Heartbeats and Illusions

There's a strange phenomenon people like to discuss online: what kind of clothes make a girl look the most attractive? Discussions on the matter range from traditional outfits like cheongsams and kimonos to casual ensembles, but one option seems to rise above the rest—wearing her boyfriend's clothes.

The reasoning? For girls, it's often about comfort—boyfriend clothes are loose, soft, and have a certain nostalgic warmth. But for boys, the reason is much simpler. Seeing a girl in their clothes stirs a primal sense of possessiveness. There's something undeniably charming about the contrast in size, a visual reminder of her petite figure compared to his, wrapped snugly in fabric that was once his alone.

And right now, that theory was playing out in real-time for Natsukawa Kanade.

"It feels a little big," Shiina Mahiru murmured, tugging lightly at the oversized sleeves of the shirt she was wearing. Sitting cross-legged on the sofa, her angelic face slightly flushed, she glanced down at herself with an almost childlike curiosity.

Kanade, standing just behind her with a hairdryer in hand, smiled wryly. "Of course it's big. It's my shirt, after all." He carefully combed through her damp, silky hair as he spoke. "This is the smallest one I have, but it still swallows you up completely."

At nearly 180 cm, Kanade's frame was leagues apart from Shiina's petite stature of under 160 cm. The disparity in size only made her look more delicate, like a doll wrapped in fabric far too large for her.

"Does it feel uncomfortable? If it bothers you, you can go back and change," Kanade offered, though his tone was hesitant.

It wasn't that he wanted her to change—far from it. Seeing Shiina in his shirt was like unlocking a new level of closeness. But now that the initial excitement had passed, he couldn't shake the feeling that this level of intimacy was… a little too high.

More troubling, however, was the unintended view it granted him from his vantage point. As he stood over her, it was impossible to ignore how the shirt slid down her shoulders, leaving her skin exposed in an almost criminally casual way. And when she shifted slightly, he caught glimpses of her figure that made his heart stutter.

"No, it's fine," Shiina replied softly, shaking her head. Her cheeks were still flushed, her gaze averted. Ever since stepping out of the bathroom, she hadn't been able to meet Kanade's eyes for more than a second.

Her mind was racing. Was this too much? She hadn't planned for things to escalate so quickly. The advice from Megumi and the others had been to take it slow, to let Kanade make the first move. But now, dressed in his shirt, it felt like she'd accidentally set the stage for him to do… well, something bold.

Am I being too forward? she wondered, chewing her bottom lip. Yet, despite her embarrassment, there was an undeniable warmth in the oversized shirt. It was comfortable, cozy, and carried Kanade's faint scent. Being wrapped in it made her feel inexplicably safe.

And then, the sound came.

"Guwuwu…"

Shiina froze, her eyes widening in horror as her stomach let out a soft but unmistakable growl.

"No way…" she whispered, her face burning brighter than ever. She wasn't even hungry! It was just her body's routine rebellion at this hour.

Kanade couldn't hold back a chuckle. "That's a pretty bold move, Miss Angel," he teased, his tone lighthearted.

"Bad intention!" Shiina shot back, flustered. She grabbed the nearest pillow and swatted at him, her mortification fueling her attacks.

Kanade held up his hands in mock surrender, laughing as the pillow barely made contact. "Okay, okay, I surrender! To make it up to you, I'll cook dinner tonight. Deal?"

Shiina paused, lowering the pillow slightly. "You… you'll cook?"

Kanade nodded. It wasn't entirely a spur-of-the-moment offer. In truth, he just couldn't bear the thought of Shiina standing in the kitchen dressed like that. The shirt's length barely grazed her thighs, leaving far too much to the imagination. If she moved even slightly, the consequences would be… distracting, to say the least.

"Yep. You just relax, and I'll handle everything," Kanade said firmly.

"Well… okay then." Shiina hesitated for a moment but ultimately nodded. Cooking wasn't the main event in her mind, anyway. Dinner was just a precursor to what she had planned afterward—a chance to spend time together and maybe, just maybe, create a moment for something special.

Kanade quickly surveyed the kitchen, checking the available ingredients. "Not much left… Looks like curry rice it is." He glanced back at Shiina. "Is that okay with you?"

Shiina nodded again, her golden eyes sparkling faintly. "I'm fine with anything. If you make it, I'll eat it all."

Her words made Kanade's chest swell slightly with pride. "Alright, curry rice it is. Let me get started."

Cooking curry rice wasn't particularly complicated, but it did require some time. The beef needed to be cooked thoroughly, and while the ready-made curry cubes in the fridge made the sauce simple, the preparation still required focus. Kanade rolled up his sleeves, determined to make the dish perfect.

Meanwhile, Shiina sat quietly on the sofa, the TV remote in her hand. Though she pretended to flip through channels, her attention wasn't on the screen at all. Instead, her gaze kept drifting to Kanade as he moved about the kitchen.

She tried to be subtle at first, sneaking glances when she thought he wasn't looking. But Kanade's focus on cooking gave her the courage to stare a little longer. Watching him cook with such concentration, his movements confident and fluid, made her heart flutter.

Kanade looks so cool when he's serious, she thought, hugging a cushion to her chest.

Eventually, Shiina gave up all pretense of watching TV and simply admired Kanade outright. Her cheeks warmed as a small, dreamy smile crept onto her face. It would be nice if I could just keep looking at him like this forever.

"The meal is ready!" Kanade's voice snapped her out of her reverie. He turned, holding two plates of steaming curry rice, but paused when he noticed her gaze locked on him.

Shiina blinked, startled. "Ah, I-I was just—"

Kanade glanced at the TV, his brow furrowing slightly. "I didn't expect you to be into this kind of show, Shiina."

Confused, Shiina turned to see what was on the screen. To her horror, the channel had landed on a sumo match. Two burly wrestlers, clad in nothing but loincloths, grappled in the ring.

"Wha—!" Shiina's face turned a shade of crimson brighter than a ripe tomato. She spun back to Kanade, waving her hands frantically. "N-No, don't misunderstand! I wasn't watching that!"

Kanade stifled a laugh. "Of course, of course. No misunderstanding here."

But his expression—half amused, half incredulous—told a different story. He set the plates down on the table, casually adding, "Sumo's pretty popular, you know. It's a big part of Japanese culture. The wrestlers have impressive social status and incomes, not to mention the centuries-old traditions behind it."

Shiina buried her face in her hands, mortified. "I wasn't watching it because I like it!" she mumbled.

Kanade chuckled, shaking his head. Shiina's petite and delicate demeanor made it hard to imagine her being a sumo enthusiast, but the image was amusing nonetheless. "It's fine, Shiina. No need to be embarrassed. Let's eat before the curry gets cold."

Shiina peeked at him through her fingers, her pouty expression making her look even more adorable. "You're teasing me again…"

"Only a little," Kanade admitted, grinning.

Shiina huffed but relented, scooting over to the table. As the two began to eat, the tension eased, replaced by the comforting warmth of shared time.

For Kanade, the sight of Shiina enjoying the meal he prepared was more satisfying than the food itself. And for Shiina, even the small embarrassment from earlier was worth it if it meant spending more time with Kanade like this.