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“Atchoo!” Minato unconsciously threw his head forward as he let out a sneeze. A small dribble of snot rolled down from his rosy nose, and rubbed it off with his wrist. The doors slammed shut behind him as he stepped inside.He could hear the howling of the wind and rain, even through the walls of the dorm. He had just left school when he saw the thunderclouds. And sure enough, the torrential downpour followed soon after, and he wasn’t able to reach the dorm in time. Of all the days he would forget his umbrella!He was absolutely drenched from head to toe, water dripping onto the floor that left a puddle where he stood. His school uniform clung onto his skin like cling wrap. As he took a few steps, he could hear the squelching sounds from his shoes, no doubt soaked from the inside out.The worst part was that he was absolutely freezing. His arms were wrapped around himself in a futile attempt to preserve whatever residual heat remained in his body. His body was trembling uncontrollably, teeth chattering.Everyone else was gathered in the living room when he just arrived. They all looked none the worse for wear.Yukari stood up from the sofa and saw his drenched and shivering state. “Oh my god! Minato-kun, what happened to you?”“F-Forgot t-t-to bring u-u-um-brella…Pouring outside…” He slowly made his way to the living room, ignoring his trembling body.Fuuka came in with a towel from the kitchen and quickly draped it around Minato’s neck. He gave her a thankful look as he took the towel and frantically dried himself. But for some reason, the cold didn’t seem to go away.“According to the news,” Fuuka explained, “a typhoon just hit. Supposedly, it’s the biggest one on record. It’s moving slowly, too, so it’ll be around for a while.”Junpei had a relieved grin on his face. “Yeah, thanks to that, the school festival got canned. Well, setting that stuff up was a pain, so I don’t mind. But it sucks that we’ll be stuck indoors…”“Atchoo!” Minato let out another sneeze; this time it was louder than the first one.Junpei looked at him with concern. “You okay, man?” He asked.Aigis said, “According to my sensors, Minato’s body temperature is far above the normal parameters.”Yukari walked up to Minato to check on him. As she got closer she noticed that his face was pale, and his nose was beet red. She placed a hand to his forehead and frowned. It was burning hot to the touch. “Aigis is right. You’ve come down with a fever…”It was then Mitsuru decided to take charge of the situation. “Iori, take Arisato to the bathroom and get it ready for him before his condition worsens. Takeba can get some fresh clothes from his room.”“On it.” Junpei nodded and threw Minato’s slack arm over his shoulder for support, allowing him to hoist his sick friend up. His other arm held his sick friend by the waist. “Come on, buddy. Let’s go.”The two slowly ambled their way towards the bathroom, Junpei supporting Minato’s weight on his body. Junpei looked down at Minato, and gave him an amused yet sympathetic grin. “Looks like you weren’t quick enough, huh?”“Y-You d-don’t s-s-say…” Minato struggled to speak through his chattering teeth, not even bothering to give Junpei an annoyed glare. He’s just grateful that Junpei’s was helping him walk; his legs feel like jelly from both the running and fever.“Guess you don’t have to worry about what to do during the break…”“J-Just hurry up…”*A few minutes later, the bathtub had been drawn up with hot water and soap, steam filling up the bathroom. Junpei had taken Minato’s soaked clothes to the laundry room to be washed and dried, so now he was left all alone by himself to relax.Minato let out a content sigh as he slid down into the tub, sending a wave of relief throughout his body. His freezing and aching body just seemed to melt like ice in the hot water. He carefully leaned back into the tub, relaxing his limbs. Aaaaahhh… he felt like he was in heaven.His eyes slowly began to drift close, tempted to fall asleep in the comfort of the warm waters, to block out the sounds around him. His body unconsciously began to slide deeper into the tub.Just as Minato’s eyelids began to close, he felt a burning sensation run up his nose. He immediately jolted up, a bit of water spilled out of the tub from the sudden movement. He coughed frantically as he blew water out from his nose.Just then, he heard a soft rap on the door. It slowly opened, and he saw Yukari’s head peek out from the gap. She had a gentle and concerned smile on her face. “Are you alright, Minato-kun? I heard you coughing.”“Ah! I’m fine… Just some water ran up my nose.” Minato said as he embarrassingly sat back up.Yukari simply smiled. Minato’s face was all red, though whether its from his fever or embarrassment, she couldn’t tell. She opened the door and entered the bathroom. In her arms were a fresh set of Minato’s clothes and a towel.“I’ve got your clothes here.” She set them aside on the counter.“Thanks, Yukari-san…” Minato softly replied, finding the presence of a girl while he’s in the bath rather awkward.But Yukari didn’t seem bothered by it, and took one of the nearby bath stools and sat down on it. “How is it, Minato-kun? Is the water warm enough?”“It’s okay…”She sighed as she shifted closer to the edge of the tub. “You don’t mind if I help you wash, do you?”Minato’s face flushed even more, though he didn’t seem to notice it himself, prompting Yukari to giggle softly. “I guess not…”Yukari quickly rolled up her sleeves and dipped her hands into the water. She slowly and gently splashed some over Minato’s bare back and head. Her fingers began running through his hair, massaging his scalp. Her hands then travelled to his shoulders, delicately rubbing his muscles. Minato couldn’t resist letting out a sigh of relief as he felt his muscles loosen up, slowly lowering his apprehensions to enjoy the feeling of Yukari washing him.Yukari continued washing his back in silence, until she finally spoke. “You know, that was pretty stupid of you. I expected something like this from Junpei but not from you.”Minato let out a pained laugh. “Guess Junpei’s been rubbing off on me. That’s what I get for hanging out with him… Next thing you know, I’ll be growing a goatee too.”They shared a brief exchange of laughter, before the comfortable silence resumed as Yukari continued washing Minato’s back. Once she was done, Yukari quickly turned around as he climbed out of the tub, failing to notice the pink in her cheeks.Once Minato dried himself off with the towel, he proceeded to change into the fresh set of nightwear that Yukari had brought down for him. He slowly made his way up to his room while Yukari drained the tub. Fortunately, the aching numbness in his legs seemed to have lessened, so climbing the stairs was less arduous for him.Upon reaching his room, Minato immediately fell into his bed, the weight of his body sinking into the soft mattress. He just wanted to climb into the warm embrace of his bed sheets and sleep for days, holidays be damned.And so he did. He closed his eyes, and slept. *The door creaked open, and Yukari entered the room, carrying a tray in her hands. There were two separate bowls, with steam rising from one of them. A cloth was draped over her arm. She set the tray on his bedside as she took the chair from his desk and sat down next to him.Yukari saw that Minato was fast asleep, all bundled up in his bed sheets. She leaned over to check on him. Her hand gently touched his forehead. It was still pretty hot, and his cheeks were flushed as well. But otherwise, he was sleeping rather peacefully.Minato’s eyes slowly flitted open, head tilting to face Yukari. “Hi…” He rasped, his voice sounding dry. He slowly sat up, propping himself up with his elbow.“I’ve made you some soup, Minato-kun. Though you might be hungry.” Yukari said as she passed the bowl and a spoon to him.“Thanks.” Minato took the bowl graciously. He hadn’t had anything to eat since lunch. He carefully took a spoonful, blowing before taking a sip.Within a few minutes, Minato had already cleared the bowl of its contents. Setting the empty bowl on the bedside, he leaned back against his pillow with a satisfied sigh. Yukari smirked. “Seems someone’s feeling a bit better now.”The blue-haired boy returned the smile. “Of course, all thanks to you.”“Oh, don’t you start.” Yukari laughed. She reached for the cloth and dipped it into the bowl of cold water. “Okay, now take off your shirt.”Minato’s eyes widened as he stared at Yukari as if she had lost her marbles. His cheeks turned an even deeper red, and it’s definitely not his fever. “Wait, what?”It took Yukari a few seconds to register what Minato was implying, and her cheeks flushed beet red as well. She gave him a flustered look. “W-What I meant was that I need to wipe your body, you dummy!”“Oh...” Minato mentally slapped himself. Of course she meant it that way. He complied, pulling his tee shirt over his head.Yukari wrung the cloth off any excess water and folded it neatly. She patted it onto Minato’s forehead. Minato shivered as the ice-cold and damp cloth pressed against his burning skin. The cloth patted the nape of his neck, down the collarbone. Yukari raised his bare arms, gently rubbing the cloth across his skin and his armpits. Soaking and wringing the cloth a second time, Yukari moved on to wiping Minato’s chest.It felt like hours had ticked by as Yukari continued wiping his body, when she finally placed the towel back into the bowl. Gathering up everything, she picked up the tray and got up from her seat.“If you need anything, just ask. Okay?” Yukari said before heading out to the door.“Sure…” Minato sighed as he put his shirt back on. He fell back; his head softly plopped back into the soft pillows, feeling sleep overtake him once more.“Oh, Yukari-san…?”As Yukari walked out of the room, she heard Minato’s voice call out to her. She turned back and saw him mustering up a feeble smile.“Thanks. For everything…” he said, before closing his eyes, falling asleep.Yukari couldn’t help but smile back, the blush returning to her cheeks. Switching off the lights, she left the room, shutting the door behind her.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
