The morning sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains, casting a gentle glow into the bathroom, intertwining with the rising steam as if creating a golden, dreamlike wonderland.
Ito Yoshito lounged comfortably in the bathtub, relishing this rare moment of soaking. With his head resting on the edge, he closed his eyes and enjoyed the warm sunlight on his face.
The rising steam sparkled in the sunlight, appearing like countless glittering diamonds dancing in the air.
Outside the window, the dust illuminated by the sun resembled stars twinkling brightly. The dust and steam mingled, forming a beautifully vibrant scene that made one feel as if they were immersed in a mystical dream.
"Ah, soaking in the bath is really nice."
He grabbed his phone from the side to check the time; it was almost time to meet with Shirakawa Miwa.
"Splash—"
Water droplets splashed as Ito stepped out of the bathtub. His athletic figure was revealed to the air, beads of water cascading down the defined muscles, glittering as they caught the light, giving him an ethereal glow, like a soft shadow.
"Thank goodness Reiko helped me pick out some clothes last time; otherwise, I wouldn't know what to wear to support Miwa."
...
In a café not far from Ikebukuro's shopping mall, Shirakawa Miwa sat in a cozy booth on the second floor, her polite smile accompanying her as she conversed with a sharply dressed man across the table.
The sun hung high in the sky, pouring golden light through the glass walls, gently caressing Miwa's delicate face, making her chestnut-colored hair shimmer.
Her eyes were gentle, her brows arched delicately, with a petite, exquisite nose and cherry-like lips. Her skin was translucent, almost ethereal.
Dressed in a simple, flowing white dress, her enchanting figure was perfectly accentuated. Her tiny waist and ample bosom were fitted snugly, provoking admiration.
"Miss Miwa, I'm glad you could come."
Tachibana Tobuki swallowed nervously, his throat bobbing as his heated gaze covertly lingered on Miwa's form. He smiled charmingly, appearing quite handsome in his polished attire.
Miwa felt a twinge of discomfort as she tightened a lock of hair by her ear. The way Tachibana looked at her was entirely different from the gaze Ito gave her, filling her heart with a slow sense of unease.
"Tachibana-san..."
"Just call me Tobuki," he interjected.
With a slight pursing of her lips, Miwa chose not to comply. If Tachibana wasn't familiar with her parents, she would have blocked his contact info and cut off his persistent advances.
"Tachibana-san, I came here today to tell you that I already have a boyfriend, so please refrain from bothering me further."
"How dare she disregard my advances; I'll see about that once I've had my fun..."
A trace of annoyance flickered in Tachibana's eyes, but his face remained composed, wearing a congenial smile.
"Ha ha—Miss Miwa, it's not good to lie~"
"Tachibana-san, I'm not lying. Look, here's a picture of my boyfriend—he's coming to pick me up soon."
Miwa beamed a soft and shyer smile as she opened her phone's gallery, presenting a photo of her and Ito embracing on the floor, a candid shot that Ito had taken while providing her tutoring.
"Ha ha—"
Despite Miwa showing him the photo, Tachibana still seemed unconvinced.
"Miss Miwa, as I said, lying isn't good. The guy in that photo looks way too young. If you were going to cast someone as your boyfriend, you should pick someone more age-appropriate, don't you think?"
"We're in a May-December romance..."
"Enough already, Miss Miwa!"
Suddenly, Tachibana raised his voice, his frustration boiling over. Miwa's repeated rejections and excuses had agitated him, stripping away his polite demeanor.
Tachibana flashed a wicked grin, gazing intensely at Miwa.
"Miss Miwa, look at me. I'm a quality man, aren't I? Just from an appearance standpoint, I'm not shy to say that I'm handsome."
"Moreover, I'm 27, just like you, and I've already made it to a managerial position in a game company. Doesn't that mean I'm quite accomplished?"
"Miss Miwa, between looks and career, I have plenty going for me. We're both of marrying age, and I happen to find you quite attractive. Doesn't that make us a perfect match? So stop being stubborn."
Tachibana spoke passionately, but a sinister glimmer flickered in his deep gaze.
Hearing Tachibana's words made Miwa feel suffocated, leaving her stiff in her seat.
She could hardly believe that Tachibana would say such audacious and absurd things.
"I'm sorry, Tachibana-san; we're just not compatible!"
"Shirakawa Miwa! I know you've always been the good daughter in your parents' eyes, and now they're worried about your marriage. Miwa-chan, don't you want to ease your parents' worries...?"
Tachibana's malicious aura could almost spill over, causing Miwa to furrow her brows uncomfortably as her annoyance bubbled beneath the surface.
"You..."
"Ding ding ding—"
A notification sound from Miwa's phone interrupted her, and she glanced at it to see a message from Ito.
———
Ito Yoshito: [Miwa-chan, I'm here. Where are you?] (Read)
Shirakawa Miwa: [Yoshito, where are you? I'm coming down, wait for me.] (Read)
Ito Yoshito: [Alright, Miwa-chan, I'm at the billboard in the square.] (Read)
———
"Sorry, Tachibana-san. I have to leave; my boyfriend has arrived."
She shifted her gaze back to Tachibana, her tone less diplomatic now that the mask was off.
Without waiting for Tachibana's reaction, she turned on her heel to leave.
"What a pure pretender, damn it..."
Gone was the polished businessman, and Tachibana glared at Miwa's departing figure, muttering curses under his breath as his face darkened with rage. His hands clenched into fists.
