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useless-bi-otch · 2 years ago

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Cookies'n Cream - Chapter 19

Last chapter / MasterList / art by @aneenasevla

Chapter 19 - Trial and Error

Okubo knew that when he saw his friends again, they would ask about his night at Tomori's house. They'd ask for all the sordid details, probably hoping to feed their own fantasies with them. They wouldn't accept vague answers and probably wouldn't believe him if he tried to lie, to create a false scenario to throw them off. He would have no choice but to tell the unvarnished truth.

And he knew they wouldn't be happy. He showed up at Kaneda's apartment when he was invited to another game night a few days later, already prepared to deal with the general outrage, name-calling and questions about his manhood.

Or maybe it was his lucky day! Perhaps, if he explained in detail what happened, the guys would be understanding. Who wouldn't lose all desire to fuck after what he'd witnessed, anyway? Maybe he would find some solidarity there...

"YOU FUCKING IDIOT!!!"

Or maybe not.

"Guys, tone it down," Kaneda asks with a sigh, pausing the game while Rihito and Himuro stuck their faces into Okubo's personal space, snarling furiously, the three of them practically glued to eachother on the couch. "It's past nine, the complex has rules about noise at night even on weekends..."

"Sorry, man, but there's no way not to scream! It's our way of venting frustration out with such levels of stupidity!," Rihito justifies himself, gesticulating, almost hitting Okubo's nose. "Seriously, Okubo, does your heart pump blood to your brain at all?!"

"You should also ask if it pumps blood to his dick, because holy fuck..."

"Screw you guys!," Okubo growls, red with anger and mortification at Himuro's comment. "You don't know shit about what happened and yet you stay there, talking shit, not even letting me explain-"

"Explain what? How did you completely squander the golden chance we got you over some stupid stuffed animals?," Himuro interrupts him, to which Rihito nods vehemently.

"Yeah! We were just joking at the time, damn it! You're not that old to be going limp for such a shitty reason!"

"I didn't! Are you dumb or deaf?," He asks, his tone squeaky to make himself heard amidst the accusations. "Just shut up and listen to me, okay? First of all, there were no plushies in her room! At least not as far as I've seen..."

"We heard that part, but we still find it hard to believe," Kaneda comments, leaning back a little and resting his hands on the rug while looking at them over his shoulder. "Why else would you've given up on sleeping with Miss Uta like that? This has nothing to do with her in particular, does it?"

“Uh… no. I mean, yes, but at the same time no...?," He gestures uncertainly, making a face at their irritated expressions. "Look, I know it sounds crazy, but if you close your mouths and listen to me, you'll understand my side! None of you would've been able to perform if you'd seen what I saw. No, Himuro, not even you," He says quickly when Himuro opens his mouth to retort. This makes him frown.

"Huh? Do you really think I couldn't do the deed over some stupid stuffed animals? You wouldn't believe half of the absurd places and situations where I've banged a chick, believe me."

“I'd ask for details, but your man-whore escapades always piss me off and I want my ire fully focused on that idiot,” Rihito points at Okubo, who lets out an angry grunt while rolling his entire head, since rolling only his eyes didn't seem good enough.

"Holy shit, didn't you hear anything I said? There was no fucking stuffed animals in her room! Believe me, I wish there was...," He then moans, holding his head between his hands. "It would've been so much better than what I saw..."

"…Okay, Okubo, you're starting to scare us," Kaneda puts the joystick aside as he sits on the left arm of the sofa, a little worried. "What was in her room that was so horrible? was it something offensive, politically incorrect..."

"If by 'politically incorrect' you mean things like race supremacy, fascism, racism and all that stuff, no," He shakes his head, grimacing. "And by 'offensive'… well, I got a little offended!"

"Jeez… wait, did it have something to do with you?," Rihito frowns. And then his eyes widen. "Holy crap… is she one of those fujoshi girls by any chance? Did she make perverted drawings of you?! Himuro and Kaneda said that she likes to draw, so..."

"Damn it, Rihito, did you really need to bring such a mental image into the conversation?!," Himuro complains with a disgusted grimace. "Now I won't be able to stop thinking about that shit! I mean, Miss Uta never gave me the impression of being the type of girl who draws lewd stuff of her idol with other guys, but it's not like we know her well enough to make any claims."

"What- holy fuck, no!," Okubo screeches in horror. "It's not like that! I'd have jumped off that boat and swum west to get as far away from here as possible if it was something like that!"

“Then what the hell is it? What was in her room that was so hideous that you couldn't perform and have a hell of a story to tell us while we beat the cops and run over people with an ambulance?," Rihito asks while opening his arms, and Kaneda looks disapprovingly at him.

“This taken out of context could result in the police coming to visit my apartment before midnight, you know?"

"I'm talking about the GTA ambulance, dude."

"Yeah, but my neighbors don't know that!"

"Focus, you two!," Himuro raises his voice impatiently. "We have a more pending matter here. Now spit it out, come on," He turns to Okubo, practically commanding as he points at him. "What made you go limp, anyway?"

"I didn't...! Aaargh, forget it," Okubo puts his hand over his face, giving up. "It was the damn posters on the walls! There, i said it!"

He stares at them, in complete silence, as he sees the confusion on their faces.

"... Huh?," Rihito blinks. "What do you mean by 'posters'? What posters, dammit? Posters of what? A boy band she likes? Actors? Some yaoi anime, I don't know?"

"No, I'd accept it easier if it were those things… except the yaoi anime stuff…," He snorts. "They were posters of fighters."

"Wait, like the ones in her living room?"

"Yes, but make it triple," Okubo widens his eyes, raising his hands on either side of his face and moving them a little away from each other to emphasize. "I could barely see the walls underneat them, damn it. Can you still blame me for giving up?"

He waits for their reactions, wanting to see some sympathy, however small, in their features. And, as expected, he doesn't. The room that was a cross between a living room and a kitchen is filled with grunts and the sounds of hands smacking over faces in loud clacks.

"What do you think? I'll blame you, your age, your fagness, everything I can blame!," Rihito throws his arms up in frustration. "Who the fuck cares about a bunch of posters?!"

“That's fucking why I didn't want to tell you anything! Where is the solidarity with the suffering of your peers?," Okubo asks indignantly, and Himuro is not moved.

“It went down the drain after we heard such a stupid reason! Posters, Okubo? They're just pictures cut out of magazines and pasted on the walls, nothing more! And you even had the nerve to say that I wouldn't have been able to perform in such a place..."

"Stop trying to play the playboy act when you haven't been in my situation, damn it! I'm telling you, that room looked like the headquarters of a gay magazine!," He gestures almost desperately. "There was no pornographic pictures, but it seemed that they were all in ambush, just waiting, wanting to watch and judge my performance..."

"For fuck's sake, stop freaking out, Okubo!," Rihito slaps him on the back of the head, and he wasn't fast enough to dodge. "What are you thinking? That this is Harry Potter? That the posters would magically come to life and the fighters would point at the two of you on the bed and go 'put that baby carrot away, loser' ?"

"No, damn it! Let me finish before you keep talking shit!," Okubo threatens to kick Rihito in the face, who, unlike him, managed to dodge the blow. "These posters weren't of just any fighters! They were..."