“Hey, Minato-kun.” Through the music of his headphones, Minato could hear a feminine voice calling out to him. Removing his headphones, he glanced up from the magazine he was idly reading. Yukari was sitting just opposite of him in the dorm’s dining room.“You don’t happen to be busy this afternoon, right?” she asked.Minato shook his head. “No. Why?”“Want to go catch a movie later?” she said.It had already been over a month since their trip to Yakushima, and the relationship between the two took an interesting turn since then. Just months ago, they rarely spoke to each other, only discussing casual things like class assignments or missions. But to their surprise, they now found themselves spending their free time together.“My friend texted me, saying she was bailing on our plans to go to the film festival. So I thought you might want to go with me instead.”At first, Yukari thought of sticking around the dorm for the rest of the day. She didn’t want to go to the festival all by herself. But upon seeing Minato sitting alone, she thought of trying something different together. The two of them had gotten a lot closer lately, and it would be a lot more reassuring if someone went with her.Minato remained silent, contemplating. The thought of going to the film festival didn’t cross his mind. Even as a kid, he never really watched any movies alone, much less with someone else. So the first thought that came to his mind would be to politely decline Yukari’s offer.He apparently must be thinking about it for quite a while, for Yukari started speaking again, averting her gaze from him. “I mean, it’s okay if you don’t want to. I was just wondering if you were interested.”Minato frowned. Though she was trying her best to hide it, he could hear a hint of disappointment in her voice. For some reason, seeing her upset actually made him wince internally; an uncomfortable, twisting sensation in his stomach.“Sure,” he answered, smiling as he set the magazine back on the table. “What’s showing today?”Yukari looked back at Minato in surprise. She couldn’t help but smile gratefully, trying her best to hold back the sudden surge of happiness that for some unknown reason welled up within her.“They’re showing the ‘Willpower!’ series today.” She answered. “It starts in a couple of hours. There’s still time before the movie, so you want to hang out first?”“Sure,” Minato said, getting up from his seat, motioning to the door. “Shall we?”Yukari smiled. “Let’s.” *The two of them have arrived at the entrance of the movie theatre at Port Island Station. The station was pretty crowded, flocks and flocks of people wandering about the station. Unsurprising, considering that it was the holidays today.Minato and Yukari quickly rushed inside before the crowds came in, and were immediately greeted with a cool breeze as they stepped in. The air-conditioning was turned on at full blast, providing a welcome relief for anyone seeking shelter from the oppressive August heat outside.As they advanced up the queue to buy their tickets, they noticed the ‘Willpower!’ movie poster. “I was planning to on seeing this with my club… I thought it might help motivate us. So this may be kinda manly for you,” she giggled.Minato curiously raised his eyebrows. “How do you mean?”“Well,” Yukari scratched her head. “It’s because you don’t really look that manly.”“…”Not wanting to sound offensive, she quickly cleared her throat and corrected herself. “Sorry, I-I meant it in a good way. You know those cute boy singers on TV that girls like? You look more like them…”It took a few seconds for realization to set in and Yukari’s cheeks immediately blushed red. “N-Not that I’m saying that I find you cute. I’m just saying!” she said, laughing in embarrassment.Fortunately, it seemed like Minato didn’t take her comment seriously. He simply gave a smile and a nod. “Thanks,” he said.Once they bought their tickets, they quickly made their way to the snack counter to buy their popcorn. Reaching the counter, Minato made his order to the staff. “Two jumbo popcorn, and ...” he turned to Yukari for her order.“One small, thanks.” She replied.He turned back to the staff and continued, “one small popcorn, a box of nachos and two large sodas.”The staff stared blankly at Minato as if he had gone mad. He was sweating nervously despite the air-conditioning. “Uh, sir…” he murmured embarrassingly. “The jumbo popcorn is enough for two to share…maybe one jumbo is enough…?”Minato shook his head, as if the staff’s recommendation was incomprehensible to him. “My order’s still the same.” He replied flatly, though his voice remained polite.“If you say so, sir.” The staff tried to remain impassive as he filled the buckets, hands shaking as he struggled to comprehend the order.The pair paid for their own snacks, and made their way towards the room with their snacks in tow. Yukari had her small popcorn cup and soda, while Minato was hauling his two jumbo popcorn cups in each of his arms. His soda was wedged into the popcorn, and the nachos carefully stacked on the other. Yukari had seen enough of Minato’s eating habits to know how big his portions were; so ordering this much doesn’t surprise her in the least.Of course, the same cannot be said for their fellow moviegoers, who were silently gaping at Minato. He paid them no mind, impassively sipping on his soda as he and Yukari found their seats. *A few hours later, the pair had stepped out of the theatre with the rest of the crowd. It was already late afternoon; the sky had turned into a light shade of orange and purple. And fortunately for many, the sweltering temperatures had begun to cool down.“That was awesome!” Yukari exclaimed. “It was pretty long, but it seemed to go by so fast.”Minato sipped on his leftover beverage. “Yeah. The acting was quite solid, but I especially liked the music. It fits the tone of the movie. Pretty inspirational.”Yukari nodded in agreement. “The training scenes were done so well. The baseball one, the judo one, the basic military training one… Oh, the shot put one! How could I forget?”“The shot put sequences kinda lost me,” she continued, the excitement still in her voice. “But all the scenes after that with the main guy running were incredible. I almost stood up and cheered at the part where he did 100 handstands towards the setting sun.”For the first time in while, Yukari found herself laughing uncontrollably. Once she settled down, she sighed, wiping a tear from her eye. “I’m being weird, huh?”“Course not.” Minato said as he finished the last of his drink. “I think it’s a pretty normal thing to do.”Yukari scoffed, blowing an annoyed raspberry. “Of course you would think that.”She looked up into the sky; the orange glow stretched far and wide like paint on a canvas. Minato threw his now empty cup into the dustbin and walked up to Yukari. “Something wrong?” he asked.“You know…” she replied, her eyes still transfixed on the sky. “There really are times in life that you have to get by on willpower alone. But I’m still young… I probably haven’t seen anything that hard yet.”Minato looked up as well, tucking his hands into his pockets. “If the time comes, or rather, when the time comes, I’m sure you’ll be able to do it.”“Yeah…I hope so.”The two remained standing there, enjoying the view in silence, ignoring the throngs of people around them.Suddenly, Yukari looked down at her watch and let out a startled yelp once she saw the time. “Wow, it’s getting late! Guess it’s time to head back to the dorm.”“I’m getting hungry,” Minato turned to her. “Why don’t we grab a bite somewhere before we head back?”Yukari laughed in disbelief. “Seriously? You’ve already finished your popcorn and you’re still thinking of eating?”Minato simply shrugged, a smile on his face. “Let’s head to Wakatsu. It’ll be my treat.”Yukari furrowed an eyebrow, watching as he walked away. She let out an exasperated sigh, but she couldn't help but smile too as she trailed behind him. “Sure, why not?”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
When Minato Arisato, the new transfer student, was seen walking to school together with Yukari Takeba in spring, rumors started to spread.Yukari Takeba was one of the more popular students in the school, admired by many for her looks, cheerful exterior, and talents. She had many male admirers, and dare we say quite a few female ones too. And to be seen in the company of a male student, and a pretty good-looking one at that, was something that was bound to attract attention. The fact that they were living in the same dorm only added fuel to the fire.Of course, no less than a month after the new transfer student had arrived, the rumors had begun to die down. Many soon saw the rumors as nothing more than baseless tittle-tattle started up by gossiping hens who simply wanted to spice up the otherwise mundane life of school.Thus, any rumors between the two had faded into obscurity, and Gekkoukan High seemed to return to normalcy.Then it happened.After the summer break had ended, the rumors have returned with a vengeance.Many students have spotted the two of them in each other’s company more and more often. They started to hang out together after school, at places like Paulownia Mall and Port Island Station. The summer festival only served to add more fuel to the fire after they were seen together at Naganaki Shrine.The one question that was in everyone’s mind was: What happened during summer break?Some said that during the summer break; the people living at the dorm went to Yakushima Island for a vacation. There were many theories, such as risqué swimsuit escapades or a confession of love at the beach, but no one knew what happened for sure.As for the couple in question, they ignored the constant tittle-tattle around them and carried on as usual. No one, not even their teammates in their respective clubs, were able to get any answers from them. Of course, their friends knew better than to pry into their affairs like that.Thus, everything seemed back to the way that it was.Until one day, Yukari asked Minato to meet her on the roof after school.*From where Yukari stood, she could see the entire view of Port Island. The city was enveloped in the amber rays of the sun, the pomegranate and orange hue of the sky in the backdrop.Usually, she would take the time to admire the scenery. It was a great way for her to relieve any stress, to appreciate the beauty of the city that she lived in. But right now, only one thing was going through her mind.Minato…Ever since Yakushima, Yukari found herself spending more and more time with Minato. Initially, it was more of a desire to find someone to talk to about her problems, a desire to vent, especially after what happened with her father.And Minato was a good friend, and felt extremely grateful whenever he would take his free time just to listen to her. She remembered how she told him about how life was back at home, and her relationship with her mother.Talking with Minato really helped her cope, and she felt like a lot of the burden had been lifted from her shoulders.But most of the time, their conversations would move on to more pleasant topics. They would talk to each other about stuff like their favorite movies, music and hobbies. They would also go out shopping together for clothes and other stuff at the mall, or have meals together.She even invited him to the summer festival at Naganaki Shrine. They shared some takoyaki together, and he even won her a Jack Frost doll at one of the game booths.It was the most fun that she ever had, and she felt truly relieved. And life slowly started to make sense once again.And Yukari started to have thoughts about him.At first, it didn’t really bother her. But then she caught herself staring at him for no real reason, even during missions, only to avert her gaze whenever he looks back at her.Not only that, whenever she sees Minato in the company of another girl, even friends like Fuuka, an uncomfortable sensation would boil within her.But it gets even worse. She would also find herself recalling more intimate memories the two had shared together. Like the incident back at Shirakawa Boulevard, or when the takoyaki stall owner referred to him as her boyfriend, or the sensation of his arms wrapped around her at Yakushima.It was then Yukari discovered that she had fallen for Minato.Sure, he could be a stoner who doesn’t really seem approachable at first glance, often paying more attention to his headphones. And he’s always blunt whenever he expresses his opinions, which could be frustrating sometimes. He also liked eating and sleeping a lot. Even during Mr. Ekoda’s classes, Yukari would find the blue-haired boy dozing off. It’s a miracle he wasn’t caught yet.But at the same time, he was a smart and capable student in school. And during missions he’s surprisingly committed when push comes to shove, and his loyalty between him and the team was unquestionable. And most of all, it was because he was a caring and patient person. Even when she lashed out at him back at Yakushima, he still stuck by her.That was why she decided to invite him to the rooftop today. She wanted to get the weight off her chest, to let him know how she felt.“Yukari…?”A familiar voice snapped her out of her reverie, causing her let out a barely audible squeal. She spun around and found Minato standing behind her.Ignoring the palpitating sensation in her chest, Yukari mustered up a response. “Oh, you came… Thanks.”
