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Waking up was always one of the hardest things to do for Nene Yashiro. The effort it took to sit up, block the sunlight from the nearby window, and to start to get ready for the day felt exhausting. Though of course once she was up, she was up. However, she’d liked to stay in bed for several more hours whenever possible under the warm comforter she owned. It was winter time and she had the day off, so this was a perfect opportunity to snuggle in deeper. That was her only thought as she slumbered back to sleep...
...only to reawaken with an arm slapped across her face.
Well, she’s definitely not getting anymore rest now.
Nene rotated her body over to the opposite side where the arm came from. Grasping the hand that just attacked her, she moved a little closer to the other person she shared her bed with. Happily snoring without a care in the world was her fiancé, Amane Yugi. His choppy, black hair was spread across his face and pillow. He turns and tosses himself around a lot deep in his sleep, but Nene never notices how much he moves as she is a deep sleeper herself. Only during these times where she is awake before him does she get attacked. "Though it isn’t much different than when he's awake." She thinks. Amane likes to hold hands anywhere they go, never afraid to show his affection for her at any place or time of day. While at home he’ll snuggle up to her, arms over her shoulders or head resting against the crook of her neck. If she was standing, Amane was sure to be right there beside her, touching her in some way or another.
Thinking back on it, she accepted that part of him pretty quickly when they had first met. Maybe it was because while he was not her type to be attracted to, the action itself to just want to be with her was kind of romantic. And it showed that he at least liked her, which was nice to know. Quietly, Nene sighed. Of course he liked her right off the bat and she hadn't noticed at all! Back in high school all she could think of was dashingly handsome princes, feeling like a modern-day Cinderella, wanting someone to not make fun or tease her. "Well..." She studies his face, watching how he breathed slowly in and out. "He's always been a kind of prince to me. A cool prince." Closing her eyes briefly, Nene reflected back on how they had first met.
She remembers running into the old school, climbing the stairs as far up as possible, landing on the third floor. A classroom wasn't good enough, she needed somewhere private, and headed into the girl's bathroom. With the door shut securely behind her she fell to the floor, knees pressed into her chest as she laid her forehead on them. Arms wrapped around her fat ankles, the tears were much more ready to come falling down now. Of course she wouldn't have been on her senpai's mind. Of course he hadn't even known she existed even though she had watched him for years. All of the lessons of improving her skills in cooking, cleaning, gardening... wasted. What good was it to be talented at something, only for the person you want to be happy most to reject you and your talents with a "Who are you?" to your face?
It was only a few minutes of her crying her eyes out before she heard a noise that sounded like a lock. No one was really supposed to be in the old building at this time. Was someone else in the bathroom with her? Slowly moving her head up, she focused her eyes across the room. The last stall, by the large stained glass window, was ajar a few inches. A piercing, golden eye was staring back at her. It was only natural that she screamed, there was a ghost in the bathroom! Or some kind of supernatural being! At least that was what made the most logical sense at the time. She wouldn't find out for a few months later what led to him being there that day and while she absolutely was livid to find out a boy was in the girl's bathroom, he became her saving grace.
"W-What are you?! Are you a ghost?!!" She remembers getting on her feet, her back to the door. She could have run for it. But instead, she stayed, focusing on the last stall. She remembers the door opening slowly, freaking her out even more until a boy stepped out. He was skinny, short, and wearing the third year middle school uniform. Uneven pitch-black hair and stunning yellow eyes, and a slight blush on his face. She would think for a long time he was blushing because he got caught in the girl's room. And before she was about to reprimand him he spoke up first, changing his expression from one of surprise to that of a grin. "Haven't you heard the rumor of Hanako-san of the Toilet? That's me!"
"Like I'd believe that!" She yelled, taking a breath.
"It's true! Why else would there be a boy in the girl's bathroom?" He says casually, like this was a normal occurrence for him. He walked to the window, sitting on the sill. She doesn't waste a second responding. "Hanako-san from the legend is a girl! And I didn't even knock on the door!"
His smile grew wider. "But that's just a rumor, I'm really a boy~ and you did knock on the door, when you came in! You ran in here and when you shut the door you knocked on it with your daikon ankles."
"D-Daikon ankles?!"
