He really didn’t know her well enough to make such a request, but as Hakuba looked around the immediate area, he found that he didn’t have much of a choice. If that woman had seen him, and he appeared to be on his own, there would be no escape from several long hours of drama. A little awkward forwardness seemed, in that context, a fair bargain.

So, putting on his best, most nervous smile, he leaned closer to Madison and whispered, “Kiss me… Please. I’ll explain later.”