19 Today, you belong to me alone.

Bunkyo Ward, Sendagi, in the apartment of Kyosuke Hojo.

Sakura Yamauchi lay on Kyosuke’s bed, scrolling through her phone, looking at the photos they had just taken with those delinquents on the Tokyo Loop Line.

"Kyosuke, your expression is hilarious!"

Sakura suddenly clutched her stomach and giggled, her slender calves kicking wildly on the bed.

"Hey, you, delete those right now."

Kyosuke was in the kitchen preparing his dinner and a late-night snack for Sakura. For himself, he had pan-seared beef with rice; for Sakura, he was stewing papaya with snow fungus, a dish that was both soothing to the stomach and easy to digest. He kept his refrigerator stocked with things Sakura loved—yams and papayas were always on hand, ready for her sudden visits—and he had specifically asked the local dry goods shop owner to source the snow fungus for him.

The steamer pot, filled with the papaya and snow fungus, hissed as steam rose, filling the air with a sweet, fragrant aroma.

"Kyosuke, I think I smell something good. Is it ready yet?"

Like a honeybee lured by pollen, Sakura wrinkled her nose and followed the scent into the kitchen. "Ah, that familiar fragrance," she sighed, inhaling deeply in delight.

"Hey! Sakura, pay attention to where you are. You’re in the apartment of a single man living alone. This is dangerous!"

"Kyosuke, if you say things like that, could it be that~"

Sakura giggled as she quietly crept up behind him. She wrapped her soft arms around his waist, her hands interlaced against his abdomen. "Are you starting to have impure thoughts just from being alone with a beautiful girl like me?"

Feeling his muscles tense and the heat radiating from his body, Sakura stood on her tiptoes. She leaned close to his ear, her voice dropping to a low, husky whisper that lacked its usual energetic lilt.

"Sakura..." Kyosuke’s voice came out dry and strained.

Sakura tilted her head back; from behind him, she could clearly see the rhythmic bobbing of his Adam’s apple. *Haha, so even Kyosuke can’t resist my charm! Forget about those other little kittens; Kyosuke belongs to me!*

"Don't cause trouble here!"

Kyosuke suddenly shot his right hand out and reached under her left arm, accurately finding her ticklish spot and beginning to poke.

"Haha! Kyosuke, that’s cheating! How can you use a trick like that? Hahaha..."

Over their long history, Kyosuke had learned exactly where Sakura’s tickle spots were; he could find them with his eyes closed.

"I’m wrong! Let’s just eat!"

Sakura, tears welling in the corners of her eyes, begged for mercy. *Kyosuke is such a blockhead, treating a beautiful girl like this.*

"Go clear off the low table." Kyosuke pulled his hand away and began plating the food.

The low table in the living room had been a mess since Sakura arrived; the moment she entered, she had declared a "surprise inspection" and started rummaging through everything like a hamster.

"Understood, oh Second Generation Leader of the Reckless Angels, the Handless Devil!"

Sakura stood at attention and saluted, then bolted away before Kyosuke could reach out to grab her.

"You! Don't you ever mention that nickname in front of me again, you hear?" Kyosuke said, exasperated.

"No way! The Handless Devil—it sounds so cool!" Sakura giggled incessantly while clearing the table.

"Let’s compromise: don't tell my mother."

Wearing oven mitts, Kyosuke brought over the bowl of papaya and snow fungus. Instead of setting it on the table, he held it in his hands, using it as leverage to threaten her.

"Hmm..." Sakura looked at the fragrant stew in his hands, tapping a pale, slender finger against her cheek with a troubled expression. "Kyosuke, you’re so cruel. You know I can’t refuse Aunt Miyako!"

Choosing to stop overthinking, she tilted her head and looked at Kyosuke with wide, watery eyes, her amber irises filled with feigned innocence.

"Sigh."

Kyosuke let out a helpless breath. Whenever Sakura made that face, he lost the ability to think and would agree to anything she wanted.

"It’s still too hot. Let it cool for a bit before you eat." He placed the bowl on a coaster, removed the lid, and set the spoon inside.

"Kyosuke, I’m so hungry. Can you blow on it for me?"

"I haven't had a chance to buy a fan yet." Kyosuke scratched his head. Sakura was never the type to wait for food to cool down; he usually kept a small fan on the table to speed up the process.

"Then use your mouth! You’re the leader of a gang of delinquents—if you don't practice your lung capacity, your commands won't have any authority later on," she argued, giving him a look that clearly implied he was a pathetic excuse for a gang leader.

"Don't blame me if I blow spit into it."

Kyosuke sat down, scooped up a spoonful of papaya and snow fungus, and blew on it.

"Ah~" Sakura, sitting to his left, opened her mouth and made a cute sound.

Watching her pink lips part and hearing that adorable noise, Kyosuke felt his throat tighten. With great effort, he reined in his wandering thoughts and fed her the spoonful.

"Mmm~" Sakura hummed in delight, then darted her tongue out to lick her lips.

"So good. I want more. Give me more, hurry up, Kyosuke."

"..."

What could he say? He scooped up another large spoonful, blew on it, and fed it to her. After a few more bites, he decided the rest was cool enough for her to eat on her own, and he stopped.

"Ah, Kyosuke, why did you stop?" Sakura asked, dissatisfied.

"I haven't even finished my own dinner yet. I’m starving."

Kyosuke plated the slices of pan-seared beef. Fortunately, they had stayed warm in the residual heat of the pan.

"What? You haven't had dinner yet?"

Hearing this, Sakura felt a pang of guilt. If she had known, she wouldn't have dragged him out for a ride. Under Kyosuke’s influence, she had become quite health-conscious.

"It’s fine. Everything tastes better after a bit of exercise." Seeing the guilt on her face, he reached out and pinched her soft, rosy cheek.

"Oh, Handless Devil, please allow me to serve you your meal."

Sakura knelt on the floor, shuffled over to his side, and hugged his arm, leaning against him while trying her best to mimic a maid from an ancient period.

Kyosuke looked up at the ceiling. He had no choice; if he looked down, he would immediately catch a glimpse of the beautiful view inside her collar. This girl’s moods were like the weather on the open sea—unpredictable and maddeningly charming.

"That won't be necessary. Just sitting there quietly is the biggest help you can provide."

Sakura pouted at his words and obediently let go of his arm, though she kept her body pressed tightly against his.

As Kyosuke ate, Sakura picked up the remote and began flipping through the channels.

"Kyosuke, a comet! It’s happening tomorrow night!"

She suddenly bumped her shoulder against his in excitement, pointing at the TV. The news was reporting on a comet that would pass by Earth the following day. Seeing the dazzling photos of the comet on the screen, her excitement faded into discouragement.

"Ah, I already took a leave of absence today. The teacher definitely won't approve another one tomorrow. Damn it, I really wanted to watch the comet with you, Kyosuke."

Kyosuke paused, his chopsticks hovering in mid-air. He looked at the beautiful comet on the screen, a strange, inexplicable tremor stirring in his heart. Yet, no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't find the source of that feeling.