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It was a chilly rainy late evening, where everyone was rushing back to their warm, toasty houses, wearing waterproof trench coats, woollen scarves and umbrellas.
However, there is a young teenage girl that stood out in the sea of people. She didn’t have an umbrella, only a thin, wet jacket flapping against her body as she ran. Her petite evening dress that reached up to her knees was soaked, she didn't wear any shoes, as she was holding her heels as she ran. Her newly bought sling bag was wet from the rain as the puddles went splish splosh at every step she ran.
And at the first glance, you may think she must be mad. Running under the rain! In this cold weather? Surely she will catch a cold?
Silly me! I have forgotten to explain what happened earlier on, my apologies.
--Earlier on--
Yashiro Nene is in her apartment. Her childhood friend and roommate, Yugi Amane, had a shift at a high class bar nearby. ‘Have fun,’ he muttered in her hair as they both shared a hug before he left. ‘Call me if anything happens, okay?’ he squeezed her in their mid-embrace.
‘Mmm! I will!’ she chirped, as he released her and ruffled her hair as usual.
‘Well, I’m off.’ Amane smiled at his friend. Her bright smile was the last thing he saw as the door closed behind him with a soft click.
Well, er, that was much much earlier on.
So now our heroine could not sit still. She keeps looking at the time and her reflection on her full body mirror. First impressions are important! Manners come next.
She is asked out by an upperclassman, dear me, he is indeed good-looking! His silvery hair droops down shly on his face when he asks her out, his bright blue eyes could capture anyone’s soul with just a look of them.
‘8 ‘o clock,’ Nene thought, fidgeting her thumbs together. ‘Is he late?’
When it finally seemed forever, a gentle knock was heard on her apartment door. She opened it and found herself face-to-face with her date. My, he looks even more handsome in his suit and tie! Nene blushed hotly as he smiled at her with his perfect smile.
‘Ready to go?’ he reached on his hand, which Nene gladly took.
Before she knew it, they were sitting in a cab and then in a posh restaurant, talking and blushing furiously over their dinner. The waiter that served them even raised an eyebrow occasionally.
Their dinner was a fine one, her date decided to walk her back to her apartment. It was a breezy evening at first, the couple walked and talked in delight as the working people hurriedly passed them, wanting to go home as soon as possible.
It was all well until it started drizzling, they got a little wet from it so they made a dash and ended up in a small alleyway.
Her must’ve date noticed her rubbing her arms to create heat because he asked her ‘Are you cold?’
Nene nodded, she was hoping for him to wrap his jacket around her thin one like what they did in those drama romance shows she and Amane watched together, Amane gagging every now and then to spite her.
But her date didn’t. What he did was absolutely disgusting.
Without any warning, his arms snaked around her waist and his hands made their way up to her breast. Nene gasped loudly and slapped his hands away before he could squeeze them.
‘Y-You pervert!’ she staggered away from him, her hands wrapped protectively around her chest. ‘We’ve just met and you’re doing intimate things without my consent!’
Her date just gave her a grin; a grin that was nothing near Amane’s smirking ones when he teases her.
‘You said you’re cold, isn’t that warming you up?’ her date went up to her and squeezed her ass. Nene yelped and shoved him away once again, she didn’t feel love for this guy anymore. Instead, disgust was forming in her mind so strong until to the point she swore she tasted it in her mouth; the bitter and sour taste that rolls on her tongue.
Her ‘date’ grabbed her and slid her dress up, her creamy thighs were revealed in his sight. He squeezed her thighs and trailed his disgusting tongue of his along it. Nene started helplessly crying until she remembered what Amane told her when they were growing up:
‘I can’t protect you all the time right now, I think you’ll might need to fight them yourself when I’m not by your side,’ A young Amane croaked as a young Nene cleaned his wounds and bruises from a gang of boys that tried to push Nene down the stairs. ‘OUCH!’ Amane flinched when the cotton swab was dabbed on an open cut.
