Noh Mask

Chapter 7

Italicized quotes = spoken English
Regular quotes = spoken Japanese
Italicized words = thoughts and non-verbal communication
Bold words = Emphasized words

Translations:
Ohayou – Goodmorning.
Dōiu riyū de? - for what reason?
Nandesuka? - What is it?
Warui warui - My bad
As always let me know if there are any mistakes in translations.

Enjoy~

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Some weeks later, Asuka awoke one morning to the sound of a cartoon playing in low volume on the television. The next thing she registered was the lack of body heat that she had grown so accustomed to encompassing her every night. The man was like a radiator.

She didn't even remember falling asleep. One moment she was lying in bed side by side with Shinsuke, deep in discussion about how they might book their match should they one day seriously face each other in the ring. The next instant she was blissfully asleep.

Where was Shinsuke?

As she flailed around under the tangle of blankets in order to get free, she became aware of a vague crunching sound.

"Ohayou," Shinsuke drawled from his perch at the edge of the bed. His back was to her at the moment, his attention focused on the TV.

He then turned his head so that he could regard her in profile.

Wait; was that her strawberry pocky sticking out of his mouth?

"Shinsuke..." she said, voice going deathly severe.

"Hm?" he looked at her more fully.

To the untrained eye, his expression appeared oblivious to what he had done to wrong her. Shinsuke was just that good. But she knew that he knew just what act of injustice he had committed.

His innocent eyes shifted from her angry face down to the pocky stick dangling from between his lips. Then he let his act drop just a shade so a tiny glimpse of his true mischievous nature bled through his virtuous pretense.

He held up her giant, rainbow pocky box. Maintaining an air of guiltlessness in his tone (the audacity of him!) he asked, "Ohh were those yours?" shaking the empty box, he added, "I think this is the last one."

Finally, he dropped the act entirely and his grin turned full on kitsune.

Undeterred by how roguishly good-looking he came to be when he aimed that expression at her, a warning growl escape her throat.

How could he eat all her rainbow pocky? She had that box specially imported!

"Very unfair isn't it? Kind of like how you stole the last bite of my Kobe beef."

So this what this was all about? Asuka had forgotten all about it. Apparently, Shinsuke hadn't and could patiently hold a grudge.

He nibbled thoughtfully on the end of the treat as she watched on with simmering rage. "Well I could let you have some of it...if you want to...come and get it."

To emphasize just what he meant by "come and get it", he scooted over so that he sat next to her. He leaned towards her ever so slightly so that the other end of the pocky was within reach of her lips. The little shit then had the nerve to wink at her.

He wanted a war? He would get one! He wasn't the only one who could put on an act.

Fluttering her eyelashes in a coy manner, Asuka hesitated before gingerly taking the other end between her teeth.

She thought she saw a flash of surprise flicker across Shinsuke's eyes, a blush perhaps, dusting his cheekbones.

He covered the micro-expression expertly with an infuriatingly attractive, but arrogant smirk. She purposely widened her eyes in reaction.