Chapter 8 Stayover

As I wanted to go further,

"DING~ DING~"

I suddenly backed up as I heard the doorbell ring. Aiko immediately adjusted her clothes with a cough and walked towards the door to check who it was. I slowly walked to the cushion to sit down.

I placed a pillow on my lap to hide my embarrassment.

"Yes... okay."

"No, this is the wrong address. We did not order any parcel at all," Aiko said as she closed the door and walked back inside.

She looked at me and said, "I guess it's not a good time to continue... umm, we'll continue later." I noticed her face was a bit red.

I nodded without saying anything and walked back to the room where Yumi was still solving the problem.

"Oh, Ryo! You're back! Look, I solved the problem! Hehe!"

As I entered the room, Yumi's bright smile greeted me. She held up her notebook, grinning triumphantly.

"Look! I finally cracked it!" Yumi beamed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

I managed a soft smile, though my thoughts were still lingering on the moment I'd just had with Aiko.

"That's great, Yumi," I replied, trying to sound as normal as possible. I took a seat beside her, subtly adjusting the pillow on my lap to hide my lingering embarrassment.

Yumi tilted her head slightly, noticing something seemed off. "Is everything okay?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.

"Yeah, everything's fine," I replied quickly, waving off her worry. "Just... a little tired, that's all."

Yumi blinked but didn't press further. "Well, you should rest then," she said with a small frown before her face brightened again. "But hey, let's check my solution! I think I finally got it right this time!"

I nodded, grateful for the distraction. "Alright, let's take a look."

As I leaned in to check Yumi's solution, I couldn't help but feel a strange tension lingering in the air. My mind was divided, half-focused on the problem in front of me and half on what had just happened with Aiko. I examined Yumi's work, nodding at her calculations.

"You're almost there," I said, pointing out a small mistake. "Just need to fix this part."

...

As I pointed out Yumi's mistake, the warm glow of the evening sun began to filter through the window, casting soft shadows around the room. The atmosphere felt cozy, almost intimate, and for a moment, I lost myself in the rhythm of helping her.

After a few more minutes of back-and-forth, Yumi finally exclaimed, "Got it! I can't believe I struggled with that!"

I chuckled, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "You did great. You're really improving."

Just then, I heard a light knock at the door. Aiko peeked in, her hair cascading over her shoulders, and I felt my heart skip a beat. "Hey, dinner's almost ready. You guys hungry?"

"Starving!" Yumi said, hopping up from her chair. "What are we having?"

Aiko grinned. "I ordered some takeout. Your favorite!"

Aiko invited me to have dinner with them, and of course,

I had no problem with it. After some time, once Yumi finished her meal, her stomach full and her eyes growing heavy with sleep, she said goodbye and walked upstairs to her room.

With Yumi gone, the atmosphere shifted. Aiko turned to me, her smile warm and inviting.

"So, it's just us now," she said, leaning closer. "I was thinking… would you want to stay over tonight?"

I blinked, caught off guard. "Stay over?"

"Yeah! It could be fun. We can watch movies, play games, and just relax. Plus, I have some snacks we can dig into," she added, her voice teasing.

My heart raced at the invitation. "Are you sure? I don't want to intrude," I said, trying to mask my excitement.

Aiko waved her hand dismissively. "You're not intruding at all! We'd love to have you here. It's more fun with you around."

There was an undeniable allure in her eyes, and the prospect of spending the night felt electrifying. "Alright, I'll stay," I said, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness.

"Perfect!" Aiko's smile widened, her enthusiasm infectious. "I'll get everything set up. Just make yourself comfortable."

After about 40 minutes, I settled onto the couch, flipping through channels aimlessly, trying to calm my racing thoughts.

Suddenly, I heard Aiko's footsteps coming down the stairs. My heart skipped a beat as I looked up, expecting her to return with snacks or blankets.

Instead, she emerged from the shadows of the stairway, and my breath caught in my throat.

Aiko was wearing a tight, revealing nightie that hugged her curves perfectly, accentuating her figure in a way that left me momentarily speechless.

The fabric clung to her skin, and the soft light highlighted her silhouette, making her look both enchanting and inviting.

"Wow," I managed to say, my cheeks warming at the sight.

Aiko smirked, clearly enjoying my reaction. "What do you think? Is it too much?" she asked, twirling playfully.

"N-no! It's… it's nice," I stammered, trying to regain my composure. "You look great."

She stepped closer, the teasing glint in her eyes making my heart race even faster. "I just wanted to make tonight a little more special," she said with a coy smile. "Yumi is sound asleep, by the way. So, it's just us now."

"Perfect," I replied, trying to sound casual, but my voice was slightly shaky. The air was thick with unspoken tension, and I could feel the excitement building between us.

"Let's get cozy, then!" Aiko said, plopping down beside me on the couch. "I brought some snacks. What do you want to watch?"

As she reached for the snacks, I could hardly concentrate on the TV, my mind racing with possibilities.

The chemistry between us felt palpable, and I couldn't shake the feeling that this night might lead to something I had only dreamed about.

"Uh, how about a comedy?" I suggested, hoping to ease the tension.

Aiko nodded enthusiastically. "Great choice! I could use a laugh," she said, snuggling closer.

As the movie started, I tried to focus on the screen, but my mind kept wandering back to Aiko's outfit and the closeness between us.