"… Oh. They were posters of our friends, weren't they?," Kaneda is the first to conclude, widening his eyes a little. "Sekibayashi?"

This makes Rihito and Himuro widen their eyes as well. They turn to Okubo, who nods slowly with a grim expression.

"Yep. And Gaolang."

“Ooh, jeez… and both of them were shirtless, right?"

"And sweaty, yeah. Flexing muscles and all."

Kaneda sucks air through his clenched teeth, shudering a little.

"And there were others like this? In the entire room?"

"The entire fucking room, man. Now you understand me, don't you?," He faces his friends, seriously. "I'll ask again: can you blame me? Huh?"

Kaneda shakes his head, his expression solemn. Rihito and Himuro were still speechless with astonishment, their jaws hanging open. Himuro even seemed to have pale slightly. The two look at each other, the bridges of their noses sweating.

"Hey, Himuro… do you really think you'd be able to perform in a place like this?," Rihito asks, to which Himuro looks to the side, his expression uncertain.

"Uh... I had sex with a girl who had a Karl Marx poster on her bedroom wall once, but I think this current situation is much worse..."

"I'd change places with you without thinking twice, dude, trust me," Okubo affirms, moaning softly before plopping down on the sofa. "Few things are more of a turn down than that, honestly. Which sucks, because everything was perfect. We cuddled up together on her couch while we watched a movie... but by then I wasn't in the mood anymore."

"Man, that sucks…," Rihito laments, and Okubo was pleased to see that he now seemed more supportive of his struggle. "I thought girls got over that phase of turning their rooms into shrines dedicated to their idols when they got out of their teens. How did she think you'd go along with doing anything there, huh?"

"I don't know," Okubo shrugs. "I wasn't going to ask, I sneaked into her room and if I said anything about it, she'd find out that I snooped aroung and might get mad at me. It was on me, curiosity got the better of me and I paid the price."

"I tried to warn," Kaneda sighs, while Himuro shudders.

"Yeah, but maybe it was better that way. What if you only saw her room when the two of you got in there with the intention of fucking? She'd see you going limp firsthand."

"Don't remind me of that! But yeah, it could've been a lot worse," Okubo concedes, his expression softening a little. "The night wasn't wasted, anyway."

"How so? Is this what? The fifth or sixth time in a row that you miss a chance to get laid for a completely random reason?," Rihito scratches his hair, messing it up even more. "It seems like the universe is conspiring against you or something."

"Come on, if he’s saying that the night wasn’t wasted, it’s because he took advantage of it in other ways," Kaneda comments. "At least there didn’t seem to be another room available…"

“Of course there is! What about her crafts room?," Rihito asks, and Okubo shakes his head.

"There was no bed or divan there, it'd not be comfortable. And it was full of photos not only of her friends, but also of her parents and brother."

"…Oh," Rihito doesn't even try to reason with that one. Himuro leans a little towards Okubo.

"Alright, but what about the living room? Couldn't you try to do anything on the couch?"

"No, man, the living room was full of posters too."

"Holy shit...

"What about the kitchen? I've been in her kitchen before and I'm pretty sure there weren't any posters there!"

"No, dude, having sex in the kitchen is not romantic for a first time..."

"Damn it, Okubo, there's no way we can defend you then!," Rihito opens his arms again, frustration making him almost scream again. "How long are you going to keep making excuses? That way it looks like you don't even want to bang her anymore!"

Okubo immediately opens his mouth with the intention of saying he wanted to, because damn, of course he wanted to! He had never stopped wanting to. The problem was, that wasn't the only thing he wanted anymore when it came to Tomori.

He wanted to sleep with her. And he also wanted to go on other dates with her. He wanted to practice more baseball batting, explore other restaurants where they could eat, watch bad movies that the two of them could make fun of together, introduce her to his favorite anime, watch her draw and paint, learn to cook from her, holy shit, he just wanted to stay by her side no matter the situation...!

He wanted to explain all this to his friends, to say that there had been a slight change of plans, that now his goal was no longer about getting casual sex, but getting that woman to accept being his woman. But at that moment he couldn't, as much as he wanted to. The strong embarrassment prevented him, the fear of becoming the target of ridicule, the fear of showing that fragile side of him in front of them...

Was it what they'd call toxic masculinity these days? Yeah, probably. He sighs heavily.

"Just because I encountered some obstacles along the way? No way, Rihito. Of course I still want it, and you can bet I'm not giving up because of it. I just concluded that I simply won't be able to do that on her house.

"Jeez, what a fussy fucker…," Himuro snorts, sarcastic, turning around to get something from the kitchen. "You'd tought that he's the one about to be fucked, with the way he's acting..."

Rihito bursts out laughing, throwing his head back and slapping his own thigh. Even Kaneda makes a farting sound from his mouth, quickly looking away when Okubo glares at them as if he wants to spend the first culprit on them.

"Damn, I'm giving up on you!"

"We're the ones who should say that! But anyway, that's your problem, not ours," Rihito waves a hand. "We're already doing our part, it's not our fault if you're too stupid to take advantage."

"Leave him alone, Rihito," Kaneda coughs to contain his laughter. "At this point rushing things isn't going to change the situation."

"And walking at a snail's pace, like Captain Erectile Dysfunction is doing, won't change it either."

"Captain Erectile Dysfunction? That's not what your mom called me yesterday, asshole!"

"Oooh, so we're doing low blows now? You're really bringing moms into this? Then don't complain when your face looks even more fucked up than usual after I'm done with you!"

"Don't start fighting in the middle of my living room, you two," Kaneda grumbles while the two gorillas put themselves in fighting stances, snarling at each other. "Soon the food will arrive, then you'll be able to put those mouths to a good use. Liu sent a message, Himuro," He shows his phone to Himuro. "He'll booze drinks too."

"Excellent. It's what we need the most after all this fuss," He nods with a snort. "Games, booze and not talking about that stuff anymore, for the sake of my sanity."

"Yeah, mine too," Rihito grunts, Okubo and him giving each other the middle finger before relaxing their postures and going back to the couch. He was relieved that the conversation was over. Who knows if his friends couldn't get more embarrassing truths out of him if it went on too long. They called him a loudmouth for a reason, after all...

* * *

When Okubo said that he was willing to do anything to show that he regretted his wrongdoings and that he wanted to prove it to her, Tomori chose to believe him. She saw now that she no longer needed to worry about regretting that decision.

She just didn't expect him to go through with the promise after he had earned her forgiveness. And not to those extremes.

"I'm really sorry!," He exclaims, a little too loudly, while bowing deeply before the astonished manager, the waitresses and even the cleaning staff of the bistro. "My behavior that day was inexcusable!"

"Ooh… we appreciate the attempt, sir," The manager says after exchanging a brief look with one of the waitresses. "But there's no need-"

"Yes, there is! I mean...! Uugh, I'm sorry for yelling...," He scratches the back of his neck quickly when two of the women flinch slightly, a little nervously. "I know it's kinda late for this, but I won't be able to be at peace with myself if I don't do that. I disrespected your work environment, inconvenienced one of your employees, and made a lot of people uncomfortable. Mainly my date here," He raises his eyes a little to Tomori, who was standing by his side with arms crossed. "Apologizing is the bare minimum. And covering the damage of what I broke too..."

"Oh, but that has already been covered. You paid for the broken crockery."

