Chapter 21: Innocent Embrace ( 21 )
"Haruki?"
"Yeah?"
Kyouko turned around, lifting her arms slowly. "Can you help me with this stretch? I can't quite reach."
She faced away from him, exposing the elegant curve of her back and the gentle lift of her arms. Haruki stepped closer, placing his hands on her sides, and then, instinctively, he wrapped his arms around her from behind to support her posture.
His chest brushed against her back, and as his hands moved upward to guide her arms, they grazed the side of her chest.
Kyouko didn't flinch.
She exhaled softly, her body relaxing against his. It was just part of the exercise. At least, that's what they told themselves.
Haruki's breath caught for a moment. The feel of her warm, soft body in his arms was too real, too close. He tried not to think about it, but her natural scent, subtle and comforting. It wasn't perfume; it was her.
And something about it made it hard to let go.
Kyouko leaned slightly into him, her hands gently lowering as she held the stretch. She could feel the firmness of his abs against her back, the warmth of his skin. It wasn't awkward.
As Haruki's arms wrapped around her to help with the stretch, Kyouko's breath caught from something else.