Chapter 40. After the Touch
I cautiously opened the bathroom door a crack.
The hallway was quiet.
Too quiet.
— Kurosaki-kun..?
No one answered.
I peeked out a little further, still clutching the towel to my chest.
Empty.
No footsteps.
No voices.
No sign of his usual calm presence nearby.
«Where did he go..?»
For some reason, this immediately made me feel a little uneasy.
Just a few minutes ago he had been right there.
Holding me in his arms.
Speaking in that calm voice, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
And now the house suddenly felt enormous.
And I was suddenly alone in it.
I slowly stepped out of the bathroom.
My legs had almost stopped shaking, but I could still feel the weakness.
Every step brought a pleasant heaviness in my muscles.
The massage had really helped.
My back felt lighter.
My shoulders no longer ached.
But the moment I remembered exactly how it had all ended…
My cheeks flushed again.
«Don’t think about it.»
«Just find some clothes.»
I reached my room and cautiously pushed the door open.
Then stopped on the threshold.
Inside, everything looked as if nothing had happened here at all.
The massage table was covered with a fresh white sheet.
The towels were gone.
The bottles of oil were neatly lined up again.
The scented candles were extinguished, and only a faint lavender scent lingered in the air.
Even the floor was perfectly clean.
I slowly shifted my gaze to the massage table.
Then to the neatly folded cover.
Then back to the floor.
«He already cleaned everything up..?»
The realization hit me too quickly.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
— No…
It was so embarrassing that I wanted to lock myself in the bathroom again and not come out for at least another hour.
I understood perfectly that it was him who had to clean up.
Everything that was left after me.
Sweat.
Oil.
And…
I sharply covered my face with my hands.
— A-ah…
«How am I supposed to look him in the eyes now..?»
He had definitely seen everything.
Of course he had.
And not just seen it.
He had calmly cleaned it all up.
Without a single comment.
Without any mockery.
He hadn’t even called me to help.
«Did he leave on purpose so I wouldn’t feel embarrassed..?»
That thought only made it worse.
And at the same time…
Warmer.
He really had taken care of everything.
Even this.
I slowly lowered my hands.
The room was still quiet.
But now it seemed like I could hear someone’s voice coming from outside.
A female voice.
Familiar.
I tensed up.
I walked over to the window.
I pulled the edge of the curtain aside.
In the yard, near the terrace, stood Kurosaki-kun.
He had already changed into a clean t-shirt.
He looked perfectly calm.
As if the last half hour had just been him reading a book.
Standing next to him was Yuki.
She was holding her phone with both hands and showing him something on the screen.
Kurosaki-kun leaned in a little closer, looked carefully, and then said something.
Yuki immediately burst out laughing.
He smiled too.
Not the polite smile he used to greet acquaintances.
A real one.
Light.
Relaxed.
I involuntarily gripped the edge of the curtain tighter.
— What is she doing here..?
The words slipped out on their own.
I immediately frowned.
Yuki said something else.
Then took a step closer to him.
Too close.
At least, that’s how it seemed to me.
Kurosaki-kun didn’t pull away.
He continued looking at the phone.
As if her presence here was completely normal.
For some reason, an unpleasant feeling appeared inside me.
Small.
Prickly.
But very clear.
«She’s always around.»
«First with Hayato-kun.»
I remembered how Yuki now calmly talked with him about anime.
How she laughed.
How she stood next to him without hesitation.
How she more and more often drew his attention to herself.
«And now Kurosaki-kun too..?»
The thought sounded so natural that I didn’t immediately realize how strange it was.
I sharply stepped back from the window.
— What..?
My heart started beating faster.
— Why am I even thinking like this..?
Kurosaki-kun didn’t belong to me.
I had no right to decide who he could talk to.
Especially with Yuki.
They had known each other for a long time.
She had probably just come for some reason.
Maybe for a stream.
Maybe for equipment.
It was completely normal.