Come on, Yukari… You can do it!
“But…There’s something I want to ask you… Um…Minato-kun…” She took a deep breath. “Why do you spend so much time with me?”Reading the confused expression on his face, Yukari continued. “Whenever I ask you to do something, you say yes, and you ask me to do things sometimes too, right? So much has happened between us… Is it because we’re both Persona-users? Or are we just good friends? Lately, when I see you with Fuuka, I wonder what you’re talking about. It feels like someday, my heart is going to shrink… and I’m afraid I won’t feel anything anymore.”As she continued speaking, Minato stood there listening to it all. The expression on his face was unreadable.She took another deep breath. She felt herself losing her nerve. Come on! Just say it…!“So, um… I want you to look at me the way I look at you, Minato-kun…”Suddenly, her breath caught audibly just as the words left her lips. Her eyes became wide as a deer in headlights, and her cheeks turned an even rosier hue.“…Wh-What am I saying?!” Yukari shook her head. She mentally slapped herself. That wasn’t what I wanted to say!She suddenly felt the weight on her shoulders double down. “…I’ve gotta go!”Not wanting to look at Minato’s face, Yukari turned and started to break into a run. She wanted to just run away. Back to the dorm and lock herself in her room.“Wait!”Yukari felt her wrist being grabbed. She jerked to a stop and whirled, completely startled by the sudden contact. She found Minato standing in front of her, holding on to her wrist. To her surprise, his cheeks were flushed, his breathing heavy despite his obvious attempts to hide it.They were so close to each other that they were only inches apart. Those eyes… She felt them meeting hers. When she first met Minato, she thought those eyes to be cold as ice, distant and aloof. But now, they exuded a certain type of warmth.She felt one of his hands snake around her slender waist, and the other slid up her neck before cupping her cheek. Her mind caught in a trance, Yukari didn’t bother to resist.Minato leaned gently forward, head tilting to the side. His lips made contact with hers.Yukari briefly stiffened. His lips were coarse and rough, yet at the same time there was a certain amount of tenderness behind it.She caved in, her arms wrapping around Minato’s neck. In response, he pulled her body into his, drawing her deeper into the kiss.The couple lost themselves in the overwhelming pleasure of taste and touch. Yukari felt warmth and excitement coursing through her body as the kiss deepened. Her eyes fluttered shut, letting herself enjoy the moment while it lasted.The kiss felt like an eternity. Yukari wanted it to last much longer, but the need for air started forced them to pull apart. When they separated, Yukari looked up at Minato.She was probably staring at him for a while, because Minato spoke. “Yukari, are you all right...?” He asked, his voice raspy.She nodded – still staring blankly at him. “Wow…” she finally replied, breathless. “That felt good…”Minato smiled warmly. “We could try it again. I-If you want…”Yukari’s cheeks became rosy once again. But she answered nonetheless. “I do…”And they did. Their lips collided once more, this time, with a kind of smoldering passion. Something that was finally awakened, the flames kindled. And they stayed that way for a while.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
It was only yesterday when Minato and Yukari had their first kiss back on the school rooftop. And ever since then, his thoughts have been filled with nothing but of her, even in his sleep.It all started not long after their trip to Yakushima, and the two had started becoming practically inseparable outside of after-school activities. They hung out at Paulownia and the strip mall at the station, eating out or passing by the time shopping.He had been happier in those few days than he had been for the last few months, even years. He felt at ease, without a care in the world.He wanted to share things with her, like she did with him – about his own life, about his family. He wanted to tell things that he would normally be uncomfortable sharing with others, even his friends. That wasn’t like him at all…Minato also found himself picking out subtle details of her. Like how her hair would bob whenever her head moves, how her voice would hitch when she laughs, or her foot would shift back and forth when nervous.He found it cute.And it was then he realised that his affection for Yukari was deeper than he initially realised. This wasn’t like the times he hung out with Junpei or Kaz, nor was this like with the other girls like Chihiro and Yuko. It was something different.Sure, he could see why a lot of guys would be attracted to Yukari. She’s talented, popular and especially beautiful, and he could attest to that, rather ashamedly, during their mission at Shirakawa Boulevard. He still remembered the sting of her palm into his cheek.But those weren’t the reasons why Minato fell in love with her. He fell in love with her for her kindness, her personality flaws and all, and most of all, because they were able understand each other.As much as he wanted to, Minato couldn’t bring himself to approach Yukari. Part of him was actually afraid of rejection, another part thinking that he didn’t deserve her love.It was then Yukari asked him to meet her up at the rooftop yesterday. Though the possibility that she returned his feelings crossed his mind, he thought that she deserved better. Better than some introverted oddball like him.However, when she confessed her feelings, Minato saw it in her eyes. He realised that her care and regard for him went far, far deeper than he had thought.And so he took the initiative before she could leave. It was then they had their first kiss. They were now officially a couple.*Today, Yukari invited him to her room after school. After having dinner together at Wakatsu Restaurant, they returned back to the dorm. They snuck into her room when the coast was clear.Though it seemed rude, he couldn’t help but find himself staring at his surroundings. It was his first time in a girl’s room, much less Yukari’s, so he felt really awkward.To be honest, Yukari’s room was what he expected a girl’s room to look like. Its beige and brown striped walls were sprinkled with various posters of foreign bands and singers. On her bedside was a pink table that resembled those that from preschools. It was lined various perfumes and other cosmetics.Minato honestly felt sorry for her wallet as he saw the various empty shopping bags, and shoeboxes and designer bags neatly arranged on the shelves. He had gone shopping with her before, so it didn’t really surprise him that she had a lot of goods everywhere.“Yeah… Those things are starting to pile up.” Yukari’s voice snapped him out of his trance. Her face was flushed.“Sorry…” Minato murmured an apology.The two of them just stood there. An awkward silence stretching between them. Minato was about to speak, when Yukari beat him to the punch.“Do you want to sit down? I’ve got some cushions here, if you’d like.”“Sure.” He nodded. He picked two cushions and laid them out on the carpet. They both sat down.Yukari looked around her, a hesitant expression on her face.“For some reason, I’m feeling so nervous…even though it’s you, Minato-kun...” she mumbled. “Everyone’s in their rooms, too… I hope no one finds out that I snuck you in here… If I scream, everybody will hear me.”Minato’s eyes widened and his cheeks flushed a bit. Wait! Did she mean it in that way…?It took a while longer for Yukari to process what she had just said. Her face turned beet red. “What am I saying!? Don’t get the wrong idea, okay!” She flustered, waving her hands in denial.Minato quickly averted his gaze so she couldn’t see his flushed expression. “I didn’t hear anything…”“Y-Ya got that right.” Yukari laughed embarrassedly. She quickly shrank, Minato barely picking up what she said. “…Am I always this crazy?”Minato couldn’t help himself. “It depends from time to time.”“Hey!”The couple found themselves talking for some time, and the late afternoon waned to evening.“Oh yeah, I wanted to give you something.” Yukari suddenly stood up and shuffled through one of her desk drawers.She walked up to Minato. She gestured him to hold out his hand, and he complied.“This is for you…” Yukari smiled pleasantly, a faint tinge of pink on her cheeks as she placed the object into the palm of his hand.Minato examined the object, his thumb gingerly stroking it. It looked very familiar. “Wait… Is this…?”Yukari nodded. “You know what it is, right? It’s the strap from my cell phone. I got it at the opening ceremony at the Moonlight Bridge. It’s been my special keepsake for many years…ever since my dad bought it for me.”She continued, a fond expression on her face. “I used to talk to the toy figurine attached to it when I was here in my room. Whenever he’s gone because of work, it was my way of talking him…”She giggled, though Minato could see there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. “You must think I’m nuts, huh?”Minato shook his head. His hand clasped over the strap. “No…There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s because you love your father, and nothing’s gonna change that.”Yukari smiled, and he noticed the twinkling in her eyes, like she was trying to hold back tears. “Thanks, Minato-kun… But as I got to know you, I talked to my little friend less and less. Because you’ve been there for me, as someone who I can connect to, as a friend who has made me happy.”Her cheeks became red again. “…Um, I should tell you why I’m giving it to you…”Minato knew what Yukari was going to say. But he waited for her to say it properly, hearting palpitating.