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Lani POV:

'Teach Shouto how to please a woman.'

Sounds like the beginning of a very bad porno, if you ask me. Yikes...

Usually having some background music on while I cooked, the kitchen was completely silent as I finished up the tamagoyaki, lost in my own, muddled thoughts. My boss' words played in my head on a loop all day after she said them yesterday—and, now, all day today. I'm no stranger to lust and romance, as it's been the baseline of my pathetic, little career for over a year now. But, this—this?

Surely, this....was impossible.

I sighed tensely as I flipped the last tamagoyaki onto the plate, bringing it to the set table with a few more side dishes. With my best table cloth, candles, and wine glasses, the table looked way too romantic for my taste—and even though that was the point, I still grimaced a bit at the suggestive sight, already thinking about whatever this night was meant to hold for Shouto and I.

I have no idea what Yuna meant by her orders. Whether she just wanted me to give Shouto a few cheeky pointers about the dating world, or send her a complimentary sex tape of us with a bow on top, I'll never know—and knowing Yuna, it's best I just don't ask. But, I figured I'd just start with the safe, safe basics and keep this as professional as I could.

Cause that's what Shouto and I are. Professional...colleagues.

And, yet, my heart began to flutter slightly at the start of a new hour, rereading my earlier messages with Shouto from this afternoon to clarify our plans...

Text Message To: Shouto
Hey, handsome. Wanna go on a date with me tonight? ;)
2:02pm.

Text Message From: Shouto
What....?
2:02pm.

Text Messages To: Shouto
For work purpose, of course. Duh. Come on, what did you THINK I meant?
2:07pm.

Text Message From: Shouto
I didn't know what you meant. That's why I asked.
2:08pm.

But, yes.
2:08pm.

I'll go on a date with you
2:08pm.

Text Message To Shouto:
Right. For work. Great.
2:09pm.

Wear something nice tonight and head to my place around 8pm
2:09pm.

Text Message From: Shouto
Am I supposed to bring you something?
2:10pm.

For the date, I mean
2:10pm.

Text Message To: Shouto
Your cute self is more than enough for this work date. Think of this more like another training exercise :)
2:10pm.

Yes. Think of it like more training, because it would be completely inappropriate if this was anything else. A dinner date is simple. A dinner date is safe. A dinner date is the perfect way to teach Shouto the basics without getting too close...

Because I can't get too close. I have to stop getting closer.

And, most importantly, I need to remember that and stay true to it. No matter what.

Shouto's a hero—and, not only that, but he's a hero trying to catch me, and he doesn't even know it. The closer I get to him, the more I risk slipping and revealing who I really am. For the sake my brother, and for Shouto's sake as well....

I just need to stay away.

It kills me to admit that I've found my mind wandering more to the half and half guy lately—in the strict sense of attraction-no-feelings-attached vibes only, of course. And, I'm not gullible enough to turn a blind eye to his looks. God, how could I? The man is just gorgeous. I already admitted he's totally my type and someone I'd hook up with had it not been for the circumstances.

Those thoughts used to be just a minor annoyance in the back my head. But, lately, it's getting harder to push them away now. It's getting harder to stay away and fight off the urges I get whenever he's around. His body...his eyes...his scent....god, the way his presence has this magnetic way of just...pulling me in, almost making me feel drunk or high on him. It always gives me the undying want to take everything further. It's....it's...

It's...dangerous. For everyone involved.

That's why I will attempt to keep this dinner date as platonic and non-touchy as possible. It'll be the equivalent of taking a cold shower while simultaneously thinking about your grandmother reciting prayers—aka, arousal level, zero—I mean, hopefully no one is aroused by those thoughts. Jesus, get some help if you are...

I'll give him a few tips, pat his clueless little head, and then send him on his merry way before the night really even starts.

Yeah...

You better.

The soft knock tapped on my door at eight o' clock exactly, causing my heart to instantly accelerate on instinct. I cursed my psyche for taking one more look at myself in the mirror before answering the door. As if it mattered what he actually thought of me.

