Post by boogum on Mar 20, 2017 22:17:17 GMT
To my prompter, I sincerely hope you enjoy this. It's not what I intended (this was my fourth attempt at answering your prompt) so I am sorry if it is not at all what you were hoping.
Prompt: Sonoko could be serious about the most surprising things.
Pairing: Sonoko/Makoto
Words: 3306
Read on FFN here.
Sonoko had a checklist. Sometimes the items featured were as simple as eat a famous fruit parfait, wear matching Lolita outfits with her best friend, or get love fortunes at a particular shrine. Others were more difficult. Romance featured a lot on her checklist. Being the youngest daughter of the wealthy Suzuki family meant that she had endless money at her fingertips; it wasn’t hard to visit places or partake of special food. But money couldn’t buy love (as she had learnt all too well when the guys who caught her eye insisted on falling for Ran instead, no matter how much Sonoko staged romantic encounters or used her feminine wiles). Romance was something she had to work at all by herself—unless she let her mother arrange a marriage for her. Not that she would.
Anyway, the point was that Sonoko was a romantic. No arranged marriages for her, thank you very much. Instead, she had many “firsts” that she was determined to check off on her list. Summer Romance had been ticked off, as had Get a Boyfriend. True, Kyogoku Makoto wasn’t the guy she had dreamed of as her ideal, but his “samurai” appeal and the fact he was devoted to her (okay, he was devoted to karate, but she was still up there on his priorities) meant that she had still fallen for him. Plus, it was really romantic that Makoto had pitted himself against the undefeatable Kaitou Kid for her heart and to win her parents’ approval.
Still, now that she had finally got a steady (albeit long-distance) boyfriend, she had thought that many other “firsts” would easily be ticked off. A kiss, calling each other by first names without an honorific, getting couple rings, and the all-important Become a Woman (aka, lose virginity). Shoujo manga demanded that all of these things be ticked off before she graduated from high school, and that date was nearing far too close for comfort. Sonoko was left with no choice but to enact The Plan.
The Plan began by luring Makoto from overseas with a cryptic note. It was flattering and reassuring that he arrived just as scheduled. Things did get a bit awkward when he realised she was not in trouble nor had a romantic rival trying to sweep her off her feet. Indeed, the two both blushed their way through her explanation that she just wanted to go on a date with him. Luckily he accepted, so Stage One of the plan was checked off as a success.
She swept him off first to get the desired couple rings. He didn’t seem to understand the point of wearing matching jewellery—even pointed out that he couldn’t wear a ring since it wouldn’t be appropriate for karate. Sonoko pouted and told him that, regardless of whether he wore the ring on his finger or not, it was an important rite for a couple. She gushed about how wearing matching rings would bring them closer together; plus, it would make it more obvious to others that they were in a relationship. The latter was a selling point for Makoto. He stopped resisting and the two were soon sporting matching silver rings. Get Matching Couple Rings could now be checked off the list.
Sonoko was still admiring the ring when they later entered a restaurant to enjoy a romantic dinner. This was where she had to bust out the real moves, so she took great delight in removing her coat to reveal the slinky little number she had chosen just for him: a dress of dark blue silk that bared enough skin to stir his appetite in a way quite different from what the restaurant could satisfy.
“Sonoko-san,” Makoto said bluntly, “you should put your coat back on.”
She pursed her lips. “But it’s warm in here.”
Never mind that it would ruin Stage Two: Get His Attention with a Sexy Dress.
“A lady should dress modestly,” he argued, trying to drape the coat back over her. “You’ll draw too much attention to yourself wearing something like that.”
“What’s wrong with drawing attention?” She shrugged off the coat and folded her arms under her breasts, emphasising her cleavage. “Is it so bad that I want to dress up for my boyfriend who I haven’t seen in a while?”
Makoto’s cheeks tinged with pink and he averted his face. “I’d rather you—”
“I wore this for you,” she cut in, learning forward and poking him in the stomach.
Mm, nice and toned. Wait, she couldn’t afford to get distracted by his body. He was supposed to be getting distracted by hers.
Makoto frowned and gripped her shoulders. His hands were warm and calloused, creating little tingles where he touched her bare skin. “Sonoko-san,” he said in that serious way of his, “you are a very attractive girl. I do not want other men to look at you. Please do not wear such revealing clothing in public like this just for me.”
