The unspoken, suggestive implication of "appetizer" made Yanami Anna's cheeks burn.
She had clearly prepared herself mentally, and had even gotten the "weapon" ready for him.
Yet this man insisted on teasing her appetite at a time like this.
"Keita... you..."
Just as she was about to complain and call him a "jerk," Imaizumi Keita began tracing circles on her back.
"Mmm..."
Yanami Anna let out a soft hum, her body instinctively arching to avoid his touch, yet she was held in his arms and unable to move.
Imaizumi Keita's kisses followed, dense and delicate.
From her forehead to the tip of her nose, then to her cheeks and earlobes, finally lingering on her elegantly lined collarbone.
The entire process was filled with patience, as if he were savoring an exquisite dessert that needed to be tasted slowly.
"Anna-chan, don't move."
Imaizumi Keita's lips pressed against her ear as he softly warned Yanami Anna.
"Since it's an appetizer, there should be some sense of ceremony, right?"
"Don't you like a sense of ceremony?"
Another one of his twisted arguments.
Yanami Anna grumbled indignantly in her heart, but her body honestly relaxed, allowing him to do as he pleased.
She turned over to lie face down on the soft bed, burying her burning cheeks in the pillow, her eyes peeking through the gaps in her hair at their overlapping shadows on the wall.
Whatever.
Anyway... it wasn't like she actually hated this feeling.
In fact, she even enjoyed the process of being held in the palm of his hand and carefully "savored."
She clearly perceived the changes in her body, feeling how she was sinking into oblivion under his guidance.
This feeling of being treated so gently was so... blissful.
Just as her consciousness was about to be completely lost, Imaizumi Keita's movements stopped.
He simply buried his head in the crook of her neck, his warm breath brushing against her skin rhythmically, but he made no further move.
In the darkness, the only sound left in the room was their heavy breathing, one deeper than the last.
Yanami Anna's consciousness returned slightly.
A sense of emptiness rose from the depths of her heart.
Her body was clearly so sensitive that just one more light touch would send her over the edge, yet he chose to stop right there.
"...Keita?"
She spoke tentatively, her voice revealing a sense of grievance due to her state of arousal.
Imaizumi Keita didn't answer, only gently rubbing his cheek against hers to soothe her.
Then, Imaizumi Keita gave her waist a firm but gentle squeeze.
This movement was like a signal.
"Ah..."
Yanami Anna's body shuddered violently as a wave swept over her, out of control.
She didn't know how much time had passed—maybe just dozens of seconds, maybe longer.
Yanami Anna opened her eyes, her gaze still somewhat dazed.
This jerk...
He definitely did it on purpose!
"Keita, you... idiot!"
Gathering what little strength she had left, she reached out and gave his chest a light thump.
"There, there," Imaizumi Keita caught her mischievous hand and kissed it, his face full of a triumphant smile. "How do you feel now? Was the appetizer to your liking?"
"...Shut up!"
Yanami Anna turned her face away in shame and anger, not daring to look into his mischievous eyes.
She could feel the fire that had died down within her body showing signs of reigniting.
If this continued... things would truly spiral out of control.
She took a deep breath, broke free from his embrace, and pushed him aside with force.
"Go—go get that thing quickly!" she urged in a tearful voice, her tone filled with urgency. "If you don't come over now, I—I'm going to change my mind!"
Seeing her like this, Imaizumi Keita obediently got off the bed and took a small square box from the innermost compartment of his school bag.
Before he could even walk back to the bed, Yanami Anna leaped up and snatched the box from him.
"I'll do it!"
She announced with a flushed face, a competitive glint flashing in her eyes.
Imaizumi Keita sat obediently by the bed, watching with interest as the girl performed the clumsy yet serious task.
In the darkness, the temperature in the room seemed to rise a few degrees higher.
This night was destined to be both long and short for Yanami Anna.
Only when the moon outside slowly rose to the center of the sky did the rhythmic, intertwined breaths in the bedroom finally subside.
She could no longer remember how many times it had been.
She only knew that every muscle in her body was screaming with exhaustion.
Her consciousness grew hazy as she leaned against Imaizumi Keita by instinct, then fell into a deep sleep.
Imaizumi Keita turned on his side and gently pulled the girl, who had fallen asleep from exhaustion, into his arms.
He looked down at the girl's sweet, sleeping face, his eyes filled with satisfaction and tenderness.
He reached out to brush away the damp strands of hair clinging to her cheek, kissed her forehead, and then held her as they drifted into dreamland together.
...
Early the next morning.
Imaizumi Keita woke up and instinctively reached out to pull the person beside him into his arms, but his hand met only empty space.
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