“I—I’m only going to say this once… what I wanted to tell you back on the roof yesterday.”She took a deep breath, her blushing taking on an even brighter hue. “Minato-kun… I love you.”Yukari quickly turned away, her shoulders sagging. “Whew,” she sighed in relief, a bright smile on her face. “I said it!”“Yeah, I heard you.” Minato smiled, and gently held her by her arms. He pulled her towards him, that she could face him. It honestly felt like déjà vu.Yukari stared back at him, still blushing. The two were so close that they could feel each other’s breath.“I love you too, Yukari.” He spoke, all of his emotions pouring forth. He wanted to let it all out. “You’ve been more than just a friend. You’re someone special to me. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you, if that’s okay.”The couple held a silent gaze at each other, when Yukari began to pout. “You made it sound so easy… I screwed it up yesterday, and you can say it like it’s nothing.”Minato couldn’t help but chuckle. “You have no idea…”They both laughed, until Yukari realised that Minato was still holding on to her and quickly looked down in embarrassment.“When all of this is over,” she whispered, “I think we should go somewhere and spend some time alone… I-In fact… Would it be all right if I jumped the gun a bit and spent some of that time with you today…? Just the two of us.”Minato responded by releasing his hands from her arms, instead snaking his own around her waist. He pulled Yukari into his embrace, his chin resting on her head. He could feel her chest rise and fall against his, their breaths in unison.“I-I’m blushing, aren’t I?” Yukari muttered, her voice muffled by Minato’s shirt.And she kissed him, with a sense of firmness in her lips. Her fingers dug into his hair, massaging his scalp and pulling him deeper into the kiss.Minato, overwhelmed by need, slipped his tongue into her mouth. Yukari’s eyes widened with shock. But she played along, her tongue connecting with his in an erotic dance for dominance.Alas, the need for air caused them to part. But Yukari soon guided Minato to her bed to sit down, and he complied.She stood before him, her face flushed from passion and anxiety. Yet he could see the desire in her eyes, the want for more.Her fingers unraveled the red ribbon collar around her neck, before unbuttoning her pink jacket. Both dropped to her feet, revealing her white uniform underneath.Minato simply gazed at her, his heart beating faster by the second. Yukari, seemingly emboldened by his staring, pulled down her mini skirt. Once it hit the floor, she quickly unbuttoned her shirt and it too joined its companions on the floor.She was now clad in only her undergarments and stockings. Even though she was still covered, she subconsciously wrapped her hands around her chest. Minato’s breath hitched. She’s so damn cute…So drowned in the sight of her that he barely reacted when Yukari stepped forward and pushed him. He fell backwards with a plop onto the bed. She straddled him above the waist. Minato grunted, feeling her body weight pressing against his straining erection beneath his pants.Yukari took the chance to unbutton his shirt, exposing his bare and surprisingly chiseled torso. She suddenly paused.“Wow…” She gasped. Minato groaned as he felt her hands wander across his torso, feeling out his muscles.At the same time, Minato positioned himself up straight, allowing both his shirt and jacket to slide off his body. His hands glided across her back, causing Yukari to gasp from the goosebumps coursing through her body.His fingers reached her lacy bra strap, and unclipped the clasp. The undergarment peeled off and he tossed it aside.And there she was. Topless, her ample breasts exposed for him to see. Her nipples were erect from the excitement between them. Her cheeks were flushed and she was biting her bottom lip.She’s beautiful… Minato breathed heavily, eyes darkening with desire. He captured her lips as his hands palmed her breasts, massaging them and emitting stifled moans from Yukari’s mouth.He parted from the kiss. His lips trailed down her collarbone down to her right breast. He began biting and sucking on her nipple; hand resumed massaging her other breast. Yukari let out a throaty moan, her hands running through Minato’s hair.“Your body is mine tonight.” Minato growled.Yukari panted. “Yeah… I want to give myself to you.”His mouth gave one last suckle he pulled back. Suddenly, his hands grabbed her wrists. Yukari squeaked as she found herself lying on the bed, Minato hovering above her. He held her arms in place over her head, pinning her down.He released his grip, hands moving on to undoing his pants. Yukari hurriedly used her legs to assist in removing them. Shuffling his legs, he removed his pants and boxers, kicking them off the bed.He was now stark naked. His erection was now free from their confines. Minato reached for Yukari’s panties, holding them by the waistbands before pulling them down.Her entrance was exposed to him, already dripping wet from arousal. Yukari herself was blushing furiously as she caught him transfixed on her nether regions.“Don’t stare…” She whined. She’s just too cute!Minato positioned himself so that his rod was starting to prod at Yukari’s entrance, their faces just inches from each other. They were now both naked, and were about to connect themselves in the most intimate way possible.“Are you sure…?” Minato asked, his face heating up.Yukari nodded. “Yeah… I-I need you Minato.”He smiled and readied himself. Slowly and gently, he entered her. Minato suppressed a growl as he felt Yukari’s moist insides wrapping around him. Ignoring the heavenly sensation in his loins, he pushed in all the way.Yukari made a mix between a hiss and a moan, her arms reflexively wrapping around his neck. Her eyes were welling up with tears. Minato felt a warm flowing liquid from her insides, and he knew it wasn’t just her juices.He stopped, eyes filled with concern. “A-Are you okay…?”Yukari bit her lip before making a pained smile against the pain and tears. Her breath was ragged and unsteady, but otherwise she was determined to see their consummation through.Minato began thrusting, though he started off with a slow and rhythmic motion. Yukari cried out in both pain and ecstasy. She pulled him into another deep throaty kiss, muffling their moans.“Ohhh…I want more…” She gasped, her hands gripping fistfuls of the bed sheets.Upon hearing her pleas, Minato accelerated his pace and his thrusts became even wilder. Rocking back and forth, the bed creaked from their increasingly erratic movements. Yukari arched her back and tried to hold back a moan. Whatever pain had now been completely eroded by pleasure.And she felt it coming, building up inside her like a volcano about to erupt. Instinctively, her hands released the bed sheets and wrapped around Minato’s neck again, holding on for dear life.“M-Minato…! I’m going to—”She gasped.Her boyfriend leaned forward, his forehead pressing against hers, their lips just centimeters from making contact. “Me too…!”Yukari opened her mouth, ready to let out a scream from her euphoric high. However, her scream was stifled by Minato’s lips crashing into hers. His hands cupped her cheeks and pulled her deeper into the kiss.At the same time, he gave one final thrust to release his essence, making sure that he came in contact with her sweet spot. Yukari felt his load fill her up her insides, and locked her legs around his waist, pushing him in even deeper into her.The two lovers maintained the kiss until the need for air overcame them. They pulled apart, leaving behind a thread of saliva that connected them together. Yukari felt the full weight of her boyfriend as he collapsed on top of her. She released her grip on him and her limbs fell harmlessly to the bed.They lay still on the mattress, basking in their post coital bliss. Their bodies were drenched in sweat; their breathing in ragged gasps.After what seemed to be minutes ticked by, Minato rolled to his side, removing his weight from Yukari’s limp body.She wiped the sweat from her forehead. “Wow…” she panted, “that…was amazing.”“Yeah…it really was.” Minato smiled warmly as he propped himself up on his elbow in a way that he could face her and admire her body. His free hand reached for her face, brushing away the loose bangs of her hair.Yukari quickly snuggled up against Minato’s bare chest. He fell back on the mattress, wrapping his arm around her to pull her into his embrace. The need of sleep began to overtake both of them.“I love you, Minato.” Yukari sighed dreamily.