Sonoko’s blush darkened. The wave of heat seemed to spread from the tips of her ears all the way to her toes. Well, when he put it like that, she supposed she could wear the coat. But only because he called her very attractive.
She slipped her coat back on and sat opposite him at the table for two that had been reserved for them. It was all very nice, with soft music playing in the background and a candle lit to offer a romantic glow. Makoto looked especially handsome. He was wearing his glasses—a fact she did not mind at all since it gave him that sexy, intelligent vibe—and his button-down shirt and pants were clean and nicely pressed. The little plaster he always wore only added to his charm (at least in her besotted opinion). She was lucky to have such an attractive boyfriend.
That was when Sonoko realised she was allowing herself to get distracted again. That was no good at all. She had a list to get through. It was time to move onto the next item to be checked: get him to agree to drop the honorific on their names.
“U-um,” she began, fighting the heat that seemed permanently attached to her cheeks, “since we’ve been dating for a while now, I was thinking that maybe we could call each other by our names.”
Makoto’s brow furrowed. “Don’t we already?”
She fidgeted with her chopsticks. “I mean, uh, like if I call you Makoto.”
The boy froze. He had definitely noticed the lack of “san” attached.
“It’d make me feel closer to you and, um, I think—”
“I understand, Sonoko.”
Her eyes darted to his. There was a moment where they just smiled and blushed at each other. Sonoko did a little victory dance in her head. The Plan was working. She was making excellent progress checking off things on her list. Maybe, just maybe, the next stage of her plan would also go smoothly.
Sonoko tried not to worry about what would come later—even if her heart did beat a little faster—and so focussed on relaxing and enjoying the dinner. Makoto was quite oblivious to the machinations being weaved around him, so he had much less trouble relaxing. As such, when the two paid and left the restaurant, he had no reason to refuse her suggestion that they go for a walk. Nor did he question her motive when she looped her arm with his and pressed her body close (though his cheeks did get a bit pink … as did hers. Damn. She was going to have to get a hold on that if she wanted to seduce him).
In any case, the two took a leisurely stroll through the lit up city, content to chat and enjoy each other’s company. The storm set in right on cue (Sonoko had calculated the bad weather forecast into her plan), as did a convenient lack of battery on her cell phone (Makoto had forgotten his, a fact she had also taken into account). Not only that but she had steered them towards the hotel area of the city, making her next suggestion appear as innocent as it possibly could. After all, every shoujo manga heroine knew that when a storm hit and you were drenched and stranded in the city late at night, the most important thing was to find cover.
“Why don’t we just take shelter in there for a bit?” Sonoko said, pointing to one of the hotels. “We’ll both get sick at this rate.”
Makoto blushed. “I don’t think—”
“Come on,” Sonoko urged, dragging him towards the door. “It’ll be fine.”
His protests were overborn when she demanded to know if he wanted her to get a chill and come down with a fever. Makoto did not, so they entered the hotel and paid for a room. Sonoko congratulated herself on a job well done. They were all alone in a private room and it would only be a matter of time before he fell for her charms. Well, if she could bring herself to work up the courage to actually begin the final stage of her plan. Seducing him had seemed so much easier in her head.
Makoto moved to the far side of the room and seemed content to stay there. Sonoko inwardly huffed. All this distance was not what she had in mind. Time to get his attention.
She removed her coat and hung it up to dry. The rain had been so heavy that her dress had got wet as well and now clung to her body. Makoto’s eyes widened when he noticed her attire. True to form, he tried to get her to cover up again.
“My coat is soaked,” she pointed out.
He couldn’t argue with this statement. After all, he had also removed his wet jacket out of discomfort. She decided to muster her courage then and suggest they make use of the bathroom to shower and change while their clothes dried. There were probably some complimentary robes in the drawer or closet. Makoto gave her a long look. Perhaps he was finally catching on to her plan. Still, the fact she was shivering from genuine cold made him relax again.
“You go first,” he said, handing her one of the robes that he had indeed found in the drawer.
Sonoko murmured her thanks. She felt oddly shy now that he was standing close and looking straight at her with those intent eyes of his. Giddy, of course, but also shy. Makoto was so very nice and attractive. Just with that one act he had turned her into a mess of stomach flutters and pounding heartbeats. Needless to say, it was a very pink-faced Sonoko who left for the bathroom.
