t help laughing as Shinichi waved the clasped hand that Mizuki had led him to her sister with, released it dramatically, and reached for her. Mizuki watched with approval as he coaxed her sister into the dance instead of starting out with the full body contact he''d used when he''d found her. She couldn''t help rolling her eyes when Shizune moved closer experimentally as the music changed, and Shinichi grinned and moved up against her. -- When the next bus would have been available, Mizuki was ready to go back and sleep with Sora, but Shizune was still dancing happily. She and Shinichi seemed to be taking turns dancing together and dancing with others in some kind of coordinated opposition. Mizuki thought she looked happier than she had all week, so she just found a place to buy a bottle of water and waited. Shizune found her tucked up against a tree half asleep a while later and scolded, "Mizuki! You should have told me that you were ready to go before you got this tired!" Mizuki shook herself awake, and pointed out as though she''d only recently sat down, "We''d have had to wait for the bus anyway." When they finally got back to their lodgings, at about three in the morning, Mizuki went straight to Sora''s room. She climbed into his bed after a quick shower, but he didn''t really wake up, he just wrapped around her and murmured, "Mizuki." "When I go home, I''m going to miss you like crazy," Mizuki told him in a barely audible whisper, and then promptly fell asleep. 9: Falling When Sora woke her up and asked if she was having breakfast Mizuki just kissed him and mumbled, "Later." "Okay," he replied gently as she nestled back down beside him. He ignored the restlessness of his own stomach and laid there, watching her like he was memorizing every curve and occasionally reaching out to stroke her hair or touch her skin for a moment, until she finally woke up around noon. Mizuki rolled out of bed without a backward glance, although she heard his exasperated sigh. After attending to immediate needs, she walked back to the bed where he still waited, although he''d sat up. Without saying anything, she stripped. Sora raised his brows, then grinned at her and held out his arms. She crawled into his lap and kissed him. "Demanding," he murmured. She hesitated and he grinned at her and insisted, "Don''t stop." She kissed him harder and he pulled a familiar packet out of his pocket. They crashed together a bit later like the waves against the beach outside. Neither of them said anything when they finished, but they kissed a lot, and did it again in the shower before leaving the room. -- Shizune was still yawning when Mizuki finally entered their room, although she was already dressed in a bikini with a sheer over shirt. "Finally!" she told Mizuki. "Finally what?" Mizuki asked laughingly. "I bet you slept as long as I did, and I''m starving, but you look dressed for the beach." Shizune blushed, but insisted, "Well put on your suit, and eat some fruit and stuff like I did. I told Hattori-san that I''d let him take us snorkeling this afternoon." Mizuki hesitated and Shizune asked a bit sharply, "What? I thought you were trying to get me to let him take us?" "Can I invite Sora?" Mizuki requested. Shizune shrugged and pointed out, "You could ask Hattori-san if that''s alright?" Mizuki considered it for a moment, and then told her sister, "Let me ask Sora if he''d even go before I find out. There''s no point if he doesn''t want to." She stepped outside, walked over to where Sora had sat at the edge of the walk, and asked hesitantly, "If it''s okay with the guy who offered to take us snorkeling, would you like to go with us?" Sora grinned at her. "Sure," he agreed easily as he stood up. Mizuki hugged him and smiled. They stood there grinning at each other foolishly for a minute, and then she pulled out her phone to call Hattori Shinichi and ask. Shinichi replied dubiously, "I''m not sure it would be safe to add another person if none of you have any experience." Sora spoke up from behind Mizuki''s ?shoulder, "I''m already scuba certified. I can look after Mizuki while you keep an eye on Shizune-chan." Shinichi promptly agreed, and Sora promised to bring his own gear as well. After she ended the call, Mizuki turned to Sora and demanded he lean down enough that she could kiss him again before asking, "Did you eat breakfast this morning? I''m starving, but we have fruit and stuff we bought at the grocery store in our room." He admitted that he hadn''t but pointed out, "I have a car rented, and we could just go out to lunch before going swimming." She hesitated a moment before finally deciding to just tell him honestly, "I don''t want to spend the rest of my spending money on eating out." His lips quirked with amusement and he kissed her again before telling her agreeably, "Whatever you want to do? I''ll buy lunch if you like, or eat fruit and stuff with you."Stolen story; please report. "Fruit today, lunch out somewhere tomorrow?" she suggested hopefully. "Sure," he agreed with a grin. -- They met Shinichi at the beach where they''d first met him. Both Shinichi and Sora already had their own gear, and Shinichi had brought masks for the girls. "We don''t get flippers too?" Mizuki asked curiously. Shinichi told her, "If you get comfortable with the mask today you can have flippers to start learning with tomorrow if you want." Sora grinned at her, but didn''t interrupt as Shinichi gave them a brief safety lecture on swimming in the ocean. When he finished, Mizuki warned him before he lead Shizune into the water, "Shizu-nee-chan is an indifferent swimmer." Shizune blushed as she admitted that Mizuki was telling the truth. Shinichi just grinned at the two sisters, but said to Sora, "Then it''s even better that you came along Konami-san." Sora nodded soberly, but then winked at Mizuki when she looked at him, and she blinked. Shinichi took Shizune''s hand and they all walked out into the water. The waves pushed at them much more than Mizuki had expected, but Sora let her make her own way out. They practiced with the masks where they could all still touch comfortably. Mizuki felt that nature was unfair, as she was forced to remain a little closer to shore until Shinichi was satisfied that none of them were likely to breathe water while trying to clear their own mask. Once he was reasonably sure that she wouldn''t drown, Shinichi offered to tow Shizune out along the coral formations. Mizuki watched them depart and then she and Sora swam out a little. After watching her for a few minutes Sora pulled her up and told her, "You have to stop fighting the waves." "But they''ll carry me out?" Mizuki objected. He showed her how to relax as the waves pulled them away from the direction they wanted to go and swim when they pushed in the direction they wanted. After a surprisingly short time Mizuki admitted, "Sora, I''m exhausted already. I had no idea it would be this difficult." He looked at her with surprise, but agreed, "Okay. You are finally getting it, but let''s take a break." She fell when she tried to stand up after they returned to the shallows, and said with surprise, "Maybe I waited too long, my body feels like lead." Sora frowned, scooped her up, and carried her out of the water. She didn''t even protest, but looked around a little anxiously and asked, "Do you see them?" Sora pointed them out, "Over there." Mizuki asked worriedly, "Aren''t they really far out?" He shrugged. "Hattori-san seems to know what he''s doing, and it''s not that far, I could get to them within a couple minutes easily." Mizuki apologized guiltily, "Sorry I''m holding you back." Sora grinned as he assured her, "You''re doing fine. If you keep working on it, tomorrow or the next day you''ll be able to swim out that far with me, instead of being towed like luggage." -- Shizune didn''t mind being towed. It was amazing, and she felt like they were swimming through a fish tank. There were so many fish, and the water was so warm. It was fascinating. Shinichi pointed out especially vibrant or interesting things and they moved slowly through the water. They stayed at one spot watching a school of delicate transparent jellyfish for a while. When he floated around to face her, she was suddenly distracted from the fish. His reaction to her was very visible and she reached out to touch him. He grabbed her hand and pulled her up until they were face to face on the surface, then pulled up his mask and said scoldingly, "Unless you want me to do you, don''t do that Shizune-chan." She pushed up her own mask and kissed him. -- Mizuki opened her eyes where she was resting against Sora''s chest and scanned the water for her sister and Hattori-san again. After she spotted them she sat up and asked Sora worriedly, "What are they doing?" Sora looked out and watched for a moment before laughing. He looked down into Mizuki''s worried face and told her, "I''m betting that either Hattori-san is in really good shape or your sister is very buoyant." Mizuki looked at him in shock as she realized what he was implying, and then hid her face against him. But after a moment she looked out again and admitted anxiously, "I don''t want to watch but I don''t want them to drown." Sora laughed and asked, "Do you want me to watch?" Mizuki nodded and pressed her face back into his chest. After a couple more minutes he told her, "It''s safe to look. They are already done and heading back to us." She looked up and told him rather fervently, "Thank you." He laughed again and pulled her up for a kiss. -- When they came out of the water after they got back to shore, Shinichi asked Shizune worriedly, "Were you stung anywhere?" She looked back at him in surprise and asked, "Were you?" He blushed and nodded and showed her a little red mark on his hip when they were completely out of the water. He examined her carefully and then declared with relief, "It looks like you''re fine. I''ve never had a bad reaction to the ones here, but some people do." Shizune turned bright red all over when Mizuki asked with interest, "Stung by what?" Shinichi''s blush faded as he turned and explained, "The jellyfish. They are still tiny, but they are swarming all over the reef right now." Shizune couldn''t help laughing as Mizuki immediately dragged Sora back into the water for a chance to view the swarming jellyfish that she hadn''t noticed. 10: Binding When they were back in their room dressing for dinner, Mizuki asked Shizune incredulously, "You asked me how I could do it with a man I''d just met, but then you go and do it in the ocean where anyone can see you?" Shizune turned scarlet as she replied, "You were right though, it wasn''t weird, it was amazing." "Am I a bad influence on you?" Mizuki asked her sister worriedly. Shizune hugged her and insisted reassuringly, "No Mizuki! I can be much braver with you here, but that''s a good thing." -- Mizuki was a little scandalized when she discovered how much Shinichi had paid to join them in the casual dinner provided by their hotel. He was amused by her reaction, and insisted, "You obviously haven''t visited one of the nicer island restaurants yet. I''ll take you both to one before you leave." Sora slid into place beside Mizuki and said blandly, "Don''t forget to include me." Mizuki gazed up at him incredulously, but her intended offer to at least pay her own way was silenced by Shinichi''s casual, "Sure, it''ll be fun to watch the girls try some of the foods they''ve probably never even had an opportunity to see before." Sora raised an eyebrow at him, but didn''t argue the somewhat judgemental proposition. When he met Mizuki''s eyes he grinned and leaned down to murmur, "Sometimes it''s worth tasting things you thought you wouldn''t like." She eyed his expression and wondered if he were even talking about food, and then blinked in surprise when he offered her a bite from his own plate. Sora watched her intently as she chewed, but she realized that he was actually watching her hopefully when she saw his smile after she asked with interest, "What was that?" -- Shinichi had talked Shizune into deciding to spend the night with him at his place, before they had all finished eating. As Mizuki settled on the bed beside Sora, she thought that it was ironic that she and her sister were paying for a beautiful room with an ocean view that they were hardly using, but she wasn''t going to complain. Sora responded to the demand of her open arms with a satisfactorily warm response. But a while later when she cuddled up to him again, she couldn''t restrain the tears that sprang to her eyes, and he looked at her with shock as she started to cry. "Mizuki? What''s wrong!?", he demanded. "I''m sorry," she apologized. "Please don''t mind it? I just realized that there are only three more nights after this." Sora nodded after a moment, and whispered, "Yeah." He held her tightly until she stopped crying, and when he asked for more, she responded willingly. -- The next day the girls got to wear fins while they practiced swimming with the masks again, and Mizuki was surprised by how awkward they were at first, and then delighted with the extra power they gave her. By the time Sora took them all to lunch she was exhausted.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Mizuki was reluctant to tell Sora that she''d rather nap than do anything after they ate, and he was puzzled by her laughter when he suggested they start the afternoon by resting for a couple of hours. -- That night Shizune let Shinichi tie her to the bed, but asked dubiously, "Why is this supposed to be fun?" Shinichi grinned at her as he explained, "Because I can do anything to you, touch you anywhere, and you can''t touch me." "You don''t want me to touch you?" she asked with surprise. "I do, but this time I just want to make you cry," he confessed. She just looked at him with wide eyes, and he finished tying her ankle before he asked, "Why aren''t you more scared?" "Do you want me to be scared?" she asked nervously. "I just want you to be restrained," he informed her honestly. "But I''m curious?" She wordlessly tilted her hand and tugged at the ribbon until the knot released. "Oh, you realized," he said with surprise. He took her hand and tied it back up in the same way before kissing her again, and then instructed, "But don''t escape until I let you go." Shizune watched him with more curiosity than she showed. Eventually Shinichi did make her cry, and beg, and even scream a little. At first she didn''t understand his apparent desire to see her at her most vulnerable, but afterwards he cried in his sleep beside her. She cuddled him until he calmed and never mentioned it in the morning. -- The remaining days of their vacation dissolved like mist under the sun. Shizune and Mizuki packed up in a rush, and Sora drove the car that carried them to the airport, while Shinichi rode along. Mizuki complained on the way, "How can a week be so short? And I only went swimming eight times." Shizune pointed out with amusement, "You went twice a day some of the time." The two men even followed them into the terminal and waited while they got checked in and submitted their cases to the luggage inspections. At the gate, Mizuki turned and asked Sora, "Can I call you tomorrow?" After a moment Sora told her unhappily, "Don''t call. I don''t want you to wait for me or hope for more, and I think if I let you call me, you will." He hugged her tightly and tears spilled out of the corners of her eyes. She''d known that this was when they''d part, but she''d hoped. She pulled away for a moment, rubbed at them, and complained, "I told myself I wouldn''t cry! I didn''t want to let you see me cry Sora. Just ignore these tears! These are greedy tears, not sad tears." "Mizuki," he replied helplessly. She glared up at him and declared, "I loved it all, I''m so glad I got to spend this week with you. I won''t ever regret it." "Okay," he agreed softly, and hugged her again. Behind them Shizune wailed, "I can''t!" She turned and fled through the automated gate, immediately dashing up the inspection passage without waiting. Mizuki looked after her sister and then back up at Sora. "I''d better go," she told him unhappily. Sora nodded, then bent and kissed her quickly one last time before letting her go. -- A few minutes after they''d gone, Shinichi asked miserably, "Why couldn''t she just stay with me!? Why do I have to let her go?" Sora shrugged as he replied unhappily, "I don''t know, but I already knew I couldn''t keep her." After another few minutes Shinichi asked, "Want to go get drunk." After a long silence Sora admitted, "I do, but I won''t." After a moment Shinichi asked, "One drink?" Sora nodded. -- On the plane Mizuki finally caught up with her sobbing sister, slid into her own seat, and then asked, "What did he ask you to do?" It took her awhile to gather enough breath to answer, but when she did, Shizune sobbed, "To stay here, and marry him!" Mizuki didn''t know what to say, so she waited silently while her sister cried through the take off. But a while later, as she handed over the last of her tissues, she asked, "If saying no is making you this unhappy, why didn''t you?" 11: Demanding Two weeks later Mizuki walked into the room that she and her sisters had always shared, and found her sister sobbing silently on her bed. "Did Shinichi-san call again?" she asked after a moment. "I told him not to call me again last time, and he hasn''t," Shizune replied tearfully without looking up. Mizuki sat beside her, patted her back, and suggested, "You could call him?" "I can''t!" Shizune wailed at a volume that made her wince. "Why not?" Mizuki asked reasonably. "I''m pregnant," Shizune sobbed miserably. Mizuki stared at her sister in shock for a long silent minute, then asked hesitantly, "Do you think it''s from that jerk you were dating before? Is that why you think you can''t tell Shinichi-san?" Shizune didn''t answer, so Mizuki added, "I think you''re underestimating him. If you want to be with him, shouldn''t you at least give him a chance?" "It''s Shinichi''s," Shizune finally insisted tearfully. After a moment Mizuki asked a little angrily, "Then doesn''t he deserve to know?" "I''m too scared," Shizune admitted after a moment. "Do you want me to call him instead?" Mizuki offered hesitantly. Shizune sat up suddenly and exclaimed, "No! Don''t you dare!" Mizuki just looked at her and after a moment she fell back onto the bed and added more wearily, "I''ll tell him. I will. I just can''t yet." "Okay," Mizuki agreed. -- Two weeks later someone knocked while they were all having dinner. As the youngest, Mizuki was the one who got up to answer the door. A familiar figure waited on the other side. Shinichi merely glanced down at her, and then looked over her shoulder at Shizune. Mizuki silently stepped back, and Shizune leapt to her feet and fled towards their bedroom. Shinichi immediately dropped his suitcase and demanded harshly, "Shizune come here!" He pointed at the floor in front of his feet and her family stared in shock as Shizune halted, and then slowly walked back to him without ever looking up at his face. "Are you pregnant?" he asked more gently. She looked up at him with wide startled eyes, and then nodded hesitantly. He ran his hand through his hair and told her bitterly, "You told me not to call you, but then you called me three times and hung up before I could answer." His expression shifted as he gave her a wry grin and explained, "I can count, you know, and I figured you''d know by now." Shizune still didn''t reply with words, but she started to cry. He reached out, pulled her into his embrace, and hugged her. "You will marry me," he informed her. "Okay," she agreed. "If you try to run away again I''m going to tie you up," he warned her. "Okay," she agreed again. Mizuki almost protested, but her sister was finally smiling again. After a moment she returned to the table, where their startled parents were watching them with wide eyes. -- Mizuki cornered Shinichi a while later and asked suspiciously, "Did you get her pregnant on purpose? You seem pretty smug." Shinichi shrugged, but replied, "The first time, I didn''t even think about it." After a moment he looked away as he admitted, "The last time, I was really hoping though."If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. She gave him a long look, and pointed out, "You know you''ll have the baby too, it''s not just a way to get Shizu-nee-chan?" He turned back and smiled at her. "I know, and I think it''s going to be amazing. Shizune is the warmest person I''ve ever met. She''s everything I''ve ever wanted, and if our child is anything like me, we''ll never get bored." Mizuki regarded him with surprise, and after a moment he shrugged. "Were you a troublesome child?" she questioned curiously. "Kind of, I got bored a lot. It wasn''t so much that I tried to cause trouble though," he explained, "I was careful not to do anything that I''d already gotten in trouble for again." He grinned at her and she laughed. -- Two weeks later, someone knocked on the door. Mizuki carried her youngest nephew over to the door, and then opened it. She stared for a long moment and then gasped, "Sora! You came!" He frowned and said simply, "Mizuki." She set the baby on the floor, and then reached out to pull Sora through the door, as she exclaimed, "Don''t move! Wait right there, I''ll be right back!" Sora watched her with confusion, and then called out as she yanked her bedroom door open, "Mizuki, the baby?" She looked back and he pointed. She yelled, "Aka-nee-chan, the baby''s going to eat cat food, again!" Mizuki was already through the door before her eldest sister shouted back from her parents room, "Well stop him!" Sora stepped over and picked up the baby gingerly. Mizuki dashed back into the room a moment later, and he held the baby out to her. She grabbed the baby with one arm, tucked him onto her hip, and thrust a small pile of notes into Sora''s hands. "I couldn''t find any places that were currently hiring for your old job title, but I found some that have that position. I thought maybe you could apply for one of the entry positions and then make an internal application when the one you want opens up, and then they''d already know that you have good attendance and everything!" she told him in a rush. He stared at her for a moment, and then informed her a little angrily, "I just came to return your clothes. Why did you leave them with me? You know I hate that kind of manipulative thing Mizuki!" She stared at him blankly for a longer moment and then asked, "You''re not here for the wedding? But the way you''re dressed?" "What wedding? I''m dressed like this because Takumi''s wedding was this morning," Sora replied with confusion. Mizuki gazed up at him and asked incredulously, "You came here from your best friend''s wedding just to return my clothes? Shizune is marrying Shinichi-san this evening." "You left your address on my pillow! Are you going to pretend you didn''t leave them on purpose?" he asked angrily. He followed up with less force, as she just stared at him, "Are you going to your sister''s wedding dressed like that?" Mizuki''s mother came out just in time to hear his question, and took the baby from Mizuki while saying, "Oh please, if you can talk her into wearing the dress, I''ll be forever grateful! Please convince her!" Sora stared at the woman disbelievingly, then looked at Mizuki, who grabbed his hand and demanded, "Let''s talk in my room!" He let her pull him into the room she''d entered before. It was a mid-size bedroom, beside the flat''s kitchen. One small bed with drawers underneath stood to either side of the doorway, and a long closet took up the far wall. She pushed him toward a bed and he resisted. She looked at his expression and laughed. "Just sit Sora." Instead he held out the paper bag that held her clothes to her, and asked again, "Are you trying to pretend you didn''t leave them on purpose?" She grimaced as she finally took the bag, and replied, "It wasn''t exactly on purpose. I did realize I''d left them when we were packing, but¡­" She hesitated for a long moment before admitting unhappily, "I didn''t want to give back your shirt." "My shirt?" he questioned blankly. She glared at him as she asked angrily, "You didn''t think I went back to our room naked did you?" She swallowed, set down the bag, and rummaged in one of her drawers. A moment later she held out a familiar T-shirt. He sat on the bed instead of taking it. After a moment he said, "I''m sorry Mizuki. You left your address, so I thought you just left your clothes to try to get me to come see you once more." Mizuki looked at him and asked a little bitterly, "Then why did you actually come?" He replied sharply, "I was afraid you were waiting for me." He held up the notes as he added accusingly, "And you were!" "I was just hoping you''d change your mind Sora," she explained unhappily. The outside door of the apartment banged open and Mizuki heard her father call out, "The car is here!" She stared up at Sora as she told him anxiously, "There isn''t enough time." "You had better put on your dress," he agreed. She bit her lip. "It makes me look like I''m five. But I''ll wear it if you''ll agree to come to the wedding so we can talk after?" "Mizuki," he protested unhappily. "Please," she begged. "You''re already dressed for it." He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and agreed shortly, "Fine." "Promise you won''t leave until after we get to talk?" she begged again. After gazing at her face for a moment, he agreed reluctantly, "I promise." 12: Wedding Mizuki turned and walked away from Sora, opened her closet, and started pulling off her clothes. "Mizuki!" Sora protested. Mizuki glanced back at him and asked, "What? You''ve already seen me completely naked, my underwear aren''t going to hurt you." He raised a hand to cover his face for a moment, but didn''t reply, so she finished undressing. She took the bridesmaid dress out of her closet and pulled it on. Then she walked over, turned her back to him, and demanded, "Zip me up?" He pulled the zipper up, and she turned back to him and waved her arms. "See?" she asked unhappily. He couldn''t prevent the amused grin that spread across his face, but he did tell her, "About twelve I think, not five." She sighed unhappily, and he asked dryly, "Are you going to your sister''s wedding to pick up guys?" "No!" she protested with a shocked expression. "Then why does it matter how old the dress makes you look?" he asked more gently. "It''s going to be shown in pictures for the rest of my life," she complained. He laughed. Mizuki watched him laughing with an aching pang, and said quietly, "I''ve really missed you Sora." His laughter died as he froze, and protested, "Mizuki, I can''t¡­" Mizuki''s mother opened the door, stuck her head in and said, "Oh thank the gods, you got her to wear it! Thank you so much. It''s time to go! We''re leaving now!" Mizuki grabbed Sora''s arm and told him, "Just come, you can tell me that later." He didn''t resist as she pulled him to his feet. -- A couple minutes later they were all assembled in front of the apartment, where Mizuki''s brother in law Kyohei looked at Sora in surprise and said, "We won''t all fit, we''ve got eight people and seven seats." Sora told him, "I have a car." "I''ll ride with you then," Mizuki insisted quickly. Sora frowned. "Mizuki," he protested. She replied forcefully, "I know where the wedding parking reservation is, I can give you directions." He looked at her again, and gave up. "Okay," he agreed. -- When they arrived at the entrance of the hall, Sora''s ?eyes widened with surprise when Shinichi grabbed his hand and said nervously, "Oh thank the gods, someone I know! Thank you so much for coming." Mizuki tugged on Sora until he bent down and she whispered, "His parents just sent him a check, and it seems like all his friends are net only." He looked at her uncertainly, but didn''t resist when Shinichi begged him to stand with him, while he finished greeting his bride''s many family and friends. -- After the ceremony there was a reception, with food, wine and dancing. Sora sipped hesitantly at the glass Shinichi had pressed into his hands, looked around until he found Mizuki again, and walked over to her. "Sora! Will you dance with me this time?" she asked with a grin. He shook his head, and replied, "No. I''m sorry Mizuki, I really can''t¡­" An elderly lady who still stood well over a full head taller than Mizuki interrupted, and demanded that Mizuki introduce her. Mizuki introduced him to her grandmother and was pleased by his polite replies to her inquisitive questions.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! After a little while Sora looked at Mizuki still clinging to his hand and sighed. He told her, "Go dance Mizuki, I won''t sneak away." -- He watched with growing irritation as Mizuki danced with a series of old men and children even younger than she was. Shizune appeared in front of him suddenly and demanded, "You have to dance with me Konami-san." Sora refused, "I don''t want to dance." Shizune grinned and told him, "Shinichi is dancing this one with Mizuki, and you can''t refuse when the bride demands a dance, because I''m not allowed to refuse to dance with anyone who asks today!" She grabbed his hand and dragged him out. He danced reluctantly, while she told him how pleased she was that he''d come. He responded politely enough, but she regarded him with a puzzled expression. "I hope you won''t keep fighting with Mizuki," she told him. Sora stared at her, and she looked back at him questioningly. "I''m not fighting with her," he said uncomfortably. Shizune grinned at him. "Okay." -- Mizuki spent her dance with her new brother in law glaring at Sora. When he asked why, she told him grumpily, "He wouldn''t dance when I asked him." Shinichi laughed at her. -- A few dances later, when Mizuki was between partners, Sora walked over to her and demanded a little angrily, "Can''t you dance with anyone near your own age?" She looked up at him with surprise, and then replied unhappily, "You won''t dance with me, so why do you care?" His skin flushed with emotion as he tried to counter her words, but he couldn''t find a reasonable reply to give her, and finally admitted, "I don''t like seeing you being treated as a small child." She blinked at him, looked around, and then confessed, "It''s fine. It doesn''t matter who I dance with anyway, everyone is related to me, except a few people''s boyfriends and such." She looked at the glass he was carrying and at his flushed face and asked suddenly, "Sora, are you drunk?" The music ended just as Sora shouted back at her, "I''m not drunk!" Everyone stared at them. He covered his eyes for a moment and then set his glass down carefully on a nearby table and turned back to her and said, "I''m sorry Mizuki, I can''t do this, I''m leaving now." "Sora!" Mizuki protested with an agonized cry as he turned away. He stopped and held out his hand, but he didn''t look back at her. She ran forward, took his hand, and they left quickly. They walked for a ways with her having to almost run to keep up. After a few blocks, she gasped at him, "Where are we going?" He stopped abruptly and she almost fell. He caught her by the shoulders and said, "Sorry. Maybe we should get food, I didn''t really eat anything, and I think maybe I did drink too much. Shinichi-san kept replacing my glass even though I never emptied it." "Okay," she agreed. They found a sandwich shop and sat at a little table outside. A server came and took their order. Mizuki leapt to her feet again a minute later and gasped, "Oh no!" "What''s wrong?" Sora asked. "I don''t have my wallet or even my phone, because of this stupid dress," she explained anxiously. He gave her a bitter look and told her, "I can afford to buy you a sandwich Mizuki, don''t worry about it." "Okay," she agreed hesitantly. "And I''m sorry, I think maybe I am actually a little drunk," he told her unhappily. Mizuki looked at him and then stepped closer. A moment later she crawled into his lap and knelt there with her arms around his shoulders. "Mizuki," he complained. "Don''t drink because of me Sora," she insisted anxiously. "I don''t ever want the reason you got drunk to be me. Please don''t do it again?" "I won''t," he promised seriously. She kissed him and he didn''t protest, but he looked at her unhappily when she stopped. She sighed, slid off his lap, and went back to her chair. After a minute she said, "If you drank too much you shouldn''t drive again tonight. Do you have somewhere to stay?" He shrugged. "I can get a hotel room." "Have you already found a job since you got back?" she asked abruptly. "Is that what you were trying to tell me? Sorry I just pushed all of those ideas at you without asking." "No. Not yet," he replied after a moment. "I''ve applied to a few places, but since Eri-chan finally agreed to marry Takumi, I''ve mostly been helping him with wedding stuff." "It''s a lot of work to set up," she commiserated. "Yeah," he agreed. The food arrived a moment later, and they ate in silence. -- After they finished, Sora searched for a hotel and then told her, "There''s one a few blocks away." Mizuki stood up, reached out her hand and said, "Okay, let''s go." He looked at her for a long moment before taking her hand and standing up. They walked to the hotel without talking much, but while Sora was checking in, Mizuki asked suddenly, "What about your car Sora? The wedding parking reservation is only for this evening. Should I ask my father to move it? He''s one of the designated drivers." The concierge asked, "Is it nearby? We can have a valet pick it up and move it to the hotel parking garage." Sora gave him the key and the car''s location. "Is there any luggage you''d like to have brought up to your room?" the concierge asked. "Just one large duffel in the trunk," Sora replied. 13: Heartache Mizuki and Sora walked to the room quietly, hand in hand. The door unlocked without complaint, but when Sora looked at the bed he stopped moving. Mizuki looked up at him questioningly. He shrugged, then let go of her hand, and walked over to the bed. He sat on the edge of it, and just watched her for a moment. She felt herself warm beneath his gaze, and moved forward to climb into his lap, and kiss him. He responded to her warmly. Like the first time they''d ever kissed, he slid his hands under her to lift her into his kiss, and used his tongue. He kissed her seriously for several minutes, and when he finally released her, he unzipped her dress and slid it down her body. She slid off his lap and let the dress fall to the floor without saying anything. He looked at her for a moment before pulling her back into his lap and kissing her again. -- "Mizuki, I don''t have a condom on me," he warned her when she started unbuttoning his shirt. She stopped, and asked, "Are they in your bag or should we go buy some?" "In my bag," he explained. "Okay," she replied calmly. "Don''t worry." She finished unbuttoning his shirt and ran her hands down his chest. He shuddered under her caress, pulled her tight against him, and kissed her again. "Okay," he agreed. For a while they just clung to each other and kissed over and over. But finally, Sora stood up abruptly with her in his arms, and set her on the floor. Mizuki opened her mouth to protest, but stopped when he flung the covers of the bed back. He turned, scooped her up, and laid her on the bed. Then he bent over her and kissed her hard, before reaching for her bra fastening. Someone knocked on the door. Sora sighed, and stood up to adjust his pants, before walking over. Mizuki snatched the sheet up just before he opened the door, and an embarrassed young man handed over Sora''s duffel bag and a valet ticket, while trying not to look at either of them. Sora closed the door behind him, then turned back to her and grinned. He quickly searched the bag for condoms, and Mizuki wondered briefly if it were the same box they''d been using on the island before she''d left. -- The first time didn''t take them long, and when they finished, Mizuki asked, "Can I borrow your phone?" Sora unlocked it for her, then watched her call her father and tell him where she was, and that she wasn''t coming home that night. When she gave it back, he gave her a searching look, but didn''t ask anything. The second time Sora made it last for a while, and they were both soaked in sweat. The third time was in the shower, and he held her pinned against the wall with her legs wrapped around his hips. The last time was sweet and slow, interspersed with a thousand kisses. As she cuddled against him as they fell asleep, Mizuki murmured, "I missed you so much Sora." He curled tighter around her, but didn''t reply verbally. -- When Mizuki woke up, Sora was sitting beside her, already dressed. She rolled out of bed and dashed to the bathroom, and when she came out he was still sitting on the bed. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. She looked at his face, and asked anxiously, "What''s wrong?" He replied unhappily, "Get dressed Mizuki, and then let''s talk." She looked at her discarded dress and told him, "I really don''t want to put that on again. I''d rather burn it." He couldn''t help laughing a little. She watched him for a moment and then asked, "Can I borrow another T-shirt? I''ll give it back this time." He nodded, and she pulled one out of his duffel. She put on her under things, and he sat and watched as she pulled on his T-shirt, and used the ribbon from her dress to belt it into place where she carefully folded it. She tugged it down and asked uncertainly, "Is it long enough?" "It''s fine. You look fantastic wearing my old shirt," he told her a little roughly. When she looked up at him and smiled, he covered his face and said, "And I can''t do this Mizuki. I''m really sorry and I shouldn''t have done it with you last night." She stared at him. "Why?" she demanded plaintively. He dropped his hands and looked at her. "When you came to the hotel with me, it just seemed inevitable, and I thought maybe I could date you. But this morning I feel like I''ve done something horrible to you again. I can''t do it Mizuki, I can''t date a kid," he said miserably. "It sounds like you''re trying to do the horrible thing to me right now," she protested. He pulled his knees up and buried his face in them. "I know," he agreed in a pained and muffled voice. "I know I''m being a complete jerk to you. I shouldn''t have touched you." "I''m not a kid!" she argued. "You are, you''re still in highschool," he countered. When he raised his face, there were tears in his eyes as he added painfully, "I can''t be good for you Mizuki, I don''t have any control when I''m with you. I can''t hold back and wait for you. I can''t be one of those guys who can wait patiently while their girlfriend grows up." He buried his face in his knees again and cried. "I adore you, and I don''t want to be bad for you and hurt you even more than this. So I just can''t do this Mizuki. I''m sorry." Tears spilled down her face. But she crawled into the bed, laid her hands on his shoulders, and asked bitterly, "So you''re saying you can''t be with me because you care about me too much?" "I''m sorry I''m being such a jerk to you Mizuki. It''s all my fault. Blame me all you want to," he whispered hoarsely. She hit him then. She smacked his head with her open palm, and sniffled, "Don''t be stupid Sora. I''m the one who demanded you do it with me. I''m the one who agreed that a week would be enough." He looked up at her, and tears poured down her face and she added, "But I really hoped for more, and this time you''re really making me cry." "I''m sorry," he repeated. "Shut up you idiot!" she told him sharply. He sat quietly, until she had mostly managed to stop crying, and then he suggested unhappily, "I should take you home." "You should just date me," she replied angrily. "I can''t. Please Mizuki, just let me take you home safely," he begged. She wiped away another tear that escaped her and told him, "Fine." When he held the dress out to her, after picking up his duffel, she told him, "Just leave it, or burn it." He stuffed it into the bag, and they didn''t speak again until they reached her parent''s apartment. -- Before getting out of the car, Mizuki got to her knees, wrapped her arms around Sora tightly, and pressed her face into his hair. "Mizuki," he protested unhappily. "I really love you Sora," she told him firmly. And then she pulled back a little and told him, "And you are such a jerk." "I know," he said quietly. "Take care of yourself, and don''t drink too much, and eat well!" she demanded. "I will Mizuki," he promised. She kissed him, and he didn''t resist, but when the kiss ended he didn''t pull her back to him. She got out of the car, and walked into her home without looking back. -- When the door slammed shut behind her, her father looked up from where he was standing in the kitchen, and asked in alarm, "Mizuki!?" "Just let me cry," she begged him. She couldn''t stop the cascade of tears and her nose was running. "What happened?" he asked with concern as he set down the pan. Her face scrunched up as she explained swiftly, as her father approached, "He says he can''t be with me because he''ll be bad for me! But he''s not a bad guy! If he were a bad guy he''d just stay with me and not care if he was good for me or not!" She heaved a sob and held up her hands in a gesture that halted her father''s approach. "So just let me cry. For a day. A couple days. I promise I won''t cry any longer than a week!" She dashed past her father without waiting for his reply. She ran into the room that was now hers alone, threw herself onto her bed, and cried bitterly. 14: Sky Sora sat in the car unmoving for a long time. Emotion and reason were both tearing at him, and at each other, and he could still taste her tears. Finally, he wiped his eyes again, started the car, and left. His life still felt like it was in shambles, but he wasn''t going to pull her down with him. -- It wasn''t until a few weeks later that Takumi met up with Sora. He had only recently returned from his honeymoon, and had just realized that Sora had been oddly quiet since his wedding. He wasn''t certain if the gap was from Sora giving them space, having finally gotten his own place set up, or just an effect of the difference in the amount of time they were spending together. They''d been spending the majority of each day together before the wedding, in order to get everything set up in time. Takumi approached his friend at the bar, and watched as he accepted the numbers and kisses of two girls. He picked up Sora''s sparklingly clear drink curiously and took a sip. It was ice water. After a moment he asked, "Have you been doing this a lot lately?" Sora shrugged and said, "Yes, but it doesn''t matter." Takumi gave him a long look and then replied, "If it doesn''t matter let''s go somewhere else. I don''t want anyone telling Eri I''m in a bar trying to pick up women with you, when she''s just learning to really trust me." "Okay," Sora agreed without any resistance. -- Outside, Takumi glanced around the familiar neighborhood and considered their options. "Hungry?" he asked. Sora shook his head. When they reached the border of the city park, Takumi gestured toward the gate, and Sora shrugged. They entered a minute later, and wandered around it for a while before Takumi took a seat on a wall in front of a small pond. He looked at his friend and asked abruptly, "What''s wrong with you? Are you trying to replace alcohol with women?" "I don''t know," Sora replied. He looked up at the sky and shrugged, then he admitted unhappily, "It really doesn''t matter how many women, or who it is anymore, if it''s not Mizuki." Takumi stared at Sora. "Mizuki?" he asked sharply. Sora just nodded. Takumi gazed at him with bafflement for a moment, and then recalled the last time he remembered hearing the name, "The girl you met at the beach? The one you said recommended the method you used to get this job?" Sora nodded. "She doesn''t want you?" Takumi asked a little hesitantly. Sora covered his face and replied achingly, "She wants me."Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. "So what''s the problem?" Takumi asked after nothing else was forthcoming. "Is she already married? Has a dozen kids? What?" Sora dropped his hands and exclaimed angrily, "She''s only seventeen, and I can''t resist her even when I should! I have absolutely no self control when I''m with her!" His friend gazed at him in shock as he added miserably, "And I can''t do that to her. I don''t want to be bad for her." After a long silent moment, Takumi admitted hesitantly, "I don''t know what to say." Sora just shrugged again, helplessly. His hands were clenched, and he unclenched them, and tried to relax his posture. He didn''t know what to say either. "I don''t have any idea if you''d actually be bad for her or not, but it seems like maybe she was really good for you?" Takumi suggested. Sora gave him a startled look and he shrugged. "It was good advice wasn''t it?" "You don''t see anything wrong with me being with her, even though she''s still just a kid?" Sora asked after a little while. Takumi grinned suddenly. "I have no idea, I mean, you''ve always been good for me, so why can''t you be good for her? No one can stop getting older, and you can just look at my parents if you want an example of a lasting relationship with that kind of an age gap? But if you''re this attached to someone who''s that far outside of your usual preferences, maybe you should just try to make work?" Sora didn''t return Takumi''s grin. "What if I can''t?" "Then she''ll dump you, and you can go back to drinking ice water at the bar?" Takumi suggested a little dryly. -- A couple of weeks later Sora borrowed Takumi''s bike, and made the two hour trip to Mizuki''s city again. He drove to the address she''d left on his pillow on an island at the edge of another continent, and sat and stared at her door for a long time before dismounting and locking the motorcycle. It took more courage than he expected to climb the steps a second time. He knocked nervously, and jumped when a man opened the door a moment later. Mizuki''s father glared up at Sora and asked, "What do you want?" Sora struggled with words for a moment, and then asked hesitantly, "Is Mizuki here?" "And what if I don''t want to let her talk to the guy who made her cry for a week straight?" demanded Mizuki''s father. Sora flinched and replied miserably, "I''m sorry." He took a deep breath before adding, "But I really want to talk to her please." Mizuki''s father asked, "Why?" Sora stared at him silently for a long moment and her father waited. Finally he admitted, "If it''s not too late, I want to ask her to date me." "And if she says it''s too late?" her father asked sharply. Sora swallowed and told him, "Then I''ll leave her alone. I won''t bother her again." He paused, then added, "But I can''t forget her, I can''t stop wanting her, I''ve tried everything." "Everything?" Mizuki''s father questioned disbelievingly. "Everything except drinking or drugs," Sora amended. "I''ve tried everything I could think of. Sports, music, games, exercise," he hesitated before adding honestly, "and women." Mizuki''s father gave him a wry look and suggested dryly, "Maybe you shouldn''t mention that last one to Mizuki if you want her to take you back." Sora replied firmly, "I won''t lie to her." Mizuki''s father sighed and told him, "I guess you''d better come in and wait then. She won''t get home for another half an hour or so." Sora watched the older man turn away, leaving the door open behind him. It took him another moment to step forward and pull the door closed. Even though he''d been here once, the unfamiliar living space made him feel uncomfortable. "Sit," Mizuki''s father suggested after watching the taller man hover in the entry space for too long. Sora dragged his gaze away from a family portrait where an obviously younger version of Mizuki stood in front of her two older sisters. The expression on the older man''s face seemed odd for a moment, until he realized that it was actually sympathetic. He could only imagine one reason that Mizuki''s father would be regarding him sympathetically, and he winced. He could only ask. 15: Reunion Mizuki climbed the stairs to the door of her home with tired steps. When she reached the top, she opened the door and called out, "I''m¡­" The word home died on her lips as she stared at Sora, who was sitting at the table with a teacup in front of him. She was only peripherally aware of her father''s greeting as she dropped her bag. She stumbled toward Sora, and reached out toward him, but before she actually touched him she pulled her hands back. "Sora," she spoke his name achingly while he watched her without moving. "What are you, I mean why are you here Sora?" Her hands sketched his outline in the air about six inches from his body. "You didn''t come just to get your T-shirts did you?" she asked fearfully, confused by his searching expression and stillness. Sora shook his head and drew a shuddering breath. "Is it too late Mizuki?" he asked uncertainly. Mizuki''s heart lurched. Their eyes were locked as she finally moved closer to him and touched his shoulders. Her hands lifted to trace his face like a blind person, lightly, searchingly, familiarly. "Did you change your mind Sora?" she asked desperately. "If you leave me like that again, I''ll die," she warned him as his mouth opened. Sora suddenly reached out, pulled her all the way into his lap, and then squeezed her so hard she couldn''t breathe for a moment. "I really want to date you," he told her a bit anxiously. "I don''t know how well I''ll deal with dating a seventeen year old, but I won''t ever leave you like that again Mizuki. I swear it," he added quickly. She laughed painfully as she told him, "You''re too late, Sora, you idiot!" He loosened his grip on her, and stared at her with such a pained expression that she couldn''t help reaching up again to caress his face. "You don''t need to worry about how well you''ll do at dating a kid anymore," she informed him a little angrily. "I''m already eighteen!" He looked confused for a moment, as he blinked at her. She could almost see a dozen different thoughts hit him before he asked contritely, "I''m sorry, did you want anything for your birthday that I can give you?" She hit him in the chest and exclaimed, "You, you idiot! I wanted you to be there!" "I''m sorry," he apologized simply but sincerely. "Promise you''ll be there for the next one," she demanded. "I promise," he acceded easily. "And the one after that!" she insisted. "Okay," he agreed again. She buried her face in his chest as she added in a muffled voice, "And the next one too." He laughed, then hugged her tightly and assured her, "I won''t leave you again Mizuki, I promise." She looked up at him and he gazed into her eyes for a long moment, before adding more anxiously, "But I can''t move here right away."This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. "Why?" she asked without letting go of the hope that his embrace was giving her. He explained in a rush, "I did what you said, and applied for an entry level position at a company that uses software engineers. The interviewer looked at my CV and asked why I was applying for an entry level position with my history. And so I explained everything. And he said it was a good plan and hired me right there. Two weeks later they moved me to an engineer''s slot. And it''s a really good job Mizuki, better than the one I had before even, and if I quit it it''ll be really hard to get anything as good for a long time." "Okay," she replied simply when he finished. He kissed her as though she''d just assured him that he''d done exactly the right thing. After a few minutes he stopped kissing her and told her, "I''ve been thinking about getting a bike again. I''m borrowing Takumi''s right now, but if you''d rather I get a car I won''t yet. I can''t afford both for a while, but the winters are enough milder at home than where I lived before, that I can ride a motorcycle on all but a few of the worst days." She stared at him blankly for a long moment. "I have no idea?" "Have you ever ridden?" he asked. "Not on a motorcycle?" she admitted uncertainly. "Do you want to try?" he asked more hesitantly. "Sure," she agreed, then pulled his head back down to kiss him again. They kissed for a little while, before he pulled back suddenly and admitted abruptly, "I did a bunch of other women after I left you." She stared at him incredulously. His skin flushed with colour as he admitted with painful embarrassment, "I was trying to forget about you. It didn''t work at all." "No more Sora," she instructed him quite firmly. He looked at her uncertainly so she clarified her demand, "If you''re having me you can''t have anyone else but me." "I don''t need anyone but you Mizuki," he assured her quickly. "Only you, I''ll only ever have you," he promised. She nodded and kissed him again, but after a moment she withdrew again and told him seriously, "We should go for STD testing." "What?" he asked with a shocked look and a quick glance at her father. Mizuki had honestly forgotten that he was sitting at the table watching them until Sora checked for his reaction, but she ignored the dry amusement on her father''s face as she demanded challengingly, "You won''t?" "Whatever you want," Sora promised quickly. "Good," she said calmly, and reached up and pulled his head down into her kiss again without even another glance at her father. When the kiss ended she crawled out of his lap, held out her hand, and demanded, "Come." He glanced at her father, who shrugged. When he stood, she led him into her room and shut the door behind him. Mizuki turned around and asked Sora, "Do you have a condom?" "Yes," he admitted wryly. "I came prepared to see you." She grinned at him. "Good." She stepped forward and blinked when he stopped her with both hands on her shoulders. "But you said you want to go for testing?" he questioned. She hesitated a moment and asked, "Were you careful?" He nodded. "Then shouldn''t it be okay if we''re careful too?" He nodded again and bent to kiss her. A few minutes later Mizuki pushed him toward her bed and demanded, "Strip Sora." Sora stared at her in surprise, and repeated, "Strip?" She looked up at him defiantly and insisted, "You let all those other women touch you, so I''m going to touch you all over! You''re mine Sora." He stripped. 