I say, “Would you be willing to clarifyMiyamura Izumi (dark side, specifically)or shall I rely on the internet again?” I have a feeling the internet would tell me that this character’sdark sideis hissecretside, but…
“He’s fromHorimiya.” August brightens. “And there’s this one scene where he puts his foot on her head.”
Yep.
There it is.
That.
Of course she’s referring to, specifically,that.
“It’s so cute!” she continues, bubbly. “He freaks out when she looks up at him, but then she’s likewait, wait, wait. It’s absolute nonsense, and it’s literally just a fluff, slice-of-life school anime butsomehowits cuteness manages to make it anything but dull—even though they get together so early on. Something adorable is always happening in every single episode without any forced drama or romantic stress. The characters are written like soulmates. And it’s perfect. And they’re perfect. It’s one of the only animes I know where you follow the couple while they’re together and it’s not boring.”
If we’re being technical, all three of these male leads are from fluffy romcom school animes, so it’s clear she’s giving me a fighting chance. The fact she’s selected characters from shows that might just make the idea of a relationship in the real world tolerable must mean something.
She’s giving me access to the template for whathappybut stillinterestinglooks like.
And in case it wasn’t clear, it looks a heck of a lot like bullying, but it’s not like I didn’t already know that.
Which means…
My eyes drift back up to her physical preference section and lock on the wordblond. I pin down my sigh.
This point of interest continues to be my largest flaw and the bane of my existence.
“Are you chickening out?” August asks.
“No.” I’m reading her trope list, which doesn’t include a single kiss, but hasslow burnbolded and in the collection three times. Ignoring that completely, I say, “Since boundaries don’t seem important to you, mind if I manipulate you into coming with me to the courthouse and applying for a marriage license in a few days?”
She laughs. “Sure. If you can figure out how to make it happen without me realizing, like a true villain.”
That’s sure to be tricky. And expensive. But would it be possible? I’d probably need to do more research to find out. Maybe even call my lawyer to discuss potential ramifications.
“You’re actually considering it,” she says.
Bracing my elbow on the table, I rest my chin in my palm. “Obviously.”
Heat swells beneath her freckles. “You’d coerce me unwittingly into marriage?”
“If it’s possible, why not? You’ve just given me permission, and I think the sentiment aligns fairly well with the character descriptions you’ve outlined as yourfavorites.”
Pulling the chair beside me out, she sits down and scoots in. “And you wouldn’t have a single moral qualm about it?”
I hold her shining brown eyes. “Not a one. If you let it happen, it’s clearly because you want it to.”
She pillows her cheeks in her hands, leans against the table, and peers at me. “You keep exceeding my expectations.”
My heart skips a beat as hope rushes into it.
I pretend to play it cool and say, “Do I?”
She grins. “Your face has gone red.”
Wincing, I drag my still-healing knuckles to my cheek. “I’m afraid I can’t control that.”
“Good.” Her chilled fingers touch my hand and pull my cover away. She looks down at the scab I earned shortly after punching the guy who was harassing her at the lake and draws a featherlight caress over it. “You’re healing well.”
“Of course I am. I’m a vampire, after all.” Switching control, I grip her hand and lean in, cupping her cheek as I slip past her lips to kiss her throat. “One sip is all it would take… I’ll be all better.”
