A Love I Shouldn't Feel-Chapter 20 : A Breath Apart

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"Haruki?"

"Yeah?"

Kyouko turned around, lifting her arms slowly. "Can you help me with this stretch? I can't quite reach."

She faced away from him, exposing the elegant curve of her back and the gentle lift of her arms. Haruki stepped closer, placing his hands on her sides, and then, instinctively, he wrapped his arms around her from behind to support her posture.

His chest brushed against her back, and as his hands moved upward to guide her arms, they grazed the side of her chest.

Kyouko didn't flinch.

She exhaled softly, her body relaxing against his. It was just part of the exercise. At least, that's what they told themselves.

Haruki's breath caught for a moment. The feel of her warm, soft body in his arms was too real, too close. He tried not to think about it, but her natural scent—subtle and comforting—filled his lungs. It wasn't perfume; it was her.

And something about it made it hard to let go.

Kyouko leaned slightly into him, her hands gently lowering as she held the stretch. She could feel the firmness of his abs against her back, the warmth of his skin. It wasn't awkward.

As Haruki's arms wrapped around her to help with the stretch, Kyouko's breath caught—not from surprise, but from something else.

Warmth.

Security.

That unmistakable feeling of being held by a man.

It had been so long since she'd felt this closeness. Even longer since she'd been embraced—really embraced—not just in passing or out of obligation, but with purpose.

Her husband hadn't touched her like this in years. Their marriage had turned into a quiet companionship, polite and distant. A shared house, not a shared heart.

But Haruki... even unintentionally—innocently—reminded her what it felt like to be a woman again. To have something stir inside her.

Her body didn't tense; instead, she found herself leaning into the sensation, even if just for a second.

So this is what it feels like, she thought. To be held by someone who makes your body remember things your heart has almost forgotten.

His breath on her shoulder and strong arms supporting her—it was a moment meant for exercise, but her mind began to wander. What other stretches could we do? she wondered. What excuse could I find... just to feel this again?

She knew this wasn't right. But it wasn't wrong either. Not yet. They hadn't crossed a line. It was all innocent... on the surface.

Still, her cheeks warmed as she slowly lowered her arms, letting the stretch end while wishing it could've lasted a little longer.

Maybe... just one more set, she told herself. Just to feel it again.

"Haruki," Kyouko said softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, "can we try the front stretch? The one you showed me last time."

"Sure," he replied, wiping light sweat from his brow.

She turned to face him—close, perhaps a little too close. But she smiled innocently, giving him no reason to question it.

"Like this, right?" she raised both hands, leaning in just slightly.

Haruki nodded and stepped forward to guide her arms gently. But as he did, she didn't step back. Their bodies met—barely, just a brush—but it felt intentional, and she didn't pull away.

His hands moved to correct her posture, fingertips brushing along her arms. The distance between them was shrinking. As he raised her hands above her head, she tilted her chin up—close enough that he could smell her breath. Soft, warm, and faintly sweet.

Haruki froze for a moment. Her lips were just inches away, and her breath ghosted over his skin.

Kyouko didn't meet his eyes, but she didn't look away either. She maintained a gentle smile, as if this was all part of the stretch. She was aware of the tension coiling between them.

He knew it.

And so did she.

When he adjusted her shoulder, her chest brushed against him. Light, but deliberate. Her breathing remained calm and controlled, as if nothing unusual was happening.

Haruki's throat tightened. "Umm... is this... okay?"

Kyouko finally met his eyes, her smile unwavering. "Mm. You're helping me stretch... right?"

Her tone was light, but the look in her eyes—half-lidded and soft—said more.

He placed his hands on her wrists, helping her ease into the stretch. As her arms rose, her top shifted slightly, the fabric drawing tighter across her chest. Haruki noticed the outline of her cleavage and the way the light caught on her smooth skin—especially her exposed underarms. She didn't flinch or hide; it was normal for workouts. She seemed unbothered.

Still, Haruki's heart raced.

She let out a soft exhale, brushing faintly against his neck. "Am I doing this right?" she asked, looking over her shoulder—just enough that her cheek brushed close to his.

"You're... yeah, you're fine," he replied, adjusting his grip and trying to focus on the stretch—while secretly enjoying the closeness more than he wanted to admit.

Kyouko leaned forward slightly to deepen the stretch, pressing her back lightly against his chest. Just a little. Just enough. She didn't move away or say anything. Her breathing remained steady, her expression calm. It felt natural... yet something unspoken lingered in the air.

Haruki tried not to overthink it. This was just stretching. A routine. A normal thing.

His eyes occasionally drifted—her neckline, her collarbones, the softness of her skin.

She raised her arms again, giving him a full view of the delicate lines under them. He gulped quietly, hoping she hadn't noticed where his eyes had gone, but she showed no sign of discomfort.

Kyouko lowered her arms and turned to face him, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Should we do the front pull next?" she asked, stepping a bit closer.

Haruki nodded, his mouth a little dry. "Y-yeah. Sure."

She offered both her hands, and when he took them, she leaned back slightly, creating tension in the stretch—but her fingers curled gently around his. There was something tender in her touch.

After the last set of stretches, Haruki let out a small breath and leaned against the wall, wiping sweat from his brow. His heart wasn't racing from the workout—it was because of her. Kyouko.

Touching her skin during the stretches, feeling her warmth, and being so close... she never pulled away. She let it happen, as if it were perfectly natural.

Being next to such a beautiful woman, inhaling her soft, almost floral scent, and seeing her so radiant in that tight outfit—it was hard not to feel satisfied.

"You know, Haruki?" Kyouko said as she picked up her towel and gently dabbed her neck.

He glanced at her, still catching his breath. "Yeah, Kyouko-san?"

"We should do this often," she said, looking at him with a small, genuine smile.

Haruki chuckled lightly, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I agree."

His voice was calm, but his relaxed and confident smile made Kyouko's chest flutter. That smile... that effortless, boyish charm made him look even more handsome than usual.

Without thinking, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him.

"Thank you, Haruki."

A little surprised, he blinked, but instinctively returned the hug. He was taller, so her head rested against his chest. The embrace was warm—comfortable. Familiar.

"Don't worry about it, Kyouko-san," he said softly. "I'm happy too."

For a moment, neither of them moved. The room was quiet, the air still faintly warm from their exercise. As they held each other, it felt like something inside them had quietly shifted.

( End of Chapter )