“Pull it together,” she ordered herself, leaning against the closed door and willing her heart rate to slow. “This might be your only chance.”
Her graduation was looming, and she refused to be the girl who failed to complete her Coming of Age rites just because Makoto was off studying overseas or competing in karate championships. This was an opportunity that could not be wasted. The fact he’d even let himself be dragged into the hotel suggested he was, however subconsciously, okay with her plan. At least, that was what she told herself. There was also a chance that Makoto was just one of those people who could be so pragmatic and obtuse that he only saw it as a means of stopping her from getting a chill…
Ah, whatever. The point was that they had both come this far.
Sonoko slapped her cheeks to make herself focus, then stripped off her wet clothes so she could shower. It was kind of odd (and a little exhilarating) to think that Makoto was on the other side of the door. Her heart was still fluttering when she slipped the robe on and exited the bathroom. Makoto had been sitting on the bed, but he started to his feet at the sight of her. The loose robe might not reveal as much skin as the dress, but it was obvious her “Just Showered” appearance had an effect.
“All done,” she said with a smile.
Makoto audibly swallowed. He grabbed the other robe and excused himself before escaping into the bathroom. Sonoko allowed her grin to widen and hung up her clothes to dry, then sat on the bed to wait for him. He did not take long. Soon, they were both sitting on the bed. Well, he sat ramrod straight on the very edge while she tried to muster the courage to carry out the final stage of her plan.
“The rain is really heavy,” she observed to break the silence.
“Yeah.”
More silence.
Sonoko shuffled closer. “Makoto, you could at least look at me.”
He turned his head. The sudden proximity of their faces made them both blush. She resisted the urge to pull back. Now was not the time to get shy. Instead, she moistened her lips and leaned forward, conscious of her fluttering pulse. Just a bit closer.
“Sonoko.” His hands were suddenly on her shoulders. “Maybe we should just try find a phone so we can call for a taxi.”
“We’ve already paid to have the hotel room for a couple of hours,” she reminded him. “Besides, I finally feel warm and dry. You did say you didn’t want me to get sick.”
He furrowed his brow and gave her another of those long, assessing looks. Definitely had caught on then, but no matter. She was a girl on a mission. That was why she shuffled even closer so that their thighs were touching. Every bit of contact counted. At least, that was what she had read. Touch was more powerful than a sexy dress; more likely to shake a man’s defence, to make him want more. Nothing had prepared her for the fact that it would have just as much impact on her though. Her heart jumped and fluttered in her chest, pounding so hard it was like her body was throbbing in time to the rhythm.
She wanted him to kiss her. She really, really wanted him to kiss her.
Makoto’s grip tightened on her shoulders. She had the satisfaction of seeing his gaze drop to her lips. All he had to do was close those last few inches. So, so close.
Do it, Sonoko urged with her eyes. Just kiss me, damn it.
Her telepathic pleas were not wasted. Makoto might be karate obsessed and a bit too much of a conservative for her tastes, but he was still a hot-blooded male and was very much attracted to her. He dipped his head, even as his hands slid down her arms and tugged her closer. Their lips touched: soft, sweet and far, far too short. Her eyes were still closed in expectation when he pulled back from the kiss.
“We should go,” he said firmly. “Coming here was a bad idea.”
Sonoko blinked out of her daze. “Huh?”
“Being alone like this—it’s not good.”
She begged to differ. It was very, very good. After all, she had finally got him to kiss her. Maybe with a bit more encouragement, she might even get him to do more. Too bad Makoto saw right through her intentions. He held her back by her arms.
“Sonoko,” he said in a low voice.
She ignored the warning. His grip wasn’t aimed to restrain—no doubt he had not wanted to hurt her—so she pushed forward, including beyond her own nerves, and pressed her mouth to his. The kiss was clumsy. It felt too much like a mashing of lips and the angle was awkward. Still, his resolve weakened a little—at least enough for his grip to slacken even more and let her try from a different angle. That was much better. It even got a proper response out of him.
Apparently, listening to her instincts paid off.