"Uh… I did?"

"Yes, just before you ran off after that lady," One of the waitresses nods, and Tomori recognizes her as the one who had the tray with orders knocked out of her hands by the disaster that was a drunk Okubo. "You paid with your card, and it was more than we needed to replace the broken crockery."

Okubo blinks, a little perplexed, and then turns his eyes to Tomori.

“I…I didn't remember that. I was drunker than I thought, holy cow..."

She lets out an accidental giggle, clapping a hand over her mouth afterward. Now that everything was settled, it was easier to remember that night without feeling resentful or embarrassed. At least not like before.

"Yeo! And I'm glad you transferred money to people who deserved to be reimbursed, and not to someone taking advantage of your drunk generosity. They could have whiped your bank account clean..."

"And would you've let them?"

"At that time I felt very vindictive, so I think you already know my answer."

"Damn, you're mean...," He makes a pout, to which the manager and employees allow themselves a brief laugh.

“Our work ethic wouldn't have allowed it. Anyway, we appreciate your gesture, Mr. Okubo," The man nodded with a kind smile. "And we accept your apology. Fortunately, nothing serious happened that night that would justify your permanent expulsion from the establishment."

"Oh… so my date and I can go back to the bistro?"

"As long as it doesn't happen again, yes. Our zero-tolerance policy for drunk customers is still in place," The manager warns. "But since the damages were paid and the apology was sincere, I don't think we have anything to worry about. Now we just need to return all the extra money you gave us, it wouldn't be right..."

"No need, you can keep the extra as compensation for the trouble!"

"Sir, we cannot accept this, it goes against our policy..."

Okubo and the manager stood there, arguing about pay, work ethics, and other related matters, and the employees took that as their cue to get back to work. They bow briefly to Tomori, then go their separate ways, and she stands there, patiently waiting for the subject to be over so they could sit down to eat. It was so good to be back in this place and not feel sad and out of place because of the memories.

And it was all thanks to him, who had kept one of the last promises she expected him to keep. And without her needing to push him into it, to top it off! It wasn't something that deserved a standing ovation, as apologizing for execrable behavior was the least thing to do, but it was still something she appreciated and that made her want to hug him, kiss him, find a private place so they could get all cozy and confortable...

"Later. Baby steps, you predator, baby steps..."

"… Very well, half of the amount will be refunded then. This is my last offer, it's take it or be thrown out of here for good," She hears the manager suddenly threaten, and that's enough to make Okubo back off.

"Okay, okay, half then! Damn, being classified as persona non grata in two establishments would look really bad on my resume...," He grumbles with a slight shudder. "Can my date and I sit down and place our orders then?"

"Sure, make yourselves comfortable. Your waitress will come to you soon," The man says goodbye to them with a polite bow, moving away towards the kitchens. Okubo sighs heavily before turning to her with an arched eyebrow.

"Come on, are bakery and restaurant owners always this inflexible, to the point of being scary? Or did your boss taught a few tricks around the commercial areas of Tokyo?"

Tomori laughs heartily. "I said it to Rihito, and now I say it to you: cooks in general are pretty tough and adamant about their convictions. It was almost a miracle that Kanny accepted you back into the bakery, considering what I've seen and heard from her."

"Do I have to consider myself lucky then? I don't even want to think about what will become of the poor bastard who pisses her off to the point of being kicked out for good," He touches his own jaw with a grimace, smiling when it makes her laugh again. "But anyway, I did what needed to be done. Now I can show up here with you without feeling like a complete idiot."

"Yeah...," She nods as the two of them walk to the veranda, choosing a vacant table; it was a beautiful, sunny Sunday and it made more sense to enjoy it outdoors. "I'm glad for that, really. But... is it really okay for you? I still haven't forgotten that conversation about how this place brings back bad memories."

"Tomori, if I were to run my whole life away from bad memories, I wouldn't be able to consider myself a fighter," He steps forward, pulling out a chair for her to sit on, making her blush with the chivalrous gesture. "You said yourself that I need to face my problems head on like a man, and that's what I'm doing. And in addition, I can make good memories with you," He smiles as he sits down in front of her. "Let’s exorcise this place together?"

She puts a hand over her mouth quickly, trying to stifle a laugh. "Keep it down, or you'll offend the manager with that out of context comment, and that's when you'll get kicked out."

"Damn… I'm noticing that, since you came into my life, I've been running more risks of being kicked out of places, for good or not," He comments playfully, to which she arches an eyebrow.

"Oh really? So am I to blame for that?"

"No. I'm to blame for being an idiot full of behavioral problems and who now needs to bust a gut to improve them, all for the ankle-biter he likes so much. So, the near expulsions are kind of unavoidable consequences," He reaches across the table to pat her hand. "But I’m not complaining, the pros far outweigh the cons…"

"Uugh, you..." She hides her red face in her free hand, the other still being stroked by his callused fingers. And even though she knew it was inappropriate in a public place, she didn't want to remove her hand from under his. "Apparently the first joint memory I'm going to create here will be of me, holding myself back from getting up and kissing you in front of all these people."

"See? We're already starting to get over the bad memories," He laughs, all happy, scratching his nose. "I knew coming here was a good idea, even though it was kinda uncomfortable for me. You won't want to die of embarrassment every time you come here, will you?"

“I… damn, I did say that, didn't I?," She opens an embarrassed smile, but the joy with his words prevented the feeling from lasting long. "No, I won't. I mean, not until you take that task on yourself. I expect everything from that silver tongue of yours."

He chuckled again, and she noticed that he didn't seem to understand the double meaning her words carried. Funny… she had the impression until then that he was a very physical man, in every sense of the word. He had a past as a womanizer, after all. He should pick up on that kind of insinuation pretty quickly, shouldn't he?

So far, the two of them hadn't done anything physical beyond hugging, kissing and groping here and there, though never in intimate places. She appreciated his clear attempts to be respectful, but by now she was more than ready for them to take things further. It was what she wanted from the beginning, after all.

The difference was that that desire was now tempered with other feelings that she could no longer ignore. She had lived too many special moments with that man and known too many facets of him to just want one night with him and nothing else. It was time to let the wolf that everyone accused her of being show her fangs a little. Just a little, so as not to scare him too much. But enough to make him want more.

“Just wait, big guy. I will make you want nothing else after I'm done with you.”

"Ahaha, you don't need to worry. If I ever embarrass you, it will be in a way that'll make you laugh, instead of getting mad," He promises, oblivious to the direction her thoughts were taking. "But now that you mention a silver tongue..."

"Oh?," She straightens her shoulders at this. "What about it?"

"We've gone out to several places together, but never to a karaoke," He smiles excitedly. "You said it's another one of your family traditions, right? I'd like to hear you sing! And then I'll let myself belt out too, hehe."

... Oh. Damn, if she didn't know him better by now, she'd think he was extremely innocent. Or that she was being too perverted. But she would never complain about having another date with him, or spending any time with him in general. She smiled.

"Haha, yes, it is one of our traditions, especially at family gatherings! I even have a karaoke machine at home and would've turned it on the last time you visited if I'd known you were so into it."

“Nah, it's not even that. I mean, I do like karaoke, but I was thinking more of a place where you'd like to go and where we would feel more comfortable," His smile becomes more ingratiating. "Karaoke bars have private rooms, after all. What do you think? Wanna go to one, one of these days?"

