Hotel Happenings

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Sumire's mind went blank and face turned pale as she and Asuma approached the hotel room door.

With his knuckle, Asuma tenderly lifted her chin, dissipating her gawking expression. The corner of his mouth turned upwards in a reassuring half-smile.

Damn, she's gorgeous!

Goodness, he's too cute..!

Asuma gently cleared his throat. "I keep telling you, don't worry. We agreed coming here was our best option at this point. Remember?"

"I remember," Sumire confirmed, both to herself and him "You're right. We're just staying the night, then we'll be up early to get back."

"Precisely," he told her, kissing her forehead. Out of habit, he went to adjust his glasses, but quickly remembered to stop himself. Haha, yeah, I'm glad I don't need to wear those fakes anymore.. His left hand reached for her right as his right hand fished his pocket for their room key.

Sumire took his hand, then she held them up against Asuma's chest forcefully, prompting him to look at her. She had a determined look on her face.

"I know we've been through this already, but I need you to promise not to try anything.." she gulped, nervously, despite her firm composure "inappropriate. We're not there yet. And I'm a serious, honorable athlete."

Deciding against quipping some tension-easing joke, Asuma looked deep into her eyes. "I promise, my champion" he assured her sincerely. To tell the truth, he agreed with her about pacing it out. After all, Sumire was the first girl he'd ever even kissed, so all this was uncharted territory for him as well as her. This was the closest he'd ever felt to anyone, and he wanted it to last as long as possible - forever, if she would have him. I'm not going anywhere. We can take our time.

She was a perfect balance for him, he figured. Beautiful, athletic, intelligent, tenacious. She simultaneously grounded him yet charged him. Just the thought of her tirelessly training every day stirred him to never give up, even when his circumstances were deadly bleak. Her purity of spirit was also deeply compelling to him, constantly calling him to be the best version of himself. Her dreams were big and bold, quite ambitious, yet she had the drive and endurance to see them through no matter what obstacles stood in her path. He admired how faithful she was to her convictions, how adamant she was to never lose sight of herself again.

Confident in his response, Sumire grinned in gratitude. "Good answer, Charming." She remembered the moment she first called him 'Charming.' She wasn't sure why she said it, it was just sortof a slip-of-the-tongue. After pondering it further, however, she concluded it was too fitting to simply throw away.. Especially considering my persona, she mused. "Ok, you find the key?"

Asuma flashed his signature smirk and, with a showy flourish, showed her the key, "What kind of two-bit, wannabe phantom thief do you think I am?"

.

He opened the door and they surveyed the room. It was a decent enough space, a queen-size bed facing a large flatscreen situated above a small office desk. A long, cozy couch sat beneath a large window. Indeed, the most notable feature of the room was the surprisingly aesthetic view of the Tokyo skyline, all the multi-colored lights dancing through the city like a dynamic mosaic in the night.

"Wow," they both remarked as they climbed the couch to examine the view.

After a couple minutes of quiet contemplation, Asuma held her hand close and kissed its back, his eyes still fixed on Tokyo. "I'm so thankful I met you, Sumire."

"I don't want to imagine not meeting you, Charming." She laid her head on his chest, "You were right when you said we've been through so much. I was lost in this- this bizarre emotional/mental labyrinth.. I even would've been fine living the lie, had you not pulled me out of it.." she trailed off.

Asuma hugged her slightly tighter, conveying his support but allowing her space to finish her thoughts.

Trying to hold back tears, Sumire continued, "Thank you so much, Senpai. I'm infinitely grateful I've been able to rediscover and refine the true me - the one I buried as deep as I could and implored myself to forever forget. I never imagined I'd feel this kind of peace again - the freedom to see things with clarity and purpose. You helped me see things as they truly were, and face those cold facts with courage. Yes, I found courage in the midst of overwhelming pain and fear. Only by trusting in and employing that bravery have I moved forward. And I've found there's so much more potential within me than I've ever even realised." She held him closer. "It's all thanks to you."

