Forbidden Knowledge Vol.1 (Marisa Kirisame X Male Reader)

Chapter 34 - Bad Apple

Sunlight crept through the narrow gap in the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. Marisa rubbed her eyes groggily as she stirred awake, her hair a tangled mess and clothes lying haphazardly around the room. The events of the previous night came flooding back to her, and her cheeks grew warm as she remembered the closeness she had shared with Y/N. Still fast asleep, his body was wrapped around hers, their limbs intertwined. A small, giddy smile spread across her face as she traced her thumb over his forehead, gently sweeping his hair aside.

Carefully, she untangled herself from Y/N's embrace, slipping out of the futon. She stretched her arms above her head, yawning as a stiffness settled into her muscles. The exhaustion from the night lingered, but she felt a contentment she hadn't felt in a long time. After getting dressed, she figured some fresh air would do her good.

She tiptoed out of the room and headed downstairs to find her father already up, busy cleaning and setting up the shop for the day. His expression brightened with a faint smile as he glanced over at her. "Morning, sleepyhead."

"Morning, Dad..." Marisa mumbled, rubbing her face as she approached. "What time is it?"

"Still early," he replied, giving her a knowing look. "Surprised you're up, to be honest. You did get to bed late last night."

Marisa's face flushed as she tried to play it off. "N-No... I went to bed as soon as we got back," she said, attempting to sound casual.

Her father crossed his arms, his expression smug. "The noise you two were making last night would suggest otherwise."

Her breath caught in her throat as her face turned a deep shade of red. "Ah! N-No, that wasn't—" She stammered, utterly mortified. "Oh dear... Damn it..."

He chuckled at her flustered state, shaking his head. "I suspected there was something between you two, but I wasn't expecting that." He raised an eyebrow mischievously. "So, when do I get a grandchild?"

"Dad!" Marisa's voice cracked, her embarrassment palpable.

"Alright, alright," he relented, holding up his hands in surrender. "I won't tease you anymore. Any dreams to share?"

Marisa shook her head, exhaling as the embarrassment slowly ebbed away. "Didn't dream of anything," she lied, glancing around the shop and noticing the clutter. "Do you want me to... help with the cleaning?"

He looked around the shop with a soft smile. "Yeah, I'd like that."

Marisa was set to work alongside her father, and the mundane tasks provided a welcome distraction. As she swept the floor, Marisa's cheeks were still burning as she swept the shop floor, the mortifying exchange with her father replaying in her mind. She had expected a bit of teasing—he was never one to miss an opportunity—but his boldness took her completely off guard. Her father was usually straightforward, but even he rarely crossed into territory that was pretty personal. She sighed, trying to shove her embarrassment to the back of her mind as she worked. Yet, as she continued cleaning, there was a different warmth in her chest, not entirely due to the teasing. It was the memory of the night before, of lying there with Y/N, sharing a closeness that went beyond any magic or adventure.

Her father was watching her with a quiet smile, noticing her expression shift from mortification to something more thoughtful. "You're awfully distracted for a girl who 'didn't dream of anything,'" he said, the corners of his eyes crinkling with amusement.

Marisa shot him a look, her lips curling into a reluctant grin. "Are you ever going to let that go?" she muttered, leaning her broom against the counter.

He shrugged. "I'm just glad to see you happy, Marisa. It's been a long time since I've seen you like this." His tone grew softer, more sincere, as he straightened a stack of books on a nearby shelf. "For what it's worth, I think he's a good match for you. You seem... different around him."