"Oh, I’m in! We can have a competition and then sing as a duo!," She claps excitedly. "What do you think? I'll even let you choose Baka Mitai to have an advantage, I've been generous lately."

"Hey, hey, making fun of my musical tastes is a low blow," He snorts. "Baka Mitai is an ode to a lost love whose lyrical self only knew how to appreciate when it was too late. It's sad and beautiful, as all good songs should be."

"I didn't know you liked that kind of music. From your clothes I always thought you liked rap, especially the American style..."

"Rap is cool, but what attracts me the most is the clothing itself. My thing is enka!"

"Seriously? Wow, you'd get along great with my dad then," She laughs. "He's always listening to Sakamoto Kyu, Miyako Harumi, Itsuki Hiroshi..."

"A man of culture, indeed," He crosses his arms and nods, very solemnly, and she laughs more. "Maybe one day he and I will have a friendly competition at karaoke…"

He then shuts up, seeming to realize what he had just insinuated, turning very red and clearing his throat with a fist in front of his mouth.

"I- I mean...! In a completely hypothetical situation, of course, no one can predict the direction that life will take. I mean, if one day he suddenly shows up at your house when I'm there... no, no, that wouldn't be very good either, what would he think...!"

Tomori can't think of anything to reply, her face hot, her mind filling with ridiculously sugary scenarios. Many of them involved Okubo and her father, chanting Enka at the top of their lungs in her parents' living room, while Tatsu complained that the yelling was interfering with one of his work calls and her mother, Saeko and she watched with fond exasperation...

Okay, if writing imaginary fanfiction during conversation, in a public place, wasn't a worrying sign she was losing her mind, she didn't know what else could be. She tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear, laughing a little too loudly.

"Haha, no- no need to worry about that, my parents never show up at my house unannounced. My brother sometimes does, but that's because he's a complete no-brainer. And because he wants to make sure I'm not hiding any men there."

"Jeez, how old does he think you are?," Okubo rolls his eyes, still a little red. And then he seems to think harder, frowning. "Wait… I don't think I know that either. How old...?"

"Twenty-seven," She replies, smiling, relieved that they were changing the subject. "Twenty-eight in February! Yeah, I'm getting old, I know, hehe..."

Okubo blinks, then looks away with a strange expression. It looked almost like…guilt? Tomori frowns.

"What's wrong? Come on, I was kidding! Twenty-seven is not that old..."

"No, that's not it! It's just that...," He scratches the back of his head, pressing his mouth in an uncomfortable line. "I'm thirty-six. That means I'm almost a decade your senior."

"Yeah, so...?"

“It's just…I don't know, isn't that a little weird?," He now whispered as if he was afraid that the people at the tables nearby would hear them. "I get closer to my forties every day, while you're not even in your thirties yet..."

Tomori ends up laughing in disbelief. "Damn, I think you should've thought of that before agreeing to go out with me and make out with me over all these weeks, hahaha!"

"Hey, hey, as far as I know the make-out sessions were completely consensual, and the consent was enthusiastic on both sides!," He points at her with a pout, and she laughs even louder.

"It was! So why bother worrying about it?," She shrugs with a smile. "I always knew about your age and it never bothered me. I mean, if I were a fresh-out-of-school girl, with no steady income and immature, it'd be really wrong. But I have a job, I own a house, I pay bills and taxes and I even have a completely developed frontal lobe," She jokes, raising two fingers of her right hand in a V for Victory. "Rest assured that you're not taking advantage of an impressionable girl."

"Heh… I don't really know about the “impressionable” part," He ends up saying after reassuring himself, smiling again. "You always seemed very impressed with my accomplishments, hehe."

"Of course! It's impressive and admirable how you're still able to keep your belt even though you're close to the age at which most fighters retire."

"Are you seriously calling me old? That's uncalled for!," He complains, but his tone was still playful amidst the indignation. "I'll show you who the old man is, just wait and see."

The laugh dies in her throat, her mouth still open as she processes his words. A funny, familiar tingle creeps up her spine, accompanied by an involuntary shiver in her legs, and she finds herself pulling them together in an attempt to contain it.

Ooh, damn... did that mean he finally wanted to-

"Get ready to bust a gut when we go to practice batting in the park!"

... Aaaand no, he didn't want to. At least not at that specific moment. She calms down, trying to hide the slight disappointment to return his smile.

"You always say that, but I often see you holding back when it's your turn to throw the ball. I know the strength those arms have and I want to see more of it."

"If you know that, you should be asking me to go easy on you," He jokes. "But that's ok, I can step things up if that's what you want. Let's see how far you can take it without asking for a break, hehe."

Tomori shifts in her chair again, biting her bottom lip lightly. Holy shit, was he doing that on purpose or did he really have no idea what his words sounded like? If it was on purpose, he was being a little cruel. You didn't play around like that with a horny woman, dammit!

Good thing she came prepared for the occasion, wearing clothes that showcased her assets well and that he would be unable to ignore as he watched her move. She wasn't stupid or had a low opinion of herself: she knew she was pretty and she knew it affected him, even if just a little. It was time to get something out of it.

"Just you wait, I'll make you swallow these insinuations," She promises, hoping he got her subtle message. "But for now I just want to eat something. What do you say we order that baked camembert I was eating that other time? You didn't get a chance to try it..."

"You're right. Too Drunk and acting too much like an idiot for that," He opens an embarrassed smile. "Let me pay for it this time-"

"No. Stop right there. We'll split the bill," She decrees adamantly, pointing to him in a warning. "If you keep paying for me left and right, then I'm going to start thinking I'm too young for this relationship."

"You should've thought of that before you let me pay for that whole second date, lady! Now I'm too used to it," He doesn't shy away, smiling cheekily. "But I'm willing to negotiate..."

"Oh, are you?," She plays with her fingers on the table, batting her eyelashes slowly at him. "And the terms of the negotiation are…?"

"At least let me pay for the camembert and I promise I won't hold back when we go to batting practice," He offers, his smile widening. "Take it or leave it."

... Oh. Seriously, was she going to spend the entire afternoon interpreting his joking words as sexual innuendos and then be proven wrong? At that rate, the date was going to be torture! The best kind of torture.

She ends up smiling more widely. If he only knew how much she enjoyed that kind of foreplay, the innuendos would be even more blatant. And she couldn't wait for him to realize that.

"Alright. Just the camembert then. And I won't forget your promise."

"Okubo Naoya doesn't go back on his words. You should know that by now," He reaches across the table, and Tomori doesn't resist the invitation, also reaching for him and intertwining her fingers with his.

Yeah, she knew that all too well now. It was one of his traits that she most appreciated. And a part of a whole she had decided she wanted all to herself.

* * *

There were some sights that were pretty common to see in a park over a weekend. One was couples enjoying a sunny, peaceful day together. Another was that of parents playing with their children, sometimes practicing baseball pitches and hits.

What was not common was the vision of a mixture of both situations. Okubo was well aware of how much attention Tomori and him must have been drawing to themselves, playing hit and catch with a professional baseball apparatus; a relic of his days as a player. Not to mention the fact that he was too big, and she, too beautiful, and that was a rather unusual combination.