"Hey, you have earned every ounce of the progress you've made," insisted Asuma as he hugged her back, "I'm beyond proud to have aided you and to witness that growth, but YOU are the exceptional one here. To work through that high a degree of trauma, plus take on Phantom Thief work, and all that on top of world class gymnastics and being an honour student.. You amaze me."

Asuma loosened his hug to face her. He took off her glasses, brushed the loose hairs out of her eyes, and cleared her tears. Man, I REALLY love this girl, he couldn't help but think, She's SO beautiful. Looking straight at her, he emphasised with crushing sincerity, "You, Sumire Yoshizawa, are amazing."

Overcome with affection, Sumire pulled Asuma in close, cupping his face as she longingly pressed her lips onto his. She soon broke the kiss off, though with supreme reluctance. However, she continued to feel the satisfying sensation of his hair through her fingers, her other hand moving across his well-toned chest. She could feel a few of his scars through his shirt. I can't believe the police's "questioning" was so brutal! I tailed the Phantom Thieves through that palace in order to AVOID him getting hurt like that.. To think he planned to get captured in order to save everyone..! Her skin tingled as Asuma kissed her forehead, then he placed his cheek aloft her head as he continued to hold her, his hand soothingly stroking her back.

No. She decided, unwilling to hold back her desire for him any longer. I need a little more.

She brushed the hand that was against his chest back up to his jaw, ushering it back towards her. At last, she fervently worked her lips on his - no more reservations. Her other hand escaped his hair and firmly gripped a fistful of the back of his shirt collar.

Floored, Asuma kissed back in kind. His arm lovingly ensnared her waist and pulled her body even closer against his. Two knuckles caressed her cheek while a soft pressure built in the back of her throat, extracting a little moan.

The hand that cupped his jaw sojourned down his shoulder, his forearm, and landed at his hand, interlacing their fingers.

"I love you," attested Sumire, her heart gushing inside her chest, "So much, I love you."

"I love you even more," professed Asuma, softly kissing her neck before returning to her lips.

Asuma's phone suddenly erupted in an obnoxious buzz.

Foreheads locked, they chuckled awkwardly and sighed despondently.

"Mm, one last thing first," he pleaded. Desperate for just a little more before the moment slipped away, Asuma enforced one last kiss. The unexpected intensity of it sent haze shuddering behind her eyelids and a bolt of lightning down her spine. Ultimately, a curiously pleasurable sensation, she concluded.

The momentum forced her to stumble back a bit. She easily stabilized herself against the wall close behind her.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean t-" Asuma started, but was cut off by arms around his neck pulling him back into a kiss.

"Don't worry, I stuck the landing," Sumire jested with a small laugh, "Easy though, Tiger.." She allowed herself to melt into him, putting the world on hold for a moment. Just for a few more seconds, the only two in existence could be her and her renegade prince.

Not bad, he thought to himself - he loved when she quipped, Hot. He chuckled back and leaned into her, his hand swimming nimbly through her hair, cradling her head. "A perfect ten, as always, Champ," he replied with a grin.

A couple seconds later, the phone buzzed yet again.

"Haha! Ok, time to answer it," she exhaled decidedly, kissing him just once more, then loosening her hold.

He half-heartedly tried - and failed - to hold back a groan, then transitioned them into a kind of side hug and checked his phone.

What all just happened finally started to catch up with her. "S-So.. Um.." stammered Sumire, dazed. She put her fingers to her lips in an attempt to stop their tingling, "I-I'll just go switch into my sleepwear now. Be back in a sec!" Well we've never done anything like that before.. Those kisses were intense! She was surprising herself. She expected to feel quite rattled and abashed after that experience. But it had felt so right, like he was her safe room, a refuge where she was unconditionally valued as precious. That sense of belonging dwarfed any contesting insecurities. Oh, Asuma, I am undeniably in love with you.

