"Huff."

The air was pushed out of (Y/N)'s lungs when Satoru threw her to the ground. Whining she let herself stay down and stretched her arms and legs out.

"Uggh, you're killing me. I'm done with training."

"Don't say that. You are doing so well."

Unlike (Y/N), Satoru wasn't sweaty or out of breath. He didn't even take off his sunglasses. And right now he stood over her, his hand extended to help her up.

"Sure. I'm doing so well that you didn't even need to take off your glasses."

She ignored his hand, preferring to stay on the ground while sulking. This was so frustrating for her, not being able to use all her strength to fight him back. But she needed to get a hold of herself, or else she would lose control of her curse energy and that would be game over for her.

Since she didn't make a move to grip his hand, the limitless user squatted down to be nearer to her. Talking as if he was dealing with a child, he said:

"You don't even have one week of training, what did you expect you could do after so little time?"

(Y/N) had noticed that during training he was different. It's like he is in "sensei-mode".

"We started training over a week ago."

"The time I was away doesn't count (He had been on a mission during the weekend). You weren't training during that time. Now come on, let me help you up."

He once again reached out a hand for her and this time she took it. Satoru pulled her up with a little too much strength which caused her to clutch to his chest for stability.

Since they started training there weren't many moments of intimacy between them. They would train, then (Y/N) would go home, take a shower, and rest for a while before her shift at the bar began. So now, being like that with Satoru after so much time was making her very self-conscious.

She had thought about their relationship so far and decided she needed a change of approach. Now that she had the sorcerer's attention, she wanted for him to fall in love with her because she had come to the conclusion that there was no way around telling him who she really was. If by then he was in love with her, then most probably, he wouldn't hand her over to the higher-ups. But she suspected he was trying something similar to her, to find out why she had been following him. That's why she wanted to get a heartfelt confession from him so she could be sure about his true feelings. So she would take a step back with the sex and focus on building their emotional bond.

Satoru noticed he had pulled (Y/N) too hard and she had lost her balance, so he held her close to him until she found her footing. He smiled at her, amused at how her attitude had changed towards him since he had "punished" her. It was like she was careful not to get too close to him like they were right now. Based on the way she acted and her shy facial expression, he could only conclude one thing. She was beginning to fall for him. He had seen this before, but it was the first time he actually hoped for it to happen. 'If she really starts to have feelings for me, then maybe I can finally have an honest answer as to why she started to follow me.' That was the only reason why he hoped she would fall for him, or at least, that's what he told himself...

The bartender removed herself from his embrace.

"I think I will go home now to take a shower and rest. Tonight is Friday, so the bar will be busier than usual."

"I told you before, you can shower here. You would have more time to rest."

"I don't want to impose. I'm already almost every day at your place. If I stay here longer you can get weary of me."

He got near her again, cupping her cheek.

"Of course I won't, you dummy. I like to spend time with you."

She gave him a sweet smile.

"Really? Well, would you then like to come to the bar later? I still have to work, but I'm sure I would have some time to hang out with you. Maybe you could bring your friend Nanami-san too."

He raised an eyebrow at her.

"Nanami? Don't say I'm not enough for you, now you want a threesome?"

That was definitely not what she meant. Embarrassed, she stuttered.

"N-no. I, I just thought about him to make you company while I'm working."

He was loving to see her embarrassed like that.

"So you want to see me with him? That's kinky."

Now she blushed. Punching him on his chest she said:

"Stop that, you're putting some images in my head that will surely come back to my mind when I'll see Nanami-san, and then I will just get embarrassed in front of him."

"You really are naughty, aren't you?" He laughed.

"Ugh, I'm going now before you make more fun of me. You know where I'll be, so if you want, show up later."

Before she could run away from him, he pulled her by her wrist and kissed her lips lightly, hoping that would help for her to not get the wrong idea from what he was about to say.

"I would like that, but I have a meeting later."

'A meeting? On Friday night? Most probably it's a date and he plays off as a meeting, and the kiss was only for me not to get suspicious. Maybe I was wrong and he isn't falling for me.'

"Oh, okay. And training tomorrow is still on?"

"Sure, but bring some clothes to change so you can shower here."

"Hum, I will think about that..."

It was already getting late and the bar began to calm down. Shoko had finished her drink and (Y/N) was now going up to her to see if she wanted something else.

