Legacy

"Wow, it's the latest model."

"Ah, and a phone case too."

"And it's my favorite color white!"

"You have good taste."

Sayu having unpacked the items said with an air of delight then smiled as she slid the phone into its case.

"Ta-da~!"

With a radiant smile she showed Kato Yusuke the assembled phone then, pressed the power button as if she had done it many times before.

"Yusuke~"

"Hmm?"

"Let's exchange contact info."

She leaned in closer and suggested to Kato Yusuke.

"Sure."

This had been the plan all along. Yusuke Kato took out his own phone from his schoolbag, opened his contacts, and handed it over to Sayu.

"What?"

Sayu gasped softly as she took the phone.

This was her first time seeing Kato Yusuke's cell phone up close.

It was a flip phone, compact enough to fit comfortably in a girl's hand. The casing was smooth, though the silver paint on the edges had worn off, revealing the metal beneath.

"...This is it?" Sayu murmured, "Yusuke's... cell phone?"

"What's wrong?" Kato Yusuke frowned. "It used to be my grandfather's, but I've been using it. Is there a problem?"

Reaching out to take it back, he found Sayu dodging his hand.

"...Why?" Sayu looked up at him, her expression indescribable, and asked, "Why... are you being so kind to me?"

"It's just a phone, aren't you overreacting?"

"That's not it..." Sayu shook her head, "If it's just for communication, there's no need for the latest model, right? Especially since you're still using an old phone like this."

"I told you," Yusuke said irritably, scratching his head. "Don't dwell on these unnecessary details. There's nothing wrong with it."

"In that case..." Sayu's eyes welled slightly, "Then let's exchange..."

"No need." Yusuke cut her off, contemplating, "I'm used to this phone, and it would be troublesome if you suddenly got me a new one."

"Just hurry up and enter your contact info and give it back."

At his insistence, Sayu burst out laughing.

"Why is this funny?" She wiped a tear from her eye, chuckling, "You sound like an old man."

"Thanks." Yusuke replied, a hint of annoyance in his tone.

...

"Okay, it's all set!"

After a brief spell of laughter, Sayu finally handed back the phone.

"Wouldn't it have been easier to do this sooner?"

Looking at the new contact in his phone, Yusuke spoke with a hint of weariness.

"Really?"

Sayu giggled, clutching the phone to her chest.

"Hehe."

She looked up at Yusuke with a gleeful smile, difficult to tell if it was genuine or just foolish.

"Yusuke~?"

"What now?"

"Look." She turned the screen towards him. "You're the only one in my phone."

Yusuke, thinking she felt lonely, considered and said, "...If there's a chance, I'll introduce you to my friends."

"That's not what I mean." Sayu chuckled, shaking her phone at Yusuke, then squinted playfully, "This phone is only for Yusuke."

Her sugary voice lingered in the air, sending his thoughts into disarray.

The expression that appeared on her face was inexplicably charming, tinted with a playful hue that clearly conveyed a certain intention.

Sayu crawled over to Yusuke on hands and knees, sat beside him, and lightly rested her head on his shoulder.

"Hey, Yusuke," she said.

"What's up?" Yusuke turned to look at her, a hint of suspicion in his gaze.

"Um…" Sayu pondered a hint of joy seemed to play at the corners of her mouth.

"Yusuke… Kato Yusuke…, Sayu… Ogihara Sayu…" She softly recited their names, then paused and added playfully, "Kato Sayu… doesn't sound bad."

Her tone was light and cheerful.

Yusuke instantly felt a chill run down his spine, and he couldn't help but shiver. He jumped out of bed and looked at Sayu with a mixture of confusion and alertness.

"What are you thinking?!" he exclaimed.

His eyes wide with vigilance, his body tensed, ready to flee at any moment.

Caught off guard by his reaction, Sayu burst into laughter.

"Pfft haha, look at your face! It's too cute!" She giggled and rolled around on the bed.

"I'm just joking. Why such a big reaction, Yusuke?"

She stood up, her elegant curves outlined against the bedsheet, and from Yusuke's perspective, a glimpse of skin showed at her neckline.

"Could it be… is this the first time a girl has said something like this to Yusuke?"

A string called reason in his mind seemed to snap.

"A joke…? First time…?" Yusuke murmured, his face darkening. He stared at Sayu on the bed, his eyes devoid of any warmth, and said slowly, "…How dare you say it, are you ready for the consequences?"

"Wait, wait a minute!" Sayu, sensing something amiss, hid under the quilt, only her eyes visible as she looked at Yusuke nervously. "I know I was wrong. Your expression shouldn't be so scary!"

Yusuke scoffed. "Are these your final words?"

With that, he leaped onto the bed, his fingers poised like a phantom's, and reached under the quilt toward Sayu.

"Yeah...!" Sayu shrieked. "Wait, ah, you can't tickle!"

"It's too late for that—!"

"Ahahahahahahaha!"

"Stop...stop it!"

"Hey! Not there!"

"Ahaha... I surrender, I surrender!"

…

Her laughter was melodious and beguiling, with a touch of mischief in its sweetness, echoing like a songbird's trill that lingered long in the air.

After their playful bout, she lay on the bed like a flower in bloom, a faint blush coloring her cheeks, tears of laughter at the corners of her eyes.

Her eyes, deep as autumn waters, gazed up at the young man above her for a moment before she exhaled a soft, warm breath towards Yusuke.

'Woman, your middle name is temptation!'

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