First, the duo entered Crimson Paradise and quickly found a place. Like its exterior design, the interior was adorned with light and dark shades of red.
"Too much red," Yuu lamented. It was far from the simplicity he was used to in both his lives... it exuded an almost luxurious and tacky feeling. The presence of heart shapes everywhere, as if it were Valentine's Day, was particularly a bit of an eyesore.
Marika, noticing his discomfort, suggested.
"We can go somewhere else if you want."
"It's okay. It's a different experience for me," Yuu replied as he pulled out Marika's chair for her. This gesture surprised Marika for a moment, but then she smiled.
"You really are a true gentleman, boy."
She sat down. When she leaned back, she felt the softness of the back cushion. It could be said that this was the first time she had been to such a luxurious place. She murmured with satisfaction as her body relaxed.
"It's really quite... comfortable."
"Definitely."
Yuu also sat in the opposite chair and experienced a similar sensation. However, this softness didn't completely relax him. His back remained ramrod straight like a soldier as he grabbed the menu. His eyes scanned it.
When he saw the prices, he couldn't help but swallow loudly. He thought, 'Expensive...' as he put the menu down on the table. It wasn't because he was stingy. He definitely had money, and money should be spent in moments like these. But... this place was a bit too luxurious.
When his eyes turned to Marika, he saw her frozen in shock. Her eyes were wide. It was as if she couldn't believe the prices.
"W-What is this?"
Marika couldn't help but lament to herself involuntarily. It was too expensive. Considering this wasn't the only place they were going to, it was financially impossible for her to afford anything here right now.
'Besides, I still have things to pay for...'
Just as she sighed lightly, a waiter in more normal clothes, thankfully free of all the pink and red, arrived. He greeted them both slightly:
"Have you decided what to order?"
"A black tea. No sugar," Yuu answered without looking at the waiter as he took off his short-sleeved jacket.
A forced smile appeared on Marika's lips as she swallowed nervously.
"Just... water, please."
Her shoulders slumped slightly, feeling the sadness of not being financially well-off. Although she had heard the coffee here was good, there wasn't much she could do right now...
The waiter shrugged and nodded in acknowledgment. "Alright. One water and one black tea. Plain." Just as he was about to leave, Yuu called out.
"Wait a minute."
Yuu could clearly see the trouble in Marika's greenish eyes. It was obvious she couldn't afford to spend much right now.
"I'll pay this time. It would be better if you chose something you want."
Marika was surprised by these words. She raised an eyebrow. She had clearly seen Yuu was also surprised by the prices. Yet his posture was confident and relaxed. How old was Yuu? Fifteen or sixteen, wasn't he?
"Are you sure?"
She didn't want Yuu to put himself in a difficult position just to be a gentleman. But Yuu waved his hand, indicating it was no problem.
"I have more money than I look. I'll explain later, relax."
When Yuu took his credit card out of his wallet and placed it on the table, Marika was about to open her mouth to refuse when she heard Yuu's words:
"After all, we're going to visit a few more places, please, Marika-san."
With these words, Marika gave in.
"Okay, so be it. Just this once."
Then she turned to the waiter and said, "A Mocha instead of water. Preferably milk-based," and the waiter nodded slightly in acknowledgment. The waiter, giving Yuu an appreciative look, replied before leaving, "I'll bring it right away, sir."
Marika felt her pride hurt for a moment as she sighed. But that was until Yuu took off his sunglasses, folded them, and hung them on the collar of his t-shirt. For a moment, she got lost in the interested glint of his dark black eyes.
At least, until she heard his words.
"So... taking the day off wasn't a problem for you, was it?"
Marika, coming back to her senses, waved her hand in a light, nonchalant, but quick manner, as if shooing away a thought bubble in the air.
"Nah! I didn't get many chances to use my annual leave anyway."
She paused for a moment and giggled. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and with a mischievous expression, she poked Yuu's hand with her slender index finger.
"The real question is about you. Isn't your family worried?"
It was impossible not to understand the subtext in her voice. Yuu coughed lightly.
"It's okay. I'm fine."
He lifted his arm slightly and stretched. He boasted as his arm muscles became more prominent.
"I'm great!"
Then he placed his hand on the table. The reaction he got was Marika rolling her eyes.
"Sure, muscle head," she teased him. Then she tilted her head to the side. She began to tap her fingers on the table in a light rhythm.
"So then... you were a high school student, right? Second year?"
Yuu's gaze turned to the waiter who was bringing their orders. The scents of black tea and a drink that was a mix of milk, hot chocolate, and coffee filled his nose.
'This must be the Mocha...' he thought. It wasn't a drink he usually had. Going out like this wasn't something he did often.
"Yes, that's right. It's more accurate to say I'll be a second-year this year."
Then he was curious when he turned back to her.
"And how many years have you been a nurse?"
Marika leaned back with a nonchalant smile. Her small breasts swayed slightly.
"Not too long. But it feels like a long time."
Despite the nonchalance in her expression, a weariness could be seen. She had been on an 18-hour shift last week. So she could say this: the stress of the job sometimes reached unbearable levels. These were times when even hobbies like gossiping didn't help...
A sudden puff escaped her lips.
"Come on~! This is so boring."