"Another round before closing?"

"Ahm, yes, why not."

Since the brunet had been so many times at the bar, (Y/N) had started making conversation with her. They had talked for some times now and she had learned Shoko's name and that she was a medic.

The bartender poured the liquor in a glass and decided to have a drink with the medic, but she didn't want to have alcohol, so she poured some iced tea. Going to the counter, she reached the glass to the other woman and asked:

"Do you mind if I make you company?"

"Of course not. I'm always happy about your company."

"You are? Then I think I need to talk more often to you." She drank a sip of her iced tea before continuing. "Shoko-san, don't get me wrong, but why would such a beautiful young woman as yourself hang always alone at a bar like this? I mean, it's Friday night, why not go out to a place more fun?"

"Oh, I'm having fun. I like to watch people going about their lives while enjoying some drinks. And then the service here is excellent."

(Y/N) smiled and raised her glass at Shoko.

"Then let's have a toast for the good service and the nice customers."

Shoko raised her glass too and drank a big sip. The alcohol was already running wild in her bloodstream from the drinks she had before, so she had forgotten about the real reason she was there at the bar.

"And what about you, Yuna? With all the work here do you have any time to meet someone?"

"What do you mean? This is the best job to meet people."

"Really? So you must have made many friends around the world? Maybe some lovers?" She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

(Y/N) smiled into her glass before taking a sip to raise the suspense.

"Yes."

"Yes, what?"

"Some people I met became good friends, others good lovers." She winked.

Shoko became enthusiastic about that info. Playing with her hair, she asked:

"What about here in Tokyo? Found any lover yet?"

The younger women played shy. Now the conversation was at the point where she intended. If Shoko was indeed Saroru's friend, then she would probably tell him what they talked about.

"Hihi. Well, there is someone."

Leiri's intoxicated brain got excited about the possibility that Yuna could be talking about her.

"And do I know who it is?"

"I don't know. Do you know some eccentric white-haired man who uses a blindfold although he can see perfectly fine?"

Disappointment could be seen for a split second on Shoko's face. 'Of course it isn't me she was talking about.' And then her brain makes the connection. 'She's talking about Gojo. Has he already managed for her to fall for him?'

"Can't think of someone with that description. But you sound rather enthusiastic. Is he that good of a lover?"

Leiri saw how Yuna blushed.

"I shouldn't talk about this with a customer..."

"You said it yourself, you found friends in customers. We have talked for some times now, and I like talking to you. I think I would like to become your friend."

A charming smile made its way onto (Y/N)'s lips.

"Really? I would like that too."

"So then, tell me about that white-haired bastard."

"He showed up here one day, saying I would be following him because apparently, I was jogging by his apartment and workplace. That was just a coincidence since I didn't know him from anywhere, so I immediately thought he was flirting with me. We ended up going on a date and I found out that he isn't searching for a commitment. He only wants to have fun. That's just what I pretended too, so it was perfect."

The bartender made a stop to drink and for suspense. Her new friend was afraid that she maybe wouldn't continue talking, so she said:

"This sounds like there is more to this story."

"Yeah, there is. We ended up having fun that night but that wasn't it. We have been seeing each other almost every day lately, not just to screw around. In this time I have got to know him better and I really appreciate his company."

Yuna was called by a customer so she excused herself, leaving Shoko in thought.

'Sounds like that bastard really is winning her over. But she is so nice. It's not right for him to manipulate her like this. She will only get her heartbroken by him.'

The bartender was back.

"Sorry about that. Sometimes I still need to work. Now, where was I?"

"I think you were about to tell me you are falling for that man?"

"What? No. I'm not falling for him." The stern expression on the usual tired-looking face made (Y/N) rejoice inside. 'She really thinks I'm falling for Satoru. Good, now I hope she will tell him.'

"Don't look at me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you know it better. I mean, I like being with him even if we aren't screwing around, but that's just because he is fun to be around."

Shoko's phone interrupted their talk. It was Gojo. The woman declined the call. The annoying man would probably try to call her again, but she didn't want to pick up inside the bar. Before she would pay and leave, she wanted to warn Yuna about him.

"Yuna, I need to go, but I just wanted to say to be careful with that man. He sounds like he's only playing with you."

"Don't worry Shoko-san. I don't get attached to men so easily."