Chapter 25
Usagi watched eagerly as Tellu and Makoto unpacked their things. Tellu not only brought her own clothes but also everything in Usagi's dressing room, and she was currently navigating through this seemingly endless amount of clothing.
On the other hand, Makoto had only three suitcases containing her belongings. These swiftly rolled into her room, and she disappeared into the kitchen.
With a flurry of more boxes, the apartment was flooded by the moving company. Tellu, however, had quickly selected comfortable but fitting clothes for Usagi. While continuing to dig through the boxes, she asked curiously, "So? How was the wedding night?"
Usagi noticed her cheeks slightly reddening. "Um... it was okay."
"Just okay?" pressed the green-haired woman further, stacking some clothing items on the table. "Was there something wrong? Did you experience severe pain?"
Usagi avoided direct eye contact and looked embarrassedly to the side. She didn't want to talk about the previous night. What had happened was something that existed only between her and Taiki. Yes, they had slept together, but only out of a sense of responsibility. Because they both knew they might face consequences if they didn't. A shiver ran down her spine as she thought about the morning visitors.
"Serena? But you did it, right?"
Usagi pressed her lips together tightly and nodded. She was still contemplating how to cleverly change the subject because Tellu seemed unwilling to let it go.
"Leave her be; that's private. If she doesn't want to talk about it, that's completely fine. No one's asking you about your last time either," Makoto whispered to Tellu, noticing Usagi's tense posture as she emerged from the kitchen with a plate full of pastries.
"Well, that's different... This is not about any random time; it's about the first time, and that's supposed to be something special. For me, it was incredibly beautiful back then; he was my great love," Tellu raved as she hung some dresses on hangers.
Something special. No, in Usagi's eyes, it hadn't been special. While contemplating these words, her thoughts drifted back to the previous night. While they were doing it, she kept imagining Seiya's touches, even though she knew exactly who was with her at that moment. It wasn't very painful, and she noticed that Taiki was making an effort. He explained each of his moves beforehand and waited briefly for her consent. It was okay for her, but she also didn't feel the desire to repeat the experience quickly. She couldn't comprehend what others found so great about sex.
"Serena?" Makoto asked with concern, and Usagi raised her head. "Yes?"
"I asked if you'd like some tea," Makoto repeated her question.
"Oh, yes, please."
Several hours had passed with the three of them at work when the door slowly opened, and Taiki peeked inside, a small box of wedding cards in his arms. Instantly, all eyes were on him.
Usagi looked from Taiki to the two women. "Would you mind leaving us alone for a moment?" She could guess exactly what he wanted.
"But of course. We'll be in the back if you need anything," chirped Tellu, pulling Makoto along with her.
"That just arrived; I didn't want to take the letter without your knowledge," Taiki said once they were alone. Usagi went to him, took the box from his hands, and retrieved Shingo's letter. Again, a feeling of sadness washed over her as she ran her finger over his words. "Big sister" was only written on the outside of the envelope. Then she handed the letter to Taiki.
He opened it and quickly skimmed through everything; suddenly, a furrow formed between his eyes. "Serena? Why does he address you as Usa?"
Damn, she hadn't thought about that. Suddenly, a thick knot formed in her throat. After all, Taiki knew her only as Serena. "That... that's my nickname," she finally said, relieved that she had come up with an excuse so quickly.
"And how do you get from Serena to Usa?" Taiki laughed, folding the letter back up and then sliding it into his jacket pocket.
She quickly switched gears. "That's a long story... I'll tell you sometime."
"Well, I'm looking forward to that. You'll probably be busy here for a while, right? I'll see what I can find out. I don't think I'll be back until tonight; is that okay with you? If anything happens, you can reach me on my phone anytime."
"Yes, of course. See you tonight."
In parting, Taiki gave her a fleeting kiss on the cheek, as he had been doing for weeks. "But please, make sure they don't vandalize our apartment. It looks like a department store exploded in here." With that, he managed to make his wife smile.
Seiya stood motionless in front of the imposing building, a feeling of emptiness in his chest. He couldn't tell how long he had been standing there—time seemed to have frozen in an endless moment of hesitation. His inner sense told him that the time had not yet come to enter the tower. A painful pull in his chest warned him against it.
As Taiki's black sports car emerged from the underground garage, something changed. In that moment, Seiya realized that this was probably the moment he had subconsciously been waiting for. If Taiki were leaving the house with Usagi now, it offered him the opportunity to discreetly retrieve some of his belongings. Haruka had generously offered that he could stay as long as he wanted. Surely, she wouldn't mind if he temporarily moved in with her.
For hours, he had been wrestling with his thoughts and emotions. His decision to move in with Haruka for the time being was final. He needed distance from Usagi. Even when she wasn't near, his thoughts revolved incessantly around her, and in her presence, he could think of nothing else but touching her, kissing her, and so much more. But that couldn't happen. She was married now, he reminded himself like a painful mantra. The decision to forget her completely was made yesterday, and he was determined to implement it consistently. He finally started to move.
Meanwhile, Usagi had said her goodbyes to Makoto and Tellu. She longed for a break to process everything in peace. A break from Tellu was also urgently needed since she kept returning to the same topics that Usagi preferred to avoid.
As she pressed the elevator button and the door opened, her heartbeat quickened. Suddenly, Seiya stood right in front of her. He looked exhausted, pale, with deep circles under his eyes, and his usually radiant eyes reflected sadness as he gazed at her.