She raised her arms, clasped her hands above her head, stretched, and then exhaled.
"Theeeen, let's play a Q&A game."
A mischievous and sarcastic smile appeared on her lips. When the Mocha and tea were placed on the table and the waiter left, she placed her hand on the table and leaned forward. Her eyes were locked on Yuu's face like a predator.
"What do you say, pretty-boy? Wouldn't that be fun?"
Yuu first looked at the black tea. Then, when he looked at Marika, the hunger in her expression beyond the playfulness made him laugh. Especially since he could now smell the scent of pleasure fluid, the scent of arousal, from Marika.
The pink particles had once again enveloped her body.
'She's really... a very interesting woman,' he thought, maintaining the smile on his lips. The aura of pink particles surrounding her body was clearly lust. He nodded in agreement.
"Deal, why not? But I'll ask the first question."
Marika raised her eyebrows in surprise. She didn't expect him to want to ask the first question. With a mix of curiosity and interest, she grasped the coffee cup.
"Okay. Ask away."
As Marika took a small sip of her Mocha, Yuu asked his first question.
"What do you do besides nursing? Your hobbies, I mean."
She pressed her index finger against her lower lip.
"Hmm... I mostly spend my time with videos and music. I can't say I have many hobbies. And... I don't have much time anyway."
Then a mischievousness appeared on her face again, and she leaned forward. She gently pulled the neckline of her blouse with her index finger, leaving a gap for Yuu to peek inside. There... he could clearly see her bra.
Yuu paused as he was about to pick up his teacup. He swallowed loudly at the sight, and his fingers stopped holding the cup.
"But... it can be said that I've taken an interest in some new and inappropriate hobbies."
When Yuu involuntarily asked, "Like what?", Marika brought the index finger of her other hand to her lips and winked.
"My turn, champ."
As Yuu sighed, Marika pulled back. As she crossed her legs, a real curiosity sparkled in her eyes.
"I wonder..."
She pointed at Yuu with her index finger.
"Have you ever been in a relationship before?"
Yuu was a bit flustered by this question. A relationship... he wasn't exactly sure what to say about that. Sexually? Plenty. The sexual experiences he had with Kyouka, Yuka, and Koharu were on a whole other level. Emotionally? This was his first time on a date like this.
After thinking for a bit, he leaned on his index finger and looked into Marika's eyes.
"This is my first relationship," he replied, taking the tip of Marika's index finger between his lips and starting to suck on it, which made Marika's eyes widen in surprise.
He... was sucking on her finger! She could feel his tongue. She could feel it enveloping and pulling her index finger more clearly than ever.
"Your first relationship, you say..." she repeated Yuu's words, pressing her index finger slightly more against Yuu's tongue.
'Wet... warm and dominant...' she thought. How would it feel to experience this sensation on her neck and below? Would it be this hot? Or...
As her thoughts reached an increasingly inappropriate point, her cheeks began to warm up. She adopted a sarcastic attitude as she felt the shame and the rising tide of desire.
"You're really brave. Do you suck on every finger extended to you like this?"
When Yuu pulled his head back and stopped sucking, a thin, erotic string of saliva formed between his lips and her index finger. When it broke, he smirked and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Only those of attractive women like you," he said and winked. He added with an amused expression:
"And you've earned me two questions."
Marika coughed slightly and took a few large sips of her Mocha. She tried to focus on the warmth of the coffee instead of the heat she felt inside her body, but... it was very difficult to tell the difference.
She rolled her eyes at Yuu's second sentence.
"Don't be a spoilsport. My second question was an impromptu one, outside the game."
This time, Yuu adopted a sarcastic attitude.
"So was mine, but you told me to save it for later," he said, then with an exaggerated gesture, he pressed his hand to his own chest and boasted.
"But since I'm a very kind gentleman to my girlfriend, I will forgive this situation," he said, followed by a silence. They looked at each other and laughed.
"Haha! Thank you, my lord," she said, laughing. Then she paused for a bit.
"Shall I give you your crown too?"
Yuu shook his head and finished his cold black tea in one gulp. Seeing this always sarcastic woman laugh so sweetly and sincerely, seeing her flush with desire, made Yuu's heart pound with excitement.
And with happiness.
"Let me pay for the drinks," he said, getting up from the table. Before walking to the cashier, he approached and whispered in Marika's ear.
"And I'd prefer to get my crown in the evening."
He blew lightly on her ear, and Marika shivered. She was about to pull back by reflex, but her body froze. If they were going for a serious relationship, she shouldn't act so desire-driven. But the word 'evening' struck a dangerous hope within her...
The wet, dominant feeling on her fingertip was still in her brain. If they were in the hospital or a more secluded place, she would have already tasted him. She would have already had full control and taken what she wanted. Now, she had to be patient while the warmth of his tongue seemed to have taken over her entire body.
Her fingers under the table curled inward, gripping her skirt tightly. On one hand, her pride was hurt because he paid the bill... but on the other hand, she wanted to make him pay the price for putting her in such a desire-filled state.
The mere thought of enjoying him to her heart's content made her swallow dryly. Her tongue came out from between her lips and licked her dry lips. An involuntary, desire-filled, hungry smirk appeared on her lips.
"I'll be looking forward to the evening then."