Accepting Sakura's Feelings

(Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's POV)

The air crackled with a newfound urgency. Sakura leaned in, her voice a husky whisper. "Maybe we should turn the movie off," she suggested.

I met her gaze unflinchingly with a silent acknowledgment. She rose, quickly clearing the popcorn tray and laptop from the bed.

The laptop screen went dark, the only light emanating from the bedside lamp. She returned to the bed, slowly stripping herself of the skimpy bikini.

I followed suit, shedding my clothes with practiced efficiency.

We stood before each other, two bodies bared in the warm confines of the room. It wasn't the first time; Sakura had proven to be a willing and eager participant in our physical encounters. Yet, there was a certain novelty to the experience, a fleeting escape from the complex calculations that usually occupied my mind.

Our fingers brushed, a spark of electricity igniting. We explored each other's forms, a slow dance of touch. Sakura reveled in the intimacy, her moans a soft counterpoint to the silence in the room. Despite the familiarity, I couldn't deny a flicker of pleasure at her response.

This moment of intimacy, however, was abruptly shattered. A sharp rap on the door sent shivers down my spine. A voice, saccharine sweet, floated through the air. "Sakura? Are you there? Fancy some Christmas shopping?"

This was Kushida's voice.

Sakura's breath hitched, frustration momentarily clouding her features. She opened her mouth to decline, but I intervened.

"Put your coat back on," I murmured, my voice low.

Confusion flickered across her face, but obedience won out. She reached for the discarded coat, enveloping her bare form.

"Text her," I continued, my voice flat. "Invite her in the room, but tell her to come alone."

Sakura's eyes widened in surprise, her initial reluctance warring with her desire to please me. In the end, loyalty triumphed. She fumbled with her phone, composing a quick message following my instructions.

The tension in the room remained palpable. While Sakura composed that message, I started dressing, the intimate atmosphere left hanging in the air.

The confirmation buzzed on Sakura's phone. "I am alone," the message read.

"Unlock the door," I instructed. My voice held a neutral tone, betraying no hint of the strategy unfolding.

Sakura rose and unlocked the door. A chorus of greetings played out – Sakura's polite invitation, Kushida's enthusiastic response.

The moment Kushida stepped into the room, her eyes widened. The Christmas decorations, the remnants of popcorn on the table – the scene hinted at an unexpected rendezvous. And then, there was me, sitting casually on the bed.

The door clicked shut behind Kushida, a soft thud that punctuated the sudden tension. Confusion clouded her features, mirrored by a similar expression on Sakura's face.

"Kushida," I spoke, my voice calm amidst the swirling emotions. "Take a seat." I gestured to the space on the bed to my left.

Uncertainty clouded Kushida's features. "But... what's going on? Ayanokoji-kun?"

Sakura mirrored the question, a crease forming on her brow. Their confusion was understandable, but this was no time for theatrics.

As for Sakura, she settled next to me on the right, her earlier excitement replaced by a wary curiosity.

"I have something to share with both of you," I announced, my voice calm and collected. "Firstly, Kushida." My eyes focused on her, a silent command.

Her surprise was evident. She glanced at Sakura, then back at me, a flicker of understanding flitting across her face. "Yes, Ayanokoji-kun?"

"Sakura and I," I stated simply, "are in a relationship."

Kushida's eyes darted to Sakura, searching for confirmation. Sakura, on cue, offered a small, shy smile. Kushida's surprise quickly morphed into something akin to acceptance. A slow nod, a silent acknowledgement.

Shifting my gaze to Sakura, I continued.

"Now, Airi," I turned to my fabricated girlfriend. "Kushida is.. my pawn." My words carried a subtle weight. "She follows all my instructions."

This revelation hung heavy in the air.

To demonstrate, I issued a simple command. "Kushida. Remove your shirt."

The words hung heavy in the air. Both Sakura and Kushida stared at me, disbelief etched on their faces. Kushida's eyes darted to Sakura, searching for an explanation, but found none.

My expression remained impassive. This wasn't a request; it was an order. Silence stretched, broken only by Kushida's ragged breaths.

