The sun hung lazily in the sky, casting long golden shadows across the sidewalk as Shin and Rika walked side by side, hand in hand. Well—technically, it was Rika's both hands clutching Shin's arm, her body pressed tightly against it, her cheek resting gently on his upper arm with an almost exaggerated sigh of bliss. She looked content, practically glowing with post-nap warmth, and most definitely still basking in everything that had happened just hours before.
Shin glanced down at her with a crooked grin. "You're being way too clingy, Rika."
"Mmh…" She squeezed his arm tighter, her soft chest squishing against it with deliberate pressure. "I can be. You're my boyfriend now."
Shin chuckled. "Fair enough."
They walked past the edge of the residential district, the street nearly empty except for a passing delivery bike and the occasional elderly neighbor watering flowers. Rika didn't seem to care who was out, nor did she let up her grip. If anything, she clung tighter, clearly savoring every step with him.
"Your parents are going to see the love bites," Shin teased, leaning down slightly to whisper near her ear.
Rika swatted him lightly with one hand, blushing. "You're the one who gave me half of them!"
"I gave you all of them," Shin corrected with a smug grin.
"Ughhh. That's… true."
He snorted and reached down casually to grope her from behind, one hand expertly curving under her skirt for just a second. Rika gasped, tightening her arms around him and darting a quick, panicked look around.
"Shin!"
"No one's looking," he said coolly, withdrawing his hand like nothing happened.
"Still! What if someone saw?!"
"Then they'd know you have a boyfriend with good taste in asses."
She squeaked, slapping his arm again, but she didn't let go. In fact, she leaned into him harder. Shin noticed the pink still coloring her cheeks.
"Pervert…"
"You love that about me."
"I do," she mumbled.
They turned a corner toward the smaller street leading to her neighborhood, the path lined with cherry blossom trees now bare from the season, only a few scattered petals drifting in the warm afternoon breeze. The quiet calm of the street seemed to mirror the lull in their conversation, until Rika broke it with a sigh.
"...I didn't want to leave."
"I didn't want you to either," Shin replied, his voice low and honest. "I kind of liked waking up next to you. Even with Ai's threats and commentary."
"She's so scary sometimes," Rika said with a nervous laugh. "But I kinda like that about her."
"She was totally bluffing about wearing something tight."
"She probably already is."
They laughed, and for a moment it was just easy—so easy that Rika forgot to be self-conscious about the way her fingers crept toward his hand, weaving into his. She looked up at him with a sweet, quiet smile. "I still can't believe you're mine."
Shin looked back down at her, then leaned over to kiss the top of her head. "You've always been mine, Rika."
She melted, cheeks pink again. "Shin…"
They walked on like that, swinging their joined hands slightly, her small steps quick to keep pace with his longer ones. Despite her 5'4" frame, Rika kept up easily—partly because of the adrenaline of being this close to him, and partly because she had no intention of letting go.
Shin nudged her lightly with his elbow. "So, you gonna tell your parents I'm your boyfriend now? Or are we keeping it top secret until you graduate and I run away with you in the middle of the night?"
"You think you're joking," Rika muttered, half to herself. "But I've seriously thought about that."
Shin raised a brow. "Eloping?"
"Running away with you. Like… just disappearing. No school. No pressure. Just us."
He smiled, but gently. "You'd miss your friends."
"Maybe. But… not as much as I'd miss you."
There was a beat of quiet. Shin didn't say anything right away, just slowed down until they stopped beneath a crooked tree that cast dappled shadows across the sidewalk. Rika looked up at him, her expression caught between shy and bold.
Then he leaned down, brushing his lips across hers, soft and slow.
When they parted, he murmured, "I'd run away with you too, Rika."
Her breath caught.
"I mean it," he added. "If it ever gets too much, if you ever feel like you're going to break… I'll take you away. No questions. Just say the word."
She leaned in and hugged him fully, pressing herself against his chest. "God, I love you so much it hurts."
Shin held her close, resting his chin on the top of her head. "Good. Because you've got boyfriend privileges now."
She giggled into his chest. "What does that even mean?"
"Well, you get to hug me whenever you want… kiss me without warning… drag me out of bed for cuddles… sleep in my shirts…"
"Check, check, check, and check," she muttered proudly.
"Also, I get to grope you whenever I feel like it."
"That's not a boyfriend privilege, that's a Shin privilege."
He grinned. "Same thing."
Rika pulled back enough to look up at him. "Okay then, boyfriend privileges go both ways."
"Oh?"
"I get to make you carry my books when we go back to school."
"Sure."
"And I get to sit on your lap during lunch break, whether people stare or not."
"Deal."
"And I get to bite you if you flirt with Ai too much."
Shin blinked. "Uh…"
"I'm serious."
He laughed. "I believe you."
Rika narrowed her eyes playfully. "One more condition."
"What now?"
"You have to text me goodnight every night. Even if you're sleeping next to someone else."
Shin's face softened at that. "I will. Every night."
She nodded, satisfied. "Boyfriend contract complete."
"Hold up," Shin said, reaching into his pocket. "One more clause."
He pulled out a piece of candy from his hoodie—a simple strawberry-flavored one—and held it out to her.
"What's this?" she asked.
"Part of your privileges. I always carry candy for you now. That's in the fine print."
Her heart fluttered. She took the candy slowly, then rose onto her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. "You're gonna make me cry…"
He ruffled her hair gently. "Save it for dinner. You can cry in my arms when I pick you up again."
They resumed walking, this time with Rika munching happily on the candy while still glued to his side. Occasionally, Shin would sneak a kiss to her temple or shoulder, depending on which part of her was closest, and Rika would nuzzle into him with a small hum of happiness.
By the time they reached the gate to her house, the sun had dipped further, casting orange hues over the rooftop tiles.
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END OF CHAPTER : 203 : BOYFRIEND PRIVILEGE!
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