After the fight, they hauled us back to the rest area near the training grounds.
In the guys' locker room, dim light spilled from the ceiling, the air thick with antiseptic and sweat.
I slumped on a bench, chin in hand, watching Himiko stroll in without saying anything, tying her golden hair back - loose strands falling over her shoulders.
Her thin shirt clung to her, soaked with sweat, outlining every curve under the faint glow. No bra, nothing underneath. I let out a low whistle, then snapped serious. "What the hell were you doing? Why'd you pull that stunt in front of him?"
Himiko spun around, golden eyes glinting mischief. She tilted her head, grinning like it was no big deal. "Ryuu-chan, you're too wound up. I was just buying you time. Worked, didn't it?" Her voice was light, teasing on purpose.
"Yeah, it worked," I sighed, rubbing my temple, "but did you have to trade your dignity for it? I didn't like that one bit."
She stepped over, easing onto the bench beside me - the wood creaked under her. Her hand slid onto my shoulder, slender fingers squeezing gently, sending a weird warmth through my shirt that threw my pulse off. "Worried about me? Jealous? How cute you are." Her tone softened, eyes sparkling like she was digging into my head.
"Cut the games, Himiko," I snapped lightly, turning away from that stare - but her scent, wildflowers mixed with sweat, hit me hard, fraying my cool. "I'm serious. If he hadn't flinched, we'd be toast."
"But you handled it," she chirped, leaning closer, breath hot against my ear, giving me goosebumps. "And I knew you wouldn't let me get hurt at all. I trust you."
I opened my mouth to argue, but she yanked me in - lips crashing into mine, fierce and no hesitation. A deep kiss, locking me up. Her lips were soft but hungry, tongue slipping in, pulling me into a dance - sweet and savage. Her arms looped around my neck, nails grazing my skin, leaving faint red trails that stung. That wildflower-sweat smell drowned me, wiping out my earlier irritation.
"Himiko… what the hell?" I rasped when she pulled back.
"Making you un-mad," she winked, giggling, voice like honey. "See? You're not pissed anymore, right?"
I wanted to protest, but a bad vibe hit - chills down my spine. My gut's rarely wrong, and the distant stomp of feet and loud chatter confirmed it. The 1-A guys were storming in to change, late by an hour.
No time to think - I grabbed her wrist, yanking her into a tiny metal locker in the corner. The door slammed shut just as voices flooded in, leaving a sliver of a gap to peek through.
The locker was tight - barely room for two pressed together, no space to move, sealed like a coffin. Stifling as hell. Himiko's body mashed against mine, her chest on me through that thin shirt, her quick breaths hot and damp on my neck. Her heartbeat raced, soft sounds slipping out - enough to make my skin prickle. Our clothes rustled faintly, every noise amplified in the cramped space. Her scent - sweet, warm, sweaty - filled it, fogging my head.
"Ryuu-chan, what's up?" she whispered, surprised but amused, letting me hold her still.
"Shh," I hushed her, eyes on the slit. Through it, the guys barged in, laughing and bickering over dumb shit. I exhaled - safe, their noise masking us - but relief flipped to a new kind of tension.
Himiko giggled, breath searing my neck again. "You're so jumpy," she murmured, low and suggestive. "But… it's tight in here, huh?" She shifted, chest pressing harder, shirt riding up, flashing smooth skin in the dim light leaking through.
"Stay still," I hissed, fighting to sound calm despite the chaos inside. "If they catch us, I'll never live it down."
"So what?"
She trailed off, hand sliding to my waist, fingers brushing my skin under the shirt to made me jolted, nearly gasping. "It's fun in here, right?"
"Himiko, don't - " I started, but she rose on her toes, lips grazing mine - soft, tempting. In that suffocating space, our breaths mingled, drowning the outside noise. Her hand dipped lower, sneaking under my shirt, cool fingers on my hot skin, sending shivers I couldn't stop.
"You like it," she whispered between kisses, voice dripping allure. "Don't pretend, Ryuu-chan."
I meant to push her off, but my arms wrapped her waist, pulling her tighter. The locker trembled with each move, but I stopped caring about the guys outside. Her lips hit my neck, nipping, leaving stinging red marks, while her hand fumbled with my zipper - clumsy but bold. I sucked in a breath, head spinning from the risky thrill.
"Himiko…" I panted, voice rough. "If they hear us, we're so dead."
"Then keep it down," she giggled, eyes gleaming in the faint light. Her hand didn't stop - unzipping, slipping in, slow and deliberate. I inhaled sharp, logic crumbling, the danger spiking the rush.
The guys' noise faded - they'd changed and left. I clocked it through the slit, but Himiko didn't care. She peeled off her shirt, baring herself - pale skin glowing faintly. "Safe now?" she whispered, pulling me closer.
Her wide eyes burned into me, the heat and closeness shredding my restraint. My hand slid to her thigh, gripping hard, feeling soft firmness. We couldn't move properly, but that just made it darker, hotter. I leaned in, biting her neck lightly, as her hand tightened on me, slow and purposeful. Our ragged breaths mixed, the locker shaking faintly as we pressed together - the restriction amplifying everything.
"Ryuu-chan…" she moaned softly, voice thick with want, grip firming until I shut lip to stay quiet.