As if this were a real date.

Pathetic.

Not to mention, look at his ex-girlfriend. He'd never find you attractive anyways. You're....you're...

'You're so ugly, Lani.'

My heart twinged and I blew the memories of the past away with a bitter sigh as I smoothed out my hair and touched up the fine details of my makeup anyways, staring back at my blank eyes with thoughts I didn't want to admit. Like how I felt the same jitters that one does before an actual first date. Or, how happy I was that Shouto was here. At my apartment on a Wednesday night...

I have a bad feeling about tonight.

"God, come on..." I breathed out, quickly turning away from the mirror and squashing the nervous concerns. "What are you doing? Get it together..."

A second set of knocks sounded at the door, as trying to make Shouto wait is the equivalent of a spoiled brat waiting at the doctors' office, causing me to quickly walk to the door now and throw it open. The half and half guy's piercing eyes met mine immediately, and suddenly my heart stalled within my chest. Maybe I was dying, but if that was how I went, with him looking at me like that, I'd be okay with it.

I noticed his eyes were prettier than I originally thought yesterday. And yesterday, they were prettier than they were the day before, and so on. It should be a crime for a guy to progressively get more attractive every single day, and yet, nothing about him has physically changed.

He wore a plain white shirt with some dark jeans, and of course, his usual converse, placing his hands in his front pockets as he looked at me. His hair was styled in its usual messy do, making my fingers itch with the urge to run through it before I stopped myself.

"Oh. Um...hey." He said softly, dragging his dual colored eyes down my frame with purpose.

It made my stomach flip and his gaze almost physically felt atop my body. Suddenly, I second guessed the little slip dress I wore, a little too aware of the way it hugged my curves, but Shouto didn't seem to mind. I swallowed heavily at the way his eyes practically followed the winding of my waist like a road, watching his tongue wet his bottom lip once he reached the end where it stopped at my thighs. If it were any other man, I'd say they were eye fucking me right now. But, Shouto is Shouto, and the rules are always different when it comes to him.

"Hey, you made it." I leaned against my door frame with a smile, admittedly trying to show myself off to him more. "And you look good."

I didn't intend to hug him, and I also didn't intend on that particular compliment. But, things are coming a little too easy and natural with Shouto nowadays. That's comforting and frightening all at the same time.

The moment my arms came around him, my reservations went weak. My eyes fell closed with a soft sigh as if I could finally breathe, feeling his warmth seep into my chest. I could smell the shampoo still fresh on his air, meaning he showered before he came here. Did he shower because he was coming to see me? Or just because he's a clean guy in general? I never cared about fine details like that with anyone else, but with him, I really wanna know.

His arms snaked around my waist and settled on my lower back, and in that moment, I realized it was new. Shouto usually doesn't know where to put his hands when I touch him. But, here and now, he seemed more sure. More certain and wanting, gently rubbing up and down my back like I was the most fragile thing in the world. My dress shifted with his movements, and I could practically feel the textured pads of his fingertips on my bare skin from how thin the material was on my body.

And I wanted more.

The dress was more of an inconvenience to me than anything else. All day. I've been waiting all day for this moment, and I didn't even realize it until he touched me. The empty space suddenly feels complete.

"You...look good, too." He murmured softly into my hair, tickling me with each word from his lips. "The dress is....well, it's a nice dress, I think."

I chuckled into his chest and lightly swayed back and forth on my feet, floating our intertwined bodies from side to side. Truth be told, it was out of giddiness, but the tsundere in me wants to puke and shit at the thoughts.

"You think?" I teased lightly, burying my face in the crook of his neck.

His smiles are rare, but they've been coming just a little more easily when we're alone lately. His breath barely stuttered with a laugh so subtle, one could have missed it. It was awkward, and innocent, and fucking adorable, pulling at the strings in my chest that I thought never existed.

"Um, I....I actually know." He stated as a fact, so serious it made me silently giggle. "I'm just...not...very good at this stuff."

