Sawatari:
“What did you say?”
Yuri:
“Soji! That’s...”
Soji:
“Why do we need to keep it under wraps?”
Yuri:
“Well, maybe it would be better to wait until things get settled...”
Soji:
“I’d rather proclaim our relationship than see you taken out by other guys.”
Sawatari:
“Higashikuni, what is going on here? You’re Mr. Shirogane’s wife...?”
Soji:
“Feel free to spread the word. Do whatever you want with this information.”
After
he said that to Sawatari, Soji took me by the hand and we left the apartment.
Although
I felt anxious about just leaving Sawatari there... I went directly back to the
condo, dragged along by Soji.
Yuri:
(I should apologize to Sawatari next chance I get.)
Soji:
“Are you sure that he didn’t do anything to hurt you?”
Soji
flung himself down onto the sofa... lobbing this question at me while I
remained standing.
Yuri:
“N-No. Well, he pulled a knife on me...”
Soji:
“What?”
Yuri:
“Oh, but soon after that he pushed me down. And then you came to rescue me.”
Soji:
“I see...”
Soji
heaved another big sigh. As I stared blankly at him, he face me with an annoyed
look.
Soji:
“How long are you going to keep standing there?”
Yuri:
“Oh… that’s right. I was in the middle of cooking. I’m sorry, it’s gotten so
late.”
Soji:
“I don’t care about that. Sit down.”
Yuri:
“Y-Yes...”
When
I tried to sit down beside Soji, he grabbed my arm.
Soji:
“Don’t sit there.”
Yuri:
“Huh?”
Soji:
“You sit here.”
He
lifted me up and sat me just in front of himself. Then, he hugged me strongly
from behind.
Yuri:
“S-Soji?”
Soji:
“I’m glad you’re safe... seriously.”
Yuri:
“Well...”
Soji:
“When I saw you being held down by that scumbag, I lost control for a moment.
Before I realized what I was doing, I’d already hit him.”
Yuri:
“Soji, I’ve never seen you get so rattled before.”
Soji:
“When I saw a knife on the floor... I went pale.”
Yuri:
“I’m sorry...”
Soji:
“Don’t worry me so much...”
Seated
behind me, Soji brought his lips to my neck and kissed me. Every time Soji
spke, I felt his breath tickling me.
Soji:
“Also, about what you said before... the race to become successor has nothing
to do with this. I went to find you because I was worried about you and that’s
the only reason”
Yuri:
“You... worried about me?”
Soji:
“Of course, every man should worry about his wife.”
Yuri:
“But I’m your slave, right?”
Soji:
“But you’re also my wife.”
Yuri:
(Your wife... he was suspicious of me and Sawatari a short while ago... does
this really have nothing to do with the successorship…?) “Um, Soji...”
Soji:
“What?”
Yuri:
“By any chance... were you jealous of me?”
Soji:
“What?”
Yuri:
“I mean, about me and Sawatari...”
Soji:
“W-What...”
Soji
blushed a little.
Yuri:
“I’m just kidding... I’m sorry I got carried away.”
Soji:
“...Is it so wrong for me to get jealous?”
Yuri:
“Huh?”
Soji:
“I couldn’t be happy with my wife going out for lunch with another man.”
Soji
blushed more deeply.
Yuri:
“I thought… that you married me only to satisfy the requirements to become the
successor. So, ia thought you were angry with me about having lunch with
Sawatari because I might blacken your name...”
Soji:
“Hell no!”
Yuri:
“But you said that whatever I did would bounce back to you.”
Soji:
“...That was just an excuse.”
Yuri:
“What do you mean?”
Soji:
“Now that you’re married to me, don’t look at other men.”
I
was pretty sure that, up until now... this is where he would have told me, you
are my slave.
Yuri:
(But now he explains himself saying I’m his wife, and that we’re married.) “I…
have never even looked at anybody else since I married you.”
Soji:
“I know.”
Yuri:
“Then...”
Soji:
“Still, I don’t like that you going out with another man.”
He
loosened his hug and stroked my hair from behind. When I turned around, he
pressed his lips against my cheek. I kissed him of my own accord.
Soji:
“You’re certainly daring today.”
Yuri:
“Well... I’ve gotten used to this. You always say do whatever makes you happy.”
Soji:
“Do you think I will be happy with this?”
Yuri:
“Oh...”
Changing
my posture, I clung to his neck and kissed him deeply. Soji hugged me,
satisfied...
He cradled
the back of my head and we repeated our gentle but intense kissing.
Yuri:
“S-Soji...”
Soji:
“...I’ve been thinking about what you said.”
Yuri:
“What do you mean?”
He
didn’t answer me. Instead, he lifted up me with ease. Into his arms, I went,
and to the bedroom. Soji put me down on the bed gently.
Soji:
“...You told me at the beginning. We should love each other.”
Yuri:
“Ah...”
Soji:
“How do you feel now…?”
Yuri:
“Now...”
It
was impossible to put into words, so instead of doing that... I stretched out
my arms and pressed myself against Soji.
Soji:
“...Can I take this as your answer?”
Yuri:
“You won’t tell me... how you feel about me, will you?”
Soji:
“You should feel it... from my attitude.”
He
kissed me wildly, nearly taking my breath away. Our breath grew hurried,
ragged... Soji put his hand around my waist.
Yuri:
(I think... I might have hoped things would come to this... for quite some
time, now.)
The
resistance I once had against Soji has all but disappeared. On the contrary…
every time Soji laid his warm hands on me I felt my chest grow tight.
Yuri:
“...ah...Soji...”
Soji:
“Yuri.”
Calling
out each other’s name, we kissed again and again...