But dammit, he couldn't care less! What son of a bitch wouldn't lend an arm to be in his place? Especially with her dressed like that...

"Alright, I'm ready! Give it all you got!," She exclaims as she positions herself, holding the bat as he had suggested and spreading her legs, which were partially exposed by that pleated skirt that didn't even reach her knees. If she lifted her leg just a little, he could probably see the tattoo...

"Naoya? I said you can throw the ball now!"

"Uh- Oh, okay, sorry!," He lifts his head with a start, being awakened from his rather inappropriate thoughts for the occasion. "I got a little distracted here..."

"Too busy coming up with a last-minute strategy?," She asks with a provocative smile, swinging the bat a little. "Do you realize that my hits are a little too much for your tired legs?"

"Is that any way to talk to your coach? I'll make you some push-ups if you don't quit it!," He warns, half joking, half serious. Man, her doing push-ups in clothes like that would give him a blessed view...

"I can handle it! Just throw the ball to see for yourself," She raises her arms in the air, still holding the bat, and stretches with a small groan. "Just let me stretch a little..."

She had closed her eyes, and Okubo took the chance to enjoy the scene, swallowing a little. She was wearing a comfortable, short-sleeved shirt, the hem tied just above the waistband of her skirt, and as she stretched, it rose a little and partially exposed the skin on her abdomen. Her skin looked so smooth and soft... she even had an adorable little mole near her navel, damn. what he wouldn't give to smack some kisses around there...

"… Naoya? Getting distracted again?"

"Wha- aah, yeah!," He jerks his head up, face burning, praying he wasn't blushing too much. "I- I was assessing your posturing! Wanting to make sure it was right so you don't risk straining a muscle while swinging the bat."

“Ooh, got it,” She nods, resting the tip of the bat on the ground, looking a little thoughtful. And then she smiles, offering, "Want to help me with that?

“Uh…what?”

"Help me with my posturing! I've been doing this for a good few years, but who would deny receiving guidance from a professional?," She shrugs a little, her smile becoming sweet. "Can you give me a hand? C'mon, I want to hit better so I can make you proud..."

Holy shit... He sure could give her a hand, as many hands as she wanted. To be able to hold those hips, that little waist, feel her so close to his body, her back pressed against his chest, the movements under his hands every time she swung the bat...

“Okay, you're sounding like a thirteen year old now. Get a fucking grip, this isn't porn!”

He inhales and exhales discreetly to calm himself. If he wanted to prove to Tomori that what he felt for her went beyond mere sexual attraction, he had to start by not acting like an idiotic teenager. He nods, smiling as he approaches her.

"Damn, what a diligent student, haha! Alright, I'll help you with your posture. I particularly thought it was good so far, but if you're feeling like there's something that needs to be improved..."

"It's more to relieve conscience. Again, I trust your judgment," She explains it simply. And then she lets out a little gasp as he places his hands on either side of her hips. "Ooh…"

"What? Was it too sudden?," He asks worried. "Sorry, I should have told you I was going to-"

"No, that's not it," She says quickly, straightening her shoulders and returning to position the bat high. "It's just that… wow, your hands are really huge, haha…," And she rotates her hips a little, as if testing the firmness of her grip, his hands accompanying the movement while the hem of her skirts went up and revealed a little bit more of that skin...

“Holy fuuuuuck...!”

Okubo experienced a few seconds of self-indulgent pride as he managed not to have any stupid reactions. On the outside, he maintained an expression of neutral calmness, but on the inside, he felt an almost primal urge to take her in his arms and go find the nearest love hotel. Or the most secluded area of the park, in case they couldn't countain themselves long enough.

Hell, as much as he was still ashamed of his behavior that Saturday when he and his friends found her at the market, there was no denying that Rihito and he were right in their analysis. A nice, soft body with curves and extra fat in all the right places. The wonderful personality that accompanied it only made him feel even more like he'd won the lottery. So he had to pull himself together and wait, hold back until he was sure she knew he wanted her in every way, not just the physical one. Until then, he had to be respectful. So hold your fucking horses, dammit!

"Ahaha... yeah, I've been- I've been told. Gorilla hands," He laughs, managing to blush just a little. "Okay, back to your posture! You know that the rotation force when turning the bat is all in the hips, right?"

"Yes, I know! It's all about steadying your legs and turning at just the right angle, isn't it?," She nods, not looking at him, still testing the bat's mobility. "I try to do like the professional hitters, but I always end up with sore hips after a while, haha."

"It's the lack of habit. Muscles retain memory, you know? That's why I encourage you to practice even when I'm not here," He explains, placing his hands on her hips to help her straighten up. "Your body will gradually get used to the movements and withstand the bumps more. But until then, let's stop trying to bat like me and try to bat more like yourself. You're doing great anyway."

"Does that mean you don't have to help me after all?," She asks, again moving her hips under his hands, and Okubo holds his breath for a moment when the tied hem of her blouse rises and he feels the softness and warmth of her skin in contact with his fingers. Holy crap...!

“Take a deep breath and keep it inside your fucking pants!”

"Yes, I do, like any attentive coach!," He declares, because even if he was going to keep his perverted toughts to himself, any excuse to touch her was very welcome. "Now try to follow my hands, as if this were a dance. But without wiggling, otherwise the hit comes out more like a weathervane, haha!"

She stops moving, allowing him to guide her. She looks to the side, and for a second Okubo thought he saw her frown and pout. Did he sound too harsh in that last recommendation? He was going to comment on it until she straightened her back and locked her hips in place.

"Like this?," she asks, bracing her legs and back…which almost presses against his chest, the curves molding so well to his muscles and filling his head with fantasies that involve a lot of that friction, a lot of sweat and none of those clothes...

“Bloody hell, this woman is going to kill me at this rate!”

"Yeah, like that," He tries to pull away discreetly, putting a safe distance between his hips and hers, still holding her by the waist. How he was managing to keep his voice from denoting his arousal was a mystery. "Remember the feet too. They need to be steady, but can follow the movement of the hips to keep their balance, like this," He rotates his hips to the side, feet firmly on the ground, but moving accordingly and leaving small furrows in the grass. "How about we try it now?"

“Yeah, just throw the ball,” She nods, smiling, but again she looks a little uneasy about something, her brows still furrowed. Okubo was afraid he was sounding cold, maybe even robotic, but dammit, if he didn't countain himself, she would notice his excited frenzy and be embarrassed, maybe even offended! He would make up for it by showering her with praise after the hit. He puts on the baseball glove.

"Alright! Get ready... yeah, just like that!," He nods approvingly. And then he smiles cheekily. "Just don't complain after experiencing all my potency, huh! ... Tomori, you've moved out of position," He notes confused, when she flinches a bit and brings her legs together in the process. She shakes her head.

"Sorry, it was just an annoying itch here on my leg… ok, you can throw now," She straightens the bat, a little red, and Okubo, although confused, doesn't inquire further. He nods, lifts one leg to propel himself, and throws the ball, putting more power into the motion to make the projectile whizz as it slices through the air.

She swings the bat with clenched teeth, and he cheers, throwing his arms up as the ball hits hard, flying over his head.

"Attagirl! Now c'mon, run, put those legs to work!"

She drops the bat, laughing and panting a little as she dashes to run around him, as if reaching for the bases of a real diamond. He was going to run to catch the ball... but he finds himself frozen in place as he follows her with his eyes, a little transfixed.