His arm somehow ended up around her waist. Blood pounded in her ears, pulsing through every inch of her. She wasn’t sure who opened their mouth first, but she did know that he was the one to break away. His hair was mussed and his glasses had been discarded at some point. Both of them were breathing hard. It was kind of scary. She’d never thought it would be like this: so easy to lose control; so easy to get caught up in the flutters and the caresses and the impulses that whispered more, more, more.
Impulses that still whispered to her.
Sonoko swallowed. She was conscious of the fact that she was practically sitting on his lap. It made her even more aware of his warmth, of the muscled firmness of his body. More flutters started in her stomach: part nerves, part excitement. Though she had to admit it was mostly nerves. This was all so new and overwhelming. She licked her chapped lips and leaned in to kiss him again.
“Wait.” Makoto forced her back, gulping in a breath. “Let’s stop.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want to do something we’ll regret,” he said honestly.
“Who says we’ll regret it?”
His brow furrowed. “Why do you want to rush this?”
She blinked, even as a blush stained her cheeks. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just—”
“Sonoko.” His voice was gentle but firm. “I don’t know why you’re pushing yourself so much, but isn’t this enough?” He cupped her cheek. “We don’t need to rush.”
I want to respect you, his eyes seemed to plead. Let me do that.
She lowered her head in surrender. Maybe even a little relief. A part of her had known she was forcing things—rushing things, as he said. The unchecked items on her list had been weighing on her mind; she had thought The Plan was her only choice to get success before graduation. Not that kissing him hadn’t felt nice. It had. But she had also been really nervous. Perhaps more than even she had realised.
She was lucky to have Makoto as her boyfriend. Not every guy would have stopped in that moment.
“Let’s call a taxi,” she mumbled. “I’m sure the person at the front desk will let us borrow their phone.”
Makoto pressed a kiss to her forehead and then released her. “You get dressed first. I’ll wait here.”
She nodded and collected her wet clothes before shutting herself in the bathroom. A breath escaped her lips. Well, that had been embarrassing. It wasn’t every day a girl got called out for trying to seduce her boyfriend. Still, she couldn’t complain too much. In fact, the more she thought about it, the more pleased she became. Today had still been a day of many “firsts”. True, it looked unlikely that she would be able to tick off Become a Woman by graduation, but that was okay. Slowly but surely her list of “romantic firsts” would be marked complete. After all, she was Suzuki Sonoko. She never gave up on the things that mattered.
Prompt: Sonoko could be serious about the most surprising things.
Pairing: Sonoko/Makoto
Words: 3306
Read on FFN here.
A Girl’s Checklist
Sonoko had a checklist. Sometimes the items featured were as simple as eat a famous fruit parfait, wear matching Lolita outfits with her best friend, or get love fortunes at a particular shrine. Others were more difficult. Romance featured a lot on her checklist. Being the youngest daughter of the wealthy Suzuki family meant that she had endless money at her fingertips; it wasn’t hard to visit places or partake of special food. But money couldn’t buy love (as she had learnt all too well when the guys who caught her eye insisted on falling for Ran instead, no matter how much Sonoko staged romantic encounters or used her feminine wiles). Romance was something she had to work at all by herself—unless she let her mother arrange a marriage for her. Not that she would.
Anyway, the point was that Sonoko was a romantic. No arranged marriages for her, thank you very much. Instead, she had many “firsts” that she was determined to check off on her list. Summer Romance had been ticked off, as had Get a Boyfriend. True, Kyogoku Makoto wasn’t the guy she had dreamed of as her ideal, but his “samurai” appeal and the fact he was devoted to her (okay, he was devoted to karate, but she was still up there on his priorities) meant that she had still fallen for him. Plus, it was really romantic that Makoto had pitted himself against the undefeatable Kaitou Kid for her heart and to win her parents’ approval.
Still, now that she had finally got a steady (albeit long-distance) boyfriend, she had thought that many other “firsts” would easily be ticked off. A kiss, calling each other by first names without an honorific, getting couple rings, and the all-important Become a Woman (aka, lose virginity). Shoujo manga demanded that all of these things be ticked off before she graduated from high school, and that date was nearing far too close for comfort. Sonoko was left with no choice but to enact The Plan.
The Plan began by luring Makoto from overseas with a cryptic note. It was flattering and reassuring that he arrived just as scheduled. Things did get a bit awkward when he realised she was not in trouble nor had a romantic rival trying to sweep her off her feet. Indeed, the two both blushed their way through her explanation that she just wanted to go on a date with him. Luckily he accepted, so Stage One of the plan was checked off as a success.