"Y-Yeah, sounds good. I'll switch after this," Asuma responded, gesturing with his phone. He felt like his face was probably coming close to as red as Panther's suit. Wow, that was amazing!! We've never kissed quite like that before.. I can't believe she initiated it.. And was so at ease and open throughout... We oughta do that more often!! Or wait, would that in some way somehow screw this up? Dammit, I'm too inexperienced at this stuff to know for sure..! I just want us side by side forever. I want to make her feel free and safe and at home, like I feel when I'm with her.. That said, I mean, I've already changed fate itself more than once, according to Chihaya and Lavenza. If I can do that, I can make this work.. At any rate, I am sure of one thing: I'm undeniably in love with Sumire Yoshizawa!

.

He had received messages from Futaba: "Morgana be like (ꐦ ಠ皿ಠ ) He's PO'd you ditched him for GF. You have direct orders to (-.-)zzZZ and don't dare be late in the AM."

Asuma scoffed and rolled his eyes, remembering leaving Leblanc to meet up with Sumire. Even after explaining his plan and swearing to rendezvous with him in the morning, it still took him no small amount of effort to squeeze through the door and leave the honest-to-god-human behind.

"Tell him I'm heading to sleep as we speak, so stop bugging everyone ;) *thumbs up*"

"Will do, Pikachu ٩( ᐛ )و Now I can resume my quest to traverse the realms with my archer son and let fly my wife's ashes!"

"Uh, yeah.. Traverse those realms, godly warrior!"

"Mwehehehe.. THIS IS SPARTAAAAA (ಠoಠ)彡[._._._.]"

"Sounds like a rad game, gotta say. Have fun, Futaba!"

"Die, die, DIE, you tatt'd Northman! TASTE MISTLETOE!"

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Now dressed in the athletic shorts and oversized t-shirt they managed to find at the limited-selection local store, Sumire walked out of the bathroom,"It's all yours whenever you're ready, Senpai!" She said with a smile Asuma found heart-melting. To her minor embarrassment, the clothes didn't even match, but he was too enchanted by her to notice. She is. THE most beautiful thing. I have EVER seen. in. my. life.

"And I'm all yours whenever you're ready," Asuma replied with his Joker smirk, fighting past the blush he felt climbing his cheeks.

"A-Asuma-senpai!" She yelped, blushing noticeably, "You stop teasing me like that!" Eventually.. she thought to herself, chewing the inside of her cheek. Certain things needed to be accomplished first.

"Haha, ok sorry.. But you have no idea how cute you are when you're flustered," Asuma said as he gave an apology hug, then kissed the top of her head. "Ok, time to swap out my clothes. Be back in a flash."

. . .

When Asuma came back out, he noticed Sumire staring out the window. She was absentmindedly humming softly to herself, something he noticed she did when she was deep in thought. He enjoyed that quirk, especially since her face was often very challenging to read when she was in her head. He prided himself on reading others well, and much of the time Sumire was very expressive, but there were other times she was quite the exception. Still, he only found her more intriguingly compelling in that way. He considered her humming, therefore, a welcome piece of the puzzle to understanding her just that much more.

From where he was standing, the tune was very faint. He closed his eyes and focused his hearing. The melody sounded mostly content, yet it had dashes of harsh melancholy sporadically sprinkled in. He had heard a similar theme from her before. She's probably pushing back against her inner critic, he reasoned. He reopened his eyes, and was taken aback at how well she and the city lights complimented one another.

How? How can one person be so irresistible? She's not even doing anything right now, but I love her so much I can't stand it. She's driving me insane without even trying! I just wish she herself could acknowledge how amazing she is.

Putting his Phantom Thief skills to work, he snuck behind her. With his right hand he slowly and affectionately guided his knuckles down, from her shoulder to her fingers; he used his left hand to adoringly transfer her hair to the front of her left shoulder. He interlaced their fingers and kissed her right cheek fondly. He brought up their hands and crossed their arms, leading them into a tight hug across her front. He kissed her again, then lowered his chin into the space between her neck and shoulder, letting out a sigh of contentment which Sumire considered deeply assuaging.

"Hmm.." she moaned softly as she exhaled, eyes closed, "Feeling surreptitious, are we? Hello again, Charming." Right then, she couldn't feel anything but blissful in his warm, snug embrace.

