A Love I Shouldn't Feel-Chapter 28 : Simply Friends?

Kyouko knew full well how dangerous this comfort was.

To be this relaxed—this close—with a young, handsome man like Haruki... a man in the prime of his desires, instinctively driven to chase, to conquer. She wasn't naïve. She understood what men wanted and what Haruki might be thinking.

And yet... she couldn't resist.

Because all of this—his gaze, his silence, his attention—confirmed something she needed to feel.

She was still attractive. Still desirable. Still a woman.

Not just someone's wife. Not just someone's mother.

"Haruki?"

"Hmm?" he replied without looking up, his eyes still flicking back to her chest every few seconds.

"Don't stare too much at my breasts," Kyouko said with a teasing giggle.

Haruki finally met her eyes, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips. "How can I not?"

She chuckled and leaned her head back on his lap, the curve of her smile soft but satisfied.

"Naughty boy~" Kyouko said playfully, unlocking her phone and quietly opening the camera app.

She pointed it casually at Haruki, focusing on his face—his relaxed expression, the way his hair fell slightly over his eyes. Click.

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The shutter sound made Haruki look up, raising an eyebrow. He chuckled. "What's with the secret photo shoot?"

Kyouko grinned playfully. "Hmm? I was just capturing the ceiling. Didn't you notice how beautiful it is tonight?"

Haruki narrowed his eyes, clearly not buying it. "Oh yeah? Let me see that 'ceiling photo.'"

He leaned forward, looking at her with a mischievous grin, trying to snatch the phone from her hands.

"Haruki!" Kyouko laughed, pulling her phone away like a child hiding a secret.

"Oho~ What are you hiding, Kyouko-san?" he teased as their playful struggle continued, the air between them light and warm.

Kyouko sat up with a playful smirk, reaching for her phone again. Haruki held it high above his head, grinning in triumph.

"You're not getting it that easy," he teased.

"Oh really?" Kyouko leaned in closer, her body brushing against his—soft, warm, and impossible to ignore.

Haruki's breath hitched slightly as her breast pressed against his face, the faint scent of her natural fragrance surrounding him.

"Naughty boy~" she whispered, snatching the phone back with a victorious smile.

Haruki leaned back, laughing under his breath as Kyouko glanced toward the stairs—just to make sure no one was around—then scooted closer.

"Come here," she said quietly, opening her camera again and switching to selfie mode. "Let's take one."

Haruki blinked. "A selfie?"

"Just one," she said with a teasing tone, tilting her head toward him. "To celebrate our... friendship."

Haruki chuckled and leaned in. Their faces were close—too close. The camera clicked.

"Hmm~ Not bad," Kyouko whispered, glancing at the photo. "We look cute together."

"Yeah..." Haruki replied, his eyes more on her than on the screen. "We really do."

"Another friendship picture," Kyouko said softly, already shifting positions with a playful glint in her eye.

She gently moved to sit in front of Haruki, folding her legs to the side as she pulled him in closer. Haruki rested his head on her shoulder without hesitation, breathing in the calming warmth of her body.

Kyouko leaned her cheek against his hair for a moment, feeling her heart beat just a little faster.

"Ready?" she whispered, lifting her phone.

"Mhm," Haruki replied, closing his eyes with a faint smile.

As the camera focused, Kyouko tilted her head and pressed a gentle kiss on his cheek—soft, slow, and warm.

Click.

She looked at the screen, smiling at the photo. "Perfect."

Haruki opened his eyes and turned to her, amused. "Just another friendship photo."

Kyouko smiled back without answering, her eyes holding a quiet, bittersweet emotion. She saved the photo without another word and leaned her head against his.

Some lines didn't need to be spoken out loud.

Haruki still had his arms wrapped around Kyouko, her body resting gently on his lap, the room quiet and dim with only the soft hum of the air conditioner.

"Kyouko-san?" he asked, his voice low near her ear.

"Hmm?" she replied, her eyes half-lidded, her hand resting lightly on his chest.

"You wouldn't mind... if we kissed?"

She smiled, warm and playful, brushing her fingers along his jaw. "No~ Not yet~"

Haruki let out a breath, part chuckle, part sigh. "Okay~"

But he didn't let go of her. And she didn't ask him to.

Instead, Kyouko rested her head on his shoulder, her cheek brushing against his neck.

It wasn't a kiss.

But it was something.

Something that made both their hearts beat a little faster.

"We're friends, right? They said we should be friends," Kyouko asked, her voice light and teasing, as her fingers idly played with the collar of Haruki's shirt.

"Hmm? I don't know... are we?" Haruki replied, his lips brushing gently against the side of her neck.

"Hey~" Kyouko let out a soft laugh and playfully slapped his hand. "Don't go that far, naughty boy."

Haruki smiled against her skin, not pressing further, but also not pulling away.

Their kind of friendship was starting to blur, but neither of them seemed ready to draw the line just yet.

Haruki leaned in close, his breath warm against her ear.

"You know, Kyouko-san... I really hope we can go further."

Kyouko's smile faded into something softer. Her fingers gently squeezed his hand.

"Not yet, Haruki... not now... maybe... soon."

"Mmm, okay..." he whispered, nodding.

"For now, I'm just happy to be close like this," she said, her head resting against his chest.

"Yeah," Haruki agreed gently, "I feel the same. Just being like this... it's enough for now."

Kyouko tilted her head slightly, allowing Haruki's lips to graze her neck. A soft sigh escaped her before she gently pulled back.

"No~ If you keep doing that... we'll be crossing something we're not ready for yet," she whispered, her voice barely above the night's quiet hum. "And besides... I'm old already."

Haruki chuckled, his eyes trailing over her figure.

"Heh~ Old? With this body? You're far from it."

"Naughty boy~" Kyouko giggled and playfully slapped his hand.

"Ow! Not that hard!" he laughed.

"Tehe~" she teased, leaning her head against his shoulder again.

"So tomorrow they're going to work out of town," Kyouko said softly, enjoying the warmth of Haruki's kiss on her shoulder. "You're going to work too, right?"

"Yeah," Haruki murmured, his lips brushing gently against her skin. "I just need to drop off the finished project... then I'm free."

Kyouko tilted her head a little more, giving him better access. "Can I come with you?"

Haruki paused, then smiled. "Of course you can... if you want to."

"I just... don't want to be alone tomorrow," she said, her voice low and honest.

"Then let's go together," Haruki replied, wrapping his arms around her a little tighter. "We'll make it our little escape."

"Heee~ Dirty boy~ Nope... you're not gonna get that~" Kyouko teased with a playful smirk, her voice laced with flirtation.

Haruki just chuckled, not pushing further. Instead, he gently wrapped his arms around her from behind, pulling her into a warm embrace.

"I know," he whispered against her ear. "But I still like being close like this."

Kyouko leaned back into him with a soft sigh, a small smile forming on her lips. "Mou~ You really are dangerous, Haruki..."

"But you're the one who sat on my lap, Kyouko-san."

"Shh~ Don't ruin the moment," she replied, closing her eyes and enjoying the silence between them.

( End of Chapter )