บท 45: [45] Playing to Win*
I was still staring at my phone when the door clicked open. Katsumi slipped inside, wearing a black tank top and shorts. She locked the door behind her.
"Thought you weren't coming," I said.
"Shut up." She crossed the room, crawling onto the bed next to me. "You smell like ice cream."
"Yaoyorozu and I-"
"I said shut up." She plucked my phone from my hands, glancing at the screen. "Three messages from three different girls. You're getting greedy, Lotus Boy."
I propped myself up on my elbows. "Jealous?"
"Please." She set the phone aside and straddled my waist. "They can try all they want. We both know who's gonna win."
"It's not a competition, Katsumi."
"Everything's a competition." Her hands slid under my shirt. "And I play to win."
I caught her wrists. "We should talk about this."
"Talk?" She leaned down, breath hot against my ear. "Is that what you were doing with Ponytail all night?"
"Actually, yes."
"Boring." She nipped at my earlobe. "I've got better ideas."
"Katsumi-"
"Fine." She sat back, still pinning me to the bed. "You wanna talk? Talk."
I studied her face in the dim light. Her usual scowl was there, but something else lurked beneath it.
"Are you really okay with this?" I asked. "With Kaori, and maybe Yaoyorozu?"
"Would I be here if I wasn't?"
"That's not an answer."
She clicked her tongue. "You told me upfront. About Kaori. About wanting... this." She gestured vaguely between us. "I made my choice."
"And?"
"And I chose to kick your ass and kiss you anyway." Small explosions popped in her palms. "Because that's what winners do."
I laughed despite myself. "You're impossible."
"Yeah?" She grinned dangerously. "Prove it."
I surged up, flipping our positions. She landed on her back with a surprised grunt, but her grin only widened.
"Better," she said. "Now are we done talking?"
I kissed her instead of answering. She responded immediately, one hand fisting in my hair while the other dragged nails down my back.
The gentleness from earlier was gone. She bit my lower lip hard enough to sting.
"Careful," I murmured against her mouth.
"Make me."
I pinned her hands above her head, kissing down her neck. She arched into me, trying to break my grip.
"Bastard," she breathed. "Let me touch you."
"Ask nicely."
"Fuck you."
"Not with that attitude."
She growled and hooked a leg around my waist, using the leverage to flip us again. I let her, curious what she'd do next.
"My turn." She sat up, pulling her tank top over her head. Black sports bra underneath. Simple, practical. Very Katsumi.
I reached for her but she caught my hands, pinning them to the mattress.
"Nope." She smirked. "You had your chance."
"And what are you going to do now?"
"Whatever I want." She rolled her hips deliberately. "Unless you're scared?"
"Of you?" I flexed against her grip. "Always."
She laughed - a real laugh, not her usual sharp bark. "Smart boy."
Then she was kissing me again, hot and demanding. I let her take control, fascinated by this side of her. She usually fought for dominance in everything. This willing surrender was new.
My shirt disappeared at some point. Her hands mapped my chest, surprisingly gentle.
"You're thinking too much," she muttered, biting my shoulder.
"Sorry."
"Don't apologize." She sat back, studying me. "Just... be here. With me."
The vulnerability in her voice caught me off guard. I reached up, touching her face.
"I'm here."
Something shifted in her expression. The fierce mask cracked, just for a moment. Then she was kissing me again, softer this time.
My phone buzzed on the nightstand. We both ignored it.
Her sports bra joined our shirts on the floor. I took my time exploring newly exposed skin, memorizing what made her gasp and arch against me.
"Yoichi," she moaned. It might have been the first time she'd used my first name.
I pulled back to look at her. Hair messed up, lips swollen, eyes dark with want. Beautiful.
"What do you need?" I asked.
She grabbed my hand, pressing it between her legs. "Figure it out."
I pressed my fingers against Katsumi's slick folds, feeling her shudder above me. "Like this?" I murmured.
She rolled her hips, grinding down against my hand. "Fuck, yes," she hissed. "More."
I circled her entrance with two fingers, teasing. She bucked against my touch, trying to force me inside.
"Not so fast," I said, laughing.
"Damn you, just- just do it!" She grabbed my wrist, squeezing hard enough to bruise.
"Ask nicely."
Her scowl softened into a look of desperate frustration. "Please," she ground out. "Please, Yoichi."
I pushed two fingers in slowly, enjoying the way she tightened around me. "Better," I said. "But I think you can do even better than that."
Her nails dug into my skin as I started to move my fingers, crooking them just right. She gasped, head falling back. "Ah- fuck, yes, just like that."
I kissed up her neck, biting lightly. "What does Katsumi want?" I whispered. "Tell me."
She whined, a desperate, needy sound. "I want- I want your fingers. In my pussy. Making me cum. Please."