"You never saw it coming, did ya?" Asuma chuckled. A minute or two went by as he savored having her in his arms. "Can we just stay like this forever, please?" he said, letting out a little groan.

"I can't say I wouldn't like that," Sumire grinned, then sighed, "But I've got an Olympic gold medal to earn. And society isn't going to reform itself. The Phantom Thieves may no longer have the Metaverse, but we do still have a responsibility to save those in need however we can."

"Curse us and our blasted high ideals!"

"Language!" Sumire parried teasingly.

Asuma smiled. "Those aren't really cuss words, are they, sillyhead?"

"It always starts somewhere.."

"Mm.. Can't say you're wrong."

Sumire grinned triumphantly, still relishing being in Asuma's arms.

"So, my champion.. I guess it's time for sleep?"

"Yeah. We have an early morning, after all."

After squeezing her tight one final time, Asuma kissed her hand and let her go. "Fair enough."

"Would you like some help setting up the couch?" Sumire offered, already looking for a spare blanket and pillows.

"Nah, it's fine."

"But I feel so unfair making y -"

"Don't worry about it. The last room this place had was a one-bed, so we didn't really have a choice. Besides, anything's a step above sleeping with a cat on your chest.. You know, he's surprisingly heavy.. And emits a lot of body heat."

Sumire chuckled as she visualised Morgana sleeping peacefully atop a flailing Asuma.

The two finished up their bedtime preparations and settled in for the night.

. . .

Despite her exhaustion, and the promise of another tiring day yet to come, Sumire found herself restless. She couldn't stop thinking about Asuma, right there, on the couch, directly adjacent to her. I wonder what he's thinking..? Assuming, of course, he's not already asleep.... I wonder what he's dreaming..?

She recalled the hug he gave her from behind, the way he crossed their arms in front of her, as if to communicate she should remember to love herself. He knew she had high expectations for herself, and her self-talk was certainly not always positive. That was something she now strove to improve upon, and Asuma made the feat all the more possible.

He's endured so much, yet he's so intentional about understanding and strengthening those around him. He's changed the hearts of countless people, consistently placing himself in harm's way - to the point of death - for the sake of others. He's been falsely-labelled, beaten, drugged, mocked, tested in more ways than I could possibly know. Not to mention what he said earlier today; I mean, it makes so much sense, but I never would've guessed.. He says he's amazed by MY strength, but I can't imagine mine being any more than ant-sized compared to his.

"S-Senpai? You still awake?" she winced as she found herself asking him aloud.

He broke out an obnoxious snore. "Nope."

Sumire rolled her eyes but excused a giggle. "Fancy watching a movie with me? Sadly, I'm confident I won't be falling asleep anytime soon.." She sighed dejectedly.

Her eyes suddenly widened. "Oh, but if you're about to fall asleep, you definitely should," she said in a panic, "D-Don't worry about me. It was selfish and rude of me to ask, knowing you have a busy day ahead of you and -"

"I'll set it up," interrupted Asuma gladly, jumping towards the TV. He too had been lying there, wide awake, unable to sleep.

"Oh, thank you, Charming!" Sumire relaxed.

"Anything for you," he replied, "Ok, we've got Back to the Ninja, The Duh-vengers, or The Good Father. What do you think?"

"Hmm.. Back to the Ninja, please."

"Your wish, my command."

As Asuma was setting up the movie, Sumire propped up some pillows on the couch so they could watch together. In order to see the TV, they'd have to sit at the armrest, which wasn't all that comfortable after a while.

Asuma started the movie and joined Sumire on the couch, taking her hand in his.

After about 10 minutes of readjusting, they resigned to the fact that the only sustainably non-disagreeable position was to lay on the couch, side by side. Sumire rested her head on his chest, the sound of his steady heartbeat gradually soothing her nerves regarding their undignified posture. One of his arms wrapped around her shoulders, his other hand in hers atop his collarbone.

Before they realized it, they were both fast asleep.