“I love you too, Yukari…” Minato whispered back. *Minato awoke in content, bone-deep lassitude. He let out a barely audible yawn and rubbed his eyes as he slowly woke up. The room was dark and the lights were out. It’s probably night out already…As he inhaled, a sweet and intoxicating aroma wafted through his nostrils. It smelt of strawberries… like a perfume or lotion. It smelt good…He felt something shift, snuggling deeper into his side. Curious, Minato turned his head and found a familiar face nestled into his neck.Yukari was sleeping soundly next to him. Beneath the blankets, he felt her arm draped around his bare chest, and one of her legs entangled with his own. She had a content look on her face, with that small smile of hers that he always found cute.Minato held her tight to his body, and felt the need for sleep overcome him again.He woke up once more, and glanced at the alarm clock on the shelf. It was 5 am, and it was a Sunday. So that means that he doesn’t need to worry about getting up and get ready for school today.Yukari was still sound asleep beside him. Minato smiled. She just looked so peaceful. Part of him wanted to return to the warm cocoon of a blanket and hold her in his embrace, at least for a few more hours.But he knew that he should return back to his room before anyone else could wake up. Otherwise, he and Yukari could get into more trouble than they could like. Taking caution not to disturb her sleep, he slowly climbed out of the bed and reached for his boxers.As he was putting them on, he heard the sound of yawning, and turned around to see that Yukari had already woken up. She was sitting up stretching her arms languidly, the blanket sliding off from her body and exposing her breasts.Yukari blinked, taking in her surroundings. Her eyes widened, the blissful events of last night flashing before her eyes. She looked at Minato, and she gave a small smile.“Good morning, sleepyhead.” Minato smiled back, picking up his discarded pants.“Good morning to you too…” Yukari rubbed her eyes. She climbed out of the bed, exposing herself for Minato to see. His eyes couldn’t help but roam about, admiring her smooth naked skin.“Hey,” she pouted. “I thought I told you to stop staring.”“And I thought you enjoyed me staring at you.” Minato dryly replied back and put on his pants.Yukari walked past Minato and towards her wardrobe, giving him a view of her rear, to his subtle delight. She opened the wardrobe and took out her familiar pink tank top before putting it on. Despite her top being covered, Minato could still see the perfect curvature of her breasts.Even when wearing a shirt, she was still beautiful.She slowly walked back to him, a sad yet loving look in those eyes of hers, and wrapped her arms around him. Minato returned the embrace, his right hand unconsciously stroking her exposed derriere. His other hand slipped under Yukari’s tank top to cup her breast, his thumb fondling her nipple.“You’d better get going before someone sees us together…” Yukari mumbled, giving him a kiss on the lips.“Of course.” Minato replied with a kiss of his own before reluctantly parting from their moment of physical intimacy.But then an idea came to his head. He softly asked, “How about we go out later? Is that okay with you?”Yukari smiled, a blush on her cheeks. “I thought you’d never ask.”
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... ...Paulownia Mall was absolutely beautiful. It was already Christmas Eve, and the decorations have already been set up. Christmas ornaments, ranging from wreaths to garlands, were intricately lined everywhere. The colours of lush green and red were accompanied by lines of fairy lights, dangling from the ceiling like golden raindrops frozen in time. Standing next to the fountain stood two beautiful Christmas trees, made entirely out of dazzling lights. Christmas jingles played on the speakers, adding more festivity to the atmosphere. “Wow,” Yukari said as stared in awe at the decorations. “It’s so pretty! And romantic…”Minato stood by her side, smiling warmly at the sight of Yukari admiring the decorations with a child-like wonder. Classes had just ended when he received a call from Yukari, inviting him for a date at the mall. Today was the day that the staff will turn on the lights, and she wanted to see it for herself. And it was even more beautiful than she anticipated. The mall was completely different, transmogrified into one of those winter wonderlands she would hear from children’s Christmas stories. Enraptured by the beautiful display of lights, that for a brief moment, Yukari lost track of her surroundings. Suddenly, a figure briskly walking past bumped into her. But even as she stumbled, she never loosened her grip on her shopping bag. “Hey!” The figure accusingly spun around to face her. It was one of those delinquents who usually hung about at the outskirts of Port Island Station. “Why don’t you watch where you’re going!”Glaring at the punk, Yukari snapped. “Me? You were the one that’s walking, jackass!”“Why you…! How about I teach you some manners you—” the punk angrily stepped forward; his hand already pulled back.Suddenly, a hand grabbed the punk’s wrist.“What the—” he grunted, struggling in vain to pull his hand free. It felt like his hand was caught in a bear trap.He turned around to find Minato staring back at him. Despite his impassive expression, the punk felt the coldness in his eyes that seemed to pierce into his soul, sending a chill up his spine. “That’s not very nice,” Minato said casually. “To be acting all angry like this during the Christmas season. It’s not good for your health, you know…”“It’s none of your damn business!” The punk spat back even as he felt Minato’s grip tighten.In a flash, Minato elbowed the punk in the face with his free arm, blood spraying out from his nose. The punk yelped as he lost his footing, his legs flailing as he struggled to maintain his balance. Had it not been for Minato holding on to his wrist, he would have fallen to the floor from the blow. “What the hell…?” The punk muttered dazingly. Two small streams of blood trickled down from his nose.“Shhh…” Minato politely shushed him, holding a finger to his lips to emphasize his point. “How about I decide? Go spend your Christmas somewhere else. I don’t care if it’s some alleyway you punks always like to hang out, as long as it’s not here. You’re gonna bother everyone with your yelling. Now leave…”Without warning, he released his grip on the punk causing him to fall hard on his butt. The punk whimpered as he scrambled to his feet and scurried out the mall with his tail between his legs. Ignored the few bystanders staring at him with stupefied expressions, Minato quickly turned around to check on Yukari. “Are you okay?” he asked. “Thanks, Minato.” Yukari smiled softly as she brushed aside her hair, a faint blush on her cheeks. “You helped me out again…”The couple picked up their bags and sat by the fountain, taking the time to continue admiring the decorations.Yukari then reached into her shopping bag and pulled out a rectangular pink-colored box tied with a red ribbon. Minato saw a brief flash of uncertainty in her eyes before she held it out to him. “Here, I bought you a present. Why don’t you open it now?”Minato took the gift and delicately opened the lid. He peered into the box and found a cake inside – a log cake – coated entirely in rich, dark-brown buttercream and powdered sugar. Decorating it were small mistletoe and mushrooms, probably made of cream or marzipan. A miniature figure of Santa Claus and his reindeer-pulled sleigh was perched at the top of the cake. “When that guy pushed me, I thought that the cake might be ruined. That’s why I lost my temper just now…” Yukari murmured, averting her gaze from Minato’s eyes as if she was ashamed of herself. “I hope it still looks okay. If it’s not, I can get you–”“Yukari,” Setting aside the cake, Minato placed a hand over Yukari’s and gave it a gentle squeeze. “it’s perfect… Thanks.”Hesitatingly, her eyes met Minato’s, and found him smiling reassuringly at her. “Aw, don’t look at me like that…” she pouted, her cheeks turning a rosy hue.“Now...” Minato let go of Yukari’s hand and reached into his own shopping bag. “It’s my turn.” He took out a small rectangular gift-wrapped box that was much smaller than the cake and passed it to Yukari. Yukari’s cheeks became even redder as she held the gift in her hands. “You got a present for me? Aww… you shouldn’t have.”Yukari sighed, setting down the gift on her lap. “When I first met you, I never thought we’d be spending time together like this. I was so used to being alone with my mom.” She paused as if she was hesitating for a brief moment, before continuing. “Minato… Was it ever lonely for you during Christmas, before you came back here?”Minato frowned. Yukari shuffled awkwardly, immediately regretting what she had said. Even though Minato’s face remained impassive, she could tell that the question was sensitive to him. But before she could apologize, Minato finally answered. “To be honest… it wasn’t so bad.”Seeing the confused expression on Yukari’s face, he continued. “After my parents died… I was passed on to my relatives abroad. They treated me kindly, yet for some reason, I felt like I didn’t belong. Maybe it’s because it wasn’t the same feeling that I got when my parents were around… that sense of reassurance, that I was safe, that I wasn’t alone.”