She swept him off first to get the desired couple rings. He didn’t seem to understand the point of wearing matching jewellery—even pointed out that he couldn’t wear a ring since it wouldn’t be appropriate for karate. Sonoko pouted and told him that, regardless of whether he wore the ring on his finger or not, it was an important rite for a couple. She gushed about how wearing matching rings would bring them closer together; plus, it would make it more obvious to others that they were in a relationship. The latter was a selling point for Makoto. He stopped resisting and the two were soon sporting matching silver rings. Get Matching Couple Rings could now be checked off the list.
Sonoko was still admiring the ring when they later entered a restaurant to enjoy a romantic dinner. This was where she had to bust out the real moves, so she took great delight in removing her coat to reveal the slinky little number she had chosen just for him: a dress of dark blue silk that bared enough skin to stir his appetite in a way quite different from what the restaurant could satisfy.
“Sonoko-san,” Makoto said bluntly, “you should put your coat back on.”
She pursed her lips. “But it’s warm in here.”
Never mind that it would ruin Stage Two: Get His Attention with a Sexy Dress.
“A lady should dress modestly,” he argued, trying to drape the coat back over her. “You’ll draw too much attention to yourself wearing something like that.”
“What’s wrong with drawing attention?” She shrugged off the coat and folded her arms under her breasts, emphasising her cleavage. “Is it so bad that I want to dress up for my boyfriend who I haven’t seen in a while?”
Makoto’s cheeks tinged with pink and he averted his face. “I’d rather you—”
“I wore this for you,” she cut in, learning forward and poking him in the stomach.
Mm, nice and toned. Wait, she couldn’t afford to get distracted by his body. He was supposed to be getting distracted by hers.
Makoto frowned and gripped her shoulders. His hands were warm and calloused, creating little tingles where he touched her bare skin. “Sonoko-san,” he said in that serious way of his, “you are a very attractive girl. I do not want other men to look at you. Please do not wear such revealing clothing in public like this just for me.”
Sonoko’s blush darkened. The wave of heat seemed to spread from the tips of her ears all the way to her toes. Well, when he put it like that, she supposed she could wear the coat. But only because he called her very attractive.
She slipped her coat back on and sat opposite him at the table for two that had been reserved for them. It was all very nice, with soft music playing in the background and a candle lit to offer a romantic glow. Makoto looked especially handsome. He was wearing his glasses—a fact she did not mind at all since it gave him that sexy, intelligent vibe—and his button-down shirt and pants were clean and nicely pressed. The little plaster he always wore only added to his charm (at least in her besotted opinion). She was lucky to have such an attractive boyfriend.
That was when Sonoko realised she was allowing herself to get distracted again. That was no good at all. She had a list to get through. It was time to move onto the next item to be checked: get him to agree to drop the honorific on their names.
“U-um,” she began, fighting the heat that seemed permanently attached to her cheeks, “since we’ve been dating for a while now, I was thinking that maybe we could call each other by our names.”
Makoto’s brow furrowed. “Don’t we already?”
She fidgeted with her chopsticks. “I mean, uh, like if I call you Makoto.”
The boy froze. He had definitely noticed the lack of “san” attached.
“It’d make me feel closer to you and, um, I think—”
“I understand, Sonoko.”
Her eyes darted to his. There was a moment where they just smiled and blushed at each other. Sonoko did a little victory dance in her head. The Plan was working. She was making excellent progress checking off things on her list. Maybe, just maybe, the next stage of her plan would also go smoothly.
Sonoko tried not to worry about what would come later—even if her heart did beat a little faster—and so focussed on relaxing and enjoying the dinner. Makoto was quite oblivious to the machinations being weaved around him, so he had much less trouble relaxing. As such, when the two paid and left the restaurant, he had no reason to refuse her suggestion that they go for a walk. Nor did he question her motive when she looped her arm with his and pressed her body close (though his cheeks did get a bit pink … as did hers. Damn. She was going to have to get a hold on that if she wanted to seduce him).