It took her three seconds to cross the room and elbow him in the ribs.
"Ack!"
"Don't say that, that's rude!"
The boy leaned over, holding his chest where she had hit him. "... You could've been a little more gentle...!" He painfully states, gradually sitting back up. She remembers the tender smile he had given her. Looking back on it, he was probably glad that she wasn't crying anymore. Her feelings were more of anger and confusion by that point, but she wasn't upset for the reason she came in with.
He kept playing the Hanako charade for a little while longer, even though they both knew he was just making things up.
"So, you've summoned me! And I can grant a wish! Any wish you have!" He held his arms up high. "So, let me hear your thoughts!" She gave him a vacant expression, blankly looking up at him with empty eyes. "Hey hey hey, that's no way to look at someone who's willing to help you out~"
Swiftly he reached down to grab her hands, tangling her fingers with his. Their eyes met, a mixture of emotions welling up in herself. Was it because he suddenly just grabbed her hands or because of the light behind him that he kind of looked cute? But he was still definitely not her type! Not at all, while she got lost in his eyes. "What's your wish?" He had asked, head tilted. She knew he was probably just messing with her. She knew he was kind of sleazy because who on earth would sneak up on a crying young maiden in a bathroom? She had so many questions for him. Though all she could see in her vision was his face, someone who wanted to know more about her. Someone who asked with such a kind voice. Someone who, for whatever strange reason he had, wanted to comfort her. At least that's what she wants to believe. It was her nature to simply want to believe. It'd be too cruel if another boy broke her heart.
"I... I got rejected by my senpai when I confessed to him." She starts, looking down as he hums. "I practiced really, REALLY hard at doing feminine things like cooking and cleaning. I spent more time in my gardening club to learn more about flowers since I normally grow vegetables. I practiced for years, ready to tell him what I thought of him. And he. .. he never noticed me."
She remembers holding back a sob. "I guess... it was selfish of me to say I put in work when I really didn't put in any effort to MAKE him notice me. I didn't work FOR my love. And it can't be love. I don't even know his first name, or his hobbies, where he likes to go out to eat... It's only natural he didn't notice me and here I am expecting something in return for nothing. I... was so desperate to have someone, anyone, like me back, to have a special relationship..."
The boy sitting in front of her allowed her to talk, uninterrupted. He really had been patient with her, and considerate to lend his ear out, reflecting back on it. He lightly tugs at their conjoined hands, making her perk her head back up to him.
"I can make it come true." He whispers to her.
She turns red, sputtering out "H-Huh?!"
"Basically what you're saying is 'anybody would have been fine as long as I could be with someone', right? That's what it sounded like you wanted. So let's form a bond between you and I." Squeezing her hands a little bit, he pulls her in closer. "Besides, I think having a bond with someone is the same as being together with someone, don't you?"
She remembers knitting her eyebrows together, awkwardly gripping back the hand in hers, muttering jumbled fragments of the sentences he just spoken. How was he able to just speak like this to someone he just met? And to someone who was older than him? Why was he asking to form a relationship with her?! But looking at him, a soft smile and half-lidded eyes only watching her with the colors of the window surrounding him, the feeling of warmth from his hand... It was nothing short of picturesque. That part of her memory she knows vividly. There wasn't a chance for her to really say anything back as a voice from outside bellowed out, interrupting the two.
"AMANE, I KNOW YOU'RE SOMEWHERE IN THE OLD SCHOOL BUILDING! STOP HIDING AND COME OUT!"
They both seized up, slightly shaken from the surprise. The boy lets go first, jumping down from the window sill. He pats her head before he begins to walk out. "Meet me here tomorrow! Same place and time!" He cheerfully tells her, lifting his hand to wave and opening the bathroom door. She turns around to watch, unsure of what to do. "'Hanako-san' will be waiting for you~!" He teases, leaving. She's able to gather at least some of her thoughts to shout back at him.
"I know you're not a ghost, AMANE-KUN!"
Bringing his hand up to her face, she kisses the back of it softly and slowly a few times. That was only the "start" of her troubles back them. She didn't know why they kept meeting in the girl's bathroom. She didn't know for a long time what brought him there. Sometimes they cleaned the toilets ("To cover up in case I get caught!" he would say), sometimes playing cards together ("How do you keep winning, Yashiro?!"), and sometimes to just talk about things ("I promise to tell you everything one day. Please stay with me until I do?"). It was definitely a strange place to hang out with a friend. But it became their strange place, together. Eventually they'd be joined by two other middle-school boys and the merriment only expanded from there.
