“Why are you following me?”1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXT19vXhFv1
Ever since Anna left the studio, Nao followed closely. They weren’t walking side by side, he was a few steps behind, but it still annoyed her. She used to have Takeshi or Kyoya trailing like lost puppies behind her but they were just friends. Nao was a completely different situation.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWpzF0EQmQ
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1hxIuSxBk
“Didn’t your friend ask for my help?” He leaned forward, trying to keep the conversation animated. Nao figured it would tick her off even more if he were to prolong the whole ‘helping’ subject and he was having too much fun to let it go so easily. “What do I have to do, huh?” He continued taunting her.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQw3Jf4o58
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZquDPOgVF
By now, her left eye started to twitch. Behind, Nao could swear she was going to turn around and slap him. She had the courage to do that yet it seemed as if he would be taken off the hook easily.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RdudaEdiW
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80NkdB0pID
“Leave.” Her mumble was loud enough for him to hear. 1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQmR1kHSa7
Anna didn’t want to make a scene; otherwise she would have already beaten him up. However, in times like those, brilliant ideas would rise to the surface. She smirked for a fraction of second before she turned to him, smiling mischievously. Nao didn’t know if he should actually follow her request and back off or endure what she had prepared for him. 1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFT6OKB6y08
“If you’re so keen on helping me, then be it. Come.” Anna started her plot by leading him to his demise. 1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVdr7hAAyI
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeJFD8gnao
The writer didn’t try to hide her intentions anymore. She turned around and led the way towards the closest subway. He trailed behind her, unsure and a little scared of what was going to happen next.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGlwsGMC4p
“I think you’re kidding me…”1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1xqNr80th
The metro station was engulfed by people, swirling around even though there was little space. He was planted near the door, his face glued to one of the bars. Not even the height could help Nao. Over different annoying noises and bad perfumes, he could feel a woman touching his butt. He tried to shake it off but it became obvious. He tried to move around so that he could firstly breathe and secondly, he really couldn’t stand that hand.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfd1xQirMTD
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORXk34LVl7
“Have you seriously never been squished by oh so many strangers, with such fragrances around?” 1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC19jJflKxu
She was lucky because she found a good place near the door even though when there was a sudden change in speed, everyone would crash into her. While watching him scrunching his face in disgust of everything, she was plotting.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOVOmw97en
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbXuYsC3JO
“I’m not from Tokyo.” He mumbled while trying hard to stay on his feet. She rolled her eyes at his answer. It didn’t make any sense because they met in Tokyo. “I’m originally from Osaka.”1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsyJPVo8zp
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaB0GaLPQ6o
“And? Does Osaka not have subways?” 1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8crfJfkakv
In that very moment, Nao could feel the heat rising to his head. He wasn’t blushing but his ears got red from annoyance. If he didn’t know any better, he would have swore she wanted to take revenge on those 4 years, but she seemed to not care enough for that. He was intrigued. Maybe she just wanted him to suffer for her simple desire to provoke chaos around her.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSArLXlOPbS
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULQlY5iZCp
“You’re a true smart ass aren’t you?” He mumbled. 1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63IUUdIA1V
She smiled sarcastically but didn’t respond. Instead, since they had to get off at the next station, she grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him towards the door. 1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7xuGqpowS
Unfortunately, the movements of the metro got him crashing on her instead. Her head hit the door and she wasn’t at all happy with the turn up.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72GnfUUCpN
“Where are we going?” Nao required information, mostly since he had a bad feeling about that day.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8nVYXJiX9
She ignored him completely from the moment they got back on the sidewalk. They were somewhere in Shinjuku, heaven of every shopping maniac out there. He didn’t like it. 1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkcpCqpIPU
Patience was a virtue he seriously didn’t possess. Even more surprising was when Anna grabbed his hand and entered confidently one of the biggest and most sparkling Shopping Centers.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1JCwXMqDV
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsbHfVAPpb
“Let’s start with fun things.” 1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rOff4iCds
Her eyes got so big and looked so innocent that he got scared. She wasn’t an innocent woman at all. Anna smiled cutely, showing two cute dimples on each side of her cheeks as she grabbed his hand and entered what was to become the most disastrous situation in his life.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHCsZHemNV
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVITquf7Ot
“Wait,” He pulled her roughly back. He couldn’t believe her. “This is a lingerie store. I’m not supposed to enter.” She raised an eyebrow, trying hardly to look as innocent as a young teenage girl.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3x7PpXII8u
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dK6xTpxjx
“Why not?” 1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPfH3XgIQS
She shook his hand off, mostly because he had a tight grip on her arm and it started to hurt, and went right back in, leaving him behind. Sincerely, he looked like a pervert by just standing in front of such a place. 1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqE1Xe00WY
Slowly, he got the courage, and with one hand covering half of his face, walked in. The path to where she was seemed to never end. Firstly, he crashed into a mannequin; that was the first level of his embarrassment;1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡged3Yi738e
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYx4X83UURV
“Oh God.”
