Episode Seventy-One: Next Time, I’ll Buy You a Ring
In front of me, a diamond necklace swayed. The dim orange glow of the room lamp, faint against the walls, and the mattress creaking under the weight of two bodies.
By the time I registered it, I’d already been pushed down onto the bed.
Stunned, I stared up at Yui-san’s black eyes, looming over me. Her long, smooth black hair spilled loose, tickling my neck.
“Um… Yui-san…?”
My heart pounded so hard, startled, it felt like it might be beating against my own ribs from the inside. My whole body ran hot, like my blood itself had come to a boil.
Looking down at me, she smiled, faint, and stroked my cheek, gentle.
“What is it, Kanata?”
“What… are you doing…?”
I know it’s a naive question to ask. I’m not so innocent that I don’t understand what she’s about to do to me.
Even so, I couldn’t help being startled. Because it had happened so suddenly.
After confessing our feelings to each other, we’d walked back from the private beach, hand in hand.
I think I’d been giddy, thrilled beyond words to finally, officially become Yui-san’s girlfriend.
Sitting on my own bed, I’d said something like “we should’ve booked a double after all” — and the moment Yui-san’s hand touched my shoulder, gentle, she’d effortlessly pushed my whole body down.
Honestly, I hadn’t seen it coming. Even though I already knew perfectly well how fast Yui-san moves.
“…Don’t want to?”
Her gentle eyes searched mine. Her warm palm slipped under my T-shirt, gently, touching my side, and, startled, I grabbed that mischievous hand and stopped it.
“W-weren’t you not going to do anything?”
“I also said it depends on you, didn’t I?”
Smiling brightly, saying that, Yui-san left me flustered, my gaze wandering.
Saying we should’ve booked a double meant I wanted to sleep together — it never meant I was inviting this.
I hadn’t been mentally prepared at all. It’s been years since I’ve done anything like this with Yui-san, and on top of that, I was never especially good at it to begin with, so my body tensed, nervous.
Stroking my cheek fondly, Yui-san’s eyes, looking down at me, simply waited for my answer. My heart pounded, fast. Every breath made my chest rise and fall, and the thought that she could see how nervous I was left me embarrassed.
“…Yui-san.”
I reached up and touched her smooth cheek with my palm.
Honestly, I was hesitating, just slightly. It’s true we love each other — but before that, Yui-san still has a fiancé, and this relationship, by the world’s standards, is nothing to be proud of.
The desire to just let myself belong to her, and the guilt of moving toward a physical relationship that isn’t ethically forgivable — the two pulled against each other, tangled.
Back in college, I’d slept with Yui-san once, knowing she had a fiancé — but that had been because I thought it would be the last time. Now, it’s different.
If it’s only feelings between us, without a physical relationship, then even with Yui-san engaged, we’re not bound by any law.
Not hiding the tangled mess of my own feelings, I looked at her, and Yui-san, seeming to notice my hesitation, smiled, gentle.
“…Worried about Shinji?”
“…A little.”
“Sorry, for making you anxious. It’s okay. You don’t need to worry about anything, Kanata. …I’ll take full responsibility, whatever happens.”
Told that, I shook my head, side to side. I can’t let Yui-san carry that alone.
Now that I’ve decided, absolutely, to be with her — I’ll follow you, wherever this goes. If this relationship is a sin, then when the punishment comes, I’ll take it with you.
I don’t care what the world thinks. I don’t care if people point fingers.
I want to be with Yui-san. I want us connected, heart and body both. Waiting until spring — I can’t do that either, not anymore.
“…Can I hold you?”
Asked so gently, I nodded, small. Yui-san smiled, happy. Accepting her lips as they descended, I looped my arms around her neck and pulled her in.
What do I do, my heart’s racing so hard. Every time our lips shifted angle, brushing together again, I could feel heat pooling, slow and insistent, deep in my stomach.
Soft, resilient lips, feeling good. No perfume scent tonight — just Yui-san’s own smell, fresh from the bath. With every repeated kiss, the back of my mind grew more and more numb.
Her gentle left palm traced from my side, along my hip bone, up the thigh peeking from my shorts.
The instant a shiver raced down my spine, I noticed it — something off.
Come to think of it, weren’t Yui-san’s nails supposed to be long right now…?