"I had more fun in a school bathroom than in classes." She sourly thinks, hugging Amane's hand to her chest. "It's definitely weird to try and explain that to people!"
However, not everything was a fun time. Amane liked to keep secrets and had a hard time talking with others about problems he had. Nene had to learn what his habits were to see the signs of stress or anxiety in him. And she knew she was a handful herself, tending to believe in others without question like a fish eating bait. There were a few incidences that happened during their time in school and somehow she always ended up being involved, willingly or not. It felt like she was a magnet for disaster! It wouldn't surprise her if her classmates had thought something along the lines of Oh, so typical of Nene! Though no matter what happened, Amane was able to find her and escape the situations, every single time. Always able to bring her back down from her cloud, holding her like as though he was afraid of her disappearing.
"I'm never leaving him" was the easiest promise she ever made to herself.
In his sleep Amane moved once again, going from lying on his back to now fully facing her. She was always grateful to him for being there for her. And she tried her best to be there too. Sometimes she could say something and it would immediately cheer him up. Others it was her actions that spoke instead, which always seemed to shock him. Can't blame him when she truly gives it her all, with a strong determination and, in Amane's words, some terrifying energy. How she looked when trying to help him out wasn't something on her top priority list! Especially when he finally opened up about his past, about his family, how much they had all gone through, the fears he had and how finding quiet places helped him think. She wanted nothing more than to protect the boy from the cruel reality he had called his own back then.
The feeling of his hand in hers became more frequent through the rest of their high school days, through university, and has not stopped now that they were both adults. And when he's away from home, busy at the high school working as a teacher, he'll text her messages whenever possible. About a report a student made, the newest rumor running around school, how the other faculty members were jealous of his "Nene's Special" lunch, and more importantly, lots of emojis to express his feelings. Nene would occasionally get wrapped up in her own world every once in a while when writing her novels, blog, or helping co-write a series with someone, and makes sure she has her phone set up to where she can just see the notification pop up with his message. It was easy to feel annoyed if he was sending her a large amount of notifications, but she liked that he was thinking of and including her in his work space.
Holding her breath and as quietly as possible, Nene scooted closer to him. She counted his eyelashes, looked at how much his pale lips were chapped, how his eyebrows were free of worry. He had the day off as well. "I can allow him to sleep in longer." Nene thought as she smiled. He deserved it. Honestly and truly. And he wanted to be with her and chose her right from the start. There will always be a feeling of gratefulness that he stayed by her side. Insecurities, faults and all.
She raised her hand, cupping his cheek. It was warm to touch. Slowly brushing it with her thumb, the young adult softly hummed, moving as close in as possible without startling him. It was a rare time for her to actually gaze at him, as he would be teasing her constantly if he knew she was staring. She can perfectly hear him saying, "Oh what’s this~? Could Nene be thinking of something naughty?"
Of course, a pure maiden like her would never! And if he mentioned anything of her ankles or fantasies he knew he would be receiving the classic move: elbow to the chest! Even so, she wanted to make his heart race as much as he had done to hers.
And while he’ll joke about her wanting a “happily ever after” and unrealistic expectations of life, he did his best to make her happy. Amane took every opportunity to show her that he meant his words and vows. He wasn’t someone who would write poetry and sing their love while she stood atop of a tower. Even when he proposed he didn't do it with a grand gesture on one knee with a large crowd to cheer them on (he had decided to put the ring in her food when they went out on their weekly stargazing picnic date and nearly had a heart attack when Nene was about to accidentally swallow it), but he was romantic in his own way.
“Mmmmm...”
Ah, he was starting to wake. Nene removed her hand from his cheek, beaming. She should probably get up and cook breakfast before he was entirely awake. Carefully shifting her body over and away from him, she cautiously pressed her hands against the mattress to sit up. It took less than a second for that same arm that smacked her earlier to come at her again, this time grabbing her waist and pulling her back in. She emitted a quiet noise of surprise, moving her head to try and look behind her shoulder.