"That's it," I murmured, pumping faster. "You're doing so well."
She was breathing hard, hips rocking to meet my thrusts. I slipped a third finger in, stretching her deliciously. "Ah- shit, shit, I'm gonna-"
I curled my fingers, rubbing that sensitive spot inside. "Go ahead," I said. "Cum for me."
She stiffened, then broke, shaking apart with a sharp cry. I kept fingering her through it, drawing out her pleasure until she collapsed against me, gasping.
"Fuck," she panted. "You- you bastard."
I pulled my fingers out slowly, licking them clean. Her taste exploded on my tongue - tangy, slightly bitter. Intoxicating.
"Like what you see?" she asked, voice hoarse.
I grinned. "Mm. Very much."
She rolled her hips, grinding her now-slick heat against my still-clothed erection. "Good. Because I'm not nearly done with you yet."
The intensity of her gaze was almost physical. I tightened my grip on her hips to keep from moving. She smirked, obviously feeling my restraint.
"So what now?" I asked, fighting to keep my voice steady. "You gonna ride me until I beg?"
She bit her lip, considering. Then she slid down, kissing a trail along my jaw. "Maybe," she murmured. "Or maybe I'll just suck you off instead."
My breath caught. Her hands fumbled with my belt, the sound of it unbuckling obscenely loud in the quiet room.
"Katsumi-"
She tugged my sweatpants and boxers down in one swift motion. I hissed in a breath as cool air hit my overheated skin.
Her eyes went dark as she took in the sight. "Fuck," she breathed. "You're huge."
Something tight squeezed in my chest at her awed tone. I grabbed the base of my cock, giving it a slow stroke just to watch her reaction.
Her pupils blew wide, a flush rising along her cheeks and down her neck. "Don't you dare cum yet," she snapped.
I smirked, continuing to stroke leisurely. "Or what?"
She lunged forward, trapping my length between our bodies. The heat of her skin made me groan.
"Careful," I warned. "Keep that up and this'll be over way too fast."
"Good." Her voice was muffled against my chest. "Then we'll have to do it again. And again. Until you're completely spent."
I tightened my grip, forcing stillness. She was trying to push me over the edge, to make me lose control. I wouldn't put it past her just to see me fall apart.
"Katsumi," I breathed. "Look at me."
She lifted her head, eyes challenging. I cupped her face with my free hand, rubbing my thumb over her cheekbone.
"I mean it," I said. "Slow down. I want to feel every second of this."
She leaned into my touch for the briefest moment. Then she was grinning fiercely, ducking down to run her tongue along the underside of my shaft.
My hips bucked involuntarily. She laughed around my cock, the vibrations making me grit my teeth.
"You're way too overdressed for this," she muttered, tugging impatiently at my shirt. I lifted my arms so she could pull it off, tossing it carelessly aside.
Her hands mapped my chest, palms scraping pleasantly against overheated skin. "Much better," she said, licking a stripe up to the head of my cock.
I swear my heart stopped. Every nerve felt electrified, hyperaware of each flick and swirl of her tongue. She took me into her mouth, just the tip, and swirled her tongue around experimentally.
I groaned, head falling back against the pillows. "Fuck, Katsumi."
She hummed, the vibrations making me twitch against her lips. Then she was sinking down, taking me deeper. I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to thrust up into the tight, wet heat of her mouth.
She set a slow, deliberate pace, each pull sending sparks across my skin. I could feel myself getting close, pressure building at the base of my spine. I reached down to tangle my fingers in her hair.
"Katsumi," I breathed. "I'm gonna-"
She just hummed again, picking up the pace. I tightened my grip, torn between pulling her off and pushing her down.
"Shit," I hissed. She looked up at me, eyes dark with challenge. I swear, that girl was going to be the death of me.
I thrust shallowly, chasing the edge. She hollowed her cheeks, sucking hard. I cursed again, fingers moving on their own to tuck into her hair.
She made a pleased sound around my cock, sending another wave of sensation through me. I was so close I could practically taste it.
"Fuck, Katsumi, I'm gonna cum," I gritted out. "Swallow it all, you little brat."
She moaned, the vibrations pushing me over. I came with a sharp shout, spilling into her waiting mouth. She swallowed eagerly, milking me dry.
When it was over, she released me with a pop, licking her lips. "Mm. You taste good."
I laughed breathlessly, dragging her up for a deep, filthy kiss. "Brat," I murmured against her mouth. "You're absolutely impossible."
She grinned. "But you love it."
I rolled her onto her back, settling between her thighs. "Mm. I do."
She hooked her legs around my waist, pulling me close. I fit myself to her entrance, the head of my cock nudging her slick folds.
"Ready for round two?" I asked.