I caught the wrist stroking my thigh and pulled. Yui-san, noticing, must have thought I was trying to stop her, because her hand went still, and she slowly pulled her lips away.
Bringing that captured left hand up in front of my eyes, I studied it closely. Her middle and ring fingers, lightly polished pale pink, I traced with my fingertip, confirming.
Those fingertips were smoothly, perfectly rounded — exactly like back in college.
The “off” feeling I’d noticed when she took my hand earlier — this was it. I looked, narrow-eyed, into those black eyes.
“…Yui-san, did you maybe plan this from the very start?”
Called out on it, Yui-san laughed, innocent as a kid caught mid-prank, and stuck her tongue out.
“Caught?”
Laughing without a trace of shame, all the tension drained out of my shoulders.
Right, that’s exactly who Yui-san’s always been. Always reading two, three steps ahead of me. Thoroughly prepared, and more than a little sly.
“…You pervert, Yui-san.”
I said it to hide my embarrassment, and Yui-san gripped my hand tight and pressed it back down onto the bed.
“A little late to be surprised, isn’t it? I told you to be ready, didn’t I. You know exactly what kind of person I am — it’s your own fault, not booking separate rooms.”
Saying that, Yui-san laughed. But maybe, somewhere deep down, I’d been hoping for exactly this too.
This round, I surrender. My loss. No point putting up a hopeless fight against Yui-san. She’s so much better at this than I am, in every way.
So, tonight, I’ll just let myself be loved, quietly.
Giving in, I pulled her close with the hand not laced with hers, and Yui-san smiled, happy.
＊＊＊
The air conditioning should be on, yet my whole body felt unbearably hot.
I wrapped my arms around her back and clung to her. It had been so long since I’d done something like this, I’d felt a little anxious… but it seems that worry was unfounded. The body is incredibly honest, it seems.
Gentle yet relentless, those middle and ring fingers held me captive, no escape possible. My breath grew shallow and rapid, a sweet, tingling pleasure spreading through my core, coaxing a whimpering sound from my lips.
——Was sex ever this good…?
I couldn’t think straight anymore. Kiss after kiss, suffocating yet blissful, my vision began to flicker.
“Yu…i…san…”
Between the words that slipped out unbidden, I stammered her name over and over. Her heated black eyes narrowed gently.
“…Does it feel good?”
I nodded vigorously at her tender question.
My heart and body were completely filled with Yui-san. I was so happy I felt like I might go mad.
Her intense gaze fixed upon me made my chest ache. It felt so good, my whole body shivered uncontrollably. With every tremor, I couldn’t stop the sweet, pleading sounds escaping my lips against my will.
Yui-san was seeing everything about me. Realising this, I felt embarrassed and turned my face away.
My body was burning. Burning, burning, unbearably so. The limit was almost upon me.
“Kanata, look at me. Show me your face properly.”
Hearing my name, her right hand gently stroked my cheek. Tears welled up instinctively, blurring my vision.
“Yui-san, I… I can’t…”
Breathless, I gripped Yui-san’s T-shirt tightly with trembling fingers, signalling my limit.
Unaccustomed to the sensation, I was scared. Wanting reassurance, I reached out for her embrace. Yui-san gave a soft laugh and looked straight into my wet eyes.
“Hmm… Can you hold on just a little longer?”
“Eh…?”
I hadn’t expected her to say that and looked at Yui-san in surprise. Then Yui-san smiled mischievously.
“I-I can’t, Yui-san, I really can’t anymore…”
Despite telling me to hold on, her fingers showed absolutely no mercy.
I was terrified of being swept away by the waves of pleasure crashing over me. I bit my lip, trying desperately to endure that frustrating sensation of being so close yet so far, of it teasingly coming and going.
“Hey, Kanata. I’ve been wondering about this for ages. Can I ask? …While we were apart, did you… sleep with someone else?”
“Why bring that up now…”
“…That’s why I’m asking now. Tell me, Kanata. You haven’t shown that adorable face to anyone else, have you?”
I could see the flames of jealousy blazing brightly in the depths of those eyes looking down at me, my chest tightened painfully.
I shook my head desperately from side to side. Of course not. Because I’ve only ever loved you.
The only person in the world I ever want to be with is you.
“N-no one… has ever held me like this. For me, it’s only you, Yui-san… Please… don’t be cruel to me anymore…”
I managed to say that, barely able to breathe. Then, Yui-san smiled as if deeply relieved, and then, she pulled me tightly into her right arm.