'This stuff.' And, what stuff could you be talking about, Shouto? You're not good at complimenting people? You're not good at dates? Or you're not good at expressing your feelings?

I wish so badly I could just be in his head for five minutes and know what he's thinking. Because words are hard for him, but I wanted him to say more. God, I've never wanted a man's validation so much, it's surely pathetic. I wanted to ask if he meant it, or if he was just being nice. I wanted to know everything. Everything he thought of me, and just life in general....

"God, I'm so glad you're here." I blurted out unintentionally, feeling Shouto's arms come around me tighter.

He lifted his head, and it caused me to lift my own from the crook of his neck, feeling the strands of our hair mixing together as our distance remained dangerously close.

"Really?" He murmured, looking from my eyes down to my lips.

"Really, really." My voice came out uncharacteristically soft, surprised when his hand came up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.

I unintentionally held in a breath as his hand wandered, finding the black heart necklace I wore around my neck. Shouto has never been one to take initiative, especially when it comes to touches—even simple touches. But, his actions came so fluidly, so naturally, he didn't even seem to notice himself that he'd done them.

"Um. I've......kind of been thinking about you. Like...all day." He sounded like he was trying to get out his thoughts before they disappeared from his brain again, taking the black heart between his fingers like he was inspecting it curiously.

I felt like I was under his microscope, but he was also under mine as I watched him deeply when he swallowed. And even though his fingers remained on the jewelry, his eyes wandered, gliding over my collarbones and neck, letting his lips part softly at the lace top of my dress.

My breath softly rolled onto his fingertips, afraid he might start to pick up on my pounding heart if his hand remained so close to my chest any longer. I brought my own hand up and slid it over his, draping my cold fingers atop his warm ones as they slowly released the necklace. The touch seemed to snap him back to present time, dual colored eyes barely showing a twinge of emotion—panic—before meeting my own with their typical stoic gaze.

"I.......sorry..." He trailed off, causing me to smile and shake my head reassuringly.

"Don't be. I just..." The words felt difficult to get out with his presence so close. "Um...I just...heh—can't have you standing in the doorway the whole night. Come on in."

I chuckled and forced myself to back away, letting my fingers glide along his own before finding his wrist and leading him inside. "So, anyways, thanks for coming. I'm sure you're thinking about how annoying I am for dragging you here on a Wednesday night, right?"

"Oh. No. I was thinking about what you wanted me to wear." He said way too seriously, making me smile in amusement. "I wanted to pick something you liked seeing me in. So, I spent two hours straight picking this out."

My god, most guys would rather die than admit something like that, but Shouto is Shouto. He's shameless, and not like the others, and fuck if I don't love it so much. How real he is. How he's so truthful and unapologetically himself.

I wish I could say the same...

He's so oversharingly honest, it ends up being funny without him trying. I have no idea why he was stressing so much about what to wear for me, a complete nobody, but admittedly I feel flattered to have been on his mind like that. And...

I wasn't the only one wanting to wear something with him in mind. Took me longer than I want to admit to pick this dress.

Gah, barf. Stop it. It doesn't matter what I like, or what Shouto likes, because we're not supposed to be impressing each other. But, for some reason, the selfish part of me didn't want to tell him that.

"I like seeing you in everything, Shouto." I murmured as I walked him through my kitchen. "You know I think you're handsome as fuck."

My hands slid down his wrist the further I tugged him along, not meaning it when my fingers grazed the inside of his palm. I swallowed heavily and intended to pull away before Shouto's hand closed around mine on instinct, enveloping our fingertips together as we walked.

Ah. Was it an accident? Does he even know he's holding my hand right now? Knowing Shouto, I bet he doesn't...

Right?

It.....it doesn't matter. I should pull away. I really should.

But, they say hands are the way to the heart, and I was afraid mine would stop beating if I released his hand, so weak for him as I let our intertwined fingers melt together so effortlessly, so naturally for someone like him—someone who clearly shudders at the simple idea of affection. I turned to face him once we were in front of the table, pulling him in closer until we were almost chest to chest.

