Chronolust Temptation [18+] High S*xual Content
Ch. 2 The Embrace

He chose to embrace her, his hands softening as he slid them under her back, pulling her limp, half-frozen body against his chest. “I love you, Nanako,” he murmured, his voice rough but gentle, his lips brushing her forehead as he wrapped his arms around her. Her navy skirt was still bunched at her hips, her blouse open, but he didn’t care, and he pressed himself close, savoring the warmth of her skin, the faint tremble of her breath against his neck. The stopwatch’s magic lingered, its pulse softening as he held her, letting the afterglow of their raw connection wash over them. Her half-aware moans quieted, replaced by shallow, steady breaths, her body still under the artifact’s spell, but her presence grounding him.

Hayao shifted, easing them both down onto the bed, his arms never leaving her. The young boy pulled a blanket over their tangled bodies, the faint hum of Tasaka City outside blending with the slowing rhythm of his heartbeat. 

“You’re mine,” he whispered, more to himself than to her, his fingers tracing her cheek, smudging the faint traces of their earlier intensity. The stopwatch rested on the nightstand, its cracked face glinting in the dim light, but its seductive pull faded, overshadowed by the warmth of her against him. Exhaustion crept in, their shared heat lulling him, and he felt her body relax further, her half-frozen state softening as they drifted into sleep together, entwined in the quiet aftermath of their passion.

The pale light of dawn filtered through Hayao’s thin curtains, stirring him awake. Nanako was still in his arms, her body no longer frozen, the stopwatch’s power having faded overnight. She stirred, blinking slowly, her eyes heavy with sleep and a flicker of disbelief, her lips parting as she shifted against him. The blanket had slipped, revealing her wrinkled skirt and open blouse, the marks of their night still evident on her flushed skin. Hayao’s heart skipped, a mix of love and guilt hitting him as he glanced at the stopwatch on the nightstand, its presence a heavy reminder of what he’d done. He decided then to hide it, slipping out of her embrace to grab the artifact and shove it into a drawer beneath a pile of manga, burying its dark temptation for now.

“Hayao?” Nanako’s voice was soft, raspy, tinged with confusion as she sat up, rubbing her eyes. “Did… did last night really happen?” Her brows furrowed, her fingers tugging at her skirt as if piecing together fragments of memory. “I mean, it felt so real, but… it’s like a dream, you know? Like, did we…?” Her cheeks flushed, her gaze darting to his, searching for answers.

He swallowed hard, his hand lingering near the drawer, the stopwatch’s weight still heavy in his mind. “Yeah, it happened,” he said, his voice low, trying to keep it steady. “I… I meant what I said, Nanako. I love you.”

She blinked, her blush deepening, a nervous laugh escaping her. “God, you’re serious? I—I said it too, didn’t I?” She ran a hand through her short hair, her eyes wide with disbelief. “It’s so weird, Hayao. I remember feeling everything, but I couldn’t move, like… like I was caught in some haze. It was intense, but… did I really let that happen?” Her voice wavered, a mix of shame and lingering heat, her fingers fidgeting with her blouse buttons. “But these feelings, they are real, and a part of me just doesn’t care how we got here.”

The young girl smiled weakly at him. It was all so surreal, and he was sure the magic had a hand at play here.

“You did, and it doesn’t matter. We finally found each other,” he said, his throat tight, guilt gnawing at him as he sat beside her. “You said you loved me. I heard it. Felt it.” He reached for her hand, his touch gentle, hoping to ground her.

She looked at their joined hands, her expression softening but still uncertain. “I meant it, I think. But, fuck, Hayao, it’s so much to process. I’ve never… it was like I wasn’t in control, but I wanted it anyway.” She shook her head, a small smile breaking through. “You’re gonna have to explain how we got there, you know. I’m not letting you off that easily.”

He forced a chuckle, his heart racing as he glanced at the drawer hiding the stopwatch. “Yeah, we’ll talk. But, uh, you gotta sneak out before my mom or sister catches us. I’m praying they didn’t hear anything last night.” His voice dropped, a nervous edge creeping in as he imagined his mother’s sharp questions or his sister’s teasing.

Nanako’s eyes widened, a giggle bursting out despite her confusion. “Oh shit, you’re right. If your mom heard us, I’m so screwed. Your sister would never shut up about it either.” She stood, smoothing her skirt, her movements quick but shaky. “Okay, I’ll be quiet. But, Hayao, this… us… it’s not just a one-time thing, right? I mean, I’m freaking out a little, but I don’t regret it. Not really.” Her voice softened, her eyes meeting his with a raw, vulnerable spark. “I’ve liked you for a while, you know. Just… didn’t know how to say it.”

“Nah, it’s not,” he said, his voice firm despite the guilt twisting in his gut. “I love you, Nanako. We’ll figure it out. Just… get outta here before we’re busted.” He managed a grin, his heart pounding as she tiptoed toward the door.

She paused, glancing back with that familiar pixie smile, now laced with something deeper. “You better not dodge me at school, idiot. We’re talking about this later. Like, properly. No weird hazy shit, okay?” With a quick wink, she slipped out, the door clicking shut behind her.

Hayao collapsed back onto the bed, his eyes flicking to the drawer where the stopwatch lay hidden. Its power had sparked something real, but it came with a cost he wasn’t ready to face. He vowed to keep it buried, to let whatever grew between them be free of its dark influence. The days leading up to graduation were a blur of stolen glances and hesitant conversations. Nanako, still grappling with the intensity of that night, pressed him for answers, but he dodged the truth, blaming their passion on a “heat of the moment” thing. She didn’t fully buy it, her eyes narrowing with playful suspicion, but her affection for him held, growing through late-night texts and awkward lunch breaks together.

At school, they navigated their new dynamic carefully, their usual banter now laced with a nervous energy. Nanako would tease him about his “weird intensity” that night, her voice half-joking, half-curious, but she never pushed too hard. Hayao, meanwhile, wrestled with the guilt of the stopwatch’s role, its hidden presence in his drawer a constant weight. He wanted to confess everything, to come clean about the artifact, but fear of losing her kept him silent. Instead, he focused on building something real, something untainted by magic.

He would never again talk of the stopwatch’s power.

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