I wrapped my arms around her neck too, pulling her close, closer. I couldn’t hold back any longer. My whole body was trembling violently. I simply couldn’t endure it any further.
“…I’m glad. I’m sorry for being so mean. …It’s alright now.”
Alright now. At the same moment she said those words, I felt something surge deep within me, and I couldn’t help but cry out.
Suddenly overwhelmed by the “limit” that had come upon me, I felt a sudden fear.
Before I could even say “Wait,” I was pushed to the limit so abruptly that I couldn’t help myself — I sank my teeth into that white shoulder peeking out from under the T-shirt.
＊＊＊
“Kanata. Hey, Kanata. Please, cheer up. Look at me.”
I turned my face pointedly away from Yui-san, hugging me tight from behind.
She’d been desperately trying to win back my mood this whole time, pressing kiss after kiss to my shoulder, my puffed-out cheek, repeating “sorry” over and over.
“Because… Yui-san, you were so mean.”
“I won’t be mean anymore. Okay?”
Apologizing so earnestly, I glared at her sideways and turned to face her.
I’d meant to keep complaining, given how much she’d teased me — but catching sight of the red, swollen bite mark on her shoulder, I found myself falling silent instead.
Completely unconscious on my part — but apparently, I’d done it again.
“Sorry, Kanata. What do I need to do for you to forgive me?”
Peering into my face, crestfallen, Yui-san’s gaze caught on the necklace swaying against her bare, pale chest. I gently tugged the chain with my fingertip.
“…This is mine, isn’t it. Give it back, and I’ll forgive you.”
At that, Yui-san’s eyes went round for a beat, then she laughed, soft.
“Who’s the one who threw it back at me, again?”
“…I was just lending it to you.”
Lending it — a lie. The day I chose to leave, pouring every bit of feeling I had into it, I returned it to your chest. There’s no way I’d ever forget that.
“Was that it? Then I’d better give it back to you.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Yui-san reached behind her neck and unclasped the necklace.
Then, smiling bright, she looped it around my neck instead.
I felt the warmth of Yui-san’s palm, pressed gently against my chest.
“This is… yours.”
Something warm slowly welled up, deep in my chest. Now, finally, everything had come full circle. The lost four years had been enormous, and we’d taken so many detours — but here I am, back in your arms again.
“I’m never giving this back again, you know.”
Saying that, Yui-san smiled, happy, then took my left hand and pressed her lips to my ring finger.
“…Next time, I’ll buy you a ring.”
A ring — ? My heart lurched at the suggestive comment.
“What… do you mean by that…?”
“Exactly what it sounds like.”
Exactly what it sounds like — meaning… that? Too embarrassed to ask any further, I hid my reddening face and pressed myself against her chest.
The narrow single bed creaked under our combined weight.
“Sleeping together like this… it really is a tight fit, isn’t it.”
“That’s why I said a double would’ve been fine.”
Holding my waist close, Yui-san laughed, soft. Pressed flush together, drowsiness crept in, slow, from the sense of security.
Sleep felt like such a waste. I wanted to stay like this, forever and ever.
“I don’t want to go home… I want to be with you forever.”
The honest truth slipped out. Tomorrow, once we’re back in Tokyo, we’ll have to go back to separate houses. Without your warmth, I don’t think I could sleep properly on my own anymore.
“Let’s live together again.”
“Heh… won’t the company find out, from my address…?”
“Then just come stay over on weekends. And let’s watch movies together again, like back then.”
“Mm… that sounds nice, doing that again… together…”
Wrapped in more happiness than I could ever ask for, I couldn’t fight off the drowsiness, my consciousness slipping further and further away.
Noticing, Yui-san gently stroked my back.
“…You can sleep now. Good night, Kanata.”
Hearing her voice, saying my name so gently, so beloved — before I could even manage a “good night” back, I’d already fallen into a deep sleep.
*
My first time in Okinawa, my first business trip, and at summer’s end, I’d gotten a memory I’ll never forget for the rest of my life, and a beloved, precious girlfriend.
Never again. I won’t let us be pulled apart again. Until this heart stops beating, I’ll stay by your side.
Whatever hardship comes next, I know — with Yui-san beside me, we’ll get through it.
That’s the feeling I carried with me, at twenty-four, that summer.