Kyouko arrived at the living room, checking the small book rack under the TV.
Hmm... I wonder what I should read today?
She glanced around and noticed a book on the coffee table near the long couch.
Hmm? I've never seen this book before... did I order it online and forget about it?
She turned the book over and read the summary, her eyes lighting up with interest.
Oh? This looks good~ I think I'll read this~
Kyouko smiled, put the book down, and headed to the kitchen. She took out a cold drink and gracefully walked back toward the long couch, her skirt swaying gently with each step.
Once she arrived, she sat on the long couch, reached for the book, and started reading. The story immediately pulled her in, the writing was beautiful, the characters felt real, and before she knew it, she was completely absorbed.
She leaned back on the long couch and adjusted her glasses. Her fingers traced the pages as she read, her expressions changing with the story: a small, dreamy smile during sweet moments, a slight frown during tense scenes, occasionally tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
While Haruki watched from the hallway, a soft smile touched his lips.
So she's reading that book, huh?
I bought it for her last week, knowing she loves reading, and put it on the coffee table so she'd find it. And I already read the whole thing from the other copy in my room.
A story about rediscovering love and passion, about a woman finding happiness after years of loneliness.
Now... how should I approach her like this?
Haruki smiled, shaking his head, and slowly walked upstairs.
He headed inside his room, opened his drawer, and changed into a simple black t-shirt and fitted jeans that showed off his athletic build.
He reached for his own pair of glasses, thin, stylish frames, and put them on, smiling at his reflection.
Well... get into character...
I'll just do what I always do in college, then.
He looked in the mirror, running his fingers through his hair to style it casually, then sprayed a light, clean-smelling men's cologne.
He opened his mini fridge and took two cans of premium iced coffee, placing them in his side bag before strapping it over his shoulder.
He tucked his new phone into his pocket.
Alright... let's start her teaching session, then.
Haruki smiled and headed downstairs slowly, noticing she was still completely absorbed in the book, her expression soft and focused.
He looked at the area where she sat and smiled.
Just be casual, be calm, and don't just sit directly across from her. Find a suitable spot that still gives her privacy. When walking, don't take a path that might startle her or ruin her reading. Find a spot that's not too far but not too close.
Haruki slowly walked toward the long couch from a safe distance, his eyes on the far end of it.
"Excuse me?"
"Yes?" Kyouko looked up from her reading, adjusting her glasses.
"Is this seat taken?"
"Ah, no... you can sit there." Kyouko smiled briefly and returned to her book, completely absorbed again.
Perfect. She didn't even notice anything weird. She didn't even realize she was in her own living room, reading, and the one asking was me~
Let's see if she's really into character~
Haruki settled at the far end of the long couch, taking out one can of coffee and opening it quietly. He took a slow sip, watching her from the corner of his eye.
She was completely immersed, her fingers tracing the words on the page, a small smile playing on her lips during a sweet scene.
Okay... step one complete.
Hmm... there are several ways to approach her. But seeing her like this... I think I'm going to use this approach.
Haruki takes out a chocolate bar and places it gently on the middle cushion between them.
Kyouko glances up from her reading, looks at the chocolate, then glances at Haruki. She tilts her head in confusion.
Haruki smiles. "You've been reading for a while. Thought you might need a little recharge."
She glances at the chocolate again.
"It's not much, just something sweet. Reading's better with a snack, don't you think?"
"Thank you~" Kyouko says while gracefully taking the chocolate, putting the book down gently, and opening the wrapper.
"No problem... I saw you smiling at the pages earlier. Must be a good part." Haruki smiles and starts taking out another new novel from his bag, a beautiful cover with an intriguing title that caught her interest.
"You know… it's rare to see someone read like that these days. Fully inside the story." Haruki says with a warm smile, his eyes gentle behind his glasses. "Most people just scroll on their phones. It's nice to see someone who still gets lost in a book."
Kyouko's cheeks flushed slightly at the compliment, a soft smile touching her lips as she took a small bite of the chocolate. "It's a very good story,"
Haruki nods, opening his own book but not really reading. "I know what you mean. Some stories just pull you in completely."
"Right~?" Kyouko beams, her eyes gleaming behind her glasses.
She starts chatting animatedly about the story she's been reading, the romantic tension between the characters, the beautiful prose, the way the author described the setting so vividly it felt real. Her hands move expressively as she talks, her voice soft but passionate.
Haruki focuses completely on her face, watching the way her eyes light up when she describes her favorite scenes, how her full lips curve into a smile when she talks about the sweet moments, how she occasionally tucks a strand of hair behind her ear when she's thinking.
Haruki listens intently, nodding and smiling at the right moments, asking thoughtful questions that keep her talking.
Kyouko leans forward slightly, her expression earnest. Her eyes sparkle as she gestures with the chocolate bar, completely lost in sharing her love for the story.
Haruki's smile deepens. He can't help but notice how beautiful she looks when she's passionate about something.
"You have a really insightful way of looking at stories," he says, his voice warm. "Most people just read for the plot, but you're really feeling the emotions."
Kyouko's cheeks flush slightly at the compliment, and she takes another small bite of her chocolate, a shy smile playing on her lips.
"I would like to know more about you. I'm Haruki." Haruki says with a smile while extending his hand. "If you don't mind."
( End Of Chapter )