A Little Too Comfortable, Pt. 6

Kousuke froze, caught off guard. And honestly, so did I

"Huh?"

Megumi's voice came out soft, almost sweet, but there was a razor-thin edge to it.

"Curry bread," she repeated, like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Warm, crispy on the outside, fluffy inside, with just the right kick of spice. Taka made it for me one time, and it was really~ good. So? Can you make that for me?"

Kousuke gave an awkward chuckle, lowering his hand.

"I mean... I can buy you some, if that's what you—"

"Uh-uh. No. That wasn't the question. I asked if you could make it for me."

Again, Kousuke paused in disbelief. His smile twitched as it began to falter.

"I... I don't really cook much. T-too busy, you know? Not really my thing."

Megumi let out a soft exhale, brushing a stray hair behind her ear.

"I figured. See, you can have the looks, the money, and whatever else you think makes you better than him. But when it comes down to it... You can't do something as simple as that, and that's the difference between you and him."

"You're seriously making a big deal over curry bread?" Kousuke scoffed.

"No, not at all. I'm making a big deal over the kind of person who'd be willing to do things like that for me. That's what I'm interested in. That's what I want. And you? Heh... You fall short in every possible way."

Before Kousuke could fire back, Megumi took a step closer, cutting him off.

"Look at you," she muttered. "You can't even meet my eyes. What's wrong? Are my boobs that distracting?"

"W-Wha—?! What are you—"

"Oh, don't play dumb. It's obvious what you really want from me. It always was. So go on, Mister Kousuke. Go ahead and keep dreaming. Keep imagining how bad you want me in your bed, because here's the reality check... It's never gonna happen."

She gave a slow, deliberate smirk.

"Hehe~ At least... Not with you."

Kousuke's jaw clenched tight."

"Tch... whatever. Your loss."

He turned and walked off without another word, probably back to wherever Chiaki was, and Megumi watched him go.

When he was finally out of sight, she let out a sigh — half relief, half boredom — and spoke without turning around.

"You can come out now, you know."

My body went stiff.

"H-How'd you—"

"Shohei."

She glanced over her shoulder. Though her mask covered her lips, I could still see the smile tugging at her cheeks.

"You seriously think I wouldn't notice you standing there with your bags like some discount ninja?"

I awkwardly stepped out, unsure of what else to do.

"I... Maybe I'm not as sneaky as I thought."

"Nope. Not even close."

We stood there for a moment in silence, the tension from earlier still hanging between us. Megumi raised a brow, her expression softening just a little.

"You okay?"

I gave a small shrug.

"I should be asking you that."

"Me? Pfft," she scoffed, flicking her hand dismissively. "Don't worry. Guys like him don't faze me. They never did."

I hesitated, wanting to say something about what Kousuke told her, especially the part where he claimed I considered her a 'second option'. But before I could, Megumi spoke again.

"Looks like I was right all along, huh?"

"H-huh...? About what?"

She smirked softly, taking the plastic bag from my hands and peeking inside.

"Onions, chicken, bread dough, panko crumbs... and, above all — curry powder."

She glanced up at me with a smug expression.

"You really were gonna make me some, huh?"

"Ah... Well, yeah. You've brought it up enough times, so... I figured it was about time I actually tried a little bit. Thought I'd surprise you, but... that didn't exactly go as planned."

"It's fine. This is more than enough. And just so you know... You, Shohei, are more than enough for me."

My mind blanked.

What the hell am I supposed to say to that? Especially when she's looking at me so adorably that I might just pass out on the spot.

"I... I try my best..."

Megumi giggled, that signature teasing sparkle in her eyes.

"I know you do. That's why... I'd pick you over that guy any day."

For some reason, that one line made me way too damn happy.

"W-well... I guess I should consider myself lucky then."

"Hell yeah, you should. You heard him, didn't you? According to him, everything about me is perfect. Sure, he didn't know who I really was, but that made his assessment all the more genuine. And it just so happens that this 'perfect' woman is living under your roof."

"Then I'll just have to do my part to keep it that way. If that means making curry bread every other day, I'll gladly take the job."

Megumi beamed, resting her palm against her cheek.

"Aww~ Just for me?"

I chuckled, leaning a little closer. My fingers brushed the strands of hair covering her right eye, gently lifting them so I could get a clear look at both of them. Her smile twitched into an awkward little arch as she peered up at me.

I wasn't even sure why I was doing this. I just wanted to.

"Believe it or not, Megumi... Everything I've done up until now has been for you. You just never noticed."

For a moment, she said nothing. Then, with a soft, almost casual lilt, "Actually, I did notice. I've always noticed. And on that note... I think it's about time I returned the favor, huh? Guess this'll have to do."

"W-wha—"

It happened too fast to process. One second, I was standing there like an idiot, and the next, she snatched my hand and yanked me toward her.

I stumbled, completely caught off guard — and then... She pulled her mask down and pressed her lips against my cheek.

My body shut down.

Not a twitch. Not a blink. I tried to wiggle my fingers, but it was like every nerve in my body shut down all at once.

My brain screamed at me to say something, but every coherent thought slipped through my fingers like sand. And my heart... It was pounding so loud I was half-convinced it was echoing off my own body.

Then, she pulled back. Her eyes were sparkling with the tiniest flicker of mischief, a blush lighting up her cheeks, and a gorgeous smile.

"Consider that my thank you. For letting me live with you. For the clothes. And..."—her hand brushed against mine, our fingers barely touching—"...for the curry bread that you're gonna make for me later."

"...M-Megumi..."

"What? Can't handle a kiss from a 'perfect' woman like me?"

"I... I just..."

She waited, tilting her head, those teasing, expectant eyes fixed right on me.

I could tell she was handing me the talking stick, and I was fumbling it at every possible turn.

That's normal, right? I mean, she just kissed me!

Her... Megumi no Hana. This celebrity who should've been so far out of my reach and out of my league that it's laughable...

"Megumi, I... think I'm about to... p-pass out."

She clicked her tongue, glancing away for a moment. Sure enough, her blush was getting even redder by the second. Same as mine, I'm sure.

"That's not good, now is it?" she said softly. "But before you fall over, I wanna ask something. Shohei... Do you think I was acting just then?"

For a second, I just stared at her. My mouth wouldn't work, and neither did my lungs. I just stared endlessly, every thought in my head wiped clean like a fully reset PC.

How am I supposed to answer that? Do I say no? I mean, it definitely didn't seem like it, right? But what'll happen if I do? What am I expecting out of this?

So many questions, yet none have answers.

Then, without warning, she leaned in again. I thought for sure she was going for another kiss, and every part of me tensed. But she stopped right in front of me, our noses barely a hair apart.

Her voice dropped to a soft, serious whisper.

"Megumi: three. Shohei: two. Hehe~ Looks like I win this time."

Suddenly, "H-huh...?"

We both froze on the spot. Slowly, our heads tilted to the left. As if seeing Chiaki by chance wasn't enough, now it was someone else entirely. Or rather... Two people, right on cue, as if the gods needed them to witness this moment.

"K-Koga!" I exclaimed. "Stop her before she screams!"

He snapped out of it, reaching his hand to cover his girlfriend's mouth before she let out a high-pitched scream. Thankfully, it was drowned in the traffic of the mall. But unfortunately, it wouldn't save me from the verbal beating I'm about to get.