In any case, the two took a leisurely stroll through the lit up city, content to chat and enjoy each other’s company. The storm set in right on cue (Sonoko had calculated the bad weather forecast into her plan), as did a convenient lack of battery on her cell phone (Makoto had forgotten his, a fact she had also taken into account). Not only that but she had steered them towards the hotel area of the city, making her next suggestion appear as innocent as it possibly could. After all, every shoujo manga heroine knew that when a storm hit and you were drenched and stranded in the city late at night, the most important thing was to find cover.
“Why don’t we just take shelter in there for a bit?” Sonoko said, pointing to one of the hotels. “We’ll both get sick at this rate.”
Makoto blushed. “I don’t think—”
“Come on,” Sonoko urged, dragging him towards the door. “It’ll be fine.”
His protests were overborn when she demanded to know if he wanted her to get a chill and come down with a fever. Makoto did not, so they entered the hotel and paid for a room. Sonoko congratulated herself on a job well done. They were all alone in a private room and it would only be a matter of time before he fell for her charms. Well, if she could bring herself to work up the courage to actually begin the final stage of her plan. Seducing him had seemed so much easier in her head.
Makoto moved to the far side of the room and seemed content to stay there. Sonoko inwardly huffed. All this distance was not what she had in mind. Time to get his attention.
She removed her coat and hung it up to dry. The rain had been so heavy that her dress had got wet as well and now clung to her body. Makoto’s eyes widened when he noticed her attire. True to form, he tried to get her to cover up again.
“My coat is soaked,” she pointed out.
He couldn’t argue with this statement. After all, he had also removed his wet jacket out of discomfort. She decided to muster her courage then and suggest they make use of the bathroom to shower and change while their clothes dried. There were probably some complimentary robes in the drawer or closet. Makoto gave her a long look. Perhaps he was finally catching on to her plan. Still, the fact she was shivering from genuine cold made him relax again.
“You go first,” he said, handing her one of the robes that he had indeed found in the drawer.
Sonoko murmured her thanks. She felt oddly shy now that he was standing close and looking straight at her with those intent eyes of his. Giddy, of course, but also shy. Makoto was so very nice and attractive. Just with that one act he had turned her into a mess of stomach flutters and pounding heartbeats. Needless to say, it was a very pink-faced Sonoko who left for the bathroom.
“Pull it together,” she ordered herself, leaning against the closed door and willing her heart rate to slow. “This might be your only chance.”
Her graduation was looming, and she refused to be the girl who failed to complete her Coming of Age rites just because Makoto was off studying overseas or competing in karate championships. This was an opportunity that could not be wasted. The fact he’d even let himself be dragged into the hotel suggested he was, however subconsciously, okay with her plan. At least, that was what she told herself. There was also a chance that Makoto was just one of those people who could be so pragmatic and obtuse that he only saw it as a means of stopping her from getting a chill…
Ah, whatever. The point was that they had both come this far.
Sonoko slapped her cheeks to make herself focus, then stripped off her wet clothes so she could shower. It was kind of odd (and a little exhilarating) to think that Makoto was on the other side of the door. Her heart was still fluttering when she slipped the robe on and exited the bathroom. Makoto had been sitting on the bed, but he started to his feet at the sight of her. The loose robe might not reveal as much skin as the dress, but it was obvious her “Just Showered” appearance had an effect.
“All done,” she said with a smile.
Makoto audibly swallowed. He grabbed the other robe and excused himself before escaping into the bathroom. Sonoko allowed her grin to widen and hung up her clothes to dry, then sat on the bed to wait for him. He did not take long. Soon, they were both sitting on the bed. Well, he sat ramrod straight on the very edge while she tried to muster the courage to carry out the final stage of her plan.
“The rain is really heavy,” she observed to break the silence.
“Yeah.”
More silence.
Sonoko shuffled closer. “Makoto, you could at least look at me.”
He turned his head. The sudden proximity of their faces made them both blush. She resisted the urge to pull back. Now was not the time to get shy. Instead, she moistened her lips and leaned forward, conscious of her fluttering pulse. Just a bit closer.
“Sonoko.” His hands were suddenly on her shoulders. “Maybe we should just try find a phone so we can call for a taxi.”
“We’ve already paid to have the hotel room for a couple of hours,” she reminded him. “Besides, I finally feel warm and dry. You did say you didn’t want me to get sick.”
