Chapitre 21: Awkward After-Glow
David stirred in the early morning light, waking up in the comforting warmth of Kaede's naked body, her face nestled gently against his chest.
His arms were wrapped securely around her waist, holding her close.
He was the big spoon, and it was the most heavenly sensation he'd felt in a long time.
Her soft breathing, the rise and fall of her chest against him—it was peaceful.
All the guilt that had gnawed at him the night before seemed to have dissolved in the stillness of the moment.
The taboo nature of their actions, the societal weight of what they had done—none of it mattered now.
David didn't feel shame or regret.
Instead, he felt an odd sense of completion, like he'd found something he didn't even know he was missing.
For once, the idea of incest, the taboo that society had long engineered in his mind, felt distant and inconsequential. What he felt now was too real, too deep, to be boxed into what others might deem unacceptable. In fact, the thought of losing her, of this ever being a "one-time thing" as they'd agreed, pained him more than he cared to admit.
A soft chuckle escaped him, a bitter acknowledgment of his own weakness. 'I was the one who insisted it would only happen once,' he thought, berating himself quietly. How could he have ever thought he could let this go?
Sighing, he pressed a tender kiss to the top of Kaede's head, his lips brushing her soft hair.
She looked so peaceful, so content, and for the first time in a long while, truly happy.
He couldn't help but smile softly.
"Whatever happens, I'll make sure those depressing thoughts of hers stay gone," he mused. If they came back, he'd do whatever it took to chase them away.
Even if that meant holding her like this every night.
Heh
---
David quietly slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb Kaede's peaceful slumber. Dressing quickly, he locked the door behind him, not because he feared the aftermath, but because he wasn't in the mood to deal with anyone's reactions yet.
His mind drifted as he went to the kitchen, preparing coffee for both of them, letting the familiar routine ground him.
Just as he finished pouring his own cup, his phone buzzed. It was a message from THE_MAN.
"Can we meet today?"
David hesitated for a second. After what had happened with Kaede last night, part of him wanted to just stay here, figure things out.
But he knew avoiding it wouldn't help.
"Sure," he replied. "Where?"
The response was almost instant. "How about Ramen Arashi at 2 PM?"
David sighed, glancing at the clock. He had some time, but now he had to manage both the strange tension lingering from last night and the meeting. Typing out "See you there," he pocketed his phone and took another sip of coffee.
Deciding to confront at least one situation, David headed back to his room.
Gently, he placed a hand on Kaede's shoulder and softly whispered her name to wake her up.
She stirred and blinked groggily, slowly sitting up.
"Here," David said, handing her the cup of coffee.
Kaede took it without saying much, and the silence between them suddenly felt heavy.
An awkwardness settled into the room as they both sat there, neither sure of what to say after last night's events.
David sipped his coffee, casting a sidelong glance at her, unsure of how to break the tension.
As Kaede finished her coffee, David felt the silence grow unbearable.
The awkward tension gnawed at him, pushing him to act before he could stop himself. In a swift motion, he leaned over, capturing her lips in a deep, sudden kiss.
Kaede blinked, clearly surprised, but her reaction shifted quickly.
She chuckled softly against his lips, her hand gently resting on his chest.
For a brief moment, the tension melted, replaced by the warmth of their shared intimacy.
But just as quickly as he had kissed her, David pulled back, suddenly feeling embarrassed by his impulsive action.
His face flushed, and he stood up abruptly, awkwardly scratching the back of his head.
"Uh... I'll just let you... you know, do your thing," he mumbled, turning to leave the room, practically fleeing in his embarrassment.
As David turned to leave, he felt a soft tug on the sleeve of his shirt, halting his steps.
He glanced back to see Kaede holding onto him, her eyes filled with a gentle warmth.
Before he could react, she wrapped her arms around him from behind, her body pressing close against his.
"You should join me in the shower," she whispered softly in his ear, her breath sending a shiver down his spine.
David's face flushed a deep red, utterly embarrassed and overwhelmed by the situation.
His mind raced with hesitation, but deep down, he couldn't deny the allure of her invitation.
He swallowed nervously but couldn't resist.
Turning around to face her, he gently cupped her face in his hands, pulling her into another kiss, this time slower, savoring the moment.
The heat between them reignited, and soon they found themselves slipping into the bathroom together, the steam from the shower already starting to fill the air as they lost themselves once again in each other.
---
David sat at the small dining table, a spread of takeout containers in front of him, the aroma of fried rice and teriyaki chicken wafting through the air.