16: Agreeing Mizuki''s mother got home a while later. She only took a few steps before she stopped and stared in utter shock toward the bedroom beside the kitchen. The noises the couple were making were only muffled a little. She looked at her husband who was sitting calmly at the table with a couple of tea cups. "What is going on?" Minori demanded. Junshiro shrugged and suggested, "Make up sex?" She gasped and took a quick step toward the children''s room, but he held up his hand to stop her, and advised, "Just leave them alone. I think it''ll be okay." "Who is it?" she asked. "Tooru-kun?" "No, the guy she brought to Shizune''s wedding," he explained calmly. She glared at him as she protested, "He made her cry so much, and you''re letting him come back and make her cry again?" He shrugged again. "Maybe," he agreed. "But even though she kept her promise and didn''t cry for more than a week, she''s barely smiled since then. And he seems to be serious." After a long indecisive moment Minori sagged and folded up to sit beside him. A little while later she asked, "How long have they been in there?" Junshiro smirked at his wife as he informed her, "Most of an hour already." She gave him an expressive questioning look and he nodded. "Is dinner ready?" she asked after a moment. "It''ll just take five minutes to finish it when we''re ready," he replied. She stood up, and walked over to thump on her daughter''s door as she called out, "Are you two coming out for supper before you go to work Mizuki?" There was a long minute of silence. -- Mizuki froze and looked into Sora''s face, then she turned nearly scarlet. He huffed a silent laugh and whispered, "Wow, I''ve never seen you blush completely from head to toe before." He grinned at her and asked a little breathlessly, "What should we answer?" She disentangled herself without speaking, rolled off the bed, and pulled on her clothes without putting on underwear first. Sora sat up and raised an eyebrow as he covered himself just in time for Mizuki to stick her head out the door and reply to her mother, "Yes, after we take a quick shower." He pulled on pants as soon as the door snapped shut again. Then he quickly gathered up his clothes, while she pulled out clean work clothes without meeting his eyes. He couldn''t help the grin that was plastered across his face, even though he knew that she probably didn''t share his amusement. An embarrassed Mizuki led Sora hurriedly through the main room, past her parents, and down the hall to the bathroom. After she shut the door behind him she looked at the shower tub and warned him, "We can''t lean against the wall here, it will crack." He laughed until he ran out of breath while she glared at him. "Alright, I''ll be careful," he promised while grinning down at her. -- They showered quickly and seated themselves at the table a few minutes later. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Mizuki made formal introductions between her parents and Sora because she couldn''t remember if they''d been done at the wedding or not. Sora was amused, but also grateful that her parents seemed so calm. He made his own more formal greetings with relief for their seemingly casual acceptance. After a bit Mizuki''s father, Mitsukuni Junshiro, asked Sora, "Where are you staying?" He shrugged and admitted, "I don''t know yet, I didn''t want to get a hotel until after I talked to Mizuki. If she said no, I was just going to turn around and go home." Mizuki spoke up quickly, "Stay here!" Sora and her parents looked at her, and she blushed as she explained, "If you come see me very often a hotel will get really expensive." She looked at her parents. "Can''t he just stay with us?" Her mother, Minori, agreed uncertainly, "I suppose so?" Her father chuckled as he replied with amusement, "I suppose if we say no, you''ll just go to his hotel every time he''s in town, so he may as well." Mizuki blushed again and nodded. "Should I contribute to the household or anything when I''m staying?" Sora asked hesitantly. When Mizuki and her family looked at him uncertainly he explained, "I''ll want to see her every weekend. I might be here a lot." Minori responded first, and a bit angrily, "Don''t act like we can''t afford to feed you! If you''re going to stay here like you''re one of the family, just help with chores like one of the family." He blinked at Mizuki''s mother, then grinned and agreed, "Sure." Mizuki objected, "Don''t agree so easily Sora, she''s going to make you work on things that nobody''s done for years." When he looked at her questioningly, she explained, "It''s what she did to Kyo-nii-chan." Sora laughed and told her cheerfully, "Mizuki, I''ll be really happy to help with chores like I''m already part of your family, and if there are things that haven''t been done in years, they probably need doing." Minori looked at Sora with surprised approval, and then glanced at her husband who just shrugged and grinned at her affectionately. -- After they finished eating, Mizuki looked at Sora and told him apologetically, "I''m really sorry Sora, I have to go to work for six hours. And I work twelve hours tomorrow, and six again on Sunday evening." He looked at her in surprise, "Okay?" "I decided I should replace what I spent to go with Shizune," she explained unhappily. "And besides," she hesitated before admitting, "it''s kept me too tired to think too much." Sora scooped her into his lap abruptly, despite her watching parents, and buried his face in her hair. "I''m sorry Mizuki, I''m so sorry," he apologized roughly. Mizuki turned her face up to his, so that their noses touched, and insisted quietly, "It''s okay Sora, I''m fine." She grinned at him as she added, "And you''re here now." "Yeah," he agreed. She kissed him and then told him regretfully, "But I won''t be able to spend as much time with you as I want to." He assured her, "It''s okay. I''ll just take whatever time you can give me, and I''ll come every weekend." He kissed her again, more gently, then asked, "Do you want me to take you to work?" "On your friend''s motorcycle?" she asked hesitantly. Sora nodded. Junshiro and Minori exchanged glances, but didn''t make objections. "Do you have a helmet for me?" Mizuki asked after a moment. "We had a scooter when I was little, and I had my own then, but we don''t have any now." "I brought Eri-chan''s in case," he replied. "I think it will fit you well enough for driving in town?" "Okay," she agreed. -- "It''s too tight," Mizuki complained when she had the helmet buckled on. "We can look for one that fits you better tomorrow if you decide that riding on the bike is okay," Sora assured her. "Okay, but you''re buying," she told him firmly. He grinned and agreed, "Of course." -- When Sora dropped her off in front of the store he asked, "Was it okay? Should I pick you up when you''re done?" "Riding with you is fine, but I won''t get off until two in the morning Sora," Mizuki objected. "I don''t care," he replied, "I''m not going to go sleep in your room without you Mizuki." She pulled him down for a kiss and then told him seriously, "Okay, then come get me later. But when you''re more comfortable staying with us, it''s really okay if you want to go to sleep before I''m done." "Alright," he agreed. "I''ll be here when you get done tonight." 17: Beginning Mizuki worked through her shift in an oddly elated and yet enervated state. Sora was back. Not that he''d come with a marriage proposal like Shinichi had come for Shizune. He''d even admitted to sleeping around in the meantime. Her anger over that was entirely possessive, and that feeling embarrassed her far more than she wanted to admit. Her hands automatically moved items to their places while her mind reviewed Sora''s every movement, word, and gesture. By the time she finished she expected to be utterly exhausted, but the anticipation of meeting Sora when she finished carried her through the evening with more energy than she expected. She walked out the door with enough energy to smile and wave enthusiastically when she caught sight of him. He grinned down at her as though he were elated to be allowed to fetch her from a completely ordinary job, at a company that had stores in every city, that would hire everyone from kids who hadn''t finished school yet to elders with checkered pasts. He''d been apologetic over not wanting to leave his new job, but it was the most reasonable sounding thing to her. "Hi," Sora greeted her with a hug that only almost lifted her from the ground. -- Mizuki enjoyed the ride home with her arms wrapped around Sora and her body pressed against his back more than she wanted to admit. The way he hung up his jacket and placed his shoes at the end of the row along the wall as though he belonged there pleased her even more. When they entered her bedroom, Mizuki paused and looked up at Sora. "Should we push the beds together so that there''s more room to sleep?" she asked uncertainly. Sora glanced down at her, and then looked at her bed. "We can if you want to, but I don''t care. We fit on yours earlier?" She blushed as she pointed out, "We weren''t trying to sleep." He picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his hips as he kissed her. "Let''s just try it tonight, we can change things tomorrow if we need to?" he suggested when they came up for air. "Okay," she murmured agreeably. -- Later as they were falling asleep with her tucked into his arms Sora told her ruefully, "You''re so tiny, it really isn''t much of a problem." Mizuki exhaled a long sleepy sigh, and then replied a little dourly, "Don''t expect me to get any bigger, only fatter." He caressed her and then insisted softly, "You''re not fat Mizuki." "I will be someday," she muttered. "My sisters take after our father''s mother, but I take after our mother, and her mother." He objected laughingly, "Your mother isn''t really fat either Mizuki, just cutely plump." "Don''t ever say I didn''t warn you," she warned him. "I won''t," he agreed complacently. -- Someone poked her in the back and Mizuki shifted uncomfortably. Someone poked her again and she complained, "Stop poking me." The third time she said, "Alright already, I''m awake, I''ll get up!" Sora asked sleepily, "What? You''re already getting up?" "You were the one poking me," she accused. He caressed her with his hands and protested, "I just woke up because you were talking, I wasn''t poking you." Something poked her again and she looked at his hands on her chest and laughed. "Sora, you liar, you''re still poking me right now," she informed him.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. He blinked sleepily and finally became aware of it. "Oh, sorry." He turned onto his back and then asked softly, "Can we continue more comfortably?" She rolled over in his arms and kissed him. "Yes please," she answered. He pulled her against him and kissed her hard, before climbing to his knees and leaning over the edge of the bed to get something from his bag. -- "I missed you so much," Mizuki told Sora as she snuggled against him contentedly. "I''m sorry Mizuki," Sora apologized unhappily. "It''s okay Sora," she assured him comfortingly and completely truthfully. "But I hurt you so much because I didn''t want to be hurting you," he replied miserably. He reached out and touched her hair, it was a little shorter than it had been when they met. "I love you, you idiot," she informed him with a grin. More seriously, she added, "And I understood that you were trying to protect me, even though I thought you were wrong." She bit her lip and took a deep breath before admitting, "I was going to call you as soon as I turned 18, but I was afraid that you''d have changed your number, and hadn''t worked up the nerve yet." "I haven''t," he assured her quickly. She surveyed his expression. "Good, but I did understand, so please stop worrying about it?" she asked hopefully. He kissed her instead of answering with words. Her unease as she remembered the way he had been reluctant to respond with words the night after the wedding must have shown on her face, because a moment later he assured her, "I''ll try not to worry you again." Mizuki grinned. "I''m really happy now," she assured him. "Me too," he whispered, and then got to his knees again and kissed her from head to toe, making her giggle and wriggle beneath him in a way that forced him to pin her down and make her moan again. Her father rapped on her door and announced, "Breakfast." Mizuki blushed and Sora kissed her before suggesting, "If it''s too embarrassing with your parents around, I could still get us a room?" She looked at him consideringly as she replied quietly, "They''re my family, and it is embarrassing but I''m okay. Is it too embarrassing for you?" He kissed her again and then admitted guiltily, "I''m less embarrassed about being judged by your family than by complete strangers who might think I''m really taking a child to my room for sex." Mizuki gave him a look. "I''m already legally old enough," she pointed out. His face colored as he insisted, "I know." She kissed him before standing up. Once off the bed, she turned around and surveyed him, and the way he over filled the space she could normally sprawl across. Rather ruefully she admitted to herself that he did look like an adult laying on a child''s bed. That didn''t mean that she was a child though. "I love you, you idiot," she informed him. Sora''s expression brightened so much that she laughed. -- Mizuki detoured away from the table to answer the summons of the fat round cat that thumped on the balcony door. She slid the door open and the cat walked in and rubbed against her leg casually. She knelt and ruffled his fur and then glanced up to see Sora watching her. "That is the roundest cat I''ve ever seen," Sora said with some amazement. Mizuki looked down at the cat, then looked up at him with a teasing grin. "Sora, don''t you think Tama-sama is really cute? Since you love round things so much?" Sora glanced at her face with a startled look, but he grinned as he replied, "Sure. He''s yours?" "Kind of. We''re pretty sure he owns several other families nearby as well," she explained. "But you claim him as your own pet?" Sora asked less certainly. "I''m usually the one that feeds him but he''s not really mine," Mizuki corrected cheerfully. "He just moved in one day when okaasan left the door open while she was hanging up laundry." "We bought him the name tag and no one has ever changed it," pointed out Minori. "But he does disappear for days sometimes and we don''t feed him that much!" Mizuki replied laughingly. -- Sora looked at his phone while they were eating and told Mizuki''s parents, "I''ll do dishes or help with whatever chores you want today after I drop Mizuki off at work, but we need to leave in a few minutes." Mizuki looked up at him in surprise and objected, "I''ve still got two hours until I need to be there." Sora''s cheeks colored a little as he looked at her and replied, "If we''re going to carry on like this there''s no point in going for testing if we don''t go ahead and go in for it right away." "Oh," she replied, giving her parents an embarrassed glance. "You should also go on some kind of birth control until you''re all done with school Mizuki," her mother told her worriedly. "We''re being careful," Mizuki objected. Sora winced. "Takumi said he and Eri-chan were being careful when she got pregnant too, we should probably double up," he agreed a bit unhappily. "Did she like the shirt?" Mizuki asked curiously. Sora brightened as he nodded and actually gave her a thumbs up. "Yeah, she even laughed!" 18: Preparation Mizuki waited until they were at the clinic before she asked, "Do you hate using condoms Sora?" He looked down at her warily. "No? I''ve never not used them, but from the way people act after they stop using them, I don''t want to even try that until you want a baby." She blushed as she admitted, "I wouldn''t mind having your baby Sora." He flinched. "I''m not ready to have kids yet Mizuki, and you''re barely more than a kid." She frowned up at him as he gazed down at her unhappily. After a moment she sighed, and patted his arm gently. "I don''t really want kids yet either, it''s just that I don''t really want to go on birth control. It will make me fatter." "Mizuki, that isn''t¡­" he objected. She glared up at him as she interrupted, "Don''t bother telling me I''m not fat yet." "You''re not though," he protested. She blushed and looked away from him before admitting unhappily, "I went on it for awhile when I was dating that guy. I got fatter every month, no matter what I ate." "Mizuki¡­" Sora objected with only her name. Mizuki looked up at him again. "Even if you don''t care, I care. And if you don''t hate using condoms I''d really just rather use them all the time." After a moment he covered his eyes and didn''t look at her for a few minutes. She gazed up at him worriedly, but waited to hear his next objection. Finally he asked, "What if I get carried away and forget?" "It''s my responsibility too Sora. If you get carried away, I''ll remind you, and if I get carried away, you can remind me?" she replied hopefully. "What about the kind of implants that some people use with rhythm methods? I''m pretty sure that there is a kind without any chemicals," he asked after another long moment. "Those don''t have a very high success ratio," she pointed out dubiously. He glared down at her. "I''m not saying that we should rely on that or try to use the rhythm method Mizuki, I''m suggesting something to use in addition to condoms." "Oh," Mizuki replied with another embarrassed blush brightening her cheeks. Sora''s expression softened again, and a moment later he bent and kissed her. When the kiss ended Mizuki agreed more cheerfully, "Okay, I can get that kind if it will make you happier." Sora gazed at her for a moment, and then informed her a little dryly, "I''d rather you get a regular implant that stops your periods, even though that really would make you fatter. But if this will make you happier, we can compromise." She couldn''t help grinning as she pulled him down for another kiss. "Thank you Sora, I really love you." She didn''t object when he actually picked her up and kissed her thoroughly, despite the fact that other people were in the waiting area. The exchange of kisses continued until they were called in for their tests. -- Mizuki was exhausted by the time she got off of work. When Sora got off the bike after driving her home, he turned and scooped her up into his arms, and she blinked at him. She didn''t even try to object as he carried her up the stairs, she just apologized, "I''m sorry Sora, I''m so tired I just want to sleep." "Eat first," he suggested as he carried her inside. "I ate supper on my break," she assured him. "I made cake? With your mother''s help," he admitted.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. She grinned at him in surprise, and then asked teasingly, "Are you trying to prove that you really don''t care if I get fatter?" He kissed her gently as he kicked off his shoes beside the door. "I really don''t," he assured her. "But I just thought I''d start learning to cook a little since I''ve always left it to Takumi, and I promised to help around the house when I''m here." She yawned, and nuzzled against him as she replied, "I''ll eat a little if you want me to, but I''d rather sleep first." "Okay," he agreed, and carried her across the room to the bedroom door. "I need to shower," she complained, and he compliantly changed course. The shower woke her up a little and Mizuki rubbed against Sora teasingly. He looked down at her, and then stuck out his tongue. She gazed up at him in confusion. "You said I can''t do you in this shower," he pointed out. "I did not," she objected. "I just said we can''t lean on the walls." He grinned at her and asked, "Aren''t you overestimating my abilities if you think I can do it without leaning on anything, without either falling or dropping you?" "You could kneel in the tub," she suggested. He immediately knelt, and pulled her in for a kiss. -- "Sorry, this is more awkward than I imagined," she whispered a while later. He watched the water fall on her face and stream off of her breasts, and whispered, "I love it Mizuki, it reminds me of one of my favorite movies where they''re doing it in the rain, don''t stop." -- Sora laughed as Mizuki leaned limply against him as he dried her off afterward. He carried her to bed and she fell asleep within moments. -- In the morning Sora woke Mizuki up to ask her, "Can we do something together before you go to work and I leave?" The question woke her all the way up and she sat up abruptly and stared at him unhappily. "Mizuki?" he asked uncertainly. After a moment she took a deep breath and then asked, "But I can call and message you now?" He blinked at her. "Of course you can, we''re dating? Right?" His expression seemed anxious and she reached out and touched his face as she replied firmly, "Yes." Sora hugged her close, and echoed, "Yes." Mizuki laughed after a moment and asked shyly, "Can we go on an actual date next weekend?" He pulled back far enough to stare at her, and then kissed her hand where it still touched his face. "Do you want to go out for breakfast?" "We can''t, it''s my turn to make breakfast," she explained apologetically and looked at her phone. "We only have 12 minutes until my alarm will go off." He sat up and reached for a condom, then he crawled off the bed and opened the empty box incredulously. Mizuki looked at his face and giggled. He looked up at her and blushed. "I''m sorry, we need to get more," he apologized. "I only checked my pockets and that I had the box packed before I came." Her amusement faded and she bit her lip hard enough that it bled, then winced and licked her lip. He stared at her in alarm and asked, "Mizuki?!" "It''s ok," she assured him. "I kind of wanted to ask at the hotel too, but I''m really not sure I want to know the answer." He reached up, pulled her off the bed into his lap, and demanded, "Ask!" She leaned against him and asked without looking at him, "I wondered if it was the same box we bought together on the island after we used up your first one." "Yes," he agreed simply. After a minute she looked up into his face and pointed out questioningly, "Not very many were missing then?" He blushed again and warned her, "This is probably the part you don''t want to hear about." "Tell me," she replied calmly. "There were more women than that implies. Most of the women I''ve done since then brought their own," he explained. "Okay," she said after a moment. She gazed up at him and then asked, "But you''ll say no from now on?" "I won''t do anyone but you," he promised again. She buried her face in his shoulder and told him, "Me either." A little bitterly he asked, "You didn''t ever anyway did you?" She looked up at him. He met her eyes but his expression was unhappy. "No, but I thought about it seriously Sora." He looked a little startled so she added, "But I didn''t think it would make it hurt any less." "It didn''t make it hurt any less," he agreed. She reached up and caressed his face. "I love you, you idiot." "I can''t quite believe I''m lucky enough to have you," he whispered. Her alarm went off and she asked, "Can we go buy more condoms after breakfast?" "Yes please," he agreed quickly. 19: Pikachu Sora asked Mizuki to let him help with breakfast, although he added with embarrassment, "You''ll have to give me things to chop and stir. I really haven''t cooked much, although Takumi''s father did try to teach me a few times." "The cake must have been a project," Mizuki commented laughingly with a glance at the covered plate that still sat on the counter. "Your mom seems used to teaching people to cook. It was mostly stirring, and she made it seem easier than I expected," he told her a bit sheepishly. "It''s okay Sora, I don''t hate cooking. You don''t even have to help if you don''t want to," she assured him comfortingly. "I want to help you," he insisted. She smiled as she handed him a large onion, and agreed, "Okay. Can you dice this? Do I need to explain?" "Lots of pieces about a centimeter wide," he replied promptly. "Preferably no wider than a centimeter," she agreed. "I did take home economics with Takumi, I just didn''t care about it," he explained. "You should have made cake before then?" Mizuki questioned as she climbed onto the counter and opened an upper cabinet. Sora looked at her, and asked a little sharply, "What are you doing Mizuki?" "Getting a bowl?" she answered with surprise. "I''m right here," he complained. She gave him a blank look and he covered his eyes for a moment and then demanded, "Ask me to get you things you can''t reach!" She blushed as she set down the bowl. "I didn''t even think about that," she admitted. Sora reached out and touched her shoulder lightly and after a moment she added, "But there are so many things I can''t reach without climbing on something that it could get really annoying." "I don''t care if you climb on the counter," he admitted. "I just feel annoyed that it didn''t even occur to you to ask. Your mother asked me for things last night." Mizuki bit her lip, and then winced as the pressure informed her of the existing wound where she''d broken the skin earlier. Sora immediately went over to the freezer, got out an ice chip, then turned back and demanded plaintively?, "Suck on this for a minute." She accepted the ice, and he lifted her off of the counter. "Mizuki¡­" Minori asked hesitantly from the hall, "Should we wait for you two to call us before we come out for breakfast?" Mizuki blushed and protested, "We are not doing that kind of thing." Sora quickly set her on the floor, and glanced toward the hall where her mother was peeking shyly around the corner. Her father chuckled and replied over her mother''s shoulder, "But you didn''t have any question about what kind of thing she was asking about." Mizuki covered her face. Sora hugged her for a moment longer, and then turned away and asked, "What''s next after the bowl and the onion?" "Eggs and milk," she told him, then turned and asked her parents, "Do you want to eat the cake later or should I fix fruit and cream too?" "I''m planning to take your mother out to lunch," Junshiro replied quickly. "Really Jun?" Minori asked with pleased surprise. He hugged her affectionately as he explained, "I was thinking that we could start going out every couple of weeks as a regular thing, if Mizuki is going to be busy most weekends anyway." Mizuki objected, "You could have been doing it as a regular thing even with me here!" "Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons have been our family time with the kids for so long that it hadn''t really occurred to me until now, even though you''ve been working Sunday afternoons for weeks," he admitted.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Minori blushed and assured him, "Me either." Mizuki rolled her eyes, but then she grinned at her parents and declared, "We should definitely have the cake then." -- After breakfast Mizuki and Sora went out first. "This helmet really is too tight," Mizuki complained as she pulled it on again. Sora looked her over and then asked seriously, "Would you rather have me get a bike or a car?" She gazed up at him for a minute, and then insisted, "Whichever you''d prefer is fine Sora?" "Then let''s go buy a helmet next, and I''ll start looking for a bike of my own again," he proposed cheerfully. "You said you sold your car before, what happened to your motorcycle?" she asked while Sora donned his own helmet. "I sold it my second year up north. It seemed silly to pay for storage for the half a year when I couldn''t drive it due to weather. I''ve kind of regretted doing that ever since though," he explained. "Oh." The short reply seemed insufficient, so she stepped forward to hug him. He bent and kissed her for a minute, and the heat of his kiss reminded her what they''d originally come out to go buy. Sora straightened and then asked before mounting, "Any idea where to go shopping for a helmet here?" Mizuki mentally switched targets, and thought about it for a minute before replying, "Maybe? I think there''s a shop near the west side bakery? I''m not sure we have time though?" Sora called up a map on the bike''s screen, and searched for a minute before informing her, "There''s a closer shop, about eight blocks from where you''re working. Should we go look there for today?" "Okay," she agreed. -- Sora looked at the fiercely yellow helmet dubiously when Mizuki picked it out. Mizuki looked at his face and sighed. "You''re thinking Pikachu is a children''s thing again aren''t you?" He turned and pointed to the children''s jackets which had various anime characters on them as he protested, "I''m obviously not the only one?" Mizuki looked at them, then shrugged as she asked, "You do realize that I''m probably stuck with wearing things from that selection for life, so I might as well like something about it?" "Women''s gear comes in really small sizes?" he protested doubtfully. "If you''re thin," she agreed. He covered his eyes and asked, "Am I going to have to repeat that you''re not fat for the rest of my life?" "Well, I''d like that, but you don''t have to," she told him with a sudden grin. "You''re not fat," he insisted laughingly. "I''ll try some of them on for you Sora," she said agreeably. After she''d tried on several of the smaller women''s jackets he let her try on one of the children''s jackets and asked in a somewhat baffled and angry tone, "Why on Earth would anyone think that a small woman is going to be thinner than a child? They have breasts!" Mizuki shrugged again as she informed him, "All sports gear is like this, except for swimsuits. Although one piece suits are like this too sometimes." After a moment she offered quietly, "But if having your girlfriend dressed in Pikachu stuff is embarrassing, I''ll pick something else?" "It''s okay Mizuki," he insisted quickly. "Pikachu yellow is a good colour for safety anyway. But when I replace my gear I think I''ll switch to green so that they''re at least complementary colours." "Oh," she said with sudden realization, "the red is Takumi-san''s? What colour did you wear?" "Sky blue," he replied. She stared at him open mouthed for a moment and he asked, "What? Too silly?" She shook her head and replied quickly, "Of course not! It suits you perfectly. Would you rather I choose green stuff?" He bent and kissed her, before replying, "We don''t have time to change what you''re getting if we''re doing this today, and I really don''t mind." "We could wait until you''ve got your own bike," she pointed out. "Takumi said I can borrow his every weekend if I want. He''s getting a car soon because it''s safer for Eri-chan as she gets more pregnant and they''ll need it when the baby arrives anyway," Sora explained as he led her to the checkout. "He''ll mostly just ride to and from work from now on." -- When Sora dropped her off at work Mizuki clung to him until he whispered, "Not that I want to let go of you, but you''re going to be late Mizuki." "We should have made time to do it before you left," she complained. "And we still didn''t buy those." He grinned at her suddenly and promised, "I''ll get them." He stroked her cheek affectionately and added, "And I''m kind of glad we didn''t." "Why?" she asked doubtfully. "Because part of the reason I was afraid to be with you was that we''ve never spent a day together without doing it before," he explained ruefully. Mizuki stared up at him as an unsuspected regret stabbed at her. She asked a little tearfully, "If I hadn''t gone to the hotel with you, would you have been able to date me sooner Sora?" Sora gazed down at her with a startled expression. "I don''t know for sure, but I had never intended to date anyone so young, and just got stuck on that idea. I was really afraid that I''d be bad for you if I couldn''t hold back. I''m really sorry Mizuki, don''t cry?" he begged. She scrubbed at her face and demanded, "Kiss me again and then I''ll go in, but message when you''re home safe?" He kissed her hard and then promised, "I will." He watched her go inside before he went back to her parent''s to get his stuff. 20: History When Sora arrived, no one answered his knock, and he discovered that the door was locked. Mizuki''s parents had already gone out to lunch and no one was home. He thought for a few baffled minutes, then searched his call history for the day he''d taken Mizuki to the hotel, and hesitantly tried her father''s number. When Junshiro finally answered, he laughed at Sora''s quick explanation, and then said, "We''d better get you your own key next weekend. For now, go down to the bar and I''ll have Kikyo give you the key I keep in the office safe." "The bar?" Sora questioned blankly. "Mizuki has never mentioned what I do for work?" Junshiro asked with surprise. "It just hasn''t come up? You didn''t say anything when you went to work either?" Sora pointed out hesitantly. "We haven''t really talked about our family member''s occupations at all." "Ah. Well, I own a bar. And Minori used to stay home with the children, until a couple of years ago, when she started working at the library part-time," Junshiro explained, and then asked "What do your parents do?" Sora was silent for a minute. "This is going to sound really stupid, but I have no idea what my father did at work. I''m not sure my mother ever worked. My parents died when I was eleven in a boating accident caused by a storm," he explained hesitantly. "My grandmother, who took care of me after that, has been married eight times," he added more quickly. "And I don''t know if she''s ever worked more than an occasional part-time job." After a long moment, Junshiro apologized, "I''m sorry, I had no idea. Mizuki never mentioned that your parents were already gone." "I don''t think I''ve ever told Mizuki that," Sora explained unhappily. "I see," Junshiro replied neutrally. "Anyway, I''ll send you the address, it''s only about four blocks away, and I''ll tell Kikyo that you''re coming." "Thank you," Sora responded quickly, before the call ended. -- Mizuki read Sora''s message after work with more happiness and relief than the single word, ''Home'', probably warranted. When she crawled up the stairs to her own home, she suddenly realized that she hadn''t done any homework over the weekend at all. Thankfully she only worked until 8pm on Sundays, so she still had a little bit of time. When she finally curled up on her bed to start working on her assignments, she realized that her pillow still smelled like Sora, and she rolled over and buried her face in it. "Mizuki, are you crying?" Minori asked her daughter anxiously from the doorway. Mizuki blushed as she sat up, and replied quickly, "No!" She looked at her mother''s anxious face and admitted with embarrassment, "My pillow still smells like Sora." "Oh," Minori replied uncertainly. "I''d like to ask you a little bit about him while I make dinner if you don''t mind coming out?" "Okay," she agreed. It only took her a moment to carry her tablet out to the table where her father was already sitting, but a few minutes passed before her mother ventured hesitantly, "I guess we should have asked you more about Sora before, but what do you know about him Mizuki?" Instead of answering, Mizuki asked unhappily, "Do you not like him?" "He seems nice enough," her father interjected quickly. "We''re just curious. We didn''t ask before because we didn''t want to make you cry more." "Oh," Mizuki replied with embarrassment. "I''m really sorry I just couldn''t stand to talk about him for a while." "I understand that," Minori assured her quickly. "And he was very polite and helpful while you were at work, but do you mind talking a little now?" "No," Mizuki replied promptly. "Actually, there''s a lot I don''t know yet," she admitted as she raised her hands to hide the blush that was rising to cover her face. "I just realized that I only know his birthday was not long before I met him, because he said he''d just turned 27." She looked at her parents who were watching her a little anxiously and assured them quickly, "But I do know lots of things that aren''t just standard dating questions?"A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. "Like?" Junshiro prompted. Mizuki quickly collected her thoughts, and responded, "He''s spent enough time in tropical places that he''s scuba certified, and has been for years. He''s a programming engineer, although I''m not entirely certain how that''s different from being a programmer, even though I looked it up. He had his last job for four years, the one before that for one year, and he worked as a waiter during university." Her father chuckled and asked, "Why does it sound like you''ve asked more about his CV than his horoscope?" Mizuki rolled her eyes. "I don''t care about horoscopes. He told me he needed to find a new job when he got back, which made me curious about his jobs. He also told me that he lived with his last girlfriend for over three years, but that''s about all I know for sure about his dating history, although I think he''s been with a lot of other women." "You haven''t asked him about his family?" Minori inquired hesitantly. "No," Mizuki admitted. "I don''t know much about his family, but he told me a few stories about when his best friend Takumi-san''s parents took him along on their family vacations when he was younger, and he mentions them quite a lot. I think maybe his grandma raised him though, from a couple other things he''s said." "He mentioned his grandmother, when I asked what kind of work his parents did." Junshiro added more warily, "He also told me that his parents died in a boating accident when he was eleven, but said he didn''t think he''d told you that." Mizuki stared at her father with a shocked expression and then replied faintly, "He didn''t." Her mother interjected, "I''m sorry! We should have let him tell you." She glanced at her husband uncertainly. "Sorry," her father apologized quickly, but then asked, "Does he drink often?" Mizuki looked at him with a worried expression and asked, "Why? What did he do?" "We all heard him yell that he wasn''t drunk right before he took you away from the wedding reception," Minori pointed out anxiously. Mizuki blushed and covered her face. "That was my fault. He''s been sticking to one drink a night since I met him, and he''d been holding a glass all night and his face was flushed." She admitted guiltily, "I just accused him while I was mad." "You had a fling with him while you were on vacation?" Junshiro prompted after a moment of silence. Mizuki flinched, but then nodded. "Yes. He told me from the start that he didn''t want to date me because I seemed too young, but I insisted that he give me the week. I''m the one that insisted on going to the hotel when he came here too." "He shouldn''t have fooled around with you if he really considered you too young," her father pointed out a little sharply. "Don''t blame him for that," Mizuki begged. "He didn''t think he should have done anything either, I''m the one that didn''t let him refuse." "He told you no?" Minori asked with surprise. Mizuki pulled her knees up and buried her face in them before answering, "He did." She swallowed and admitted bitterly, "More than once." After a minute she said miserably, "I might be an awful person. No is supposed to mean no, no matter who says it, and I really pushed him into it." "I doubt you could have forced him into anything Mizuki, he can probably pick you up with one hand," her father objected after a moment. "I''m not saying I physically forced him," Mizuki protested. "But I probably took advantage of him. I know I took advantage of him, he was trying to just treat me kindly." Her parents stared at her helplessly for a few minutes. Eventually her mother resumed her dinner preparations and Mizuki picked up her homework again. After a little while her father said, "I was pretty angry with him when he showed up here again, but he seemed serious, and you really seem to love him. Now I feel kind of sorry for him. I always forget that you''re not as sweet and gentle as your sisters, because you''re so small and cute, and usually you''re a very obedient child." Mizuki glared at her father but couldn''t deny it. After a minute she asked helplessly, "Do you think I''ve hurt him too much?" "I have no idea," Junshiro replied promptly. "Do you regret it?" "I''m not sorry," she declared immediately. "I mean, I am kind of sorry if I''ve hurt him, but I''m not sorry for being with him." His lips quirked, and then he grinned. "I should hope not after all this?" Minori looked at her husband with mild despair, but didn''t comment. He gave her an affectionate look and shrugged his shoulders in response. After a moment she relaxed and focused on the last of her preparations. -- That evening Sora returned Takumi''s bike and then tried to call his grandmother. He was a little worried when it went straight to voicemail, but she was often traveling and could easily be somewhere that didn''t have service. He left a hesitant message, "I hope you''re doing well, sorry I haven''t called recently." He paused for a moment to gather his courage, but continued within the space of another breath, "My girlfriend''s father asked me about my parents and I realized that I have absolutely no idea what kind of job my father had. I hadn''t thought about it in years, but I guess I don''t really know anything about my family on his side. Anyway, give me a call when you''ve got time." He hesitated again and then added shyly, "Love you." 21: Distance That night, after finishing dinner with her parents, Mizuki called Sora. He didn''t answer right away, and she wondered if he''d already gone to bed, but he called her back a few minutes later. She didn''t know how to bring up his parents, so she didn''t mention it, but she did ask, "When is your birthday Sora?" "May 15th?" he answered with surprise. Before she even responded he asked a little uncomfortably, "What day was yours?" "August 22nd," she answered with a grin, and added, "you better mark it down so you don''t miss it next year." "I won''t miss it again," he promised. She didn''t want it to sound like the question had been the only reason for her call, so she scrambled to find another topic. The conversation drifted a little sporadically, but she couldn''t help smiling about the fact that she was finally allowed to just call him, that they were finally together even when they weren''t together. After they''d talked for a little while, Sora asked, "Can we not talk on the phone too often Mizuki?" She stared at his image on her phone and drew in a sharp breath, while he quickly tried to explain, "Talking like this is making me miss you like crazy." He looked away from the screen and she could see the color that heated his cheeks. Mizuki''s lips parted as she sucked in another deep breath, and tried to calm her heart. He hadn''t been objecting because he didn''t like talking to her. After a moment she asked, "Do you want to communicate mostly by messages when you''re not with me, like we did on the island?" He covered his face with a hand, instead of simply turning the phone away, and asked, "Would you hate that? I don''t want to tell you that you can''t call me when we''re dating." After a moment that she was afraid she''d let go on for too long when he dropped his hand to look at her, she admitted, "I love talking to you like this Sora, but I don''t want to make you sorry that you''ve agreed to date me. If messages would make you happier about keeping in contact, we can use them instead." He just looked at her for a moment, long enough to make her review her words for anything she''d said wrong, but finally he explained reluctantly, "I''ve never tried to maintain a long distance relationship before. Could we try it for a little while?" She felt like she must have wheezed as her relief allowed her nervously indrawn breath to escape, but she immediately nodded. Sora added quickly, "But don''t be afraid to tell me if it''s making you unhappy Mizuki, I want you to be happy that we''re dating too." Mizuki couldn''t help the way she grinned at him suddenly, as she assured him, "I''m really happy that we''re dating Sora." He curled his fingers up in front of his mouth and looked at her for a long minute before telling her a little roughly, "I want you so much right now." She blushed as she admitted shyly, "Me too." The way his smile escaped the boundaries of his fingers cleared away her embarrassment, even though he looked away from her again. "But if talking like this is making you uncomfortable," she asked hesitantly, "do you want me to say goodnight now?"Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. "If I tell you what I want right now, you''ll either hang up on me anyway, or this will turn into something too intimate for a phone call and that is not what I want," Sora replied in a rush. Mizuki blushed again as she assured him quickly, "I love you Sora, and I wouldn''t hang up on you, but let''s just say goodnight for now." "Goodnight Mizuki," he said quickly before she ended the call. She wondered guiltily if it counted as hanging up on him anyway, despite saying that she wouldn''t, and sat staring at her phone, blushing now and then, for a while after the call was closed. -- Sora groaned and buried his face in his pillow afterwards and then asked out loud, "Why the hell am I so freaking embarrassed by wanting you so much Mizuki? This is like being thirteen all over again." -- Sora''s grandmother called the next afternoon, within minutes of the end of his shift. Unusually for her, the call was already limited to voice, and she asked directly, "When''s the wedding?" "Whose wedding?" he asked warily. "Takumi got married over a month ago, and you should have gotten an invitation." "Did he? Sorry I missed it, but I meant yours," she replied rather sharply. Sora felt his cheeks warm, and was glad it was voice only, as he protested, "We''ve only just started dating." His grandmother chuckled. "If you''re already talking with her parents, and she''s got you thinking about family connections, it won''t be very long," she informed him. "It won''t be for years yet, she''s only just turned eighteen," he objected. Haruko went silent for a moment, and then replied finally just as he opened his mouth, "I guess that explains why her parents are already quizzing you." Sora realized he hadn''t told her that he''d moved and said so abruptly, "I moved back right before Takumi got married. We should meet up, it''s been ages since I''ve seen you." She replied with exasperation, "You could have called before now! Really, sometimes you''re the most exasperating grandchild, you don''t call for months at a time!" He pointed out with amusement, "You don''t call me very often either." "I''ve been busy," she said a little defensively. He grinned. "So will you take time out of your busy schedule, meet up and then make a day trip with me, so I can introduce you to Mizuki?" he asked. "I''ll come visit when I get back, but it''ll be at least another six weeks. I really want to meet her, but I''m in Norway," she replied. "Norway?" he asked a little incredulously. Haruko explained what she was doing there and then brought up the subjects he''d left on her voicemail. "I''m not sure how to describe your father''s job. He didn''t have one, exactly, he owned several companies and spent most of his work time in meetings as far as I could tell." "Oh?" Sora asked with surprise, "What happened to the companies?" His grandmother hesitated before asking, "Do you really not remember his other children? Even though I wasn''t able to attend, they did their best to keep me informed about your parents funeral arrangements. I''m fairly certain that all of your siblings attended? I know most of them did at least." He froze in shock for a moment, and then denied it, "There weren''t any children besides me and Takumi at the funeral." After a long moment she replied, "You''re the one who told me about how they argued over what to do with you?" "Those people were all adults and only said they were my father''s relatives!" he protested incredulously. "I''m sorry Sora," she apologized rather sorrowfully. "I always assumed you knew who they were. Although they divided the business assets among themselves, and no one wanted to take responsibility for you, they weren''t especially stingy about the amount of money set aside for you. Do you want to meet them again?" After a moment he ran his hand through his hair and told her more calmly, "It doesn''t matter. I don''t want to meet them. They knew who I was, and none of them have ever tried to contact me." They talked a little about other things and then said their goodbyes. Mizuki''s first message that night cheered him up more than he expected, and he sent her a silly reply. 