6kv Chapter 553 I Missed You
Chapter 553 I Missed You
553 I Missed You
The warm glow of the lanterns flickered gently inside the quiet lobby of the hot spring, casting a soft golden hue over the wooden interior. The faint sound of bubbling water from the private baths could still be heard in the background, along with the occasional creak of the floorboards as customers shuffled out for the night.
But Nina?...She wasn't paying attention to any of it.
She sat behind the counter, resting her cheek against her palm, lazily fiddling with a small coin between her fingers, spinning it absentmindedly.
Her verdant eyes—usually sharp and commanding—were now glazed over with boredom, half-lidded and far too distracted.
Because, once again, she was thinking about him.
Kafka...That annoying, frustrating, stupid man who refused to leave her head no matter how much she tried to push him out.
It was starting to get ridiculous.
At first, that she would simply think of him a few times and then move on with her day. But it didn't.
It only got worse.
Whether she was at work, trying to deal with customers, or at home, soaking in the baths to relax, somehow, his face always came to mind.
And now?
Now she was ignoring actual customers just because she was too busy staring at the entrance, wondering if Kafka would walk through the door at any moment.
She sighed, stealing a glance toward the doorway, her long ears twitching slightly as if expecting to hear his footsteps.
Nothing.
She puffed out her cheeks, feeling annoyed. "That idiot." She muttered under her breath, crossing her arms as she leaned back into her chair. "Why didn't he come to meet me today?"
A second later, her expression softened as she let out a small huff, quickly making excuses for him.
"He's probably busy."
"...Or maybe Camila dragged him sonewhere again."
Her eyes narrowed at the thought, and she immediately scowled.
Of course, Camila got to see him all the time. She lived right next door to him.
She could just knock on his door whenever she wanted and visit him whenever she pleased. Meanwhile, she had to sit here like a complete fool, waiting for him to decide to visit her.
She clicked her tongue, rolling her eyes. "It's so unfair." She grumbled, resting her chin on the counter, pouting like a child.
But before she could fall any deeper into her sulking, the clock chimed. Her ears perked up, and she glanced over at the time.
"Already closing time?" She murmured, sitting up straighter.
She let out a deep sigh, realizing that she had wasted most of her shift staring at the entrance like some kind of lovesick fool.
"...Guess there's no chance he's coming today." She muttered, feeling a small pang of disappointment in her chest.
With a resigned sigh, Nina rose from her seat, stretching her toned arms over her head as she made her way toward the entrance of the shop.
The night air was cool and crisp, the scent of the natural hot springs lingering around her as she stepped outside.
It was quiet. The streets were mostly empty, save for the occasional flickering of lights from the shopfronts. The soft sound of flowing water from the baths echoed in the distance, adding to the peaceful atmosphere of the night.
Nina reached up, grabbing the metal shutter of the entrance, preparing to close up for the night, when suddenly—
A voice came from behind her. A smooth, playful voice, dripping with mock disappointment.
"Ahhh...The hotspring is already closed? And here I thought I could go for a dip in the night."
Nina froze. Her ears twitched slightly, but her reflexes kicked in before her brain did.
"I'm sorry." She said automatically, turning slightly over her shoulder, not yet processing who it was. "We don't allow late-night bathers. One guy fell asleep once and nearly drowned." She chuckled, shaking her head at the memory. "Can't have that happening again, so we close up early. But if you come back tomorrow, I'll—"
She stopped. Mid-sentence. Mid-breath.
Because suddenly—
Her brain caught up with her ears.
That voice. That voice was too familiar.
And when she slowly turned her head, a giddy excitement already rising in her chest, her eyes widened.
Kafka.
He was right behind her, standing casually, hands in his pockets, his usual lazy grin stretching across his face as he tilted his head at her.
"Since bathing at night seems so dangerous..." He joked. "...maybe I should just head back and—"
He didn't get to finish. Because the moment Nina registered that he was real, standing in front of her after all the time she spent longing for him—
She pounced.
Like a cat who had spotted its prey, she leaped at him, arms wrapping tightly around his waist as she latched onto him completely, nearly knocking him off balance.
Hug~
Kafka barely had time to react before she buried her face against his chest, her entire body molding into his like she was afraid he would disappear if she didn't hold on tight enough.
Then, she tilted her head up and, to Kafka's absolute shock—
She bombarded his face with kisses.
"Kiss!♡~ Kiss!♡~ Mwah!♡~ Kiss!♡~ Nibble!♡~"
Soft, rapid, scattered kisses all over his cheeks, his nose, his jawline, anywhere she could reach.