Her skirt fluttered with the constant movement of her legs, her belly more evident when the hem of her blouse rose with the running, her hair rippling making him imagine a creature that only existed in dreams running through a forest. What was the name of those deities in Greek mythology who were more beautiful than humans...? Nymphs! Yes, the sight made him think of a giggling, playful nymph becoming one with the elements as she ran barefoot on the grass...

Except she wasn't barefoot. And not naked, as nymphs usually were. But he could still fantasize, dammit, fantasies were free and private...

“Watch out before your hard-on becomes too obvious, you idiot!”

He shakes his head to dispel the inappropriate thoughts as she pretends to throw herself onto her side, sliding a little on the grass, laughing out loud. He immediately crouches down to her level, laughing too.

"Nice job! Hell, I should've used the stopwatch on my phone to count your time, but I forgot."

"And apparently you forgot the ball too, haha! You've been a little distracted today...," She comments, panting a little, lying on her side on the grass and resting an elbow on the ground and her chin on her hand, blinking slowly at him. Holy shit, that position only accentuated her figure even more and made her legs look shiny with sweat. He could almost see the tip of the tattoo under the hem of her skirt...!

"Sorry about that, it's just that I'm really thinking about the best way to help you improve your skills. Analyzing, planning and such…," He rubs the back of his head, smiling and hoping she doesn't take his embarrassment the other way. She blinks, surprised.

"Wait, really? I thought we were just playing..."

"And we are! But we can still learn while we play, can't we? This will be good for your physical conditioning, for your health... I don't know, I just want to help you in some way, even if a little...," He scratches the back of his head.

Tomori blinks again, and then she blushes. She looks away, biting her bottom lip, reaching out to grab some grass as she clenches her fists.

"That- That's very nice of you, but... why?"

Okubo swallows hard. If there was a chance to subtly demonstrate how he really felt, it was now.

"Come on, do we need a reason to want to see someone we like improve and be well?"

She stares at him as if she can't believe her eyes, which were huge and shining. Ff she realized now, if she said something about it, if he'd gone a little too far..."

"You...! Help me stretch!"

"... What?"

"You heard me!," She whines a little, still furiously red, sitting down on the grass and stretching her legs out in front of her. "Acting all smooth, making me all red and flustered like that… how am I supposed to concentrate on batting practice like that, huh? Be a good coach and help me not get cramps at the end of the day instead of making me want to kiss you and getting us kicked out of the park for misconduct, okay?"

“Uh… yeah, sure,” He nods, perplexed, sitting down across from her while holding her foot.

Was she mad at him? Why? Damn, had he gone overboard in his attempt to be romantic and she'd taken offense? But she said she felt like kissing him, so that couldn't be it, could it?

Fuck, he was lost as a fucking goose! He sometimes agreed with Rihito's assertions that women could be incomprehensible creatures.

He looked up at her, watching her reach out to touch her feet, wanting to ask, wanting to understand what had made her so mad… and being summarily distracted by the sight of her blouse's neckline, deepening as she moved her torso, the breasts that seemed just the right size to fit in his hands tempting him. Was that a little mole just above the right one? Fuck, she was so beautiful, so hot, so...!

“Enoooough! You're supposed to be a gentleman, not a pervert who can't hold his pants in place, damn it!"

He clears his throat harder than necessary, making her look up. "I… I didn't bother you with what I said, did I? I really need to learn when to shut up..."

She stares at him as if assessing him. And then he sighs, closing his eyes a little.

"No, it didn't bother me. On the contrary. It's just that sometimes I can't stand how cute you can be without making the slightest effort. I almost feel jealous..."

"Why? You're adorable!," He says, astonished that she thought so. "The cutest girl I've ever met, and I'm not just saying this to get on your good side. We're kinda past that phase, haha..."

She bites her bottom lip, blushing, and Okubo had know her long enough to learn to recognize the mixture of happiness and irritation in her expression. Shit, had he said something he shouldn't have said again? He just couldn't stop making an ass out of himself that day!

"Eer... Tomori, I-"

"Let's keep playing!," She interrupts him unceremoniously, raising her voice to the point of squeaking a little and raising her hand in the air. "Help me to get up, please."

He does so, confused and worried, lifting her without trouble. He even puts his hands on her back to help her steady herself, her breasts pressing momentarily against his chest and holy fuck, control yourself, control yourself, control your fucking self...!

"Let's go batting again, and this time, I want to see if I can make you sweat," She says in a determined tone "And don't forget to run after the ball this time, huh! I'm going to hit it as far as I can."

"Haha, o-okay! I know you can, just apply everything I've taught you so far," He nods, trying to smile. And then he blinks. "Uh… are you wanting a tighter hug to feel more confident or…?"

"Huh?... Oh! I'm sorry…," She pulls away from him as she takes two steps back, embarrassed and also looking…frustrated? Damn, he couldn't tell! Maybe he should spend a few hours watching those body language videos or something...

She picks up the bat she'd dropped on the floor minutes before, swinging it around in the air as if testing its weight, but doing so with an abruptness that, honestly, scared him a little. He just hoped he hadn't pissed her off enough for her to want to hit balls other than the baseball one. He puts on the glove.

"Are you ready?," He asks, and positions himself when she nods.

"Yes. And throw it hard! No taking it easy on me!"

“Okay, you asked for it…,” He nods seriously. He didn't want to overdo it, but if he held back, she might get even angrier at him. Better not risk it. He lifts one leg to gain momentum and throws the ball with a vengeance, grinding his teeth.

Tomori does the same by swinging the bat... and hitting the ball with her face instead of the bat when Okubo's throw pierces her block easily. Her head snaps back with the impact, and he widens his eyes in horror as she screams sharply in pain, landing on her back. Fuck!

"Tomori! Shit, shit, shit...!," He runs towards her, seeing her grab her own nose, her eyes closed tightly and watering with pain.

"Ooouch! Ow, ow, ow, fuck, shit, goddammit...!"

"Sorry! Holy shit, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, I thought you could handle it!," He screeches, a little terrified, while helping her to sit, ignoring the people who passed further ahead and stared at them with reproach, because of their dirty mouths. "Are you hurt? Is it bleeding? Let me take a look..."

"Uugh, the... the ball!"

"Huh?"

"The ball is rolling down the slope!," she exclaims, pointing with one hand while pinching her nose with the other. And sure enough, there went his prized ball, hurtling down the small hill. "Go get it before someone else does!"

"But- But your nose..."

"My nose is fixable, but a stolen ball is not! Hurry up, Naoya!"

"O-Okay!," He exclaims, jumping up and giving her one last worried look over his shoulder before running down the slope, looking for his ball, but with his wild thoughts still on Tomori.

Hell, few things were more disastrous than making a girl bleed in the middle of a date! If she was mad at him before, now she must be wanting to kill him! Or telling her boss about what he'd done, which would be the same thing.

Would she forgive him if he let her hit him too? If she threw the ball in his face too, or if she hit him with the bat... would it hurt less in his face or balls? Definitely in the face! He just wanted her to stop being so angry with him, or at least explain what was wrong...

