— I'm coming... she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.
Keita held her tightly, his fingers sinking into her bare back, their naked bodies pressed together, as if they were one soul. The darkness felt warm, soft, and only the faint light from outside outlined their silhouettes.
In that heavy silence, after reaching the peak of their desire, she lay with her head on his chest, lightly trembling. There were no more walls between them.
— Yuzuki-sensei... he whispered, but she placed a finger on his lips.
— Don't call me that... not now...
— Then what should I call you?
— Just... Yuzuki. Or... your girlfriend.
A shy smile followed. And yet, behind that smile, her eyes hid fear. That everything would end. That morning would pull her back into reality.
— What are we going to do? she whispered.
Keita touched her warm cheek, smoothing her hair.
— We'll hide. We'll love each other in the shadows. But I won't let you go. Never.
She closed her eyes.
— When you touched me... when you said you wanted me as a woman, not as a teacher... I realized how much I missed being seen like that. Being desired... not just respected.
In complete silence, he kissed her temple, then her neck. Her hand clutched him tighter.
— Stay with me... until morning.
— I'll stay.
...
The light barely crept into the room when she woke up. She watched him sleeping. His slightly messy hair, his calm breathing. She pressed her lips to his forehead, smiling bittersweetly.
In her soul, a voice whispered: How much longer can we live like this?
But for a moment, it didn't matter. She had his arms around her. She had the warmth of that moment.