xxddmm

Chapter 7 - 30 minutes after we reconciled...

After what felt like forever, life finally went back to normal this evening.

We'd just made up after a few days of that awkward silence, and I was so ready to soak up every second of my favorite activity: hanging out in his room, doing absolutely nothing.

I was sprawled out on his bed.
He was leaning against it.
Just like always, each of us doing our own thing, together.

Hikari: "Hey, Ta~kun, got any new manga or something?"
Yuu: "I told you already, didn't I? I switched to digital. No more new physical books."

Spending time like this, together in our own little world.

I've been waiting days for this -- just bouncing lighthearted banter back and forth, finally back to normal.

I can't stop the way my voice sounds all bright or how my cheeks keep pulling into a smile.

Hikari: "This is so boring! I've read every book in this room already."
Yuu: "Not my problem. Go buy some yourself."
Hikari: "Ehh, so stingy~."

...No, I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one feeling like this.
I think... he feels it too.

There's just... something about the way he's talking, his attitude, you know? I can catch these little hints of a brighter tone or a relaxed vibe here and there, and it just makes me feel even more at ease. Happier, even.

I mean, he said, "Then why don't you go (buy some yourself)?"
Normally, he'd be like, "Then why don't you just not come over?"

Isn't that basically his way of saying, "Please, don't go home..."?

...Okay, fine, personal opinion, I admit.

Hikari: "Huh? The chips are already gone... Hey, Ta~kun, you're eating too much! It's almost dinner!"
Yuu: "Hold on a sec. You were definitely the one eating the most, Hikari."
Hikari: "Oh no, I'm still a little hungry... Should I open the kabukiage crackers, too?"
Yuu: "...You sure eat a lot for someone who's about to have dinner."

At some point, the snack bowl on the little table next to the bed had mysteriously emptied out.
I guess it's just the excitement of us finally making up -- must be making me burn through calories way faster.
Yep, that's gotta be it.
So, basically, with this mindset, everything I eat today is zero-calories.

Hikari: "...And that's why I opened them~!"
Yuu: "What are you talking about?"
Hikari: "Uh-huh, and yet look who's eating right away~ Even though it's almost dinner~"
Yuu: "Shut up."

Watching him munch on the kabukiage crackers like a kid, I couldn't help but enjoy the sight. I reached over to grab my jasmine tea bottle on the table, twisting off the cap and taking a sip.

But apparently, this little bubble we were in had made me a bit too relaxed.

Hikari: "Ah......"

Just as I was about to take a sip, I realized it -- this wasn't jasmine tea.

It wasn't my jasmine tea.
It was his milk tea.

Hikari: "......!"

The bottle was just millimeters from my lips. Heart racing, I quickly screwed the cap back on and set it down on the table, trying to act casual. Then I glanced over to see if he'd noticed.

But it looked like he hadn't noticed my little slip-up; he was too busy opening a fresh pack of kabukiage crackers.

......Phew. That was close.
I almost made a complete fool of myself. If he'd caught me mixing up our drinks like that, he'd definitely tease me with that smug look on his face.

...Yep, it's clear this cozy, floaty time with him has completely turned my brain to mush.

Hikari: "......Aaaaaghhhhh~~"
Yuu: "What's up, Hikari?"
Hikari: "............It's nothinggg~"

I pressed my face into the pillow, letting out a muffled groan, while he looked over at me with a puzzled expression. His voice even had a hint of concern, but I couldn't answer him, I was too busy mentally beating myself up.

Why...?
Why did I stop myself!?

I should've just gone for it! That would've been a textbook, undeniable indirect kiss!

So what if he teased me? At least I'd have done it!

Why did I have to realize it was his bottle?
And even worse, why did I stop after realizing it? Aaaghhh!

Hikari: "Mm... uh... uuugh..."
Yuu: "Wait, since when did that manga have such an emotional scene?"

It seemed he'd officially given up trying to understand my bizarre behavior and went back to munching on his kabukiage crackers, crunching away without a care.

Eventually, the weight of my regret crushed me, draining all will to function...
The only sound left in the room was him chewing his snacks.

............
............

Some time passes, with neither of us saying a word.

Yuu: "Huh? What the heck is this?"
Hikari: "...?"

But that quiet is broken by his sudden, bewildered exclamation.

Yuu: "Uh-oh, this is jasmine tea! Grabbed the wrong one!"

Hearing that, I finally lift my face from the pillow.
And there he is, looking uncharacteristically sheepish, with one hand over his mouth.

In his other hand, he's holding an open bottle of tea.
...My jasmine tea.

Yuu: "S-Sorry, Hikari... I drank yours by mistake..."
Hikari: "Oh..."

Ah, right. When I accidentally grabbed his milk tea earlier and put it back...

Our bottles must have gotten switched.
So really, this wasn't his fault after all.

Hikari: "Oh, no, that was actually my fault..."

The words rise to my throat, ready to come out...

Hikari: "......"

But suddenly, my pounding heart stops them in their tracks, the words completely held back by the surge of warmth flooding my face.

Yuu: "Seriously, I'm really sorry. I'll go grab you a new drink from downstairs."

He starts to stand up and head for the door.
Heart racing, I press my hand against my chest, trying to act as casual as possible.

Hikari: "N-no, really! It's fine! Stuff like that doesn't bother me~"
Yuu: "Uh, but..."

Of course it bothers me!

It was indirect kiss! Indirect kiss! Indirect kiss!
And it was from him!

Hikari: "Oh, come on! Remember when we were kids? I'd always sneak sips of your juice. This is no different."
Yuu: "Yeah, but that was, like, ten years ago."

Yeah, that was ten years ago!
The meaning of it now is totally different!

Everything about this is just... different...

Hikari: "Alright, here's an idea! I'll just take this milk tea instead, okay?"
Yuu: "Huh? But that's mine-"
Hikari: "Exactly! So, we're even, right?"

But... but...

Now that things have come to this, I can't let this once-in-a-lifetime chance slip away.

With a racing heart, I reach for the milk tea bottle I'd put down earlier. My hand trembles slightly as I twist off the cap.

Hikari: "Is it true that a first kiss tastes like lemons?"
Ayami: "Honestly, it just tastes like saliva."

Aya-chan had said that about the taste of a kiss, but...
Well, I know there's a world of difference between a direct kiss and an indirect one...

Hikari: "Ugh, this is so sweet!"
Yuu: "Don't complain after you've finished it!"
Hikari: "When are you going to stop drinking this? It's the enemy of any diet~"
Yuu: "I'm still growing! I need all this energy!"

I'm Shirasaka Hikari, sixteen years old......

......and I just had my first... well, no.
At least in the past ten years, my first indirect kiss......

In the end, it just tasted like milk tea.