22: Dating Mizuki and Sora only sent text messages to each other for the rest of the week, but rather than a limitation, it felt like a generous allowance. They could now message at any time, about anything that they wanted to. Sometimes a response arrived within minutes, while other times a few hours would pass before the other person had time, but they were no longer disconnected. -- Friday when Sora showed up to borrow his bike, Takumi asked, "Want to stay and have supper with us before you go? Eri cooked all afternoon." Sora looked over at Eri, who immediately blushed and protested, "Takumi, if you tell him that he won''t want to stay." Sora turned back to Takumi, who explained, "She thinks her cooking isn''t as good as mine." Sora covered his eyes for a moment, and then turned to his best friend''s wife and told her rather abruptly, "I love you Eri-chan, so don''t go thinking this has anything to do with your cooking, but I''m not staying for supper." Takumi stared at his friend. His mouth opened, but he only spluttered for a moment, without managing to form whole words of protest. Eri''s blush deepened as she assured her husband quickly, "It''s okay Takumi, he obviously doesn''t mean it like that!" She actually laughed, when Sora agreed, "Yeah, I just can''t stand to wait another minute more to see Mizuki again." Takumi looked back and forth between Eri and Sora as she replied cheerfully, "Drive safely, and I hope we can meet her soon." "I hope so," Sora agreed. "See you Sunday night," was tossed over his shoulder as he banged out their door. Takumi looked at Eri for a moment, and then objected rather plaintively, "I''ve never heard him directly say ''I love you'' to any girl before, what am I supposed to think?" Eri raised her eyebrows as she looked up at him, and then lifted onto her toes to kiss him gently over her recently expanding belly. "That he''s completely in love with Mizuki-chan, so he doesn''t have to be so careful with his words anymore," she assured him with an amount of confidence that surprised even her. -- Sora waited impatiently in the parking garage beside Mizuki''s school. After meeting the curious stares of several students, who were apparently old enough to drive, and faster to escape than Mizuki, he began to wonder if picking her up from school was a really bad idea. He''d been focused on seeing her as soon as possible, but the curious gazes were making him remember what she had said about the rumors she had to deal with at school. He forgot about it again when he saw her dash through the entrance and catch sight of him. Her whole face lit up and she ran to him. "Sora!" Mizuki exclaimed when she got close. Sora caught her as she flung herself at him, and then scooped her up and kissed her for several minutes. When he released her, she reached up and caressed his face gently, and then buried her face in his chest. "I''m so glad you''re really here," she confessed in a muffled voice. It took him a moment to process her words, and then he felt like she''d hit him. He actually gasped for breath before protesting unhappily, "I told you I''ll never leave you again Mizuki! Why didn''t you believe me?" She looked up and assured him quickly, "I did believe you! And I''m so happy!"Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. "Then¡­" he began. "I''m so happy it doesn''t quite feel like it can really be real!" she explained. "But I''m touching you right now and you''re really here." She pressed her face into him again and repeated, "I''m so happy Sora!" "Me too," he admitted a bit gruffly. He cuddled her gently against him, until she finally looked up again, grinned, and asked a little shyly, "Can we go home now?" She watched his breath catch, and felt his reaction. Her lips parted and her breath felt hard to catch and she whispered, "Please?" Sora scooped her up again, and kissed her hard enough to make her mouth feel a little bruised, before he replied in a tight voice, "Hell yes Mizuki, let''s go." She fumbled with the buckle on her helmet, and he helped her with it impatiently. He zipped her into her jacket, and then swung himself into place over the motorcycle. After she climbed on, Mizuki demanded, "Stand up a little Sora." He stood, and then looked back at her. She blushed and admitted, "When I agreed that you should come pick me up, I forgot I''d be wearing a skirt, but I think it''ll be okay if you sit on it." She wriggled and tucked the layers over the edge of his seat. He took a deep breath and tried to calm down a little as he repositioned himself and sat on the edge of her skirt. After a moment he apologized, "Sorry, I didn''t think about that either. Is it okay? Should I wait for you at home next week?" "I think this will work, so let''s try it," she insisted. "I''ll bring a pair of pants to school on Fridays from now on." -- When they reached her parents'' apartment, Mizuki dismounted slowly and stiffly. Sora quickly locked the bike, grabbed his bag from the luggage compartment, and turned back to her. He touched her knees as he lifted her into his arms and scolded, "You''re freezing now Mizuki." "So carry me inside and warm me up," she commanded with zero repentance. He grinned at her as he yielded to her bidding and began to climb the stairs, although they stopped and struggled with unlocking the door for a moment. "No one''s home?" he questioned. "My father only stays home and cooks dinner on Fridays every other week," she explained as he carried her to her room. "Are we supposed to be cooking?" he asked as he started undressing her. She replied a little breathlessly as she unbuttoned him in return, "No. Since I started working this job, my mother''s been going to the bar when she''s done at her job, and eating with him. And I''ve been just making myself something quick before work." "I should be taking you out to dinner instead," he commented as he pushed her down against the bed. "No. Don''t you dare stop Sora," she warned him. He gave no sign that he had ever intended to stop. After a bit she insisted breathlessly, "I''d have wanted to come home and change clothes anyway." He shuddered as she wrapped her chilly legs around him. "You''re so hot Sora," she told him achingly as his heat almost burned her. His breath caught and he stared down into her face. "I really want to just pound you right now Mizuki," he admitted. "Pound me," she agreed. He bit his lip and argued, "I don''t want to hurt you." "You won''t hurt me Sora," she insisted. After a moment''s hesitation he leaned forward. -- Afterward Sora asked anxiously, "Are you okay Mizuki?" "I''m fantastic," she informed him after a moment to catch her breath. "My whole body is tingling," she said in an amazed tone. He laughed and kissed her affectionately. After a few minutes he grinned and asked, "Want to go out to dinner now?" She pouted at him and protested, "I kind of wanted to dress up for our first real date. If we go out now I''ll have to wear my work clothes." After a moment he asked, "Isn''t the only time we''ll have time to dress up going to be Saturday mornings? Dressing up for breakfast doesn''t seem quite the same?" She sighed after thinking it over, and nodded. She kissed him before agreeing, "Okay, let''s take a quick shower and go out to dinner." -- While they were getting dressed he asked, "Mizuki?" She looked up at him and raised her eyebrows without replying. He bent and kissed her again before suggesting, "It wouldn''t be for our first date, but would you like me to see if I can get a Monday off so we could go out in the evening after you''re done with school?" Her face lit up and she asked, "Can we try to do that for our one month anniversary?" "Sure," he agreed. "I''ll fill out the application tonight while you''re at work." 23: Ordinary Sora pulled on his jacket, and then reached over to help Mizuki fasten hers up to his satisfaction. "Where should I take you?" he asked. Mizuki stared at him blankly, and he grinned. "A nice restaurant for dinner?" "I don''t know," she admitted after a moment. "We hardly ever go out to eat. Once in a while we gather for big family gatherings, like Shizu-nee-chan''s wedding. Should we just go for fast food?" He repressed the laugh that would have offended her, and turned it into a grin. "Restaurants usually advertise, give me a minute," he replied as he pulled his phone back out. "Nothing fancy while I''m dressed like this," she warned him. Sora''s finger moved across the screen to a different selection. A couple of minutes later he asked hopefully, "Do you like Greek cuisine? This shop has a good menu." "I have no idea?" Mizuki admitted after a brief hesitation. "What''s it like?" "The dishes usually seem to involve lamb, olives, and feta cheese," he answered a bit vaguely. "Okay," she agreed with amusement. -- Her shift felt long, and Mizuki was grateful when she could finally leave. She almost jogged out to where Sora was waiting, and his grin made her smile more cheerfully than she could have imagined doing a quarter of an hour ago. "I''m glad you came to get me," she admitted as she cuddled up against his back after climbing up behind him. "Then I''m glad I didn''t decide to crawl into your bed a couple hours ago," he replied a little wryly. "You could have," she protested. "I know, you''re such a compliant girlfriend," he agreed laughingly as he lifted his feet and pulled out of the parking space. Mizuki was silent on the way home, but once they had both dismounted, she turned and asked dubiously, "Do I really seem compliant?" Sora looked down at her in surprise, and then replied uncertainly, "Is that bad? If I tell you I don''t want to do something you don''t push me or demand to know why, and so far you haven''t asked me to buy you anything but food." She blushed, and dropped her gaze to his toes for a moment. She raised her face again a moment later, and protested a little uncomfortably, "But you have said I''m demanding, and I insisted that you buy the helmet and stuff?" "I wasn''t counting that," he admitted. He held out his hand and when she took it, he pulled her up the stairs without saying anything else. Mizuki wondered if it was possible to be both. Sora pulled her all the way to the bathroom before asking, "Isn''t it okay if I think you''re both compliant and demanding?" "It sounds contradictory?" she suggested. He grinned at her and bent to kiss her before saying, "I''m not going to claim I never find you contradictory Mizuki." She glared up at him for a moment, before grinning suddenly. "As long as you like it?" "I love it," he assured her. -- In the morning while they were getting dressed, Mizuki crawled across her bed to pull something out of one of the drawers on the far side. Sora suddenly knelt on the bed behind her, and startled her by asking, "Can I do you like this Mizuki?" She looked back and he rocked his hips against her bottom suggestively. She felt her cheeks heat up, but agreed hesitantly, "I guess?"Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. He immediately reached out, making her gasp in surprise. It wasn''t long before he was making her gasp in a different way. Her view was oddly limited to her own body, and after a minute she admitted, "This is embarrassing, I feel fat." "You''re not fat Mizuki," Sora protested automatically. Mizuki objected mildly, "In this position my stomach is dangling like Tama-sama''s belly." He huffed a laugh and assured her, "You look incredibly sexy from my position." He leaned forward and slid his hands underneath. "And you feel so soft, I love it all Mizuki." She closed her eyes and just concentrated on how it felt. Afterward, she turned and flung herself into his arms. Sora looked down at her in surprise, and asked uncertainly, "Okay? Was this no good?" Mizuki laughed, reached up and caressed his face, and assured him, "It was fine Sora." "I adore you," he whispered. They both jumped when her father rapped on her door and announced, "Breakfast." -- Mizuki''s father regarded their flushed and embarrassed faces when they came out and sat at the table with amusement. His wife whispered something into his ear and he turned and asked her with surprise, "Do you really think we could stop Mizuki from doing whatever she wants even if we tried? She''d just leave Minori." Mizuki looked at her mother in surprise and asked, "What''s wrong?" Minori blushed and gave Sora an apologetic look, before asking her daughter protestingly, "You''re so young, is it really okay for you to be having sex all the time?" Mizuki set down her bowl and replied a little angrily, "You told me it was okay and that guys naturally want to do it when you thought it was Tooru!" Her father blinked at her and gave her a speculative look that no one noticed. Her mother looked away and objected uncomfortably, "But you''ve been friends with him forever." Mizuki stared at her mother with a shocked expression and asked, "Doesn''t that make it worse?" Her mother looked back at her with confusion and asked, "Why?" Sora opened his mouth to speak but then shut it again before saying anything. Mizuki covered her face and said, "Nevermind." After a moment she added, "I love it, and I don''t want to stop doing it with Sora, but if it''s making you too uncomfortable, we don''t have to keep doing it here." Sora nodded while Minori gasped and clutched at her husband''s arm. Junshiro shrugged and said calmly, "I told you." Minori insisted anxiously, "I don''t want you to go do it somewhere else. I''m sorry, I just, I worry a little. Your sisters didn''t start until later." Mizuki gave her mother an incredulous look but didn''t dare argue. Her father''s expression caught her eyes. Junshiro snickered, and informed his youngest daughter, "She didn''t realize Akane had been having sex until she announced that she was pregnant Mizuki, and then she panicked and worried that she''d gotten pregnant already because they''d never talked about birth control." "But that was after she got married!" Mizuki protested. Her father laughed and her mother protested, "Jun! Of course I''d have realized sooner if I''d thought about it!" -- Sora and Mizuki did the dishes together and then he asked, "Want to go out for a bit before work?" "Sure, if you want to?" she replied agreeably. "What do you want to do?" he asked curiously. She hesitated and then admitted with embarrassment, "I don''t exactly want to, but I really ought to work on homework. I didn''t do any last weekend until Sunday night." He covered his eyes and groaned. "I''m sorry," she said apologetically. Sora dropped his hand, looked down at her, and told her seriously, "Don''t apologize unless you''re apologizing for not telling me you had homework last weekend. I''m the one who should be apologizing, it never even occurred to me." "I completely forgot about it until after you were gone," Mizuki admitted. He hugged her against him and insisted, "Don''t be afraid to do the ordinary things you need to do when I''m with you Mizuki. I don''t want to be bad for you." "You''re not bad for me Sora," she assured him. After a moment she grinned up at him and asked, "Want to help me with my homework?" He bent and kissed her before he assured her, "I''d love to." After she''d been working on her assignments for a little while, Mizuki laughed and told him, "I love doing homework while sitting in your lap Sora, but you''re not much help." Sora winced as he admitted, "I feel like the idiot you keep calling me right now. I can''t believe how much I''ve already forgotten." "It''s okay," she assured him seriously. "I don''t plan to remember this stuff any longer than I have to either." -- Sunday they didn''t talk very much and kissed often. Mizuki dragged Sora back to her bedroom after breakfast, and they took a shower before she went to work. "Want to go see a movie next weekend?" Sora asked before he let her go. "I checked and they at least play family ones in the mornings here." She grinned up at him and replied, "If it''s not too childish for you, I''d love to." "Okay, we can message about what seems best to see during the week," he replied with a matching grin. 24: Abruptly When Sora messaged Mizuki a week later, he couldn''t help smiling. In response to his text that he''d be a couple hours late, and wouldn''t be able to pick her up from school Friday afternoon, she sent back a simple, ''OK''. When he went to pick up Takumi''s bike, Takumi commented, "You look really happy." "I am," Sora replied happily. "Mizuki is the best girlfriend I''ve ever had." He sobered a moment as he glanced at the message history on his phone while reconnecting it to the motorcycle, and added, "Apart from her age." Takumi chuckled as he pointed out, "Well she can''t help that!" He added a little smugly, "I''m glad. I told you it seemed like she was good for you." Sora asked curiously, "Why did you think that? You didn''t know anything about her?" Takumi grinned at his friend, gave a little shrug and pointed out, "She gave you good advice that you didn''t hesitate to take." "I just messed different things up," Sora pointed out. "Even then, you didn''t just go back to drinking when you were miserable," Takumi replied thoughtfully. Sora admitted a little unhappily, "I promised her I''d eat well and not drink too much when I left her." Takumi clapped his hand on Sora''s shoulder and demanded, "See?" Sora couldn''t help laughing again as he left. -- Mizuki''s family was already eating dinner when he arrived. They paused to greet him as he entered, but no one got up, or acted as though a guest had arrived. Oddly, it made him feel accepted rather than ignored, and the feeling was reinforced by the way Mizuki looked up at him and exclaimed, "Wow Sora, you look hot!" His cheeks heated up as he unzipped his new riding jacket, and attached his helmet to the belt she''d hung up to hold hers on the little coat rack by the door. Junshiro asked, "New gear?" Sora explained, "Yeah. I''d been borrowing my friend''s gear as well as his bike, but it wasn''t entirely comfortable and I''m looking for a new bike. I may have found one, I''ll find out for sure this week." "Cool," Mizuki commented cheerfully and offered him a plate. He checked the time and asked, "Should I just wait until after I''ve dropped you off?" She frowned at the clock and argued, "If you''re hungry, I can run out now and grab the bus?" He ate a bite off her plate and insisted laughingly, without pointing out that if she took the bus he might as well have arrived when she got off work, "I''m hungry, but I''ll live for another half hour Mizuki." -- Her parents were welcoming when Sora returned. He ate the food they''d saved for him, and then helped out with odds and ends, willingly enough, until it was time to go pick Mizuki up after her shift. She was so tired out that they didn''t get to talk much before sleeping, but he slept more contentedly with her tucked up against him. The next morning, Mizuki woke up and slid mischievously under the covers. Sora woke all the way up after a moment and groaned. When she surfaced again, he threw the blankets off the bed, pulled her up, and kissed her. When he released her mouth he worked his way lower. Afterward they got up, instead of lingering in bed, and surprised her father by showing up at the table before he called them. -- At the theatre, Sora hesitated before buying the tickets.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Mizuki laughed at his reluctance, and assured him, "We don''t have to watch this Sora. I don''t mind if we choose something else?" He looked down at her, and then firmly selected the Pokemon movie without replying. When they entered the theatre he was surprised by the age range of people who''d come out on a Saturday morning to see it. When he commented, Mizuki smirked as she reminded him, "I told you that Pikachu is older than you are." She admitted after a moment, "When the movie has been out longer it will be mostly kids." -- When the movie was finally over, Mizuki looked up at Sora, laughed, and patted his arm. "Sora, you don''t have to come watch any more anime with me if you don''t want to," she told him comfortingly. "I don''t mind that it was an anime so much," he insisted swiftly, "but why did they make it so clich¨¦?" He complained about the plot and jokes for a few minutes before she grinned at him and explained, "It''s like that because it''s a classic character. They tried to change things a few times and everyone complained. Pikachu''s human pet, Ash, would be like fifty years old if they had any kind of actual timeline going." "But would eternal youth normally result in stagnation of their character development?" he argued with a sigh. She offered, "We can just rent whatever you''d like to see from home next time? We don''t have to stick to what''s in theatres in the morning." "I was trying to think of things we could do for dates out," he protested. She grinned up at him, and said with amazement, "Wow Sora, you really haven''t been on as many dates as I imagined?" "I bet it''s still a lot more than you have," he replied uncomfortably. "I haven''t been on many," she admitted, "but I''ve helped plan lots!" He grinned at her and challenged, "I leave our next one to you then." "Okay," she agreed. "Tomorrow or next weekend?" "Tomorrow?" he suggested. "We could try taking turns?" "That sounds fun," she agreed cheerfully. He bent and kissed her before driving her to her workplace. Her ten hour shift left him with what felt like an entire day to waste, while the person he wanted to spend it with labored without him. -- When she got off work Mizuki was exhausted again. When they climbed into bed she asked hesitantly, "Sora? Would you mind rubbing my feet very much?" "I wouldn''t mind at all?" Sora responded with surprise. He sat up, scooped her into his lap, and rubbed her feet for a little while. She gave a little moan of pleasure after a couple minutes, and he laughed at her. After a bit he asked, "Do you really need to work so hard Mizuki?" She asked with amusement, "Are you offering to support me Sora?" He blinked at her and after a minute replied, "Sure." She sat up and protested, "Sora!" "What?" he asked. "Seriously?" she questioned. "I''d get to spend more time with you," he pointed out. She fell back onto her elbows and stared at him. After a minute he said, "I think I could afford to, although it would slow things down. I don''t have much savings left." "Why not?" Mizuki asked curiously. He was embarrassed to admit, "After I got the new job, I gave most of what I had left to Takumi and Eri as a wedding present." "Oh," she commented blankly. He added quickly, "They probably didn''t need it, but I wanted to give them enough that Takumi can spoil her a little, and still be comfortable when the baby arrives." She grinned as she assured him, "I''m not going to scold you for giving your friends a wedding present Sora." He rubbed her feet a little longer and then pulled her up for a kiss. "So? Can I take care of you instead of having you work all the time?" he asked. She gazed into his face seriously for a moment before answering. "I don''t know Sora. I promised to work through the winter holidays already though." "Oh," he replied with disappointment. She kissed him again and then told him, "But if you''re really serious, I''ll think about it?" "I''m serious," he assured her. She kissed him again. -- The next morning after breakfast, for her date idea, Mizuki took Sora to an arcade. They played a dozen different games together before she had to be at work. Sora kissed her enthusiastically when they left, and told her, "That was surprisingly fun." "A little expensive though, compared to playing things at home," she pointed out hesitantly. Sora asked with surprise, "Do you have a game system?" "Doesn''t everybody?" Mizuki quizzed. He laughed and asked, "Which one? Can we play together on the net when I''m not here?" It didn''t take long to reveal that they had different consoles. Sora had a system that mostly catered to action games, while Mizuki had chosen one that mostly featured role playing games. As she passed him her helmet, she suggested, "Maybe instead of getting each other Christmas presents, we could go in together on a pair of one of the handheld systems? Then you could bring it with you and we could play here too?" He kissed her one last time, and agreed, "I''d like that." 25: Broken Time It wasn''t until the middle of the week that Sora met up with Takumi, who was arguing with his younger brother on his phone. Like Mizuki, Takumi rarely spoke respectfully of his sibling, but Sora knew that they both cared deeply for their family members, whether their words reflected it or not. His thoughts wandered to the impressions he''d had of the argumentative adults who had attended his father''s funeral, until Takumi asked abruptly, "Sora, do you think pets are essential for children?" "Eri hopes to have a pet doesn''t she?" he replied cautiously. Takumi flicked his hand back and forth to indicate uncertainty. "I think that she has also heard this ridiculous theory that they are essential." Sora shrugged. "Can they test for allergies before kids are even born these days?" Takumi stared at him for a moment that was long enough for Sora to shift uncomfortably. "I have no idea," Takumi finally admitted. "I''ll find out," he added with determination. Sora silently apologized to Eri, who would be the one who had to undergo the procedure if such a thing existed, and then asked, "Do you think I''ve misjudged my own siblings, and that they just didn''t know how to approach me afterward?" Takumi looked so startled that Sora assumed he hadn''t realized the adults back then had been his siblings either, until he replied sharply, "No way! Those idiots didn''t even believe you were really your father''s son." "What?" Sora didn''t even know how to respond. Takumi turned and held up his fist. "Seriously. You don''t have to worry about trying to maintain any relationships except the ones you want to keep." Sora couldn''t figure out how to ask, or admit that he hadn''t realized back then, and replied a bit weakly, "Okay." Takumi frowned at him, and then commented, "Actually, I''m surprised you knew, I only found out that you actually had siblings when I overheard the lawyer reporting back to my parents." Sora couldn''t help the grin that he flashed at his best friend as he replied dryly, "You yelled at them yourself." Takumi blinked at him and then laughed. "Oh yeah? Then definitely don''t forgive those jerks!" -- Friday Sora got off work early, checked his messages, and then called Mizuki. When she didn''t pick up, he realized that she would still be at school. He sighed. Even though he''d made up his mind not to let her age come between them, the fact that she was still in school was uncomfortable. He messaged Rin that he might not know for at least another hour. When Mizuki called him back less than a quarter of an hour later, Sora stared at her image without speaking for a minute. "Sora?" she asked. "I''m just between classes, what''s wrong?" He blurted more anxiously than he meant to, "Nothing''s wrong, in fact it''s great, I found a bike I like for a reasonable price." "You don''t look happy about it?" she complained. He rubbed his face and then explained, "I promised I''d come every weekend, but it needs brakes before it''s rideable, and this is the only weekend that the best mechanic I know is available to help me replace them until after Christmas. If I can do it when he''s available I can use his shop and tools and it''ll be a lot cheaper too." "Okay," Mizuki replied after a moment. "Is it really okay?" he asked uncertainly. "If you want me to come anyway, I will, I promised I would." "It''s really okay Sora," she replied firmly. "I''ll miss you, but I''ll live without seeing you for one weekend, and if you''re really serious about wanting me to quit working, it''s probably better for us to save up what we can in the meantime?" "You''re really the best girlfriend I''ve ever had," he told her seriously. She blushed even as she replied hurriedly, "I need to go back to class. Can I call you since you''re not coming, or should I stick to messages?" "Call me, I won''t be able to answer sometimes, but I''ll call you back when I can," he replied quickly. "Okay, talk to you later," she assured him and ended the call. Sora messaged Rin, and then went to pick up his new motorcycle and have it delivered to Rin''s shop.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. He missed her first three calls, and felt guilty when they wound up only exchanging messages after her work shift started. -- When Mizuki called again on Saturday morning, Sora was already laying on his back removing greasy pieces from the rear wheel mount. He flailed for a moment, and then scrambled toward the nearest towel. When they''d started taking the motorcycle apart, Rin had examined everything and then told him, "It''s worse than it looked. You could get away with just doing the brakes for a while, but it would be better to replace a lot of the assembly while we''ve got it apart." Sora had sighed and agreed, and then ordered the extra parts. When Sora called Mizuki back, he informed her with disappointment, "The price is turning out to be not as good as I hoped, it''s still reasonable, but there was more damage than showed from the outside." Mizuki asked hesitantly, "Wouldn''t you expect that after someone rode it until it had no brakes left?" He laughed and replied teasingly, "Obviously I should have consulted with you more before buying it." "I don''t know anything about motorcycles," she protested. He grinned at her as he replied, "But you obviously know something about people, which is probably just as important when you''re buying a used vehicle." She shrugged and asked a little wistfully, "Will you still be able to finish fixing it this weekend?" "I think so," he assured her. They talked a little more, longer than he realized, until Mizuki began to dress for work. Sora returned to the shop a bit sheepishly, but Rin just grinned at him. -- Sunday morning Sora called Mizuki first. When she answered half asleep and half naked, he stared at her and asked breathlessly, "Mizuki? Can you get dressed and call me back?" She laughed and agreed. When she finally called back, freshly showered and fully dressed, he grinned at her and said, "Good morning beautiful." He was rewarded with her blush as she asked, "How''s it going?" "Not as well as if I were able to touch you this morning," he declared teasingly. "But it is going pretty well. We got everything cleaned up last night. All the parts have arrived and it looks like they''re all the correct part. I was calling you early because it''ll be awkward to call while we''re assembling everything." "Oh," she replied with disappointment. "What''s wrong?" he asked. "I was just hoping we''d get more time to talk today," she told him quickly. He grinned as he suggested, "If you get all your homework done this morning, we can talk again this evening?" "I finished it all yesterday!" she exclaimed laughingly. "Oh, then let''s definitely talk tonight," he replied happily. "Okay Sora," she agreed with a grin. They talked until Rin interrupted, "Chat with your girlfriend later! My wife promised to make me lunch today, and I want to be at a stopping place in time to eat it with her before she goes back to work." Sora felt his own cheeks warm as he told Mizuki, "Talk to you tonight." -- The week felt long, but this time on Friday Sora arrived in time to pick Mizuki up from school. He waved at the bike and asked her excitedly, "What do you think?" She laughed up at him before insisting, "I told you I don''t know anything about motorcycles! It looks a lot like the other one, except for the colour? It''s pretty?" It was mostly a deep green that went well with the brighter emerald green that he''d gotten his new riding gear in. Gold accents gleamed against the green, and it was completely clean. Even the chrome on the handles and muffler gleamed. He explained enthusiastically, "It has got a little bit smaller engine than Takumi''s, but it''s more efficient. Its navigation system is only a couple years old, so it connects to the net in real time. And it''s already got custom seat work on the driver''s seat that fits me pretty well." She grinned at his enthusiasm and told him, "I''m glad you''re happy with it." One of the other students from her school approached, and complimented, "Nice bike." Mizuki watched the young man warily, but Sora replied cheerfully, "Thanks!" "Bet it helps you get laid," the student added, looking at Mizuki. Sora stiffened, but Mizuki laid her hand on his arm and insisted quickly, "Ignore him Sora." He looked down at her anxious face and then nodded. He handed her her helmet and then held her jacket for her while she buckled it. The student shrugged and left after a moment. -- When they arrived at her home, Mizuki complained grouchily as she dismounted, "This isn''t a passenger seat, it''s a passenger spike!" Sora turned and gazed at her consideringly for a moment. "Is it really that bad? It''s a standard seat design." She replied uncertainly, "It might be because I''m so short? I''m basically impaled on the highest point since my legs can''t bend much if I''m going to reach the footpegs?" He measured the distance with his eyes, and then nodded, a little relieved that it actually was a likely guess. "We could get a different premade, but let''s just get a custom seat made." "Won''t that be expensive?" she asked doubtfully. "The one on Takumi-san''s was fine, was it custom?" "I don''t think so, but I''ll ask," he assured her before asking more hesitantly, "Mizuki, should I be picking you up from school? Does it make things worse for you?" She looked up at him in surprise and then assured him quickly, "It''s fine Sora, I''m really glad that you could arrange to get off early enough on Fridays to come in time to pick me up." "Okay," he replied with relief as he scooped her up. "Sora," she said hesitantly. He looked at her face and asked, "Do you not want me to carry you? You haven''t complained at home and I''ve been careful not to pick you up mostly when we go out?" She blushed, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders as she said quietly, "It''s fine. But um, I''m on my period still today, and probably will be tomorrow too." He couldn''t help blinking, before a laugh bubbled up, and escaped before he realized she might be offended. 26: Monthly Sora was still smiling as he carried Mizuki inside, past her parents, and into her bedroom. He set her down before asking softly, "Does that mean you don''t feel like doing anything? Are you in much pain?" "I have a good pain blocker for it," Mizuki assured him quickly. She gazed up at him for a moment and then blushed and looked away before asking, "Do you still want to? Won''t it be really messy?" "I''m not squeamish about blood Mizuki," he assured her. "If it''s too messy and you feel like you want to, we can do it in the shower," he pointed out. She looked at him open-mouthed for a moment and then insisted, "I want to! I thought we wouldn''t be able to." He cuddled and kissed her before asking with a grin, "Want to take a shower before supper?" She nodded. -- While they had dinner with her parents, Junshiro asked Sora a little about his new bike, and Sora chatted happily about it. Minori whispered to her daughter, "He seems really happy today." "He is," Mizuki agreed laughingly. "I''m glad to-san knows enough about it that he can talk about it more than I can. I don''t understand half of what they''re saying," she admitted. Minori laughed as she assured her youngest daughter, "It doesn''t matter, understanding more of it just makes it more boring." When Mizuki looked at her in surprise, she reminded her daughter, "I have two brothers?" Mizuki replied doubtfully, "I can''t picture either of them on a motorcycle." "Toshi had one for a few years," Minori said with a grin. Mizuki tried to imagine her uncle messily working on something the way Sora had, with grease streaked down his cheek, and shook her head. It wasn''t that she didn''t believe her mother, she just couldn''t imagine it. After dinner, Mizuki took the bus to work while Sora started the search for a replacement seat. -- When they went to bed after Mizuki got off work, Sora rubbed her back for a while. As her muscles finally unclenched Mizuki moaned, "Oh god Sora, where have you been my whole life?" Sora froze, and then informed her unhappily, "I was probably already in middle school when you were born." She snickered into the fabric underneath her, then turned, and wriggled up to kiss him. She grinned at him, while he looked at her doubtfully. She examined his expression and then said with exasperation, "If you want me to be older Sora, all you have to do is wait! Why are you so unhappy about being older? Do you like older women?" When he blushed, she released him as she sat up as she exclaimed with shock, "You do!" He shrugged and replied uncomfortably, "Not exactly. More like I''ve always thought women in their mid twenties to early thirties are sexier. I''m getting old enough now that they''re not always older anymore." Mizuki swallowed, and then pointed out, "I''ll get that old eventually." He flopped down onto the bed, then pulled her down and kissed her. "You''re already very sexy Mizuki. If I didn''t like your body, I wouldn''t have gotten so turned on just by having you sit in my lap," he informed her dryly. She didn''t want to ask what would happen when she had aged out of his preferred range. When he resumed rubbing her back, she sighed and snuggled into him. She met with resistance as she shifted her hips lower and laughed as she wiggled farther down. He hesitated. "Only if you really don''t mind Mizuki." "I love you Sora," she told him. "I love making you feel good. You always make me feel amazing." He blushed, and didn''t reply with words. -- Sora woke her up early, and while they showered he asked, "Will you add your cycle to my calendar?" Mizuki blinked up at him. After a moment she nodded.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. He had found a shop about an hour away that did custom seats, after discovering that Takumi''s passenger seat had been adjusted from standard, and finding out the details about how it had been modified. It was her first time riding on the freeway and she found it both a little terrifying and exhilarating. When she tried to dismount at the shop she almost fell, and Sora caught her with a questioning look. "I''m sore, stiff and a little cold," she explained. "Sorry," he replied guiltily. "I should have gotten you overpants with the jacket, for longer rides." Sora took Mizuki into the shop, where she blushed as the designer took measurements of her rear. Then they both watched with amazement as the designer tore apart the original seat, attached a premade plate to it, covered it in padding, and neatly stapled a new cover over the whole thing in under an hour. Mizuki eyed the result doubtfully. "It just looks a little flatter?" The designer smirked at her and said, "Try it out." Sora clipped it back into place, had her sit on it, and Mizuki gasped with amazement. "It feels completely different!" She looked at Sora and assured him, "It''s even better than Takumi-san''s now." He grinned as he informed her, "That''s because it fits your bottom." Mizuki was still blushing as Sora paid for the alteration. When he took her back to go to work, they stopped and had hot food and drinks on the way, so that Mizuki wasn''t chilled when she started her shift. -- That night Mizuki cuddled up to Sora and whispered, "I''ve stopped bleeding." He kept her awake for another hour. -- Minori complained to her husband, "Jun, how do they even have enough energy to do it so much? And why isn''t Mizuki shy about it? I''d have died of embarrassment if my parents heard us." Junshiro grinned at his wife sleepily and asked, "Don''t you remember what we were like before we had kids? Has it been too long since I kept you awake until dawn? And Mizuki has never been as shy as you." Minori blushed and shifted uncomfortably, without saying anything. He shifted so that he could see how anxious she looked, and then pointed out soothingly, "They''re not really being that noisy, the neighbors we had before were a lot noisier. Mizuki may not even realize we can still hear them from our room." Privately he figured his youngest daughter probably guessed they could hear her, from her frequent blushes, but didn''t care enough to stop because of it. He was actually a little relieved that she was so willing to be open about it. He''d noticed that anytime his daughters were dating someone that turned out to be unpleasant, either they or the guy they were seeing were reluctant to spend time around the family. He''d been afraid that the guy he''d never seen before, who''d left his daughter crying the next day, was in that category when he showed up again. He wasn''t inclined to complain about the noise the pair added to a home that had been too quiet for months. She nodded after a moment and cuddled up to him. -- The next morning Mizuki got up reluctantly to fix breakfast. Sora looked at her tired face and asked, "After we eat, do you want to go back to bed?" "Kind of," she admitted, "but it''s my turn to take you somewhere this morning." He bent and kissed her. "We don''t have to do something everyday do we? It can still be your turn next weekend." "But you''re taking me out tomorrow night?" Mizuki pointed out. He grinned down at her. "You helped plan our first dressed up date, and it''s a special occasion," he argued. "And we don''t have to keep it even do we? I just thought taking turns would be fun, and it has been so far." She smiled at him affectionately, and agreed, "Let''s go back to bed then, and I''ll take you to the next place next Saturday." After they ate and did the dishes, Sora scooped Mizuki up and carried her back to the bedroom. Minori gave her husband a speaking look and he laughed and asked her teasingly, "Should we go out so you don''t have to be embarrassed again until evening?" -- After work Mizuki admitted, "I need to do homework Sora." He frowned at her as he asked, "Why are you leaving it so late?" She looked at him uncomfortably. "Do you have to scold me about it?" He bit his lip, before confessing unhappily, "I don''t know Mizuki. I don''t know how I should behave when it comes to your? schoolwork." "I''m doing fine in school," she told him reassuringly. "You really don''t have to worry about it." "What if your grades drop because you''re dating me?" Sora asked uneasily. "That''s my responsibility Sora," she said firmly. He looked at her worriedly and she promised, "I won''t let them, if it bothers you that much. But sometimes we''ll have to put things on hold while I study?" "That''s fine," he assured her quickly. She smiled and kissed him before sighing and picking up her tablet again. He tried to help her where he could. -- Monday morning Sora got up when Mizuki did, and took her to school. When he got back to her parent''s place he told them, "I''m going out to buy a few things this afternoon, is there anything you need?" Minori asked, "Are you going to a grocery store?" Sora shook his head in negation, but added quickly, "I don''t mind stopping at one." When she gave him a list he grinned at her. "If you really don''t mind?" Mizuki''s mother insisted. He patted her shoulder and said a little awkwardly, "I don''t mind okaasan." Minori looked at her husband, who shrugged. She didn''t comment, but later when Junshiro was getting ready to leave for work, and Sora was already gone, she asked plaintively, "Should I let him call me that?" Junshiro stood and kissed her, before pulling on his jacket and asked her seriously, "Would you rather he acted like he''s just playing with her Minori?" She shook her head vigorously. He grinned, and then kissed his cute wife once more before he left. 27: Formally Mizuki got home from school early, and laughed when she found Sora. He was trying to hang laundry on the balcony, with supervision from Tama-sama, but he was too tall. Unlike she and her mother, who could both simply walk under the rack and reach up to the wires, he was having to reach over the top and drop things through to clip them. After watching for a moment Mizuki walked over and suggested cheerfully, "Let me finish it Sora." He turned, blinked down at her, and questioned, "Welcome home? Wasn''t I supposed to pick you up in another hour?" She nodded and grinned happily as she informed him, "My last class was cancelled today because my teacher had a family emergency!" He looked at her happy face and asked a little dryly, "Rejoicing in the misfortunes of others?" She gazed up at him a little guiltily as she explained, "I''m not happy because something bad happened to him, but I''m really happy to be off early while you''re still here." He bent and kissed her, before grinning as he agreed, "That part is good. Why didn''t you call me?" She protested immediately, "I did call, it went straight to voicemail." He pulled his phone out, examined it for a moment, and grimaced. "Oh. It lasts several days between charges, but apparently the extra day was too much for it." "What style is your charger?" she asked. "Can you use mine?" He shook his head. "No, that''s the only bad thing about this model. It''s got it''s own proprietary charging station." -- After she finished with the laundry, Mizuki told Sora that she wanted to get dressed up for their evening date, and claimed the bathroom. She might not always spend much effort on her appearance, but they would be celebrating their first month formally dating. Sora simply pulled on his clothes, and then left the bedroom to wait at the table until she was ready. When she finally stepped out, he stared at her without speaking for so long that she asked anxiously, "Do you not like it?" He drew a sharp breath and reached for her. Once he caught hold of her, he pulled her close and touched her face gently, before telling her somewhat breathlessly, "You look amazing Mizuki. No one could mistake you for a child tonight." She blushed and assured him quickly, "You look really good too Sora." She meant it. Even though he had taken a fraction of the time to prepare, he was dressed in a casual version of formal wear. He had on dark trousers and a buttoned shirt of some kind of material that shifted through various shades of blue as he moved. Sora reached out and picked something up off the table behind him, then slid a small corsage bracelet of tiny flowers in a woven band onto her wrist. "Wow Sora!" Mizuki exclaimed in surprise. "I thought this kind of thing was only for weddings and formal dances?" He shrugged and replied a little shyly, "I just thought you might like it." She kissed him and assured him, "I do." Their taxi notified them of its arrival and Sora scooped up a long dark overcoat, and then took Mizuki''s hand. She asked with a bit of embarrassment, "Would you mind also carrying my phone and wallet Sora? I don''t have any pockets, but I could carry a bag if you don''t want to." "I don''t mind," he assured her. She released his hand and dashed back to her room for them, and grabbed a soft dark sweater as well. She felt like she could barely contain her excitement as they stepped out the door. -- At the restaurant the waitress stared at them for a moment before exclaiming unprofessionally "Oh my god!" She looked them both over before snapping at Mizuki, "Don''t you dare tell anyone I''m working here!" Sora frowned at the girl while Mizuki gazed at her for a baffled moment, before finally recognizing her classmate Haibara beneath the makeup and trim uniform. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. She promptly assured her, "I won''t tell anyone, but why does it matter? It seems like a much classier job than mine?" Haibara objected defensively, "You don''t even have any reputation left to protect, I don''t want my friends to know I have to work!" Mizuki regarded her with incredulous amusement, while Sora asked, "Should we go somewhere else, or are you going to take us to our table?" The manager approached them and asked, "Is there a problem?" Haibara winced and opened her mouth to speak, but Mizuki interrupted, "No, we just know each other a little and stopped to talk for a minute. I''m sorry if it''s interfering in Haibara''s job." "Oh, you''re fine," the manager replied quickly. Haibara looked at Mizuki with surprise, and then guided them to their table. "Your server will be with you shortly," she informed them more politely. "Thanks, I guess," she added uncomfortably to Mizuki. After she walked away Sora asked curiously, "Why did you cover for her?" Mizuki looked at him and shrugged. "It didn''t cost me anything? And it''s not like I hate her, I barely know her." Sora was still grinning at her, and wasn''t paying attention, when their server arrived. He set down a basket of bread and started to pour the first glass of wine. Sora glanced over, startled, and objected abruptly, "No alcohol." The server stopped, looking flustered, and Mizuki suggested quickly, "You can drink a glass if you want to Sora? You''re not driving until much later." Sora looked at her dubiously. "But we can''t drink together?" Mizuki shrugged as she asked, "That''s fine isn''t it?" He hesitated, but then nodded to the server and agreed, "Just one glass then." Relieved, their server finished filling the glass, gave them their menus, and then turned to Mizuki. "Congratulations," he said shyly. "Should I bring you ice water, or would you prefer something else?" Mizuki asked hesitantly, "Do you have any sparkling juices?" The server listed the few they had available, and Mizuki chose one. Sora asked, "Can you just bring us the bottle of that?" The server nodded and whisked himself away far more gracefully than Haibara had moved. Sora grinned at Mizuki until she asked, "What?" "What do you think you were just congratulated on?" he asked with amusement. She shrugged and admitted, "I''m not sure. Did we tell them we''re celebrating our first month?" Sora chuckled, and then sipped the wine and closed his eyes for a moment. Mizuki laughed and he opened his eyes and looked at her. She grinned. "You look like that tastes really good," she told him cheerfully. His cheeks flushed a little, and he said uncomfortably, "If I didn''t like drinking, it wouldn''t be a problem." "Can I taste it?" she asked with amusement. "Mizuki," he said cautiously. She hopped out of her chair, walked over to him, and demanded, "Kiss me." "Oh," he replied with relief, and leaned over to kiss her. "It''s not awful," she commented when the kiss ended. He looked at her with amusement as she moved back to sit in her own chair, and added, "The beer I tasted was horribly bitter and sour or something." "Beer is kind of famous for being sour," he pointed out. "I don''t like coffee either," she added. "I like both alright, but I''m not addicted to either of them," he conceded after a moment. He took another sip of the wine and she sat quietly, watching his face as he savored it. After a moment she told him, "I''m really proud of you Sora." He looked back at her with confusion, and asked, "Why?" She explained with embarrassment, "I had no idea that you enjoyed alcohol so much, but you still decided to limit it all on your own." He looked at her, and then blushed before looking away, and she added a little anxiously, "I hope you don''t mind me telling you that?" "I don''t mind Mizuki," he assured her quickly as he glanced back at her. "It''s just a little embarrassing." She grinned at him. -- The food was good, when it arrived, but they both felt like the evening ended too soon. When they got back to her parents'' place, Sora asked belatedly, "Mizuki, should I have gotten you something besides flowers?" "Why?" Mizuki questioned. "I don''t know, I feel like usually a man would give a girl a bit of jewelry or something more permanent too? But I didn''t think of it that way until just now," he replied uncomfortably. She shook her head, and told him firmly, "We didn''t say anything about getting presents when we were planning it, and I think I''d have felt uncomfortable if you''d gotten something like that for me when I had nothing for you." "Okay," he agreed uncertainly. Mizuki grinned up at him as she assured him, "I mean it." Sora could only smile and bend down to kiss her before going inside. -- While he was changing his clothes for the ride home Sora asked suddenly, "Do you mind if I just leave some of my clothes here Mizuki? Instead of carrying them all back and forth every week?" She replied immediately, "Of course not?" He hung his coat in her closet instead of folding it back up, and left a small pile of clothes to be washed the next time she was doing her own. Then he picked her up and kissed her intently for a few more minutes. They both sighed when he finally released her, and then he left. 28: Tricks When Sora returned a week later, he took Mizuki out to eat again before she worked her Friday night shift. The staff gave them several flyers for local haunted houses and parties that were scheduled nearby. Saturday seemed to have been taken over by Halloween celebrations, and they discussed the possibilities laughingly. -- They were woken early on Saturday morning, when Mizuki''s oldest sister, Akane, arrived with both children and her husband in tow. Mizuki seemed unsurprised by the thumps and sounds of greetings, so at first Sora assumed that the visitors were expected. Akane stopped and stared at Sora in shock when they ran into each other in the hall outside the bathroom. Sora greeted her hesitantly, "Hi? You''re Mizuki''s other sister right?" From the main room a man''s voice exclaimed cheerfully, "Mizuki my love, how have I lived without seeing you for two whole months?" Akane turned and Sora stared over her shoulder as Mizuki grinned and hugged her brother-in-law enthusiastically. "I''ve missed you too darling," she agreed theatrically. Her eldest nephew, one of the children who''d attended the wedding, ran into the kitchen to collect hugs from his grandparents. Minori and Junshiro greeted him enthusiastically. Mizuki turned, saw Akane and Sora watching from the hall, and suggested, "Sora, you probably better let Aka-nee-chan into the bathroom?" Sora moved to one side and Akane yelled back as she dashed forward, "You''re going to answer my questions in a minute Mizuki!" The door shut with a familiar thump that finalized the exclamation. Sora walked into the main room, and Kyohei looked him over, before saying, "Hi, you''re Mizuki''s date from the wedding, but I don''t think we were formally introduced?" Sora shook his head, and Mizuki told Kyohei seriously, "This is Konami Sora. We weren''t officially dating then, but we are now!" Then she told Sora, "This is my brother-in-law?, Takagi Kyohei." Kyohei grinned and told Sora, "I met Mizuki about eight years ago, and I''ve been part of her family for almost four years. I don''t know whether to warn you to watch out, or threaten that I won''t let you marry her easily?" Sora couldn''t help smiling at that, but wasn''t sure how to reply. Akane came out of the bathroom and complained, "My husband''s keeping her as a backup bride. Just marry her!" Mizuki rolled her eyes, but Kyohei grinned and snatched her up in another backward hug, while telling his wife teasingly, "But then who will I threaten to marry when you divorce me if I let Mizuki get married?" Mizuki laughed as she scolded Kyohei, "Kyo-nii-chan, enough! I am going to marry him though." Minori gasped and objected, "You''re too young to get married Mizuki!" Sora looked at Mizuki with surprise, while she blushed, and told her mother, "I mean I will eventually, not now." Kyohei kissed her cheek affectionately and agreed, "Okay, if you insist." He looked at Sora''s face and commented lightly, "I guess I don''t need to warn you?" Kyohei released Mizuki, and Sora reached out and tucked her into his own embrace before pointing out, "The baby is headed for the cat food again." Kyohei turned and snatched up his youngest son before his wife could complain, while Mizuki looked at her sister and asked, "Why are you all here so early anyway?"A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Akane glanced away from her youngest child, who was now held safely within his father''s arms, and replied more cheerfully, "Okaasan said you work all evening, so I thought if we came early you could still go out with us for a little bit of trick-or-treating before you went to work. Why is your," she looked at Sora and identified him dubiously, "boyfriend," Mizuki nodded and Akane continued the question, "here this early? And isn''t he a little old for you?" "Sora is not too old for me," Mizuki objected immediately. "How old are you Konami-san?" Akane asked sharply. "Twenty-seven," Sora replied uncomfortably. "He''s older than I am!" Akane objected immediately. Kyohei stared at Sora as he asked incredulously, "You''re only a year younger than I am?" Junshiro said with amusement, "At least she waited over seven years before collecting another guy almost a decade older than she is." Sora looked down at Mizuki and she blushed and protested, "I didn''t collect Kyo-nii-chan! We''re friends." Junshiro told Sora dryly, "I almost had a heart attack when I realized my ten year old was trying to coax a twenty year old man into meeting her at the New Year''s festival." Kyohei blushed as he pointed out, "But I refused." Mizuki looked at him with disgust, and informed Sora, "He wouldn''t even agree to meet Aka-nee-chan until she turned 18, even though they''re perfect for each other and practically fell in love at first sight." Sora looked at Kyohei and said, "Somehow I can totally understand that. Well done." Kyohei laughed and replied, "I hope you really love her, otherwise I have no idea how you''re going to survive her." Sora hugged Mizuki closer and said calmly, "I really love her." He looked down at Mizuki and warned her with a grin, "I have a lot of questions for you later though." Mizuki looked up at him and asked hopefully, "Can we get a hotel room tonight?" Sora blinked down at her in surprise, hesitated, and she explained quickly, "Usually they sleep out here on futons and the kids sleep in the bedroom with me." "Okay," he agreed, "I''ll find one while you''re at work." Akane looked at her parents incredulously, and her mother shrugged helplessly, while her father grinned at her. Junshiro scooped up his oldest grandchild and asked, "What are you dressing up as?" -- Half an hour later, when they were all sitting around the table for breakfast, the baby crawled over to Sora. He pulled himself up to stand beside Sora''s shoulder and stared at him curiously. Sora held very still and said nervously, "Mizuki?" Mizuki looked over, laughed, and assured him teasingly, "He''s not going to bite you Sora." She added after a moment, "Probably. If he does you can scold him. He just thinks you''re interesting." "Okay?" Sora agreed doubtfully. Mizuki grinned at him, and pointed out, "When we do get married someday, you''ll be his uncle. You don''t have to be afraid of him Sora." Sora blanched and stared back at her. After a moment he said uncomfortably, "I guess it''s obvious that you''re already an aunt, but it feels really weird to think that these kids call you oba-chan." Kyohei chuckled and told his eldest, "You should call Sora-san oji-san okay?" Shusuke agreed without resistance, and Sora stared at Kyohei for a moment. Kyohei grinned at him smugly. -- An hour and a half before she had to go to work, they took the children down to the market plaza, to play trick-or-treat with the merchants. Mizuki gasped in surprise when Sora displayed his teeth. He was wearing his long overcoat again, and revealed the vampire fangs he''d brought to her. "That''s not fair," she complained while laughing. "I have to wear my work clothes." He grinned toothily at her. "I only brought them because I thought you might choose some Halloween activity for our date." Mizuki complained, "Since they came early, and we were already planning to spend tomorrow morning with them, I don''t think we''re going to get to go on a date this weekend." Sora cuddled her against him as he assured her, "It''s fine Mizuki." He teased other small children in costumes, that they passed between the shops, by smiling at them once in a while. Kyohei said jealously, "I wish I''d thought of that. I decided a costume was more than I wanted to pack so I just brought this T-shirt." Sora grinned at him. "I''m sure we could find a plastic set around here somewhere." Mizuki looked at the T-shirt her brother-in-law was wearing, and asked doubtfully, "A vampiric leprechaun?" Akane rolled her eyes and said, "I told him leprechauns weren''t Halloween monsters." Kyohei and Sora protested together, "There''s a whole series of old American horror movies!" 29: Telling While Mizuki was at work, Sora got them a room at the place where they''d stayed after the wedding. Mizuki showed up with a bag full of candy that she''d purchased from the end-of-holiday sale on her break. Sora looked at the candy dubiously for a moment, there were several kinds, but he wasn''t fond of any of them. He observed her happy expression as she laid them out one by one, then grinned and fed her a piece before he kissed her. When Mizuki discovered that he had even packed her some clean clothes, she exclaimed, "Wow Sora, you''re awesome!" He couldn''t help laughing as he asked, "Why are you so amazed?" She shrugged. "I don''t know? Because somehow I wasn''t expecting you to pack for me?" They took a shower together, as usual at the end of one of her shifts, but it felt more luxurious than at home. When Sora pinned her against the shower wall, Mizuki told him breathlessly, "When we live together, we really need a place with the kind of shower that we can do this in." Sora agreed immediately, "Gods yes." A while later he admitted with some embarrassment, "The place I have now has a shower we could probably do this in, but it''s basically a closet." A while later Mizuki asked curiously, "Why are you living in a place small enough that you''d call it a closet?" "Because I want to be able to replace my savings, as well as my vehicles," he replied uncomfortably. She looked at him for a moment, while he avoided her eyes, and then asked, "Why do you find that embarrassing Sora?" He shrugged, but then met her curious gaze and admitted, "Because it''s not the kind of place you''d usually invite a girl to?" "You''d better not be inviting girls to it," she warned him. He blinked at her in surprise. "I don''t care where you''re living as long as it''s reasonably clean and safe Sora." "It''s both, and I''m never going to cheat on you Mizuki," he assured her. She grinned at him and he returned her smile for a moment, but then suddenly sobered and asked, "Why do you tease your sister with exaggerated love plays with her husband?" She chuckled. "But you can tell that we''re joking already can''t you?" Sora shrugged. "I''m pretty sure that you''re joking but it''s not entirely comfortable to watch, and I think it hurts your sister?" "We''re not doing it just to be mean to Aka-nee-chan," Mizuki told him reassuringly. "Someday she''s going to realize what Kyo-nii-chan is doing." "Aside from flirting with you?" he asked a bit dryly. "Yeah! See, when they started dating she told him that it sounded fake when he''d tell her she was beautiful, so he never ever exaggerates when he tells her how much he loves her, or compliments her," she explained cheerfully. "She''s the only one he always tells the exact truth to, not that he ever lies, apart from the ridiculous bedtime stories he tells his children. We''re just showing her the difference between that and the flowery things, and exaggerations like, ''I''ll tell you a million times''."The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Sora looked at her doubtfully. "Okay." Mizuki asked more hesitantly, "Does it really bother you?" He shrugged, but replied after a moment, "I don''t know. You never act that way with me so it mostly looks like you''re just playing." She considered it before asking, "Would you like it if I acted more affectionate?" He reached out, pulled her into his lap, and cupped her cheek, before assuring her seriously, "You''re plenty affectionate with me Mizuki. I adore you." He kissed her. After a few minutes of kissing she stopped and told him seriously, "Sora, if you decide later that it really bothers you, I''ll tell Kyo-nii-chan? that we have to stop teasing Aka-nee-chan." "Is it okay if I just remind your sister that you''re just teasing her?" Sora questioned. "Of course!" Mizuki replied promptly. "It''s not a secret!" she insisted laughingly. He asked a few other things, but not about how she''d told her family she would marry him, as she''d kind of expected. It was getting late by the time she told him about how she''d met Kyohei. "When I met him he was crying on a bench in the park I went to play at. He and Aka-nee-chan both tend to cry easily." Mizuki grinned at Sora as she told him, "I offered him half of my jelly sandwich, but it was a little squished by then and he just stared at me." "I asked him why he was crying in the park and he explained that he''d just been fired from his first job. When I demanded to know why that was worth crying over he told me I was too young to understand. I told him he''d better not be one of those idiots like in daytime dramas, who commit suicide because they think they can''t tell their family that some idiot fired them." She paused, then added, "I hate those shows." "Anyway, that made him laugh and he swore that he wasn''t anything like that silly. We talked for quite awhile before I went home, and I figured I''d never see him again. But when we went on a class fieldtrip he was working at his new job at that place," she said with amusement. "Destiny?" he asked dryly. Mizuki laughed as she exclaimed, "You should have seen the look of shock on his face when I ran up to him and greeted him by name! His coworkers teased him about his ''girlfriend'' showing up to his workplace, but he was cool and didn''t pretend he didn''t know me." "I feel a little sorry for him," Sora commented. Mizuki glared at Sora for a moment before laughing again and admitting, "I guess it was kind of hard on him. When Aka-nee-chan''s boyfriend broke up with her she kept crying, and it reminded me of him, so I went back a couple weeks later to ask Kyo-nii-chan if he''d consider dating." She grimaced. "He asked me not to come to his work anymore, I had to agree to get his phone number, and then he got all worried about even talking to me on the phone. He wouldn''t agree to meet Aka-nee-chan, even though he''s only a couple years older than she is, until she''d turned 18! So we pretty much only exchanged holiday greetings for a couple of years." "How, um, terrible that must have been for you?" Sora asked facetiously. Mizuki frowned at him and protested, "But when they did finally meet each other, all they did was stand around and blush, because they both liked each other right away! He wasted two whole years! And then Aka-nee-chan insisted that they date for two more years before she finally agreed to marry him." Sora laughed and then asked her dryly, "Why do I feel like a big part of what they had in common was struggling beneath your manipulative claws?" She frowned at him but then sighed. "Because you pay attention? I tried lots of times to get them to meet before her birthday," she admitted. Sora laughed again, and kissed her before he reached out and pulled her under the covers. 30: Preparing to Meet That night Sora asked Mizuki, "Would you mind meeting my grandmother when she gets back from Norway?" "I''d love to meet her!" Mizuki replied promptly, before asking, "Norway?" He grinned as he explained, "She said she''s doing some kind of grandmother exchange. It sounds like some kind of student exchange, except it''s old women who collect typical books and toys from their country, and then go stay with families with young children. They leave them with stories, books, and toys from another country when they go home again." "I''ve never heard of anything like that, but it sounds kind of cool," she commented after a moment. "I''d never heard of such a thing either, but my grandmother can be a little wild. This is actually one of her more tame adventures?" Sora replied with amusement. "She always sounds interesting whenever you''ve mentioned her." A little hesitantly, Mizuki brought up the question she''d avoided before, "My parents told me that you told them your parents died in a boating accident?" He kissed her gently before replying, "Yes, I wasn''t trying to hide it or anything, it was a long time ago now and I don''t think about it much." He looked at her anxious expression and asked, "What''s wrong Mizuki?" "I''m curious but I don''t want to make you talk about it if you don''t want to," she explained hesitantly. He cuddled her for a moment, and then assured her, "You can ask me anything Mizuki, I''ll just tell you if it''s something I don''t want to talk about." "Okay," she agreed without asking, ''What happened?'' He answered the unspoken question, "I stayed with Takumi during that school break. My father owned a yacht, which I didn''t find strange because Takumi''s parents were just as well off, and so were a lot of the parents of kids at our school. Now I realize that''s because it was a private school, but back then it was just my school. Apparently a big storm came up and something went wrong. I was told that the ship smashed up against rocks in an area where it''s GPS claimed it wasn''t." Mizuki couldn''t prevent the little gasp she gave, but Sora shrugged and continued calmly, "I can only assume that it happened because my father believed the GPS, but at the time all that information meant nothing to me. I was only eleven and, well, I think I must have been kind of a spoiled brat. I didn''t care why, and didn''t deal with it well." Mizuki interrupted, "Nobody deals well with their parents suddenly dying Sora, even people in their forties and older. My mother was a mess for like a year after my grandfather died a few years ago." "I suppose not," he agreed. Mizuki hugged him tightly, and after a moment he continued with a little more emotion, "I think I was kind of still in shock at the funeral. A lot of adults came, friends and associates, some said they were relatives. I didn''t know more than a few of them." "Takumi stuck with me through the whole thing. His parents have always been crazy busy and missed the first part, but they both managed to take the time to show up later?. My relatives that I''d never met¡­" Sora paused. "Apparently some of them were my half siblings, but that''s the only time I''ve ever met them," he explained hesitantly. Mizuki sat upright and exclaimed a little angrily, "How awful of them Sora!" He blinked at her, and then actually smiled, "It''s okay Mizuki, I didn''t know who they were back then so it didn''t hurt me, don''t worry." She could only stare at him, unable to imagine siblings who had never bothered to meet him until their father died. He reached out and ruffled her hair as he told her, "Anyway, those people were arguing over who would have to take care of me, when Takumi got angry and told them that if they didn''t want me, he''d keep me!" Mizuki nodded as though agreeing with the friend she''d yet to meet, and Sora told her a little triumphantly, "His father had arrived by then, and when they told Takumi not to be ridiculous, he stepped forward and told them very quietly and calmly, ''My son is not being ridiculous, you''re being ridiculous. Sora-kun was left in our care, and until you provide legal documentation proving your guardianship, we''re keeping him.'' He was so cool. Takumi was so cool. I just cried."The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "Wow, I''m glad they claimed you!" Mizuki exclaimed approvingly. "Did you stay with them long?" "It wasn''t long, although it felt like it was. About a month later my grandmother showed up to take me," Sora explained. Mizuki studied his face for a moment and asked, "Were you relieved?" He shrugged. "My grandmother is really pretty cool, although it took me a few years to realize that. She''d been traveling somewhere, and hadn''t been able to return home until a couple weeks after her daughter''s funeral, but I just blamed her for not being there. Takumi threw a fit when he found out that she planned to take me away. But weirdly, she actually spent time and listened to both Takumi and I, even when I shouted that I didn''t like her." "You get along well with her now?" she asked when he paused. "Yeah, now I''m glad that she didn''t take me seriously when I told her I didn''t want anything to do with her. Back then she''d been fighting with my mother for a few years, and while I had met her before, I really barely knew her," he explained. "But afterward she talked with Takumi''s parents, and they helped her find a nearby apartment so that I could stay in the same school. She stayed there with me until I finished high school, and I think it might be the longest she''s ever lived in one place, from her stories." He admitted a little sheepishly, "I already told her I would introduce you, so I hope that you''ll like each other." "She sounds amazing Sora, I think I''ll really like being able to meet her," Mizuki assured him. -- In the morning they showered together again, before leaving to meet Mizuki''s family for breakfast. Mizuki couldn''t help looking back a little regretfully, even though she liked the fact that Sora could spend every weekend with her at home. Sora reluctantly headed to his own home after dropping her off at work, and spent the evening doing mundane things like laundry, and preparing for his own work week. -- The next weekend Mizuki took Sora to the place she''d wanted to take him two weeks before. He looked around the paintball arena a little doubtfully and asked, "Seriously Mizuki?" "You don''t think it''ll be fun?" Mizuki asked a little unhappily. He bent and kissed her before assuring her, "I''m willing to find out, if this is what you want to do." They spent the next couple of hours chasing each other back and forth through an obstacle course in mock ninja outfits, armed with paintball crossbows and paint bombs. Afterward Sora grinned at her and agreed, "This was also fun. You''re totally covered in paint." Mizuki complained, "Only because you''re tall enough to see over half the obstacles. And you''re fairly well covered too Sora." He grinned and admitted, "I already knew you''re flexible and in good shape, but you''re also surprisingly agile. You made it over several barriers I would have sworn you couldn''t." The colour wouldn''t wash off completely after a single shower. Mizuki had a few purple spots that wouldn''t wash off even after a fairly warm and sweaty work shift. -- Sora arranged a visit to an art gallery for their Sunday morning date. After wandering the displays for a bit he asked a little anxiously, "Do you like this sort of thing? Your expression is a little strange." Mizuki looked up at him and grinned. "I''d never have guessed you''d take me to this kind of thing. I don''t know if I like it yet. This is the first one I''ve been to, unless you count Aka-nee-chan''s school displays." "Akane-san is an artist?" Sora asked with surprise. Mizuki shrugged and replied, "She''s a housewife. But she might''ve been able to become an artist if she''d had more confidence. I think she''s a lot happier being a mother." -- On Monday, to Mizuki''s shock, Haibara sent her a message on her school tablet. The classmate who was secretly waitressing asked, ''Are you OK? Did someone hit you? Don''t talk to me, just message back.'' ''I''m fine, it''s paint. Thanks though.'' Mizuki replied promptly. Even though the message should have highlighted her social isolation within her school, she couldn''t help feeling unaccountably cheered. -- The next couple of weekends passed affectionately, but uneventfully. Mizuki and Sora both finally began to take their time together for granted, without treasuring it any less somehow. The fact that they were together every weekend became what was normal, rather than a special event. A month after Halloween, Sora''s grandmother finally returned from overseas, and visited him. "What a dreadfully tiny apartment Sora," Haruko complained. Sora promptly offered to put her up in a hotel for the night. "I know you''ll prefer having your own room," he added teasingly. "I think so," she agreed. "This is even smaller than the place you had while you were in college." "I was sharing that with Takumi," he pointed out. -- Sora warned Mizuki the night before, "I won''t be able to pick you up from school and I''ll be bringing my grandmother with me." Mizuki nervously informed her parents, and then cleaned her room, the main room, and even the kitchen that night. 31: A Pair of Children Mizuki had just climbed the first stairs when Sora''s bike pulled up to the curb outside her home the next afternoon, and she stopped to watch them both dismount with surprise. Although she''d nervously rehearsed her first greeting to Sora''s grandmother, it fled from her mind at the sight of the tall sprightly old woman, in comfortably-worn-in purple motorcycle gear. Sora''s grandmother had dismounted from her position behind her grandson''s taller form with practiced ease, and stretched as she stepped away. Sora settled the bike into its usual configuration and locked it. Mizuki blurted, "You have your own gear?" Haruko turned and cheerfully assured the young girl on the steps, "Of course!" She continued in a familiar fashion, "I pulled it out of storage as soon as he told me about his new bike, although I left my own bike in storage until I find a new apartment." Sora walked over and pulled Mizuki into his arms for a kiss instead of making a formal introduction. "Hi," he greeted her a little breathlessly when he let her go. "Sora!" Mizuki replied affectionately, before glancing nervously back at his grandmother, who now looked very startled. She couldn''t help pushing herself back and climbing back up one step so that she was standing an arms length from him. Sora gazed at her with a slightly startled expression, and then turned when his grandmother asked a bit sharply, "Last year of highschool?" Mizuki couldn''t help feeling nervous as she asked Sora a little plaintively, "Didn''t you warn her how much younger than you I am?" Her voice dropped to a whisper as she asked even more urgently, "Should I address her as grandma?" "I did warn her," Sora objected immediately, but he didn''t answer her whispered question, instead he asked his grandmother with embarrassment, "Is your family name still Shibata?" Haruko collected herself, straightening up and relaxing her furrowed brows. "Yes Sora, I won''t get married again without telling you," she replied with real amusement. To Mizuki she admitted, "He told me how old you are, but I didn''t expect you to be so small, and you looked even younger at first glance. My name is Shibata Haruko, and I take it that you are Mitsukuni Mizuki, I''ve been looking forward to meeting you." Mizuki nodded, then belatedly offered her own rehearsed greeting more formally, before inviting Haruko inside. Haruko raised an eyebrow at her grandson when Mizuki handed her things to him and hurried up the stairs to open the door. Sora just smiled and gestured for his grandmother to go ahead before following her up. Mizuki kicked off her shoes at the entrance, and hurriedly introduced her father next. Sora put everything away, as though accustomed to it, while Junshiro greeted Haruko and assured her that Mizuki''s mother would be home soon. Mizuki was relieved to see that her father had already prepared a pot of tea and extra cups. Sora looked at how nervous Mizuki was and suggested, "Why don''t you go change your clothes now? Then we can chat more casually until it''s time for me to take you to work." "Is that okay?" Mizuki asked uncertainly. "Yes," Haruko assured her promptly, before Sora could. Mizuki smiled nervously as Sora reached out and squeezed her hands briefly. He nodded reassuringly, and she gave a relieved sigh before trotting over to her room. As soon as the door closed behind Mizuki, Haruko turned to the girl''s father and asked directly, "And what do you think of all this?" Junshiro didn''t ask what ''all of this'' included, but he grinned as he responded with, "I''m just glad that only one of my daughters came home pregnant this summer." Sora blinked, but found that he couldn''t protest when Junshiro met his eyes before giving a too-casual shrug. He blushed and avoided his grandmother''s gaze. After a moment Haruko informed her grandson a little dryly, "If you knock that girl up before she''s done with school we''re going to have harsh words." "I''m being very careful with her," he protested. Junshiro rolled his eyes, and Haruko asked him sharply, "You don''t believe my grandson?" Mizuki''s father grinned again and replied, "I do, or I''d be complaining and interfering. They are just¡­ very active."This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Haruko raised a hand to cover her face in the same way that Sora often did, Junshiro noted with interest. Sora couldn''t help bracing himself, even before she dropped her hand to look at him. She asked a little dryly, "After all that time chasing older women when you were younger, why do you look like a pedophile now?" "I can''t help how it looks, I can''t do anything about Mizuki''s age or size," Sora protested. His grandmother replied sharply, "You could have waited? Just left her alone for a couple of years." Sora looked at her in surprise but replied simply, "It''s Mizuki. I can''t leave her alone, or live without her anymore." Haruko drew in a sharp breath but Sora added firmly, "And it''s fine for you to say this kind of stuff to me, but don''t hurt Mizuki with comments like that. She hates being mistaken for a child." Haruko raised an eyebrow and informed him, "If she can''t deal with little things like that, then she is still a child." "Little things like what?" Mizuki asked as she returned to the main room. She blushed when everyone turned to look at her. Her work clothes were very plain and a little worn. Haruko replied after a moment, "Little things like being called a child." "You can call me a child, I don''t mind," Mizuki replied calmly. Sora stared at her, utterly surprised, and she looked at his expression and grinned. She walked over and settled against his side before telling him, "My grandparents still refer to my parents as children, or kids, or even brats sometimes. It''s not the same Sora." He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close before complaining, "How unfair. If you''re fine with that why did you hate it so much when I called you a child?" Mizuki objected quickly, "Because you''re not my parent''s age! I''m not really a child anymore, and I don''t want you to think of me as one Sora!" Haruko laughed and commented, "I see." Sora shrugged helplessly. Junshiro eyed his daughter, and said mildly, "You''re still my child." Mizuki couldn''t think of any way to argue that, but guiltily remembered some of her previous arguments. Her eyes traced the family pictures on the wall across from the table for a moment before she admitted, "I''m glad of that." Haruko eyed her grandson''s expression and then told Mizuki''s father, "He''s not a bad kid, even though he can be a bit stubborn." Junshiro smiled as he assured her, "I know." -- As soon as Mizuki''s mother returned, Junshiro brought out the dinner he''d prepared, so that they could all eat together before Mizuki''s shift. Mizuki apologized for being unable to call out for the day, but Haruko assured her, "I''m sure that we''ll have other opportunities." Minori had regarded Haruko with a surprised expression since first being introduced. Hesitantly she gathered her courage and asked, "Sora said you''ve been married eight times, um, did your marriages last very long before your divorces?" Haruko regarded Mizuki''s mother with surprise and replied, "I''ve only divorced once, and no, that marriage didn''t last very long, only a couple of years." Mizuki gasped and asked, "You''ve been killing them off?" She clapped her hand over her own mouth. Sora laughed, and agreed before she could apologize, "She has, but I think they all died happy, of exhaustion." Haruko frowned at her grandson and then admitted, "I''ve outlived them. Three heart attacks, one stroke, one in a plane crash, one of a snake bite of all things, when he went on a business trip to Australia and went hiking alone." She said a little angrily, "That one died of stupidity, I swear!" Sora smiled, but Mizuki thought that Haruko didn''t look like she considered it amusing. Minori simply looked aghast. After a moment Sora''s grandmother admitted sadly, "My fourth husband was already dying of cancer when I met him. I just liked him so much that I wanted to give him a reason to fight longer. We had three years. Two and a half more than he was expected to get." Mizuki spoke first and said, "I''m sorry, I don''t know what to say." "What can you say to that kind of thing?" Haruko asked without expecting any answer. "Don''t worry about it child, it was a long time ago." Sora said uncomfortably, "You never told me that. You just said one died of cancer." "It was before your time," Haruko told her grandson quietly and shrugged. Junshiro said gently, "I''m sure Sora was right in a way, and your husbands were happy to have been with you for any amount of time." Haruko looked at him with surprise, and tears sprang to the corners of her eyes. Minori quickly passed her a tissue. -- When it was time for her to go to work, Mizuki stood up reluctantly. Sora reacted quickly, and announced, "I''ll be back after I drop Mizuki off." "Do you plan to stay until tomorrow?" Mizuki asked Haruko. "No," she replied promptly. "I already have a ticket for the last train tonight and half a dozen people I promised to visit before I go apartment hunting." Sora asked dryly, "And if you visit Hara-san first you might not need to get your own apartment?" Haruko shrugged although her eyes lit up and amusement curled the corners of her mouth before she replied, "Maybe, if he still thinks he''s as passionately in love with me after this long. He''s the kind that is more out of sight, out of mind though." When Mizuki bid her farewell, Haruko warned her, "Don''t think you won''t see me again, if you plan to keep my grandson." Mizuki replied cheekily, "I''ll expect to see you again for years and years then." 32: Compliant "Hara-san?" Mizuki asked about the person that Sora had implied would be inviting Haruko to live together, as they were mounting Sora''s bike. "They''ve been dating on and off for like three years," Sora explained with amusement. "On and off?" Mizuki asked doubtfully. "He kept taking business trips without her so she kept going places without him in return. She would complain that he didn''t even miss her, but she still let him persuade her to resume dating each time, last I heard," Sora explained. -- When Sora picked Mizuki up after work, Haruko was already gone. Mizuki was exhausted. Sora carried her up the steps, and showered her gently, before curling up around her in the bed. She fell asleep almost instantly. The next morning, Mizuki woke up to Sora''s hands caressing her. "Good morning?" she asked with amusement. "It will be," Sora whispered into her ear, as he ran his hands down her. After a moment she asked, "Are you already wearing it?" "No, but I have one under the pillow," he replied. "Put it on," she commanded. He grinned against her hair and did her bidding. -- After they finished, Mizuki asked shyly, "Sora? Do you have Christmas off next month? I''m working the next day but I''d love it if you could come here?" Sora replied with a grin, "I was going to surprise you?" "Surprise me?" she questioned. "Do you want me to tell you now?" he asked in return. Mizuki frowned. "Sora, it''s not that I completely hate surprises or anything, but I prefer if they are little things?" "This surprise doesn''t cost anything?" Sora assured her questioningly. She still looked worried, so he added gently, "If you want to know now, just say so Mizuki. Whatever makes you happier is fine." She asked uncertainly, "Will telling me spoil your fun?" "No," he assured her wryly. "Watching you worry is spoiling my fun." "Sorry," she apologized quickly. He cuddled her closer and told her quietly, "I found out that there''s a mandatory, everyone takes it, week of vacation at Christmas at this job. They close the place down, although I''m not sure if it''s because the owner is Christian or because they decided that programmers tend towards being workaholics?" She smiled at him and he continued, "It doesn''t count against the three weeks off in our contracts, and I''ve heard there''s another week like it during the summer, although not always at the same time every year. Anyway, I was hoping to spend the whole week here?"This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Mizuki''s smile expanded and she said happily, "I''m so glad! A whole week together!" Then her smile dimmed a little and she added, "But I''m working eight hour shifts almost every day during the vacation." "I know, it''s okay," he assured her. "And it lines up with the weekend this year, so it''s actually ten days." He kissed her warmly and she kissed him back enthusiastically. After a while Sora asked, "Will you let me add you to my account at Christmas?" Mizuki shifted uncomfortably but didn''t answer right away. Sora bit her gently before informing her, "It''s annoying when you don''t want to tell me what''s wrong." "Are you sure it''s a good idea? Maybe I should just look for a job that''s on school days, then it wouldn''t take up our weekends together," she asked as she disentangled herself and crawled out of bed. Sora watched her for a moment, before complaining, "It sounds like you want to change your mind? Wouldn''t that make school more difficult?" He got up as well and began to collect his own clothes before asking unhappily, "Why don''t you want to let me support you Mizuki?" She shrugged, but then asked suddenly, "What if I ask you to buy me a car someday Sora?" He grinned at her suddenly and asked, "Can''t I just lend you mine at that point? I think I''ll have one by the time you can get your license." Mizuki laughed and shrugged again, without saying anything else before she reached for the door. They headed for the bathroom. It wasn''t until they were done getting cleaned up and dressed for the day that she asked a little plaintively, "What if it''s not a car, but something that expensive?" He kissed her before answering, and they walked back to the table before he finally replied calmly, "If it''s that expensive, I''ll want us to talk about it. Actually, I''d like us to talk about any large purchase either of us decides to make. But if it''s something you really want, I''ll do my best to get it for you Mizuki." She stared at him slack jawed for a moment, before swallowing and asking, "Why am I different?" He ran his hands down her back, touched her face, and replied seriously, "Because I care more about you?." His reply made her even more doubtful. "You didn''t care about the girlfriend you lived with for more than three years?" Sora shrugged and replied a little uncomfortably, "Not in the same way, but I was content, mostly. And if the car had been something she really wanted, for a purpose, I might have gone ahead and tried to buy her one. But it was just a challenge. She just wanted me to prove I would," he replied unhappily. After a moment Mizuki asked hesitantly, "What if you don''t think it''s for a good reason?" He looked at her incredulously and then replied with amusement, "Mizuki, you''re my weakness." She gazed up at him questioningly. "Do you really think there''s anything you''ll ever really want that you won''t be able to persuade me to do after a while, if we talk about it? It didn''t even take you twenty-four hours to get me into bed, and I thought that was a horrible idea!" She blushed, and he kissed her and added, "And it''s not like I''m telling you never to work. But I''d rather you be done with school and work mostly while I''m at work anyway?" "Oh," she replied. He looked at her startled expression, lifted her up, and blew a raspberry on her belly. She giggled and gasped with surprise, and then wriggled in his arms as though trying to escape. He let her down just enough to reach her chest, and she complained, "Take me back to bed Sora, don''t do that kind of thing out here. My parents could come out at any second." "Okay," he agreed obediently, as he carried her off to her bedroom. -- When they finished he asked again, "So, can I add you at Christmas?" It took her a moment to reorient herself. "We''d better do it after, the banks will be closed, I think." She paused for a moment, before adding, "And we should just combine our accounts shouldn''t we?" Sora shrugged and assured her, "As long as you''re on mine, it''s enough. Having just ours instead is also fine." His hands were moving distractingly and she gasped and complained, "You''re cheating Sora." "I''ll never cheat on you," he replied cheekily. "You know what I mean," she groaned. He pulled out another condom and replied, "I don''t have any idea. I''m just rewarding you for being compliant." "Oh," she gasped. They didn''t go out that morning, or eat until lunchtime. -- In revenge, she waited until the Christmas break to tell him what shift? she''d be working. 33: Coaxing Shizune had called home every Monday night, since she''d left. Mizuki had only missed the one call that had occurred the night that she and Sora had gone out for their first formal dressed-up date, but she wasn''t always the first person who answered, since their father always took that night off and closed the bar completely. This time their parents were late getting back with the take-out they''d decided to have for dinner, so Mizuki took the video call, and after exchanging the first greeting she asked teasingly, "How''s life in Paradise?" The door behind Mizuki opened, and their parents'' quick apologies overlapped with Shizune''s unhappy reply, "Shinichi has barely spoken to me all week." Minori dashed forward, with a bag held awkwardly in each hand, and asked worriedly, "Are the two of you fighting?" "No, he''s working constantly!" Shizune complained immediately. There was a thunk on her end that almost blended in with the noise their father was making as he set things down on the table, and then Shinichi moved into view behind her. "You''re working?" Mizuki asked him with surprise. He looked at the display containing his in-laws with equal surprise and asked, "You don''t think I just live off my parents do you?" Mizuki just shrugged, while Shizune complained, "You never told me that you were working until after we got married either." Junshiro pointed out with amusement, "Usually having your husband be gainfully employed is a good thing, especially when you''re expecting a baby?" "What do you do?" Mizuki asked curiously. Shinichi replied with a bit of embarrassment, "Nothing amazing, I just design net sites and pages. I don''t always have jobs either, but this is a big one, and Shizune is feeling neglected. I asked if she wanted to go home to visit while I can''t give her any attention and she refused." Minori pushed Mizuki aside and asked, "Why?" "I want us both to come visit at Christmas instead!" Shizune protested. Shinichi directed his reply to his wife, even though he glanced at the screen where their camera watched and explained, "I said we could do both." "It''s too expensive," Shizune complained. Shinichi must have argued that before, because he tossed up his hands and gave an expressive shrug instead of replying. Mizuki rolled her eyes, and told her sister, "Then just call more often while you''re bored, or find a new hobby or something?" She added happily, "Sora will be here for a whole week at Christmas too!" Shinichi and Shizune both brightened up a bit at that, and the discussion turned to things that they were all looking forward to eating or buying during the commercial holiday. It wasn''t too long before Shinichi said apologetically, "I need to get back to work." Mizuki took the opportunity to ask, "Do you mind if we start dishing up here, before everything gets too cold?" Junshiro scolded mildly, "Let her finish the call, we can warm things up again when she''s done."Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Minori quickly assured Shizune, "Don''t feel hurried! We can talk for as long as you want tonight!" Shizune laughed and told her youngest sister, "Go on, dish up your food, mine was better." She stuck her tongue out, and assured her parents, "We can keep talking while you all eat! It''s not like I have never seen you eating before. Even Shinichi wouldn''t take offense, I promise." Mizuki grinned as she replied, "If he were offended by seeing me eat, you know I''d find something to eat during the call every week." Shizune rolled her eyes and grumbled, "Grow up already." Minori gave Mizuki a look, and scolded, "Stop fighting long distance." "We''re not fighting!" both sisters chorused in sync, despite the hundreds of miles that currently separated them. They took turns talking with Shizune as they ate, and they didn''t say goodnight until after the dishes were done. -- When Sora arrived to pick Mizuki up from school on Friday, she asked coaxingly, "Can we go on at least one more dressy date over Christmas break?" "Of course?" he agreed questioningly. Before she could explain, one of the students from her class stopped beside them and commented, "You''ve been seeing this guy for awhile." Mizuki nodded warily, but wished she hadn''t when the girl added, "The sex must be good?" Sora gave her classmate a long look, and then gave the girl a mocking smile before asking, "Jealous?" The girl blushed and denied it hotly, "No way!" Sora glanced down at Mizuki''s face and assured her abruptly, "I''m already taken anyway." "By a girl who''s famous for dating for sex," Mizuki''s classmate snapped as Mizuki reached over and laid her hand on Sora''s arm. "You''re all completely wrong about her, you don''t know anything," Sora replied a little angrily, even as he slipped his own warm fingers over her colder ones. "You''re the one who doesn''t know anything, you''ll regret it later," the girl warned him, and spun away without waiting for another response. Sora asked Mizuki angrily, "Do you deal with this crap all the time?" She looked up at him and shrugged, before assuring him, "Not all the time." The subject no longer came up on a daily basis after all. He took a deep breath and questioned plaintively, "Why don''t you change schools?" Mizuki grinned up at him suddenly and asked, "Can I come live with you when this year is over?" He caressed her face and replied without hesitation, "Sure, although we''ll need a bigger apartment." She pulled him down for a quick kiss, before assuring him quickly, "I can look for a job there right away if it''s too much." He rolled his eyes at her and complained, "It''s like you think I''m the kind of guy who needs his girlfriend to take care of him." "I don''t think you need me to, but I love you so much that I won''t mind if you ever do need me to Sora," she assured him sincerely. He picked her up and kissed her in a way that made her giggle and complain, "People who see you kissing me like this are going to think we really do only have sex." "Let''s go home and have sex," he suggested. She kissed him before agreeing, "Yes please." -- Saturday they went out before Mizuki''s shift. Sunday they spent half the morning in bed after cooking breakfast. After they showered and dressed, Mizuki leaned against Sora and sighed. "What''s wrong?" Sora enquired. "I just wish I didn''t have to go work and could stay with you longer," she replied. He ran his hand down her back and asked wryly, "Is that all?" She looked up at him and asked, "Why?" "I''m more greedy than that, I wish you were already living with me and I could sleep with you every night," Sora told her before pulling her up into his arms for a long kiss. "Yes," she agreed. He squeezed her tightly but she didn''t complain and merely flattened herself against him more thoroughly. "I love you Sora," she said quietly. He kissed her again and agreed, "Me too, I adore you." When he finally released her, he reluctantly took her to work. Despite her reluctance, there was a spring in her step as she headed in, which cheered him a little. He returned to pack up, and then went home. 34: Storm December began quietly. The first weekend passed sweetly, although its Sunday was another day of clinging to each other, and sighing about their imminent parting. The second weekend Sora was late. He had messaged that the weather was too uncertain to bring his bike and that he''d decided to take the train, and that was the last Mizuki had heard from him. Mizuki glared at her phone, but Sora didn''t reply to her messages and her calls went straight to voicemail. She bounced around the main room and the kitchen anxiously until her father snapped, "For the gods'' sake Mizuki, either find something to do or sit!" She responded by moving to sit at the table, where she picked up her school tablet, and stared at it blankly. The following week would be the last week in this semester and she ought to be studying for the tests, but she couldn''t concentrate. "I wish that he had told me which train he was taking," Mizuki complained. Junshiro reached over to pat her shoulder, but didn''t reply. He sympathized with her anxiety, but didn''t share it. Mizuki couldn''t stand to eat much of her supper, and decided that if Sora didn''t show up before she had to leave to take the bus, she''d call in sick. With only about a quarter of an hour left, the door finally opened. Sora was soaking wet, and Mizuki gasped and exclaimed, "Sora!" She flung herself toward him but stopped before she ran into him. He looked exhausted. He dropped his bag next to the door and reached for her. Mizuki hugged him, and then pulled him down the hall, to the bathroom. "Strip Sora," she commanded. He gave her an amused grin and began taking off his damp clothes. She started the water warming even as she asked worriedly, "What happened? Why are you soaking? What''s wrong with your phone?" Sora answered the last question first, "I don''t know what''s wrong with my phone, I may need to get a new one. I charged it last night, but it''s dead." He assured her tiredly, "Nothing else happened. I''m soaking because I took the wrong bus route and didn''t have my phone to check, so I walked quite a ways from the stop that had the right street name." "The right street name? But¡­" she interrupted. "Fortunately I stopped to ask at a place where they knew of your father''s bar, so I just had to walk a long way," he assured her. "Although if I had realized how far it was going to be, and how much it was going to rain on me on the way, I''d have taken the bus back to the station and tried to get on the correct route." As he pulled the last of his clothes off, he asked with concern, "Aren''t you going to be late for work?" She pulled out her phone and checked. "I think I can still get to the bus in time," she assured him. He reached out, pulled her close, then bent and kissed her before instructing, "Take a good coat and an umbrella Mizuki." "Yes dear," she replied with a grin, that he returned with a startled expression. "Get warmed up soon," she demanded. He caressed her face and then promised, "I will. I wish I could come pick you up. Maybe I''ll rent a car."The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "Have my parents message me if you do that," she replied as she exited the room. She ran to her room and grabbed some of Sora''s dry clothes. Her father took them from her hands when she came out, and said, "I''ll take them to him, go if you''re going." Mizuki dashed over to the door, paused, and told her father, "Thanks!" She grabbed her jacket, opened the door, then turned back and grabbed an umbrella before dashing off to the bus stop. The bus was already there, but the driver kindly waited as she ran up. -- When Mizuki checked her messages during her break, she had one from her father, "Sora''s bringing a car to pick you up tonight." She felt a little startled, despite having heard him say that he might rent a car. When he picked her up after her work shift ended, she complained, "Doesn''t renting this cost as much as I made tonight?" "If it does, you seriously need to quit Mizuki," Sora insisted firmly. "How much?" she asked. He told her, and she winced but admitted, "It''s not as much as I was afraid it was." On the way back to her parent''s place, he informed her, "I''m kind of thinking of just arranging a reservation for the entire week that I''ll be off, since there''s no way to tell if the weather will be good enough to ride home, even if it turns out that it''s good enough to come here." She suggested uncertainly, "We could just use public transportation?" Sora grinned at her, and replied, "We could, and I will if you insist, but I''d rather not." Mizuki shrugged, she didn''t actually mind having him transport her and the extra time it gave them. When he parked in front of her home, he asked, "Want to make out for a minute before we go in?" "People will see us," she objected immediately. "In this rain?" Sora asked incredulously. Mizuki looked at the rain streaming down the windows and conceded the point, but still protested, "We''ll either wind up having sex in the car or I''ll fall asleep and you''ll have to carry me in." "Or both?" Sora questioned with a grin. "I''d rather just do it in bed," she admitted. They exchanged glances and exited the vehicle quickly. "In the shower," he corrected, as they entered the apartment. She grinned up at him and asked, "Two showers in one night?" "I won''t melt," he promised. -- In the morning, they both slept until Junshiro rapped on the door and announced, "Breakfast." Sora asked sleepily, "Has this always been how he wakes you up on Saturdays?" Mizuki was so groggy that it took a moment for her brain to translate the question into meaning. When it did, she turned in his arms and smiled, before assuring him, "No, this is otosan being discreet because you''re here. On school days he or okaasan will come in and rip the covers off the bed if I don''t get up. And usually we were the ones who woke our parents up on Saturdays, but I never worked at night before this job." Sora grinned and replied, "I see," as he cuddled her closer. He ran a hand down her back. "We''re going to be late for breakfast," he informed her. "Okay," she agreed. A moment later she blushed, and suggested very quietly, "You could do it like you did when you said you wanted to pound me, that didn''t take long." He grinned at her. "Gods I adore you Mizuki." -- They were only a few minutes late to breakfast. -- It wasn''t until they finished eating that Mizuki announced unhappily, "We can''t go out today, I really need to study for finals this weekend." "Alright," Sora agreed easily. "Is there anything I can do to help?" She shrugged, but barely glanced at her parents before suggesting boldly, "Let me cuddle in your lap while I''m going over everything?" Sora hesitated before asking, "Won''t that distract you?" "No, it''s relaxing," Mizuki assured him. Minori interrupted a little anxiously, "So much rain, and Tama-sama hasn''t come home. Would you call him before you start Mizuki?" "Okay, but he''s probably lounging around in someone else''s house," Mizuki replied reassuringly. She went to the door and called for him for a little while first anyway. Junshiro assured his wife, "He''ll be fine. He''s lived through eight winters of both rain and snow already that we know of." 35: Studying Mizuki complained when Sora dumped her off his lap a couple of hours after she began reviewing the notes she''d taken all semester. He laughed and assured her, "You would complain more if I don''t visit the restroom. Take a break and move around a little Mizuki." When he came back out she went in, and when she came out, he was doing stretches in the main room. "Sorry," she apologized. He turned to give her a startled look, and asked, "Why?" "Making you sit still and hold me for so long," she explained. "It''s fine," he assured her. He suddenly grinned as he admitted, "But having you sit in my lap like that still turns me on." Mizuki blushed, and then looked around in surprise. "Where are my parents?" "You really were concentrating. I lent your father the rental car and he took your mother shopping until lunch time." He grinned at her and asked, "Want to take a break with me before you start the next session?" "Yes," she agreed quickly. He walked over and picked her up, she wrapped her legs around his hips, and they kissed as he carried her back into the bedroom. -- When they finished, Sora commented, "If you''d told me that I''d ever find a downside to doing it with a girl whose orgasms trigger mine, I''d have told you that you were crazy." "What''s the downside?" Mizuki asked a little anxiously as she started putting her clothes back on. "I can''t hold back and make you enjoy it more before we finish," he explained as he pulled on his T-shirt. "Sora," Mizuki scolded his admission with flaming cheeks. "I love doing it with you. I don''t need you to do anything more." He reached over and pulled her into another kiss, before replying, "That''s good, because I can''t do anything about it. It still amazes me, and it happens every time." When they re-entered the main room, there was a commanding thump against the balcony door. Sora walked over and opened it without hesitation. "Welcome home your majesty," Sora told Tama-sama, although he neglected to give the small bow that the sisters often gave Tama. "He''s getting you well trained," Mizuki commented with amusement, as she bent to pet the rotund cat. She told Tama-sama accusingly, "I knew you were somewhere warm and dry, there are only a few drops on your fur. Okaasan will be glad that you''re back." Tama flicked his ear at her, and leaned into her hands, without revealing anything more of his opinions. Sora was grinning at her when she stopped and stood up. "Maybe I should start things for lunch while you do the next section," he suggested. "Okay," she agreed. A quarter of an hour later she set down her tablet, stood up, and complained, "Your questions are too distracting." "Sorry," he apologized quickly. "I didn''t realize I''d still need to ask about so many things," he admitted ruefully. "It''s fine Sora," she assured him, as she searched the bottom cabinet that held ancient recipe books. Unable to find what she was looking for, she pulled it up on her phone instead and handed it to him. "Use this," she instructed. She''d only been reading for five minutes when he interrupted her again. "You''ll have to authorize my print to unlock it, sorry," he said apologetically.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. "My fault," she replied quickly and set it up for him. -- When Sora finally had everything finished but frying the sukiyaki mix, he settled beside her and casually browsed through her phone while he waited. He suspected that all but maybe a couple of her contacts were family members, and it made him frown a little. She had dozens of photos still stored locally from her vacation. Some of them had obviously been imported, probably from her sister''s or Shinichi''s phone, because there were pictures of them together that he didn''t even remember anyone taking. There was a particularly good one of them laughing, with her sitting on his lap in her bikini, and he was startled by how good they''d looked together. She didn''t look like a child at all, just small in his arms. Suddenly he leaned over and down to kiss her. "Sora," she complained, "you''re distracting." Although not very seriously, as she kissed him again before she let go. "Sorry," he apologized a little insincerely before he kissed her again. More seriously she told him, "I don''t have time to play around anymore, and finish enough of this, before I have to go to work." He grinned at her and she blushed. He kissed her one last time and then asked, "Should I finish preparing lunch even though your parents aren''t back yet?" "What time is it?" Mizuki asked. He told her and she hesitated a moment before agreeing, "Yes, if I have to take the bus it takes a little longer." Sora got up and started the sukiyaki frying. Mizuki''s parents arrived before it was finished. "Sorry we''re late," Minori began and then spotted Tama-sama. She instantly dropped her bags by the door and made a beeline for him. "Welcome home," she cooed. "Did you get soaked?" "He was completely dry when he arrived," Mizuki informed her mother with amusement. Junshiro walked into the kitchen and told Sora, "Thanks for preparing lunch, it looks great." Sora''s cheeks flushed a little and he admitted, "I had to bother Mizuki too much for things though." Minori came and looked at what he had prepared, before adding her own compliments, "You''ve improved a lot though Sora, I told you that you could do it, well done!" Junshiro and Minori distributed their various purchases to the different regions of their household, before they sat down to eat. Sora commented with surprise after taking a few bites, "It tastes normal." Mizuki laughed at him, and corrected, "It tastes good Sora." -- When they finished, Sora took Mizuki to work. On the way he told her, "I''m going to go look for a new phone." "It''s kind of nice being able to talk as you drive in the car," Mizuki commented before asking, "Can you get one that uses a normal charger like mine this time?" "Sure," he agreed. Then he asked a little regretfully, "Maybe I should have gotten a car first?" Mizuki glanced over at him in surprise, and then assured him quickly, "No, you really seem to enjoy your motorcycle, and I don''t mind riding with you at all. I was just saying that being able to talk is the good thing about being in a car." "That part is nice," he agreed. When they arrived, she got to her knees and kissed him for a minute, before she went in to do her job. -- When Sora picked Mizuki up that night, she slid into the seat with an exhausted sigh. "My feet ache," she complained. "I''ll rub them for you when we get home," he promised. She grinned at him affectionately and then asked enthusiastically, "What kind of phone did you get?" Sora laughed and informed her, "I think it''s the latest version of what you have. It''s a close relative anyway. It won''t play as many games as mine did before, but we''re still getting handheld consoles for Christmas anyway, right?" "Yes!" Mizuki agreed happily. When they got home, they took a quick shower together before cuddling up on her bed. While Sora rubbed her feet, he told her with amusement, "If you keep moaning like that we''re stopping to do it before you get any more rubbing." "I like that kind of rubbing too," she assured him with another little moan of pleasure. He dropped her feet and reached for his bag. She laughed. -- Sunday morning Sora told her, "Mizuki, just study. I''ll start on breakfast and ask your parents for help when they get up, if I need to." "Okay," she agreed after only a brief hesitation. In a way, she realized, her grades would now affect both of them. It made letting him take over her housework feel more like they were both working toward the same goal, and she smiled. -- When he dropped her off at work she told him a little shyly, "Sora, my shift will change, for the winter break, so I''m not scheduled this next Friday night, want to go out?" "Absolutely," he agreed quickly. Their weekly farewell was a little more casual, but their connection was still growing. 36: Distressing The weather cleared up during the week and the forecast looked good, so Sora went ahead and took his bike, despite needing to add a layer for warmth. He picked Mizuki up from school on Friday, as had become his normal habit. It was cold enough that she got quite chilled on the way home, even though she was wearing long pants. Sora caught her as she slipped during her dismount. He locked the bike, and then scooped her up as soon as he could. When she felt his warmth, Mizuki began shivering as Sora carried her up the stairs, and he asked worriedly, "Are you okay?" "I''m fine," she assured him. "I just got colder than I realized." "Want me to warm you up before we get dressed for our night out?" he asked suggestively. She kissed him intently before agreeing, "That would be nice." -- Mizuki put on a different dress than she''d worn last time, and Sora looked her up and down before asking, "Do we need to go out?" She laughed and insisted, "You can wait a couple of hours! This is only the second time we''ve been able to dress up, and I really want to go out with you." "Okay," he agreed, "as long as you realize that I''ll spend the whole evening imagining what I''m going to do to you later." She blushed and he kissed her again. "I need to go put up my hair," she complained after a couple of minutes. He released her reluctantly. The dress revealed all of her curves, and erased the childishness that her height normally imposed. -- They took a taxi to the restaurant. It was a warm cozy place that specialized in various kinds of european pastas. No one really seemed to give them a second glance, and Mizuki loved it. After they finished eating, Mizuki asked, "Should we walk in the park for a while before we call our taxi back?" Despite his joking comments about rushing home afterward, Sora replied agreeably, "If you like?" "I''d like to spend a little more time out while we''re dressed up like this," she admitted. "Let''s go walk then," he agreed as he helped her into her sweater, and then bent to kiss her. A few people glanced at them, but no one stared. -- They walked around the large pond in the center of the city park. Mizuki stopped and climbed onto the first rung of the surrounding fencing and told Sora, "Too bad it''s not still summer and they don''t have the fountains going." Sora had to repress his grin and a comment about well dressed monkeys, as he asked, "They run fountains here all summer?" It looked like an ordinary pond, not the kind that usually ran that kind of display. She nodded, looked back at him, and told him suddenly, "You look so hot in that coat Sora." "I''m not hot, it''s pretty chilly out here," he assured her. "Are you warm enough?" he asked as he scooted up against her back.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. She tilted her head back far enough to roll her eyes at him, and blushed as she informed him, "I''m fine. I meant you look really sexy Sora." He grinned and explained, "Takumi advised me to buy this coat the year we got our degrees. I don''t wear it often though, it''s too dressy." "Why did you change your mind Sora?" Mizuki asked abruptly. "What?" Sora replied with confusion. "About dating me," she clarified. He slid his arms around her hips and pressed closer, before taking a deep breath and admitting, "Takumi again. He asked me if I was trying to replace alcohol with women. I told him it didn''t matter if it wasn''t you, and how young you are. He told me he thought you were good for me." "Thank you friend Takumi" Mizuki breathed like a quiet prayer. Sora traced his fingers over her hips, and confessed, "I held out for another couple of weeks, stopped sleeping around, and realized I didn''t even care if I was bad for you anymore. I wanted to be with you so badly." He bent to kiss her ear before adding very quietly, "I really want to do you like this Mizuki." "Everyone can see us!" she objected immediately. He wrapped the edges of his coat around her and protested in a whisper, "Only from directly across the pond, and it''s dark?" She hesitated, but finally agreed hesitantly, "Okay." He tucked up against her, slid his hand under her skirt, and quietly slid her underwear down. A little while later, she moaned and clapped her hand over her mouth. He laughed against her ear and then a small child ran up, and bounced off the fence a couple of meters away from them. They both froze. The child''s mother caught up and led the child away down the path, after scolding for a little bit about not running in the park while it was dark. After a moment Sora admitted breathlessly, "Mizuki, I think I was wrong about people not being able to see us if I''m the one moving. Can you move?" After a long moment she pushed up against the fence and he gasped as she let herself back down. He braced an arm on either side of her, until she stopped moving after he came. "You haven''t finished," he complained. "I''m way too embarrassed," she admitted miserably. "I''m sorry Mizuki," he apologized quickly. "I won''t ever ask you to try this again." She stumbled when he stepped away from her, as she tried to step down from the fence. He caught her, and she asked miserably, "Can you carry me Sora?" "Sure," he agreed with surprise. "But normally you hate being carried in public?" "I''m too embarrassed to move," Mizuki explained unhappily. Sora scooped her into his arms abruptly, and said anxiously, "I''m really sorry Mizuki." She wrapped her arms around his neck, buried her face in the crook of his shoulder, and let her tears begin to drip. He stood there holding her, as he asked worriedly, "What can I do Mizuki?" "Do you love me Sora?" Mizuki asked miserably. "What?!" Sora exclaimed questioningly. "Of course I love you!" A passerby smirked at them. Sora glanced around quickly, and carried her over to a bench so he could coax her off of him enough to see her face. "Why would you doubt that?" he demanded. Mizuki scrubbed at her face as she adjusted her position until she was kneeling on his lap. "Really love me? Like you really will marry me someday and it''s not just something I''ve been assuming?" "I really love you and I definitely plan to marry you in a few years," he replied firmly. She sagged against him with relief. "Then this is okay." "Why is there even any question about it?" he asked plaintively. She laughed a little and informed him, "I tell you I love you all the time, but you''ve never actually said it to me." He stared at her with disbelief. She looked up at him and assured him, "I was pretty sure, but," she hesitated, "I really needed to hear you actually say it Sora." "I''m sure I''ve told you I love you," he insisted after a moment. Mizuki shook her head, and said firmly, "No. You tell me you want me, that you adore me, that you need me, but you''ve never said you love me before." Sora hugged her against him and repeated, "I love you Mizuki. I''ll try to make sure I tell you so on a regular basis." She pushed away from him and insisted firmly, "I don''t want you to start telling me all the time, like it''s a habit. I just want you to tell me once in a while." "I will," he promised fervently. 37: Joining Sora leaned back against the seat, so that he could see Mizuki''s face, as he asked her, "Should I buy you an engagement ring?" He didn''t even wait for an answer before adding a question similar to what she''d asked earlier, "Should I ask you properly to marry me or can I just keep assuming you will?" Mizuki was already laughing as she protested, "Don''t buy me an engagement ring Sora." He blinked at her, but before he could ask, she quickly explained, "I''m definitely going to marry you, but I want you to wear a couple''s ring with me instead! I don''t want to be the only one wearing a ring, and I want it to be the ordinary kind that I can wear at school and at work." "Okay," he agreed simply. Sora leaned forward to kiss her before she could react, and the kiss continued until another pedestrian passed near enough to make Mizuki nervous. "I don''t want an engagement ring later either," she warned him as she pushed away. "I want to replace our couple''s rings with wedding rings." He gave the passer-by the briefest glance, and then grinned at the girl who was still kneeling heavily on his thighs despite her wary reaction, and agreed, "Okay Mizuki, whatever you want." She kissed him again without caring who could see them this time. He didn''t try to push any boundaries, and simply enjoyed her warmth. After a while she admitted reluctantly, "We should go home, it''s cold." Sora stood up with Mizuki still wrapped in his arms, but even though she made no protest, when their eyes met he gently set her down. She took his hand and he took her home. -- In Mizuki''s room, Sora removed her dress a little at a time, like he''d been imagining since she put it on. She fell asleep that night with a smug smile on her face. -- In the morning Mizuki told her parents smugly, "I''m really going to marry Sora." Her mother instinctively objected, "Not yet!" Her father just raised an eyebrow and asked, "Are you pregnant?" Mizuki gasped and then protested, "No! But if that''s all it takes¡­" Sora reached out, clapped his hand over her mouth, and said firmly, "Stop Mizuki. We are NOT having a baby so we can get married early." She looked up at him and after a moment he released her. "But it''s not fair that they think it would be okay if we were," she complained. He rubbed his face, glanced at her father''s taken-aback expression, and then told her seriously, "I don''t think that it would be okay, it would just be allowed because having a baby alone is really hard on women." Mizuki looked up at him for a long moment, and then suggested with amusement, "You just don''t want to have a baby yet because you think I''ll let it eat cat food Sora." Sora laughed as he agreed, "You really might." Her parents exchanged glances, and let the subject drop. They talked about other things until they finished breakfast. As soon as her plate was clear, Mizuki reminded Sora, "I need to be at work in half an hour." He gave her a startled look and she grinned as she finally informed him, "I''ll be working 10am to 6pm throughout the winter break, and I''ll have Thursday and Friday off." She looked up at him and then asked more shyly, "Can I come to your place after I get off work on Wednesday?" Sora''s breath caught and he replied after a moment, "Hell yes!" Mizuki grinned up at him, and he added ruefully, "We should combine our accounts this weekend, if we still can. We should have done it this morning."Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Junshiro interrupted questioningly, "Combine your accounts? I don''t think that''s a good idea." Mizuki looked at her father in surprise and objected, "Yes it is! If we can''t even handle sharing bank accounts, we shouldn''t get married." Her father looked at the two of them, and then covered his face for a moment. "I can''t argue with that, but shouldn''t you wait until you don''t need me to sign off on it?" he asked. "Why do you need to sign off on it?" Sora asked with surprise. "Because with the account type she opened, it''s linked to mine until she turns 21," her father informed him. Mizuki blushed and added a little defensively, "That''s because I was only eight when I opened it." "Oh," Sora replied a little blankly. After a moment he suggested, "Then should we try to do it next Saturday morning when you can come with us instead?" "What''s the big rush?" Junshiro asked. Sora interrupted Mizuki as she started to reply, and told her father calmly, "I want her to quit this job for the rest of the school year." Minori tugged at her husband''s sleeve and told him, "I think that sounds like a good idea?" He looked at her in surprise and asked, "You don''t mind if they get married in all but name already?" Minori gasped, and looked at her youngest daughter, who returned her gaze hopefully. After a moment she replied reluctantly, "Like you told me before, we can''t really stop her, and it''s better if they''re open about it." "Thank you!" Mizuki exclaimed and dashed over to hug her mother. "Fine," her father agreed, and she hugged him too. He looked down into her happy face and smiled reluctantly. "I guess I''m not quite ready for all of my daughters to be grown up already. When you finish school it''s going to be really lonely at home." Minori nodded in agreement and Mizuki announced uncomfortably, "I already asked Sora if I could move in with him after I finish this year." Her parents stared at her. Sora suggested uncomfortably after looking at their shocked faces, "We could really get married right away if you''d prefer, I''d just rather wait until she''s finished with school." "I have no idea," Junshiro replied after a moment. "I''d rather you were married before you move in together," Minori said uncomfortably. "People live together all the time before they get married," Mizuki protested. "That''s not necessarily a good thing," her mother replied sharply. "Go to work for now Mizuki," Junshiro told his daughter. To his wife he pointed out, "We can think about it and argue it over later. She could just do it without our permission since she''s already 18." -- Sora escaped for a little while by taking Mizuki to work, and then stayed out for a while longer to do a little random shopping. When he finally returned, Mizuki''s father had already gone to tend his bar for the evening, and only her mother was waiting at the apartment. Minori looked at his shopping bags with amusement, and asked teasingly, "Were we so scary that you couldn''t come back right away?" Sora didn''t pretend that he hadn''t been hiding for a little while, and admitted uncomfortably, "I love feeling like part of your family, almost as much as I love being with Mizuki. You''re not scary, but the fact that she''s so young that she still needs your permission for so many things really scares me. It never even occurred to me that we''d need her father''s approval to combine our accounts." Minori looked at him with surprise. After a moment she asked a bit hesitantly, "Is that why you told her that she could move in with you this spring without asking us first?" Sora grinned at her suddenly and asked, "You mean apart from the fact that I''ve only ever effectively told her no once, and I felt like that almost killed me?" His smile faded and he added, "And it hurt her so much." Mizuki''s mother shrugged rather fatalistically. He took a deep breath before saying seriously, "I''m sorry, it never occurred to me to ask your permission, but I really want to be with her every day too. We want the same thing." She asked him almost affectionately, "Then why not just get married this spring?" After a moment he admitted, "I don''t have a good reason not to, which is why I said we can get married right away if you want us to." He shrugged. "I''m just uncomfortable with our age gap I guess. I don''t want her to regret it later, that she got married so young, but mostly I just can''t imagine saying to anyone, ''This is my wife, but we can''t go out for drinks to celebrate, because she''s still too young for that''." Minori walked over and patted his arm much like Mizuki would. Sora regarded her with relieved surprise and added quickly, "It''s mostly me, I''m sorry." "I''m glad that at least you''re willing to talk to me about how you feel about it," she assured him. "I''ll seriously think about it, and talk to Jun. Not that you really need our support, but we might not decide for several months, okay?" "Okay," he agreed quickly. He wasn''t certain that he wasn''t going to need all the support he could get if he was going to get married this spring. 38: An Old Friend When Sora picked Mizuki up from work that night, he told her, "Your mother asked me to bring you home for dinner instead of taking you out tonight." "She probably wants to talk me out of moving in with you so soon, but I wanted to go look for couple''s rings tonight," Mizuki protested mildly. He regarded her with amusement and asked, "Do you want to go look for an hour before we go back? If she can persuade you not to, you probably shouldn''t move in with me yet." "Sora!" she protested, but then asked a little plaintively, "Don''t you want me to?" "I do," Sora insisted. "But I''m not completely comfortable with your age Mizuki," he admitted uncomfortably. Mizuki raised her hand to protest, but didn''t know what to say. "It bothers me less than it used to," he assured her quickly. "But I''m really not sure that getting married while you''re still a teenager is a good idea, and your mother really seems to think we should get married if we''re going to live together." He reached out and hugged her against him before adding, "I like your parents, and the rest of your family Mizuki. I don''t want them to disapprove of you being with me either." She gazed up at him with mixed feelings. After a minute she sighed and buried her face against his chest. "I''m glad that you like my family, but I kind of wish you didn''t care what they thought," she informed him in a muffled voice. Sora protested laughingly, "You can''t have it both ways Mizuki. I love you. Let''s go look for rings? Where?" "Okay," Mizuki agreed more cheerfully. "I''m not sure, can we wander downtown?" "For a bit," he agreed. She warned him as she mounted behind him, "My mother is not going to be able to persuade me not to come live with you, as long as you''re okay with it. We might really have to get married early." "Okay Mizuki," he agreed calmly. She grinned smugly against his back where he couldn''t see her expression. It wasn''t so much that she wanted to get married right away, as that he was willing to. Although she was far more willing to get married than to keep living apart. -- They looked around the shopping district for a little while before Mizuki spotted a street vendor display that caught her eye. She dragged Sora over to it, and he followed a little dubiously. He read the little sign that claimed ''silver'' with skepticism. Mizuki knelt and examined the rings on display for a moment before looking up at Sora, and announcing happily, "These are the kind of rings that I was imagining Sora!" "I think one of these ear clips would suit you more Mizuki-chan," suggested the vendor.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. At the sound of his voice Mizuki''s head snapped back towards him. She gasped, and abruptly leaned farther over the display. As she overbalanced, she caught herself by placing her hands against his chest, and stared up into his face. "Katsuji senpai!? What happened to your hair!?" she exclaimed questioningly. He looked down at her, without objecting to her overly familiar hands, and grinned widely. "My girlfriend pointed out that I was dyeing it for the reaction that I got, and told me that there was nothing wrong with changing how I look if I wanted a different reaction," he explained. "I wanted to get a real job, so I went ahead and did it." After a moment of shock, she tried to sit back upright, but couldn''t find a place to put a hand down in the crowded display. "Help me Sora?" she asked plaintively as she flailed one hand behind her while the other still steadied her on her old friend''s chest. "I can''t sit back up without crushing something." Sora, who had been staring at her with something between amazement and alarm, reached out to take the hand she extended back toward him and pulled her upright. Katsuji dropped his own hands, which had been reaching for her shoulders, and gave a small shrug instead. Once she was repositioned on her knees, she looked across the display again and admitted unhappily, "I am so embarrassed that I didn''t recognize you until you spoke." "Don''t feel bad Mizuki-chan, neither did my own mother when I came home after getting it dyed black and cut so short," he insisted cheerfully. Mizuki couldn''t help returning his smile, before looking down at the jewelry that filled the space between them, and then asking a little doubtfully, "A real job?" Katsuji laughed again, and insisted, "You know that for a lot of people this could very well be considered a real job! But I also have a regular job at an electronics store." "Is this a new hobby then?" she asked. "Kind of," he admitted to her surprise. "My girlfriend makes these, but she''s too shy to sell them herself." "I thought you were going to college?" she quizzed as he held out a tiny articulated dragon. "I did for a while," he agreed. He showed her how the dragon would clasp the curve of an ear, as though he knew that she wouldn''t be able to resist. She eyed him a little sharply, but couldn''t help taking the dragon as he set it in her hands. "So, then?" she asked. "That''s where I met her," he admitted cheerfully. "And I love her like crazy, but she''s three years older than I am, and her parents object. They said that they would stop paying her tuition if we kept dating." "Three years isn''t much difference," Mizuki objected. "I know," he agreed. "Since she is already in her last year, I stopped school to work. And when she has her degree, she''ll work, and I''ll go back to college," he explained in an enthusiastic rush. She looked at the tiny dragon in her hands, curved it back and forth for a moment, and then confessed, "It''s really cute, but we''re looking for a pair of couple''s rings." "We could get both," Sora pointed out from beside her. Mizuki looked up at him in surprise and asked, "Are you sure?" He grinned at her a little wryly as he assured her, "Of course. So will you introduce me to your friend?" Mizuki blushed again as she finally made the introduction. "We used to hang out whenever we both had time," she explained uncertainly. Katsuji nodded, but then frowned a little as Sora reached out to ruffle her hair, as though she were a child. Mizuki felt reassured by the casual caress, and smiled, which made Sora''s lips curve like a reflection. Katsuji settled back, as though reassured. "I''m glad to meet you," he said politely. Sora''s eyes crinkled a little as he assured Mizuki''s friend, "Me too." Mizuki sobered a little as she admitted, "Tooru and Katsuji-senpai were two of the best friends I had." 39: Tokens of Agreement Sora didn''t ask who Tooru had been, despite the fact that Mizuki had barely mentioned her former best friend since their first night together. Katsuji was familiar with the entire story as well, though from a different perspective. When he heard the name paired with his own, Katsuji said a little bitterly, "I''m so sorry Mizuki, and I feel so stupid." "Why?!" she asked with alarm. He looked away from her as he admitted, "Of all people I should know better than to do something because ''it''s what people do'', but I didn''t even get your phone number so we could stay in touch after I graduated." "I can see why you wouldn''t have wanted to ask for it, with all the rumors," Mizuki assured him quickly. "Don''t worry about it." He suddenly turned back to her and snapped angrily, "That''s even more reason that I should have done it! I withdrew from you because I didn''t want to make anything worse, but I should have stayed close." Sora set his hand on Mizuki''s shoulder, but didn''t say anything while Katsuji continued, "And I didn''t want to ask for your number because I really like you, but not like that. And you''re younger than I am, and a girl, and people just don''t do that. I was stupid!" After a startled moment, Mizuki asked with a grin, "Want it now?" Katsuji looked up at Sora uncertainly, and asked, "Won''t your boyfriend object?" Mizuki looked up at Sora questioningly, and he smiled down at her and replied calmly, "I''m not going to tell Mizuki not to keep in touch with a friend because he happens to be male." After a moment he admitted to her, "I was afraid you didn''t have any friends left, after looking through your phone." "You looked through her phone?" Katsuji asked a little sharply. Mizuki glanced back at him and laughed. "I gave it to him and set it up so he could unlock it. He wasn''t trying to spy on me Katsuji-senpai." "Sorry," Katsuji apologized to Sora immediately. "But Mizuki-chan is a really nice girl, she deserves someone who trusts her, and none of those stupid rumors about her are true!" Mizuki blushed yet again, and Sora assured Katsuji with a grin, "I know that very well." Mizuki rubbed her cheek against Sora''s hand affectionately and he bent down and tried the little dragon on her ear. "It really does suit you," he informed her. Then he asked Katsuji, "How much does it cost?" "Fifty," was the quick reply. Mizuki objected, "This kind of thing would be a couple hundred at a jewelry store. If it''s? really silver?" "It is, but nobody''s going to pay that much to a street vendor Mizuki-chan," Katsuji objected. "Besides, that''s how I''ve got them all marked."Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Mizuki looked at the tag and asked, "Do you have the pen you used?" Katsuji fished around in a case beside him for a moment and handed it to her. Mizuki added a 1 in front of the 50 and then slashed through it and wrote 100 clearly in the remaining space. "You can at least do this," she showed him. "I agree," Sora added when Katsuji hesitated. And he added, "You should also put them on the net for jewelry store prices. Even if you don''t sell many there, people who buy one from you in person will feel like they got a fantastic deal if they look it up later." They talked for a while more, until Mizuki chose a ring that had a pulse mark as it''s decoration, and asked Sora, "Would this one be okay?" He looked at her in surprise, and assured her, "Whatever you like Mizuki. You can get whatever you think is cute and I''ll wear it?" "I think this one looks like a heartbeat," Mizuki admitted a little shyly. Katsuji announced smugly, "I''m going to tell her that you got it immediately! She didn''t think anyone else would see it like that." "Is there one in both our sizes?" Mizuki asked a little anxiously. "If there''s not, she can make them," Katsuji insisted reassuringly as he pulled a long thin box out of the case that the pen had been in. He sorted through it until he found the rest of that design. They lucked out, and Katsuji found one for both of them. Sora insisted on paying him for both rings, and the price Mizuki had written on the dragon. Mizuki objected that the dragon was an unnecessary extra, and he told her, "It can be your Christmas present." "We''re getting consoles," she pointed out. After a baffled moment he offered, "If you won''t take it, I can store it until Valentine''s day? You like it don''t you?" "Yes," she agreed immediately. "Why can''t I give you an extra present?" Sora asked. "We''re combining our accounts anyway!" Mizuki blushed as she admitted, "I have something extra for you too, but it doesn''t cost this much." Sora covered his eyes and insisted pleadingly, "Mizuki, just get both. Stop worrying about keeping everything equal? I want you to have it." Katsuji told Mizuki, "If you don''t agree, I''m just going to give it to you." Mizuki laughed and gave in. Sora tucked the little dragon back onto her ear and took her home. Mizuki gave it back to him when they arrived and told him, "Keep it for Christmas morning, that''s when we usually exchange things." -- They talked with her mother more that night. Minori asked her daughter a string of pointed questions about the logistics of moving to another town, including the particulars about available schooling and adjusting her college applications. Mizuki answered with a level of confidence that startled both Sora and her mother. She had already looked up a lot of information that her mother thought she needed. Sora felt more than a little overwhelmed by the list of household and financial tasks that Minori felt an ''adult'' should be prepared to deal with. Mizuki had heard the list before each of her sisters had gotten married though, and while she had yet to actually perform all of the duties listed, she felt confident that she would be capable of them. -- They discussed it again with both of her parents on Sunday morning, but Junshiro said firmly, "We''re not deciding this right away." Mizuki accepted her father''s reluctance without argument, to Sora''s surprise, but she complained regretfully after eyeing the clock, "I don''t get to see you much on Sunday with this shift." Sora scooped her into his arms and kissed her deeply in front of her parents before replying. "It''s okay though, I can go home and clean my apartment and get ready for you to come Wednesday night. I''m glad. It means there''s only three nights this week that we won''t spend together." Mizuki grinned and kissed him again. "Yes," she agreed. 40: Visiting Sora met Mizuki at the train station Wednesday night. She was struggling with her suitcase, and he regarded her with surprise. He grinned and scooped her up as soon as she got close enough, making her blush and protest. He kissed her thoroughly before he set her back down, and then pointed out, "That''s not going to fit on the motorcycle anyway, so it''s just as well I already planned to rent a car for the week?" "I could have just left the case here if we were going back on your bike, I don''t plan to take all of this home," she informed him. "Moving in already?" Sora asked teasingly. Mizuki blushed as she admitted a little shyly, "Sort of, I guess. I just figured it''ll be easier to take the train without luggage." "I agree," he said dryly as he lifted her suitcase. She laughed, but explained quickly, "I figured that since I''ll be quitting my job at the end of the school break, I''ll just come visit you until the weather warms up enough for you to ride all the time again, so it''s just this once." "Oh, that''s great Mizuki! I hadn''t thought about that," he replied enthusiastically. -- When they reached the area Sora''s apartment was in, he looked around the familiar area more doubtfully than usual, and then suggested, "Maybe we should go apartment hunting this winter instead of waiting until you move in with me." Mizuki looked around, but the only thing she particularly noticed was that things seemed a little run down and even the streetlights were an older style. "Why?" she asked. Sora warily observed a couple of the men who were still dressed in day labor clothes, and replied uncomfortably, "This kind of area is fine for me, but you''re so tiny that I''m not sure you should walk around without me Mizuki. If anyone gives you trouble you won''t be able to resist." Mizuki instantly objected, "I''m small, but I''m not helpless Sora! I''ve had self defense training and everything, so you don''t have to worry so much." She looked up into his doubtful face and added, "This neighborhood doesn''t look that bad, people look like they''re busy and employed, even if they''re not rich. It''s not that much different from where we live." "It''s another couple of grades lower," he muttered uncomfortably as he mentally eyed the street from a small woman''s view for the first time. "Not many women live in this area, none of them alone that I know of." "It''ll be fine," Mizuki assured him. "I won''t be living here alone either," she pointed out with a grin. He wasn''t able to argue that, and agreed wryly, "Okay, but while I''m at work, please take the subway downtown if you feel like going out." "Alright," she agreed with amusement. -- When they reached the door to his apartment Sora warned her again, "It''s small." Mizuki laughed. He grinned at her as he handed her the key, and told her, "And here''s the key to my tiny castle." She looked up at him with surprise, and he gave an embarrassed shrug before admitting, "I got a copy from the office yesterday so that you could have your own." "Thanks?, though that was a cute but cheesy line," she informed him with a grin. He shrugged, opened the door, and carried her suitcase in. She followed him in and laughed. He looked back at her questioningly. "I can see why you called it a closet, with how you have your clothes just hanging on a rack on the wall," she said with amusement. He looked around and asked, "Do you have a better idea? A dresser will take up so much of the floor that my futon will lay out into the entry and pick up dirt." She shrugged. "It''s fine Sora, very efficient." She grinned at him and added, "I bet it''s the kind of thing programmers tend to get teased about. Like posts on the net where they do weird things like drying their socks in front of their computer fans."Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. "That really works well," Sora objected immediately. Mizuki laughed until she was breathless. He set down her suitcase, shut the door behind her, and scooped her up. She kissed him while she was still laughing a little. After a minute she stopped laughing and concentrated on the kissing. He regretfully set her down a few minutes later and told her, "Unless we''re moving straight into the shower, we should unpack your case and lay out the bed." "You''re not going to feed me?" Mizuki complained. Sora looked at her with surprise. "You haven''t eaten yet? It''s only an hour until midnight!" "I didn''t want to be late for the train," she protested. "I ate a few snacks though, so I won''t suffer much if you don''t feed me tonight." "Is ramen okay?" Sora asked after a moment. "Sure," she agreed promptly. "How do you stay in such good shape if you just eat ramen at home?" she asked a little enviously. He ran his hands fondly over her curves and replied with amusement, "I have a good metabolism, Takumi complains about how much I can eat too. I don''t just eat ramen every night though, I only eat at home if I''m too busy or tired to get something before I come back." He released her and turned to the built-in cabinet doors above the microwave that was inset above a small refrigerator. He pulled out a packet without asking what flavor, but they were all identical. "Also, most days I go play for an hour or so after work, and do some kind of sport or game for exercise," he added as he filled the bowl at the inset sink. "I can see why you don''t eat here much," Mizuki admitted. She wandered over to the bathroom door midway down the wall on the other side of the little room and peeked in. "I''m guessing your bathroom is right next to the next room''s kitchen." "I think so," Sora agreed. "And it''s not a bad design for this kind of place. I don''t think there''s any sound proofing in this building, and at least that way if you shut the bathroom door you get a little more privacy." She walked over to the end of the room and asked, "Why did they bother putting in a window?" Sora grinned and suggested, "Ventilation? Who knows, maybe that building wasn''t there when they built this one." After a minute he told her, "We really can go look for a better place if you want to. I just got this because it''s cheap." "When I really move in with you, we''re getting a bigger place, but this is fine for visiting Sora," she insisted firmly. "Okay," he agreed as he handed her the bowl. "Takumi and Eri-chan invited us to dinner tomorrow night if you''re willing," he told her hopefully. "Of course, I''d love to finally meet them!" Mizuki declared enthusiastically. She looked around for a moment, then plopped down on the floor to eat. Sora opened her case and grinned. "No wonder it was so heavy. Do you have any clothes left at home?" he asked teasingly. "Of course I do," she insisted. "But I wanted to bring a little of everything, in case we want to go out and do something fancy, or messy, or whatever." Sora frowned at his clothes racks and tried to make room for her things. "If there''s too much I can just leave a few things and take the rest home again," she suggested diffidently. He smiled down at her. "Don''t worry, if I need to I can add another rack beside the bathroom. But we''ll definitely need more hangers. Maybe you could go buy some while I''m at work, if you don''t just want to play on the console all day." He pointed to the game system set up on a narrow shelf below the clothes. She looked at how high the rack was again. "Maybe I need to get a rack for the other side of the room so I can reach my clothes when you''re not here?" "Sure," he agreed, and stopped unloading her case. "Where do you buy that kind of thing?" Mizuki asked after a moment. "They''re large towel racks," Sora explained with amusement. She gave him a look and rolled her eyes. He laughed and she agreed, "It''s obvious after you say that." When she finished eating he washed the bowl in the tiny sink, and tossed the chopsticks in the trash next to the door. "Wasteful," she complained. "Tiny," he pointed out. "I''m sure storing disposable sticks takes up more space than a few good sets," she objected. "But then I don''t have to use up the whole sink drying them, or store more towels to dry them with," he pointed out reasonably. "Okay," she agreed. "Get out whatever you need for the night, and set your suitcase by the door?" Sora suggested as he started rolling out the futon. Mizuki quickly removed her bathroom stuff, closed the case up, and moved it to where he had suggested. She looked back and saw that his bed was both wider and longer than hers. When he had it laid out she flopped down on it beside him and said with surprise, "Wow, it''s so soft!" Sora grinned down at her and told her, "We stayed at a hotspring once that had these. I liked it so much I found out where they bought them from." "It''s great," she agreed approvingly. "Shower first?" he asked with amusement. "What do we do with our dirty clothes?" Mizuki asked as she crawled to her feet. Sora pointed to the basket hanging on his clothes racks closest to the window. "I''ll never reach that," she complained. "I''ll have to take your clothes off you," he suggested. "Okay," she replied agreeably. It wasn''t long until they got around to the shower, which was quite sturdy, even if the walls weren''t sound proofed. 