"Darling... I thought you were out with Taiki," he said with a fragile voice. "I can take the stairs if you want," she suggested, her big eyes focusing on him.
"No, it's okay. Get in. You probably want to go upstairs," he replied dryly, pressing the button for the 33rd floor. His floor was already selected and lit up for Usagi as she entered. Seiya struggled with himself and avoided looking directly at her. "So, did you have a nice evening yesterday?" he asked awkwardly.
"Mh..." she replied. "But with the wrong man," she added quietly, casting a furtive glance at him.
He raised his head and looked at her, although he hadn't planned to. She was within arm's reach, just two steps away from him, and yet so far. Taking a step toward her, he gently placed his hand on her cheek. She tenderly nestled her head into his hand, inhaling his scent, closing her eyes, and savoring the gentle touch he bestowed upon her. His lips were only a few centimeters away from hers, and she could feel his breath distinctly on her skin. Then, the elevator door sprang open.
"I know I shouldn't ask this, but do you want to come in?" he whispered to her. Her emotions exploded, and she nodded without opening her eyelids. Seiya took her hand and led her behind him. He quickly closed the door to his apartment and locked it.
The world seemed to stand still for a precious moment, and in the next second, their lips met. Seiya's hand, which hesitantly wrapped around her waist, conveyed both tenderness and his desire for her. The room around them blurred, and they lost themselves in this forbidden moment; every touch, every kiss was simply intoxicating, and Usagi wanted more of it.
"Darling, what are we doing here?" he whispered into a kiss, but Usagi couldn't and didn't want to think anymore. She leaned up to him, sealing his lips with hers once again. One of his rough hands was placed on the back of her neck, and with the other, he pulled her even closer. His arousal was palpable to her, and hesitantly, she moved her hands to his belt.
Then, suddenly, a clear moment came over Seiya. When he broke the kiss, Usagi could see the inner conflicts in his eyes. A sad smile played on his lips as he tilted his head to the side.
"We shouldn't do this... You..." he began, but before he could express his concerns further, she gently placed her index finger on his lips. A silent plea lay in her gaze.
"Please, I want to experience at least once what it feels like to make love to someone you love. Please, Seiya, don't send me away now," she whispered softly. Her words hung heavily in the air, soaked with a deep longing and a burning desire for something that seemed unattainable for both.
Seiya's hands lovingly framed her face, and in response, he gave her a kiss; he was no longer capable of words. Their lips melded together again, their longing, and the burning intensity of the moment were unique for Usagi. She had never felt anything like this before.
In that moment, they forgot the world around them, driven by a desire that neither could suppress.
They walked, tightly embraced, into Seiya's bedroom, where the seductive tingling of passion seized their senses. As he carefully stripped her sweater over her head, a delightful shiver ran through her. Now she stood before him only in her bra, as his eyes admired her curves before he pulled her back into his arms.
Usagi's trembling hands delicately unbuttoned Seiya's shirt. Tension gave way to impatience. Seiya swallowed, his heartbeat almost racing, and yet he couldn't help but let her guide him. The weight of his moral concerns had long vanished, replaced by the irresistible desire for her. The desire to feel, explore, and possess each other flooded his senses.
Seiya's hands gently traced down her back, slowly gliding downward and lingering on her hips. Meanwhile, her delicate fingers had stripped off his shirt and eagerly explored the contours of his body. They passionately and curiously explored each other, but this time, their touches held more than just curiosity.
Seiya gently pushed her towards the bed, and as the edge of the bed was directly behind Usagi, he gave her a little nudge. She now lay back, looking up at him with a radiant smile. He leaned over her again, his tongue teasing her lips playfully before trailing down her neck.
Suddenly, a strange tingling sensation shot through her lower abdomen, and a soft moan escaped her throat as she felt Seiya's hand on her chest, slowly moving downward. He paused briefly at her waistband. "Darling, are you really sure you want this now?" he asked her one last time. She wrapped her arms around his neck and looked deep into his eyes. "More than anything. I love you, Seiya."
Seiya was now completely captivated. He quickly freed her from her pants and discarded the remainder of his own clothing. His fingers found their way to her moist center, and Usagi's breathing became noticeably heavier. Her hand gently stroked along his loins, skillfully avoiding direct contact with his arousal. Every time he thought she would touch him there, her fingers changed direction again. The circles her fingers drew became smaller, and she writhed more and more under his touches.
Eventually, Seiya could hardly bear the tension. He positioned himself in front of her, leaned over her, and gave her a deep and intense kiss as he slowly sank into her. Then he paused for a moment to give her time to adjust.
He began to move carefully, and it didn't take long for Usagi to adapt to his rhythm. Shortly afterward, he felt her tense internally and start to tremble until the first orgasm flowed through her body. A mischievous grin appeared on Seiya's lips as he looked down at the excited face beneath him.
After Usagi's breathing had normalized a bit, he grabbed her hips and turned her upwards within seconds. Now she was on top of him, determining the pace while he observed her attentively. Her flawless body surrendered to him. He managed to elicit another climax from her before finally releasing himself into her.
Completely sweaty, Usagi nestled into his arm. What they had just experienced was, in her heart, their wedding night. "Thank you," she whispered, struggling to hide her emotions. Seiya wrapped his arms around her, pulling her naked body close to him. What they had just experienced went far beyond physical pleasure – it was a deep connection between two souls that had found each other.