Under the warm light above the dining table, dinner was drawing to a close.
Aina Saiten put down her chopsticks, her gaze softly drifting across to her boyfriend, who was quietly clearing away the bowls and dishes.
She could sense a subtle and unusual tension flowing in the air—a delicate, almost imperceptible charge.
Beneath Kaoru Hoshitani’s lowered lashes, it seemed some fierce, pent-up emotion was struggling to be released.
Thinking of their recent nights of intimacy, and the faint scent of soap mixed with an anxious restlessness now lingering around him, Aina Saiten understood at once: tonight, she was probably “doomed.”
She cleared her somewhat dry throat, her voice gentle yet knowing, tinged with anticipation:
“Um… Akane, I’ll go take a shower first.”
That sentence felt like a secret signal between them, breaking the brief quiet that had followed dinner.
“Mm…”
Kaoru Hoshitani almost immediately forced out a response—so soft it was like the buzz of a mosquito, yet trembling noticeably.
He didn’t look up at her, but a visible blush rapidly spread across his pale cheeks, reaching all the way to the tips of his ears.
He hastily stacked the last bowl, his fingertips turning a little white from the pressure, then, almost flustered, got to his feet and hurried back to the bedroom, leaving behind a slender and suggestive silhouette.
Aina Saiten showered quickly and efficiently. The warm water washed away the day’s fatigue, and filled her with even greater anticipation for the night ahead.
Wrapped in her bathrobe, still trailing a cloud of warmth and steam, she returned to the bedroom.
Only the bedside reading lamp was lit, casting a gentle, golden glow that left most of the room shrouded in hazy, ambiguous shadows.
But as her eyes adjusted to the dim light and landed on the figure sitting quietly at the edge of the bed, Aina Saiten froze, breath catching in her throat.
It felt as if her heart was struck, thudding fiercely in her chest.
She could hardly believe her eyes.
Her Akane—he had actually changed out of his usual conservative, comfortable loungewear, and put on… on a nearly forgotten, almost transparent, smoky gray gauze shirt she’d once left buried deep in the wardrobe!
That delicate, faintly lustrous fabric, as fine as a cicada’s wing, draped over his ivory skin like a mist.
Instead of concealing him, it only added a tantalizing allure, half-shielding, half-revealing, inviting and irresistible.
The soft yellow lamplight filtered through the gauze, outlining his slender, beautifully shaped collarbones, his rounded shoulders, and…
Below, he wore matching shorts of the same material, just barely covering the tops of his thighs, exposing two long, elegant legs that, in the dim light, gleamed with an almost ivory sheen.
“Gulp…”
Aina Saiten distinctly heard the sound of her own swallowing in the silence of the room.
A surge of heat flared from her lower abdomen, racing through her entire body, making even her fingertips tingle.
Her voice trembled uncontrollably with excitement and amazement, colored by a sense of wonder:
“Akane… Why are you… wearing that… How did you find it?”
She remembered that outfit perfectly well. It was a “gift” she’d bought on a whim two years ago, back when their relationship was still new and passionate.
That night, it had taken endless cajoling, half-pleading and half-coaxing, to persuade the bashful, inexperienced Kaoru Hoshitani—his face scarlet and his eyes squeezed shut—to put it on, albeit most reluctantly.
Back then, dressed in that supposedly seductive piece, he had looked less like a tempter and more like an innocent angel lost in the mortal world.
His pure, bewildered gaze had diluted the garment’s provocative intent, giving rise to a different kind of tender, awkward charm.
But now, time had passed, and after more than two years of her patient “watering” and care, that once-naive sapling had quietly blossomed, transformed into something dazzling and magnificent.
Kaoru Hoshitani had shed his adolescent thinness, gaining a gentle, reserved allure unique to a “husband.”
The occasional gleam in his eyes was even more soul-stirring than in those early days.
Now, that nearly transparent gauze shirt on his matured body was nothing short of perfection.
It amplified his unique appeal—hovering between innocence and maturity—until every line of his skin, half-hidden, half-revealed, seemed to issue a silent invitation, battering Aina Saiten’s senses and reason.
“Come… over!”
Kaoru Hoshitani could clearly feel his girlfriend’s scorching, almost tangible gaze sweeping over every inch of his body.
Even though they were close as could be, like an old married couple, presenting himself this way still left him so mortified his toes curled, his ears burning, and the rush of blood pounding in his ears.
Unable to bear it, he let out a small, flustered shout, trying to sound firm, to hide the panic threatening to spill out, but his voice was soft and fluttery, with no intimidation at all—more like a feather brushing the heart.
Aina Saiten, hearing this, could hardly contain herself. She gave in to her desire and walked over without hesitation.