41: Greetings In the morning before Sora left for work, the first day of Mizuki''s visit began with kisses and caresses that gently worked up to more intimate exchanges. Mizuki cried out when Sora began doing more, and he stopped in surprise. She immediately demanded, "Don''t stop Sora!" "You cried out," he replied a little anxiously, even as he resumed the motion. Her cheeks went scarlet as she protested, "But we don''t have to be quiet here do we?" "No," he agreed with amusement as she gasped with pleasure. When they finished he told her, "I hadn''t really realized you were trying to be quiet at home. But now that I think about it, you made more noise when we stayed at the hotel too." Mizuki blushed as she cuddled into him, even though she pointed out a little accusingly, "You hold back a little at home too." Sora couldn''t help the grin that spread across his face as he admitted, "Well, I''m pretty sure your parents can hear us a lot of the time anyway, but I guess I do try to be quieter for you." "For me?" she protested mildly. "Yes," he agreed a little too blandly. She couldn''t help laughing. They exchanged another kiss before he told her, "Yesterday I got a few cups of cold prepared things for breakfast or snacks, like pudding and yogurt. There is also cereal and milk, if you want something aside from more ramen." "Why didn''t you just get some frozen meals for the microwave?" Mizuki asked after a moment, while Sora climbed to his feet. "The freezer section is mediocre, I don''t know if it isn''t cold enough, or if the temperature fluctuates, but things don''t last well in it," he explained before stepping into the bathroom. Mizuki got up and followed him. "Have you reported it?" Sora nodded. After he finished what he was doing in front of the mirror, he added, "They have actually tried to fix it three times, so I''ve given up. It''s not like I''m staying here forever, or cooking much." "Okay," she replied. "Want to come out with me when I leave for work?" Sora asked diffidently. Mizuki gave him an amused look as she asked, "So I''m not alone except for the return trip?" He shrugged and then nodded. "Alright," she agreed with a laugh. While she fixed her hair he loaded the address, room number, and subway station into her phone profile. She didn''t bother explaining that she already had most of that in notes. She told him affectionately as she pulled on the rest of her clothes, "You''re paranoid." "I''m in love," Sora corrected. "Over protective?" Mizuki suggested. He shrugged, but didn''t argue. -- Sora''s bike was parked in a garage several blocks away. The neighborhood seemed even quieter at this hour to Mizuki, and she looked around the elderly district with interest. Sora made sure she had money and dropped her off downtown, before going on to his last day of work before his new company''s holiday break.Stolen novel; please report. Mizuki wandered around for a while before making her purchases. It was Christmas Eve, so there were holiday displays everywhere. The center of the city was a pretty district, built into a hillside with lots of stairs and pedestrian only areas. Small shops and restaurants were mixed in with areas of trees and plantings that weren''t quite large enough to be parks. She stopped in at the central transportation office and examined the city map. It was a larger city than the one she lived in. It had extensive bus and subway routes as well as direct links to several other cities. After purchasing a six month pass, she stopped at a small cafe and pulled up information about schools on her phone. The city had three different colleges, not counting pure trade schools of which there were almost a dozen. She grinned happily at the information and added a few more of them to her applications list. After she visited a place that had caught her eye, and had lunch, she went back to the store Sora had told her he''d purchased his racks and hangers at. She selected a long rack, verified that it contained the necessary screws, and also collected three packages of hangers. She picked up her favorite soap and shampoo while she was at it. Thus laden, she made her way back to the subway station and promptly took the wrong one. As soon as she realized it, she shrugged and enjoyed the microscopic tour of the city route. Back at the main station she got on the correct route, with a very similar name. Sora''s place was only the second stop so she hopped off again a few minutes later. After walking around the beautiful downtown area all morning, the elderly district did look more shabby, but still not as dangerous as Sora made it sound. She also thought that it had better transportation access than her own home area. She carried her things back to his apartment without incident. After holding the new rack in various positions, Mizuki decided that she wanted it placed too high for her to comfortably install it without help. She abandoned the project, plopped down in front of Sora''s game console, and made herself a profile. She was battling a tribe of evil rodents for control of the maze when Sora got home. He looked at what she was playing and asked with amusement, "Is it fun? I''ve never tried that one." "It''s alright, it''s your game?" Mizuki pointed out as she struggled to reach a save point. "It was free with another one I bought, I''ve never played it," he explained. "It''s multiplayer," she commented as the game saved. "Local?" Sora asked with interest. "I''m pretty sure?" Mizuki replied. He checked when she handed him the controller, and then said, "Cool, let''s pick up another controller when we buy our handhelds." A few minutes later she showed him where she thought she''d like the rack. He got out a small set of tools, located the nearest support, and mounted it for her. "Won''t you have to pay for the holes?" she asked after it was too late. "I decided the deposit here isn''t worth getting back before I put up the first one," he assured her. They hung up her clothes and Mizuki said, "I should have gotten a bag to hold accessories, I didn''t think of it." "If you don''t mind using a regular shopping bag, I''ve got extras," he assured her. "Okay," she agreed, and he handed her a plain black bag with a discreet silver logo. She grinned, and then asked curiously, but a little teasingly, "What was in this when you got it?" He looked at the bag and laughed, "Just electronics, a couple of memory cards and a game I think." "Want to shower before we go to dinner?" Sora asked as he bent to kiss her. "Am I fragrant?" Mizuki asked with a little embarrassment. "Not really," he replied and ran his hand down her back. "Mostly I just really want to have you right now." "Okay," she agreed quickly. -- When he had her pinned against the wall in the shower, where he''d wanted her, Sora moved very deliberately. Mizuki cried out again instead of just moaning, when his teasing pushed her over the edge. When he recovered his own breath, he informed her affectionately, "You''re making me really want to live together already Mizuki." "You didn''t already?" she questioned laughingly. "Not because I thought this would be even better," he replied teasingly. She wrapped herself more tightly around him and told him seriously, "I just want to be with you all the time Sora." "Me too," he agreed and they kissed until the water started cooling off. They laughed and shivered a little as they finished rinsing off. 42: First Time "How should I dress?" Mizuki asked a little nervously. "Just ordinary clothes?" Sora replied with surprise. She looked up at him doubtfully. "Shouldn''t I dress up a little? It''s Christmas Eve and my first time meeting your friends." He shrugged. "I don''t usually, but we can dress up a little if you want?" After a minute of thought, she proposed, "A bit of both then?" She selected sturdy pants for riding on the bike in the cold. Her underthings were all ordinary wear. Over them she pulled a soft clingy top of medium weight, that was somewhere between T-shirt and blouse. "You look gorgeous," Sora assured her when she finished. "Why haven''t I seen this shirt?" Mizuki replied questioningly, "Because so much of the time I''ve had to wear work clothes?" "I''m really looking forward to when you''re not working," he informed her after a moment. She looked up at him, and replied wryly, "I hope you still feel that way when it''s your money I''m spending." "I will," he assured her. He picked up their jackets and suggested teasingly, "I might even discover that I''d like to keep a housewife like Takumi is doing?" Mizuki laughed. "What if I wouldn''t like being a housewife? I think I''d get bored." "Whatever makes you happy as long as we can sleep together every night?" Sora insisted as he held open the door. Mizuki replied affectionately as they walked to his bike, "I love you Sora." He had to stop and kiss her again. -- When they arrived outside of Takumi''s place, Mizuki exclaimed in surprise, "Wow, this is fancy!" "It is nice," Sora agreed, though he added a little reluctantly, "but I wouldn''t be able to keep saving up much at all if we get something this expensive." "He makes a lot?" Mizuki asked. He shrugged as they entered the building. "Not exactly, we make a similar amount. But his parents are very well off, so he''s got more of a safety net than I do." She looked up at him, and he explained quickly, "Not that Takumi uses their money, but it''s there if he needed it in an emergency." "My parents would help us if we needed it Sora," she pointed out. "I don''t want them to need to," he replied firmly, as they made their way down the wide hallway of the upper floor. "Okay," she agreed. Sora knocked, and Takumi answered his door cheerfully. Mizuki stared at him, and said breathlessly, "Oh wow!" "Mizuki, don''t look at my best friend and exclaim in that tone!" he complained.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. She immediately objected, "It''s your fault Sora! If you didn''t want me to react that way, you could have said something. You know, casually dropped a hint? ''Oh, by the way, my best friend is a classical beauty''." Sora waved a hand expressively while Mizuki grinned up at him. She glanced at Takumi, who blushed and indicated that they should enter, before he shut the door behind them. Her gaze lingered for a moment, before she suggested, "You guys must have cut swathes through women when you went out together. He''s so pretty and you''re so tall and¡­ just wow." Eri laughed from the living area, and called out agreeably, "I''ve thought that before too!" Mizuki pushed past Sora so that she could see who had spoken, and then exclaimed with delight, "You''re wearing it!" Eri looked back at them with confusion written across her face. Sora explained over Mizuki''s head, "The T-shirt, Mizuki helped pick it out." "Oh! Yes, I love this one, thank you," Eri replied agreeably. She was pregnant enough that the bomb was quite rounded by now. "It really looks good," Mizuki assured her happily. Takumi instructed with amusement, "Go on in, don''t just stand around in the doorway." Mizuki looked up at Sora, who nodded and told her reassuringly, "I come over all the time, I eat here at least once a week." She slipped off her shoes, then dashed over to Eri, and asked cheerfully, "Do you think we can be friends Eri-chan?" She blushed as soon as the words left her mouth, and added apologetically, "I''m sorry, Sora calls you that all the time." "It''s fine, and I''d like that," Eri replied encouragingly. After a moment she added, "You''re not as small as I was expecting Mizuki-chan, you''re only a little shorter than my mother and sister. Sora keeps telling us that you''re tiny." Mizuki rolled her eyes, but replied with a grin, "Well, I''m definitely on the small side, and probably as tiny as Sora claims if you compare us." "That''s true," Eri admitted with amusement after a glance at Sora. -- While they ate, Takumi instructed Mizuki, "Please agree to be friends with me as well, and call me Takumi, Mizuki-chan." "Okay, thank you Takumi-san," Mizuki agreed quickly. He laughed and asked, "I get san but my wife already gets chan?" Mizuki shrugged and looked apologetic, while Eri poked her husband. Takumi quickly assured Mizuki, "It''s fine, I''m just teasing you." Mizuki admitted uncomfortably, "I shouldn''t really be saying chan like Sora, she''s older than I am." "I don''t care," Eri assured her quickly before admitting a little shyly, "I don''t have many close friends. The ones I do have, and my extended family, all use chan, so it''s comfortable." "I don''t have very many close friends either," Mizuki confessed after a moment. Sora glanced at Mizuki, and was suddenly very glad that they''d run into her senpai, despite how startling it had felt to see her so friendly with another man. Mizuki added, "But as close as Sora and Takumi-san seem to be, I think we''ll be seeing a lot of each other." Eri grinned as she replied, "I know, it''ll be fun I hope." "Yes," Mizuki agreed happily. They chatted about a variety of things, and remembered to exchange Christmas greetings before they left. -- When they got back to Sora''s apartment, he started undressing her as soon as he closed the door. "Sora?" Mizuki asked with surprise. "You don''t want to?" Sora asked with equal surprise, his hands still cupping her. She quickly assured him, "I do, I just wasn''t expecting you to pounce on me as soon as we got back. And, I didn''t ask earlier, but are we going home in the morning instead of tonight?" He offered, "I can wait if you don''t feel like being pounced on. Do you want to go tonight?" "A little bit? Christmas breakfast is one of our family things," she explained. "Okay," he agreed, and released her. He took a moment to message the rental company the change to his reservation, then walked over and unrolled the bed. He fluffed the pillows, and turned, demanding, "Now come here! We have at least another hour." Mizuki laughed, and he gazed at her completely naked body with surprise, and caught her as she threw herself into his arms. "You tease," he accused. "I''m not teasing Sora, I totally intend to do it with you again," she insisted firmly. He kissed her. 43: Christmas "What do you want to take home?" Sora asked, after he checked the updated reservation and verified that a car was scheduled for delivery soon. "Just you and the empty case," Mizuki assured him with a grin. He laughed and informed her, "I want to pack a little more than that." "Okay," she agreed. "The car should arrive in a few minutes," he added as he started packing his duffel bag. "If there''s anything left in the refrigerator, go ahead and eat whatever you want, then toss the rest. I''ll take out the trash on our way out." "Okay," she agreed again. "But there''s only one pudding left, and some milk, I ate the other two earlier while I was playing." He paused his packing to kiss her for a moment, before holding out a nearly empty box and informing her, "We need to buy more of these again already." Mizuki rolled her eyes at him and asked, "Gee, I wonder why?" "I have no idea," he lied complacently. "Save the milk for me, I''ll drink it." "I''ll eat the pudding then," she volunteered. "You need to restore your energy too," he agreed teasingly. She laughed and ate the last pudding while he finished packing. He drank the last of the milk before locking up and leading her out. They took the trash over to sort into the chutes. "Mind stopping at a convenience store?" Sora asked. "How can you still be hungry?" Mizuki protested. "I''m not, I''m tired and want caffeine for the drive, and we can get more condoms in case things are closed tomorrow," he explained. Mizuki stopped and asked, "Do you want to just take a nap first?" "No. I''m not so tired that I don''t think we''ll be safe," he assured her. "But when I do sleep, I''m not going to wake up until morning." "We could get up really early and get there before breakfast, or skip it," she offered. He hesitated a moment, but then replied, "We can get up early if you''d rather, although at this point we still have to meet the car and I''d have to find it parking. But I think it''ll be fine to just go Mizuki?" "Okay," she agreed. "I was just pointing out that there are options." Sora bent and kissed her again before they collected the car. -- They arrived safely at her parent''s about two hours later, but they weren''t the first to arrive. When they came through the door, they saw that Akane was seated at the table crying, while her mother looked up at them hopefully. "Akane just arrived with only the children, and she won''t stop crying. Your father is still at the bar, and Shinichi-kun had already taken Shizune back to their hotel!" Minori explained in a rush, without even a greeting.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Shusuke sat next to his mother with a pale worried face, and the baby was crying in Minori''s lap. Mizuki pulled out her phone and called her brother-in-law. "Where are you?" she demanded. "At the airport waiting on a 1am flight without my wife!" Kyohei replied bitterly. "Why?" she asked with surprise. "I''m being sent on a last minute business trip, and I couldn''t refuse without quitting my job," he explained miserably. "Can''t you take her with you?" she asked, looking at her tearful sister. "She won''t come!" he protested. "I even demanded a ticket for her, and got the departure and return destination set to the airport where your parents live, so that we could leave the children there. But she insisted that she can''t leave them behind on Christmas! She''s not even Christian!" "It''s just always been a family thing," Mizuki reminded him. "I know," he admitted. After a minute of silent thought she asked, "How long will you be gone?" "Only four days," Kyohei replied with a sigh. "How long do we have to get her to the airport," Mizuki asked abruptly. "No more than another 15 minutes if she''s checking in luggage, another 35 or so without," he replied hopefully. "Buy her some clothes," Mizuki advised, and hung up. She gave Akane an exasperated look, and saw that Sora was hovering anxiously. Akane spoke first. "I can''t go Mizuki! It''s Keishi''s first Christmas!" she explained miserably. "It''s only four days Aka-nee-chan! Even Shusuke can''t count to 25 yet!" Mizuki exclaimed. Shusuke objected, "I can count to ten already." "I know, you''re very smart," Mizuki assured him quickly. To Akane she said with exasperation, "Christmas is a day that we open presents and have breakfast together, it''s not the calendar that matters Aka-nee-chan, go with your husband now, while you still can!" She added more gently, "You can come back and do everything with your children when you get back. We will all wait for you, I promise." Minori assured her eldest daughter, "Mizuki is absolutely right this time Akane, you should go! I don''t mind having Christmas after you get back." Mizuki bit back her protest at the qualifier ''this time'', while Akane sniffled, without responding right away. "But I didn''t pack for it," she finally protested a little weakly. "Stuff a set of clean underwear in your purse and have Kyo-nii-chan buy you some new clothes, but hurry Aka-nee-chan!" Mizuki insisted. She turned and asked, "Sora, can you drive her there?" "Sure," he agreed quickly. Minori instructed Akane firmly, "Go!" Akane went, but only after hugging both her children again, promising she''d be back for Christmas soon, and dripping tears all over them. Sora had been feeling ready to crawl into bed when he and Mizuki had arrived, but the anxious scene had chased sleep from his thoughts. He got Mizuki''s sister to the airport in time, and her husband greeted her with relieved tears and more hugging. At the last minute Akane objected, "I don''t have my passport." Kyohei pulled it out of his pocket, with his, and the ticket receipt. "Stop worrying Akane, let''s go," he replied as he pulled her through. He called back over his shoulder, "Thank you Sora-kun, and tell Mizuki a thousand thanks!" Sora grinned and waved, the same way he would have if Takumi and Eri had been departing, even though they didn''t know each other nearly as well yet. His connection to Mizuki was already tying him to dozens of other people, but it didn''t feel like a bad thing. -- When Sora got back, things were much calmer. After he reported the safe delivery, he asked Mizuki a little tiredly, "Where will we sleep tonight, and will it be soon?" Mizuki hugged him tightly, and told him reassuringly, "We''re going to sleep in my bed like normal. We''ve already set up the little foam futons and tucked them in out here." She pointed to her nephews who were already asleep in the corner. "They''re already asleep?" Sora whispered questioningly. Minori? assured him quietly, "The only thing keeping them awake was how upset their mother was, it is way past their bedtime." He replied with amusement, "Mine too." Mizuki stuck out her tongue, but didn''t confess that it was the same for her. Her mother grinned and added cheerfully, "Since it''s this late, I''ll just wait up for Jun, and explain what happened when he gets home. You two go on to bed." 44: Morning Complications In the morning Mizuki woke up in an almost leisurely fashion, stretched, and then snuggled up against Sora who was still asleep. A moment later Shizune walked in and rummaged in her closet. She turned, and then gasped when she saw Mizuki and Sora cuddled up in bed. Mizuki regarded her sister with amusement and lifted one hand to give her a little wave. Shizune whispered, "Does okaasan know?" Mizuki blinked in surprise and replied quietly, and uncertainly, "If you mean that we''re sleeping together, yes? Sora''s been coming every weekend." "Oh," Shizune said with more surprise than Mizuki had expected, given that she''d chatted about how they were dating now during their weekly exchanges. "You look really pregnant," Mizuki told her with equal surprise. Shizune blushed and pointed out, "Well, I am already six months along." Sora stirred, and murmured, "Mizuki." He ran his hands up her body to caress her, and pressed himself closer before opening his eyes. He froze a moment later. Mizuki blushed a little as she turned toward him, far enough to see his face, and the blank surprise in his expression. He was staring at Shizune, who was still standing in front of the bed, and after a moment he blushed more deeply than Mizuki had ever seen. Mizuki laughed and Shizune fled. The door banged behind her but didn''t latch. Mizuki rolled over and kissed Sora warmly. A few minutes later an uncertain young voice spoke up from the doorway, "Oba-chan? Oji-san? Jii-jii says breakfast." Mizuki and Sora froze. A little breathlessly Mizuki replied, "Okay, thank you Shu-chan, we''ll get dressed in a minute, can you close the door behind you?" "Yeah," Shusuke replied cheerfully and the door closed silently except for the small click of the latch. After a moment Sora asked plaintively, "Can I get us a hotel room for the week?" Mizuki laughed. -- A few minutes later, as she stood up and started pulling out clean clothes, Mizuki protested, "A hotel room for an entire week would be really expensive Sora." "I might die of embarrassment with the rest of your family visiting," he replied, with his hands over his face. Mizuki stopped, pulled his hands down, and kissed him gently. "It''ll be fine Sora," she assured him. She looked at his face, giggled, and added, "Shizu-nee-chan won''t dare enter without knocking again, and we can make sure to latch the door." "Okay," he agreed after a moment, then sighed and got up to get dressed. -- When they finally entered the main room everyone looked up, and Junshiro grinned at them.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Shusuke informed them, "That was at least eight minutes." Mizuki shrugged, but then took pity on Sora who was staring at her nephew nervously, and replied, "Sorry, I guess I should have told you ten minutes, not a minute." Shinichi said tiredly, "Morning." Mizuki looked at him in surprise, and Shizune explained quickly, "He only got up because we thought we were having Christmas breakfast this morning." "You can go and sleep more in Shizune''s bed, it''s the one with pink flowers, it''s clean," Mizuki suggested kindly. Shinichi looked at his wife hopefully and she asked, "Don''t you want to eat a bit first?" "No," he replied simply. Minori laughed and told her son-in-law, "It''s okay, go sleep some more Shinichi-kun." He immediately crawled to his feet, and entered the room they had just vacated. Minori handed Akane''s baby to Mizuki and asked, "Can you feed him?" Mizuki replied, "Sure? But shouldn''t Shizu-nee-chan be practicing?" Shizune pouted at her and complained, "Don''t use my pregnancy to pawn him off on me please Mizuki. I''m not as tired as Shinichi, but I''m still tired." "Okay," she agreed easily, and settled herself at the table with her youngest nephew in her lap. Sora sat beside her, and then looked at Shizune and blushed a little again. Junshiro laughed and asked, "Were you naked when she went in there?" "We''ve been sleeping naked the whole time," Mizuki informed him calmly. Minori blushed and reminded them, "Children are present." Shusuke apparently felt this was his prompt to speak up on the subject. He informed his family sadly, "Ka-chan won''t let me sleep naked. She keeps making me put my pajamas back on." "Tyrant," Mizuki ruthlessly pronounced her eldest sister, but told him reassuringly, "When you grow up you can wear as much or as little as you want at home." "Until you get married," Junshiro added quickly. Minori rolled her eyes at her husband. -- A while after breakfast Sora asked, "Should we go on another formal date tonight Mizuki? Since it''s a holiday, I should probably make reservations if you would like to." "Yes!" Mizuki agreed enthusiastically, and then kissed him before settling on the floor beside her nephews. Sora looked like he objected to her choice of seat, but didn''t protest. He quickly turned his attention to his phone and browsed through the somewhat limited options. He eventually arranged a reservation, at a place on the far side of town, that advertised seating with views of a Christmas tree display. Mizuki was still occupied with her nephews, so he looked up the availability of the consoles they had been eyeing. A few minutes later he told her unhappily, "We should have bought the consoles early Mizuki." She looked up from where she was playing with the baby and Shusuke, and asked with surprise, "Why? I thought we agreed to wait until tomorrow, after we combine our accounts?" "It''s all sold out," he informed her regretfully. "We are going to have to order it off the net." Mizuki grinned at him, to his surprise, and told him cheerfully, "If the consoles are that popular, maybe you should order them now? I can buy one if it''s too much." "It''s fine, I''ll go ahead then. Sorry we won''t have them to play with right away, there didn''t seem to be much of a rush right after they came out, so I just assumed it wouldn''t be a problem," he admitted a little grumpily. Shizune asked, "What kind are you two getting? Shinichi has one of practically everything. Maybe I can play with you guys sometimes." Sora went ahead and ordered the pair, while they talked about the handheld systems they''d chosen, and the games currently available for it. -- Shinichi got up again about noon, looking much more cheerful. He kissed his wife and asked, "Should we order delivery for lunch so that no one has to cook, with so many of us here?" Junshiro spoke up agreeably, "I favor that plan, there is a pretty good shop nearby too." Mizuki gave her father a look, and he told his youngest daughter firmly, "There is no reason we can''t order food from them just because you''re still mad at Tooru-kun. You are already with someone else anyway. Move on." Mizuki laughed at that, and agreed, "Alright." Sora frowned but didn''t ask anything, despite being fairly certain that the name matched a friend she''d mentioned when they''d met her friend Katsuji. 45: Delivery Mizuki was surprised when Tooru himself delivered the food later. Her family greeted him affectionately. She gave him a cool, but not unfriendly greeting that surprised him. Tooru smiled at her hesitantly and asked, "Has it been long enough that we can go back to being friends Mizuki?" Sora pulled Mizuki into his arms possessively, and told him firmly, "No, she''s mine now." Mizuki gazed up at him with surprise. Sora answered her look a little angrily with, "He hurt you, and he could have stepped up and told the truth to help defend you at any time. Even as just a friend he owed you that Mizuki. He doesn''t deserve to have you take him back." Her family and Tooru all stared at him with shocked expressions, except for her father who nodded thoughtfully, but added, "But she doesn''t have to keep fighting with him either." Sora shrugged and agreed after a moment, "That''s true." After taking a deep breath he added, "And Mizuki can be friends with whoever she wants, but I don''t like you." Mizuki whispered, "I love you Sora." Sora bent and kissed her, while Tooru protested, "All of those rumors about her are not my fault!" Sora stiffened and looked up to glare at him. "It''s okay Sora, I don''t care anymore," Mizuki said cheerfully. He gave her a doubtful look and she added, "Really Sora, it''s fine." "Okay," he agreed after a moment. Tooru eyed them uncertainly, and escaped after a few more minutes of conversation with her mother and sister. -- Shizune told Sora, "I had no idea you were so possessive." Shinichi informed his wife, "I told you how much he hated letting her go." Shizune shrugged and replied, "I thought you were exaggerating?" Shusuke tugged on his grandmother''s hand and asked plaintively, "Can we eat?" Minori agreed, "Yes, in a minute." Mizuki grinned at her nephew and agreed, "We should before it gets cold." She added to the rest of her family, "Sora''s not possessive, he''s just a little overprotective." Junshiro told her with amusement, "Not that his reaction isn''t understandable, but telling someone they can''t be friends with you is possessive." Mizuki frowned, and Sora assured her, "It''s fine Mizuki, I am possessive of you." "You didn''t complain about me trading numbers with Katsuji-senpai?!" Mizuki protested. "And you don''t insist on knowing every detail of my life like the people in possessive relationships who create dramas at school."A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Sora grinned at her and bent to kiss her gently before replying, "That doesn''t mean I''m not possessive of you Mizuki, it just means I trust you." She blushed, and Tama-sama thumped authoritatively on the balcony door. Minori rolled her eyes and complained as she dished up plates for her grandsons, "He knows food was delivered." Shizune asked hopefully, "Can we let him in anyway? I haven''t seen him in ages." "You can let him in, but don''t feed him anything but his own cat food," Junshiro ordered his middle daughter. Shizune went and greeted Tama-sama lovingly before she returned to the table. Shinichi stared at his wife and she asked, "What?" "I had no idea you liked cats," he informed her. A moment later he asked a little plaintively, "Are you planning to have one when we get a house? Is this one yours?" "He''s not mine," Shizune protested quickly. "I''d like to have some sort of pet after the baby is a couple years old? I think it''s good for children to be around them." She added quietly, "But it doesn''t have to be a cat if you don''t like cats?" "I have no idea," Shinichi replied a little nervously, "I''ve never had a pet." Mizuki looked at her sister''s husband with a feeling of surprise that everyone but Shusuke seemed to share to some extent. Shusuke informed his other new uncle, "I have never had a pet either. Ka-chan told me I can get one after I turn five, if I promise to feed it every day though." Shinichi laughed. "That''s a good point. If you get a pet, you have to be in charge of its care, okay Shizune?" "Okay," Shizune replied with a grin, and shyly leaned over to kiss him. Junshiro enquired after a moment, "When you get a house?" Shizune blushed and admitted, "I asked Shinichi if we could move to somewhere close enough that I can visit, and get assistance with the baby if I need it. We''re going to look for houses here this week." Mizuki objected, "And waste the other half a year on your husband''s lease?" Shinichi insisted quickly, "That''s not a problem, and if any of you want to go spend time there during the next half a year if we do find a good place, feel free. Shizune wants to have the baby here, near her mother." Minori commented with amusement, "Her mother will feel a lot more comfortable that way too!" -- When they finally went out for their date that evening, Sora sighed with relief as they got into the car. Mizuki smiled affectionately at him and asked, "Are we tiring you out Sora?" He shrugged and told her, "I''m not tired exactly, but I think I''m not used to dealing with so many people at once?" Mizuki pointed out a little dryly, "And Kyo-nii-chan and Aka-nee-chan aren''t even here." "Sorry," Sora replied apologetically. Mizuki reached out to pat his arm gently and insisted, "You don''t need to be sorry for finding a whole day with my family overwhelming Sora." -- They had left a little early so that they would have time to find parking, but they got lucky and found a place right away. They decided to go walking through the Christmas tree display until their reservation was ready. "It''s too bad it''s not snowy, this is pretty but it would be really beautiful with snow," Sora commented after a bit. Mizuki agreed, but complained with mild disgust, "It''s not supposed to snow until next weekend." Sora grinned and reminded her, "I''ll still be here then, so maybe we can see our first snow together soon." Mizuki''s face lit up, and he caressed her cheek and told her, "I really want to pick you up and kiss you right now." "Okay, but just for a minute," she said agreeably. He scooped her up before she could change her mind and kissed her deeply for more than a minute. When he finally let her down, she laughed and told him, "I love you Sora." "Me too," he agreed. "You''re so adorable, and you look so sexy that I wish we were going back to my apartment instead of your bedroom with everyone present." "Sorry, I work in the morning, there wouldn''t be time to drive back and forth," Mizuki replied apologetically. "I know," he assured her. "Shall we go claim our reservation?" "Yes," Mizuki agreed cheerfully. 46: Violence The restaurant that held their reservation wasn''t as high profile as the one with the view of the city had been, but it was quietly classy. The scents wafting on the air made their mouths water before they even reached their table. They were seated in a cozy spot suitable for a couple, even though there were families to either side. When their waiter presented himself, Mizuki took one look and froze in surprise. She glanced at Sora and almost said something, but held back. She could only remember the way he had told her on their first night together, "I want to beat the crap out of him." She couldn''t help ordering rather nervously, but the young man who had once been horrid to her did his job efficiently and without comment. Once he moved on to his next table, she finally relaxed enough to enjoy the food and the view of the plaza. Mizuki had been drinking her beverage too quickly at first, and found that she needed to empty her bladder before she could order dessert. She explained with embarrassment, "I need to visit the restroom, I''ll be right back." "Alright," Sora agreed. "If you don''t get back in time, you may have to eat whatever dessert I order for you," he warned her with amusement. Mizuki grinned at him and agreed, "Okay!" Sora cheerfully took her things to keep with him, and Mizuki hurried off. -- Mizuki was just exiting the cubicle to wash her hands when he grabbed her. She hadn''t even realized that anyone else had entered the restroom. He lifted her up by the wrists, and slammed her face forward into the wall beside the sinks, pinning her with his body. She was so shocked that she couldn''t even breathe, let alone scream. She tried to kick backwards, but she couldn''t seem to get enough momentum behind the movement while pinned against the wall. He simply ripped her underwear off instead of trying to remove them, and shock paralyzed her for a critical moment. He seemed a lot stronger than she remembered. She wasn''t able to stop him, it was already too late. She drew in a shuddering breath and struggled to force herself to scream. Her lungs seemed to be failing her as he growled harshly, "You little slut! You think I''m going to let you bring your new guy here to flirt in front of me, without punishing you?" She finally screamed. Sora slammed into the restroom a few seconds, or an eternity later. He grabbed the man who held Mizuki and threw him sideways into the sink. Mizuki slid down the wall and started to cry. Sora touched her shoulder for only a second, then he spun, and kicked the man lying on the floor. Mizuki turned when she heard the impact, and saw Sora rebalancing to make another kick. She leapt to her feet, wrapped her arms around Sora''s waist, and begged him, "Stop!"Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. "Stop!?" he asked angrily and incredulously "He''s unconscious, and if you kill him, you''ll go to jail, and I need you Sora!" she cried. She clung to him even though she knew exactly how ineffective her strength was. He yielded to her pull, turned back to her to scoop her up into his arms, and pressed his face into her hair. Other people entered the restroom moments later, and they were forced to wait for the police to show up. A report was deemed insufficient when the man on the floor couldn''t be woken, and they were taken to the station to be questioned further. -- Mizuki insisted that she wanted to file charges for rape, but the officer who was dealing with her informed her doubtfully, "He told his co-worker that his girlfriend had come to flaunt another man in front of him." "We broke up last year!" Mizuki objected. "I think you''ll have better luck with a domestic violence charge," he recommended kindly. Mizuki stared at him incredulously. "We''ll find out if he wants to press assault charges against your new boyfriend when he wakes up, but he probably will," he added. Mizuki refused to reduce the accusation she wanted to make, and demanded to fill out the paperwork anyway. -- When they were finally allowed to leave the station, Mizuki clung to Sora''s hand and asked tearfully, "Can we get a hotel room, I don''t think I can look at my parents right now." "Okay," Sora agreed simply. She wondered guiltily if he felt as tired as she did. Sora dealt with everything. He got the car, he got her to the only decent hotel room he could find on Christmas night, and he informed her parents that they were staying out overnight. -- When he set her gently on the bed she finally sobbed, "I''m sorry Sora." "It is not your fault Mizuki!" he objected immediately. She hadn''t spoken again since they had left the police station, but he had been afraid to ask. "I was within ten meters of you the whole time and I couldn''t protect you," he told her miserably as he knelt in front of her. She gave a shuddering, tearful laugh, and asked, "Why would you have thought you would need to protect me for a brief visit to the restroom? I didn''t think I needed you to protect me!" "Mizuki," he said helplessly, and just hugged her tightly. "I''m sorry Sora, you were right, I couldn''t do anything, I couldn''t even scream at first," she said in a tearful flood against his shoulder. "It''s not your fault," he repeated. "Isn''t it? I didn''t ask to leave the restaurant when I saw him. And I didn''t tell you who he was because I didn''t want you to hit him in the middle of our date," she admitted miserably. "It''s not your fault!" he insisted again. "What can I do to make you feel better?" She couldn''t find an answer at first. "Can we take a shower?" she asked after a little bit. "Yes, of course," he agreed. "I''m sorry, I can''t seem to stop crying," she apologized as he stood. "It''s okay," he assured her. "There''s a soaking tub too, if you''d rather?" Mizuki actually looked around the room for the first time and asked a little incredulously through her tears, "Are we in a honeymoon suite?" "Yes," Sora replied as calmly as he could. "It''s Christmas night Mizuki, big couple''s dating holiday? There were hardly any places available," he informed her with somewhat shaky amusement. "It must be so expensive," she complained as she got to her feet and pressed herself against him. Sora caressed her gently and informed her, "I''d have paid a thousand for one night tonight, this is nothing." Mizuki couldn''t help giving a shaky little laugh. Sora asked again, "Shower or tub?" "Shower first," she whispered, even as her tears soaked through his shirt. 47: Tremulations They took a shower together, as usual, as though nothing had changed. Mizuki found herself afraid to speak, afraid that Sora might withdraw. Sora washed Mizuki gently with a worried expression. When her tears finally stopped he kissed her softly, and then turned off the shower. He wordlessly dried them both off, and carried her to the bed, where he laid her down and began kissing her. He started by covering her face in little kisses and then worked his way down her body. After a little while she asked, "What are you doing Sora?" He pushed up so he could look into her face, and told her seriously, "What you did to me after I told you I''d been sleeping around. It doesn''t matter who has touched you Mizuki, you''re mine." She started to cry again as he resumed kissing her, and told him achingly, "I really love you Sora." He stopped his kisses long enough to tell her, "I love you too, always, no matter what." She didn''t want to acknowledge the moment of hesitation that she thought she detected when he lifted himself up and met her eyes. A moment later she found herself asking, "Will you come inside me tonight?" The possibly imagined hesitation turned into startled silence. "Why?" he finally asked. Her answer spilled out miserably, "I don''t think he came inside of me, but if I wind up pregnant later, I want to be able to think it''s yours?" When Sora took a deep breath and sat up, Mizuki''s hands covered her face as though she could hide from his reaction. He spoke her name, "Mizuki." When she didn''t react, his fingers caressed her hair gently. After a moment she lowered her hands, and met his eyes. He bent over her and kissed her gently on the mouth. When she started to tremble he pulled back and told her firmly, "Any baby you have will be ours. You don''t have to try to get pregnant right now." "I can''t¡­ Please Sora?" she begged tearfully, without being able to explain why she needed to be able to deceive herself. He gazed into her eyes helplessly, as though he could read everything that she couldn''t put into words somehow, and finally agreed, "Okay." -- Mizuki couldn''t quite find the words to describe how relieved she felt by how ordinary the pleasure he gave her was. Afterward, they soaked in the tub for awhile together. Mizuki sighed and told Sora a little unhappily, "This is so nice." He eyed her doubtfully. "You don''t have to try to pretend that you''re not hurt. I should have been gentler¡­" "I''m okay!" she assured him. "I just wish we were here for a happier reason." Sora petted her. "We are here because we love each other, and needed some time alone Mizuki. The awful part before we got here doesn''t change that," he assured her. Mizuki looked up into his face and told him again, "I really love you Sora." "I really love you too," he assured her. After a while, he let his hands wander. A little while later Mizuki demanded, "Stop teasing me Sora and do it."The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. He was more gentle with her this time. She cried out when she came, and it triggered his release. He grinned at her a little smugly after he recovered his breath. Mizuki looked at the water around them, which now appeared to have been sprinkled with something translucent, and asked, "What is that?" "Sperm?" Sora suggested dryly. "You came inside of me," she objected. He laughed helplessly and asked, "Do you understand what you''ve asked me for tonight now?" He kissed her and added a little anxiously, "I''ve already filled you with thousands of chances to have a baby, so many that they are overflowing into our bath water." Mizuki smiled happily at him and reached up to caress his face. "Thank you Sora," she told him seriously. "I know you''re not ready to have a baby, so thank you, I know you only did it for me." Sora laughed and insisted, "Stop thanking me for doing you Mizuki. I always want to do you." She wrapped her arms around him and nestled closer, reluctant to climb out of the water, even if it seemed a little dirty. He petted her and asked, "How are you feeling physically?" "Like I want to do it again already" she suggested a bit wantonly. "I mean are you hurting anywhere?" Sora asked as he lifted her face so that he could see her expression. She shook her head but then paused and admitted, "My nose hurts a little, and I think my wrists will bruise." "I''ll get you some ice," he promised as he lifted her out of the water. Mizuki repressed her instinctive protest, and Sora rubbed her dry with a couple of fluffy towels. She felt a little guilty about letting him baby her, as he tucked her into the bed, before pulling on his pants. She grabbed his sleeve after he pulled on a shirt, but after a moment she forced herself to let go. "I''ll be right back, it''s only down by the elevators," he assured her as she looked up at him anxiously. He bent to kiss her deeply, and then asked, "Okay?" "Okay," she agreed. It only took him a couple of minutes, but she heaved a sigh of relief when he returned. -- Mizuki fell asleep after a few minutes under the ice packs Sora rigged up for her. He felt a bit guilty about having waited so long to tend her actual wounds, and stayed awake to exchange the ice for a warm towel every twenty minutes, for a couple of hours. -- Mizuki''s alarm went off too soon and she woke up disoriented and confused. If Sora hadn''t been wrapped around her she thought she might have panicked. He woke up a moment later and caressed her as she moved to turn off her alarm. She told him, "Get up Sora, I need to go home for work clothes." After a moment he replied reluctantly, "Okay." Mizuki''s father called him while he was half dressed. Sora answered it with surprise, without bothering with a shirt first. Jushiro looked at his image for a moment before snapping coldly, "The police called and asked which hospital or clinic you''ve taken Mizuki to." "I haven''t taken her to one," Sora admitted numbly. After a startled moment that was followed by a heavy feeling of resignation, Mizuki pushed into the view, and insisted defensively, "I asked Sora to bring me to a hotel instead." "Why haven''t you gone?" her father demanded. "No one even suggested it," she objected uncertainly. Sora covered his face for a moment and then replied to Junshiro, "I''m sorry, all I can say is I don''t think I was thinking clearly either. It didn''t even occur to me." Junshiro sighed after a moment, looked his youngest daughter over worriedly, and replied, "Your face is bruised enough to show up even on this tiny screen Mizuki, go to the hospital." She stiffened and replied, "There''s not enough time, I need to go to work, and I need clothes." Sora overrode her by asking, "Which hospital should I take her to, and can you bring her work clothes there?" "Just call in sick," Junshiro advised, before recommending the place his wife took the children to for emergencies. "I don''t need to call in sick," Mizuki protested. Sora looked down at her and told her seriously, "I should have taken you in last night, and I''m not going to say you can''t go in to work after the examination Mizuki, but you should still go." Her father protested, "Let her take the day off work." Mizuki objected, "I don''t need to!" When Junshiro began to argue, Sora snapped, "Let her do what makes her feel normal!" Her father admitted reluctantly, "I didn''t think about it that way. Okay, I''ll bring her work clothes." "Thank you," Mizuki said with relief. Junshiro told her unhappily, "I''m the only one who knows yet Mizuki, but you''d better plan on telling? your mother later, or I will." 48: Dealing At the hospital''s urgent care clinic, Sora and Mizuki were yelled at for destroying evidence, or at least scolded harshly. Mizuki''s wounds were declared minor and well treated. They also gave her a morning after pill, to her surprise. She felt guilty over what she had put Sora through, until she read about the chances of its success. Eighty percent was good odds, but no guarantee. Mizuki was forced to obediently agree to visit a therapist later, before being released to go to work, but her father had arrived with her work clothes before she finished the paperwork. After changing her clothes in a restroom stall, she found that she was actually feeling pretty normal. She was a little late when Sora and her father dropped her off, but only a few minutes. Sora stopped her before she went in and asked anxiously, "Does that creep know where you work Mizuki?" "Not that I know of," she assured him with a quick hug. "I didn''t start this job until fall, and he graduated last spring." "Okay." He kissed her gently before letting her go. -- After Mizuki was gone, Sora turned to her father and asked uncomfortably, "How much did the police tell you?" Junshiro sighed and informed him, "Not much. They called to ask if I wanted them to process the rape charges my daughter filed the night before," he gave Sora a hard look, "or if she had cooled off." "I hope you said ''hell yes''," Sora replied angrily. "I wish I''d killed him!" Junshiro looked startled. After a moment he replied calmly but firmly, "I did tell them to process it." Sora heaved a relieved sigh. Junshiro added, "Afterward they asked about where they should get the records from. When they realized that I didn''t know, they tried to end the call, but I convinced them to let me contact her first. They didn''t want to give me any details though." Sora took another deep breath before asking in a calmer tone, "What did they tell you?" "That when they went to check on Mizuki''s ex this morning, he had vanished from the hospital he had been taken to, so they were ready to consider processing her charges," Junshiro replied unhappily. "Fuck," Sora cursed sharply, and took a step toward the doors before stopping himself. Junshiro looked at his clenched fists and asked, "What actually happened?" Sora took a deep breath and said achingly, "I couldn''t protect her. I didn''t even know there was anything wrong until she screamed. It was so faint that I half wondered if I had imagined it, and was about to get in trouble when I opened the door to the women''s bathroom." Junshiro reached out hesitantly and placed a hand comfortingly on his shoulder. Sora didn''t shake him off, but he didn''t meet his eyes.