13 First to Fall (1/2)

Without Arata noticing, the day entered the 6 PM action time as Keiko accepted his offer. They threaded the way opposite of the direction back to her house, and found themselves loitering around the other end of the city. There were busy shops and loud family restaurants, serving one dish after another. Keiko was silent, but she kept her warm smile as the king kept his fingers laced with hers. They walked through the hustle and bustle of the weekend.

The girl pulled Arata to one of the joint hotel-restaurant in the place and asked for a room with food service in the reception. The king looked around the lobby of the two-star hotel, probably one for families and middle-class customers. There were at the other side of the working district after all. Keiko got a room and turned to Arata discuss her plan.

”I hope you don't mind if I rented a room so we can talk.” The girl managed to keep her smile, secretly hoping for more since they would be in a private place. Then again, she just received a nod from the king. ”O-Okay, let's head up there now and order for dinner from the restaurant.”

”Do you want me to pay for the food?” Arata asked politely, holding her hand again as she led him to the staircase since the room was only on the second floor.

”N-No need. I took you here without asking first. I'll pay for the expenses.” She declined.

The childhood friend acted a little different from the last time he saw her. Perhaps it was because she regretted her bold actions. Or that something else went wrong. Keiko, after being maxed, liked going home and being around her house a lot. Renting a room to spend overnight was the same as screaming 'I got kicked out' or that 'my brother is going to kill me when I get home' to the king. Either way, he chose not to ask for now. He had a feeling they would get there.

Pink and purple slapped Arata as they opened their room. It was elegant and classy in design, but the color scheme whispered fantasy and lust to his ears. Arata closed the door behind him and watched Keiko grab the menu from the nightstand and sat down on the edge of the bed. The man joined her, and she shared her ideas which one to pick. Settling with a rather cheap dinner, the two stayed quiet, Keiko bathing in their cozy silence as they sat next to each other.

Then again, Arata could not help but to get worried. He soon brought his hand to her hair and started combing it to the end. ”Keiko, aren't we supposed to be talking?”

”I'm sorry, I thought you'd like to take a rest from the loud streets.” She just chuckled as she scooted a bit away from him so she had room to move her knees closer to him, letting her face the king. She watched Arata do the same. ”About that, I... I'm sorry. I can't help but to think that... I should be bolder if I want to win over Attori.” Her eyes slid to the side as if avoiding him. ”She's... the worse, and I know you know that. She does what she likes and drags people around. She might be sweet right now, but she's really manipulative.”

”You're right, I know that.” The king encouraged her to speak more with an answer. He could barely recognized a maxed Attori from the beginning Attori since she was a whole lot different towards the people she cared about aside from herself. He could recall Yukari saying the same, generally just closing in when Attori was not in her mad mode. ”Is that why you wanted me to leave her?”

”Of course!” Keiko raised her voice, only to twitch and turn away in embarrassment. ”I can't imagine that woman loving you wholly. She always looked like she was just using you.”

Arata could not help but to sob inwardly. It sounds like she's talking about Tohru instead.

”She's a snake. Just like that girl.”

Whoops. Her thoughts of Tohru did bleed unto Attori.

”Easy there, Keiko. Do you think Attori and Tohru are the same?” The king waved his hand before her as if distracting the girl from her glare towards her knees. ”I can guarantee you. Attori isn't doing what Tohru did to your brother. I'm talking to her as well, and getting more and more insights about it. Give yourself some rest.”

”But you don't really know what's in a girl's mind!” Keiko ended up yelling at him again, taking Arata aback at her sudden agitation. ”You might be very good at handling women, but that's because they want you to do just that! You're not even sure if everyone really loves you or just wants to ride you! How can you even promise me Attori won't run off as soon as you-!?” She gasped as she realized what she was doing. She turned away. ”I had known you since we were kids, Arata. I even stayed with you when you were new here...

”I was too kind to you; look at where I am now.” She sniffed and started crying with her head hung low as if hiding her face. ”When we were kids, you promised me you would marry me. Now that you have grown and became popular, you decided to make other women your priority.” Keiko glared at him and yelled again, this time, fully aware of it. ”How dare you make me feel so loved without feeling anything in return!?” She turned away, mellowing down her voice. ”But I still love you nonetheless. So please, listen to me. Leave Attori. Leave Yukari...”

”And be yours?” Arata whispered in curiosity. He made her straighten her back and stare at him, tears dripping from the corner of her eyes. Instead of finding fault in her reasoning, Arata decided to pat her head and spoke after wearing a small bitter smile, ”I wish I could just do that, Keiko. But I love Attori, and I have no reason to disregard everything that we had been through.”

The girl shifted her body away from him. ”Then I guess you're leaving me no choice.”

”Wait, I can... give you a choice.” The king stroked at her head. ”You don't have to feel so bad with Attori being my girlfriend. I... can still love you a little... more than this.” He made the girl look at him with a curious look on her face. The hand stroking her head moved to her shoulders, pulling her closer and locking their lips together.

[You are initiating an Encounter! Childhood Sweetie Wakaba Keiko has a total of 50 Excitement points right now. Obedience is at 90%, Excitement at 50%, and Affection at 100%. Would you like to insist? Yes / No]

[An item had been previously activated: Matte Skin Moisturizer! Childhood Sweetie Wakaba Keiko now has a total of 70 Excitement points.]

Even though they were supposed to be waiting for food, the king decided to lay her down gently after undoing the lip lock. He smiled kindly at her as he climbed on top and dipped down again to continue kissing her. Keiko had her hands grasping the back part of Arata's shirt, making muffled moaning under the kiss.

It might have felt so good if he threw away his conscience. He was guilty of romancing other women which breached the open relationship banner Attori had waved over her head, giving Arata the freedom to engage in activities with other women. Then again, it had always crossed the romantic line aside from Yukari who he knew would not probably, hopefully, engage in a Challenge Mode.

He was thinking of many things as his tongue continued to feel every crook and nook inside Keiko's mouth, the girl starting to squirm under him. He then pulled back and stroked at her face, giving a smile in return of the sweetie's submissive gaze. One of his palms waved and brushed down her body from collarbone to navel, cupping her chest momentarily before slipping the fingers underneath her shirt. Soon, he slid his hand up, raising both her shirt and bra and letting them roll just below her neck.