Questions

"Is there anything you want to ask me?"

Yusuke looked at Sayu and said.

"Um..."

Sayu pondered, turned her head to think for a moment, and then snapped back to the original angle.

"First."

She smiled and held up a finger.

"When is your birthday, Yusuke?"

"Birthday?" Yusuke was startled, resting his cheek on one hand, frowning and thinking for a while: "September 23rd... right?"

"Right?" Sayu repeated, looking at him with a confused expression, "Why do you sound uncertain?"

"Well, sorry." Yusuke shook his head: "It just felt a bit distant for a moment when you asked, so I wasn't sure."

His tone was very calm.

"Is that so?"

Sayu looked at Yusuke thoughtfully, wondering what he was thinking, and then she raised her second finger.

"Second question." With an inexplicable sparkle in her eyes, Sayu asked excitedly, "Do you have superpowers, Yusuke?"

"What??"

Yusuke looked at her in amazement: "How could that be? Just imagine such a thing."

"Eh~~?" Sayu drew out the word, slightly disappointed: "But didn't you jump from the first floor to the second with a 'boom' when you were carrying me?"

She straightened Yusuke's head, looked into his eyes carefully, and asked suspiciously, "Aren't you hiding something?"

"Why would I do such a thing..."

His clear eyes, curved eyebrows, long eyelashes trembling slightly, and fair skin tinged with pink; his thin lips as delicate as rose petals.

Facing each other, Yusuke suddenly fell silent.

"Anyway..."

Yusuke looked away somewhat unnaturally, then gently pushed Sayu back and said.

"...No, don't think too much, I'm just slightly stronger than the average person."

He stretched out his thumb and forefinger, pinched the size of a peanut, and gestured towards Sayu.

"Just a little bit?"

Sayu's eyes carried a subtle expression.

"Just a little."

Yusuke nodded affirmatively as if proving his point, he touched his stomach and added.

"I have an eight-pack."

"Hmmm?"

Hearing his claim, Sayu pouted as if unconvinced, and sighed.

"Forget it, since you've already put it that way..."

Her eyes swept across Yusuke's abdomen, intentionally or unintentionally, as Sayu stretched out another finger.

"Last question."

Her posture was more upright than before, her back straightened.

Looking at Sayu, who bowed to him inexplicably, Yusuke said, puzzled, "And why so formal all of a sudden..."

Sayu replied, "You said before, 'I want to know, no matter what.' I have something I want to ask like that too. Can you tell me?"

Her eyes were full of seriousness.

"Just ask whatever you want. I won't deny it."

"In that case..."

As if to steel herself, Sayu took a deep breath, then looked at Yusuke intently, and said each word distinctly.

"I want to know, what does the girl who hugged you outside the store that night have to do with you?"

Suddenly, the room fell silent.

"I see..."

The events of the other day connected in his mind, Yusuke murmured, then gave Sayu a deep look and said.

"Is that why you disappeared without a trace before?"

Sayu remained silent, just pursed her lips tightly and stared at him firmly.

"You're talking about Takada." Yusuke sighed and said, "We are just colleagues, that's all."

"Really!?" Sayu exclaimed subconsciously, then seemed to feel uncomfortable, wrinkling her face with all her strength, "Then why was she holding you?"

This feeling...

It was like being caught by his wife hanging out with other women.

Yusuke thought for a moment, then shook his head vigorously.

He stretched out his fingers to squeeze Sayu's cheek and pulled it to the sides.

"What kind of look is that? And why should I be interrogated by you, but..."

He laughed at himself.

"Maybe she won't even be my colleague in the future. After all, I rejected her."

"It hurts... eh??"

Hearing Yusuke's words, Sayu, who was struggling at first, immediately stopped her movements, stared blankly at Yusuke, and spoke after a while.

"What did you just... say?"

"I said I rejected her."

Yusuke repeated it again, leaning back and propping his hands on the floor.

"Rejected?"

Suddenly, Sayu came to his side.

"That means she really was interested in you, right?? That... sneaky cat."

Her voice gradually decreased, and Sayu looked away shyly.

"So what..."

She cleared her throat and said, "How did you reject her?"

"You don't need to know that kind of thing."

Yusuke said, gathering the finished dishes.

"You've finished asking your questions."

"Wait... wait a minute." Sayu grabbed the corner of his shirt, "This is the last question..."

Her large, beautiful eyes stared over, with stars seemingly twinkling in them.

"That..." She said hesitantly, "Yusuke, did you reject her for me...?"

"You think too much."

Yusuke denied it, and put his hand on Sayu's head, stroking it roughly, indifferent to how messy her hair got.

"Clearly, you're a clingy kid."

"...! Not anymore."

Sayu grabbed Yusuke's hand in dissatisfaction.

"And..."

Her gaze moved downward.

"I think I'm... quite mature."

After speaking, she puffed out her chest.

Even through the shirt, the significance was undeniable and at that moment, it boldly proclaimed its presence.

"Want to touch it?"

Sayu raised her head and asked tentatively.

"It's very soft don't you want to use it as a pillow?"

Yusuke looked at her speechlessly: "I'm not interested in that."

"Hey, you're not being honest."

"There's no such thing."

"In that case..." Sayu stretched out her hands and said to Yusuke, "Then let me give you a hug."

Saying that Sayu hugged him directly, ignoring Yusuke's protest that "it's not necessary," and rubbed her head hard against him.

Then she said softly.

"Yusuke belongs to me."

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