Chapter 43: Burning with Urgency

Why are they suddenly talking about me? Yukino Yukinoshita's heart skipped a beat. Before she could fully process it, she felt the weight of someone sitting on the desk she was hiding under. She immediately held her breath. Right now, Sosuke Kitahara's entire focus was on Utaha Kasumigaoka. He had no idea someone was eavesdropping just under his seat. "Back then, there were two men. I was confident I could save them." He paused, then raised his head. "But, Utaha, have you considered? Both of them had guns. If I got them into the car but they didn't feel grateful, what then?" Utaha blinked, confused. "Huh?" "In that car, besides those two grown men, it would just be two high schoolers a boy focused on driving, and a girl in the passenger seat. And that girl was very beautiful." Sosuke continued calmly, "What if, midway through, those two men developed bad intentions? They both had guns. If one of them aimed a gun at my head, I wouldn't be able to do anything. Once I was subdued, where could you possibly run?" Utaha was stunned. "They wouldn't, right...?" "Did you see how they dressed? Shaved heads, gold chains, guns. That's textbook yakuza style. They practically had 'I'm dangerous, I'm a bad guy, don't mess with me' tattooed on their foreheads." "Normal people don't dress like that. It's like those girls who drink, smoke, party, and tattoo themselves, yet still insist they're 'good girls.' Sure, maybe one in a thousand really is, but let's be honest." Sosuke remained composed. "You might think I'm overthinking it, but in this world, you don't get a second chance. I don't create liabilities. If I didn't get out of the car to save them, I kept control. If they saved themselves, I could leave immediately. But if I let them into the car, they would seize control with those two guns. I might end up dead." He didn't need to spell out what would happen to Utaha or Yukino if he died. Both girls shivered at the thought. Saving the world, saving everyone Sosuke had never entertained such grand ideals. That kind of mission was meant for protagonists blessed by the world. But Sosuke Kitahara wasn't one of them. His world was small. Too small to contain such lofty ambitions. Survive the apocalypse, grow stronger, build a small team of trustworthy allies who could watch each other's backs, and protect the people he cared about that was more than enough for him. "Don't overthink it. I'm just tired and wanted to lean on you for a moment." Feeling the depth of his concern, Utaha leaned against Sosuke's chest, quietly listening to his heartbeat. Her smooth forehead glistened under the moonlight, her bright eyes shimmering. "But what if, someday, I really..." "You won't. I won't let anyone hurt you." Sosuke cut her off without hesitation. It was such a touching statement, but then he added with dead seriousness, "Because the only one allowed to bully you... is me." "Ahem..." Utaha nearly choked on her own saliva, coughing hard as her face flushed bright red. She stared at Sosuke, half angry, half amused. "You're messing with me on purpose, aren't you? Who says things like that so suddenly?" Having changed out of her school uniform, Utaha now wore comfortable casual clothes for easier movement. Sosuke couldn't help but admire her snow-white face, her delicate jawline, her crystal-clear eyes that radiated charm. As he patted her back, his hand subtly slipped around her soft, curvy waist. Of course, Utaha noticed his hand but didn't push it away. A strange, unexplainable feeling welled up inside her. She actually enjoyed this, feeling safe in his embrace. Sure, Sosuke was pretty shameless, but his genuine concern made her feel protected. Maybe a bit of shamelessness wasn't such a terrible flaw. "I should've never stopped that day," Sosuke muttered suddenly. "No one told you to stop. Anyway, I've already kept my promise." Seeing Utaha smile, her eyes radiant in the moonlight, her lips beautifully curved, and catching a faint hint of her scent, Sosuke inched closer and pulled her tightly into his arms. Utaha didn't resist. She genuinely liked the feeling of being in his embrace. It was broad, warm, and comforting. Sosuke gently cupped her soft, flawless cheek and leaned in to kiss her. But Utaha wouldn't fully cooperate she kept her lips pursed and her head moving to avoid him. When Sosuke shifted his attention to her neck, his hand around her waist slowly slid upward over her clothes. Utaha quickly caught his mischievous hand, trying to stop him, but she didn't resist his kisses. Her head grew dizzy, her breathing grew rapid, and she gradually gave in to the heat of the moment. Realizing she had unintentionally let him have his way, Utaha also became intoxicated by Sosuke's masculine presence and started responding passionately. Such a little temptress. Her breaths carried a faint sweetness, and Sosuke was equally overwhelmed, his head spinning. But Utaha, while allowing him to embrace her waist, firmly resisted letting his hand wander elsewhere, the two of them quietly wrestling for control. Sosuke's hand moved inch by inch up her clothes, while Utaha persistently dragged it down. Even so, just holding her enticing body was enough to feel her incredible softness, like she had no bones at all. It was impossible to say she fully agreed, but it was equally hard to claim she was rejecting him, considering how eagerly she kissed back. Just as Sosuke was about to make a bolder move, a faint, rapid breath came from under the desk. It was a quiet sound. But for someone like Sosuke, whose physical skills had reached the first tier and who had mastered advanced breathing techniques, it was impossible to miss. Someone was there! Sosuke froze, his expression instantly darkening. Seriously? Someone had the nerve to eavesdrop on him? Just as he was about to act, he felt a sharp pain on his lips. The soft hand on his shoulder shoved him away. Utaha, breathing heavily, straightened her clothes and glared at Sosuke with a mix of anger and amusement. "You're really getting out of hand. You said you weren't interested in Yukino Yukinoshita, but after holding her in your arms all day, look at you now, burning with urgency! You were never like this before!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Want more chapters? Let's make it happen! If we hit 250 Power Stones, I'll be uploading extra chapter as a thank-you for your amazing support! ^.^ Every vote counts, and together, we can push this story to the top. Let's reach that goal and unlock more content! Oh, you like the story? Wow, who knew. Go ahead, drop a review and throw some power stones maybe I'll be motivated to keep going. The story's already ahead on Patron. Go there if you want to catch up faster! 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