Chapter 46: Away From Keyboard

2023 July , Saitama Prefecture, Ogano. 12:00, Japan Standard Time

[Author's Remark: I English normalize names. So first name last name. For example: in Japanese, Asuna's name would be "Yuuki Asuna" (Last Name First Name), however I flip it, and do First Name Last name. "Yuuki Asuna" becomes "Asuna Yuuki".]

Akihiko Kayaba's eyes opened, the vision of his dimly lit motionless ceiling fan tinted by the slightly shaded eye covers of the NerveGear. The smell of coffee permeated his nostrils. He sat up on a futon. His environment hadn't changed since he had last 'awoken'. He groggily walked out of his makeshift bedroom, and into the kitchen of his living space.

He was greeted by the sight he would never get tired of after emerging from the NerveGear's trance.

Rinko Koujiro sat in one of two chairs at a square table, across from the stove. Her chair was positioned as such that her back faced Akihiko. Scrolling on her phone, and sipping a steaming mug of coffee. Akihiko quietly approached her from behind. He reached his arms out and rest his elbows on her shoulders. He wrapped his forearms and hands across the upper portion of her chest. Setting his head down, he kissed her cheek, and rest it on his arm that was still on her right shoulder.

"Good morning." Rinko teased, smiling. She tilted her head down, and pecked a kiss on his hand.

Akihiko lifted his head, and gently pressed his fingers into the space between Rinko's collarbone and shoulders.

"Mmmmmmmm." Rinko let out. She tilted her head back, looking into his metallic greyish eyes. Akihiko tilted and lowered his head, his lips meeting hers.

He moved his hands to her shoulders. She continued to deeply exhale. "You're so stressed, dear." Akihiko remarked.

"Can't possibly imagine why." Rinko retorted. Her fingers moved to the pendant hanging from her neck. The chain of the necklace was of sufficient length that the locket sat comfortably at the origin of her breasts. Her fingers gently fiddled and twirled the oval at the end of the chain.

Akihiko stepped away from her, to the counter adjacent to the stove. He scooped ice into a glass before pouring in coffee from the freshly brewed pot, the ice making a crisp, crackling noise as it met the hot coffee, and he sat down in the chair opposite Rinko.

"What's new?" Akihiko asked in an almost coy tone.

"Nothing much." Rinko looked up from her phone. "You're still wall to wall, if that's what you're asking."

"Hmmmm." He replied. Abandoning his phone and even the newspaper, he only had Rinko to look at. "You know I don't care about that."

"I know." Rinko smiled. "It doesn't make it anymore difficult."

"I love you."

Rinko set her phone down and suddenly leaned over the table, her lips passionately meeting Akihiko's. He stood up from his seat to better meet her.

2023 July , Saitama Prefecture, Ogano. 09:00, Japan Standard Time

The morning sun was well into Akihiko's window when he awoke. Once he became conscious of his surroundings, he noticed his sense of smell had been graced with the scent of a light fruity smell. His head rest on Rinko's shoulder. His tall, slender body engulfing hers.

Akihiko ran his hand down Rinko's nude body. Beginning from her upper neck just below her ear, his hand traced her natural beauty. His hand glided across her shoulder, down her arm, before working it to just below her armpit. From there he gently pressed his fingers against her ribcage. His gentle caress continued, reaching the gradual slope of her waist, before tracing the curvature of her hip. As he continued, he couldn't resist sliding his hand forward. He gently squeezed her left thigh, before retreating closer to her flesh, his hand slid back towards her outline, and he continued downward. He felt her defined calf, before retracting his hand to her hip, and gently slid across her buttock. Failing to continue or become any more forceful in fear of waking her, Akihiko stopped his advances, and maneuvered his arm across her shoulder.

"I love you too." Rinko barely managed to wake up and say.

Evidently, Akihiko's attempt at leaving her undisturbed had failed.