Next, while being perplexed, he hit a shelf of bras, ending with a few on his head; that was the second level. The climax of all of it was the moment he actually reached the place she was standing at. Anna grabbed a bra which had leopard print on it. She raised it to his eyes and tilted her head to one side.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3t7ll5Nak
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYYyxhGoky
“What?” He was already pride less so why not give up? She smiled and moved the bra in front of him.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4WMbHMZCD
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwLilPvuJ1
“What do you say? Would it look good on me?” His eyes widened and mouth opened a little. He couldn’t believe she asked him that. Not even his wife did! He considered himself a stranger to anything feminine, like sexy lingerie. He didn’t care since he slept with Ai just three times; she tried to get him entranced into such a mood but it didn’t work at all and often she would end up all annoyed and frustrated.
Nonetheless, he knew it was all part of a well thought plan she came up with in just a few minutes. He couldn’t lose to her. He couldn’t lose to himself either.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZPER62dh4
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfVmsBhFBM
“I don’t think it suits you.” The relaxed tone, the features which also seemed to be controlled and ignorant surprised both of them. She had a wicked mind and it started to slowly rub on him too. He was insane, he was in a creepy situation and everything he was thinking of was nothing. Nothing at all.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7UIW4AnKq
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQdsi1SnTO
“Actually,” He crossed his arms and leaned on the shelf on his right. “You don’t like it either do you?” She got caught off guard and the achievement of seeing her without a smart reply brought a smirk on his lips.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4B3Sshu6q
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzCl6WpL30
“What’s simple is beautiful.” She shrugged and grabbed another bra. The piece was different. It was a dark blue color and it didn’t have any print on it. “I guess I like this more.” She started to play around again. Encouraged by a fierce desire to embarrass him, she put the bra in front of her chest and started to move from side to side, like a child.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yu1UYHo2A
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHHfXwNb3P
Somehow, the bright smile she had while playing in a lingerie store got Nao to loosen up a lot. He wasn’t ashamed of being there because she was there too. It all seemed to gravitate around her and he had no power. When she looked up to him, there was no evil glint anymore; instead, there was amusement. Next, she grabbed another imprinted bra. It looked slutty, in Anna’s point of view at least, but it seemed to give her a new idea. She placed it on Nao’s chest.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlmdVxSZ5r
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvsqYFHf9F
“I think this suits you.” She said jokingly. 1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqSje9Dsbr
The bra was black and had two stars on each side. Nao remained perplexed a little until she started to laugh. Her laughter was genuine and seemed to be nasal, like her voice. He never heard her laugh so brightly before. It made him laugh too and they looked like two troublemakers.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuuX8mqrnD
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5SMk6VpPR
“Let’s get out of here.” She chuckled when she saw how his eyes started to sparkle and how enthusiastic he became suddenly. However, that didn’t change the fact that Anna bought the blue bra.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIBgtA3472
“I hope you’re not going to take me to some other place like that.”1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAbTL1ylws
She stopped middle step. Her head titled again, it seemed she was doing that every time she was thinking about something. She had been struck by an idea and blinked1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKxHmR6FWT
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHd8xpYcJob
“Let’s go buy condoms,” She started excitedly. Nao’s eyes got as big as two plates. It was so funny that Anna couldn’t control herself anymore. She started to laugh loudly. “I’m joking.” She said while trying to calm her breathing. He glared at her and snarled. It sounded funny and it amused Anna even more. His face was priceless and the effect she had on him was growing at an alarming pace.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSChhCjmUU
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJpqcDduUf
“Why don’t we take a break?” He signed with his head towards the fast food. Anna bit her lip, having an inside battle. She could continue her evil plan or she could relax and actually enjoy.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXXbkIBPGT
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZ1YIqSgO2
“But where would be the fun then?” She whispered. Nao didn’t hear it because he was already walking towards the food court. In the end, how bad could she embarrass him in such a place?1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARce3v10tH
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJTa3ju4G4
He thought again. She could find many ways to get the people around them glue their eyes to them. In the first place, some teenagers recognized Anna from the attention her book got. Secondly, she grabbed two french fries and started to use them as fangs.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOeGsXP6m7
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0aLFqojAO