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. "He had her pinned to the wall¡­" Sora took a shuddering breath, but he described the way he had kicked the man while he was down, and how Mizuki had been the one to stop him. Junshiro said hesitantly, "It''s not your fault." "It kind of is," Sora objected bitterly. "She didn''t tell me who he was or ask to leave because she didn''t want me to cause a scene and hit him when I found out." Junshiro took a sharp breath and asked, "What did he do to her before that would have made you hit him? All I know is that she dated some kid from her school for a while. He would never take her invitations to come to our place, and her sister referred to him as ''that jerk'' after they broke up." Sora replied angrily, "She told me that he called her a slut and demanded a blow job in public!" After a moment he added more calmly, "I think I''d rather you don''t tell her I just told you that." "Okay," Junshiro agreed. "Let''s go home Sora-kun," he suggested gently. "If we are really letting her go to work normally, we can''t hang out in the parking lot all day. She''ll get mad." Sora protested anxiously, "But you said that they don''t have him in custody anymore!" "I will call back the officer who called me, and inform him that she went to work after her hospital exam," Junshiro assured him. "They had better damn well not let anything happen to her here after letting him go!" Junshiro called, and the officer answered the older man''s sharp words in tired tones. Both he and Sora were relieved to hear that they had at least verified that the young man had already taken a train out of town. The officer told Junshiro a little apologetically, "It seems like maybe he was guilty of the charge after all." Junshiro replied sharply, "My daughter wouldn''t lie. I knew he had done it when you told me she had filed the charges." When he ended the call he looked at Sora and admitted wryly, "I just wasn''t positive that you weren''t the ex in question at first." Sora eyed Mizuki''s father for a moment, and assured him "I''ll never intentionally hurt her." The guarded promise felt weak, but he had already made her cry so often that he couldn''t promise more. Junshiro assured him simply, "That''s all you can do." As he got into the car, he asked more hesitantly, "Do you think she''s in denial, insisting on going into work like that?" Sora shrugged. "I don''t know. Last night was kind of awful, at first she kept apologizing like it was her fault, and she cried for a long time. After that she was much calmer, except she was afraid to be left alone while I got ice. If I have to guess, I think she''s proving that she can still go to work?" Junshiro gave him another wry smile and agreed, "That sounds like Mizuki." When they got home Junshiro stopped Sora outside, and recommended, "I think you should go into the therapy appointment with her, or at least schedule your own. You are probably almost as angry and scared as Mizuki is." After a minute Sora agreed quietly, "I already planned to go with her if they''d let me." -- Sora spent an uncomfortable day with Mizuki''s family. When he got ready to go to work Junshiro asked Sora, who was trying to avoid being left alone with the baby while Shizune and Minori went and did some shopping, "Do you want to come to the bar with me instead? I could teach you a little if you''re interested." Sora looked at him gratefully but hesitated for a minute. "I''m not sure¡­" "Mizuki said once that you limit yourself to one drink a day, do you have a drinking problem?" Junshiro asked directly. Sora shrugged and replied honestly, "Not yet, but it was becoming a habit and I don''t want to develop a problem." Junshiro smiled. "The first secret to being a good bartender is: don''t drink on the job. Want to come along?" "Yes," Sora replied immediately. After they exited the apartment he added, "Thank you for inviting me." Mizuki''s father grinned up at him. "This is all just a plot to make you useful to me later, when I need someone to fill in, and you''re hanging around the house." Sora laughed. 49: Loving When Sora arrived to pick up Mizuki after work, they both let out a sigh of relief, and then laughed a little. Sora bent to kiss her and asked, "Are you okay? How was it?" "Normal, tiring, and I''m exhausted," Mizuki replied as she cuddled into him. "I almost got left with the baby, but your father invited me to go to the bar and start learning the basics of his job," he told her. "How was it?" she asked with interest. "He never lets me go there." Sora brushed her hair back gently and replied ruefully, "Because you''re too young." Mizuki glared up at him and demanded, "Give it a rest Sora, I''m getting older as fast as I can!" He laughed and bent for another kiss. "I know. I love you. Keep up the good work for the next eighty years, okay?" "I''ll try," she agreed . "So¡­ How was it?" "Surprisingly similar in some ways to being a waiter, completely different in others, and kind of noisy," he informed her affectionately as he held open the door.. On the way home Mizuki admitted, "I got called in to talk to the manager, after I put in for the time off for the therapy appointment." "And?" Sora asked after a moment. "I think he thinks I''m quitting at the end of break because I''m pregnant," she complained indignantly. "But I didn''t realize it until he was finished, and then I didn''t know how to tell him I''m not." "You don''t know that you''re not," he pointed out uncomfortably. Mizuki looked at him with a startled expression and then blushed. "I''m sorry," she apologized after a minute. Sora demanded with exasperation, "Never ask me to try knocking you up again Mizuki, if you''re going to apologize afterwards." "But you don''t want kids yet and I won''t know for sure for a few weeks yet," she protested. "I already accepted that you might get pregnant when I agreed to do it," Sora replied calmly. "I admit, I''m hoping you don''t and we can wait a few years, but it''s fine. You don''t have to apologize to me Mizuki." Mizuki blurted, "I love you so much Sora." He grinned and replied, "Good, because I plan to stick to you annoyingly?." After a minute Mizuki asked in a subdued tone, "Because I was wrong about being able to protect myself?" Sora glanced at her and asked, "Should I pull over or can you wait until we get there to talk about this?" "I can wait," she assured him quickly. When they pulled up outside the apartment a few minutes later he released his seatbelt, turned to her, and asked, "Want to talk inside or in the car?" "In the car?" Mizuki replied hesitantly. Sora held out his arms and Mizuki scooted across the gap. He cuddled her against his chest before admitting, "I am scared because you couldn''t protect yourself, and I couldn''t protect you. I can''t swear that I won''t be overprotective for a while, maybe forever. I don''t know, but I''ll try not to be." Mizuki buried her face in his shoulder, and admitted in a muffled voice, "I was scared every time someone walked up behind me today." "You could just stop going to work sooner," Sora suggested. "What can they do, fire you for quitting?" "I don''t want to stop because I''m scared Sora," Mizuki protested. He smiled wryly. "I just want you to feel safe and happy," he told her firmly. "Me too. But I think it''s going to take awhile," Mizuki admitted. "I know. Don''t worry about it too much, okay?" Sora requested. Even though he had been distracted for most of the evening, he couldn''t help feeling anxious again, but he didn''t want her to feel anxious. "I''ll try," she agreed. He kissed her for a minute, before suggesting, "Let''s go in and I''ll rub your feet?" Mizuki smiled and nodded. -- That night Mizuki somewhat reluctantly informed the rest of her family about the incident. She spoke as though she were reporting a traffic accident. Although she did assure them that she already had the therapy appointment scheduled.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Sora was surprised that the children were included in the discussion at first, but when he stopped to think about it, hiding it would surely have been worse. They shouldn''t be taught to hide the fact that someone hurt them. -- The next day, Mizuki and Sora returned from the therapy appointment angry, but not with each other. Minori asked anxiously, "What happened?" Sora replied angrily, "They kept asking things in a way that implied Mizuki should take responsibility for being attacked!" "They?" Shizune questioned. "They assigned us two therapists because we went in together, and they demanded that we start out separated," Mizuki explained. "The one I had mostly asked normal stuff while we were alone," Sora admitted more calmly after a moment. Mizuki grumped, "Mine was being kind of a jerk the whole time I felt like. Asked me mostly about what our relationship had been like while we were dating last year. Then she wanted to know if Sora has been pressuring me into sex! And she kept demanding I give her details!" Minori replied hesitantly, "It doesn''t sound like it was very helpful?" Sora sighed, ran a hand through his hair, and admitted, "I don''t know. Maybe they meant well, or this is helpful for other people, but I feel like they were just poking at her." Shizune suggested hesitantly, "Maybe they felt like you weren''t being open with them Mizuki? And were asking about a variety of things, trying to get you started on one?" Mizuki glared at her sister for a moment, but then covered her face and shrugged. Sora replied unhappily, "I don''t know how Mizuki''s private session was, but when they spoke to us together, I really felt like they were either trying to make her cry or piss her off." "We only stayed for the whole thing so that they wouldn''t give me another mandatory appointment," Mizuki added as she dropped her hands. She still looked angry. "You could schedule one with someone else, even if it isn''t mandatory," Shizune pointed out. Mizuki flopped down at the table and asked plaintively, "Can''t I just talk to my sister who took a bunch of psychology courses for some weird reason?" Shizune pointed out nervously, "I just took those because I was trying to decide if I wanted to get a degree to work in child care instead of sticking with the tea shop." Mizuki laid her head on the table, and muttered less forcefully, "Can I just consider it if I can''t get over being scared and jumpy in a few weeks?" Sora rubbed her back and assured her, "That''s fine with me." Minori agreed, "As long as you do try it again if you''re not getting over it Mizuki." "Okay," she agreed, and closed her eyes and soaked up Sora''s petting for a little bit. After awhile she asked, "Where are to-san, Shinichi-san, and the boys" "Jun took the boys to the park a while ago, since he has the day off," Minori replied. Shizune added, "Shinichi is out looking at houses." Mizuki sat up and asked questioningly, "Without you?" Shizune blushed as she admitted, "I threw up after the third one that we visited yesterday, so Shinichi decided that it''s too hard on me to see them all and that he''ll sort out the best ones and arrange for me to see only those later." "Are you healthy?" Mizuki asked worriedly. "I''m fine, I tried to tell Shinichi I''m fine too," Shizune assured her quickly. "There was just an awful smell outside that one, and sometimes strong smells or tastes make me throw up right now." -- Later, cuddled up in Sora''s arms on her bed, Mizuki blurted suddenly, "We forgot about combining our accounts. To-san had the whole day off too." "It''s okay Mizuki," Sora said reassuringly, and petted her gently. "You''ve been petting me a lot," she observed quietly. "Do you not like it?" he asked. "I love it Sora, but you''re going to spoil me, and I''ll complain that you never pet me anymore later," she informed him as she flattened herself against him. He coaxed her up far enough to kiss again, and then told her uncertainly, "I''m glad that you like it, but I think maybe I''ve been doing it so much because it reassures me that you''re safe beside me?" Mizuki kissed him gently before replying thoughtfully, "No one ever talks about rape much in the first place, but other than in movies and stories where the men just get angry that someone touched their woman, I don''t think I''ve ever heard anything about how the woman''s partner deals with it?" Sora assured her, "I''m plenty angry that someone touched my woman Mizuki. It would have caused other problems, but I''d have been happy to have heard that I killed him when I threw him into that sink." She pushed herself upright and stared at him for a minute. He covered his face with his arm and said, "I''m sorry." Mizuki laughed and he dropped his arm and gazed at her in surprise as she assured him firmly, "Sora, I''m glad you didn''t kill him, so that we don''t have to deal with even more right now." She blushed as she admitted guiltily, "But it makes me feel really good that you feel that way. I think I like you being possessive of me." Sora abruptly pulled her back down beside him and kissed her hard. "I''ve been trying to be gentle, but I really want to right now," he told her quietly. "Do me Sora," she agreed compliantly. Looking back, she felt confident that he would always ask, and never attack her without warning. Even during the most distressing and embarrassing of their intimate moments, she had felt safe. -- Mizuki cried out, and clapped her hands over her own mouth. Sora gently pried her hands off her mouth and kissed her until she moaned again. He laughed and suggested, "If you can''t hold it in, you could bite me next time instead of covering your mouth?" "But you said you don''t like mixing pleasure and pain," Mizuki objected. "I''ve been careful not to bite or claw you Sora," she informed him. He gazed at her with such a startled expression that she laughed and asked with embarrassment, "Is that not what you meant?" "I also meant things like that," he swiftly assured her. "But not completely? As long as you''re not drawing blood or leaving wounds it''s probably fine." A little shyly she bit him lightly and asked, "Like this?" "Yes, that''s fine, or even a little harder," he replied. After a few moments of enduring her tentative experiments he rolled onto his back. "Come here," he demanded. Because she was playing around, it took awhile. Afterward Sora told her, "I adore you so much." Mizuki smiled smugly as she cuddled down against him to sleep. 50: Family Tuesday morning Akane and Kyohei returned. Akane greeted her children with hugs and happy tears. Sora observed quietly to Mizuki, "You weren''t kidding about how much she cries." Mizuki giggled as she shook her head. Breakfast continued despite the tears and greetings. A while later Mizuki was startled when Kyohei swept her into his arms, as she headed into the kitchen with her breakfast plate. "Are you okay Mizuki?" Kyohei asked quietly and seriously without any extra words. "I''m okay," she assured him after a startled moment. "Your mother told Akane when she called to talk to Shusuke," he explained. "Oh," Mizuki replied with embarrassment. Kyohei scolded her gently, "You don''t have to be embarrassed about it Mizuki, you wouldn''t be embarrassed if you had been attacked with a knife or a gun would you? This is no different. It was an attack meant to cause you pain, and only that." "I love you Kyo-nii-chan," Mizuki confessed suddenly. He grinned and kissed her cheek and replied affectionately, "I know darling, I love you too." "Stop snuggling in the kitchen like newlyweds," Akane complained. Mizuki rolled her eyes at her sister and informed her, "I''m going to do more than snuggle in the kitchen when I''m a newlywed." "Are you?" Sora asked with interest. "What sort of kitchen will we have?" Mizuki blushed, but replied seriously after thinking for a minute, "I don''t care, but it needs a real refrigerator, and an oven. And a dishwasher would be really nice." Sora laughed and told her, "I''m afraid of what the list would sound like if you did care then." Mizuki walked over and snuggled into his lap. A few minutes later the baby crawled over and patted Sora''s leg demandingly. Sora looked down at him and asked plaintively, "Is he learning to communicate from Tama-sama?" Mizuki laughed and scooped him up so that they were both cuddled into Sora''s lap. After a little while Sora complained mildly, "Both of you together are surprisingly heavy. And if you''re going to work shouldn''t you get dressed Mizuki?" Mizuki reluctantly extricated herself and set the baby back in Sora''s lap before she walked over to her room. Shinichi looked at Sora''s betrayed expression and asked, "Can I try holding him for a little while?" "Absolutely!" Sora replied and transferred the baby to him quickly, before he changed his mind. He stood up and followed Mizuki without a word of apology. Shinichi cuddled the baby hesitantly and the baby looked at him with a worried expression. Akane told Shinichi, "You need to relax, you''re making Keishi worried too." "It''s my first time holding a baby, or any small child," Shinichi admitted nervously. "Why did you decide to, all of a sudden?" Kyohei asked with amusement. Shinichi shrugged and glanced at his wife''s expanding belly.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. When nothing bad happened, and with both of his parents talking cheerfully with this person, the baby relaxed and settled down in Shinichi''s lap. A few minutes later he fell asleep. Shinichi gazed at him with amazement and held him carefully. Shizune watched her husband fondly and grinned at her older sister. -- The apartment felt crowded that night at supper. Sora had helped Minori cook again, and quietly listed his contributions to Mizuki when she asked. After Shusuke fell asleep, Akane confessed, "We''re pretty sure I''m pregnant again, and that''s why I''ve been getting upset so easily lately." "Just take a test?" Mizuki suggested with wide eyes. "Again, so soon?" Minori asked anxiously. Kyohei admitted with embarrassment, "We haven''t been being as careful as we could have been. We were just using the rhythm method while she was nursing." Akane blushed and added, "The home test said that I am, but I want to go in for an exam when we get home to be sure." Mizuki informed her sister and brother-in-law dryly, "I don''t think that you should hope that you''ll get upset less often if you''re having three children." Kyohei laughed at her and hugged his wife affectionately. "More of a problem is where we''ll put another baby," Akane told them anxiously. "A two bedroom apartment is barely large enough for the four of us, even with the bunk beds. We''ll be forced to get a bigger place, and not just that but everything will get more expensive." Kyohei leaned over to kiss her and told her firmly, "It will be okay Akane, we''ll manage." "Weren''t there three of you here?" Sora asked after a moment. Mizuki nodded. "My bed used to be the top bunk, but when Keishi was born, we sanded and repainted the bunk beds and gave them to Aka-nee-chan." "Our place right now is a little smaller than this," Kyohei explained. -- Wednesday morning they had Christmas breakfast before Mizuki went to work. They had talked about pushing it out another day, until Mizuki was off work, but since Friday was the New Year they decided to go ahead. Tama-sama reigned regally over the proceedings. He accepted the tidbits Shusuke fed him, when he thought no one was looking, as his due. His reliable minion Shizune also contributed to his feast. Even Junshiro gave him a scrap of fat. Mizuki told Sora quietly, "I can''t tell if you''re excited or nervous?" "Both," he replied promptly. "Why are you nervous?" Mizuki asked. "I don''t know, I keep wondering if I chose the wrong things, or forgot anything," he replied quietly. "That stuff doesn''t matter, just being here matters," Mizuki replied promptly. "Easy for you to say, when you already know what you''re getting," Sora teased her. She grinned at him and handed him her present a little nervously. "Okay," she admitted, "I''m a little worried you won''t like it too." He opened the packet and stared at the T-shirt for a moment. Mizuki watched his face anxiously. After a minute he asked hesitantly, "Did you have Shizune-chan bring it?" "No," Mizuki replied nervously. "But I figured I could use it as pajamas if I never saw you again. I got one in my size too, so we can match?" she added hopefully. Sora didn''t reply and she pointed out a little unhappily, "You agreed it was the best of those. You don''t have to wear it if you don''t like it." Sora dropped the T-shirt and pulled Mizuki into his lap. He squeezed her tightly and buried his face in her hair. "Of course I''ll wear it with you sometimes," he said roughly. "I''m sorry I made you wait so long Mizuki. I''m really sorry." She tilted her face up and demanded quietly, "Stop apologizing, and just kiss me Sora." He kissed her thoroughly until Shizune complained, "Will you two stop making out at the table, it''s embarrassing!" Junshiro laughed at his daughters, and kissed his blushing wife while they were distracted. When Mizuki showed her family the little dragon ear rider they all exclaimed over it. With proud enthusiasm, she explained how her friend''s girlfriend had created the design. -- When it was time for her to go to work, Mizuki left reluctantly. She laughed and patted him affectionately when Sora admitted, "I''m glad to escape for a little while. I love your family Mizuki, but it''s a little tiring." "You could take a nap when you get back?" Mizuki suggested. "In that noise?" Sora asked incredulously. "Things will be quieter," Mizuki promised. "Because you''re gone?" Sora teased. Mizuki laughed and protested, "I''m not that noisy! But the baby will probably nap soon, after so much excitement. And Shusuke will play with his new toys. My parents will do the dishes and then go out for a walk like they always do." Sora kissed her for a minute before she got out of the car and promised, "I''ll be waiting when you get off." "I love you Sora," Mizuki told him seriously once more, before she let go. 51: Friends When Mizuki woke up on Thursday morning, Sora told her hesitantly, "Takumi called yesterday afternoon. I forgot to ask last night, but he wanted to know if we would like to go out with him and Eri on New Year''s Day?" Mizuki objected uncertainly, "But then you''ll have to drive back and forth?" He grinned and assured her, "I wouldn''t mind doing that, but Takumi offered to bring Eri here." "Oh," Mizuki replied with a surprised expression. "It sounds fun!" -- For the New Year, over Minori''s mutters about how the year had turned at a different time in her grandparent''s day, they dressed up. Visiting the temple with Eri and Takumi was enough of a special occasion, and Mizuki gazed at Sora in his yukata admiringly. She informed him smugly, "You look absolutely gorgeous Sora." He grinned down at her, and asked, "Why are you so smug?" She squeezed his hand and replied even more smugly, "You''re mine." Sora laughed and then assured her, "You are also very cute like this and I''m glad to be yours." Her hand tightened on his before she took a breath and banished the echoes of contradictory words that she knew Sora would never tell her. She hated that their echoes still popped up on such a joyful day, but knew that as long as she didn''t dwell on it, the memories would fade with time. After Eri and Takumi arrived, Mizuki barely glanced at them before telling Sora, with a touch of jealousy, "I''d rather be beautiful than cute. Even so pregnant, Eri-chan looks both beautiful and comfortable dressed this way." Sora shrugged, and gave his friends a much longer and more appreciative survey than Mizuki had. Then he grinned, and informed her, "Eri-chan is also cute, but if you''re talking beauty, I think Takumi wins?" Mizuki couldn''t help laughing, despite the way Takumi glared at Sora. She pointed out, "If I had said that, you''d be mad." She snuck another look toward Eri and Takumi. "But he does really look beautiful, like a painting or something dressed like this." Sora gave her a wry grin and agreed, "Yeah, when we were younger people would mistake him for a girl, which he hated, but the last couple years of high school, girls were all over him." Mizuki gave Sora a long look, while Eri reached out a comforting hand to her husband, who immediately smiled warmly at her. The two of them headed back down the stairs toward their car. Sora returned Mizuki''s gaze for a moment before asking, "What?" "Nothing," she replied. "Another I-don''t-know nothing?" he asked warily.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. She grinned up at him as she explained, "Probably an I-don''t-want-to-know nothing." He objected softly, "Mizuki." Mizuki reached up and placed her hand against his chest. "I mean it Sora, I don''t need to know. You''re mine now." She pressed her face against him and he hugged her for a moment before she pushed back and told him, "But that doesn''t mean you can''t tell me whatever you want to, just that I don''t need to know?" He grinned suddenly, and assured her gently, "I understand. Don''t worry." "Okay," she replied with relief. Sora took her hand and they caught up with Takumi and Eri. -- Eri and Mizuki coaxed Takumi and Sora into taking more pictures on the temple grounds when it started snowing heavily, before they agreed to retreat into a restaurant. As they left, Mizuki complained reluctantly, "I''d rather eat steamed buns outside in the snow. It hardly ever snows this prettily, with hardly any wind and such huge flakes." Eri patted her belly and said laughingly, "I''d agree with you Mizuki-chan, except I don''t want to get chilled." "Oh, right," Mizuki responded a little nervously, eyeing Eri''s belly. "Being pregnant is pretty inconvenient in some ways I guess." Eri laughed and asked a little bitterly, "Is there any way that it is convenient?" Sora looked at Mizuki and raised an eyebrow. She blushed and stared at the table while replying shyly, "You don''t have to use condoms, you can wear stretchy old clothes anywhere," she glanced up and added, "and Aka-nee-chan says that people are more polite?" Eri blinked at her and then laughed a little, "I guess that''s all true, but I don''t think it''s worth all the discomfort." Takumi reached out and squeezed his wife''s hand affectionately. "Sorry," Mizuki apologized quickly. "It''s okay," Eri assured Mizuki, but she gazed into her husband''s eyes while saying it, and he leaned over and kissed her affectionately. Mizuki looked away in embarrassment, and saw Sora smirking at her. She blushed again. They talked, laughed, and traded little stories of other years across the table. Several assortments of small traditional dishes were consumed, and several tea pots were emptied before they gave up their table again. A bit before midnight the bells began to ring, and everywhere with a good view of the temple filled. The four of them soaked up the sound of the hundred and eight tolls of the bells that were supposed to ring out the year''s troublesome desires as midnight rolled past. Mizuki put more of her heart into the ritual than she had in preceding years. Her desires and fears had given her a rather chaotic year, if you looked at it that way. Not that she intended to avoid having desires, she admitted with a glance at Sora, but letting the old year roll away and starting this one fresh sounded very comforting this year. -- When it was time to say goodbye, Mizuki told the other couple cheerfully, "This is the first time I haven''t spent all of New Year''s ?Day with my family I think. It was pretty fun! Thank you both for driving so far to come out with us." "No problem Mizuki-chan," Takumi replied promptly. "I had fun too," Eri agreed. Sora and Takumi grinned at each other and said their farewells casually, while Eri and Mizuki struggled through them politely. After Takumi and Eri left, Mizuki puffed clouds into the cold air and Sora asked with amusement, "What are you doing Mizuki? Pretending to be a dragon?" "Trying to make a ring," she explained. After a moment she admitted, "But when I was little I did pretend to be a dragon." Sora laughed and informed her, "You are still little." Mizuki glared up at him and replied with mock anger, "Be glad I''m not a dragon, I''d bite you for that kind of comment." He bent down and kissed her, then whispered into her ear, "You can bite me if you want to." Mizuki rolled her eyes at him and he laughed. 52: Settling The next morning, they discovered that Mizuki''s grandparents had come to breakfast. All three of them. Minori was arguing loudly with her mother, while Junshiro''s parents tried to help prepare the table. Shizune and Shinichi looked rather tired and resigned, but Kyohei had already taken his wife and children home the night before, so the apartment was only full, not overflowing. When Mizuki and Sora settled at the table, Mizuki looked at her father questioningly. Junshiro interrupted the fight between his wife and her mother long enough to introduce everyone to Sora, who had merely been introduced as ''a friend'' at the wedding. Junshiro''s mother immediately pinned Sora down with even more questions than she''d asked at the wedding, while he told his youngest daughter, "Your mother is trying to convince her mother to move closer." "Why?" Mizuki asked with confusion. "She''s been having some health problems, and apparently your uncle Toshi and his wife will be going overseas for a couple of years," he explained quickly. Mizuki looked at her grandmother and her mother who had already resumed their argument, and interrupted questioningly, "Why not just move in here when I move out?" Shizune sat forward and exclaimed, "That''s what I suggested! But then okaasan said that she doesn''t want you to move in with Sora-kun until you''re married, and baba says that you won''t want to share a room with an old lady in the meantime." Shizune wasn''t quite as round as Eri had been yet, but Mizuki couldn''t help eying her belly as she pointed out, "It would expand the support group that you''re moving back for too." Minori''s mother gazed at her youngest granddaughter with surprise, and then glanced at her daughter. "There''s no rush," she insisted again, quite firmly. Mizuki turned to her grandmother and insisted, "I''d be fine sharing with you. If you want to move in right away, I can even make more room. I have already taken some of my things to Sora''s place, and can clear out more." Sora took the mention of his name as an opportunity to move back over to where Mizuki was, and pull her into his lap so that she was between him and all her grandparents. Mizuki patted his hands at her waist reassuringly. "Your other grandmother wants to know exactly when we plan on getting married Mizuki," Sora muttered. Mizuki tilted her head back so she could look up at him and asked calmly, "Don''t you think we should plan on doing it this spring Sora?" He looked down at her face questioningly. She laced her fingers into his and shifted his hand downward just a little toward her belly. Sora tensed and swallowed before replying honestly, "I''d rather wait until you''re older Mizuki, but if that''s what you want, we can start planning for it." Everyone at the table except Shinichi began offering opinions about whether it was better to wait or not. Mizuki couldn''t help eyeing her newest brother-in-law curiously. He caught her looking and grinned at her, his amusement easily washing away the tired lines. As her family argued back and forth, Mizuki ignored them all and asked Sora, "Why do you want me to be older? Do you think I''ll change my mind?" Sora looked at her helplessly. "I don''t know exactly," he admitted.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Junshiro turned and asked his daughter a little sharply, "Don''t you love him enough to wait for him Mizuki? If you don''t, I object to you pushing him into getting married." Mizuki frowned at her father. "But it''s fine to rush him as long as I''d be okay with waiting?" She looked up at Sora guiltily and confessed, "I''d rather not wait though." Sora laughed and caressed her cheek. He took a deep breath and let it out again before telling her, "I won''t make you wait Mizuki, I meant it, if that''s what you want, it''s fine. But," he added more anxiously, "I don''t want you to want it just so you can move in with me faster, or because of other reasons." He rubbed her belly. "Okay," she agreed quickly. "I don''t ever want you to regret it," he insisted. "I won''t," she promised. He gazed into her eyes, hesitated, and then complained, "Argh, I don''t know why it makes me so uneasy. It feels like maybe we''re rushing things just because we''re being told that we should." "I don''t feel like I''m willing to marry you because anyone else says it''s a good idea Sora!" she insisted. "I really want to live with you. I miss you every day that we can''t be together." She confessed with chagrin, "I want to rush you very selfishly, but my father is probably right, and I should be more patient and wait for you to be ready. I''m sorry Sora." He abruptly hugged her tightly. "Why do you insist on doing everything backwards," he complained affectionately. "You make me sound like the timid girl in a sappy romance." Mizuki grinned and asked curiously, "Have you watched many sappy romances? I get irritated with the characters, so I usually avoid them." "If I answer that, you''ll get mad," he warned her. "Why?" Mizuki asked curiously. Sora gave her a look, and Junshiro''s father snickered and told his granddaughter knowingly, "He watched them all while on dates with other girls." His wife poked him and said dryly, "You''d know of course, you player." Her grandfather grinned at his wife and reminded her, "I''ve been happily married for more than six times as long as I spent dating, I don''t think you can call me a player." He looked at Sora and said, "If she''s the one, keep her." Sora replied promptly, "She is." Shizune suddenly insisted, "I don''t blame you for feeling overwhelmed by Mizuki. Make her wait a little, she deserves it." Mizuki rolled her eyes and ruthlessly dragged the conversation back to her grandmother. She told her mother''s mother firmly, "I really don''t mind if you want to move in. You can hardly snore more than Shizu-nee-chan." "Can''t I just get a cat?" Minori''s mother complained to her family. Minori protested, "But a cat can''t drive you to the doctor, or help you clean the house!" Mizuki asked a little anxiously, "Is it getting that bad?" "It''s not," her grandmother declared firmly. Junshiro''s mother suggested, "Since we live in the same town, and we''re already family, what if you call us when you need assistance? We''ve known each other for ages after all, even if we only see each other around our children." They argued it back and forth for a while, and Mizuki added, "If I do get to move in with Sora this spring, you''ll only be one half hour train ride away. I looked at the local routes when I bought my pass." Minori told her mother firmly, "I guess that would be okay, if Mizuki could visit you every other weekend. But if it gets to the point where you have to go in for treatments every few days, I''d really rather have you here while onii-chan is gone." Eventually Minori''s mother agreed to call her daughter''s in-laws if she needed help, and promised her daughter, "If it really gets that bad, I''ll come stay with you. But you''re worrying about things that haven''t happened yet Minori. I''m doing well enough for now." -- Sunday morning Sora reluctantly got ready to go home. After driving her to work, Sora asked Mizuki hesitantly, "Do you think that you are pregnant after all? I thought you wouldn''t know yet?" Mizuki promptly informed him, "I don''t know Sora. You''re the one who pointed out that I could be, so I''ve been thinking about it more." "Okay," he replied uncomfortably. "I''ll see you on Wednesday night," Mizuki reminded him comfortingly. "I''ll be glad when you finish next week," he said, with his face buried in her hair. She turned her face up and kissed him one last time, before she sighed and went in to work. Her expression lightened as her shift began with a string of small ordinary troubles. It felt normal. 53: Bliss "I''m not pregnant," Mizuki announced when she arrived on Wednesday night. Her period had started, and she felt tired. Sora looked at her face for a minute before replying questioningly, "I''m glad, but you don''t look glad, which makes me feel like me being glad is a bad thing?" She looked up at him and smiled reassuringly. "Don''t worry Sora, it''s fine," she insisted. "It''s not that I''m sad or anything, I''m just kind of tired, I think." "Okay," he replied with a relieved smile, then bent to kiss her gently for a moment. "I''m kind of relieved too. It would have made finishing school more difficult," she assured him when he released her. He smiled and took her hand as they started walking. He was warm, so she leaned into him a little as they walked. "Want me to carry you?" Sora offered teasingly. "It''s tempting," she replied. He gave her a startled look and then scooped her up. She opened her mouth to argue, but then shut it and just cuddled against him, enjoying his warmth. He would make a good father, she thought as he carried her. His relieved expression wrote itself on the back of her eyelids, and she found herself asking, "Do you actually ever want to have kids?" He didn''t reply right away, but she didn''t maneuver so that she could see his expression, she just waited. When he finally replied, his words were reassuring, but not exactly an answer, "I''m glad that we can wait, but I don''t mind having one or two later." She tried to imagine life with their children, and decided that it sounded tiring. Part of her wanted to claim that was only because she already felt tired out right now, but for the first time she wondered if she ever really wanted to have children herself. She loved her nephews, but she was usually glad when they were taken home again. Sora had seemed a bit scared of the baby at first, but he had learned quickly. His own family had been awful to him, but he seemed to be looking forward to his friend Takumi''s child. It was something they needed to discuss more if they were really going to get married this spring, she decided. She didn''t object to having Sora''s child at all, but she wasn''t certain that either of them actually wanted to raise one. After a couple of blocks Sora admitted, "You''re heavy to carry this far." "Put me down," Mizuki instructed promptly. "I don''t want to," he objected without loosening his hold on her. "You need to save a little bit of energy Sora," she assured him coaxingly.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. "Why?" Sora asked with a teasing grin. "You already admitted that you''re too tired." "I didn''t say that, I just said I''m tired, not too tired," she objected. He kissed her. Mizuki opened her mouth to him demandingly, and he stopped walking and just concentrated on kissing her more deeply. After a minute she complained, "I don''t want to do this on the street Sora, put me down and let''s hurry." He let her down a little reluctantly, and she grinned up at him as she slid down his body slowly, rubbing against him in a very intimate fashion. They both hurried the rest of the way to his tiny apartment. -- Kissing became undressing, and Mizuki''s tired feeling was forgotten for a while. The sturdy shower washed everything away when they reached it, and they did it slower the second time. Despite the currently unlikely chances of starting a pregnancy, they were still careful. Mizuki felt like she passed out from exhaustion, as much as fell asleep, when Sora tucked her into the curve of his arm. He murmured, "I missed you so much, and it has only been three days." -- When Sora''s alarm went off, he groaned. It got persistently louder and he reluctantly sat up. He shut it off, and looked at Mizuki. She opened one eye and asked plaintively, "Can I sleep in?" He smiled at her affectionately and replied gently, "Of course you can." Mizuki''s eye closed and her breathing deepened almost instantly. Sora scrubbed at his face and sighed deeply, before reluctantly climbing to his feet and getting ready for work. Mizuki was still completely asleep when he knelt to kiss her a while later, and whispered, "I love you to death Mizuki." He gently tucked her in more securely, and then left, locking the door behind him. -- When Sora got home from work Mizuki was playing the maze game again on his old console. He asked with amusement, "Did you play this all day." Guiltily she admitted, "I only got up a few hours ago, I slept until afternoon." When she reached the save, he scooped her up and kissed her thoroughly. Instead of removing her clothes, after a minute Sora asked, "Want to go out to dinner?" She hesitated and he watched her face a little anxiously. He wondered if the Police Department in her home town would even answer an inquiry about the man who had evaded them after the assault. Surely they had caught him by now. Even if they hadn''t, the chances of him managing to wind up here were nearly infinitesimal. She looked up, and watched him watching her for a moment, before asking, "Why do you look so worried?" He bit his lip and explained, "I don''t want you to be afraid to go out with me, but I might be a little afraid to take you out again?" "We should go out then," she replied decisively. "Okay," he agreed after only a moment''s hesitation. Mizuki got dressed up without any trace of hesitation. Sora actually found himself laughing when he saw which dress she''d brought, and she grinned at him boldly. "We should also go shopping together sometime, because I only have one dress that affects you this way," she informed him, while reaching out to touch the area where the effect was visible. "Lies," he protested. "You affect me this way in all kinds of outfits." Mizuki smirked up at him and then whispered, "I haven''t put on my underwear yet." -- They got cleaned up again and went out to eat a while later. 54: Sickness Friday afternoon Sora got home from work, entered his tiny apartment as usual, and then stopped to gaze at Mizuki with alarm. She was still asleep in the bed, and she was visibly sweating despite the fact that the room temperature seemed comfortable to him. "Mizuki?" Sora asked worriedly. She responded to the sound of his voice, and woke up enough to toss the cover back far enough to show that she was actually dressed, in a T-shirt and loose pants. "Why are you in bed?" he asked anxiously. Mizuki blinked up at him for a moment, and then replied stuffily, "I seem to have caught a cold. I was just taking a nap Sora." He knelt and kissed her. "You''ll catch it," she complained. He grinned as he informed her, "After everything we did yesterday, I''ll catch it anyway if I''m going to catch it." His smile turned into a frown as he added, "You seem feverish, have you taken your temperature?" Mizuki shook her head and Sora stood up and fetched a thermometer from his little bathroom. After taking her temperature Sora panicked, and exclaimed, "I think I should take you to the hospital!" She frowned at him and protested, "Stop exaggerating. I feel sick, but not that bad!" They argued about it for a little while, and finally Sora insisted on calling her parents. Mizuki glared at him while he explained the situation to her father. Junshiro shortly turned the conversation over to Minori. His wife had been the one who had tended the children through most of their childhood illnesses. Minori gave a string of instructions, and then assured Sora, "If you give her the medicine, and her fever still doesn''t go down in a few hours, then go ahead and take her in. But there''s no need to panic, she often gets fevers when she''s sick." Sora stared at his phone worriedly, but replied, "Okay, thank you." Mizuki''s parents both smiled as they instructed their daughter to behave, and get well soon. Then they bid the man who was so anxiously caring for their youngest daughter fond farewells. -- Minori''s smile fell away as she turned to her husband and asked worriedly, "Do you think I should go down there?" "No," Junshiro replied calmly. "I think they''ll do fine." After a moment she sighed and nodded. "It does sound like it''s probably just a bad cold." "They aren''t afraid to ask for help," he pointed out reassuringly. -- Mizuki glared at Sora as she demanded querulously, "You had to call my parents?!" Sora gave her a baffled look and asked, "Why are you angry? Aren''t they the ones who know the most about taking care of you while you''re sick?"If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. She sighed and complained, "But now they''ll worry, and it''s just a cold." "Sorry," he replied after a moment. He sat back on his heels and informed her, "But I''m already worried. I''m going to go get the medicine your mother suggested, do you want anything else? What have you eaten? What sounds good to eat?" Mizuki shrugged and replied, "I ate the oranges and the crackers you had. I don''t know, some more fruit? Or pudding or soup are the usual kinds of things? But I''m not really hungry." She looked at his worried face and sighed before assuring him, "I''ll eat some of whatever you get, okay?" "Okay," he agreed, and then handed over her phone. "Call in sick for this weekend," Sora instructed fretfully. "It''s the last two days I''ll be working there," she objected. "If you don''t, I''ll take you to the doctor now," he threatened. She rolled her eyes, and then held her hand against her head for a moment before agreeing, "Fine." She called in sick for her last two days of the job, and complained to Sora when she finished, "They are not going to be a good reference after that." "It''ll be okay, you worked very hard," he assured her firmly as he went out the door. -- Mizuki''s fever went down a couple hours after she took the medicine. She ate a bit of the food. Sora cuddled up with her on the futon, and they played games together for a while. Sora wasn''t as anxious when she fell asleep, now that she wasn''t as hot, but settled down beside her so that she could rest. Mizuki was startled when she woke up in the morning to find Sora still seated beside her, playing through a section of one of the handheld games. "Oh, it''s already Saturday," she said after a moment. "Yes, so I let you sleep in," he agreed. "How are you feeling?" She sneezed when she sat up, and he handed her the box of tissues. She shrugged. "Still sick I guess." After she used the bathroom she crawled into Sora''s lap and cuddled into his chest. He kissed her but then went back to his game. "Sora," she complained. "Yes?" he asked. She frowned and looked down while answering, "I don''t know, I want your attention I guess? Sorry." "You have my attention," he replied without hesitation. Mizuki was silent and Sora paused the game and sat looking down into her face quizzically. She avoided his eyes, despite having asked for more of his attention. "Do you want breakfast?" he suggested after a moment. "I want sex," Mizuki replied with flushed cheeks. "But you''re sick," he objected. She shrugged. He cuddled her for a minute before suggesting, "Breakfast first, and then if you still want to?" "Okay," she agreed more cheerfully. -- Sora teased her afterward, "Aren''t women supposed to say ''I don''t want to, I have a headache'' instead." Mizuki admitted after a moment, "It did make my headache worse for a little while." "Mizuki¡­" he complained helplessly. "I really wanted to do it Sora," she insisted as she cuddled against him happily. He looked down at her contented expression and sighed. "Let''s do something quiet for a while then?" he suggested. "Playing games is quiet," she protested immediately. Sora rolled his eyes at her and told her, "I mean relaxing. You are way too intent when you''re playing." "What do you want to do then?" Mizuki asked curiously. He thought for a few minutes and then suggested, with a visible blush, "Want to watch the movie I told you about where they''re doing it in the rain?" "Okay," she agreed questioningly, looking at his blush. Sora added, "It''s a samurai movie, but it''s basically porn with plot. It is one of my favorites though." Mizuki laughed. He made hot tea before they started. Mizuki looked at her cup and asked, "You made hot tea? But you bought lots of cold tea?" He sat and cuddled her for a moment before responding, "Hot is better while you''re sick though." 