Logical.
And yet…
I didn’t like that she was standing next to him right now.
I didn’t like that he was smiling at her.
I didn’t like how confident she looked here.
As if this house was familiar to her.
As if she had been here many times before.
I looked out the window again.
Yuki said something to him, covering her mouth with her hand.
Kurosaki-kun laughed.
Something inside me stung again.
«She’s always getting in the way with Hayato-kun.»
«Now she’s trying to claim Kurosaki-kun too..?»
I froze.
«Claim..?»
My cheeks burned again.
— No.
I quickly shook my head.
— No no no.
It wasn’t jealousy.
Of course not.
It was just…
Yuki had become too active lately.
That was all.
She had changed too quickly.
She had started taking up space next to everyone too confidently.
First Hayato.
Now Kurosaki-kun.
Anyone would find that annoying.
«Yes.»
«Exactly annoying.»
«Nothing more.»
I stepped away from the window and headed to the closet.
Inside hung several sets of clothes.
Sports outfits.
Casual items.
A couple of light dresses.
Everything looked new.
And, judging by the fabrics and cut, expensive.
I ran my fingers along the hangers.
At first I reached for a simple closed dress.
Then stopped.
Yuki appeared in my head again.
Her smile.
The way she stood so close to Kurosaki-kun.
I slowly pulled my hand back.
Instead, I chose a different dress.
Bolder.
Figure-hugging.
With open shoulders and a fairly deep neckline.
Short, but still elegant.
Not provocative.
Just…
Noticeable.
I looked at it for a few seconds.
«What am I doing..?»
There was no answer.
I quickly changed.
The dress fit almost perfectly.
It accentuated my waist.
My chest.
My hips.
I walked over to the mirror.
Adjusted my hair.
Ran my palms over the fabric, smoothing out the folds.
Then carefully looked at my reflection.
— Normal.
It sounded unconvincing.
I turned slightly to the side.
Then back.
«Too bold..?»
Yuki’s laugh sounded in my head again.
I immediately straightened up.
— No.
— It’s just right.
My heart was beating faster than it should.
I knew perfectly well that I had chosen this dress for a reason.
And that only made me feel more awkward.
But I wasn’t going to change back.
I took a deep breath.
Grabbed the door handle.
«Calm down, Rin.»
«Just go out.»
«Just say hello.»
«And don’t act weird.»
I stepped into the hallway.
Went down the stairs.
The voices from the living room grew louder.
Kurosaki-kun was explaining something.
Yuki answered him with her usual soft tone.
I stopped in front of the living room entrance.
For a few seconds.
Then adjusted my dress.
Lifted my chin.
And walked in.
— Kurosaki-kun.
Both immediately turned to me.
And for some reason, the first thing I looked at wasn’t Yuki.
But at his face.
I wanted to see his reaction.
Yuki looked noticeably surprised by my appearance.
Her gaze first slid over my dress.
Then rose to my face.
Kurosaki-kun also looked at me.
And in that same moment, scenes from the massage flashed in my memory.
His hands.
My broken voice.
My shame.
My cheeks instantly burned.
I looked away first.
«Just don’t remember.»
«Not right now.»
— Rin-san? — Yuki spoke first. — What are you doing here?
There was clear displeasure in her voice.
And it instantly put me back on track.
I straightened up.
— Kurosaki-kun and I were discussing business matters.
Then I looked at her attentively.
— And what are you doing here?
Yuki quietly snorted.
— Business matters are usually not handled in outfits like that.
I involuntarily raised an eyebrow.
She calmly continued:
— And I came to visit.
— After all, I’m Kurosaki-kun’s very first friend.
She pronounced the last phrase with special emphasis.
As if deliberately reminding me of her position.
I silently looked at her.
«She really has changed.»
Even a week ago this shy girl would have lowered her head and started apologizing.
She would never have expressed displeasure so directly.
Especially to me.