"Smooch!♡~ Smooch!♡~ Kiss!♡~ Smooch!♡~"
Each one accompanied by a rushed, breathless sentence in between.
"I missed you!"
"Kiss!♡~"
"I was thinking about you all the time!"
"Kiss!♡~"
Her voice was pouty, her tone soft and adorable, completely unlike the fierce, intimidating image she always projected.
Kafka, stunned, could only laugh, lifting his hands in surrender as he tried to keep up with the affectionate onslaught.
"Nina, hold on—"
Silence.
Then—
"...Are you serious?"
Nina's face twisted in adorable outrage as she immediately pushed back slightly, her hands still gripping his shirt as she pouted up at him.
"Kafka, you bastard!" She whined, stomping her foot slightly. "What do you mean not here?!"
"Exactly what I said, Nina. We're literally outside." He gave her a sharp gaze, trying to indicate what he was trying to say.
"And?"
Kafka raised a brow. "And people can see us."
"So?" Nina scoffed, crossing her arms. "It's not like you ever cared about that whenever we go outside."
Kafka sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Nina, do you have any shame at all?"
"Nope."
Kafka almost choked on a laugh.
Nina huffed, her ears twitching in irritation, before she moved forward again, pressing her breasts against him like it was a way of intimidating him.
"Don't tell me you're ashamed of being seen with me?" She accused, her eyes narrowing as she glared up at him.
Kafka blinked. "What? No, that's not—"
"Then why can't we be a little intimate in public, huh?" She challenged, poking his chest with her finger. "Are you embarrassed? Are you saying you don't love me as much as I love you? Because I'd be willing to do anything for you, Kafka!"
At this point—
Kafka realized something. She wasn't going to let this go. No matter how much he tried to reason with her, Nina was dead set on getting what she wanted.
Kafka let out a heavy sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "You really want this?"
Nina nodded eagerly, her eyes bright and expectant.
"You won't complain later?"
"Not even a little."
Kafka exhaled slowly, and then—
In one swift motion, he grabbed her chin and tilted her head up. "Alright, then." He murmured, his voice lowering as he leaned down. "Don't regret this."
Before she could even process his words, his lips captured hers in a deep, intoxicating kiss.
Kiss~
Nina froze for a split second, her eyes fluttering shut as the warmth overwhelmed her senses.
And then—
She melted.
A shiver ran down her spine, and she gripped his shirt tighter, tilting her head to deepen the kiss, her body completely pressing against his.
This was exactly what she wanted.
Her heart pounded against her ribs as the world around them blurred, all noise fading away...Except for him.
And she thought, Yes, this was worth waiting for.
"Kiss!♡~ Kiss!♡~ Mwah!♡~ Kiss!♡~ Nibble!♡~"
Nina melted into the kiss, her entire world narrowing down to Kafka's warmth, the press of his lips, the way he claimed her so effortlessly yet so tenderly.
"Smooch!♡~ Smooch!♡~ Kiss!♡~ Smooch!♡~ Sip!♡~"
Her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, tugging him closer, wanting to feel his warmth even more.
The kiss was deep, intoxicating, sending shivers down her spine as her heart pounded wildly against her chest. She felt lightheaded, dizzy, completely lost in him—but she didn't care.
"Mwah!♡~ Mwah!♡~ Pucker!♡~ Mwah!♡~ Suck!♡~"
Kafka's hands were firm yet gentle, one resting at the small of her back, keeping her anchored to him, while the other tilted her chin just right, letting him deepen the kiss further.
A soft, desperate sound escaped her lips, her breath hitching, her body pressing flush against his.
She wanted more.
She wanted everything.
And just as she was about to pull him even closer, her hands sliding up to tangle in his hair—
A voice, light and teasing, cut through the moment like a blade.
"Wow, Abi, I've only ever seen her act like a feral cat—so feisty and aggressive all the time. It's honestly kind of shocking to see her like this, all soft and cute, clinging onto someone like a lovesick kitten."
The words hit Nina like a lightning strike, sending an instant jolt of horror through her body.
Her entire frame stiffened.
Her lips froze against Kafka's.
Then, another voice, gentler, but just as amused, followed in response.
"It really is surprising." Abigaille murmured, her tone carrying a soft chuckle. "But I have to admit...it's cute. She really does look like a little kitty right now."
Silence. Nina's stomach dropped.
No. No. No. No. No.
Slowly—painfully slowly—she peeled herself away from Kafka, her lips tingling, her breath still uneven.
She didn't want to turn her head. She really didn't.
But she had to.
With a face paler than the moon, she finally looked over her shoulder—
And there they were.
Camila and Abigaille.
Watching...Observing...Amused.
Enjoying every single second of her flustered misery...