Chapter 397: 152. Basic operations of shoe-making, _4
"But I’m fine, just..." she said, glancing at Fujiwara Reya, biting her lip and lowering her eyes, "I don’t know, whatever."
The conversation ended, and she stood up intending to go back indoors.
"Wait." Fujiwara Reya called out, "I haven’t finished talking yet."
Yukino Ritsuko halted her steps and sat back down.
"The feelings of the Snow Woman are the same as yours, right?" Fujiwara Reya followed his planned approach step by step.
"Uh, yes, yes..." Yukino Ritsuko’s face turned bright red, and her body swayed, "So, uh, please, please don’t touch..."
"So to speak, have I been touching your feet without contact for over a year?"
"..."
Yukino Ritsuko was so embarrassed she wished she could melt into a puddle of ice water on the spot.
"So what do you plan to do?" she asked in a voice so low it was almost inaudible.
"Can’t just hover in midair like a dragonfly in love, right?" Fujiwara Reya’s voice grew more sly.
"Um..."
In love?
What love?
When did I start a relationship?
Yukino Ritsuko’s mind was completely unable to process anything.
Her ears buzzed, and from the corner of her eye, she glanced at Fujiwara Reya’s face. His thick, dark eyebrows shaped elegantly, a handsome contour, like a valiant attendant ever-present around his eyes.
Suddenly, Fujiwara Reya changed the topic: "I’m making a pair of shoes."
"?" Yukino Ritsuko was puzzled.
Where did that come from, she couldn’t follow at all.
"They’re women’s shoes." Fujiwara Reya continued.
"Oh..." Yukino Ritsuko replied blankly.
That confused look, with a tinge of shy expectation, was truly adorable.
"Uh, um... are they shoes? Uh, no, you said they’re women’s shoes, uh, ah... what am I asking, right, I’m sorry..."
Due to her nervousness, she was speaking incoherently.
"But, you know, I feel awkward making them..." Fujiwara Reya held a sketchbook, scratching his head, "I wish I had a pair of feet to refer to, but I’m a man, so..."
Yukino Ritsuko was dumbfounded.
Today’s Mr. Fujiwara, slightly different from the one she knew before, his words were too ambiguous. And her own mind was slightly fevered, somehow expecting and allowing his transgressive behavior... She couldn’t make sense of the situation, so she glanced at the Snow Woman, as if blaming her presence for her fluster.
"?"
Snow Treasure’s head was full of question marks.
"I was just trying to get a feel, so I touched Snow Princess’ feet." Fujiwara Reya explained.
"Oh, I see, I get it..." Yukino Ritsuko’s mouth curled into a faint smile, indeed very faint.
No matter how foolish she was, she knew it was an excuse.
What does it mean to touch feet for shoe inspiration, have you been making shoes for a year!
"But Snow Princess’ feet are not enough, I need more data." Fujiwara Reya smiled slightly, pretending a thoughtful and troubled expression, "So, could I use your feet as a reference?"
"..."
There were already water stains seeping through Yukino Ritsuko’s skin.
"It’s fine if not, I can continue to use Snow Princess’ feet as a reference." Fujiwara Reya said considerately, "But these shoes are for you, I’m afraid... they might not fit well."
Yukino Ritsuko was completely incapable of thinking.
The nape of her white neck was flushed, even her wrists exposed from her sleeves turned a rosy hue, as if under the attack of an ambiguous emotion she had never experienced before.
"And also, Miss Yukino." Fujiwara Reya reached out, holding her left hand, "Once the shrine is built, you can move there. You’re too beautiful, I’m afraid countless Takeuchi Akira will approach you."
"..." Yukino Ritsuko’s fingers were very stiff.
Yet the touch was soft and weak.
In the pavilion in the rain, she leaned against Fujiwara Reya’s shoulder, trembling slightly with a bit of helplessness.
Fujiwara Reya gently held her hand, and after her tension eased, he asked: "If we only use Snow Princess’ feet, then the shoes made would only fit when you turn into the Snow Woman."
Yukino Ritsuko instinctively glanced back at the Snow Woman.
In the dim rain-soaked background, the Snow Woman’s silhouette hovered in the air, her silver-white hair fluttering like snowflakes.
No, I’m about to melt... Yukino Ritsuko’s body felt very hot, entangled for a long time, she finally bent down with difficulty, her slender fingers removing the high heels adorned with ribbons. Her right foot slipped effortlessly out of the shoe, without making a sound.
She trembled slightly, cautiously extending her slim right foot, wrapped in stockings, slowly onto the slightly damp bench.
Fujiwara Reya gently touched with his fingers.
Neither hot nor cold, the texture of the stockings was slippery.
As he touched the sole of her foot, a slight tremor was transmitted to his fingertips, her foot was so small and delicate. So much so that Fujiwara worried about how such a small and narrow foot could support her weight.
Raindrops fell on the ground tiles of the pavilion, bouncing up and reflecting light.
Yukino Ritsuko’s heart thudded, her breathing became rapid, even through the stockings, the ardent sensation of his fingertips was felt on her foot, she even worried her body might melt from the warmth.
Things progressed quickly.
Everything was smooth, without hindrance, like a snowball rolling down a hillside.
At this moment, Fujiwara Reya made an even more forward request.
"Please take off the stockings," he said, "I want to see your bare feet."
"...Ugh."
Yukino Ritsuko was almost shy to tears.
Under Fujiwara Reya’s persistent and unwavering gaze, she endured extreme embarrassment and turned her back, slowly taking off her stockings, draping them over her shoulder. Amid the rustling sound of the rain, the sound of the stockings rubbing against her legs’ skin sounded particularly harsh to her.
Displayed before Fujiwara Reya were five toes as round and pink as peas.
Making shoes, it’s essential to feel those feet... he reached out with peace of mind, touching the adorable toenails.
Yukino Ritsuko let out a soft whimper.
Her body trembled, she instinctively wanted to retract, but Fujiwara Reya held her ankle, slowly confirming its size, jotting it down on paper.
His simple and innocent wish was to hold on forever and never let go.