‘What should I do, Amane?’ young Nene looked at him with her big round eyes in interest. ‘I don’t want you to get hurt because of me anymore.’ she hung her head guiltily but was lifted up again by Amane, his thumb stroking her chin shyly.
‘You kick them here,’ Amane pointed his bandaged hand at his groin. ‘Why though?’ Nene asked as she dabbed the ointment on his face again, causing him to wince at the pain.
‘Well, er, I don’t know how you quite explain this.’ Amane scratched his head in confusion. ‘It just hurts a lot when you squeeze them, imagine it getting kicked.’ Amane shuddered at the imaginary pain. ‘It hurts like crazy.’
‘Okay! I will do that!’ Nene beamed at him, making Amane genuinely smile at her as he continued to stroke her soft cheeks.
Right on cue, she gave her ‘date’ a good strong kick on his groin, he screamed in pain that also gave Nene a shock. ‘Was that painful? Like how Amane said?’ She would think of those later, maybe ask Amane while she’s at it.
Her ‘date’ was now on the floor, hands clutched on his genitals, trembling in pain. Nene looked at it as an opportunity to escape.
She took off her heels and ran in the cold shower, the feeling of his saliva on her thighs now being washed away by the rain, but to Nene the feeling was burned on her skin. It felt like it was eating her up slowly as she ran.
And now we can continue the reality.
Nene cried as she ran, How did it turn out like this? Why does this always happen to her? She mentally screamed in her head, letting out broken sobs.
She needs to get out of here, somewhere safe, somewhere like-
Amane.
The voice in her head told her and she found herself missing Amane’s arms, his strong muscular arms around her, he could provide the warmth rather than this cold weather.
Maybe a kiss would be nice too .
She ran towards the direction of the bar, her heart wishing he hadn’t finished his shift.
The manager recognized her as a regular customer, he fussed over her, wrapped her with a warm towel and led her into the staffroom.
Nene has been in there countless times, the warm yellow light bathed on her skin, the heated carpeted floor warmed her wet toes as she walked towards the sofa. The beverage machine stood on the usual place, beckoning her to have a hot, hot drink.
‘I guess this is what you get for being a favourite customer in a high-class bar.’ Nene thought with a small smile..
Before she could walk towards it, the door flew open with an angry and worried-sick Amane stormed in. The manager must’ve told him about Nene’s condition and presence in the bar.
Amane was still dressed in his bartender clothing; one of Nene’s favourite outfits for him to wear. His regular buttoned black vest over his white sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing the arms that Nene wanted to be around her. His grey tie was neatly tucked into his vest.
Amane closed the door and ran to her, hugging her small frame against his chest tightly.
‘What happened? Why are you dripping wet? Are you trying to get sick?!’ Amane scolded her as his long fingers gently combed her wet hair from her face. ‘Aren’t you supposed to be with your date?’
The very last sentence made Nene sob and cry on his clean uniform, she linked her hands around his back tightly and clenched it for dear life.
Amane immediately sensed something unpleasant, he softened and kissed her head with such tenderness as he let her weep. Anger was creeping up to him slowly. Who has done this to her? But deep down in his gut he has a feeling he knows who.
Amane led her to the sofa whilst hugging her and sat down with her. He soothes her by whispering sweet words and holding her small hands in his huge one, therapeutically stroking her knuckles as well as occasionally kissing her fingers.
'How about a hot drink?' Amane suggested as he tried to stand up, only to get pulled and land back in Nene's arms as she nuzzled her head into his neck. His fragrance slowly calmed her down.
'Not now….. prefer your warmth….. miss it..' she mumbled in his uniform as Amane started rubbing circles on her back.
Amane rested his chin on her head as Nene sprouted things like 'I don't want to be alone' and 'Don't leave me alone' her sobs turned into hiccups eventually and gradually stopped. Amane stroked her cheeks, making Nene unconsciously lean into his touch.
'How about I get you a hot chocolate and you can tell me how on earth you end up like this?' Nene nodded but still stuck onto him like glue as he tapped the settings on the machine.