“That’s not fair, Nene~” a low voice sounded behind her, very close to her ear. “You got to watch me, I can’t watch you?”
Nene lifted herself onto her other side while his arms connected at her midsection, loosely laced together. Amane gazed over at her with half-lidded eyes, lips forming a small, smug look, head still resting on the pillow. She could feel the blush rising on her cheeks. “H-how long were you...?”
“The whole time.” He replied.
“Ah...” Her face intensified in the color of red, bringing her hands up to cover her facial expression. She had been caught! It was such a peaceful morning, and she knew he wasn't going to let this slide for the rest of the day. “Y-You could have told me.”
He rested his head against hers. “And have you stop kissing my hand and touching me? I don’t think so~”
Removing her hands, she decided to put them around his shoulders. Taking in a breath, she gave him a smirk. Nene hadn’t known him for so long to not know how to play his game! If it helped lower her embarrassment she wasn't afraid to fight fire with fire! “And here I thought I was getting away with it too.”
Sometimes she wasn't sure whether he knew she was acting it up or not. Probably the answer was yes, in how he face brightened up at her words, but she was still able to bring about a good reaction from him if she tried hard enough! He responds to her by saying, ”Not without a proper kiss.”
“Oh, so that’s what this is about.” Nene smiled, taunting him. “And what makes you think you deserve that?”
“I can think of several reasons.”
“Being?”
“One, that I love you...” He grabs the teal ends of her long, cream-colored hair and kisses it.
"Two, that you love me..." Letting go of her hair he then takes hold of one of her hands from his shoulder, enclosing his fingers around hers and kissing her knuckles.
“Three, that I want to be with you forever.” A kiss to her neck.
“And four, that neither of us has yet to actually act on what we want right now, because I know you want to kiss me too.” And a last kiss to her chin, tantalizingly close to her lips.
She deadpanned. “You always act on what you want.”
”But you’re okay with it! Most of the time!” He says defensively, sounding slightly more serious. It was cute to see him like this, not that Nene will ever tell him as such. “You usually push me away or throw your elbow or head into me if you don’t want it.”
“And how often is that~?” She asks, trying to replicate the same singsongy tone he uses with her.
He stopped to think for a brief moment, his eyes avoiding hers with his eyebrows scrunched up. It was faint, but she could see a small amount of pink forming on his face. “Uh....”
“You’re very pushy and touchy. I can understand very clearly why some of our classmates called you slimy.” Amane feigned a fake stab to the heart, like as though an imaginary arrow soared into his chest. She giggled. Okay, teasing him was over.
“Even so, I like the way our hands connect." She brings up their joined hands, shaking them in a wave. "I like feeling your warmth, and at times its super comforting to simply know that you want to be with me because you are always showing me your affection through your tender touches. More importantly, I like it so much because it's coming from you."
It was a rare treat for Nene to be able to see Amane flustered because of her. He must not have been entirely awake before if her words were making him look as bright as an apple. Or at least she didn't think it was enough to deserve his surprised expression. It definitely doesn't help that seeing him a little embarrassed made her in return feel that same sentiment.
She doesn't mean to stumble out her first word when Nene speaks again. "A-Anyways! I think that earns you a pass for now.” Moving quickly, she leaned her head up to meet his lips with hers. Amane was still for only a moment before reciprocating, raising his hand not connected to hers up to rest against the back of her head. Unlike how most of his advances and words were always dripping with sarcasm of doing something inappropriate, he was never forceful when they would kiss. Always soft, slow, cautious, as though doing anything more would chase her away. Most times it was her that had to initiate the offense if she wanted to go further. But on this quiet, winter morning, she wanted nothing more than to lazily kiss him.
And by the hum in his voice that rumbled against her own mouth, it was clear he wanted the same thing.
After a few minutes, they both parted, pulling away from one another. For a moment, Amane softly admired her. He speaks a little more like himself, a little more confident and the natural teasing nature coming back. "Is it possible for me to earn a few more passes?” Amane grinned cheek to cheek, holding her as close as possible and inclining his head once more to line up with her lips. She matched his smile, her arms snaking themselves around his stomach and resting on his back, reaching up to meet him again as he says, “I don’t think one was enough.”