Even after the penalty began, Ritsu continued pretending to be composed.
He straightened his yukata.Pushed his glasses back into place.And met the other person’s gaze as though none of this bothered him.
Only his slightly reddened ears betrayed him.
“Are you satisfied now?”
There was still confidence left in his voice.
Yet he never moved forward without waiting for an answer.
Ritsu may be stubborn when competition is involved,but he cannot force his own pace on someone while ignoring their reaction.
Proud, argumentative, and strangely conscientious.
The harder he tries to look unaffected,the more clearly his sincerity begins to show.
Ritsu probably wants to be seen as a man who always remains in control.
But what makes him truly compellingis watching that control gradually begin to slip.
***
罰ゲームが始まってからも、律は平静を装っていた。
浴衣を整える。眼鏡を押し上げる。何でもないことのように、こちらを見返す。
ただし、耳だけは少し赤い。
「これで満足？」
そう尋ねる声には、まだ余裕が残っている。
けれど律は、答えを聞く前に先へ進もうとはしなかった。
勝負事には意地を張るくせに、相手の反応を無視してまで自分を通すことはできない。
強がりで、理屈っぽくて、妙に律儀。
格好をつけようとするほど、隠しきれない真面目さが表に出てしまう。
たぶん律は、余裕のある男に見られたい。
けれど本当に惹かれるのは、その余裕が少しずつ崩れていく瞬間なのだと思う。