“So, whenever we celebrated Christmas… it remained impersonal. I still got nice gifts, but there was no genuine sense of attachment behind them. But I don’t blame them. I chose to keep my distance, and they respected my decision. So over time, I got used to the loneliness.” But his face soon broke into a smile. “But I’ve got my friends, and especially you, by my side now. Now my greatest fear is losing all of you, all the memories that I’ve shared in this city, to be lonely all over again. Ever since we started dating, Yukari, I’ve been dreaming of a moment like this. So… even if we’re in a crazy situation right now, just for today…”Their hands linked together; fingers intertwined once more. “I want to be by your side.”Yukari blushed. But she returned the smile and held Minato’s hand as tightly as she could. The two of them shared this tender moment together for the remainder of the afternoon.… …... ...“Minato, have you ever believed in Santa Claus?”“Not really…”“Are you serious?” Yukari asked, dumbfounded. “Not even once?”“Well, I always thought the presents came from my parents.” Minato shrugged. “Didn’t you ever think of how Santa could get into the house if there’s no chimney or fireplace?”Yukari pouted in annoyance. “Hey! I used to believe in Santa when I was a kid. My dad used to tell me to write to Santa just before Christmas, otherwise, I won’t get any presents.” They shared a laugh.When the laughter finally died down, Yukari glanced down at her watch. “Woah! Look at the time!” she exclaimed in surprise.Minato looked at his own watch, and true enough, it was already past six. They had spent the entire afternoon engrossed in their conversation that they lost track of the time. Packing up their stuff, the couple left the mall and headed back for the dorm before it got dark. As they were walking down the streets of Iwatodai, they noticed how quiet and calm it was. There were barely any people walking about; most of them were probably at home celebrating their Christmas Eve. Yukari shivered as she felt a gust of wind blow in her face. She instinctively wrapped her arms around herself. “Brr… it’s pretty cold tonight. Should have brought a jacket along.” “Here,” she heard Minato’s voice. She let out a soft squeak as she felt something being gingerly placed over her shoulders, a comfortable warmth spreading through her shoulders. It felt like a soft woolen fabric, warming her up and protecting her from the cold winter air. Yukari turned and saw Minato wearing only his sweater. Looking at the fabric covering her shoulders, she realized that she was wearing his winter jacket. “Is it warm enough for you?” he asked, his hands still holding her shoulders. “Oh, Minato… thanks.” Yukari smiled gratefully. Her hand reached for one of Minato’s, giving it an affectionate squeeze. “But what about you? Won’t you get cold?”Minato shook his head. “Nah, I’ll be fine. Besides, we’ll be reaching there soon.” They resumed their journey back until they finally reached the entrance of the dorm. They ascended the doorsteps and opened the door.But just as Yukari was about to step inside, she felt Minato’s hand on her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks. Confused, Yukari turned to Minato, only to see him point upwards without saying a word. Following where he was pointing, she noticed something dangling above the entrance right where they were standing. It was a sprig of mistletoe.Yukari’s cheeks turned as red as beetroot. “Wait a second! I don’t remember seeing that up there before!” Yukari was completely flustered; her mind was racing frantically. Even though she and Minato had been dating for a few months, physical intimacy was something that still needed to get used to. Which was honestly silly considering that they both consummated their relationship shortly after they became an item. She shouldn’t be nervous over something as simple as kissing under the mistletoe. But that’s not the point…! She snapped back to reality. This was probably one of that idiot Stupei’s pranks! Yeah, that must be it! And Minato was continuing to stare at her blankly. She wasn’t sure whether he was taking delight in this situation or not. “Hey, say something! I’m getting embarrassed being the only one talking here!”“Wanna give it a try?” he finally spoke, with a completely straight face.Silence.“What’re you saying?” Yukari yelped. She wanted to cover her face and huddle in the corner of her room. “Where’d that come from? Yeah, we’re dating right now but maybe now’s not the right time. If this is some kind of prank, someone might be watching us and –”She stopped when Minato held a finger to her lips as he leaned forward towards her. She hesitated for a brief moment, before leaning in as well. Their lips made contact, locking into each other like a perfectly fitted puzzle piece. Just like the first kiss they had shared at the school rooftop, it started off gentle; yet there was also a charge of passion as the kiss deepened. One of Minato’s hands cupped the back of Yukari’s neck, while the other traveled above her waist. Yukari’s tense body slowly relaxed as Minato’s arms pulled her closer to him. The need for air inevitably kicked in, and they slowly separated, still gazing into each other’s eyes. Without saying a word, they knew what was coming next.… …... ...They ended up in Minato’s room, at the edge of his bed, free to continue their moment of intimacy. They had shed their winter clothing which were draped lazily over the desk, leaving them in their undergarments. Yukari found herself lying on the mattress, while Minato was on top straddling her by her left leg. She moaned as his lips made contact with the nape of her neck, giving a trail of delicate pecks down the hollow of her throat and to her chest. His already-aroused member was pressed against her groin, separated only by their underwear. With deft fingers, Minato proceeded to unstrap her bra and discarded it to the floor, leaving her bare and ample chest for him to see. He bent down and resumed his assault, this time targeting her right breast. Yukari gasped at the feeling of his tongue circling her nipple, and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his body into hers. Yukari’s hands traveled to Minato’s head, gently pushing him downwards. Minato’s mouth withdrew from her nipple and resumed his journey below, kissing and licking along the lines of her flat stomach. His hands slid down his slides as well, making sure to feel out the smooth texture of her creamy skin. Finally, he had reached her entrance. His fingers tugged at the waistband of her panties, before pulling them off completely, leaving her fully exposed. His breathing just mere centimeters from her exposed entrance was enough to send shivers down her spine. And without warning, Minato grabbed Yukari’s hips and began his assault with his lips and tongue.Yukari cried out, arching her back as she felt Minato’s tongue inside of her. Her fingers moved through his hair, encouraging him to continue. His relentless teasing – a mixture of kissing, licking and even nipping at her sensitive spots – was beginning to drive her over the edge. Yukari wanted to cry out, but her brain was so overwhelmed by the waves of pleasure to get the words out of her mouth. As for Minato, he wasn’t sure how long he could keep this up. Part of him wanted to take Yukari right here and now, his erection painfully straining against his boxers as if it was urging him on. Yet he remained committed in sweetly tormenting his girlfriend until she could reach her first climax.Fortunately, he did not have to wait long. Yukari soon felt a surge of electricity in her lions, her body shuddering from the overwhelming pleasure and she let out a strangulated cry. Once it finally passed over, Yukari’s body relaxed and fell back into the soft mattress, panting heavily to regain her bearings. Despite the cold winter air outside, their bodies were glistening with sweat...But the night was still young, and the couple still had more than enough energy to spare. Minato stood up and pulled down his boxers, finally freeing his member from its constraints. Grabbing Yukari by the legs, he shifted so that both of them were lying on the mattress. He was now hovering over her, readily positioned between her opened shapely legs. Yukari wrapped her arms around Minato’s neck once again, urging him to take her. And so, he did. He slowly entered inside her completely, causing her to arch her back again and let out an aroused cry as Minato started thrusting. They rode together in perfect synchronization; as Minato rolled his hips, Yukari thrust upwards so he could reach her innermost regions. Her head was thrown back with every thrust he made; her legs locked around his waist to keep him in place.She soon reached her climax, and she released one of her arms so she could stifle a primal scream from her mouth. Her body shuddered from the wave of pleasure that was spreading. At the same time, Minato went in for one final thrust as he filled her with his essence.But to Yukari’s shock, her boyfriend wasn’t done yet. Grabbing her by the hips, he shifted her so that she was on her knees, her ass completely exposed to him. She felt his hands firmly grip her shapely buttocks, pulling them apart so that he could see her womanhood, already drenched in a mixture of their love essence.