I pinned her against the locker wall, hand slipping down, finding her sensitive spots - warm, trembling. I slid inside her like it was nothing, casual but electric. We couldn't shift much, just stood fused, but the confinement turned it wild. My lips claimed hers, swallowing her moans, hands and bodies syncing, riding a wave we couldn't stop.
It stretched on - time blurred - until we were spent, stuck together in that sweat-drenched, stifling box, reeking of us and something I won't name. Himiko slumped against my shoulder, panting, hand still on me, voice hoarse. "Still mad at me?"
I sighed, stroking her hair, tone low. "Nah. I can't stay pissed anymore."
She giggled, tracing circles on my chest through my wrecked shirt. "Good. Next time, can we do this again?"
I shook my head, but deep down, I knew I couldn't say no.
Since diving this deep, I've been running on instinct - brain checked out. Whatever - thinking just hurts now.
Outside was silent, as the guys were gone a long time ago, no one lingering. I shoved the door open, but the tight fit had us fumbling forever to escape that damn coffin.
When it gave, we tumbled out - Himiko landing on me in the most compromising pose possible. My clothes was a mess, hair wild, and my hand on her waist ; Himiko was lying on my chest, her bare body exposed under the light.
Right then, Mineta walked in - grabbing something he forgot. His eyes bulged, jaw dropped, stammering like he'd been zapped. "Uh… this… I-I didn't see anything, I swear!"
Himiko sprang up, lunging to grab his collar before he could bolt. "Hold it!" she barked, fingers digging in, eyes flashing fury.
I saw him sneak a peek at her - places he shouldn't - and her rage spiked. "You looking?!" she snarled, squeezing harder, nearly lifting him off the floor.
I stood, fixing my clothes, stepping beside her - voice calm but icy. "Let me handle it, Himiko. Can't wrong our tutor, right?"
Mineta nodded like a maniac, pale and sweating buckets. "I get it, I get it! I won't say a word - Ryuga, please spare me!"
Himiko huffed, dropping him, glaring daggers. "Forget what you saw." She snatched her sweaty shirt from the locker, threw it on, and stormed out.
...
After Himiko ditched, the room went quiet - just me and the runt. He trembled like a wet dog, clutching his forgotten bag, eyes darting like I'd snap him in half. I adjusted my shirt, sank back onto the bench, chin in hand, and gave him a look - cool and flat. "Sit, Mineta. We need to talk."
He gulped loud, hugging his bag tighter, edging onto the bench's far end like I'd swing. "I-I won't tell, Ryuga. Trust me!" His voice cracked, near tears.
I sighed, rubbing my temple, keeping it steady despite the lingering annoyance. "I'm not gonna hurt you. Relax. Just wanna chat. You helped me and Himiko cram for weeks, right?"
He blinked, shocked, then nodded fast, color creeping back. "Yeah, totally! Those study sessions. Not just you two - I tutored Jiro, Ashido, Tsuyu, Yaoyorozu, even some 1-B girls. Thanks a ton!" He grinned awkwardly, then shrank, scared I'd flip. "It was tough, but… getting that gig from you? I love it! Those girls are hot and smart - Yaoyorozu's intense, Tsuyu's questions had me sweating. You gave me that shot, Ryuga. Grateful, man!"
"Leisurely, huh?" I nodded, eyes cool but soft. "No biggie. But what you saw here…" I paused, voice dipping low. "You can keep it shut?"
He jolted, nodding like his head'd fall off. "Yeah, yeah! I swear, dead or alive, I'm zipped! You and Himiko… total lockdown!" He stopped, then leaned in, eyes glinting with awe and curiosity. "But… You girlfriend seems unreal, man. She's gorgeous, bold, cute and dangerous at the same time. I have never seen anyone like her! If I - " He cut off, catching my darkening stare, and backpedaled. "Uh, I mean, nothing else! Don't glare like you'll choke me!"
I tilted my head, voice low but steady. "Kudos are fine, but don't push it. She's mine, got it? And I know you wouldn't dare try anything."
"Right, right!" He threw his hands up, sweating rivers. "No way I'd dream of it! You two… obvious power couple. Just admiration, swear!"
I smirked, sizing him up, then sighed. "Yeah, me and her… it's not all smooth. She's wild, reckless, drives me nuts sometimes. But…" I trailed off, flashing to that locker scene - her pressed against me, that hot, sweet rush. "I can't stay mad too long. You saw why before."
He nodded, lighting up like he'd found a brother. "Totally! You guys are… intense! I'm jealous, Ryuga. She's stunning, strong, and you keep her close. Me? I can't even dream of a girlfriend."
I chuckled, clapping his shoulder. "Be patient. Those tutoring gigs are gold. Maybe Jiro or Ashido bite - you've got that 'theory genius' rep now. Just don't screw it up."
"For real?!" His eyes popped, then dimmed. "Nah, probably not. Jiro, she...doesn't actually interested about me, and Ashido's… out of here mind there. But... thanks a lot for that chance, Ryuga. Today's locked tight - my payback for the tutoring!"
I nodded, standing, smoothing my shirt one last time. "Good. I trust you. Now move your ass up before Himiko circles back. If she flips again, I can't save you."
He grinned, grabbing his bag and bolting, yelling over his shoulder, "You two love it up! I won't mess with it!" Then he was gone, leaving me shaking my head, half-exasperated, half-amused.