Sitting down at the edge of the bed, she sank the mattress slightly, and her right shoulder pressed closely against her boyfriend’s left—even through the sheer fabric, she could feel the heat and trembling of his skin.
The moment their skin touched, both of them seemed to shiver faintly.
The bedroom fell utterly silent, save for the bedside lamp quietly casting its ambiguous halo, blending their overlapping shadows on the wall.
It was as if invisible threads had tightened and twisted in the air, and in the hush, their breathing grew louder, clearer, mingling together—their warmth passing through the thin fabric.
No one could say who moved first.
Maybe it was just the tension and mutual attraction in their gaze, but at last their lips met again, and their bodies, like magnets, pressed together tightly.
Soon, they were swept away into that familiar, intoxicating union of body and soul…
———
Half an hour later.
“Eh? Wh-why did you… stop…?”
Kaoru Hoshitani’s eyes, still misty with desire, suddenly widened. Reflected in his pupils was his girlfriend’s apologetic face above him.
The fire that had just been stoked deep inside him—blazing and hungry for relief—suddenly lost its fuel, stuck somewhere in between, leaving an inexplicable emptiness and restlessness.
Instinctively, still a little disbelieving and unsatisfied, his voice came out soft and aggrieved, even carrying a faint, almost imperceptible whimper at the end:
“But I… I still…”
At that moment, Aina Saiten’s expression was the picture of complexity—her smile even more pained than a grimace, mixing awkwardness, guilt, and deep regret.
She tried to explain herself, her voice weak and nearly a whisper, eyes flickering away from his expressive gaze:
“I… Akane, I’m sorry… That outfit… it’s just too powerful… I… I really… couldn’t help myself, I got too excited…”
Her voice shrank with every word, her face flushing a deep red.
Besides, she knew full well—lately, their “battles” had been especially fierce, and with her busy work schedule leaving her exhausted and out of shape, her physical reserves had long been depleted.
At a crucial moment, her body had sent an unmistakable protest: “Battery low.”
“But I… I still…”
Kaoru Hoshitani wanted to complain—to say “I’m not done,” “I still need you”—that unsatisfied longing scratching at his heart like a kitten’s paw.
He’d counted on his most intimate lover to “put out the fire” for him, to soothe the complicated mix of humiliation and the need for validation that had built up since the afternoon.
Yet, before the flames could be truly doused, she announced her “water supply” was exhausted, making the urge burn even fiercer.
But just as the words reached his lips, a bit of clarity returned to his hazy mind. Reason prevailed, and he realized he mustn’t voice such complaints.
Aina worked so hard, leaving early and returning late, pouring most of her energy into her job—all for the sake of supporting their little home, for their future together.
How could he, simply because his desires went unsatisfied, feel even a trace of resentment toward the woman who loved him so deeply, who gave her all for him?
That would be unforgivably selfish.
So, he swallowed the complaint, his throat bobbing as he forced a change in his expression and tone.
He lifted a weak arm and gently brushed the damp hair from her temple, his voice turning soft and comforting:
“It’s… really fine, Aina. I’m already… happy enough…”
He tried hard to force a reassuring smile, but it came out faint and brittle, betraying his lingering need.
But Aina Saiten, too, realized how badly she’d faltered tonight. For a woman who usually took the lead in their intimacy, this was a harsh blow to both her confidence and her feminine pride.
Her spirits plummeted. She rolled over to one side, lying on the bed, face burning as she buried it deep in the soft pillow, letting out a muffled, dejected sigh.
“It’s really okay, Aina.”
Seeing this, Kaoru Hoshitani scooted over and gently embraced her from behind, holding her in his arms, his chin lightly rubbing her hair.
“When you get that job at Quansheng and settle down, you’ll definitely have more time and energy to work out. Remember? Back when we first got together, there were plenty of times it was me… begging you to stop.”
He tried to comfort her by recalling her “glorious victories,” his voice tinged with nostalgic laughter.
Sure enough, Aina Saiten, reminded of those days when she had dominated and made her boyfriend surrender, felt her spirits lift.
Those memories of her in control, of Kaoru Hoshitani yielding, worked like a tonic, driving away the gloom and helping her reclaim her confidence and “feminine prowess.”
She lifted her head from the pillow, eyes sparkling again, turned to face Kaoru Hoshitani, gripped his hand, and vowed with determination:
“Mm! Akane, you’re right! Just wait—I’ll sign up for a gym membership near the office tomorrow! I’ll definitely get my stamina back!”
Seeing her rekindle her fighting spirit, Kaoru Hoshitani felt warmth and a trace of indescribable emotion well up inside.
He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, his voice soft as a sigh, yet carrying endless tenderness and anticipation:
“Mm… I’ll be waiting for you…”