Chapter 36: Who lacks such civic virtue...

In the cramped and suffocating room, Kayoko knelt by the bedside, gazing at the three sets of clothes laid out on the bed as if they were the most beautiful things in the world.

She rested her hands gently on the edge of the bed, tirelessly tracing the fabric with her fingertips over and over again.

"Kaya-kun..."

Distorted longing suppressed her reason. Kayoko packed the clothes away and took out the lingerie from another bag. She carefully put it on, feeling the slightly tight, yet intensely restrictive embrace of the fabric. It felt as if she were being held in the palm of a hand.

Her dazed eyes drifted into seductive thoughts. As waves of palpitations surged, Kayoko’s body began to writhe restlessly in the dim light. Her breathing became chaotic until, eventually, everything fell into a profound silence.

The damp lingerie was uncomfortable to wear, but she couldn't bear to take it off, for these were gifts from Kaya-kun. Wearing them felt as if Kaya-kun were right by her side.

"Kayoko, you really are a wanton woman... to have soiled the lingerie Kaya-kun gave you like this..."

"If Kaya-kun finds out later... will he hate me for being like this?"

Lost in the wandering thoughts born of her yearning, the girl drifted into a hazy sleep.

The next morning, the moment Uta Kaya stepped out of his door, he found Kayoko standing there.

"Kaya-kun~"

As the girl called out in a voice that was almost a soft whisper, Uta Kaya turned to look at her. Seeing Kayoko in the black dress he had bought for her, her figure tall and her curves alluring, he was both surprised and somewhat vexed.

He was surprised because people only widen their eyes when they behold something magnificent. And without a doubt, Kayoko was magnificent. After all, one had to be magnificent to stretch a dress into such a distinct silhouette.

His vexation, however, stemmed from the feeling that he had exposed a gem, once buried in the sand, to the eyes of the world. She should belong only to him.

"Ka... Kaya-kun...?"

Seeing Uta Kaya staring at her, Kayoko nervously checked her attire, fearing there was something unsightly about her appearance.

"It’s nothing. I was just... stunned by your beauty, Kayoko."

"Eh?!!"

At these words, Kayoko’s face flushed a deep crimson. She quickly lowered her head, afraid to meet his gaze, and twisted her fingers together in front of her stomach.

*Kaya-kun called me beautiful... Kaya-kun called me beautiful...*

Immersed in Uta Kaya’s praise, Kayoko’s brain went into overload; she didn't even notice when he walked right up to her. Shaking his head to dispel the fleeting wicked thoughts in his mind, Uta Kaya asked, "Have you had breakfast?"

Kayoko blinked, looked up, and then lowered her head in embarrassment. Since starting high school, she had only been able to afford two meals a day because of her lack of money.

"Let’s go. I haven't eaten either."

After speaking, he looked at the hair still shielding part of her cheek and pondered for a moment with his arms crossed.

"Kayoko, if you tie your hair back and expose your forehead and face, I think you’d look even better."

"Eh?"

She felt the touch of his fingers against her forehead. As she looked up at Uta Kaya, who was studying her hairstyle, his focused gaze seemed to possess an inexplicable magnetism that made Kayoko lose herself.

"Let's go. You have to go to work today. Don't be too nervous; I'll take you there."

"Eh? O-okay...!"

Regaining her senses, Kayoko hurried to catch up behind Uta Kaya.

While eating a simple breakfast from a convenience store, the two stood by the roadside waiting for the bus. Although the economic boom of the time meant that many in the country took pride in taking taxis, every grand era still had its share of ordinary, unremarkable people.

On the bus, due to the crowd, Uta Kaya did his best to shield Kayoko behind him, thinking that with her personality, she would likely just suffer in silence if someone took advantage of her.

Standing opposite him, Kayoko kept her eyes fixed on Uta Kaya’s shoulders—not broad, yet incredibly reassuring—and her gaze gradually turned dazed.

Suddenly, the bus braked. Caught off balance, Kayoko tipped toward the front left, but fortunately, Uta Kaya caught her, preventing her from falling.

"Thank you... Kaya-kun~"

Uta Kaya nodded and placed a hand on her shoulder to help her stand straight. However, as new passengers boarded, their space was squeezed even further. Uta Kaya instinctively reached out to steady himself against the glass, but physical contact with Kayoko became unavoidable.

Instinctively, Kayoko wanted to push him away, but in a split second, feeling the pressure against her chest, she suppressed her reflex. Blushing, she placed her hands at her sides and deliberately turned her head away to avoid looking at him.

Sensing their physical contact, Uta Kaya felt a wave of awkwardness. "Um, just hold on for a moment. We'll be past these major stops soon."

Kayoko gave a faint, almost imperceptible nod, silently praying that the bus would travel slowly, ever so slowly...

After a ten-minute ride, they reached their destination. As they stepped off the bus, seeing Kayoko’s flushed cheeks, Uta Kaya awkwardly explained, "Um, I didn't mean to..."

Kayoko shook her head quickly. "No, it’s not Kaya-kun’s fault..."

"I actually liked it..."

"What?"

"Nothing at all!"

Uta Kaya hadn't caught the last part of her sentence, but he didn't press her. He turned and walked a few steps ahead, only to realize Kayoko had fallen behind.

"What’s wrong?"

Kayoko stared at him, her face flushed, shaking her head without speaking. Concerned, Uta Kaya stepped closer, looking into her slightly unfocused eyes.

"Are you not feeling well? Were you crushed by the crowd?"

The scent of Uta Kaya drifting into her nose helped Kayoko’s gaze sharpen slightly. Looking into his concerned eyes, she murmured instinctively, "My... my legs feel a bit weak..."

"That happens when you stand for too long. Lean on me and rest for a bit."

"Mm..."

With a heavy nasal tone, they stood there for a while. Uta Kaya took the opportunity to tell her about the surrounding environment, never noticing the slight trembling of Kayoko’s skirt.

A while later, as they continued walking and passed a nearby public restroom, Kayoko spoke up urgently.

"Kaya-kun, I need to go to the restroom...!"

Watching her hurry away, Uta Kaya shrugged and went to a nearby shop to buy two bottles of water. After waiting for a while, Kayoko finally emerged.

"If your stomach is upset, drink some water."

Taking the water bottle from him, Kayoko nodded softly. Watching Uta Kaya’s retreating back, she fell into a train of thought that made her face flush once again.

*Kaya-kun... I wonder if he’ll find me annoying for changing my bedsheets so often in the future...*