“Rawr, rawr,” She was definitely having fun in her own way. 1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AQhmLX2iX
On the other side, Nao didn’t know what to do first: laugh at her childish antics or be worried of her bipolarity. He chose none. Seeing how he wasn’t reacting anymore, she threw a french fry at him and scoffed.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzZclP8LIO
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsYxMqzoCr
“You’re no fun at all. Got old already?” She smirked, knowing that he will get offended by her words, which actually happened.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHSayWaqX3
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelJ1afvovf
“Oi! I’m just 30 years old!” His narrowed eyes didn’t affect Anna in absolutely any way. “Did you write a scene like that in your book too?” 1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmKuXXZJoQ
With just one sentence, which didn’t have any connection to their current situation, Anna frowned. She started to stare intently at her drink. Nao got taken back by the change and felt bad even if he knew he shouldn’t because he definitely didn’t offend her in any way.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoSPDtQhwF
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcLMAP0N2g
“Naoki-san,” He was actually waiting for a verbal blow. He knew she had the perfect mood for something like that. “Do you think my book lacks romance?” Alright, it wasn’t exactly what he expected.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9LH4gC9rK
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzSE566frp
“I-” She thought he might have not read the whole novel to begin with so she put the problem differently.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQqoQptnkh
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8p3EABIKW
“Do you think I lack romance?” His response was sincere and maybe it came too fast.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8SEY2UXEg
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTEmnAcaHX
“Yes.” She looked somewhere between annoyed and surprised. Her eyes got smaller and her mouth was set in a straight line. There was a neutral expression, over all. “Is this the problem Nakamura-san asked me to help you with?” She nodded slowly. He chuckled and got more comfortable on his chair. “Who told you that?” The atmosphere transited from childish to a little more serious between them.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJjAuVoHFm
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JDRoT0iB1
“Your father.” That surprised Nao even more and he started to laugh again, but not loud enough to make her sulk. “He said I don’t know what love is. That I don’t have any more the feelings from the moment I wrote that book. You are his son. What does he want me to do?”1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCkrGlDTmF
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDl6xCRQCG
“Hmm,” He placed his hands on the table and leaned on them, thinking. “You wrote it four years after we met, right?” Her eye started to twitch again. He sounded too proud.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHga5OVNpdD
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvL2ripfLC
“Actually, I started it one year after we met. It just happened I forgot about it. My other books didn’t seem to be appreciated so one day I just remembered about it” 1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBjBupHdqx
Even though she spoke with ignorance, as it was just another topic, it affected him more than he would have imagined. Nao started to wonder if he was more caught up with her than she was with him. It started as an ideal type and in a matter of a few months it became more like an obsession.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiknp5hH3ko
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSMZN4f5Yo
“Then I guess you changed a lot. The book talks about fate and love. About two people who would do absolutely anything to meet. From what I read, the girl was the one believing they will have a happily ever after but you don’t seem to do.”1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmpYmbhnub
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWSZ8lf0qX
“That’s because I don’t.” Anna recognized. Something hurt in his chest. “I didn’t back then either. I knew it was just one day, one moment, one man. Why should I get all worked up for someone I will never meet again? I should just enjoy it to the fullest and when it’s over, get over it.” 1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ59IPEx3TG
Nao flinched. Suddenly he realized that if he wouldn’t have left in that morning Lovers in Tokyo wouldn’t have been written but they would have probably ended up together. It hurt. It was his fault.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3k19tSYjtf
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZqRI7dCn1
Anna watched his body react to her words. She knew she touched something inside him, that something in his head clicked. She hurt him but that was nothing compared to the moment she woke up that morning, all alone. On that day, there were moments when she hoped her reasoning was wrong and he won’t become just an acquaintance in her memory. Anna knew the ending for their small escapade from the world, from themselves and from the truth but that didn’t mean she never hoped for something more. Instead, she learned a new lesson in life and moved on.1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡil9ndG50hX
1008Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxekalNQNXx
“I think we should leave. There’s no reason to be here anymore.” She grabbed her purse and the two plates. While walking to the trash can she didn’t dare glance behind. Anna hurt him or at least his pride but she didn’t feel any amount of remorse for that. “He deserved it,” She mumbled to herself.
