Before the Storm.

“Ojō-sama … I have a visitor for you.” Iyogi knocked at the big, wooden door.

Takurō used the chance to look around the huge apartment. The Ashiyas lived in the penthouse of a big apartment tower. He had already been in the underground garage of the building when Akimi exchanged her clothes before the anniversary celebration.

It was modern and stylish. Not in a clinically clean kind of way, but in a warm and rustic one. The furniture was still very neatly arranged and elegant, a nicely trimmed indoor bonsai stood on the dresser.

It was an open room concept with kitchen, living and dining room in one. A staircase led upwards into the second maisonette floor. But the architecture was not even the most exciting thing.

The elevator had just counted to the 55th floor, that now opened the breathtaking view above the city. Gigantic windows spanned the whole room from floor to ceiling.

He saw the river split, where the big rivers surrounding the Nakanoshima district merged again. Above the water towered massive bridge structures with several stories. Cars were just small dots driving through the road network that seemed chaotic and ordered at the same time.

Far into the distance, he even recognized the sea and the harbor, fed by the big network of rivers. Most of the huge skyscrapers looked like toys from this elevation.

The sky above the scenery had closed in already. There was no rain yet, but a typhoon was forecasted to hit the mainland during the evening and night.

Only a gentle hand on his shoulder pulled Takurō back into reality. “Kanōya-san … please.” Iyogi indicated him that he could walk into the room.

He nodded slightly and stepped through the door into what would most certainly be Akimi’s most personal space. Soft ambient light fell through the half-closed curtains and scattered across the pastel-colored walls.

They were decorated with beautiful art prints of striking land- and cityscapes. Two big bookshelves surrounded a huge TV screen showing a black and white movie.

The furniture was in line with the rest of the house: Modern and warm, yet not soulless. A big dresser with mirror stood at the side, a chain of lights arranged around the frame.

Smaller photographs stuck to the frame as well. He recognized her parents, and there were quite many with Rakuko. Quite a few potted plants decorated the scenery, as well as other decorative articles. Quite a lot of care seemed to have been put into arranging everything.

Akimi’s desk beside the window was stacked with books. A closed laptop and big computer screen, keyboard and mouse stood among several papers and folders. Her schoolbag leaned next to it.

She sat inside the big king-size bed with wide eyes, looking at Takurō. She wore a tank top and wide jogging pants, a hot water bottle lying on her belly. “Takkun!”

“Surprise!” He gave her a wry smile. “I missed ya … so I thought, I could also help distracting you, while meeting you as well, y’know.”

He held up the ice cream cups he had just bought at the Konbini around the corner. “I bought ice cream! But then I thought that coldness is not as good with cramps, so I also brought chocolate if you prefer that, yah.”

She blinked.

“I will fetch spoons for you.” Iyogi bowed slightly and closed the door behind him.

“You’re really embarrassing me, y’know?” Akimi took a spoonful of her ice cream. “Seeing me like this … and I even haven’t had the chance to tidy up.”

Takurō now sat beside her on the bed. He looked around. “Did you already forget about my room?” He ate a spoonful from his own ice cream. “And you still look as cute as ever, f’sure.”

She rolled her eyes. “Urgh … if you start reciting some poetry now, I’ll reconsider the idea of dating ya.”

He chuckled. “How you doing?”

“The night was tough, but it’s almost gone now, f’sure. There were times I had cramps almost three days straight. Now I’m only a little tired. So, be lenient with me if I say things that are even more stupid than usual, yeah.”

Takurō looked at her. He gently smiled. “I really hope, I’m not a bother. If ya rather want to have some time alone, just say a word.”

“Naah.” She leaned her head against his shoulder with a wide grin. “As I said, it’s already way better than this morning. I wouldn’t want to go out today, but if we stay here, it’d be great.”

He replied with a smile and for a few seconds, silence reigned between them. It was not an unpleasant one. Something about lying right next to Akimi felt great.

There were just heavy gusts of wind blowing against the windows, and the steady humming from the ventilation system. It was strangely silent here … so high up in the sky without all the traffic noise from the city. His gaze fell down at his ice cup.

He swallowed. “Wanna share?”

Akimi chuckled. “Sure, why not.” She dug a big spoonful of ice cream. “Say aaah!”

She fed him and Takurō scraped a big piece of ice cream from his cup as well. He moved it to her face, and Akimi closed her mouth around the spoon.

He lowered his eyes. “I sadly can’t stay as long today. Several bus connections are cancelled early due to the Typhoon, so I better get going before, yah.” He scraped the last remnants from his cup.

“When would that be?”

“One and a half hours … probably a bit earlier.”

She seemed to think. “Now that you’re here, I thought, I could also show ya how I develop the films, y’know. But it would probably take longer than that. We have collected quite a few reels with all our dates up until now …”

Takurō took both their now empty ice cream cups and put them on the nightstand. With free hands, he laid one of his arms around her. “We really had, f’sure. This was the best summer of my life.”

Akimi smiled. She put away the hot water bottle from her belly and rolled above him. “Sharing ice cream is almost like a kiss,” she said and lowered her head, until her face was right in front of his.

Her hot breath brushed against his lips. “Now that you’ve given me the taste …”

There was still that sharp edge to her gaze, but also something else. The purple of her eyes was vibrant, like she wouldn’t have accepted any objections. However, Takurō didn’t even want to object. He tried bringing his face closer, but something made his body freeze.

Her eyes, Akimi’s beautiful eyes were focused on him, just on him. Her body rested on his, closer than no girl has ever been before.

He wanted, he wanted nothing more but to move his stupid limbs and kiss her, but he again felt intimidated: By his limited experience, by the unfamiliar surroundings and mostly from Akimi’s sublime beauty.

Blood started pumping through his veins, upon recognizing that his body didn’t listen. He just stared into her eyes, as anxiety rushed into his expression.

Akimi noticed it. “S-sorry! I’ve gone too far.” She tried getting off him, but Takurō’s arms had already caught her. He pulled her back into a close hug, making her slump onto him.

“No!” He hugged her tight. “It’s just …”

For a few seconds, she didn’t know how to react, but once Akimi noticed what was going on, she shakily exhaled the air from her lungs. She dug her head into his chest and embraced him as well. “I’ve gone way overboard there. I didn’t mean to … that’s what I meant with the sleep deprivation and—”

“It’s okay!” Takurō tightened the embrace around her and stroked her back. Her closeness felt so good to him. “You’re … just way too pretty, y’know. I got cold feet.”

Akimi started giggling; visibly relieved. “I can hear your heartbeat,” she whispered.

Takurō swallowed.

“Why don’t you stay a little longer?” She asked. “Iyogi-san can drive you, so you don’t have to rely on the busses, now.”

“I’d really want to stay longer, and I appreciate the offer, but … there are reasons the busses are cancelled and traffic jams at these times can be really unpredictable, when everyone tries to get home at time. I’d rather have both Iyogi-san and me be inside a safe building as soon as the storm drops.”

“Hm …” Akimi thought further. “And what if … you stay the night?”