Under the faint hum of the washroom's fluorescent lights, the sound of running water from the sink outside persisted. Teacher Murakami, having stepped out for a break, lingered at the washstand, showing no signs of leaving.
This left Hayashi Shuichi and Fei Yingli trapped in the cramped stall, caught in an awkward predicament.
Though they'd grown up together as childhood friends, the line between male and female had always been clear. Sure, there'd been hugs in the past, but those were fleeting, innocent moments—nothing like this, where they clung to each other, unable to let go.
Fei Yingli sat on Hayashi Shuichi's lap, pressed against his broad chest, her fair cheeks flushed a deep crimson. Though she'd long set her heart on him, dreaming of studying abroad together, of a future intertwined, this level of intimacy was uncharted territory. At her house before, he'd seen what he shouldn't have, kissed where he shouldn't have, but such close, lingering embraces were rare.
Hayashi Shuichi's heart stirred with its own quiet reflections.
Yingli had truly grown up. Though certain aspects of her figure couldn't quite match Fujimine Yukiko's, her slender waist and long legs were a far cry from the frail little girl he once knew.
When they first met, she was barely four, while his mental age—carried over from another life—was that of an adult. If he'd harbored feelings for her back then, he'd have been worse than a beast, deserving a firing squad.
In his previous life, a failed first love had left him closed off, never again dating, let alone marrying or starting a family. In this life, meeting Fei Yingli, the age gap in their minds led him to dote on her like a daughter, a natural instinct to protect and cherish.
Yet, over time, their bond had shifted, imperceptibly at first. This "father-daughter" affection began to blur into something else.
Hayashi Shuichi wasn't blind. When Yingli insisted on studying abroad with him, her feelings became undeniable. But the girl he'd raised like a daughter now wanting to be his lover? The leap was staggering, almost too much to accept.
Is this what they call loli training? How could I be so perverse?
His hand rested on her smooth, pale thigh, his thoughts spiraling into chaos.
Smack! Fei Yingli, flushed with embarrassment and annoyance, swatted his hand. "Where do you think you're touching?!"
"Sorry, I was lost in thought… didn't mean to…" Hayashi Shuichi hurriedly whispered an apology.
"You're so smooth at it! Have you touched that stinking fox like this too?" Fei Yingli demanded, her voice sharp with accusation.
"No way, how could I?"
Hayashi Shuichi denied it instantly, but his mind betrayed him, drifting to that morning on the crowded train with Fujimine Yukiko. The memory of their close encounter, bodies pressed together, crept in unbidden.
Yukiko was undeniably fuller, her curves softer to the touch, while Yingli… they each had their own charm…
Lost in his reverie, he sensed a shift in the air. Glancing down, he met Fei Yingli's icy glare, her eyes boring into him.
"What's wrong?" Hayashi Shuichi managed a nervous chuckle.
"You. Are. Lying," she said, each word deliberate, her voice low and biting.
"No, I—"
He stopped mid-sentence, realizing her ear was pressed against his chest, perfectly positioned to catch the erratic thump of his heart. He hadn't switched to his "lie-detector-proof" mindset when he denied it.
Oh no… this is bad.
Blinking under her piercing gaze, Hayashi Shuichi could only nod in surrender. "Alright, it was an accident. This morning, I went with Yukiko to her audition. The train was packed during rush hour, everyone crammed together. We were close, so… some brushing happened."
Fei Yingli, sharp as ever, knew he was downplaying it. Whatever happened with Yukiko wasn't just "brushing."
That damn curly-haired fox!
Her fists clenched in silent fury. To think she was already falling behind! She'd been so sure her bond with Hayashi Shuichi gave her the upper hand. Was the allure of the "wild flower" really stronger than the one at home?
"Is hers more satisfying to touch, or mine?" she asked, her voice laced with defiance.
"Is that really something to compare?" Hayashi Shuichi's lips twitched. Did women always have to compete over everything?
"Answer me!" Fei Yingli's voice rose in frustration, a bit too loud.
Afraid Teacher Murakami might overhear, Hayashi Shuichi hurried to respond. "Well, she's… fuller, softer to the touch."
Fei Yingli's expression darkened. "So, hers feels better?"
"No, yours is better," he said, scrambling. "It's… firmer, not as soft as hers."
"That's more like it," she huffed, her eyes locked on her childhood friend, emotions swirling in their depths—complex, unspoken.
When had her feelings for Hayashi Shuichi shifted from friendship to love? Even she couldn't pinpoint it.
Before high school, she'd never imagined competing for him. In middle school, other girls' love letters never fazed him; he'd hand them to her to deal with, his attention always hers alone. His doting had convinced her he was hers, that their future together was inevitable.
But barely two weeks into high school, Fujimine Yukiko had emerged as a formidable rival. In looks, Fei Yingli held her own, but her figure fell short. And in personality—though she hated to admit it—Yukiko's charm and popularity outshone her own.
Worse, Yukiko shared Hayashi Shuichi's passion for cooking. At the izakaya, Fei Yingli often saw them huddled together, discussing menus and recipes—conversations she, a culinary klutz, couldn't join.
Am I really going to lose him to that curly-haired fox?
The thought brought tears to her eyes, spilling over despite her efforts to hold them back.
Seeing her cry, Hayashi Shuichi panicked. "Yingli, I'm sorry, okay? Please don't cry…"
"Idiot, keep it down," she whispered, glancing toward the door. "Teacher Murakami might hear."
"Let her hear," he said, fumbling for a tissue from his pocket to wipe her tears. "Just… don't cry. When you cry, it tears me up inside."
"I don't believe you," Fei Yingli murmured, closing her eyes, lips trembling. "Prove it."
Their brief kiss at her house had been an accident, not a true first kiss. She needed to prove she was closer to Hayashi Shuichi than Yukiko, to find reassurance in their bond…
(End of Chapter)
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