Author's Note: After a very busy holiday season at work, I'm trying to return to my previous writing schedule of, at-least, one major update a week. I've foolishly began too many projects, but I want to return my primary focus to this series as a way to reinvigorate my own writing. ((I still view "Between Sea and Stone" as my current best work)) For now, I wanted to cap off the Ryuji/Haru scene that's been on-going for a long time. So very short update right now, but I hope to have a much longer, plot-progressing update for this story ready to go for early next week.
"I'm still thinking about how Shibata fell off that balance beam," said Haru as she ascended the narrow apartment stairs ahead of Ryuji. She giggled. "It was like his face was pulling the rest of him after it."
"Uhh- yeah," said Ryuji, who'd realized that Haru's tight athletic shorts were right in front of him, and he was now trying his best to look anywhere else as they climbed up to his floor. And he was feeling a bit guilty for hitting Shibata so hard. Yes, it had been a pillow weapon. But it was still covered in nylon or whatever- it could hurt. It did hurt. It certainly sounded like it hurt.
Ryuji had expected Haru to be mad at him, but when he'd looked back at her from his victorious perch on the balance beam- Haru's eyes had been sparkling. And now she was enjoying the memory. Man, what had the Shibata guy done? Haru certainly had a dark side, but Ryuji hadn't seen anyone bring it out like this in a while.
Haru arrived at Ryuji's floor and she turned to face Ryuji as he finished his own ascent. Ryuji's eyes locked on Haru's and his mind emptied. All he could do was step up the last few steps like an automaton, his masculinity mesmerized by Haru's smile, violet eyes, and lean body. And Haru didn't move back to give him space at the landing, so Ryuji found himself very close to her.
She was looking up at him with an expression he couldn't read. She was slightly biting her own lip in the corner of her mouth. He'd never seen her do that before. And the rounded shapes of Haru's breasts were almost touching his chest. Ryuji was keenly aware of them. He felt hot. Uneasy. Turned-on. His groin was stirring, heralding the imminent arrival of an embarrassing growth. He shouldn't be feeling these things near Haru! About Haru!
"Oh, uh, this is my door over here," He stepped awkwardly around her, trying desperately to keep from touching her. "Thanks for the invite, Haru."
He sensed a surge of negative energy. Ryuji turned back to find Haru with a new strange expression: anger, embarrassment, and frustration- all under the cover of a faltering smile.
"Yeah, Ryuji. It was fun," she said, her violet eyes flashing. Then she spun, tossing her curled hair about her head, and she descended the apartment stairs out his view.
She was mad. Ryuji felt it was his fault. But… he had no idea what he'd done wrong! Had she somehow sensed what was going on inside him? He turned to his apartment door and smacked his own forehead into it.
Whatever just happened, he'd done it wrong. Ryuji was sure of it.