Finally, desperation tinged her voice. "Kiyotaka," she pleaded, her gaze flickering between me and Sakura. "Please, not in front of her."

There was a flicker of something in Sakura's eyes, but it was quickly masked. My gaze remained fixed on Kushida. "Do it," I commanded, my voice a monotone.

Defeated, tears welling in her eyes, Kushida began to unbutton her shirt.

The air crackled with tension as I reached out, my touch a deliberate exploration of her exposed flesh. It was a display of dominance, a visual confirmation of my words.

Once satisfied, I withdrew my hand. "Put it back on," I ordered. "Now leave."

Kushida scrambled to obey, relief washing over her features as she fled the room. The door clicked shut behind her, leaving an unsettling silence in its wake.

Turning back to Sakura, I met her gaze. A single question hung in the air, unspoken yet clear. "What do you think of me now?"

Her response surprised me. Instead of outrage, instead of defiance, she threw her arms around me, burying her face in my chest. "Don't do that again," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I'll do anything for you, Kiyotaka. Just… don't do that in front of me."

This was unexpected. No threats, no ultimatums, just raw vulnerability. An interesting development. It hinted at a depth of devotion I hadn't anticipated.

"What if I do?" I pressed, testing the boundaries of her loyalty.

Her response was a soft whimper. "It would hurt me a lot." The meekness in her voice was both intriguing and unsettling. There was no fire, no fight – just a quiet acceptance, a willingness to endure.

This unwavering loyalty proved more valuable than any outburst.

"I won't," I assured her.

Elated by my response, she clung to me tightly, her gratitude overflowing in a flurry of kisses.

The reason I had to conducting such an incident and test the loyalties of both Sakura Airi and Kushida here while even risking the rebellion of both of them was because of that meeting with my father.

Since my father is going to get involved in the school and that he is planning to use the rules of the schools to expel me, it's best to tighten the reigns over all my tools.

Now I can be sure that Sakura Airi won't betray me. Atleast not willingly. If she is fooled into it then it can't be helped.

As for Kushida, she is just waiting for the opportunity to escape my grasps. Well, now that she knows Sakura Airi is extremely loyal to me, Kushida would be less included to use the boys to do anything against me.

This is because just like Kushida, Sakura's influence among the boys has reached the other classes such as Class B, Class D, and even the senior classes.

Thus, if Kushida wants to take action against me, she will be forced to do it by manipulating the girls. And as for the girls of Class C, most of the girls of entire Class C are under the leadership of Karuizawa Kei who is another one of my tools. So, there is no need to be worried on that end.

In this way, I have managed to create a good shield around myself atleast in the Class C.

With the interruption dealt with, the initial tension in the room dissipated somewhat.

Sakura, still clinging to me, buried her face in my shoulder. I allowed the moment, a brief pause in the calculated chaos that was my life.

After a moment, she pulled back, a hint of intimacy flickering in her eyes. "Now what?" she asked.

"We continue," I replied simply, gesturing towards the bed.

She nodded, a silent agreement. We shed our clothes, the air crackling with unspoken desire.

I reached for her, my touch a calculated exploration designed to elicit a response.

A guttural moan escaped her lips as my fingers grazed her sensitive skin. It was a response I had come to anticipate, a predictable melody in this carefully orchestrated dance. I pushed forward, urgency fueling my movements.

Sakura responded with a fervor that surprised even me.

As we reached the peak, her moans grew louder, a desperate chorus that filled the room.

After some hours, as the echoes of her pleasure subsided, a comfortable silence settled between us. Sakura snuggled into my side, her breathing gradually evening out. I ran a hand through her hair, a gesture of… what? Appreciation? Approval? Perhaps. The lines between genuine emotions and manipulation had always been blurred for me.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice laced with contentment.

"For what?" I queried, my tone neutral.

"Thank you for being with me. For giving me this joy and for accepting my feelings for you, Kiyotaka," she mumbled while nuzzling closer.

An involuntary twitch played at the corner of my lips.

However, I didn't know that a tiny ember had seeped into my completely hollow heart.