He finally descends the small hill, ending in a paved section of the park that people used to jog. The ball had come to rest a few yards away from the walkway, still on the grass, and luckily there weren't any overly curious children around. Just a couple of jogers, an old lady passing by with her dog on a leash, and that was it. Thank god. He bends down to pick up the ball, not paying attention to the jogers, the old lady or her dog that had broken free of the leash and was running towards him...

... Oh, fuck.

"Pochi, no!"

And Pochi, like the little shit he apparently was, didn't listen to his owner, running towards Okubo and his ball with that typical body language of dogs when faced with food or their favorite toy: the skins swaying in his running pace, tongue sticking out, drool flying everywhere, mouth already opening to snatch the ball…

Okubo lets out a half-alarmed exclamation, grabbing the ball and leaping to his feet. He had to run fast up the hill, then there was no way that fat bulldog could catch him! He turns, making a dash for the grass, the dog's rasping breath at his heels...

* * *

"... And there you go, Mr. Okubo! Fortunately, the fabric of your pants prevented the bite from going too deep, so you won't need stitches," The doctor rubs his hands, smiling. "And how's your nose, Miss Uta? Has the bleeding stopped?"

"Yes, it did. Thank you so much for the cotton," Tomori smiles embarrassed, feeling quite stupid with those cotton balls coming out of her nostrils. "And you were right, we really don't need to lean our heads back to stop a nosebleed."

"It is a very common mistake. Now you know how to proceed the next time you go to baseball batting practice," He laughs, and they both groan softly in embarrassment.

They were at that moment inside one of the wards of an emergency room; the last place either of them had expected to stop when that date began. Especially Tomori, who now didn't know how she would even look at Okubo, who was glumly staring at the bandage on his bitten ankle, in the face.

The meteoric throw and the canine attack that he suffered seemed to have clarified her thoughts, previously taken by a mixture of lust and desperate frustration. All she could think about now was how her ridiculous, pathetic behavior had indirectly resulted in him getting hurt and having his pants ripped. Just because she was mad about the ball she took on her face and didn't want him near her until she was sure she wasn't going to explode and curse him...

“Who told him to throw it with all his might, you idiot? It's your fault!"

Yeah, she knew that, and it didn't make her feel any better. Just very guilty. But there was still that damn frustration to temper...

“Yeah, we'll keep that in mind, Doc. Thanks," Okubo nods, making a move to unroll the leg of his pants to cover his ankle, but then apparently remembering that the hem had been ripped and eaten by a dog. He huffs, straightening up again in his chair. "Can we go now? Or we have to sign some form or something..."

"Oh, not yet," The doctor shakes his head. "You were bitten by an animal, and even if the wound has been treated and disinfected, we still cannot rule out the most unpleasant possibilities. I already contacted the nurse and she will bring the rabies vaccine-

"Vaccine?!," Okubo jumps up half a foot from his chair, turning pale, his eyes bulging. "What vaccine? Nobody told me anything about any vaccine!"

Tomori glares at him, astonishment at his reaction sweeping her guilty thoughts into her subconscious for the moment. The doctor, on the other hand, didn't seem surprised.

"Yes, a vaccine. It's standard procedure for any animal attack, Mr. Okubo."

"But- But the dog had an owner! It wasn't a stray," He tries to argue nervously, gesticulating agitatedly. "I- I doubt he had anything, doc, I don't need any vaccines-"

"I told you, sir, it's standard procedure," The doctor interrupts him, albeit politely. "Rabies becomes intractable once the symptoms appear, you know? It's better not to risk it," He then smiles. "Don't worry, the application is very quick. It won't hurt. You don't have to be afraid."

"Afraid? Who's afraid?! I'm not afraid of vaccines, are you crazy?!," He screeches, furious and embarrassed, his face very red. "I'm a man, okay? Men aren't scared of those things!"

"Of course," The doctor nods, unshakable. "If you don’t want the vaccine, you will need to sign a term stating that you've been warned of the consequences of refusing treatment..."

“He'll take the vaccine,” Tomori finally finds her voice, stepping between Okubo and the doctor. Okubo's eyes widened in astonishment.

"T-Tomori?! I'm not-"

"Don't 'Tomori' me, sir," She points to him, seriously. "Would you rather risk getting a serious infection than take a three-second shot? I won't let you be so remiss about your health, Naoya! Come on, I'll stay here by your side if it makes you feel better."

"No- no need...!," he splutters, so red he looks like he's about to hyperventilate. But in the face of her unresolved gaze, he had no choice but to lower his head and stammer, “O-Okay then. I'm gonna take the vaccine... but I'm not scared! I'm not! I just think it's unnecessary, that's all!"

"Of course," The doctor nodded. "I'll talk to the nurse. I'll be back in a few minutes. Excuse me...," He bows briefly and leaves them both alone in the infirmary.

The awkward silence lingered longer than she would've liked. They hadn't had moments like this since they'd made up, and Tomori didn't know how to act with all that guilt. Was he offended that she was being bossy? She had no right to tell him what to do, she wasn't his mother (and thank god she wasn't!). But she still couldn't let him take unnecessary risks because of a silly fear, she cared about him too much for that.

Who knew Okubo Naoya, Ultimate Fight's heavyweight champion, was afraid of needles? There's so much about him she didn't know, the kinds of things you didn't see in interviews or press conferences or sports magazine articles... and she was wasting the opportunity to know so much more by behaving like a hormonal teenager, throwing herself at him without thinking about whether he would feel comfortable or not...

"Tomori... I'm sorry."

His murmur silences her tormenting thoughts. Tomori turns to him, surprising him with his head down, looking nervous.

"You're sorry? For what?"

"I… I don't really know, to be honest," He makes a face. "I just know that you seemed upset about something today, back in the park, and all I could think of was that somehow I'd screwed up. Again," He sighs. "If you tell me what I did wrong, I promise I'll try to fix it. I just don't want you mad at me again..."

Tomori felt like the most heartless person in the world at that moment.

She really traumatized him, didn't she? It had been deserved the first time, but now that they'd patched things up, he didn't deserve to feel that way anymore, constantly walking on eggshells in an attempt not to piss her off again. She didn't wanted him to be constantly fearing he'd lose her for any slip he made.

Specially because the slip of the time was on her account, not his. She was so determined to seduce him that she forgot the most important thing about that date: enjoying the day and having fun with him. Damn, sex could wait, the priority there was the relationship that they both were cultivating!

But she sure as hell felt frustrated. She was confident that she could get him wrapped around her little finger, but he hadn't even noticed her attempts. He even turned the tables and left her falling head over hells for that 'adorable idiot' act, which she had no idea she liked until she met him. It was so unfair!

And yet, none of this was his fault. She shakes her head.

"You didn't do anything wrong, Naoya. I wasn't mad at you," She guarantees, approaching and touching his shoulders with her hands. "I was just a little frustrated with some things."

"What things? Is it something I can help you with?"

“It could be, if you just stopped being such a gentleman and fucked me already!”

“Nah, it's nothing for you to worry about. It's just that…,” She sighs, and he blinks in surprise as she leans over and rests the side of her head against his, eyes closed, “I still have a hard time dealing with your cuteness and how it makes me act like a fool, especially in public places. Every time I go out with you I discover a new side of you that catches me off guard. Quite different than what I used to imagine."