55: Provocative Movie They started the movie on the same screen that usually displayed their console game sessions. Mizuki glanced up at Sora''s face with amusement, when she saw the opening scene of a girl bathing. He shrugged as he grinned down at her. A handsome samurai went to tell his teacher that he would be leaving for the next battle. Afterward, he sat on the porch and watched the rain for a while. His teacher''s daughter came out and approached him without speaking. She opened her Kimono in front of him, displaying her bare body, and his physical reaction was immediate and visible. Neither of them made a sound as she stepped forward, and then unfastened his clothes enough to mount him. The storm became fiercer and blew over them. Instead of cutting away, as it would have in most of the movies Mizuki had seen, the camera watched them having sex in the rain until they finished. The samurai went off to war, and died gallantly not long afterward, with a long death scene. With his last words he begged his friend, whom he had just saved, to take care of the girl he''d left behind. When the notification came home, the girl sank to the ground sobbing. Her father berated her for being overdramatic, and she tearfully revealed that she was expecting the handsome young man''s child. Her father promptly disowned her, but rather than simply abandoning her, he dragged her off to her lover''s family and demanded that they take responsibility for her. The samurai''s eldest brother agreed to take the girl in at his wife''s urging. There was no love between the man and his wife, who was miserably pregnant. The woman spoke briefly of how the girl could take her place in wifely duties. The samurai''s second brother tried to claim the girl as his own concubine instead, when she was presented to the household. After a family argument, the two brothers agreed to share her. They took turns with her, while she sank into depression and didn''t resist. It was graphically depicted with several semi-consensual sex scenes. The samurai''s ugly friend, who had vowed to look after her, returned alive, but was both weary and injured. After a bit of hassle, he finally discovered what had become of her, and watched from a distance for a while. He muttered his thoughts aloud, that it was not a kind fate, but that she seemed resigned. In such a rich household she wouldn''t starve or suffer too much, but he stayed and watched over her for a bit longer. One night, when his wife again refused his advances, the eldest brother approached the girl on his younger brother''s night. He was doing it from behind when his brother came in. The scene was displayed from the ugly samurai''s point of view, so all you could tell was that they argued briefly and then the younger brother slapped the young woman. He gripped her hair, pulled her head up, and filled her mouth. Mizuki looked up at Sora and asked with a kind of horrified expression, "This is one of your favorite movies?" Sora shifted uncomfortably. "Watching it with you, makes it seem a lot more violent than I remember it," he admitted guiltily. "I think I focused more on the sex and the samurai''s story, and less on her point of view. I''m sorry, we can stop it if you want. It does have a happy ending though?" Mizuki shrugged, and they kept watching. The girl struggled, but was helpless as they took her from both sides. She was suffocating and she passed out before the ugly samurai finally took action. He slew both of his friend''s brothers before they could give the alarm, grabbed the girl and ran. She woke up before he got very far, and struggled until he told her, "I just killed my best friend''s brothers so that you would not die, so run!"If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. They ran for a long time, and the exhausted, battered girl asked miserably when they stopped to rest for a minute again, "What''s the point of running? I already know I can''t survive on my own, and how long are you going to take care of me?" The ugly samurai looked at her and replied calmly, "For the rest of my life, I swore I would look after you in his place." He took her to a remote village, and claimed a broken down house. Time sped up and her belly swelled as he turned the place into a home for her. One afternoon he finished a task and laid on the porch of their home to rest. As he watched her doing laundry, his arousal was very prominent. She turned and looked at him for a moment, then walked over. Wordlessly she bent and unfastened his clothing. He said, "You don''t have to." She replied, "I know," then lifted her skirt and mounted him. Time sped up again, and they had several children. He taught their sons the way of the sword. The eldest strongly resembled his beautiful father, but none of the children were ugly. The movie ended with another framed sex scene, this one in silhouette as the ugly samurai laid down behind the screen that hid their bed, and his erection sprang up as her clothing came off. The credits rolled as they moved rhythmically. Mizuki and Sora were both silent for a minute, and then Mizuki commented, "I''m not sure that was a happy ending. I wonder what she thought about her sons training to go off to war like their fathers after all of that." Sora replied unhappily, "I''m sorry. And I''m not sure I ever want to watch it again. It''s totally different when I''m imagining you in that kind of helpless situation." Mizuki patted his arm and said quietly, "Well, I didn''t like it very much, it was too sad. But it wasn''t boring and it was really well done. The way they framed all the sex scenes like it was some kind of stage play was interesting, and there was a lot of beautiful scenery." Sora sighed and Mizuki laughed. He looked at her questioningly and she grinned at him and pointed out, "That girl''s character was even more beautiful than the actress though!" "What?" Sora asked blankly. Mizuki laughingly explained, "The way she affected men. If they saw her body they were instantly hard." She chortled. "Like Kakashi levels of attraction!" Sora grinned at her and replied, "I don''t know that it''s all that exaggerated, you affect me nearly that much." "Oh?" Mizuki questioned with interest, and stripped. Sora stared at her for a half a second before protesting, "You''re sick and you said it hurt your head." She leaned closer and reached out to touch him, and then murmured, "I''m feeling a little better, want to go do it in the shower?" "Yes," he agreed immediately, and stripped while she stood up and went to start the water. -- Someone pounded on the door after they moved back to the futon. Sora sighed, and then called out, "Just a minute!" He pulled on pants before opening the door, and his irate neighbor started in immediately, as soon as the door started to open, "I work nights man! Usually your place is totally quiet on weekends, so I know you don''t do this all the time, but can''t you watch your porn at a lower volume today!?" "We''ll try to be quieter," Sora replied with embarrassment. His neighbor caught sight of Mizuki in the bed behind Sora once the opening was wide enough, and gasped before demanding angrily, "Are you messing around with a child?!" "I''m not a child!" Mizuki protested immediately. Sora blushed and replied to his neighbor''s incredulous look, "She''s not, she''s just small." His neighbor still looked taken aback, but after a moment he threw up his hands and declared, "Fine, whatever! I won''t say anything else, but be quiet until 10pm, okay?" "Sorry," Mizuki apologized quickly. "We''ll close the bathroom door so it''s quieter next time." The man just stared at her for a moment and then shrugged and left. Sora closed the door softly. Mizuki looked at Sora''s embarrassed face and sighed. Sora walked back, and knelt beside her before asking, "What Mizuki?" "I''m sorry that people mistake me for a child, and I really wish my age didn''t bother you, and I can''t think of anything to do about it," she replied in a rush. He kissed her and assured her calmly, "I''m embarrassed, but I love you, and it''s okay Mizuki. Don''t worry about it." After a moment she asked, "Have we been any louder than normal today?" He laughed and replied softly, "No, but usually it''s pretty late when we do it in the shower. How are you feeling?" "Good," she replied firmly. She kissed him again and assured him, "I love you Sora." 56: Sharing Mizuki returned home Sunday night. Although she still regretted the awkward end to her job, she reluctantly acknowledged that she might still have been contagious during her last scheduled shifts. This was the first day she had felt entirely recovered. Her family gathered for one last meal with Shizune and Shinichi that night. Shizune explained with enthusiasm, "We found a housing development project! It''s situated on the hill between a nice park and a grade school that we used to compete with, and usually lost to." Shinichi added, "I finally persuaded her to go for a customized place after she visited a dozen of the best compromises I could find." Shizune flushed as she admitted, "I think it will be worth the wait to be able to have everything that we each wanted, although the expense¡­" Shinichi interrupted, "It''s worth it. The delay shouldn''t be a problem as long as it''s still okay for us to stay here if it isn''t finished before the baby is due." Junshiro assured them, "There''s no problem with that." Minori added, "Mizuki can sleep out here in the main room." Mizuki frowned at her parents, but immediately nodded when Shizune eyed her nervously. "If I haven''t already finished moving in with Sora by then, I don''t mind giving up our room early." "Don''t forget to invite me to your wedding," Shinichi insisted laughingly. "Like I could leave my family out of it," Mizuki muttered, while Shizune gasped and poked him in the side. Shinichi just laughed. Monday morning while she was at school, Shinichi and Shizune returned to the island. Mizuki''s third term started out normally enough, although she soon discovered that Tooru had finally admitted to his friends that he hadn''t ever done it with her. Despite his fears they hadn''t shunned him. She didn''t expect that it would improve her own reputation, and there wasn''t much reaction among her classmates. However, Tooru''s friends treated her a bit more respectfully than they ever had before. She messaged Katsuji about the improvement, and he immediately responded that it was about time. A second rumor that took a bit longer to circulate had more impact. The students who had known him began to whisper that her ex had raped a girl at his workplace. No one seemed to realize that it had been Mizuki. But between that and Tooru confessing, a lot of people suddenly started talking to her again, although most of them only said hi. In a way it was nice that people were daring to talk to her at all, but it left her feeling bitter, especially when Tooru tried to patch things up. It seemed cruel if she didn''t respond, so she did her best. She even made an effort to reply to their greetings, but it made her feel rather tired and cynical. -- Sora caught her cold. He didn''t get sick until the middle of the week, and when Mizuki found out that he was sick enough to skip work on Thursday, she got her parents permission to skip school Friday and go see him. She took the train that night.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. When she exited the subway station near his apartment a couple of guys barely older than she was, if at all, tried to approach her with cliche lines. The tallest cooed, "Come play with us for a while little girl? I''ll make sure you feel really good." The other laughed and complained, "Dude, you''re killing our chances with that kind of talk. Ignore him sweetie, we''re just bored, and you''re really cute." Mizuki ignored the lines and firmly marched forward, ignoring the way the two of them pressed closer as though they intended to grab her. She was startled when Sora snapped, as she rounded the corner with both of them on her heels, and found him approaching, "Get the hell away from my girlfriend!" They both jumped and stepped away from Mizuki, who gasped and ran forward to meet him. "Sora!" she scolded. "Why are you out of bed?" He hugged her against him and replied stuffily, "It''s a good thing I got out of bed to come meet you." "I was fine," she replied quickly. "Neither of them touched me, they''re just talking crap and acting like kids Sora," she insisted anxiously. "Sorry," one of them mumbled. "Just being friendly," the other added sheepishly. After a moment Sora shrugged and told her plaintively, "It makes me nervous, I''m sorry. Why did you decide to come early? What about school tomorrow?" "I don''t want you to be sick alone," she replied promptly. He wavered and she tucked herself against his side and coaxed him back up the block toward his building. "I''m okay," he insisted. Mizuki eyed him anxiously as he swayed while opening the door and told him sharply, "You don''t look well Sora, you seem sicker than I was." He was pale and tired looking, in addition to being unsteady. -- Sora refused to let Mizuki go to the store alone, and they argued. "It doesn''t seem safe for you to go out alone! What if I hadn''t walked down to meet you earlier?" he demanded. She protested angrily, "They didn''t actually try to hurt me, they were just being annoying! You are being ridiculous Sora, and I don''t want to fight with you like this when you''re sick!" He put a hand to his head and replied tiredly, "I don''t want you to fight with me like this when I''m well either. Let''s move to a better area Mizuki?" She stared at him helplessly and then told him unhappily, "I don''t want you to go out when you''re this sick, and you won''t let me go out alone. Can you call Takumi-san and ask him to get things?" "Sure," he agreed after a moment. But then he complained, "You didn''t answer." "I''m not going to until you feel better either," she replied grumpily. "You are definitely not allowed to go apartment hunting until you''re well Sora. And I want to talk to you about money later too." He looked at her with a worried expression, and she added quickly, "It''s okay, don''t worry, I just didn''t want to do it by message." -- Takumi quite promptly dropped off the requested groceries and medicine. He was wearing a mask, and set the things he carried down outside their door with an apologetic, "Sorry, I don''t want to risk carrying this cold back to Eri." "It''s fine, thank you very much Takumi-san," Mizuki assured him. Sora nodded and called out a creaky, "Thanks," from where he sat on his futon. -- Sora took the medicine and drank the tea without complaint but he complained about the leek porridge. "Porridge should be sweet! If you had to feed me leeks, couldn''t you have at least made it into a soup?" Mizuki sighed and ruffled his hair. She asked surprisingly patiently, "Can you just eat it for now, and then tell me what you would like to have next? You said you didn''t care when I asked before, and it''s something I could make in the microwave." "Sorry," he replied after a moment. She leaned in and kissed him lightly. "Would it be any less awful if I feed it to you? I''d just get rid of it, except that Takumi-san only brought one leek." "He knows I don''t like leek flavored things when I''m sick," Sora admitted. "But he still insists I eat some." He stared at the bowl and sighed. Mizuki took the spoon and ate a bite, then fed Sora the next bite. "Eat half?" she suggested. "Okay" he agreed. 57: Planning Ahead In the morning, when Sora fretted again about the way Mizuki had missed school on Friday, she grumped, "When I''m sick, you think me missing my last two days of work is nothing! But when you''re sick, it''s a huge deal if I miss one day of school?" He protested stuffily, "It''s different. It affects your future." Mizuki rolled her eyes at him, and a humorous corollary occurred to her. "I guess you''d better marry me right away then," she suggested teasingly. Sora gazed back at her unhappily without replying. She considered his expression for a moment, and then leaned against him lightly. She patted his arm comfortingly, before confessing reassuringly, "I''m teasing, I''ll wait for you." Sora sighed and laid back against his pillow before asking, "What kind of wedding do you want?" "The kind where I''m marrying you and you''re happy about it," Mizuki replied without hesitation. Sora asked with amusement, "So you''ll be fine with just submitting registration forms?" "Sure," she agreed promptly. He gave her a really dubious look, and she grinned at him as she explained seriously, "I love you Sora, I want to be with you, I don''t care about the rest." He pulled her up tight against him and muttered, "Only one way to deal with you." He kissed her until they both ran out of breath. "I love being dealt with," Mizuki informed him happily after she caught her breath. He laughed and suggested teasingly, "Digital registration it is then?" "Sure," she agreed. "Should we file it today?" Sora pointed out dryly, "We can''t, because we promised to invite people." "We didn''t tell them how far in advance they would receive their invitations," Mizuki argued laughingly. He gave her a look, and then asked lightly, "Oh, have you already prepared everything else we''ll need?" Mizuki bit her lip and he touched her mouth and said, "Stop that." She bit his fingertips lightly instead. "What about the blood tests?" he asked after a moment. She blushed and he raised his eyebrows at her. "I was just curious Sora, I haven''t really prepared everything," she explained anxiously. "I really don''t want to rush you." He caressed her cheek and told her gently, "It''s okay Mizuki. I don''t want to wait for years before we can live together either. I adore you. So what did you find out?" "The blood tests we got together for STD testing are sufficient, if we do it while they''re still valid," she explained with embarrassment. "I wouldn''t have thought they''d have been testing for the same things," Sora objected with surprise. "Apparently the parental planning labs all include it automatically," she mumbled with embarrassment, as though it were her fault that their genetic relationship had been checked. "Okay, that makes sense," he agreed. She looked at him uncertainly, and he grinned and proposed, "Then let''s go ahead and file it now, we can still invite everyone to an actual ceremony later after all." Mizuki opened her mouth and then shut it without making so much as a squeak. Sora chuckled as he hugged her against him and assured her, "Don''t worry, there''s no rush. I''ll wait for you too." In a rush of words Mizuki complained, "I totally want to file it right this instant! But I feel like doing it while you''re feverish and taking cold medicine would be cheating. I really was just teasing when I suggested it."If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Sora challenged laughingly, "What will you do if I change my mind when I''m feeling better?" She frowned at him and grumbled, "I guess I''ll feel relieved that I didn''t take advantage of you while you''re sick, and wait until you''re ready to ask me to marry you." He pulled her in for another kiss, and when he released her again he assured her, "I won''t change my mind Mizuki. I''ve been thinking about it a lot, and one of the happiest couples I know has a ten year gap." "You didn''t exactly look enthusiastic when I brought it up," she pointed out warily. "Doing a traditional ceremony sounds both exhausting and expensive right now," he admitted. She considered pointing out that he had been the one who insisted that she quit working until she finished her school year, but agreed, "Then as soon as you''re well we can file it, and we can do the rest when you''re ready." They kissed again. -- A while later Sora asked, "What did you mean earlier about wanting to talk about money?" "You''re putting half of what you earn directly into savings," Mizuki commented after a moment. He nodded. "We should be able to afford a small gathering within another couple of months." She pointed out, "If we get a more expensive place right away, you won''t be able to continue to save half and provide enough for my tuition and stuff, if you''re the only one working." "That''s fine, your tuition can come out of savings, it''s there for that kind of thing," he assured her promptly. She frowned at him. "Are you sure? What about everything else?" Sora stuck his tongue out at her and suggested teasingly, "I am pretty sure that if my wife is planning to do other things with our savings, she should be telling me about it in advance?" Mizuki smirked at him and replied promptly, "Of course there''s something very expensive I might do with you sooner or later Sora." "What?" he asked curiously. "Have a baby," she suggested. He flinched and she suppressed a laugh that she hadn''t expected to bubble up. She added quickly, "Unless you don''t want kids?" Sora shrugged, and replied uncertainly, "I guess I have sort of assumed that we will have one or two eventually, but I would rather wait." Mizuki regarded him thoughtfully and asked, "But you''re willing to get married now?" "Yes, but being with you all the time is one thing, and raising another person is different," he replied unhappily. After a moment she suggested, "Why don''t we get a cat of our own when we get a bigger place," Sora looked at her with confusion as she continued, "and I''ll get my tubes tied." Sora protested, "I''m not saying I''ll never be ready Mizuki." She leaned in and kissed him again, but she could feel his uncertainly. She pulled back after a moment and informed him dryly, "According to quite reliable sources, it is still pretty easy to have a baby after that. It just means it costs more, and you have to get pregnant at the doctor''s office, instead of in bed." "I don''t know," he replied hesitantly, "it sounds really extreme." "I love you Sora, so I want you to be happy and comfortable, even though I don''t want to use chemical birth control," she explained. He blinked at her in surprise, and then his eyes widened. This time when she leaned in to kiss him, his response was warmer. Afterward he squeezed her tightly and buried his face in her hair. "I love you. I have no idea. Mind if I think about it?" he asked. "Of course not," Mizuki replied affectionately. "You said we were going to talk about money," he pointed out a while later. "Well, my tuition seemed like something you might not have considered," she pointed out. "But you actually wanted to ask about having a child," he questioned. "Isn''t having a kid one of the most expensive things we could do in the long run?" she asked with amusement. "You pointed out how Takumi-san still regards his parents as his safety net." "I don''t know anymore," he admitted. "Look at the way your parents are preparing to look after your grandparents. Takumi will probably do that too someday. It goes both ways." "Well, I''ve been thinking about it a lot," she admitted. "And I think that I had just been assuming that I would have kids after I found the right person. But my fifth niece or nephew is already on the way, and while I adore my nephews, I also really love being able to give them back to their parents." Sora gazed at her with surprise. "You are allowed to change your mind about wanting to have children any time before you actually have one," he pointed out. "Right?" Mizuki agreed laughingly. "And people are even having their first kid in their forties or later these days! So we both still have a couple of decades until we really need to decide." His relieved smile told her that she had worked her way to an answer that they could both live comfortably with. -- By the time she returned home Sunday night, Sora was mostly over the cold, and Mizuki suggested on her way out, "Why don''t we invite the handful of people we''ve promised to invite, to watch us file the digital registration? Kill two birds with one stone? It''s not like we don''t both have data on our plans, and most places that can host a group have free Wi-Fi." Sora pulled her back for one last kiss instead of replying, but her train had barely pulled away when his message arrived, "Sure. Want to take your father up on his offer to help, and make him shut down his bar for a night, for a private event?" She messaged back, "Very economical, I think he''ll like that plan. I''ll ask!" 58: Their Dance Mizuki waited to inform her parents that she and Sora were going to go ahead and get married, until Monday after she got home from school. Her father''s initial reaction made her avoidance of the topic the night before seem practical instead of cowardly. Junshiro regarded his youngest daughter with exasperation, and asked, "What happened to giving him time?" Mizuki protested, "Sora said he''s ready to be married, just not to have kids yet." "What happened to giving me and your mother time to get used to the idea?" he added plaintively. Minori spoke up, "I don''t need time, I think I am okay with it now." Junshiro gave his wife an unhappy look of betrayal. Mizuki laughed and walked over to hug him. She explained hopefully, "We aren''t exactly planning a traditional ceremony, and were hoping you would let us use the bar?" Her mother asked a bit dryly, when her father just stared blankly at her, "For free, you mean?" "Well, yes," Mizuki admitted, though she quickly added, "but I''ll pay you back if I need to?" Junshiro sighed and hugged her, before admitting reluctantly, "I suppose that if you are serious about moving in with him after this term, it will be safer if he is already legally responsible for you, since you''ll be hours away." Mizuki promptly assured him, "I am totally serious." When her mother questioned her further about having such a small informal wedding ceremony, Mizuki explained hopefully, "I was thinking we could have a larger anniversary celebration, and invite more people after I am old enough to drink the toasts with Sora?" Minori asked worriedly, "Won''t you regret not having had a real wedding later?" Mizuki protested confidently, "This is completely real! And I won''t miss having the extra fluff and expenses at all. All I care about is having Sora." Her parents didn''t object, but the conversation went on for hours, as they worked out compromises. Her list of ''immediate'' family grew longer. -- The next evening Sora called and told Mizuki uncomfortably, "I told my grandmother we are just filing the registration and she is demanding that we add a small spoken ceremony. She says we''ll regret it after we move in together if we skip it." "I won''t regret it Sora," Miziki assured him firmly. He grinned and pointed out, "Not that I don''t believe you, but she''s been married eight times, and might be headed for the ninth?" She argued dubiously, "Traditional ceremonies are expensive and a lot of fuss. And I won''t be old enough to drink the toasts with you yet." Sora laughed and agreed, "Not legally, unless we cross the border. But will that rather archaic law really stop you Mizuki? Nothing else seems to?" Mizuki stared at her phone incredulously and replied enthusiastically after barely a pause, "Not if you don''t mind it Sora!" "We could cheat and replace the alcohol with juice," he suggested. Mizuki pouted at him. "Only if that will make you happier." Sora shrugged and suggested, "Why don''t I come there this weekend and we can discuss ideas with your parents." She hesitated and he asked, "You did tell them?"The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "I did," she replied promptly. "And we just finished dredging over the whole thing last night. I wound up agreeing to invite more than twice as many family members as we had originally planned to. I''m kind of afraid of what will happen if we have to revise it all again." Sora regarded her with embarrassment, and admitted, "Takumi reminded me of how many people I promised to invite to my own wedding at his too." Mizuki blushed and changed the subject, "I was kind of looking forward to spending the weekend alone with you, while we''re both well." "Oh," he replied with a wicked grin. Mizuki looked at his expression and said suddenly, "I understand why you usually want to talk by messages during the week." Sora laughed and hung up on her. Mizuki stared at her phone in shock, but he messaged immediately, starting with, ''I love you Mizuki.'' Eventually they agreed to talk to her parents about modifying their original wedding ideas the following weekend. -- Friday they had dinner with Takumi and Eri. Saturday they woke up late, and went out for brunch. Sora eyed a catalogue of local rentals critically, and commented on the growing trend in five year leases. "The monthly rental places that are left don''t seem much better than where we are now." Mizuki told him enthusiastically, "This town has such a pretty downtown, and several colleges. And since we''ll be relatively close to both my grandmother and Eri-chan and Takumi-san, why don''t you just plan on keeping this job as long as you want?" Sora blinked at her and asked, "Won''t you miss being close to your family?" "It''s not like we''re that far away Sora," she pointed out. "We could even visit as a day trip, like Eri-chan and Takumi-san did for the New Year." "In that case, let''s go look at apartments next Mizuki," he replied after a moment. She sighed. "But if we''re really going to have to do a full wedding after all, we should save as much as possible. Maybe I should even get a job again." "Don''t get a job until you''re done with school," Sora replied firmly. "But," she protested. He interrupted questioningly, "Do you think you can''t rely on me Mizuki?" "That''s not what I mean," she complained. "But it is so expensive to have a wedding Sora, do you know how much Shizu-nee-chan and Shinichi-san spent?" He grinned at her. "Does that mean that if we''re going to go ahead with a ceremony you want the whole nine yards, fancy dress, flowers, and everything?" She rolled her eyes at him and protested, "No, but feeding my extended family a meal costs a lot more than all of that anyway." "Oh," he replied in a subdued tone. She insisted, "It will be okay, but are you sure I shouldn''t be working too?" "I''m sure," he assured her promptly. "I guess maybe we should wait on apartment hunting until after you move here though," he added hesitantly. "I don''t care if we need to stay where we are for a while even after I move in with you," she informed him affectionately. "Okay," he agreed more cheerfully, but added, "I really hope we can get a bigger place soon though, all your clothes will never fit." Mizuki stuck her tongue out at him and Sora grinned at her happily. -- When they went back to his apartment, Sora put music on his console and Mizuki complained, "I wish you didn''t hate to dance, I love this song." "I don''t hate dancing," Sora informed her with embarrassed amusement. She stared at him and then protested, "But you''ve always refused to dance with me!" Sora shrugged and pulled her close. Her nose bumped against his chest and Mizuki glared up at him and told him grumpily, "If you say it''s because of our height difference, I''m going to be mad." Sora grinned down at her and pulled her arms up along his before settling his hands against her back. "No Mizuki," he said gently, "it''s because I was trying not to admit I was already completely in love with you." She gazed up at him questioningly as they danced. After a little while he admitted, "Takumi''s father is the one who taught us to dance. He insisted that a man should know how to dance with the woman he loves." Mizuki objected, "You''ve danced with other women Sora, I won''t believe you if you say you haven''t!" Sora blushed and agreed, "Of course I have. But somehow I felt like if I danced with you, I''d be admitting I was in love with you." They danced a while longer before Mizuki pointed out grumpily, "But we''ve been dating for months now, and we could have gone dancing when we went out in the evenings!" "Sorry, we can go dancing whenever you want," he promised. "We''re going to have to go dancing a lot before I forgive you for letting me think you hate dancing," she informed him. Sora bent and kissed her, before he replied agreeably, "Okay Mizuki. I love you." "I love you too, you idiot!" Mizuki assured him laughingly. 59: Forgotten Strings Mizuki felt grumpy about the ever increasing list of people who couldn''t be left out of the upcoming wedding, not to mention rituals that the older people were certain they would regret skipping. If Sora had been the one asking for the changes she would have agreed in a heartbeat, but when the alterations were being ''suggested'' by grandparents and so forth, they felt like impositions. She hoped that none of her own assumptions about what was ''normal'' for a wedding had increased the complexity of her sisters'' weddings. She also felt uneasy, for less defined reasons. As though she were forgetting something important. She didn''t really feel like she was getting to see much more of Sora, but she did spend more time on her schoolwork, now that she wasn''t working part time. Since she hadn''t been doing badly in the first place, there wasn''t much immediately obvious improvement in her grades, but she also spent some of the extra time reviewing for her college placement tests. -- It wasn''t until someone asked Mizuki if she had heard about the disappearance of the senpai that she had dated in her first year, that the uneasy feeling coalesced into something with reasons behind it. Somehow she had assumed that the police, or at least some judicial notification of some sort, would notify her of when he had been caught. She didn''t know how to respond to the questions, so she simply answered honestly, that she hadn''t heard anything since the previous rumors about him. After she contacted the police station that she had reported her side of the incident to, to ask if he''d been caught yet, she regretted it with her whole heart. The person she spoke with dismissed her inquiry without answering it. The officers who contacted her the next day were decidedly hostile about it, but their questions told her that they hadn''t. Mizuki insisted stiffly, "There was a rumor going around school that he had vanished, so I thought maybe he was already in jail." "Maybe you have a phone number for him," the officer suggested bitingly. Mizuki knew the distress she felt, as she recited a number that she hadn''t used in years, was irrational. She doubted that it was giving them anything that they hadn''t already had either, but refusing to give them the number would have felt like she was obstructing their search. She wished she had never contacted the station. -- When the call finally ended, she felt ridiculously exhausted and stressed. When her phone emitted the tone that indicated it had received a message from Sora a moment later, she gazed at it blankly. When she realized that she was considering trying to hide her distress from him, and how she would feel if he did that, she called him. "Hey, too complicated?" he asked. "I haven''t read your message yet," she admitted tremulously. "Mizuki? What''s wrong then?" he asked with alarm. She couldn''t help laughing, despite the tears that were trickling from the corners of her eyes. "I love you Sora," she informed him. "I love you too," he assured her. She explained about the rumors and her attempt to contact the police. "I just wondered why I hadn''t heard anything," she explained defensively.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. "That¡­" he hesitated and ran a hand through his hair. "Actually, as annoying as it might feel, I''m glad that they seem riled up about it," he admitted. "I was afraid that they''d just let him go if he stayed out of reach for a while, since you''re okay." She didn''t know how to respond to that. Even if she was okay now, the assault had hurt her in ways that she might never entirely recover from. It was kind of horrifying to realize that Sora was right, and she should be glad that anyone had cared enough to be suspicious. Mizuki finally took a moment to read the message Sora had sent her and grimaced. "This outline you sent is no more complicated than Shizu-nee-chan''s reception menu was," she assured him tiredly. Sora frowned, and asked, "Do you want to cancel it?" "What? No!" she blurted. "Not getting married," he replied with amusement. "But the," he waved his hands, "event?" She was really tempted for a moment. It felt so complicated. His expression on her small screen told her that he felt like it was complicated too, even though the outline he had sent told her that he was actually dealing with it all pretty well. "Why does life have to be so complicated?" she grumbled. "I''ve never been able to answer that," he admitted. Mizuki snorted, and suggested teasingly, "So I shouldn''t expect to learn the answer to that within the next decade?" Sora blinked in surprise, and then raised an eyebrow. "Not from me anyway," he agreed a little warily. She grinned at him and asked, "Can we just¡­ skip everything that other people think we''ll regret skipping, and invite everyone who wants to come?" "The worst of both?" he asked wryly. "Not if you think it''ll be the worst," she replied. "Nevermind, then this is¡­" "I don''t mind Mizuki," Sora interrupted. "Like you keep telling me, I don''t care what we do, as long as you''re the one I''m marrying." "I''m sorry," Mizuki apologized. "Don''t¡­" he began. This time she interrupted, "I thought that I didn''t care what we did, but the more things people want to pile onto the ''necessary'' list, the more irritated I''ve felt. I don''t want to skip anything that you feel is necessary, but I''d really like to skip everything else. Except I don''t want anyone to feel left out." Sora started to laugh as she finished. "Then we''ll go ahead and invite them all, and just submit the online form as we originally planned?" "Yes?" she agreed questioningly. "Will we buy them drinks?" he asked laughingly. "Sure," she agreed. "My wife won''t be old enough," Sora murmured with less amusement. "Maybe we could borrow the equipment to serve milkshakes," Mizuki suggested. "Borrow from?" he asked. She blinked this time, and then waved her hands. "Tooru''s family. Nevermind." Sora narrowed his eyes, but then shrugged. "Go ahead, if you''ve forgiven him." Mizuki asked uncertainly, "You won''t mind?" "I''m the idiot who went to my ex-girlfriend''s wedding," he replied dryly. "Did she invite you?" Mizuki asked uncomfortably. "Yes," he said shortly. She didn''t know what to say. She couldn''t imagine inviting an ex-boyfriend, even though she had assumed for a moment that her ex-childhood friend''s family would naturally help her out. Since they had resumed exchanging greetings at school, maybe he wasn''t even an ex-friend anymore. After a moment she asked even more hesitantly, "Do you have any exes you would actually like to invite?" Sora blinked at her and then laughed. "There are a number that I''m still friends with, I suppose. Do you want me to invite them?" "I want you to invite anyone you''d like to invite," Mizuki insisted without hesitation. It had somehow never occurred to her that Sora had friends that he had dated before, but the idea felt natural, once presented. He had pushed her away when he had separated from her, but he had also encouraged her to reconnect with her own friends, regardless of their gender. "I love you," he informed her with a familiar grin. "I''m counting on that," she replied teasingly. He laughed. 60: The Beginning When they talked to her parents the next weekend, Junshiro nosily interrogated Sora, "This brat is my daughter so I''m kind of used to her demands, but although you may be crazy enough to want to keep her, are you sure you will be able to afford whatever she talks you into?" Mizuki immediately objected, "Hey! I have obeyed every restriction since grade school!" "How much have you even managed to save up since you started this job?" Junshiro asked Sora quizzically. "Do you know what kinds of degrees she''s been looking into?" Sora assured him, "I do. We''ve been discussing which career paths look better in the long run." He also gave her father the figure on their combined savings account and Mizuki''s parents both gazed at him in surprise. Mizuki pointed out a little smugly, "That''s even after he bought his motorcycle." Sora objected mildly, "You had saved up a lot more than I had expected on your own." He assured Junshiro, "It hasn''t been all that long since Takumi and I finished our degrees. I know how much it''s going to cost, and I''m not claiming that I''ve already got it all covered, but I think we''ll be okay." Minori spoke up hesitantly while they were outlining the projected costs of the informal marriage gathering itself, "Don''t forget to include outfits." Mizuki objected, "We aren''t doing a formal ceremony!" Minori informed her daughter rather tartly, "Those photos that you complained of, that will be shown for the rest of your life, will still be taken. Even if you''re not going to hire a professional photographer!" Sora assured her, "Several of my friends have published photographs professionally, and each of them offered to take our photos." Mizuki had rather gleefully exchanged the variety of formal outfits that each of their grandparents had suggested, for a simple plan where they would just wear jeans and T-shirts. She didn''t remember Sora mentioning the photography offers and didn''t know how to respond. -- That night Sora asked Mizuki a little plaintively, "So what kind of outfits are you going to talk me into?" She wrapped her arms around him and plastered herself against him, before replying in a rather cowardly fashion, "I just want the kind of wedding where you''re happy to marry me. What kind do you want?" "Something simple and quick," he replied promptly. "If you leave the choice to me, I''d just wear the same outfit I wore to the last two weddings I attended." "What about me then?" Mizuki asked. She gave him a long look and added warningly, "Even if you saved the dress I wore to Shizu-nee-chan''s wedding, I''m never going to wear it again." Sora laughed, but didn''t immediately offer an alternative. "Do you still have it?" Mizuki asked curiously. "Yes," he admitted after a minute. She bit him lightly before asking, "Why?" He shrugged. After a minute he pulled her up and kissed her seriously for several minutes. When he finally let her go he explained, "I don''t know. I couldn''t throw it away. Everytime I tried I thought I''d never see you again." Mizuki glared at him and insisted firmly, "We''re getting married Sora, get rid of it!" He blinked at her and then grinned joyfully before replying obediently, "Yes dear." Mizuki eyed him consideringly, and then suggested, "Let''s do the shopping for date nights that I suggested before? As long as it isn''t explicitly wedding formal wear, it''ll be fine to wear it again." "Says the woman who just ordered me to throw away a dress that''s only been worn once," he teased laughingly. She couldn''t help laughing, even though she prevaricated helplessly, "We can donate it?" -- Sora''s grandmother offered to have one of her previous wedding dresses modified to fit Mizuki instead, when she found out that they hadn''t picked anything yet a few days later. Sora asked her teasingly, "Are you sure you won''t need it for your own wedding?" Haruko sniffed and informed her grandson, "If he''s not willing to buy me a new dress, he can wait forever." "Has he asked you to marry him?" Mizuki asked curiously. "Only twice so far," Haruko replied complacently. Mizuki and Sora stared at her and she added, "He has to ask at least once more. This is the last time I''m ever getting married." "Do we get to meet him first?" Mizuki asked after a moment. "I''ve met him several times, he''s okay," Sora assured her. "That depends on whether or not I''m allowed to bring him to your wedding, at this rate," Haruko informed Mizuki. "Sure, what''s one more," Mizuki asked airily, making both of them laugh. -- Takumi and Eri had their baby about a month before Sora and Mizuki had their ceremony scheduled. Sora seemed to enjoy exposure to the new born, but he whispered to Mizuki one night, "I am very glad to be able to hand him back to his parents again." Mizuki admitted, "I was kind of hoping for a girl though, Shizu-nee-chan says hers will be a boy too."The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. -- Shizune and Shinichi returned only a few weeks later, so that even if Shizune went into labor a little early, she would be near her family. Mizuki gave them the bedroom and slept in the living area on a foam futon for her last week of school. She was rather shocked to find how close she had come to graduating with honors, despite having maintained decent grades throughout everything. Shizune fussed over the fact that she hadn''t actually achieved them, until Mizuki took her college entrance tests. Her scores on those were high enough that she could have gotten into the best universities in the country, so she finally discarded her backup plans of attending one of the trade schools instead. She still felt a little guilty about committing Sora to covering several years of tuition, but he seemed really happy about it. -- When they went apartment hunting, Mizuki told Sora insistently while pointing at a city map, "I want to find something in this area if we can." "Why?" Sora asked curiously. "This district over here would be more centered between the college and my job?" Mizuki bit her lip and replied, "I didn''t consider your job. Is this area too inconvenient?" "No, it''s fine," he replied quickly. "I just don''t understand why that area? It''s not near the river or anything obvious to me." She looked up at him and pointed out, "It''s between the college and Takumi-san and Eri-chan''s place. I thought it would make offering to babysit easier, but you''ll go to work every day, so¡­" Sora interrupted her with a shocked expression, "Will you have time to offer to babysit?" Mizuki gazed at him with a blank expression, and then asked cautiously, "Did you change your mind about letting me work a part time job?" "No!" he objected. "I mean, I don''t want you to feel like I''m restricting you from it, but full time classes usually include a ton of homework?" "Well, you''re the one who told Takumi-san that we could babysit sometimes? Were you going to go there alone and do it yourself?" she asked curiously. "I thought that would be kind of a once a month thing?" Sora protested a bit weakly. "Aka-nee-chan usually brings her kids to our parents place once a month, and they live hours away," Mizuki protested. "But we''ll still be close enough if we look in the district you suggested instead." They started looking in the crowded area that Sora had pointed out, but it didn''t take long for him to suggest that they go look around the one Mizuki had highlighted. The way the traffic eased as they made their way to the area that had lacked any particularly noticeable attractions, made both of them view the district favorably. "It''s comfortable isn''t it?" Mizuki asked when they sat down in a local restaurant a while later. "Even if most of the places for rent are kind of average?" "A few pop stars live in this ''average'' area," Sora replied dryly. "The shop where we rebuilt my bike is only one district over." "Pop stars?" Mizuki asked curiously. "You''ll know them when you see them," Sora replied with amusement. "Why didn''t you point them out to me?" she complained. "I haven''t seen any of them while we''ve been looking around," he explained. -- Some of the pop stars Sora had mentioned came to his wedding. Takumi''s mother was one of them. The mechanic who had helped him rebuild his motorbike was another. Mizuki couldn''t help gazing at her husband, after they submitted the online forms, and wondering if she really knew him. Eri carried her infant closer, and whispered, "That expression is very familiar. You''ll get used to them." "Does Takumi sing too?" Mizuki asked quietly, but incredulously. "Not usually where anyone can hear him," Eri responded cautiously. Mizuki couldn''t help asking Sora dryly, a bit later, after a gorgeous blonde woman finished teasing him about his ''out of this world'' wedding, "Are you sure that you''re okay with such an ordinary wife?" Sora covered his face and groaned, "oh gods Mizuki, don''t start." "Is she one of your exes?" she asked hesitantly. Several of the women had introduced themselves as such, and all of them had been tall and beautiful, if not as stunning as the blonde. "She is¡­" Sora hesitated, as though he didn''t know exactly how to identify her. Takumi leaned over and explained, "She''s his cousin." Mizuki abruptly scooted back far enough to get a better look at the woman. "Through my grandmother''s marriages, not a blood relative," Sora added. "Is that better or worse?" Mizuki asked with confusion. "For what?" Takumi questioned. "I don''t know," Mizuki confessed, as the woman gave her a small cheery wave. She waved back. Sora buried his face in her hair as he bent closer. "She''s nicer than she looks?" he suggested. "Unlike me?" she asked sweetly. He laughed. "No wonder your mother insisted you had to marry me before you could move in with me." She turned, grinned up at him, and asked teasingly, "Oh? Why? Do you think she just wanted me to be your problem?" "Yes," he replied swiftly. She pouted at him until he scooped her up and kissed her. "Do you at least like having me be your problem?" she asked a little anxiously. "Yes," he agreed with a grin. "I love having you be all mine." -- The problem with an ex a few months later wasn''t with any of the friendly women that Sora had given in and invited to their wedding. Mizuki''s first term at the college was disrupted by the courtroom attendances required to place her testimony next to that of the battered woman who resembled her a little too much for coincidence. Mizuki couldn''t help feeling guilty, despite everyone''s insistence that it wasn''t her fault her ex had attacked a woman who resembled her. She knew her guilt was a useless feeling, and that realistically there was nothing she could have done that could have prevented the assault the woman had suffered¡­ but she couldn''t banish the feeling. She couldn''t help questioning everything she had done over the past two years, as though if she searched hard enough, she could find the mistake she had made. The thing she could have done right to have prevented all of this. Sora was patient with her. He never withheld an assurance that it wasn''t her fault, even though she knew that she had asked at least a hundred times. She felt guilty over that too, and hoped that she wasn''t hurting him with her own doubts, while being unable to let go of them. -- On their first anniversary after Mizuki finally reached the current legal drinking age, she toasted a little bitterly, "I''ve been old enough to marry, or die for my country, or sign on any contract line, but finally I can drink to you." Sora raised an eyebrow, and got up. He left his matching glass at its place on the table, and bent to taste her kiss. "A sweet enough age," he murmured. Mizuki couldn''t help objecting, "It''s not very sweet." "I know, your life is full of classes that make my head ache when I try to help you out," he admitted with amusement. She gazed up at him, and the eyes that met hers were clear, and his smile was warm. He was as beautiful as the day she had met him in a small shop on that distant island. "I love you," she blurted. "I know," he whispered as he scooped her up. He laughed at her offended expression and assured her, "I love you too, and I won''t leave you alone until I die." "Sora¡­" she whispered. "Or you leave me?" he asked uncertainly. "I won''t!" she objected instantly. "You''re mine!" "Yeah," he agreed laughingly. -- It was a strange little anniversary ritual. One of them would take the first sip, and the other would taste it through their kiss. It somehow always washed away the uncertainties between them that had built up within a year, and let them laugh.