It was said that he had achieved his managerial position through connections and charm rather than merit. He had relied on his looks to please higher-ups and secure favor, hence why his demeanor was oftentimes incongruous with his actions.
"Such a shame; I was initially going to use gentler methods, but if you insist on being so ungrateful, I'll have to change my approach. Enjoy your date with that pretty boy while you can..."
Tachibana's gaze lingered on Miwa's swaying hips, and he licked his lips in a predatory manner. He pulled out a small pill and discreetly dropped it into Miwa's coffee, stirring it until it dissolved completely.
"Heh heh, this will remain dormant in her system, but by evening, it'll erupt. After being dormant for so long, the effects will surely make her... heh heh heh~ When that time comes, I'll be sure to entertain you both properly~"
...
As it was the weekend, the mall was buzzing with crowds, primarily made up of young people, many linking arms, carrying backpacks, and sipping bubble tea, joyfully chatting as they strolled.
The bright sun was like an energetic youth, opening wide its nets and enveloping everything in a soft golden hue.
The gentle light cascaded onto Ito Yoshito, exuding an indescribable youthful aura, drawing the attention of several fashionable girls who approached to flirt with him.
When Shirakawa Miwa arrived, Ito had just politely declined an invitation from a particularly bold girl and was waving at her as he jogged over.
"Aww, what a pity. This quality hunk prefers older women…"
The girl pouted slightly, biting her lip in resistance before finally turning back to her friends.
"Miwa-chan, over here!"
Miwa smiled as she made her way toward the approaching Ito.
Today, she wore a pure white short-sleeve dress that showcased her captivating curves perfectly, accentuated by its tailored fit.
Her gentle face bore light makeup that highlighted her elegant charm, making her appear as if she had stepped out of a classic painting. Her fair skin glowed with a hint of rosy flush, radiating a delicate beauty.
Her long, slender legs were accentuated by refreshing high heels, showcasing her pedicured toes, appearing like fine art, gleaming enchantingly.
"Miwa-chan, you look stunning today! If you dressed up for that matchmaking man, I'd really be jealous."
"It's not for him; I didn't dress up for him."
"Then who is it for?"
Ito's teasing smile drew a shy response from Miwa, feeling nothing like the uncomfortable situation with Tachibana earlier.
A soft breeze blew past.
Miwa's hair lifted gracefully, her cheeks flushing lightly as her eyes lowered, her pristine teeth gently biting her lower lip.
"Yoshito, stop it..."
"Miwa-chan, you need to call me by my name today; I'm your boyfriend for the day~"
Bending slightly, Ito sought to gaze up at Miwa with a smile, but was blocked by her well-endowed figure, making him feel a sudden weight pressing down.
"L-Little Yoshito~"
"No way! Miwa, I can't let you treat me like a little brother. Call me Yoshito or Yoshito-kun instead."
Taking a deep breath, Miwa's ample bosom rose and fell enticingly, drawing Ito's worried gaze—would the buttons of her top really hold up?
As she stepped closer, Miwa wrapped her arm around his, whispering softly, "Shito-kun~"
The gentle words flowed like a bashful love song, resonating with Ito's ears like spring winds rippling over a tranquil lake.
Feeling the warmth of her soft touch on his arm, Ito replied with a smile.
"Mm, I'm here, Miwa~"
Ito's elongated voice made Miwa flush as she squeezed his arm affectionately.
"Alright, let's go. We shouldn't linger in this heat."
...
"Tachibana-san, this is my boyfriend, Ito Yoshito."
"Yoshito, this is Tachibana Tobuki."
Tachibana raised his head, discreetly assessing the boy Miwa was arm-in-arm with.
"Tch, no wonder he could woo Shirakawa Miwa..."
"Hello, Ito-san."
Tachibana flashed a false smile, showing no trace of the bully who had confronted Miwa earlier, and offered his hand.
"Hello, Tachibana-san."
Ito glanced at Tachibana with indifference, nodding slightly, then took a seat in the booth, ignoring whatever reaction Tachibana might have.
Miwa had already warned him of Tachibana's true nature, signaling that Ito needn't engage with him.
After this meeting, there would be no need to cross paths with him again; at least, that's what Miwa thought.
Tachibana's face stiffened as he hid a cold glint in his eyes; someone like him, who relied on seduction to climb the ranks, couldn't stand others looking down on him.
Hiding his hands awkwardly, he forced a laugh and settled down across from them.
"Yoshito-san, you have quite a personality!"
"Don't you think so, Miwa-chan...?"
"Tachibana-san, please just address me by my name."
Having someone to lean on made Miwa feel a sense of security, cutting off Tachibana's words firmly.
"Also, please do not bother me any further!"
As the heat became uncomfortable, Miwa grabbed the iced coffee from the table and downed it before turning her gaze back to Tachibana.
"Sorry, Tachibana-san. We have to leave now."
She linked her arm with Ito's, rising to her feet with resolve, almost fleeing as if ants were crawling on her skin.
"..."
"Thud!"
Tachibana's lips twitched with rage, and once Ito and Miwa were completely out of sight at last, he couldn't hold back anymore. He slammed his fists down onto the table, drawing the curious eyes of onlookers.
With a sinister expression, Tachibana paid no mind to the prying stares, letting the spilled coffee stain his expensive suit as he muttered bitterly.
"Two worthless bitches... Tonight, you both are in for a show!"