The night air was cool as you both stepped out onto the balcony, the soft glow of lantern light spilling out behind you. The estate had gone quiet, leaving only the faint rustle of wind and the distant hum of night insects. Mitsuri sat beside you—not across, not with space between—but close enough that your thighs brushed lightly.
She didn’t move away.
“It’s… nice out here, isn’t it…?” she said softly, her voice calmer than before, though her fingers fidgeted gently in her lap.
For a moment, she just looked ahead, then glanced at you from the corner of her eye, a small, shy smile forming.
“…I like sitting like this,” she added, quieter this time. “…with you.”
You nodded, your throat tightening slightly as you became more aware of how close she was. “Yeah… me too.”
The silence that followed wasn’t uncomfortable. If anything, it felt heavier—like something had been building for a while now, just waiting to be said. Mitsuri seemed to feel it too. She took a small breath, her chest rising and falling a little more noticeably than before as she gathered herself.
“…Can I ask you something?”
You turned toward her. “Of course.”
She hesitated, her cheeks already beginning to tint pink. “…about that day…” she murmured, then quickly corrected herself, her voice stumbling just a little. “Th-the bath… I mean—the first time we met…”
A quiet, embarrassed laugh escaped her, and she brought a hand up to her cheek, half-hiding her face. But she didn’t stop.
“I’ve been thinking about it… more than I probably should…” she admitted, her tone softer now. “You saw me like that… but you didn’t react the way I thought you would.”
You swallowed lightly before answering. “I didn’t think there was anything to react to.”
That made her pause. She turned toward you more fully now, her thigh pressing a little more firmly against yours—no longer accidental. As she shifted, the fabric of her skirt moved slightly with her, riding just enough to make you suddenly aware of how little distance there really was between you.
“Most people would’ve looked away… or gotten uncomfortable…” she said, her voice dropping slightly. “…but you didn’t.”
You met her gaze, steady despite the warmth creeping up your neck. “Because there wasn’t anything wrong. You’re… beautiful.”
For a moment, she froze completely. Her breath caught, her chest rising sharply before settling again, slower this time. The color in her cheeks deepened, spreading across her face as she stared at you like she hadn’t quite processed the words.
“Y-you really think that…?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper now.
She leaned in just slightly, close enough that you could feel the warmth of her presence, her eyes searching yours for any sign of hesitation.
You nodded. “I mean it.”
Her gaze softened at that, something fragile flickering behind her eyes. She looked away briefly, her voice quieter when she spoke again.
“…I always thought people might feel uncomfortable because of how I look…”
There was a small pause before she looked back at you, hesitant—but hopeful.
“…but you didn’t…”
You shifted slightly, your confidence faltering just a bit. “Still… someone like me probably shouldn’t be saying things like that to you.”
That made her stop. Completely.
She turned toward you again—this time not looking away, not laughing it off. There was something different in her expression now. Still soft… but firmer.
“…Why not?”
Her voice was gentle, but steady. “You always say that…” she continued, inching just a little closer, her shoulder now brushing yours fully. “…like you don’t belong near me.”
Her hands tightened slightly in her lap, betraying her nerves, but she didn’t pull back.
“…but I’m the one who asked you here.”
A quiet pause followed, the space between you feeling smaller than ever. You could hear her breathing now—soft, uneven.
Her cheeks were warm, her eyes a little unsteady—but she held your gaze.
“…because I wanted to be with you.”
She swallowed sotly, her voice dropping just a little more. “…and I still do.”
She didn’t move away. If anything… she leaned just a fraction closer, like she was waiting to see if you would close the rest of the distance.
