I wake up in the morning to the sound of my alarm.
As I push myself up, a lingering sense of heaviness weighs on my shoulders.
The spot beside me is cold.
Stepping into the living room, I spot a rounded lump on the sofa.
Yuno was curled up small, fast asleep.
Almost as if drawn in, I lean over to peer at her face.
Long eyelashes. Skin so white it’s almost translucent. She has the innocent sleeping face of a child, yet there is a faint trace of exhaustion beneath her eyes. It pricks at my heart.
Was she late getting home last night? She should have just slept in the bed.
…Wait, did she sleep here so she wouldn’t wake me?
So considerate, despite being so young… Idiot.
No, perhaps I’m the one making her feel the need to be considerate.
The steady, rhythmic sound of her breathing echoes through the quiet room.
I gently reach out and stroke Yuno’s head. Her soft hair slips through my fingers.
She’s sleeping soundly, and her part-time shift probably doesn’t start that early, so there’s no need to wake her.
Treading softly, I make my way to the kitchen. I sit at the table and eat a breakfast consisting of nothing more than cereal and milk.
Until a few months ago, eating alone was the norm, but now it feels somehow tasteless.
I arrive at work, get through the morning meeting, and shut myself away in the president’s office.
At ten in the morning, I have an online meeting with a client.
One by one, I check off the key agenda items.
“Well then, that will be all for today.”
I close the screen and glance at the clock.
Eleven.
Yesterday… around this time, Yuno, the cleaner, came by.
Even while facing the data, for some reason, my gaze keeps drifting toward the door. I’m appalled at myself for how many times I do it.
Knock, knock, knock.
“Excuse me. I’m here to clean.”
Yuno enters, pulling her rattling cart behind her.
My heart gives an involuntary thud.
We only just spoke last night, yet a strange sensation spreads through my chest—a feeling of nostalgia, as if it’s been far too long.
The same gray cap as yesterday, the coveralls, the mask.
When Yuno’s eyes meet mine, her gaze softens into a gentle squint.
Her mouth is covered. Even so, I know—she’s smiling.
My own lips almost curve upward.
I hurriedly knit my brows, cover my mouth with my hand, and clear my throat. I put on my computer glasses and stare intently at the screen, pretending to be oblivious.
Yuno begins cleaning in silence.
The sight of her small body moving diligently around the room is strangely endearing, and a dull ache stirs deep in my chest.
At the same time—the events of last night bubble up in my mind.
The warmth of her body as she drew close. The kiss. Those words that tickled my ear.
That seductive aura, completely unimaginable from the usual, innocent Yuno.
…I’m thinking strange things again.
I have to concentrate. The planning for the next term, the hiring matters, the entry into the new project—there is a mountain of things I need to consider.
Yuno slowly crouches at my feet. She is squatting right there to pull out the trash can.
Before I realize it, I’ve opened my mouth.
“Last night… good work.”
Yuno looks up at me from beneath her cap.
The moment that upward glance enters my vision, my heart begins to pound so loudly it’s almost noisy. I instinctively look away.
“Yeah. I’m definitely sleepy after a night shift. The building at midnight was so scary.”
“Maybe you should quit that night job?”
“…Why?”
There is a short pause before she asks further.
“Were you lonely at night?”
Yuno tilts her head slightly, her eyes narrowing. They are cute, but slightly mischievous.
“…! That’s not it. It’s just that public safety isn’t great these days, and I’m worried that it’s dangerous for a teenage girl to work alone at night.”
“Aha, I see. You’re so kind.”
I’ve become needlessly talkative; it’s embarrassing.
Yuno efficiently gathers the trash with businesslike movements.
I adjust my glasses, return my gaze to the chat tool, and continue typing. The conversation dies down, and only the dry rustle of trash bags and the clatter of the computer echo in the sterile space.
Suddenly, I feel the presence of Yuno right behind me.
The memory of our bodies pressed together last night flashes through my mind in an instant.
Could it be…
My heart gives a heavy thud. A sharp ache tingles through my entire body.
This is anticipation.
I’ve realized it myself.
Contrary to this, Yuno silently begins wiping the shelf directly behind me.
—She does nothing.
What is this?
Last night, she got so close to me while I was working.
And at night, she kissed me like that, straddled me, and then stopped halfway just because the time had come.
What is that?
Irritation quietly piles up.
Yet my body is honest; I can feel a slow throb, and a secret dampness beginning to form deep inside.
“Alright, the president’s office is finished. See ya.”
Yuno turns around and begins preparing to leave the room.
Tug.
Before I know it, while still sitting in my chair, I have grabbed the sleeve of Yuno’s work clothes.
It was completely unconscious.
“Hm? What is it?”
Yuno peers at me curiously.
I snap back to my senses. What on earth am I doing?
“…It’s nothing.”
My voice is hoarse, sounding pathetic even to my own ears.
I turn my face away. Even so, I cannot let go of her sleeve.
“Hehe, you’re weird. Well, I’m going now.”
I pull again. Yuno’s sleeve.
“Eh, what? What’s wrong?”
Yuno giggles.
Then, after a brief, thoughtful pause, she leans her face close to my ear.
At a distance where I can feel her breath, she whispers secretly.
“Could it be a request?”
She gently pulls away and peers into my face.
Her eyes are innocent, yet so voluptuous they send a shiver through me. She looks straight at me, simply and directly.
Unable to say anything, I look away. My face is hot. I can tell I’m turning bright red.
“After all, you said yourself that we can’t do this while working, Big Sister.”
Yuno giggles.
How embarrassing.
I can’t say anything more. I cast my eyes down, letting them wander, and bite my lower lip tight.
But I simply cannot bring myself to let go of the sleeve of her work clothes.
“Ahaha… what’s with that? So cute.”
Yuno murmurs with a sweet sigh, adding, “Geez, I guess I have no choice.”
I am pushed toward the wall, chair and all.
Yuno stands over me as I remain seated, leaning her arm against the wall.
She slowly peels off the disposable glove from her right hand.
Her exposed white, slender fingers gently lift my chin.
Yuno slides her mask down to her chin and gives a single, short laugh from a few inches away. A devilish expression, with one corner of her mouth curled up.
The depths of her eyes are not laughing.
The next moment, her lips clamp down on mine.
Soft and plump. Warm.
As if pleading, I slide my tongue in.
Yuno responds, intertwining her tongue with mine. Deeply, deeply.
The wet sounds echoing in the room quickly take on a viscosity, making lewd splat and slurp noises.
Our ragged breaths mingle—haa, haa.
Every time our lips meet again, every time our tongues entwine deeply, my head goes fuzzy, melting away.
I had been pleading for this during work—a swirl of guilt had been churning inside me.
But before I knew it, I’ve become unable to think of anything.
Every time I kiss Yuno, I feel as if some kind of aphrodisiac or narcotic is being poured into me.
Every touch leaves me wanting more.
The depths of my body are beginning to grow hot and drenched.
“Nn… h… aah…”
A sweet sound escapes me involuntarily.
It feels so good—.
Knock, knock, knock.
“Excuse me.”
Click.
“President, about this afternoon’s business negotiations—”
The kiss stops abruptly, and our lips part.
Yuno and I look toward the voice at the same time.
“…………Eh?”
Standing at the entrance of the president’s office was Matsuyama, his eyes wide with shock.