Almost a month had already passed after that day when Management had decided she would be staying here...
Kenji Kurousagi let out a sigh before looking over Ina, casually snuggling up in the couch with her Takodachis as numerous cans of dr. pepper lay over the coffee table.
He went over to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
While cooking, he felt a gentle tug behind him and turned around to see Ina, looking with her usual ominous yet friendly stare.
"Uhm.. What are you cooking..?" She asked shyly, trying to get a look on what was being prepared.
"Nothing special, just a decent meal. It'll be ready soon." He replied.
Ina smiled warmly at the response, walking over to the countertop where he was cooking.
"Oh~ That sounds delicious! Anything I can help with, Kuro-kun?" She asked, offering her soft and gentle voice as she leaned against the countertop, admiring the sight of him cooking.
Her eyes couldn't help but drift downwards slightly, taking in the view of his tall frame clad in a cozy sweater and pants, exposing his muscular legs beneath the fabric. The scent of food mixed with his unique masculine aroma filled the air around them, making her stomach growl slightly in anticipation of the meal ahead.
He suddenly looked at her with a surprised expression on his face. "Kuro-kun? Is that your new nickname for me?" he asked quizzically.
"N-No! Kuro-kun? Please, forgive me..." Ina blushed deeply, quickly averting her gaze away from him. She cleared her throat awkwardly before continuing to explain herself. "I meant Kurousagi-san... That's your name right? I apologize, it's just that sometimes when we spend time together like this... It feels so natural calling you by a more familiar nickname." She giggled lightly, reaching out to pat his shoulder reassuringly. Her soft touch sent electric currents through his body, causing goosebumps to rise on his arms where she had touched him.
"Oh no. I'm not angry, just somewhat surprised." Kuro-kun said as her gently put a hand on her shoulder. "It's all right. I don't mind you calling me that."
"T-Thank you, Kuro-kun." Ina breathed a sigh of relief, turning her attention back to the kitchen. "Now then, how about you start setting the table?" Kuro-kun said, nonchalantly.
"O-Of course, Kuro-kun." Ina nodded obediently, standing up from her spot by the countertop. She walked over to the dining table, reaching into one of the cabinets above it to retrieve two matching sets of plates and bowls. Next, she went over to a drawer to grab the necessary cutlery. Once finished setting the table, she turned around to face Kuro-kun, flashing him a bright smile. He smiled back at her, showing his appreciation for her help.
"By the way, Ina, how is that book you've been reading lately? Can you already make sense of it?" Kuro-kun asked, attempting to make some small-talk. Ina blushed, her smile fading and her cheeks turning a bright shade of crimson. She hesitated for a moment before finally speaking up.
"E-Eh... Um... Well, I'm still trying to understand everything in the book, but it's quite complex and filled with ancient knowledge that doesn't always make sense to me." She admitted sheepishly, looking down at her feet shyly. "But sometimes, I get flashes of insight or visions about things happenings around us..." Her voice trailed off into wonderment as she recalled one such instance where she had saved someone from falling victim to an evil cult leader.
"I try my best to learn more about these matters so I can help others like you, Kuro-kun," she added earnestly, hoping he would appreciate her efforts.
"Well, that's good. Sounds like you're making some real headway. Maybe one day, you can use that arcane knowledge to change your size." Kuro-kun said jokingly.
Ina giggled softly at his joke, crossing her arms beneath her chest to emphasize its meager size. "Oh, is that so? I suppose if it means I can better serve others, then perhaps..." She considered his words for a moment before shaking her head lightly. "But no, my breasts are fine just the way they are." Her tone was firm yet playful, as though she knew exactly how silly such a proposition sounded coming from someone like herself.
"A bigger chest can certainly 'serve' other people if you catch my drift." Kuro-kun responded cheekily, trying to suppress a chuckle. Ina's face flushed even deeper at the lewd implication behind his words, her cheeks turning a deep crimson yet again. She bit her bottom lip nervously before clearing her throat awkwardly.
"U-Uhm... Well... I-I appreciate your sentiment, Kuro-kun..." She stuttered, struggling to find the right words to respond to his suggestive comment. Her heart pounded loudly in her ears as she stood there, feeling both embarrassed and slightly aroused by the attention he was giving her.
"Was that a bit too far?" Kuro-kun asked her, worry evident in his voice. "I'm sorry if I offended you. I know there's some lines I really shouldn't cross. I'm sorry."
"N-No, it's fine. Really." Ina tried to sound composed despite the flustered state she was in. She took a deep breath and forced herself to regain composure before turning away from him once more. Ina busied herself with tidying up the countertop, straightening out utensils and napkins, her mind racing with thoughts of what he had said earlier.
Kuro-kun turned back to the pan on the stove, his face slowly turning red as well as he felt embarrassed about how awkward he just made the situation. "S-S-So… Dinner's ready. Hope you like mushroom soup," he said in a low voice trying to make up for his earlier blunder.
"T-Thank you, Kuro-kun!" Ina exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine appreciation as she walked back over to the stove. She carefully removed two bowls of steaming hot soup from the pot and placed them on the table before retrieving a couple of freshly baked loaves of bread from the oven. Setting those down too, she glanced at him once more, taking in his tall frame towering above her tiny figure. "Mushroom soup is my favorite," she admitted shyly, sitting down across from him at the table. Her eyes lingered on his muscular arms exposed by his sleeves for just a moment longer than necessary before quickly returning to her own meal.
After a time of awkward silence, Kuro-kun spoke up once again. "Ina, listen, I really apologize for that comment earlier. I overstepped my bounds and made you uncomfortable. I'm really sorry about that. It won't happen again."
"I-It's alright, Kuro-kun. Really." Ina quickly dismissed his apology with a wave of her hand. "We all say silly things sometimes. Besides, you're not the first person to comment on my chest size." She chuckled softly, taking another sip of her soup. She continued eating quietly for a while longer, savoring every bite of the delicious meal he had prepared for them both. Occasionally, she would steal glances at him, admiring how well-built he truly was beneath his clothes.
The rest of dinner passed uneventfully as they both ate soup. Once they were done, Kuro-kun got up and said "Man, I'm tired. I'm gonna pack the dishwasher and then I'm heading to bed. You need anything before I do that, Ina?" "N-No, thank you, Kuro-kun. I'll clean up the mess we made." Ina quickly stood up from her seat and began gathering their plates and utensils, placing them neatly in the dishwasher. "Sleep well, Kuro-kun," she called out softly after finishing her task. "Good night Ina. Hope you sleep well" Kuro-kun said as he made his way upstairs. Ina went to sit on the couch with her Takodachis once more. They curled around her legs again, purring contently as they watched some random show together until exhaustion eventually caught up with them, and they drifted off to sleep.