Alright.
I'd give him those two days.
But there was one thing that nagged at the back of my mindー after that little display out on the porch, Sora would undoubtedly assume that he had a power over me. He thought he could lure me into whatever he wanted with sweet words and hands like an angel...
Ah, his touch was so...
I shook my head clear.
I can't have him thinking that.
Lord only knew what kinds of merciless things he'd get me into if he thought he could dangle himself in front of me like a dog treat.
Well, I'm no damn chihuahua!
I'll bet he thinks he's real slick.
Let's see what happens when I play hard to get.

When Yuto woke up, I volunteered to help him in the kitchen to make breakfast. Usually, he and Haruka would work together (since Haruka always bragged about her cooking skills, even though she was only in culinary classes for a semester) but, seeing as she had been staying in our shrine for over a week, her parents were a little less than thrilled about her absence, and she was forced to return home.
It'd been a while since circumstances were normal enough that I could help around the house, so I decided to lend Yuto a hand. Besides, I still had a plan to go through with.
After a little bit, Sora came into the kitchen while Yuto and I worked to make the food. He leaned against the doorway to watch us and I instantly stiffened, preparing myself for anything he could throw at me.
"What are you making?" He asked us. I didn't answer, or, really, react at all, so Yuto responded in my stead with his usual cheerful tone, "We're gonna try pancakes and stuff today!"

"Pancakes, huh?"

I felt his eyes turn to me. "Is that because you can't cook, Ayano?"
I slipped for a moment, long enough to turn and stick my tongue out at him before resuming my mature demeanor. But I could still feel his eyes on me as I turned away. I found some sense of victory in his eyes following me. I wanted to taunt him just like he'd done to me...
Yuto turned to me, drying his hands.
"I'll be right back, Ayano, think you got it!"

"Yeah! No worries."

BUT THERE WAS A WORRY.
He was leaving me alone with Sora!
Thanks, Yuto.
Trying to act as unaffected as I could possibly manage, I nonchalantly continued preparing breakfast, essentially pretending that I forgot that Sora was even there. In the silence, I almost had, that is, until I felt a familiar pair of hands against my sides. I had to fight to keep from shuddering at his touch.
This might be harder than I thought...
When I thought it couldn't get worse, he pressed his chest to my back and rested his chin on the top of my head to look over at what I was doing.
It was going to be very difficult to get any work done with him breathing on the back of my neck like that...!
I was trying so hard to keep myself steady as he started to speak, and I felt his warm breath hit my exposed flesh.
"You've been quiet..." He observed, and I swallowed.
Instead of answering, I continued what I was doing, proceeding with caution. "You're making it kind of hard to work, you know."
I heard a smile in his voice as he responded with a light chuckle.
"Am I distracting?"

"More like restricting..."

I tried to shrug off his hold to get enough arm room to continue, but before I got far, his arms tightened, and to my surprise, I heard a low growl emit from his chest.
He's growling at me now?
I rolled my head back to give him a look. "Is there a problem?" I tried to sound as composed as possible. I found it to be especially hard with the way that he was looking at me. There was such a glow in his eyes... He was looking at me so possessively...
"Are you ignoring me?"
I tried to keep my composure.
"What makes you say that?" I turned back to making breakfast, acting as completely casual as I could manage. It seemed that that wasn't the reaction he was looking for, and I felt his arms pull me, turning my body around to face him. I hardly had enough time to react before I felt him press his body close to mine, looking down at me with an unreadable expression. Try as I might, I couldn't control the flush in my face.
No fair....
How did he have such power over me...?
He could always make me melt so effortlessly...
I tried to keep composed, but at this point, there was no saving me.
"W-what?" I stammered.
Sora looked deep into my eyes and I felt his gaze in my very core. He didn't say anything, just stared me down, making me shrink.
Just when I thought he'd had me by the throat, he pressed even further, sneaking a hand up and under my hem for skin on skin contact that sent a chill running through me involuntarily.
Soraaaaa....!
He inched closer and closer...
Just when I knew he'd kiss me, he stopped just before our lips could touch and grinned broadly.
"Your whole face is red, Ayano."
I wanted to bite his hand.
Using himself against me again! Taunting me!
He only laughed at my bitter scowl and parted from me slightly with a chuckle.
"It looks like I effect you more than I thought..." He kept his hand against my skin under my shirt. "Even your body feels hot."
I glared daggers at him, ashamed of easily bending to him, and pulled his hand out of my shirt. I wanted to yell something at him, but I didn't know what, so all I had was my scowl to speak for me as Sora continued to look down on me with a grin, his tail swishing slow, back and forth behind him.
"You're still being quiet?" He observed, leaning closer. "I was hoping you'd at least say something... You're cute when you get upset..."
I growled inwardly.
"Sorry to disappoint."
Sora gave a light chuckle, but then paused for a moment, eyeing me carefully. I couldn't help wondering what he was thinking. It seemed that he was thinking something similar as he spoke softly. ".... It really is a pain not hearing your thoughts anymore..."
The sudden grimness in his tone caught my attention, and I scanned his face. He looked genuinely upset by it...
Yet he wanted to wait two days. Why...?
I didn't say anything as his touch gentled, holding me gingerly as he pressed closer, resting his head on the top of mine.
"...tell me what you're thinking..." Sora's voice was small and quiet, making my stiff posture soften. "....I don't like not knowing..."
I paused for a long moment.
What was I thinking?
What did he want me to say?
Unable to find an answer, I only wrapped my arms around his waist to press closer, more accepting of his touch. I could feel his waist length hair against my grip and let my fingers lace through it. It must've helped him relax, because I felt him let out a slow, even breath.
".... I'm sorry," I murmured in response, my voice as gentle as I could make it. "I'm not thinking anything interesting."
Sora snorted a little and lightly rubbed the small of my back.
"Then tell me this: why are you acting so funny today...? Is it about this morning...?"
I grimaced.
I'd been hoping to avoid that topic...
What was I supposed to say?
'I was hoping to play hard to get, too, so that you wouldn't have some pheromone magic to hold over me?'
Yeah, that'd go over smoothly.
"Ayano?"
It seemed that Sora was a little antsy at not knowing what I was thinking... He almost immediately demanded a response. That was something new I'd learned about Soraー he didn't like silence.
"... Yes," I tried to answer nonchalantly. "It's because of this morning..."

"Did I upset you?"

I paused. "....no....I just...."

"Just what?"

His eagerness for my answer only made me more uncomfortable as I tiptoed around the subject. It was an embarrassing thing to admit, now that I was thinking about it...
When I didn't answer, to my surprise, Sora relented, turning the tables.
"... I'm sorry I teased you... But I was serious about those two days."
I felt him hold me tighter, pressing my head into his chest as he laced his fingers through my hair. "I just want to be able to spend some time with you in peace..."

"...I know, I know..."

But it still bothered me...
I paused for a long moment, and when I spoke up again, my voice was so soft I wasn't sure he could hear me.
"Maybe... I'll forgive you if you finish what you started..."
I could hear a smile in his voice as he parted from me to stoop down to my level. "That can be arranged."
Then Sora leaned in and finally finished the kiss he owed me.

A/N:// That was a long one, oopsie!