She rolled her hips, gasping as I slid against her. "Fuck yes," she breathed. "Don't hold back."
I grabbed her wrists, pinning them above her head. She tested my grip, but I held firm. "What do you want, Katsumi?" I asked.
She scowled. "You know what I want."
"Say it." I leaned down, nipping at her ear. "Beg for it."
She squirmed beneath me, trying to buck me off. I just pressed harder, pinning her to the mattress.
"Fuck you," she snarled.
I chuckled darkly. "Closer. But not quite."
She struggled again, but I was prepared this time, twisting her arms up further. She yelped, then cursed, then finally... "Please," she ground out. "Please fuck me, bastard."
"That's more like it." I released one of her wrists to grab her throat instead, squeezing just enough to make her gasp. "Now be a good girl and take what I give you."
I thrust in hard, bottoming out in one smooth stroke. She screamed, back arching off the bed. I set a brutal pace, pounding into her mercilessly. Her quirk went haywire, little explosions pinging off the walls as I fucked her raw.
"Fuck, yes!" she keened, wrapping her legs tight around my waist. "Harder, fuck me harder!"
I obliged, pulling nearly all the way out before slamming back in. She wailed, fingernails scoring down my back. I could feel her getting close, clenching tight around me.
"That's it," I growled. "Cum for me, little brat. Let me feel you squeeze around my cock."
"Shut up!" she snapped. "I'll cum when I want to!"
I laughed, reaching between us to rub tight circles over her clit. "We both know that's not true. You're too far gone already."
She made a strangled noise, thrashing beneath me. I squeezed her throat just a little harder, cutting off her protests.
"Come on, Katsumi," I purred. "Be a good girl and cum for me. Now."
She convulsed, throwing her head back with a silent scream. Her quirk exploded, fireworks lighting up the room as she came apart around me. I kept fucking her through it, drawing out her pleasure until she went limp.
"Fuck," she gasped when it was over. "You... you can't just..."
I smirked, slowing my thrusts. "Can't what?"
She glared weakly, still trying to catch her breath. I released her throat, trailing my hand down to grip her hip instead.
"Brat," I murmured, nipping at her jaw. "You're absolutely impossible."
She just groaned, too fucked-out to respond. I chuckled, slowing to a stop.
"Clean you up or let you marinate in your own juices?" I asked.
She waved a hand dismissively. I grinned, pulling out and rolling to the side. She whimpered at the loss, curling in on herself.
"Asshole," she mumbled.
I couldn't help but chuckle at Katsumi's weak glare, her body still trembling with the aftershocks of pleasure. Despite her attempts to maintain her tough exterior, I could see the way her eyes softened when I pressed gentle kisses to her jawline.
"Stubborn as always," I murmured, trailing my fingers along her sweat-slicked skin. She shivered but didn't pull away, allowing me to take care of her for once.
I slipped out of bed, not missing the way her gaze lingered on my naked form. "Eyes up here, sunshine," I teased, catching her chin and tilting her face towards mine.
"Hmph." She crossed her arms with a huff, but I saw the ghost of a smile tugging at her lips. "Don't get used to this, bastard. I'm not some damsel who needs pampering."
"Wouldn't dream of it." I smirked, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "But I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy spoiling you a little."
Her cheeks flushed at my words, and she quickly turned her head to hide it. "Tch, you're so-"
I cut her off with a kiss, deep and lingering. She melted into me almost immediately, her earlier bravado crumbling under my touch. When we finally parted, she was breathless and pliant, her resistance all but evaporated.
"Come on, you. Let's get you cleaned up."
I guided her towards the bathroom, keeping a supportive arm around her waist. She leaned into me, her exhaustion evident in the way she shuffled her feet.
"You better not be planning to just leave me there," she grumbled.
I laughed, giving her a playful squeeze. "Would I do that?"
"Yes," she deadpanned. "You're a fucking tease."
"Guilty as charged."
The shower was small but spacious enough for the two of us to stand comfortably. I adjusted the temperature, making sure the water was hot enough to chase away the lingering chill of our sweat-soaked skin.
Katsumi stepped under the spray with a content sigh, her eyes fluttering closed as the droplets ran over her curves. I took my time admiring the view, committing every detail to memory.
When I finally joined her, she was already working shampoo through her hair, the scent filling the steamy space. I reached for my body wash, lathering it between my hands before trailing them down her back.
She shivered at the cold touch, but didn't pull away, tilting her head to give me better access. I massaged her scalp gently, working out the tension from our earlier... activities.
"You're only doing this to butter me up," she accused.
"Maybe," I admitted with a shrug. "Or maybe I just enjoy taking care of you."
She snorted, but I saw the way her eyes softened in the dim light. I pressed a kiss to her temple, then her cheek, then the corner of her mouth.
