LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 19: " My first kiss..
"It's getting late. Let me take you home
first."
When Kato Megumi and Izumi Yuu
walked out of the mall, the entire city of
Tokyo was already cloaked in darkness. The sky was absent of stars, with only the bright neon lights and streetlights cutting through the night.
Under the intoxicating glow of the city, the cool evening breeze made people feel at ease, relaxed, and happy.
Izumi Yuu glanced at the dark sky and,
with a smile, offered to walk Kato Megumi home.
Hearing this, Kato Megumi's eyes lit up
with warmth, and she replied softly,
"Great, then I'll trouble you, Izumi-kun."
The girl's heart fluttered a little at the thought of lzumi offering to accompany her. While such gestures were typical—whether between lovers or simple friends—it was still a gesture of courtesy and thoughtfulness.
However, Kato Megumi found herself appreciating this small kindness even more than usual, perhaps because of Tomoya Aki's callous behavior. Had it not been for Aki Tomoya's neglect, leaving her behind to flatter Kasumigaoka Utaha, she might not
have realized how rare genuine consideration could be.
"It's nothing, really. It's just the least I could do, " Izumi Yuu replied, catching the look in Kato Megumi's eyes. He chuckled lightly, then added, "On the contrary, it makes me feel a little sad that such a small act makes you so happy."
"Hmm... Izumi-kun, now that you've said that, I'm starting to feel a bit bad for myself, " Kato Megumi responded with a playful smile, though there was a hint of sadness in her voice. "But Tomoya and I are just simple club members, and we're just ordinary friends outside of that. It's normal for him to have someone else he cares about to look after."
Before, Kato Megumi would never have gone out of her way to emphasize her relationship with Tomoya Aki as merely that of ordinary friends. However, over the past few days, she had already begun to distance herself from him. In her heart, Aki Tomoya had become little more than an acquaintance
.After all, there was no real need to expect anything from someone in a relationship like theirs.
She would stay in the club for the time being, but once things were over, she'd likely leave. It was the most practical course of action, assuming nothing else unexpected came up.
Kato Megumi's decision wasn't based
on Aki Tomoya's behavior-it was simply her nature. She didn't like to give up easily once she committed to something, but she also wasn't one to hold onto an impossible hope for too long.
"Kato is really thoughtful, " Izumi Yuu remarked as they continued walking.glancing at the calm expression on Kato Megumi's face. "If it were any other girl, they would have gotten angry by now."
Kato Megumi's calmness in the face of
Aki Tomoya's selfish actions spoke volumes about her character. Even though he had hurt her, she hadn't raised her voice. Izumi Yuu couldn't help but admire her restraint.
Of course, it also seemed that Kato Megumi had reached a point where she no longer had expectations for Aki Tomoya. If she had still cared about him, she would've been far more upset.
Girls, he mused, are often more lenient with strangers but much more demanding with those they care about.It wasn't just Kato Megumi—most people are like that.
"That's true, " Kato Megumi said, musing for a moment. "But I'm not someone who doesn't have a temper.It's just that, with this situation, I really don't feel like I need to get angry. It just doesn't seem worth it."
Izumi Yuu smiled, knowing exactly why she was feeling that way. "You probably don't have any expectations left for Tomoya, so there's no gap for disappointment. People get angry when there's a gap between expectation and reality, but if you don't expect anything, then you won't be upset."
Kato Megumi was quiet for a moment, processing his words."Hmm... I think understand, but I'm not sure I heard it all right, " she said, tilting her head as if deep in thought. "But I think it's something I've felt in my heart."
"Exactly, " Izumi Yuu replied with a grin.
"You're more likely to be moved by emotions when you're with someone you care about. For people you don't care about, as long as they don't directly harm your interests, you usually won't get angry."
Kato Megumi's eyes widened slightly, and then she laughed. "Izumi-kun's words seem to make sense."
She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, a hint of curiosity in her gaze.If it had been lzumi Yuu who had left her for another girl, she thought, would she have been upset?
Suddenly, her chest tightened, and she realized she was feeling an unspoken unease-something was off, as if there was a slight burning sensation in her heart. It was a strange feeling, one that made her want to look at lzumi Yuu with a little more irritation.
"Is something wrong, Kato?" Izumi Yuu asked, noticing that Kato Megumi had gone silent.
"Nothing, " Kato Megumi quickly replied, regaining her composure. "I was just thinking about some things and processing my emotions."
Izumi Yuu smiled warmly. "I'm glad to hear that."
He had hoped Kato Megumi would come to understand her feelings. It seemed like she had. Once she took this step, the final one would come naturally.
"All of this is thanks to lzumi-kun..."Kato Megumi said, turning to look at him with a hint of gratitude in her expression.
"I didn't do anything, " Izumi Yuu replied
modestly. "I just wanted you to think more clearly about it. What you decide to do with your feelings is entirely up to you."
Izumi Yuu couldn't deny that he had played a small part in stirring things up between Kato Megumi and Aki Tomoya, but the real issue lay with Tomoya. If Tomoya had been a decent person, none of this would have
happened.
The two continued their conversation as they walked toward Kato Megumi's house.
Under the bright moonlight, they appeared almost like a couple, strolling together in harmony.
"I'm home, " Kato Megumi said, her voice soft with a tinge of reluctance as they reached her doorstep.
Izumi Yuu looked at the dark house in front of him, feeling the moment slipping away.
[You looked at the gir's empty house, and the thought crossed your mind to find an excuse—perhaps to claim you were thirsty—to step inside. With her guard down, she would likely invite you in without hesitation. Once inside, the initiative would shift to you, and you could make the claim that it was too late and the door was locked, offering an excuse to stay over. Then, you could climb into her bed, pretending not to be accustomed to the floor. And from there, things would unfold.]
