(Ryoto's pov)

  I was eating dinner with La, and she just asked me to tie her up. Did I mishear? I must have.

  I put away the fork that was in my mouth and asked.

  Ryoto: "Can you repeat it? I'm not sure I heard correctly."

  La: "Can you tie me up, Ryoto?"

  ...I didn't mishear it.

  My mind went into overdrive and thinking about what caused her to ask me for that, and after a few seconds, it hit me. The girls talk!

  So that's why they avoided eye contact with me. Was it why Toka was apologising? But who corrupted La? The only one who can do it is me! It was probably Irina or Rio, but I can think about it ter. Now I should focus on La.

  Ryoto: "It's not like I don't want to, but we don't have the necessary tools for that kind of fun and-"

  *DING* *DING*

  A ring bell to my door just rang, and I was wondering who it was so I opened the door, but no one was there. Looking down, I noticed a big bag with a letter attached to it. Before I looked inside the bag, I read the letter. I'm hoping it's not what I think it is.

  'Have fun.

  -Karen'

  'Karen, what is the meaning of that?'

  But there was no answer.

  That one time she tried doing something nice was the worst possible time. No, let's stay positive maybe it's still not what I think it is. Maybe Karen sent some board games to py. It would be fun.

  I sighed and returned to La.

  Ryoto: "I'm back. We got a present from someone but before I check it, can you tell me why you suddenly got this idea?"

  La: "Bitch-sensei said that to make a boy/man happy, you need to appear vulnerable, and when I asked how to do it, Rio said that the easiest way to do it is by being tied up!"

  La expined cheerfully.

  Ryoto: "Did you tell them about our sex life?"

  La released that she was supposed to keep it a secret and hit her head gently with her younger out.

  La: "I forgot."

  It's not like I don't want to try a few new things with La, but that one thing is off-limits. Looking at La, who looked at me, hopefully, I couldn't refuse her, so I opened a bag with items that we'll be using tonight, hoping that one item won't be inside.

  It included a blindfold, a pair of handcuffs, two kinds of ballgag, one made of pstic and other rubber, an open gag mouth, lube, a couple of small pink sex rotors, and... a rope.

  As soon as the rope entered my vision, my breathing became unstable.

  I need to calm down. I need to calm down. It's just a rope. It's just a rope. Nothing scary about a rope beside it's a sex rope. It's a lot more estic than your everyday rope.

  I grabbed it with my hand to take it out, but I started sweating just at the touch.

  Breath in... breath out... breath in.... breath out.

  It wasn't helping. It wasn't helping at all!

  Come on, Ryoto! It's just a rope!

  As I was trying to calm myself down, I felt someone touching my hand. It was La who showed concern for me.

  Crap, I don't want to worry her. I don't want her to show that kind of expression. I like it best when she smiles.

  Ryoto: "Sorry, to be honest, I'm scared of ropes. I don't have problems with other long things like cables, wires, snakes, ces, but something about ropes makes my skin crawl."

  La looked... angry? Disappointed? I don't know, but I didn't like it.

  Ryoto: "Are you angry?"

  La: "Ahhhh!!! Ryoto, why didn't you tell me that earlier!!?"

  La exploded.

  Ryoto: "...What?"

  La: "Why do you think I wanted to be tied up!!? It was because I thought it would make you happy, but if it doesn't, what's the point!!?"

  She was angry about that? I was so dumbfounded that the only thing I could do was ugh.

  Ryoto: "Hahahahaha!!! I completely forgot that you were that kind of person."

  No, maybe I just ignored it until now and was menting over myself or just was too sad to notice that. I mean, I knew that La wanted to make me happy, but that in itself was what caused me to doubt myself. What if I'm not good enough for her, what if I'm not the correct person for her, what if I accidentally ruined her life by becoming part of it. Those thoughts kept bugging me from time to time, but why should they do it any longer? We will be the one who decides if we'll be happy or not!

  I like... No! I love La, and I'll make her happy. I don't care how many of her potential fiancée I need to fight, I don't care if, by marrying La, I won't be the next emperor, and I don't even care if I need to fight her dad to get his approval!

  I was still holding back in this retionship but no more!

  I looked straight into La's eyes.

  Ryoto: "La, you're right. I thought that I would let you down by refusing you, but I forgot what's retionship is about. It's about honesty, trust, communication, and supporting each other."

  I started patting her head.

  Ryoto: "I was the one who told you those things before, but ironically I didn't listen to them. La, I know that I can be a handful, secretive, and not open about myself, but I want you to know that no matter what, I love you and always will."

  The hand moved from the top of her head to cup her cheek.

  Ryoto: "I'll try to be a better person, so please be patient with me."

  La unched at me.

  La: "Ryoto!!!"

  We fell down with La hugging me and resting her head on my chest.

  La: "Stop talking like I would leave you!!! I like you, Ryoto, I love you, and I know that you love me too!!! So stop sounding so sad!!!"

  Ryoto: "La, I think you misunderstood. I'm not sad. I'm just sharing my thoughts with you, and that goes for you too. If you have anything on your mind or something that troubles you, share it with me."

  I stood up while still holding La close to me.

  Ryoto: "OK, enough of depressing stuff. I can't tie you up with rope, but we still have a lot of things that we can test. Of course, if you want."

  As if the previous mood was just an illusion, La answered vigorously.

  La: "I do!!!"

  ---

  END

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