The Cherubic of Kokichi Ouma // Pregame Saiouma Halloween Special 2022

10 - Sensitive

My head is pounding when I wake up. Everything aches and feels... sensitive.

I slowly open my eyes and take in my surroundings. This room... isn't mine. It's clean. Where am I again...?

Oh, right! I'm in Shuichi's room.

...I'm in Shuichi's room. In his BED. Did we... what happened last night?!

I reflexively try to sit up, unaware of the weight on my chest. In that moment, I realize that I'm not alone.

"Ko...kichi? You're up early..." Shuichi murmurs drowsily. His voice is soft and raspy with sleep. "Get some rest, please..." He pulls me closer to him and buried his face deeper into my chest, slowly falling back asleep.

My face flushes red. So we really did do it?! There's no way we would... why would he...?!?!

Shuichi has already drifted back to sleep by the time I was ready ask him any questions. I guess that leaves me to remember on my own... but I don't think I can handle something like that so early in the morning...!

Maybe I should just... head back to sleep, I think to myself. Y-Yeah... it'll come back to me sometime soon...

The second time I wake up is much more confusing than the first one. My head isn't throbbing anymore, but a sudden gust of cold air is enough to send me into painful shivers.

I slowly rise from my spot in bed, opening my eyes to examine my surroundings. Shuichi isn't here anymore, and the side he was sleeping on is nice and tidy. It encourages me to clean up my spot and head out to find him.

I don't exactly remember how I got to this room, but I'm sure I'll be able to find my way back to the stairs. I just have to go down the hallway, right? That must be it-

"There you are, Kichi!" Shuichi's sudden appearance startles me, causing me to jump in response. "Good morning! I was just about to go back to the room and bring you down for breakfast. Do you want to come with me?"

"O-Oh... good morning," I reply, blushing in embarrassment. "Yes please..."

When I arrive in the kitchen, I'm welcomed with a warm ichiju-sansai breakfast and hot tea to start the day.

"Go ahead and eat," Shuichi encourages me. "I've already had my share."

"Thank you for the meal..." I murmur, smiling.

As I begin to eat, I notice Shuichi grinning to himself as he shuffles around the kitchen. "There's something I want to show you today," he says over his shoulder. "Do you have anything planned after this?"

"No..." I reply. When do I ever?

"Would you like to go out with me then? There's a really nice place not too far from here, and it would be perfect for what we're gonna do."

"Really? Sure then!"

》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ * 。° 。 • ˚《

"Here we are, Kichi!" Shuichi announces as we step into a wide clearing. It's a secluded, hilly area covered in grass, shrubs, and flowers of all sorts. Trees decorate the outskirts of our surroundings, keeping us hidden from the outside world. The sun beats down on us, warming our faces despite the cold weather.

"Woah..." I gasp. "It's beautiful here! How did you find this place, Shuichi?"

My partner flashes me an awkward smile. "I managed to get a little lost on one of my walks. But it payed off! I'm glad I could show this scenery to you."

"T-Thank you... this means so much to me," I say as my cheeks redden.

"You're welcome, love." Shuichi bends down to give me a quick kiss on the cheek. "While we're here, there's something I wanted to ask you..."