But now Yuki stood in front of me, not averting her gaze.
Confident.
Calm.
And clearly not going to back down.
A spark seemed to fly between us.
Kurosaki-kun shifted his gaze from me to Yuki.
But said nothing.
He had definitely understood everything perfectly.
And most likely, he was amused.
I was about to answer when my phone rang in my bag.
The melody sharply broke the tension.
I took out the phone.
It was my manager.
— Yes?
The conversation was short.
There were questions about one of the upcoming modeling shoots.
I needed to urgently go to the office and approve the contract details.
I put the phone away.
— Unfortunately, I have to go.
Yuki immediately perked up noticeably.
— Bye, Rin-san!
She waved at me cheerfully.
Too cheerfully.
As if she had been waiting for me to leave.
«How annoying…»
I smiled restrainedly.
— Goodbye, Yuki-san.
Kurosaki-kun calmly stood up.
— I’ll walk you out.
Yuki stopped smiling for a second.
That slightly improved my mood.
We left the house together and headed toward the gate.
We walked in silence for a few seconds.
I still felt a slight tension after the conversation with Yuki.
But next to Kurosaki-kun it gradually faded.
A car was already waiting at the gate.
The driver got out and opened the back door.
I was about to say goodbye when Kurosaki-kun took out his phone.
— I sent you the video.
I froze.
My cheeks began to heat up again.
— Already..?
— Yes.
He nodded calmly.
— Faces are hidden.
— As promised.
— Watch it when you have time and see for yourself.
My phone vibrated briefly in my hand.
A new message.
Followed by another notification.
Kurosaki-kun continued:
— And I transferred part of the shares to you.
— First session — first part of the deal.
He said it in a completely casual tone.
As if we had really just had an ordinary business meeting.
But then he smiled slightly.
— You look very beautiful on the video.
…
I felt my face flush completely.
— K-Kurosaki-kun…
He only smiled politely.
Without mockery.
Without sarcasm.
And that made it even worse.
I quickly checked the notifications.
Video.
Documents on the transfer of part of the shares.
He had really fulfilled his part of the promise.
— Thank you…
I hurriedly got into the car before I completely lost my composure.
The door closed.
The car slowly started moving.
I leaned back in the seat.
I pressed the phone to my chest.
My heart was beating so hard I could hear every beat.
«You look very beautiful on the video.»
His voice sounded in my head again.
I closed my eyes.
My cheeks were still burning.
«How am I supposed to watch this video now..?»
But my finger was already reaching for the notification on its own.
The car had already pulled onto the main road.
I was still holding the phone to my chest.
The screen had long gone dark.
But the notification seemed to continue burning even through the black glass.
«Don’t open it.»
«At least not right now.»
I slowly lowered the phone to my lap.
A few seconds passed.
Then I picked it up again.
— Rin-sama, is everything okay? — the driver asked.
I flinched.
— Yes.
The answer came out too sharply.
I immediately softened my voice:
— Everything’s fine. I was just thinking.
The driver nodded and didn’t ask anything else.
I looked at the screen again.
Message from Kurosaki-kun.
Video.
Documents on the share transfer.
And just one short phrase:
On the recording you really look very beautiful.
My cheeks burned again.
«Why did he write that..?»
Although I knew perfectly well why.
Because he really thought so.
And that was the worst part.
Kurosaki-kun rarely gave empty compliments.
If he said something, he was usually completely sincere.
I cautiously tapped the notification.
The file opened.
A blurred preview appeared on the screen.
My face was hidden by a filter.
His too.
But I still immediately recognized both of us.
By our figures.
By our movements.
By the way his hands lay on me.
I instantly closed the video.
My heart beat even harder.
— No…
I pressed the phone screen-down to my knees.
«I can’t watch this in the car.»
«I’m not even sure I can watch it at all.»
A second later I turned the phone over again.
And saved the file.
Just so I wouldn’t lose it.
Of course.
Only for that reason.