He furrowed his brow and gave her another of those long, assessing looks. Definitely had caught on then, but no matter. She was a girl on a mission. That was why she shuffled even closer so that their thighs were touching. Every bit of contact counted. At least, that was what she had read. Touch was more powerful than a sexy dress; more likely to shake a man’s defence, to make him want more. Nothing had prepared her for the fact that it would have just as much impact on her though. Her heart jumped and fluttered in her chest, pounding so hard it was like her body was throbbing in time to the rhythm.
She wanted him to kiss her. She really, really wanted him to kiss her.
Makoto’s grip tightened on her shoulders. She had the satisfaction of seeing his gaze drop to her lips. All he had to do was close those last few inches. So, so close.
Do it, Sonoko urged with her eyes. Just kiss me, damn it.
Her telepathic pleas were not wasted. Makoto might be karate obsessed and a bit too much of a conservative for her tastes, but he was still a hot-blooded male and was very much attracted to her. He dipped his head, even as his hands slid down her arms and tugged her closer. Their lips touched: soft, sweet and far, far too short. Her eyes were still closed in expectation when he pulled back from the kiss.
“We should go,” he said firmly. “Coming here was a bad idea.”
Sonoko blinked out of her daze. “Huh?”
“Being alone like this—it’s not good.”
She begged to differ. It was very, very good. After all, she had finally got him to kiss her. Maybe with a bit more encouragement, she might even get him to do more. Too bad Makoto saw right through her intentions. He held her back by her arms.
“Sonoko,” he said in a low voice.
She ignored the warning. His grip wasn’t aimed to restrain—no doubt he had not wanted to hurt her—so she pushed forward, including beyond her own nerves, and pressed her mouth to his. The kiss was clumsy. It felt too much like a mashing of lips and the angle was awkward. Still, his resolve weakened a little—at least enough for his grip to slacken even more and let her try from a different angle. That was much better. It even got a proper response out of him.
Apparently, listening to her instincts paid off.
His arm somehow ended up around her waist. Blood pounded in her ears, pulsing through every inch of her. She wasn’t sure who opened their mouth first, but she did know that he was the one to break away. His hair was mussed and his glasses had been discarded at some point. Both of them were breathing hard. It was kind of scary. She’d never thought it would be like this: so easy to lose control; so easy to get caught up in the flutters and the caresses and the impulses that whispered more, more, more.
Impulses that still whispered to her.
Sonoko swallowed. She was conscious of the fact that she was practically sitting on his lap. It made her even more aware of his warmth, of the muscled firmness of his body. More flutters started in her stomach: part nerves, part excitement. Though she had to admit it was mostly nerves. This was all so new and overwhelming. She licked her chapped lips and leaned in to kiss him again.
“Wait.” Makoto forced her back, gulping in a breath. “Let’s stop.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want to do something we’ll regret,” he said honestly.
“Who says we’ll regret it?”
His brow furrowed. “Why do you want to rush this?”
She blinked, even as a blush stained her cheeks. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just—”
“Sonoko.” His voice was gentle but firm. “I don’t know why you’re pushing yourself so much, but isn’t this enough?” He cupped her cheek. “We don’t need to rush.”
I want to respect you, his eyes seemed to plead. Let me do that.
She lowered her head in surrender. Maybe even a little relief. A part of her had known she was forcing things—rushing things, as he said. The unchecked items on her list had been weighing on her mind; she had thought The Plan was her only choice to get success before graduation. Not that kissing him hadn’t felt nice. It had. But she had also been really nervous. Perhaps more than even she had realised.
She was lucky to have Makoto as her boyfriend. Not every guy would have stopped in that moment.
“Let’s call a taxi,” she mumbled. “I’m sure the person at the front desk will let us borrow their phone.”
Makoto pressed a kiss to her forehead and then released her. “You get dressed first. I’ll wait here.”
She nodded and collected her wet clothes before shutting herself in the bathroom. A breath escaped her lips. Well, that had been embarrassing. It wasn’t every day a girl got called out for trying to seduce her boyfriend. Still, she couldn’t complain too much. In fact, the more she thought about it, the more pleased she became. Today had still been a day of many “firsts”. True, it looked unlikely that she would be able to tick off Become a Woman by graduation, but that was okay. Slowly but surely her list of “romantic firsts” would be marked complete. After all, she was Suzuki Sonoko. She never gave up on the things that mattered.