"Naoto."
He was so close that she could feel the grin taunting her, eyes gazing across the heated blush that she was used to experiencing whenever he was there.
Teddie threw his hands out, a huge smile overcoming his face as the crowd cheered him on. The other boys could only watch in awe at the dress-clad bear, blonde extensions swaying as he bounced across the stage from one foot to the other.
Soji was grinning his face off.
Who'd have thought Naoto'd be able to pull that one off?
"I-"
She raised her head only slightly.
"I have no reason to be here..."
She was about to take off, but before she could, he simply grabbed her arm, pinning her in the spot. Her eyes widened; he mused.
"I believe that you have every reason to be here, Nao-chan."
The blush reddened, although her expression became sour. "Nao-chan? are you trying to imply that i'm a child?"
"Why would I care about you so much if I thought that?" he sighed, a smile playing on his face, "I would have thought that you, having exceptional knowledge of social mannerism, would pick up on that easily."
She blinked. Wait, what?
"If you're suggesting I can just read you like a simple household book, you are wrong."
Naoto, although taken aback slightly, couldn't help but smile at her retort. After all, it was true.
Soji chuckled. "Should I take that as a compliment?"
"Hmph..." Naoto sighed, content for only a short while before silence fell upon the two again. She was beginning to feel more and more uncomfortable, although she no longer had a burning desire to leave the room.
It played out suddenly. Soji grabbed her hand, ensuring that she wouldn't be able to pull a detective front and leave. He still wore a casual expression, but she could only look on with a mixture of surprise and anger. Her defense...
"Do you want to know what you can't see?"
"Senpai--"
The way he brushed his lips against hers was so suttle that it confused her even more. How could one strike such a perfect balance between soft and firm?
The sounds of the pageant drowned out. It was just the two of them, both in Naoto's own little world; one where the struggles of everyday life didn't matter and she was glad to be a child if it meant being cared for by this man.