Izumi Yuu's internal monologue was jaring, a list of increasingly bold steps unfolding in his mind, each one more calculated than the last.
21:00 - "I will never touch you!"
21:05 -"You smell so good!"
21:10 - "Can I kiss you?"
21:20 - It seems a bit hot,doesn't it?"
21:25 - "Why don't you take off your clothes?" 21:26 - "Your body is so soft!"
21:27 - "Can I hold you?"
21:28- "Haha, I feel it when I hold you!" 21:29- "You are so charming!"
21:30- "Can I touch your buttocks?"
21:31 - "Sorry, I didn't mean to miss it!"
21:32 - "Can I have a rub?"
21:33 - "I just can't get in!"
21:34 - "I didn't mean it!"
21:34 - "Is it fun?"
21:35 - "Call me daddy!"
21:35 -"Are you the master's lackey?"
21:35 -"Scream out!"
21:35 - "I'm OK!"
21:36 -"Put it out for me to see!"
21:37 - "Go take a shower!"
Izumi Yuu's face twisted slightly as he processed the list.
"How many times have I said it? I'm not a three-minute man! You are the three-minute man, and your whole family is the three minute man!" he silently grumbled.
Despite the absurdity of the plan, he brushed it aside with a slight sigh."Well, we'll end it here, " he said out loud, trying to ignore the increasingly ridiculous narrative in his mind.
"Would you like to come in for a drink?"Kato Megumi asked hesitantly.
"No need, " Izumi Yuu replied. "My sister has probably been waiting for me. If I don't go home soon, she might starve to death."
Izumi Yuu didn't expect anything to happen just because Kato Megumi invited him in.She was simply being polite. It would be better to head home early and make dinner for his sister, Sagiri, who was no doubt angry with him.
"Well... Izumi-kun is really a good brother who takes care of his sister." Hearing Izumi Yu's words, Kato Megumi didn't push him to come inside any longer, simply offering a gentle smile.
Izumi Yu couldn't help but let out a wry sigh. "It's ironic, isn't it? A 'good brother' leaving his sister, who can't take care of herself, all alone at home for so long."
He paused, his thoughts turning toward Sagiri. "I can only hope Sagiri doesn't get too angry with me over this."
The feeling of guilt gnawed at him, even though he knew he'd done nothing malicious. It just felt wrong, almost shameful, to be spending time with another woman while his younger sister waited at home alone. He could only wonder what Sagiri thought of it.
Kato Megumi, noticing the shift in his demeanor, hesitated before speaking again. "Izumi-kun, could you close your eyes for a moment?" She asked softly.
"Huh? Oh, okay." Izumi Yu blinked in surprise but complied, shutting his eyes without question.
Then, a soft, fleeting sensation brushed against his lips—a warm, gentle kiss that left behind the faintest trace of cherry blossoms. Before he could process what had just happened, the sensation was gone.
"You can open your eyes now, Yu-kun," Kato Megumi said with a gleam of mischief in her voice. She wore a playful, triumphant smile that suggested she'd just pulled off some kind of secret trick.
Izumi Yu blinked and slowly opened his eyes, still slightly bewildered. He met Kato Megumi's gaze, his mind racing for an explanation. "Wait… what just happened?"
Kato Megumi only smiled slyly, raising a finger to her lips in a gesture of secrecy. "It's a secret," she said with a wink, turning on her heel and heading toward her door.
Izumi Yu stood there for a moment, processing the unexpected turn of events. "She's not as simple as she looks…" he muttered to himself, a mix of surprise and amusement in his voice. "But… that was my first kiss! And fortunately, it's refreshed after midnight every day."
If not for his extensive theoretical knowledge, Izumi Yu realized, he might have fallen for her charm. He wasn't entirely sure what had just happened—whether it was a playful gesture or something more—but either way, it certainly wasn't something he'd forget anytime soon.
As the scene unfolded, the favorability level above Kato Megumi's head updated, reflecting a significant shift in their relationship:
[Name: Kato Megumi.]
[Status: A heroine discovering a new side of life.]
[Favorability: 65 (a secret admirer who cares about you very much).]
The realization hit him: "I need to figure out how to make Sagiri-chan forgive me." The weight of his sister's potential disappointment began to settle on him as his mind drifted back to his earlier concerns.
Is it too late for me to admit my mistake and make things right with her?
---
Meanwhile, in her own bathroom, Kato Megumi sat in the warm water of the tub, her cheeks flushed a deep red. Her phone rested on the edge of the tub, and steam gently swirled around her, making her fair skin look even more delicate. She stared down at her hands, nervously wringing them, lost in thought.
"Ugh… I'm so embarrassed! That was my first kiss, too. You wouldn't think I'm the type of girl who does things like that, would you?" she muttered to herself in a mix of mortification and disbelief.
The warmth of the water only seemed to intensify her self-consciousness. Her heart raced as she replayed the boldness of her earlier actions in her mind. Kato Megumi had never thought she would ever do something so forward, and the fact that she had taken the initiative still caught her off guard.
She wasn't even sure why she'd done it. In the moment, though, it felt necessary, like if she hadn't acted, she would have regretted it. Now, however, the only thing she could feel was an overwhelming sense of shame.
"Why did I do that?" she thought, her embarrassment growing with each passing second. "I regret it so much now. It's so… so embarrassing!"
She let out a soft groan, her face now a deep shade of crimson, as she sank deeper into the bath, hoping the water might somehow soothe her racing thoughts.