It was a welcome relief after the work of the past few days, especially given his unwillingness to sample the culinary-criminal creations of Aoi and Rin.
Kaede, sitting across from him, was positively radiant, a smug smile playing on her lips as she watched him.
The memory of their intimate morning together lingered in the air, and comsidering she had specifically wore the dress in a way that her hickeys were visble to him only added fuel to the fire..
Every time David's gaze met hers, he felt a rush of warmth and guilt and Kaede grinned like a Cheshire cat fully aware of the impact she had on him.
Rin and Aoi were engrossed in their own conversation, oblivious to the tension brewing at the table. "So, what's your plan for today? Finally going to leave ?" Rin asked, looking at David.
"Honestly, I'm just tired from yesterday, and no a I'm living here for longer cry about it " David replied, deflecting the probing looks from the siblings.
In truth, he practically had no stength left after the night and the morning relapse, he was milked dry by the seductress who had the real last laugh.
Kaede leaned forward slightly, her eyes sparkling with mischief as they practically scremed 'Tired? Or just trying to avoid the topic?'
David couldn't help but chuckle, though inside, he felt a mixture of embarrassment and frustration.
She knew damn well the power she held over him, and the victorious look in her eyes only fueled the fire of his conflicting emotions.
It was as if she relished in the control she had, and he couldn't quite decide whether he admired it or resented it.
Aoi, oblivious to their silent exchange, continued to munch on his food. "Well, as long as we have takeout, I'm happy! My cooking might not be everyone's favorite," he said with a laugh, glancing at Rin, who grimaced at the memory of their last culinary attempt.
"Please, I'd take takeout any day over your eldritch disasters," Rin shot back playfully, earning a playful smack on the arm from Aoi.
David watched the banter unfold, grateful for the distraction.
But every now and then, his eyes would drift back to Kaede.
The woman knew exactly what she was doing when she acted on her desires, and the morning had been proof of that.
---
David sat at a small table in Ramen Arashi, the warm, inviting atmosphere a stark contrast to the anxiety swirling in his mind.
He glanced at the clock on the wall, noting that he had arrived a few minutes early.
As he waited, he couldn't shake off the jitters about meeting THE_MAN, the creator who would potentially help him elevate the ARG.
A few moments later, the door swung open, and in walked a girl with an air of confidence.
She looked around for a moment before her eyes settled on him. David stood up, offering a friendly smile as she approached.
"Hey there, you must be David," she said, a spark of enthusiasm in her voice.
"Yeah, that's me," he replied, extending his hand. "David Walsh."
She took his hand firmly, her grip confident. "Kisuke Nokotan," she introduced herself, her voice clear and assertive.
David's mind briefly deadpanned at the name, a flicker of recognition sparking. Kisuke Nokotan? He couldn't help but remember the "peak" anime show, "My Dear Friend Nokotan." Shaking off the musing, he focused back on her, intrigued by the presence she carried.
"It's great to finally meet you," David said, taking a seat again as she settled across from him. "I appreciate you coming out here."
"Not a problem," she said, her smile widening. "I'm excited to hear about this ARG you're setting up."
David leaned back slightly, trying to ease the tension. "Before we dive into that, though, tell me a bit about yourself. How long have you been streaming?"
Kisuke relaxed, her expression brightening as she spoke. "I've been streaming for about three years now. It started as a way to connect with people who share my interests, but it grew into something more. I love interacting with my audience."
"Sounds like you've built a solid community," David replied, genuinely impressed. "What kind of content can you do other than usual gaming "
"I mostly only do gaming, but I like to mix in some creative stuff too—art, music, cooking and even tried mukabang . I'm always looking for ways to keep things fresh and engaging," she explained.
"How about you? What got you into this whole ARG scene?"
David felt himself relax as he lied as naturally as he breathed. "I've always been into storytelling and games, and ARGs seemed like a natural way to combine the two. I love the idea of creating immersive experiences that get people thinking and feeling. It's a challenge, but that's part of the fun."
"I totally get that," Kisuke said, her eyes sparkling with interest. "It's like creating a puzzle for everyone to solve together. I love that collaborative aspect."
"Exactly!" David exclaimed, feeling she was completely hooked on the idea.
"It's amazing to see people come together to piece things apart."
Kisuke nodded, and they shared a moment of comfortable silence, each reflecting on their passions.
After a brief pause, David shifted the conversation back to business. "So, about the ARG—what are your thoughts on how we can create that uncanny interruption in your streams? I have a few ideas, but I'd love to hear your input."
Kisuke leaned forward, clearly engaged. "Let's hear them! I'm all ears."
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