Time. What even is time when you're lost in perfect bliss?
I had no idea how long we'd been lying there, but eventually I became aware of Tomoko staring up at the ceiling with that satisfied, dreamy expression that never failed to make my chest swell with pride.
"Phew... You worked so hard today, Sousuke-kun," she murmured, her delicate hand tracing lazy patterns across my back.
Worked hard? That wasn't work. That was pure pleasure disguised as physical activity.
I shifted to face her properly, carefully brushing away the silky strands of hair that had scattered across her flushed cheeks during our passionate celebration.
Under the warm lamplight, her eyes seemed almost shy, like she was still processing what we'd just shared. That subtle evasiveness was incredibly endearing—my confident, mature landlady suddenly transformed into something vulnerable and sweet.
"Mm..." she nodded with that characteristic soft sound, her voice returning to its usual gentle timbre.
Without warning, she sat up and guided me to rest my head in her lap, creating the kind of intimate contact that felt both nurturing and sensually charged.
The soft warmth of her thighs against my cheek was incredibly comforting, and I felt every muscle in my body gradually release its tension. Her delicate fingers began stroking my face with feather-light touches, each caress carrying the warmth of genuine affection.
Time seemed to pause completely as she enjoyed this peaceful moment, her gentle smile radiating pure contentment.
Looking up at her from this angle, I could see how her flowing hair caught the light, creating an almost ethereal glow around her face. Her fingertips continued their tender exploration of my cheeks, while that soul-cleansing smile made me feel like I was experiencing something sacred.
Eventually, though, reality demanded my attention, and I reluctantly returned to my own room for a quick shower.
Standing in front of my bathroom mirror wrapped in a towel, I caught sight of my reflection and couldn't help but grin.
I walked to my window and let the refreshing evening breeze play with my damp hair, carrying away the last traces of heat from our passionate encounter.
The night sky stretched endlessly above, dotted with sporadic lights like diamonds scattered on black velvet. The entire world had settled into peaceful quiet, broken only by the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze.
Monday morning arrived with its symphony of chirping birds, and I found myself practically floating to school on a cloud of residual satisfaction.
The beautiful weather seemed to be reflecting my internal mood, making everything feel more vibrant and promising.
"Good morning, Ginjo-san!"
That clear, melodious voice stopped me in my tracks just as I reached the school gate.
That voice. I'd recognize it anywhere.
I turned around to find a vision in school uniform standing there—half-long silver hair partially secured in an elegant bun with a few rebellious strands dancing in the morning breeze, crystal-clear eyes that seemed to sparkle with inner light.
Her delicate, fair features radiated natural elegance, while her smile bloomed like the most perfect cherry blossom—the kind of expression that could make anyone fall hopelessly in love.
Her tall, well-proportioned figure was perfectly showcased by the crisp white uniform shirt that emphasized her generous curves in all the right places. Below her pleated skirt, black stockings hugged her slender, toned legs with mathematical precision..*
"Good morning, Shiraishi-senpai," I replied, feeling that familiar surge of happiness that seemed to accompany every interaction with her.
Standing together at the school gate, we were apparently quite the sight to behold. I could feel the curious gazes of passing students, whispered conversations probably speculating about our relationship status.
We had definitely become the subject of campus gossip. Two people who are already well-known individually, now frequently seen together... yeah, that was going to generate some serious rumors.
"You look a little tired today, Ginjo-san. Did you not get enough rest yesterday?" she asked with genuine concern, moving closer to examine my face with that completely unguarded intimacy that never failed to short-circuit my brain.
Tired? I suppose 'exhausted from incredible physical activity' might translate to 'tired' to the casual observer.
Her warmth and that unique sweet fragrance that belonged exclusively to her hit me like a gentle wave. When I glanced down—purely by accident, of course—her generous curves were prominently displayed at extremely close range.
Our gazes locked at this intimate distance for a heart-stopping moment before she seemed to realize our proximity and quickly stepped back, her fair cheeks blooming with that adorable pink flush.
"I'm fine, Shiraishi-senpai. I just stayed up a little later than usual last night," I replied smoothly.
"How's your finger recovery progressing? Remember what the doctor said—if you experience any discomfort, go to the hospital immediately. Don't be careless about your health."
"Don't worry, Shiraishi-senpai. It's been a full week since the brace came off, and my finger has completely returned to its pre-injury condition," I assured her, holding up my right hand for demonstration.
Full functionality restored. In every possible way.
"That's wonderful," she nodded with visible relief.
"By the way, midterm exams are starting soon. How are your preparations going?" she asked as we began walking into campus together.
"Well... it's probably still early for serious preparation... I haven't really started studying yet, haha," I admitted with what I hoped was charming honesty.
The truth was, I'd never taken these exams seriously. Between already knowing most of the material from having learnt before and my natural tendency toward last-minute cramming, I was not particularly worried.
In my experience, the closer you got to an exam, the more your brain seemed to activate its emergency functions. Memory improved, reaction time sharpened, and somehow everything just clicked into place when the pressure was on.
Crisis-driven learning. It's worked for me before, and it'll work again.
"What about you, Shiraishi-senpai? How are your preparations coming along?"
"I'm already well-prepared, of course," she replied with that confident smile that made my heart skip. "As a senior, I'm facing graduate school entrance exams this year, plus the water polo county tournament is coming up. Everything needs to be planned and executed in advance."
Of course she's perfectly prepared. This was Shiraishi Lisa we're talking about—top academic performer, student council president, water polo club captain. She probably had color-coded study schedules and contingency plans for her contingency plans.
At a prestigious university like this, maintaining top grades while juggling student government responsibilities and athletic coaching was no small feat. The fact that she made it look effortless spoke volumes about her incredible capabilities.
"Oh! Ginjo-san, so much time has passed without me realizing it!" she suddenly exclaimed, checking her watch with mild alarm.
"Eh... you're absolutely right..." I confirmed after checking my own phone, discovering that we were dangerously close to being late.
"Hurry up, Ginjo-san! We're going to be late!" she laughed, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the school building at an increasingly urgent pace.
Though knowing my luck, this was probably the moment when half the school was going to see us and jump to all sorts of interesting conclusions about our relationship status.
Not that I'd mind if those conclusions happened to be accurate...
The morning sun painted everything in gold as we raced across campus together, her laughter mixing with mine in the kind of spontaneous joy that made even the threat of tardiness feel like an adventure.