Chapter 161: Overlapping Under The Desk
Walking out from the main street of Akihabara, passing through two small blocks, they arrived at a slightly secluded alley.
In front of them was a sushi restaurant that looked quite old, with a wooden sign hanging on the dark exterior wall, boldly inscribed with “Sushi·Gen”.
Natsume Mio stepped forward, lifted the curtain, and slid open the wooden lattice door.
The light inside the store was slightly dimmer than outside, and the air was filled with the faint aroma of vinegar rice.
A female server quickly came to greet them. Seeing Natsume Mio and Sakamoto Ken, she showed a professional gentle smile: “For two guests, do you have an appointment?”
“No appointment.” Natsume Mio looked around the store, where there weren’t many customers, and said, “Are there seats available now? We’d like a quiet booth.”
“Of course, please follow me.”
The server slightly bowed and led the two through the bar area toward the back of the store.
This side was the tatami booth area, with each seat separated by partitions, half-covered by hanging bamboo curtains, providing excellent privacy.
Before sitting inside, they had to take off their shoes outside.
Sakamoto Ken casually rubbed his shoe heel, then took off his shoes on the wooden steps at the entrance and stepped onto the tatami area inside.
Natsume Mio was wearing a pair of small leather shoes with low heels today, with a buckle on the back.
She slightly bent down, gently unfastened the small metal buckle with her fingers, then arched her toes lightly, and her foot slid out of the small leather shoes.
Sakamoto Ken’s gaze naturally fell on her feet.
A pair of delicate feet wrapped in pure white silk fabric, in a lightweight style, probably around 30 denier, glowing with a hazy sheen under the restaurant’s soft lights due to the semi-transparent silk.
The white stockings clung tightly to her skin, clearly outlining her slender ankle bones, the curve of her arches, and even the contours of each plump toe.
Mio’s feet were typically Egyptian type, with toes arranged from longest big toe to shortest pinky.
Natsume Mio neatly placed her shoes on the wooden steps, also straightening Sakamoto Ken’s shoes, before stepping onto the tatami.
She didn’t immediately place her legs into the sunken space under the booth. Her watery eyes smiled at Sakamoto Ken as she tilted her head slightly and asked bluntly: “Hey, A Jian, do they look good?”
Sakamoto Ken shifted his gaze from her white-stockinged little feet to the girl’s eyes, which held a bit of expectation.
He smiled faintly and nodded calmly: “Yeah, pretty cute.”
Receiving the affirmative response, the smile on Natsume Mio’s face grew even brighter.
She even playfully extended her foot toward Sakamoto Ken a bit, her toes mischievously curling and then slightly spreading toward him.
“If you like them…” Natsume Mio said with narrowed eyes, “you can touch them too.”
This girl was getting bolder and bolder.
Sakamoto Ken cleared his throat lightly, not engaging with that topic—they were in someone else’s store, after all.
He picked up the menu on the table: “Alright, let’s order food.”
“Hehe, isn’t this food right here?” Natsume Mio suddenly said that.
“?” Sakamoto Ken looked at the girl in front of him, slightly surprised.
Natsume Mio also suddenly realized her previous words were a bit embarrassing. She quickly explained: “Haha, um… that’s… a description I saw in a book…”
“A book?” Sakamoto Ken said, “What weird book are you reading?”
“It’s not weird, it’s a proper literary work! I… I saw it in the library…” Natsume Mio pursed her lips and said.
“Which writer’s book?” Sakamoto Ken asked.
“Tanizaki Jun’ichiro…”
Alright, Tanizaki it was.
The first time Sakamoto Ken saw so many descriptions of a girl’s beautiful feet was in this aesthetic master’s work.
Mr. Tanizaki was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature six times, though he never won, he was undoubtedly a renowned writer.
“Yeah… Mr. Tanizaki’s works are very classic.” Sakamoto Ken commented objectively.
However, the male protagonists in Tanizaki Jun’ichiro’s works were too passive, and Sakamoto Ken didn’t agree with that.
At this moment, the server happened to come over, and Natsume Mio quickly moved her legs to the sunken area under the table upon seeing the server.
Natsume Mio leaned forward a bit, looking at the menu together with Sakamoto Ken.
She pointed to an image on the menu and said: “This store’s special set meal has great reviews. Let’s get this one.”
Sakamoto Ken glanced at the price.
8600 yen: sashimi platter, sushi platter, tempura, two portions of seafood chawanmushi, and a small pot of plum wine.
At this price, two months ago, it would have been enough for his weekly living expenses.
But for this set meal, it actually wasn’t expensive.
“Then we’ll order this set meal.” Sakamoto Ken said to the server nearby.
“Alright, please wait a moment.” The server noted the menu, bowed again, and turned to leave.
Sakamoto Ken watched Natsume Mio, who was looking around the surroundings, while he took out his mobile phone from his pocket.