"… Different good or different bad?," He asks, uncertain, squeezing the fabric of his pants between his fingers. She smiles tenderly, placing a kiss on his temple.

"Different very, very good."

His face lights up with the cutest idiotic smile in the world, and she would have kissed him again, this time on the mouth, if the doctor hadn't chosen that moment to return, bringing the apparatus he was going to use in a sterilized tray.

"I'm back! The vaccine is ready. Let's get this over with, shall we, Mr. Okubo?," He smiles playfully, and Tomori feels Okubo shrink completely under her arms when the doctor picks up the syringe and the needle to fit them.

"L- Look, is this really necessary? I'm pretty sure the dog didn't have rabies..."

“If you don't want to risk developing fatal symptoms, yes. You can hold your date's hand if it makes you feel better."

"I already told you I'm not scared, for fuck's sake!"

"Language, sir."

"Sorry... but I'm not scared! You heard it, right, Tomori?," He turns to her with an intensely clouded expression, sweat dotting his forehead and the bridge of his nose. "I'm not afraid of these things, I've faced much worse in the octagons!"

She holds back the urge to laugh, albeit with difficulty. She extends a hand to him, the other on his shoulder. "Of course, Naoya. Here, you can hold my hand. Protect me from the sight of that horrible needle piercing your arm..."

"Don't put those mental images in my head, woman, for crying out loud!," He practically squeaks. And then he clears his throat, intertwining his fingers with hers. "But- But of course, I'll hold your hand to comfort you. No need to worry, okay? It's- It's just a little shot, I'll barely feel it, really, hahaha...!"

She didn't know whether to feel sorry for him or burst out laughing. The doctor, apparently used to those demonstrations of feigned bravery, showed no reaction as he prepared the syringe, moving his shirt sleeve away and cleaning the area where the injection would be applied with cotton. Okubo holds his breath, tensing in his chair and squeezing his eyes shut as he squeezes Tomori's hand. She comforts him by patting his shoulder, smiling from ear to ear.

It was hilarious. And adorable. How a man that size managed to be so cute, she had no idea, but she wouldn't question it. He would only appreciate how tremendously lucky she was to have the privilege of his trust.

"O-Okay, doc, I'm ready! Just- Just do it quickly, I don't want my date to be nervous...," He mumbled, still with his eyes closed. "And go easy too... come on, why is it taking so long? Just get it over with! It isn't nice to make me wait when I don't even know if-"

"I'm done, Mr. Okubo."

"... Oh. Okay."

Tomori puts her hand over her mouth as she makes an involuntary farting sound, her shoulders shaking, managing to feel a little guilty when he glares at her with a pout.

"C'mon, It's not funny! I was worried that a sight like that would make you nervous, okay?"

"S-Sorry! Thanks for worrying,” She strokes his face, which seems to quell his irritation right away. He closes his eyes again, smiling.

"You're welcome. Anyway, glad it's over..."

"Yes, the first dose has already been applied," The doctor nods. "Let’s schedule the second one for next Sunday, and the third one will be twenty-eight days after the second application-"

"I'll have to take two more shots?!," He screams, horrified, as Tomori flinches, the strident noise making her ears ring. The doctor is unfazed.

"Yes. Immunity is only one hundred percent effective with this procedure."

"I-I think I’ll settle for only seventy, eighty percent effectiveness, honestly-"

“He'll show up for the other two shots. I'll make sure of it," Tomori cuts him off without pretense, ignoring how he stared at her with his mouth hanging open. The doctor nods again.

"Thank you. Now about the care this wound will need..."

He finally dismisses them after making some recommendations and after reminding Okubo about the booster shots, much to his thinly disguised dismay. They leave the office, Okubo limping slightly and Tomori enjoying how he looks at her with hurt eyes.

"What? I'm the one who should be making that face, considering you bloodied my nose."

"It was unintentional, I already apologized! Was that your revenge by any chance?," He asks in an accusatory tone "Getting even for the ball I threw at your face by putting me to be stung again and again?"

"My god, you're so dramatic...," She rolls her eyes. "Vaccines are for your own good. I feel like a mother saying these things, dammit..."

"Ew, no!," He shudders all over with that, his expression disgusted. "I don't want to think of you as my mother while I kiss you!"

"Then don't! Think that what I did was because I cared and wanted to help you. And think that I can accompany you when you take the next doses," She smiles. "Wouldn't you like that? Me, holding your hand and telling you how brave you are..."

His grimace dissolves, his eyebrows rising a notch as he seems to consider her words. And then he smiles, bending down to bring his face close to hers, speaking in a low, husky tone that sends shivers down her spine.

"Oh yes? So I was a brave boy?"

"Heh... the bravest boy," she murmurs, returning his smile, and closes her eyes when he brushes the tip of his nose against hers.

"Good to know… but in that case I think that brave boy deserves an reward."

"Hnnn... and what does the boy want as a reward? A chocolate bar? Another baseball? New pants?," She asks playfully, and he laughs low.

“Nah, that I can arrange myself. What I want, only you can give me..."

"Me! Say I'm the one you want!"

"A kiss from you."

"Damn it!"

"Not here in public...," She looks away, blushing, placing her hands on his chest and giggling when he makes an exaggerated pout, wanting to reach her mouth. "You're nuts… wait until we go back to your car."

"Wow, not even a peck?," He whines, and she ends up not resisting. She holds his face between her hands and pulls him so that their lips touch, in a peck that takes longer than she intended to give, because he rests a hand on her back to keep her in place.

Such a sappy man... how could he make her crush on him gets even bigger?

They only stopped because some hospital workers passing by looked at them reproachfully. They grinned at each other, holding hands as they left the premises.

"Seriously, thanks for today, Tomori. You don't have to accompany me in these next few sections if you can't…,” He comments, to which she shakes her head.

"If I can, I will for sure. But if something unforeseen happens...," She thinks for a second. "Shall we mark the days of your next appointments on your phone's calendar? Then you get notified and don't forget."

"Alright! Let me just... uugh, I forgot...!," He groans as he takes the phone out of his pocket. And Tomori makes a pained face when she sees the phone's screen. If it was already ugly to look at before, now it seemed absolutely irreparable, completely cracked and even with spots of liquid crystal leakage.

"Oh, damn... was that when Pochi attacked you?"

"And I fell on my ass in the middle of the pavement, yeah. And dammit, you remembered the dog's name..."

"Kinda hard to forget when both the owner and you were yelling 'No, no, bad Pochi!' at the top of your lungs."

"Don't remind me of that! I won't forget the name of that fleabag any time soon, either," He snorts, looking at his phone with disgust. "It's not worth keeping this thing anymore, honestly. I think it's time to buy a new one..."

"I'll help you choose a very exclusive model, so you don't end up as another victim of some mediocre fad," She grabs his arm, bouncing happily, and he ends up laughing in spite of himself.

"Looks like I'll always be able to count on your presence in my random endeavors from now on, doesn't it? My faithful squire..."

She laughs too, thinking that she would like to be more, much more than that. But for the moment, being like that with him was enough.

NEXT CHAPTER

#Kengan Ashura #Kengan Omega #kenganverse #fanfiction #Okubo Naoya #Naoya Okubo #okubo x oc #kengan oc #Rihito #Himuro Ryo #Kaneda Suekichi #cookies'n cream #the heavy bakery series

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