"You know I'm only messing with you, right?" I murmured. "I really do enjoy this."
She ducked her head, letting the water rinse away the suds. "Yeah, well... don't let it go to your head."
I laughed, spinning her around to face me. She came willingly, her wet skin sliding against mine. I cupped her face in my hands, thumbing away the stray droplets.
"I think it's a little late for that," I whispered, before claiming her lips in a searing kiss.
She responded in kind, winding her arms around my neck to pull me flush against her. There was no desperation this time, no need to prove anything. Just the two of us, lost in the heat of the moment.
I broke away first, resting my forehead against hers. "You're going to be the death of me, you know that?"
She grinned, deviously triumphant. "Mm, but what a way to go."
I shook my head, laughing breathlessly. How was it possible to be so utterly addicted to someone? But then she was kissing me again, and I stopped trying to figure it out.
Letting go had never felt so right.
The bathroom was a cozy fog by the time we finally emerged, skin pink and glowing. Katsumi was wrapped in a fluffy towel, her wet hair sticking to her shoulders. She sneezed, and I couldn't help but laugh.
"Here, let me." I rubbed the towel over her head, earning a glare that quickly turned into a giggle as I mussed her hair.
"Tch, you're such a- ahh!" She sneezed again, her face scrunching up adorably. "S-stop that!"
I ignored her protests, continuing to pat her dry. "Don't want you getting sick, do we?" I teased, trailing the towel down her back.
She huffed, but made no move to stop me. I could feel her eyes on me as I worked, watching me with an intensity that made my skin prickle.
"You're staring," I murmured, dropping the towel to cup her face instead.
"Maybe I like what I see." Her voice was uncharacteristically soft, her gaze searching mine.
I leaned in, brushing my lips against hers in the barest whisper of a kiss. "Good. Because I'm not done looking yet."
She opened her mouth to retort, but all that came out was a yawn. I chuckled, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"Come on, sunshine. Let's get you to bed."
She protested weakly as I led her back to the bedroom, but the way she leaned into me told a different story. Katsumi slid under the covers and immediately pressed against my side, throwing one leg over mine and burying her face in my chest. The gesture was so uncharacteristically needy that I almost teased her about it. Almost.
Instead, I wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer. She made a small sound of contentment.
"If you tell anyone about this, I'll kill you," she mumbled into my skin.
"About what?" I asked innocently. "The sex or the cuddling?"
She pinched my side. Hard. "Both. Neither. Shut up."
I laughed softly, running my fingers through her damp hair. She melted further into me, her breathing starting to even out.
"Never thought you'd be a cuddler," I said.
"M'not." She yawned. "You're just warm."
"Ah, so I'm your personal heater now?"
"Better than that." Her voice was getting drowsy. "You're strong enough to handle me."
I raised an eyebrow. "That's what this is about?"
"Mm." She traced lazy patterns on my chest. "Can't let my guard down with weaklings. But you..." She pressed a sleepy kiss to my collarbone. "You earned it."
"By kicking your ass?"
"By being worth losing to." She shifted, looking up at me through heavy-lidded eyes. "Don't get cocky about it."
I kissed her forehead. "Wouldn't dream of it."
She hummed, settling back against me. Her hand found mine under the covers, fingers intertwining.
"Hey," she murmured.
"Hm?"
"This doesn't change anything. I'm still gonna beat you someday."
I smiled into her hair. "I know."
"And I'm not gonna go easy on you just 'cause we're fucking."
"I'd be disappointed if you did."
She nodded, satisfied. "Good. Just so we're clear."
Her breathing deepened, body going slack against mine. I thought she'd fallen asleep until she spoke again, voice barely a whisper.
"Yoichi?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks. For..." She gestured vaguely. "You know."
I did know. For being strong enough. For pushing her limits. For letting her be vulnerable without making her feel weak.
"Anytime, sunshine."
She smiled against my skin - a real smile, not her usual smirk. Then she was out, soft snores filling the quiet room.
I stayed awake a while longer, watching her sleep. She looked different like this - peaceful, unguarded. No scowl, no walls, no fierce determination to prove herself. Just Katsumi.
Tomorrow would bring its own challenges. Questions about Yaoyorozu, complications with Kaori, the constant dance of hero training and relationships. But right now, in this moment, none of that mattered.
Right now, there was just this - Katsumi curled against me, trusting me enough to let her guard down completely. It felt like a victory more significant than any of our fights.
I pressed another kiss to her forehead, then closed my eyes. Sleep came easily, wrapped in warmth and the quiet sound of her breathing.
The last thing I remembered thinking was that I could get used to this. Dangerous thought, probably. But then again, I'd never been very good at playing it safe.
Safe… fuck I forgot protection again.
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