The two were sitting face-to-face, so as long as he held his mobile phone slightly upright, she couldn’t see his mobile phone screen.
Opening LINE, sure enough, there were messages from Hoshihara Ai sent along the way.
Hoshihara Ai: 「Don’t forget to nap at noon.」
Hoshihara Ai: 「Last time you stood me up, don’t make excuses this time.」
Hoshihara Ai: 「You there? Reply.」
Sakamoto Ken typed back: 「I was just at your place yesterday.」
Hoshihara Ai: 「Not satisfied, you’re no good in reality.」
Sakamoto Ken: 「What? Didn’t we use six in a row yesterday, still not enough?」
Hoshihara Ai: 「Considering this is reality, I let you off with just six.」
Sakamoto Ken: 「So how many do you want to use?」
Hoshihara Ai: 「I don’t want to use any.」
Alright…
Sakamoto Ken sighed lightly, suddenly feeling a slight headache.
This girl, he had just been to her place yesterday—how was she already restless again?
Was she this insatiable in the previous life?
Sakamoto Ken recalled; he remembered Hoshihara Ai in the previous life wasn’t like this.
Last time he had kept the noon nap appointment on time, but there was an accident—the dream was hijacked by Haruna, so it hardly counted as standing her up…
As for today, after finishing the meal, he had to head straight to the rehearsal room: practice a few times, make adjustments, then record—plenty of work, and the rented rehearsal room was time-limited.
In other words, he had no time for a noon nap today.
Sakamoto Ken: 「Busy today, can’t nap.」
Hoshihara Ai: 「On a date?」
Sakamoto Ken: 「/smile」
Hoshihara Ai: 「?」
Sakamoto Ken: 「Ai, you know, I still have to juggle two others at the same time. They don’t understand me like you do.」
「Incoming video call from Hoshihara Ai」
The mobile phone suddenly vibrated continuously, but luckily Sakamoto Ken’s phone was always on silent. He directly pressed the decline button.
His gaze shifted to Natsume Mio across from him.
Although they had already ordered, she had been flipping through the menu on the table earlier, but now her gaze was directed at him.
Their eyes met, and Sakamoto Ken smiled faintly at her, saying: “Want to add any dishes?”
Natsume Mio shook her head repeatedly and said: “No, no, that set meal is already plenty, and à la carte is much more expensive than the set…”
“It’s fine, I have money now. Don’t worry about the price.” Sakamoto Ken said.
Natsume Mio smiled lightly and said: “Still, we should save a bit.”
Hoshihara Ai: 「Take a photo and show me.」
Sakamoto Ken glanced at the screen, then looked at the girl sitting across from him.
He opened the camera and turned his mobile phone sideways.
Seeing Sakamoto Ken holding his phone in that pose, Natsume Mio immediately knew he was taking a photo. Delighted, she quickly clasped her hands together, smiled at the shot.
Sakamoto Ken first took a photo of Natsume Mio, then quickly adjusted the shot to include only her hands and the table.
Seeing the store name on the menu, Sakamoto Ken reached out to move the menu aside and took a photo of just the table and the girl’s hands.
“A Jian~ Let’s take one together.” Seeing Sakamoto Ken put down his phone, Natsume Mio also opened a camera app—though he used the built-in camera software, hers had beauty filters.
Sakamoto Ken didn’t refuse, leaning forward a bit to take a selfie with her.
“Good thing I did makeup today.” Natsume Mio zoomed in on her face on the phone and said casually.
“You look good without makeup too.” Sakamoto Ken’s mouth responded subconsciously before his brain caught up.
“Hehe, but I still need to do makeup to see A Jian.” Natsume Mio said.
“Today’s lipstick has a nice texture.”
“A Jian noticed! Actually, this is my mom’s~”
“Hm?” Sakamoto Ken paid a bit more attention.
Natsume Mio blinked her eyes, as if thinking of something odd, and quickly explained: “It’s from a costume set my mom bought; she hasn’t used it.”
Is she worried I’d think her lips taste like her mom’s…
Sakamoto Ken pretended not to understand and continued: “It’s not peach flavor too, is it?”
As he spoke, he sent a photo to Hoshihara Ai—the one he just took, showing only the girl’s hands.
Sakamoto Ken: 「『Image』」
Hoshihara Ai: 「/smile」
Hearing Sakamoto Ken suddenly bring up peach flavor again, Natsume Mio gently pursed her lips and instead said further: “Does A Jian want to know what flavor it is?”
Ordinary lipstick or lip balm doesn’t have any special taste anyway; it’s just oily and greasy.
However, this topic was interrupted by the server.
The server returned carrying a wooden tray.
“Sorry for the wait.”
She placed the exquisite dishes one by one on the low table in front of the two.
Sakamoto Ken’s gaze fell on the pot of plum wine.
“We have singing this afternoon,” he reminded, “better not drink the wine.”
“Eh? It’s fine.” Natsume Mio picked up the small wine pot and shook it lightly. “It’s just this little pot, and plum wine is low alcohol, like drinking juice.”
