Melody At Work

Our hands collided in the pursuit of that last bottle of water, and I found myself face-to-face with none other than Hoshino Agawa, a name that resonated through the halls of our school like a cherished melody.

Her enchanting eyes, the color of a midsummer night's sky, met mine, and for a heartbeat, time seemed to still.

In that suspended moment, I couldn't help but notice the delicate curve of her lips, like the petals of a rare, forbidden flower.

Our faces were dangerously close, and an unexpected warmth spread through me, a sensation I hadn't anticipated.

Hoshino's lips parted slightly, as if she were about to say something, her breath mingling with mine. It was a fraction of a second, but it felt like an eternity.

For a brief, intoxicating moment, the world around us disappeared, leaving only the two of us suspended in a realm of possibilities.

And then, as suddenly as it had begun, the moment shattered. We both pulled away from the bottle simultaneously, the spell broken.

Hoshino's cheeks displayed a faint hue, like the blush of a rose petal kissed by the morning dew.

In my apathetic state, I merely observed the phenomenon, considering it briefly.

I, on the other hand, remained oblivious to the reason behind her blush. Instead, I offered a casual smile, my tone light.

"Well, that was a close one. Almost had to fight over a water bottle."

Hoshino's reaction was unexpected. Her demeanor shifted instantly, her eyes turning icy, and her lips curved into a dismissive smile. "Indeed. It would have been quite the spectacle."

It was as if the intimate moment we had just shared had never happened, replaced by a veil of polite indifference.

Hoshino had returned to her customary aloofness, leaving me to wonder if I had imagined the entire exchange.

I couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration at her sudden change in behavior, but I pushed it aside.

There were far more important matters to attend to, and getting entangled with Hoshino Agawa was not on my agenda.

As we each claimed a water bottle from the fridge, I couldn't resist one more glance in her direction.

Her ears were still tinged with a faint red hue, a subtle detail I acknowledged without comment.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to take a risk. "Hoshino, you seem to have a touch of red in your cheeks. Are you feeling unwell?"

Her reaction was immediate. She turned to me with a look that could freeze lava, her eyes sharp and piercing. "My well-being is none of your concern, Ayato Akiyama."

Despite her icy response, I couldn't help but let my gaze linger on her for a moment longer.

Her attire accentuated the magnificent curves of her body, and she looked like a work of art brought to life.

I admitted to myself, in the privacy of my thoughts, that she was undeniably beautiful.

But such thoughts held no sway over me. Beauty was just another tool in the arsenal of manipulation, and I had no intention of being ensnared by it.

Hoshino Agawa might be a captivating person, but I was determined to remain unaffected as I pursued my ambitions.

As we each claimed a water bottle from the fridge, I moved away ready to resume my session.

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STAREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

I couldn't help but sense that this encounter had sparked something in Hoshino Agawa.

Over the course of our time at the gym, I noticed her watching me intently, her gaze following my every move as I went from one gym tool to another.

It made me distinctly uncomfortable, and I found myself perplexed by her unwavering curiosity.

Finally, unable to ignore it any longer, I paused mid-workout and turned to her. "Hoshino, is there a reason you're staring at me like that?"

Her expression remained inscrutable, a faint smile playing at her lips. "Staring? My apologies, Akiyama-san I must have been lost in thought."

Just as I was about to resume my routine, she called out to me.

Now this is getting annoying...

Her voice carrying an unexpected request. "Akiyama-san, when you're done here, could you spare a little time for a talk?"

I raised an eyebrow, surprised by her sudden change in demeanor. "A talk? About what?"

Hoshino's eyes held a hint of intrigue as she replied " I need some assistance in a matter"

------------I have bad feeling about this.