“M-Minato… wait…!” Yukari squealed in protest at the sudden change in position, only to cry out in ecstasy as Minato entered her once more. His hands now traveled to her thighs, so to hold her better. Because of the new position, he managed to directly hit her in her sweet spot. Minato began rolling his hips again; there was a sense of firm yet gentleness in his movements, the sound of flesh slapping against each other with every thrust. Yukari whimpered as she felt herself tighten around him. To stop herself from screaming from ecstasy, she grabbed the pillow and pressed it tightly over her mouth to stifle her cries. As Minato started to accelerate his pace, Yukari was starting to reach her limit. She was already drooling on the pillow that she was clutching for dear life, her nether regions were getting sore and she couldn’t feel her legs. Her head was starting to spin, and she was seeing stars. Yet the burning desire in her loins still remained.After a few more minutes of sensual lovemaking, Minato gasped as emptied everything that he had inside Yukari again. The sudden feeling of warm liquid entering her triggered a chain reaction, causing her to climax as well. Luckily for her, the pillow muffled her screams, otherwise, everyone in the dorm might have heard her.Now that the couple had reached their limit and had ridden out their orgasmic high, they both collapsed back onto the bed in an entanglement of exhausted limbs, panting heavily for air. Minato nonetheless managed to muster what remaining strength he had to shift Yukari on top of him so that she was lying against his chest. He then grabbed the blanket and pulled it over both of them. Minato then held Yukari tightly in his arms, resting his chin atop her head and inhaling her intoxicating scent. He gave Yukari one final peck on her forehead. “Merry Christmas, Yukari…”Yukari smiled as she returned the gesture, kissing the nape of his neck. “Merry Christmas to you too, Minato…”In the comfort of each other’s arms, they finally let sleep take them over.… …... ...Yukari let out a yawn as she slowly opened her eyes, mumbling softly to herself. Expecting to find her boyfriend, she was surprised to find an empty spot beside her. Frowning, she pushed herself up, holding the covers to her chest. “Minato…?” she weakly called out as she sat up straight. She groggily looked around the room, and to her relief, Minato was at his desk calmly observing her.He was dressed in a bathrobe, holding a cup in his hands. Getting up from his seat, he walked towards her and handed the cup to her.“Good morning, Yukari. Slept well?” he softly asked.She returned the smile, nodding as she took the cup. She took a sip of the drink, tasting the warm and sweet taste of hot chocolate. “Thanks…” she said. “What time is it?”“It’s still early. About 5am… so we still have time to enjoy ourselves.” Minato answered. He walked back to his desk and Yukari noticed that two plates with forks were there.He took both plates and walked back to the bed, sitting down next to Yukari. He handed one of the plates, and Yukari realized that it was the log cake that she had given to Minato. Setting the hot chocolate aside, she accepted the plate that he offered her. She took a bite of her slice, and her eyes widened the very second it made contact with her tongue. The cake was absolutely delicious! The buttercream filling combined with spongey interior practically melted in her mouth. She definitely made the right choice picking this cake.Once their plates were cleaned up, Minato reached into one of the shopping bags that were carefully placed on the desk before their night of lovemaking. He took out his gift for Yukari and passed it to her. “Now it’s your turn to open my gift, Yukari.” He smiled.Yukari nodded as she took the present. With bated breath, her fingers gingerly peeled apart the wrapping paper. Her eyes widened as she fully unpeeled the wrapping paper and saw what was inside.It was a brand-new cell phone strap, carefully preserved in a plastic box. It had a black strap with bright pink checked patterns. But what caught her eye was what was attached at the end of the strap – two crystal butterflies, one blue and one pink. “What do you think?” Minato asked, a smile on his face. “I thought of giving you a new cell phone strap to replace the one that you gave me. Those two butterflies… they’re you and me, something to remind you of the bond that we’ve shared this past year.”Yukari was speechless, a smile on her face. Unbeknownst to her, there was a twinkling in her eyes as she removed the strap from the safety of the box. Her fingers delicately stroked the butterflies, shining in the light of the room. “Minato…” she softly murmured. “It’s beautiful…”Without warning, she leaped forward and wrapped her arms around Minato, pulling him into as deep an embrace as she possibly could. “Thanks.”She held on to him for quite a while, but for some reason, Minato didn’t seem to return the gesture. Confused, she looked at him in the face. He had a slightly bewildered expression and a faint blush on his cheeks.“Um… Yukari…” he awkwardly smacked his lips, as if he was hesitating to say anything. “You’re not wearing anything…”Yukari’s cheeks turned bright red as she looked slowly down. It was then she realized that the covers had dropped to the floor when she moved to hug Minato, leaving her stark naked for him to see. “EEP! Don’t look at me!” Yukari squeaked as she instinctively pulled away from Minato. Her arms wrapped around her chest, desperate to preserve her whatever modesty she had left in spite of the lovemaking they had done the night before.But Minato remained standing there, his eyes transfixed on the sight of her exposed body. He felt his manhood once again spring up again with desire. Wordlessly, he parted open his bathrobe and let it fall to the floor with a soft plop, and slowly walked towards Yukari.Yukari’s cheeks became even redder at the sight of her naked boyfriend approaching her, eyes immediately traveling to where his manhood ways. She didn’t resist as Minato pulled her closer to him in his embrace, this time without anything blocking their skin. Minato leaned forward into Yukari’s ear. His gentle breath on the nape of her neck sent a ticklish sensation down her spine. “We still have some time before school…” he whispered huskily, a tone that Yukari didn’t expect from Minato.Yukari didn’t say anything and only responded with a coy smile on her face. One hand smoothed over Minato’s bare back, while her other hand moved to cup his jaw, pulling him into a deep kiss. She then fell backward onto the bed, pulling Minato along with her.That’s one way to start Christmas Day.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
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Minato and Yukari both lay exhausted on the mattress; their naked bodies were coated in membranes of sweat despite the cold January morning outside. With their legs entangled, arms extended, and their chests imprinted on each other, they were joined together in a deep and intimate embrace.After laying still for what seemed like a few hours, Yukari finally spoke, pillowing her head to look at her boyfriend. Her free arm reached out for his hand, gripping it tightly as her fingers intertwined with his own.“Hey, Minato-kun?” She spoke, her voice slightly hoarse from the sounds she had made from their recent lovemaking.“Hmm?” Minato tilted his head to look back at her in response.“It’s about my mom. She’s planning to come over to Port Island in a few days for a visit.”“That’s great,” Minato smiled. “Will your mom be staying?’Yukari shook her head. “No, it’ll just be a simple meeting. Things are still a bit awkward between us, so we’ll be just testing the waters, do some catching up, that’s all.”Minato gave her hand a comforting squeeze. “You seem pretty nervous. Will you be alright?”“About that… I was wondering if you’re free to join us.” Yukari trailed off.“I’m sorry?” Minato sat up, caught off guard by her question.“Sorry,” she quickly said, averting her gaze guiltily. “Forget what I just said. I told my mum about you and that we’re dating; she was hoping to see you for herself. I know that you might be busy, and this was pretty last minute, but I was hoping…”Minato quickly cut Yukari off with a gentle tug, pulling her to his chest so that she was lying on top of him. Yukari let out a yelp by the sudden change in positions but was immediately silenced by a firm kiss planted on her lips, which she reciprocated with enthusiasm. They maintained the kiss for a few seconds, before slowly pulling away breathlessly, gazing directly into each other’s eyes. Minato’s free hand reached for Yukari’s cheek, fingers delicately brushing back a few loose strands of her hair behind her ear.“Yukari, it’s alright. I’ll be happy to join you.” Minato softly said, planting a softer, more tender kiss, on her forehead.“Thanks, Minato-kun.” Yukari embraced Minato; her arms wrapped around his neck as she nuzzled his collarbone. Minato responded in kind by reaching his hand to Yukari’s cheek, and leaned forward for another deep kiss.
