Chapter 62
Love Hotel
I wish we didn’t have to hide.
“This one’s close,” Elyna indicated on her phone, tugging on his arm. She seemed unfazed by the poor reputation of such establishments. He wasn’t.
I can’t believe I’m doing this.
His stomach clenched as they walked past the subdued entrance, and found themselves in a deserted hall. Everything was automated; he allowed Elyna to play with the commands, hoping she would find a room to her taste, if only for a few hours.
“What’s your preference?” she asked shyly, eyes roaming the screen.
My preference would be a proper place to host your loveliness. But he would be accused of flirting if he spoke his mind, so he shrugged. “I honestly don’t care. Just find one that makes you happy.”
Kazuki shifted his bag, mindful not to crush the mandarins he’d brought.
Even though he’d dragged Elyna to a place where privacy was bought by the hour, he still wanted this moment to be romantic; he just needed to hold her for a while, and have a proper conversation without constantly glancing over his shoulder.
Whether this happened clothed or naked would depend on her mood; he was game for anything. Elyna’s sudden gasp caused alarms to blare in his head. His eyes followed hers to the screen, only to find … a life-sized Tyrannosaurus Rex, jaws wide open.
The pose looked almost suggestive for a dead reptile. Elyna choked, then turned to him. “Tsuki,” she deadpanned, brows furrowed. He knew that tone of voice; she was trying very hard not to lose it.
“Hai?”
Her finger pointed at the dinosaur cautiously. “What the heck is this?” Kazuki fought to keep a straight face. “It seems like a themed room.”
She looked from him to the T-Rex and back again, clearly puzzled. “You mean … people really do … that with a giant prehistoric monster watching?”
A wave of affection bloomed in his chest, fuelled by her complete inability to comprehend those questionable kinks. The opportunity was too perfect to resist. Smoothing his features, he shrugged. “Some people are into that.”
He planted his hand on the wall and dipped his head to murmur in her ear, “Perhaps it’s the giant tail?” She swatted his chest in retaliation, squinting at him suspiciously. Kazuki couldn’t help it, his facade cracked.
Elyna started giggling, then completely lost it when he burst into laughter. The young woman latched onto him to keep herself aloft, and he folded around her, shoulders shaking.
This is ridiculous.
They both laughed until their sides ached, holding onto each other like a set of shipwrecked travellers. He only released her when another couple barged into the hallway. After a loaded look, Kazuki dragged Elyna outside.
Nope, this is not for us.
A gust of icy wind tore through his open coat, sobering him up. Kazuki secured the scarf around his neck, watching Elyna’s flushed cheeks with tenderness. Her eyes were so bright he could almost see his reflection inside.
“Hey,” he crooned, unleashed. “Have you ever eaten currynosaur?”
The mention of Japan’s typical dinosaur nuggets finished her completely. Elyna doubled over, one hand reaching out to steady herself; he grabbed her arm, pressing her against him to shield her from the wind.
“Oh my God,” she wheezed, wiping tears from her eyes. “Just stop!”
But there was no bite in the command. Kazuki’s pride flared; to see her so undone by his terrible joke was priceless. She was so beautiful when her walls fell away.
A droplet of icy water cut their mirth short; the sky, so inviting this very morning, had filled with ominous clouds. “Anyway, that settles it,” he announced, squeezing her waist once. “I’ll rent an Airbnb next time.”
“Tsuki…”
He cut her protests short at once. The debate was now closed. His voice was firm, brooking no argument as he grabbed her hand. “I’ll spend my salary exactly how I want to. An afternoon with you is worth every yen. And perhaps we can fake a girls’ night out so you can stay.”
Kazuki kissed Elyna’s pout away; her lips were soft, but turning cold in the icy wind. He dragged her fingers to his chest to warm them, and circled her completely. Here, in the love hotel district, no one would bat an eyelash at his thorough tasting of her lips.
A second droplet of icy water broke them apart. Then a third. Elyna sighed in defeat, conceding his point about needing somewhere to settle, especially in the dead of winter. “All right sir,” she nodded. “As long as there’s no dinosaur.”
His lips curved in a smile. “No promises,” he sing-songed in his best impersonation of Shūji.
Elyna laughed, ducking her head to avoid the inevitable shower.
Of course, neither of them had brought an umbrella, convinced they would be cosying up in a nice, romantic room by now.
Kazuki opened his coat to create a makeshift shelter, pulling Elyna against him.
She did not resist, her warmth seeping through his t-shirt as he tucked her close.
“Coffee?” he suggested, already steering them towards salvation. “Perhaps with some white mocha?”
The surprise in her eyes made his heart soar, as if remembering her special love for almond milk mocha was a great feat. That same expression she wore when he’d paid for their drinks on their first date, when he’d desperately hoped that it wouldn’t be the last.
Yet here they were now, fitting like two pieces of a puzzle underneath his coat. Without meaning to, Elyna had painted colour into his very existence. As she slid her hand around his waist, Kazuki prayed never to return to the shades of grey of his previous life.
“Ready?” he asked.
From the outside, they probably looked like a strange beast with four legs. Elyna huffed a laugh in his chest as they jogged down the increasingly wet street, plastered against each other.
I’ll never tire of this.
Elyna: You will never believe what I’ve just seen—sent a pic: Dino.jpg
Aksel: OMYGOWD what the heck is this? In a HOTEL room?
Elyna: People have weird tastes…
Aksel: you don’t say!