Too distracted by my mouth, he hovered a little too close and my butt bumped into the table, with the soft rattle of glass causing us to jump slightly before I quickly wiggled my hand free from his.

"Uh—Ta-da." I sang with half hearted enthusiasm, gesturing to the set dinner table.

Honestly, I was impressed with how things turned out. For someone who doesn't have many romantic bones in my body, I say I did good. Like, you know those dramatic scenes in movies where the two main characters push all the stuff off the table after some mad sexual tension and fuck atop it? Well, this table spread is totally fuck-worthy, just saying. Not that Shouto's mind would think of that.

His brows widened in surprise, looking around the candlelit spread with impressed eyes. "Oh. Um, we're dressed up. Are we not going out?" He asked, causing me to shake my head.

With a cheeky smirk, I pulled out his seat and gestured for him to sit. "After you." I said, satisfied that he took the bait and sat down obediently.

Heh, what a little princess.

"After the craziness of the party the other night, I felt we were due for something a little....quieter. Is that okay?" I asked, taking the seat across from him.

"Yes." He said a little too eagerly, causing me to chuckle at his usual introversion.

"Good then." I poured some wine into the glasses, suddenly rethinking my approach. "Huh, I guess I should have asked if you drink wine before pouring this..."

He shrugged and took the glass, sniffing it a bit curiously before holding it up in his vision. "I've had it before at our family dinners. I don't mind it."

I gave him an interested glance as I poured my own wine. "Oo. Family dinners, huh? Sounds cool."

It's very rare that Shouto talks about his personal life. In the eyes of Yuna—and also my track record when it comes to this sort of thing, I should already have figured out everything about Shouto's privacy and exploited it by now for my own personal gain.

But, he tends to be a very closed book when it comes to certain things. In the three weeks I've known him, I know almost nothing about his family history—something that would have most publicists impatient as fuck considering he's the son of the famous number one, with a lot of piping hot tea, no doubt. Hell, I'd normally be just like them.

But, Shouto is different and I never wanted to rush him. I always wanted him to feel comfortable telling me anything, so that every time he does open up, it's because he feels safe.

"Well, we don't really have family dinners much anymore." He fiddled with one of his chopsticks, rarely revealing some tidbits about his past. "Or—I mean, I guess, um....they do. But, I'm busier now, with school and work. I.....I don't have to be there when I don't want to. So, I'm just...not."

Even if his voice is famously monotone, I can hear the hints of bitterness laced within his words. Between the way he reacts to his dad, and the very minimal things I know about his older brother, I've already come to the conclusion that his home life was complicated. He's just further affirming this.

And, honestly, it just makes me relate to him more.

"Yeah, I get it. Family's difficult, right? My folks used to do the same with those sham 'family' dinners." I commented absentmindedly, starting to serve him a plate of food.

He blinked a few times to absorb what I said, and I was surprised he was so interested, considering it was just meant to be a passing comment. "And now?" He asked quietly.

I froze a bit, blinking away the sadness that wanted to creep into my eyes. It wasn't my intention to start sharing the tidbits of my own past. "Uh, same as you. I...I don't have to be there...if I don't want to. Yeah..." I smiled stiffly, handing him his full plate.

More like it goes both ways. They don't want me there. So, I just stay out of the way.

I was hoping Shouto didn't pick up on my changing expressions, but for some reason he seemed too immersed in this passing topic; too interested in me and my own family history as he mulled over his thoughts for a few moments of silence, coming to his own conclusion when he was as certain as he could be.

"I think....you sound....sad about it." He said, finding my gaze over the lit candles.

All the lights in the apartment were off aside from the candles, and it just accentuated the intimacy. His eyes looked even prettier in the flicker of flames, his skin velvety smooth. I never thought Shouto would be a person who could potentially unbury the wounds of my past. But, it's something I don't want him to know. Not just with the Mizuchi, but also with how I grew up. I was nobody. I was nothing but an ugly stain to my family name. I'd never want him to see me that way, too.

Not him.

