Tokyo: Oreimo

"But this is an exception, because I... even if I lose, I don't want to leave you."

Ryosuke closed his eyes.

A breeze picked up outside the window, causing the curtains to sway gently in the moonlight.

Saori's breathing gradually became long and even, but she was still not asleep, just leaning against him.

After a while, she raised her head and pressed her lips to his earlobe.

"You are not allowed to go back tonight." Her tone regained its usual playful edge. "That's an order, President."

Chapter 293 What she can do, I can do too.

Ling Nai sat on the sofa in the living room all night.

The TV was on, the volume turned down to the lowest setting, and the late-night variety show on the screen was replaced by the morning news, and then by the weather forecast.

She hugged the cushion, her gaze fixed on the television screen, not paying attention to anything.

No light shone through the crack under the entryway door.

At one, two, and three in the morning, she would look up every now and then.

The phone is on the coffee table, screen up, with no new messages or missed calls.

She opened her chat window with Ryosuke, typed a few words, deleted them, and repeated this several times before finally putting her phone face down on the coffee table.

"What am I doing? Why am I waiting for that guy...?"

Ling buried her face in the cushion.

He didn't come back all night, which means he was kept behind by the Giantess, right?

She's not a child; how could she not know what might happen when the two of them are alone together?

I knew it perfectly well.

Now I'm sitting here waiting all night, like a fool.

She tossed the cushion aside, stood up, and walked to the window.

The curtains were pulled open a crack, the streetlights downstairs were still on, the streets were deserted, and the lights from the vending machines shone palely in the night.

The light in the second-floor window is off.

Ling Nai drew the curtains, returned to the sofa, curled up her legs, and rested her chin on her knees.

What will she do to him? Will she hold his hand? Will she hug him? Will she...?

"That's enough."

Ling Nai closed her eyes tightly, her fingers gripping the fabric of her pajama bottoms.

That bastard! He just told me he liked me, and then he did that kind of thing with another woman.

This guy....

Ling Nai muttered to herself, but when she thought of Ryosuke's face, she couldn't bring herself to hate him no matter what.

And Saori, she couldn't blame her either.

In the end, she was the most cunning one. Hadn't she done those things too? Holding hands, hugging, kissing—she had done them all.

But Saori is his girlfriend, so it's perfectly legitimate. She doesn't need to sneak into his bed or wait until he's asleep to get close to him.

I don't have that kind of qualification yet.

Ling buried her face in her knees.

The sky outside the window gradually turned white.

......

At 7:12 a.m., the lock on the front door clicked.

Ryosuke pushed open the door and came in, carrying a plastic bag from the convenience store. The collar of his T-shirt was slightly open, and his hair wasn't styled as usual, with a few strands hanging down his forehead.

He looked up as he was changing his shoes in the entryway and saw Ling Nai sitting on the sofa in the living room.

The movement paused for a second.

Ling Nai's hair was loose and draped over her shoulders. She was still wearing the light pink pajamas she wore last night, and her toes were slightly curled.

She hugged the cushion to her chest, rested her chin on it, and stared straight at him.

"Good morning," Ryosuke said.

"Good morning."

Ling Nai's voice was calm.

Ryosuke changed into slippers and came into the living room, placing the convenience store plastic bag on the dining table. "I bought a few cartons of milk and rice balls. Want some?"

"You rascal...were you with the Giantess last night?"

Ling Nai did not respond to him.

Ryosuke's hand stopped on the handle of the plastic bag, paused for a moment, then withdrew his hand and turned to look at her.

Ling Nai stood up from the sofa, put the cushion aside, walked barefoot across the wooden floor, and stood in front of him.

The top of her head only reached his chin; she had to tilt her head back to see his eyes.

There was a faint bluish-black tinge under her eyes; she hadn't slept all night either.

"Yes, I spent the night at Saori's place."

Ryosuke was silent for a moment, then nodded.

Ling Nai pursed her lips into a thin line, and her gaze shifted from his face to the side of his neck.

There was a small, light red mark below the neckline of her T-shirt, above her collarbone. It was almost invisible unless you looked closely, but she noticed it.

Ryosuke noticed her gaze and subconsciously raised his hand to cover it, but then lowered it halfway through.

It's pointless to cover it up now.

Ling Nai stared at the mark for a few seconds, then took a deep breath.

"Let's go have breakfast."

She turned around and sat down at the dining table.

Ryosuke stood there watching her back for a few seconds, then took out milk and rice balls from the plastic bag, unwrapped them, and placed them in front of her.

......

Saori didn't come in the evening.

Ling Nai didn't ask why, and Liang Jie didn't bring it up either.

After the two finished dinner, Ryosuke was washing dishes in the kitchen, while Ling Nai sat on the sofa in the living room, flipping through a professional book without turning a single page for a long time.

The sound of running water and the clattering of dishes in the sink lingered in the quiet apartment for a long time.

Ryosuke turned off the tap, wiped his hands, and walked out of the kitchen.

"I'm going to take a shower first."

"Ah."

Ling Nai didn't even look up.

Ryosuke walked into the bathroom, and the door closed a little louder than usual.

Ling Nai placed the book face down on her lap and stared at the blurry light reflected from the frosted glass door of the bathroom.

She remembered the mark she had seen that morning.

What Saori left behind.

It was left behind by his girlfriend in a legitimate and aboveboard manner.

It was as natural and justifiable as when she left a kiss mark on Ryosuke's neck.

Ling Nai put the book on the coffee table and stood up from the sofa.

......

When Ryosuke came out of the shower, his hair was still wet, and water droplets dripped from the ends of his hair onto his shoulders.

He pushed open the door to his room.

The lights are on.

Ling Nai sat on his bed, her back against the headboard, her legs stretched out, and her hands supporting her on either side of her body.

She changed into a white nightgown, the hem of which just reached above her knees, and her long golden hair was draped over her shoulders and chest.

Her loose ponytail made her look much softer than usual, but her expression was very serious.

Ryosuke stood at the door, his hand still on the doorknob.

Ling Nai looked up at him, her gaze moving from his face to his still-dripping hair, and then back to his eyes.

"Close the door."

Ryosuke didn't move.

Ling Nai got out of bed, walked barefoot across the wooden floor, and stood in front of him. She reached out and took his hand from the doorknob, then closed the door.

The door lock clicked softly.

Ling Nai didn't let go. She looked down at her fingers holding his. Ryosuke's hand was much bigger than hers, with distinct knuckles and a slender, bony shape.

"Ling Nai."

“I can do it.” Her voice was soft. “What Saori can do, I can do too.”

Ryosuke's hand moved slightly, his fingers turning over to hold hers.

"You're not trying to compete with her in this area."

“I know.” Ling Nai raised her head, stubbornly holding it high. “I’m not comparing myself to her. I’m telling you that you don’t need to get all that from her.”

She tiptoed, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed her lips to his.