~.~
Just a few days later, Minato was sitting at a table at Chagall Café, with Yukari sitting by his side, waiting for Yukari’s mother to arrive. Business at the café was relatively slow today; there were barely a few people around, which was surprising considering that it was a weekend afternoon. Minato wondered this had anything to do with The Fall, remembering the growing number of Apathy Syndrome victims the past few days.Yukari was extremely quiet, her gaze solely directed at her designer handbag resting on her lap, fingers tightly gripping the straps as if she were wringing a towel. Minato could understand why Yukari would be nervous right now; she’d mentioned that she had not seen her mother in almost ten years. He remembered how scared she was, saying that she might get angry and say something cruel to hurt her mother. He remembered how she’d reacted from the times she talked with her mother on the phone, the anger, frustration and sadness in her voice as she shouted on the phone.Beneath the table, Minato held out his hand to her. Upon seeing his hand, Yukari’s head snapped back up and looked at him for a moment, recognising it was a gesture of comfort. Her eyes travelled back down to his invitation, seemingly hesitant, but slowly her hand reached forward to rest on top of his. As they continued to wait, their hands remained linked together.It did not take long until Yukari suddenly perked up, her free hand raising up to give an awkward wave.Minato’s eyes shifted to the direction where Yukari was waving to, and he saw standing at the café entrance a woman waving back at them.She was a beautiful woman, appearing to be in her late thirties. She wore a faded pink skirt-suit with a white blouse underneath, a pair of silver and pearl earrings, and designer high-heeled shoes. But what caught Minato’s attention was the uncanny resemblance between the woman and Yukari, meaning that she was indeed Yukari’s mother. She had Yukari’s light brown hair for starters, though it was much longer, reaching past her shoulders. Her eyes were also the same shade of brown as Yukari’s, but they had sharper features that gave the woman a more mature look. He was essentially looking at a grown-up version of Yukari.And yet, Minato could sense a sort of air Yukari’s mother carried herself with that was different from her daughter. In contrast to Yukari’s assertive spiritedness, her mother seemed to exude a sort of weariness; whatever fire that might have burned in those sharp eyes had long since died.Minato and Yukari stood up from their seats as her mother approached their table, stopping just a few from Yukari. Minato looked on as mother and daughter simply stared awkwardly at each other, as if unsure how to respond.For Yukari, the sight of her mother caused a surge of emotions flood within her. Bitterness, anger, sadness, uncertainty and nervousness. Yet something flickered deep inside of her, a warmer and softer feeling. It was the same feeling as it was back then, before the accident, when they were a happy family. This warm feeling clashed with the deep-rooted resentment of the past ten years. Her mouth struggled to find the right words, yet nothing came out; it was as if her own voice was trying to resist her.Then, to her surprise, her mother stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Yukari, pulling her into a tight hug. At first, Yukari could only stare blankly as she tried to process what just happened. But mustering the strength of her arms to respond, she returned the hug in full.Whatever doubts, whatever uncertainties they both had for each other, all were washed away by the catharsis of nearly a decade of physical and emotional distance that had existed between mother and daughter.When they pulled apart, her mother’s hands reached forward to cup Yukari’s cheeks. Her eyes were glancing up and down, taking in the full view of her daughter. “Just look at you…” she breathed. “You’re all grown up now… into such a beautiful, young woman!”“Mom…”But her mother’s eyes were already glancing to the side, where Minato was standing. Rubbing her eyes, she then turned to greet him. “And you must be Minato Arisato. Yukari-chan told me many things about you.”Minato gave a polite smile as they shook hands. “I’m sure she did, Takeba-san. It’s nice to meet you too.”Once introductions have been made, tea proceeded as normally as it could, much to Yukari’s relief. Of course, her mother began prodding Minato with questions: about his hobbies, his performance in school and, much to her embarrassment and discomfort, whether or not he had any prior relationships. And Minato-kun on his part answered all her questions as coolly as he could ever be.By the time the drinks were being served, they had already become engrossed in other topics. About fashion trends and the latest designer products on sale, the smaller and simpler things.At one point, her mother began recalling, a feeling of fondness in her voice. “Yukari-chan was so obsessed with make-up even as a little. I remember one time she was fiddling with my dressing cabinet. When I entered the room, I found lipstick smeared all over her face.”“Mom,” Yukari’s face flushed beet red. “I was only four…”The food finally came in the form of a light serving of chocolate cake and a fruit platter. As their conversation carried on, Yukari saw her mother in a way she had not seen for a long time. Her lips slowly curled into what to be a smile, a warm genuine smile. Her eyes danced; the fire that died out years ago within them were starting to rekindle. And Yukari smiled back.Yukari got up from her seat. “Sorry, I need to use the washroom.”Mrs. Takeba gave a polite nod and a small smile. “It’s alright, Yukari-chan. Go right ahead. Minato-san and I will be fine.”Once Yukari had left the restaurant, Mrs. Takeba set her fork down. A serious expression immediately formed on her face. “Minato-kun, do you mind if I ask you one more question?”“Sure, Takeba-san. What is it?”“It’s regarding your relationship with my daughter. Just what do you see in Yukari-chan?”Minato raised his eyebrow. “Why? Is there any problem that you have with me dating Yukari, Takeba-san?”Mrs. Takeba shook her head fervently. “No! Of course not, Minato-kun. I apologise if I am coming off as insensitive, but I’m asking as a mother concerned for her daughter. I have often heard of Yukari-chan’s… popularity amongst the boys in Gekkoukan High. So, I was just wondering what exactly drew you towards her.”“I see,” Minato took a sip from his cup of coffee before setting it back on the table. “Well, Takeba-san… If I were to be perfectly honest with you, my feelings towards Yukari when we first met were not exactly on the best of terms. She came off as patronising, reckless and stubborn. But above all, she’s on a whole different wavelength from me.”Minato then lazily leaned back into his seat. “Did Yukari ever tell you about what happened to my parents that night?”A sombre, if not guilty look, appeared on Mrs Takeba’s face. “Yes, she did… I’m truly sorry for your loss, Minato-san. To lose both your parents like that… it must have been painful for you to bring it up.”Minato shook his head. “It’s alright, Takeba-san. But it was when I had learnt about Yukari’s father, did I realise that both she and I were not so different. We both closed ourselves off from the rest because we were afraid that nobody else could understand how we feel. But it was through those same feelings, those fears, that we were able to understand each other.”He continued, a wistful smile appearing on his face. “And the longer we spent time together, the more I get to see a different side to Yukari. She’s street-smart, compassionate, spirited… I guess those qualities are what drew me to her.”“She really is her father’s daughter.” Mrs Takeba smiled ruefully, her gaze pointing downwards in shame. “Even after all the poor girl had gone through… She must have hated me. What kind of mother would leave her own daughter alone to suffer?”“Takeba-san,” Minato flatly replied. “Yukari may have her flaws and issues, but never did she ever say that she hated you. She is just sad. Sad that you never gave her the support she needed when her father died. Sad that her mother would just throw herself at any man she finds. But Yukari understands that you are also trying to move on, because you have lost a husband, which is why she chose to forgive you. And if you are as horrible a mother as you say you are, then you wouldn’t be here in the first place.”Mrs Takeba could only stare in stunned silence at Minato’s words, but slowly her lips curled into a smile. “Minato-san… never have I ever met someone as upfront as you. But now I see why Yukari-chan likes you, and I also see that you truly care for her. So, I have one request for you, from a mother who had failed at her job.”“Takeba-san…”Mrs Takeba held up a hand. “Please, this is something that only you can handle; far better than I could ever hope. Take care of my daughter. Can you do that, Minato-san?”“I definitely will, Takeba-san.”“Please,” Mrs Takeba smiled. “You can call me Isako. After all, we are family now, aren’t we?”For the first time, Minato found himself caught off guard by Mrs Takeba’s, no, Isako’s words. He blinked. “Family?”“Of course. Since you’re dating my daughter, I’m expecting that you’ll eventually make plans for marriage, right?” Isako raised her eyebrow coyly, no doubt amused that she finally found a chink in his usually unflappable exterior.Minato shrugged as he bit into a piece of chocolate cake. “Well, Isako-san… I guess that depends on what Yukari herself thinks.”“Oh, I know that she’ll be happy. I remember when Yukari-chan was still in kindergarten that she said she wants to have lots of kids when she grows up.”“I’m sure that Yukari will make a great mother.” Minato smiled, recalling the memory of Yukari comforting that lost kid months ago.And speaking of the devil, Yukari arrived back from the washroom.“Sorry for taking so long. Did I miss anything?” Yukari said as she took her seat.“Oh, nothing important, dear.” Isako waved nonchalantly as she diverted her attention back to her plate.Yukari perplexedly stared at her mother for a few seconds, before her questioning gaze turned to Minato. What was that about? Minato could read from her facial expression as it lingered on him. He simply responded with a shrug, the deadpan look on his face betraying nothing.
~.~
By the time they had reached Iwatodai station, it was already five o’clock. They were now standing in front of the entrance, just before the turnstiles.“Well, I guess this is goodbye.” Her mother said, and Yukari could see her eyes shining in the late afternoon light.“Yeah…” Yukari nodded as she gave a bittersweet smile, her own eyes misting up as well. “See you later, mom… and have a safe trip.”Isako walked up to Minato first. As they shook hands, Isako gave him a grateful smile. “Thank you, Minato-san… Yukari-chan is lucky to have met someone like you.”“Mom…” Yukari whined as her cheeks flushed a bright pink, though she couldn’t help but grin in satisfaction.Minato smiled mirthfully. “I promise to take care of her, Isako-san.”“I know you will.” Isako nodded, before turning back to Yukari.They gave each other a tight hug, Yukari’s arms tightly wrapping around her mother’s shoulders. Yukari pulled apart slightly to see her mother’s face, her eyes gleaming with unshed tears. Yukari herself felt the emotions overcome her again, feeling tears of her own slide down her cheek.“I love you, Yukari-chan.” Isako whispered, planting a soft kiss on Yukari’s forehead.Yukari sniffed. “I love you too, mom.”“And I’m sorry that I couldn’t become the mother that you always needed...”“It’s okay, mom.” Yukari patted her mother’s back to comfort her, trying her best not to let her voice crack. “I’m sure dad would have been happy to see us together again…”“I’m sure he would.”Sadly, it was time to depart, and Isako reluctantly parted from her daughter’s arms. Crossing the turnstiles, she gave a final wave of goodbye to Yukari before disappearing into the throng of people.Despite the sadness within Yukari’s heart as she watched her mother finally disappear from view, there was also a feeling of warmth and content that was far stronger. Something that filled her with happiness.Yukari felt a hand take her own, firmly grasping it. She turned and saw Minato giving a calm, reassuring smile. “Are you alright, Yukari?”She smiled, wiping a stray tear from her eye. “I’ll be alright.”“I’m glad to see that the both of you patched things up.”“Yeah…” Yukari said as she stared in the direction of where she last saw of her mother before she disappeared into the crowd. She faced Minato; her eyes burned with a renewed feeling of resolution. “We’ve got to end the Dark Hour and stop The Fall. Not just for my mother, but for everyone as well.”“We will.” Minato nodded.The couple simply stood still, letting the moment linger as long as it could, until Minato gently tugged at Yukari’s hand with a smile on his face.“So, Yukari, shall we head back home?”