15 A Red Sunday (1/2)
”Good morning, Ruby!” Arata greeted the woman as he came to the gate to let her in. He watched her curious expression for a moment before realizing what he did weird. ”Sempai. Sorry, I didn't mean to forget that part.” He chuckled an apology, bowing slightly.
”It's okay. I like it even.” She smiled at him, making her red lips appear shinier. ”Call me Ruby when we're not in school.” The school queen walked past him and went to the door he left open. However, she did not go inside before Arata gave her the permission to do so. She then brought the basket down on the counter. ”Sorry for the haste. I wish to put this one down fast.”
”Is it heavy?” The king asked, joining her in checking the basket. However, she closed the lid the moment he spoke. He twitched and received a look from her. Arata then started nodding to himself before excusing himself from her sight with only gestures.
The entire time she set up the food she brought with her was used for Arata's preparation. During her route, Arata learned she was quite the overly meticulous woman, and she would refuse to meet with him if he did not shower beforehand. All in all, her gaze was to tell the other that he needed to attend to hygiene first before being in her presence.
With the king more presentable after a shower, brushing his teeth, and changing his clothes, he decided to join Ruby in the dining room where she was placing home-prepared dishes on the table. The queen smiled at him, pleased with his fast realization of her request.
”What kept you busy? Too much you forgot to attend to yourself?” Ruby started as she laid the bread on the platter she prepared for it. She then looked at him in inquiry.
”I was out so late last night, and then... I woke up late.” Arata chuckled, fishing for words to fill his mouth. It seemed to be accepted by the woman, and he proceeded with looking at the food at the dining table. There were also pasta, roasted chicken, lasagna, and other foods with appropriate servings. He even saw her unpacking silverware used in fine dining.
”I sent you a message last night. I told you I will make you lunch.” She chuckled. ”You only said 'yes' so I figured you were busy.” She turned to him after finishing the set up for their lunch. ”It wasn't you, was it?”
”Sorry, I think Keiko replied to you without telling me.” Arata laughed out, only to watch Ruby take a step closer and brushed the back of her hand against his face. Instead of kissing the hand that passed by his lips, he only gave her a curious hum.
Ruby then glared, but not at Arata in particular. ”How filthy. And I thought Attei was the incarnate of dirt.” She recalled her hand and beckoned him to sit down. ”Worrying about it will make our food cold. Let's feast on this.”
Needless to say, Ruby was the best cook in the game. Attori and Yukari's cooking had become four-star to her five. Not that Arata did not like others' anymore; it was just he would savor every bite of food cooked by the school queen. He did not have breakfast, and only had a bit of dinner last night. His stomach roared for more food, which the sumptuous meal delivered without fail. Ruby was happy Arata finished everything she made, even though she was thinking of just making him choose which ones to eat.
Such a growing man, Ruby's gaze would say if it could. The date-able with the dyed hair of maroon watched her king warmly as he almost devoured the food served. What made it more to her liking was that he was not a messy-eater; he knew how to eat in a rather sophisticated way. Though it was a secret that it was only because Arata was wary of other people watching him eat, so he had to do it as excruciatingly proper as he could.
”A-” Ruby tried to say something, but she cut herself off in hesitation. She then shifted her head's weight to the side, letting the wavy hair follow. ”Hamasaki, can I call you Arata?”
”Sure!” the king answered after gulping down some chicken meat. He then chuckled as he reached to get his glass of white wine and sipped some before wiping his mouth clean. ”Why ask all of a sudden?”
”Because you just called me Ruby.” She blushed faintly which Arata caught in surprise. She was keeping her warm smile as she explained. ”I keep on hearing your friends call you plainly by your name, and then even this rascal excuse of a woman calls you with something close to it. Let's just say” -she gazed at him meaningfully- ”it's out of jealousy.”
Arata stared at her for a few seconds, forgetting that their conversation was real time unlike before. He could not just stop pressing the 'next' button and sob at the appreciation of his most beautiful and favored date-ables. Using the Challenge Mode's list, Ruby ranked third after Attori and Cora; but fourth now that Yukari outranked her and Cora by far in Arata's heart. Then again, that did not make her less beautiful to his eyes.
”Arata?” Ruby dropped her expression upon realizing Arata was just staring at her.
”Say my name again please,” the man whispered to himself, but loud enough for Ruby to hear.
The woman got up from her seat and bent down to hold his face and whisper against his ear. ”Do you want to take me now, A-ra-ta?”
”But I'm really full right now.” He moved his head to rub his cheek against hers. ”Maybe later? Aren't you going to stay long?”
”No, sorry.” Ruby smiled at him as she pulled back. However, she saw Arata moved his seat back so she could sit on his lap with a forming tent. Instead of sitting sideway, she straddled the king's waist between her smooth legs. ”I have to meet my father later in the afternoon. We will see each other in school tomorrow after all.” She only stroked at his hair as he rested his face against her cleavage. ”I think this should be suffice at least.”