"Ah." I breathed a bit nervously, trying to smile through the tightness in my throat. "My family's just....complicated."

"Oh. Mine, too..." He bit down on his lip, hesitating on his next words. "Um. Well, actually. My...dad especially."

My ears instantly perked up at the mention of his dad. Since Shouto's last name was revealed to me, his father has only come up one single time, and it wasn't by his own accord. Not only that, but he dismissed the subject as quickly as it came, leaving me utterly confused. Of course, from a work standpoint, this is exactly what I've been waiting for. A story to stir the drama pot and exploit Shouto and Endeavor's relationship to the public.

But, that wasn't why I wanted to know at all. Right now, I didn't care about the next breaking story, or how I could twist his words to the benefits of fame and winning. All I cared about was the way his shoulders fell and his brows barely furrowed like he was troubled, reflecting on the past as if it was nauseating.

What happened? Between him and his father?

"I take it you guys don't get along?" I didn't realize my voice could sound that sympathetic, especially not so genuinely.

Shouto's eyes fell from my own as he looked down at his wine glasses, face barely glowering with the rare, vulnerable memories of a child.

"I...I actually, um.......hate...the family dinners, if I'm being honest." His voice was slightly hoarse, trailing the rim of his wine glass. "But, only when he's there."

God, I know that same feeling. The feeling of dread when that person walk through the door. The desire to hide and just run away.

"I get it. Trust me, I do." I murmured, sliding my hand across the table before finding his own.

I didn't know why it was so important for me to let him know that—or for him to believe it, but I needed him to. I needed him to know he wasn't alone, but most importantly, I needed him to know that I was there for him.

He watched the way my hand rested over his knuckles, and I felt his own stir from underneath mine, awkward and unsure, but surprising us both as he slowly—slowly rotated his hand until our palms touched, letting our fingers align and rest perfectly against each other's.

"I...well...I believe you do." He breathed out, keeping his gaze on our hands.

Silence enveloped the dinner table, and it felt so thick. It was harder to breathe, and...and I could feel Shouto's fingers twitching against mine, trying to get my racing thoughts in order as he slowly started to weave our digits together, feeling dizzying alarm bells going off as I reluctantly slipped my hand away before he could.

Now, I was the one to look at the table as I felt Shouto's eyes on me, not having the courage to glance up and catch whatever expression his face held. Because I couldn't—we couldn't. No, no, no. Whatever this was, and wherever it was going—not that it was going anywhere. It just...it can't.

Get it together, Lani...

His gaze remained on me as I took my thumbnail between my teeth nervously, immediately taking the conversation in the opposite direction out of stress. "Uh—anyways—the purpose of this dinner....is that...my boss......wants you to start going on dates, Shouto." I uttered hoarsely, studying my bowl of rice with empty focus.

I was waiting for the thick tension between us to crack so we could return to strictly colleagues, but it never did, only leaving Shouto more confused and interested in my face.

"....w-what?" He rarely stumbled, seeming utterly distracted and dazed.

With a sigh, I finally lifted my head and met his eyes. "She'd like you to have more experience....with being a lady killer-"

"A killer?" His face practically paled.

"And in order to do that, I'm supposed to teach youuu...a few things."

"About...being a killer?-"

"About seducing a woman." I clarified in blunt language he'd be able to understand, watching the confusion in his eyes quickly stir with a flash of surprise.

The table went silent until his lips formed a small 'oh,' and he slowly nodded his head, but it was clear he still had no idea what was going on. "Um....okay. How......is there a...way we're supposed to do that...?"

Great question. I'm not so sure myself. You know, not without undressing you—which is not gonna happen...

I inhaled a heavy breath through my nostrils, feeling my pulse starting to spike with excitement. "Well," I said, "You're gonna have to trust me. Do you think you can do that, Shouto?"

His throat bobbed with a swallow, but he remained composed, piercing his dual colored eyes into me hotly as he said...

"I trust you."

********

Next Chapter Title: How To Seduce A Woman

You can read ahead on Patreon if you'd like! There will be a break next week for the holidays