As she spoke, she already picked up two small glasses and poured light green wine into each.
“Here, A Jian!” Natsume Mio raised her wine glass, her face beaming with a happy smile. “Cheers to our successful 《Lemon》 recording!”
Sakamoto Ken was very aware of Natsume Mio’s alcohol tolerance.
Mio’s limit was about one can of beer.
But when drunk, she was easy to handle—unlike Hoshihara Ai, who at seven parts drunk would fill her head with wild ideas and drag him into trying strange actions.
When Mio got drunk, she just slept quietly, very obedient.
Of course, a small glass of plum wine like this would at most make her cheeks slightly flushed, no big issue.
Sakamoto Ken raised his glass, clinking it lightly against hers in the air, and both downed the wine in their glasses.
Cool, slightly sweet, with the clear fragrance of plums sliding down his throat—Sakamoto Ken thought it was pretty good.
He set down his glass and casually took the small wine pot, placing it by his hand.
“Alright,” he looked at the girl across who seemed to want another glass and said in an unquestionable tone, “I’m the producer. I decide on this—you can only have this one glass today. The afternoon recording is very important.”
“Mm-hm~ Listen to A Jian.”
Natsume Mio nodded obediently, a faint blush already on her cheeks—whether from the alcohol or something else, unclear.
She picked up her chopsticks, clamped a thick slice of tuna sashimi, lightly dipped it in the soy sauce dish, added a bit of fresh-ground wasabi, and put it in her mouth.
Natsume Mio closed her eyes slightly, chewing slowly. A bit of soy sauce stained her moist lips, adding an enticing sheen to her lip color.
Sakamoto Ken also began tasting. This place was mid-range, but the flavors were indeed good.
Though for sashimi, the main merit was the fresh fish, not much to do with the chef.
As he chewed, he suddenly felt something soft, smooth, and slightly cool lightly brush his foot’s instep.
Sakamoto Ken’s movements paused slightly.
Then, that thing playfully rubbed against his foot’s instep again, even sliding up along his ankle…
It was a foot in stockings.
Sakamoto Ken looked up at the girl across.
Natsume Mio appeared focused on the tempura in front of her, picking up a fried shrimp, biting into it with a crisp “crunch,” her cheeks slightly puffed, looking completely nonchalant.
As if the thing restlessly wandering on Sakamoto Ken’s calf under the table had nothing to do with her.
But her cheeks, flushed red up to her ears, and eyes that avoided his gaze, completely betrayed her inner tension.
This girl…
This wasn’t an effect a small glass of plum wine could achieve.
He remained composed, letting that white-stockinged little foot gently circle on his calf.
Sakamoto Ken casually shifted back a bit, adjusting his sitting position.
This movement allowed him to see under the table.
Natsume Mio’s right foot extended from across, her toes hooking his pant leg.
Meanwhile, the girl across pretended to seriously eat her chawanmushi, spooning small bites into her mouth.
Just as Natsume Mio seemed to think the teasing wasn’t enough and tried to slide her little foot further up his calf, Sakamoto Ken finally moved.
His right foot flipped lightly, precisely pinning hers underneath.
“Mm…”
Natsume Mio across stiffened suddenly, letting out a soft exclamation.
She tried to pull her foot back, but Sakamoto Ken’s sole pressed steadily, immobilizing her.
Then, his left foot came around from behind, blocking her ankle and sealing her escape completely.
Natsume Mio could only struggle futilely in place a couple times. Realizing she couldn’t break free from Sakamoto Ken’s hold, she gave up resisting, letting him keep her pinned.
When the server came to clear the empty plates, Natsume Mio still pretended to be calm and composed.
As if everything under the table was as serene as on top, nothing had happened.
Because of the under-table skirmish just now, neither spoke of other topics, silently eating the food on their plates.
Until finally, the plates were cleared, and Sakamoto Ken set down his chopsticks.
“Full?” He took a tissue paper to wipe his mouth.
“Mm…” Natsume Mio responded softly.
Sakamoto Ken stood up and said: “I’ll go pay.”
As he rose, the pressure on her foot lifted.
Natsume Mio quickly pulled back her warm, covered foot and moved to put on her shoes nearby.
Watching Sakamoto Ken head to the cash register, though his face was calm, she had felt that earlier action deeply.
Recalling the scene of her and A Jian intertwined just now, she couldn’t help but smile at the corner of her mouth, a certain thrill deep in her heart urging her to try more.
Would today be a good chance?
Though there would be practice and recording, maybe multiple takes, the rehearsal room was an enclosed space.
Just me and A Jian, soundproofed, no one to disturb…
And the rehearsal room was a room too—didn’t that count as her and A Jian having booked a room?
If they booked the room but did nothing, wouldn’t that be a waste…
The girl’s thoughts had already drifted to the rehearsal room they hadn’t yet gone to.