And so Nene told him how the horrible date went, her fingers curled around the cup with Amane's hands around her cold, trembling fingers. When she finished, she got a fright of how black his face looked. Additional to how his fingers tightened around hers.
It took a couple of minutes to stop him from running to that guy’s house and murder him and another couple more to coax him with gentle words and hugs into a much more stable mind. He let out a shaky breath of frustration.
'You don't deserve this, Nene.' he whispered softly as he planted more platonic kisses on her cheek. 'You'll definitely find a better one.'
Then it all struck Nene, his touches are the most gentle ones; his hugs are always the warmest ones; his platonic kisses are the sweetest ones.
If only they're not platonic, will it be better? With love, will it make her forget all the bad times she has?
'Amane,' Nene said his name quietly and he stopped rambling.
'Yes, what's wrong?' he brushes her hair back from her face again, stroking her face as if she was made out of glass.
'Kiss me,' Amane's eyes widened in both surprise and embarrassment. 'Why would you want to kiss someone like me?' he muttered shyly, leaning their foreheads together, he added, 'I guess I have no choice.' he leaned in and kissed her cold lips.
Their first kiss was sweet and slow, a tad of saltiness blended with traces of vodka could be tasted. Nene felt it was like breaking the surface of the water after holding her breath underwater for so long. Amane felt butterflies and love being born in him, maybe this is the special someone he has been looking forward to for all his life.
Both of them were so red when they broke, only to find them missing each other's lips again.
'I want another one,' Nene breathed and Amane gladly accepted her request. He held her chin and tipped it to his lips. It quickly escalated to the intertwining of their tongues, creating a hot messy second kiss for them.
They parted once more, Nene snuggled in the crook of his neck again, this time the familiar cologne could be detected around the sides of his neck.
'How about we date?' Amane asked out of the blue, making Nene jump a bit. 'I think I can't stop now, loving you, I mean.'
'Amane…..' her voice trailed off as she raked her fingers in his rich brown hair, untangling the untruly strands in the process.
'I love you.' Amane whispered to her lovingly. 'I love you so much, I think it hurts my heart from thinking about it.' He kissed her neck softly. ‘Ever since I met you.’ His warm lips against her cold neck shocked her at first, but Nene felt nothing uncomfortable nor wrong. This guy, this absolute fool, has always been the one there for her, always the one she cries to, the one that hugs her to sleep when she needs it.
How could I’ve been so blind? I have a guy that truly loves me right now in front of me. Always there for me, always buying me snacks and giving me emotional support. The one that only man that tells me silly jokes and teases me, but always never crosses over the line.
'If I say I love you too, can I kiss you back?' Nene boldly asked, before Amane could react, she pulled his tie towards her, jerking him forward and their lips met again for the third time. Their tongues met again and their mouths opened to breathe in mid-kiss. They closed their mouths again as their tongues danced together with each other. Nene had her other hand gripped on his face while Amane had his hands gripping her hair gently. He turned and adjusted his lips on hers to kiss her more passionately.
At this point, Nene felt all her worries washed away, the world revolving around them does not matter anymore, they're in the world of their own, where a new love was born within them.
The strand of saliva that connected them broke off when they parted. Both were breathing heavily for oxygen, but their eyes full of genuine love.
‘You okay?’ Amane asked as he massaged her head.
‘Better than okay.’ Nene’s smile made him flush redder. ‘I just got dumped and now I have someone to look forward to being with.’
This made Amane turn redder. Seriously, her literature teacher must’ve been proud of her.
‘I want to kiss that bastard’s touch away on your thigh.’ Amane muttered.
Nene lifted up her dress, letting Amane bend down and begin planting soft kisses everywhere on her thigh, leaving no traces of foreign substance behind.
Nene drank her hot chocolate in silence as Amane made his way back to her. The rich, warm chocolatey blend tasted luxurious on her tongue. With Amane’s body wrapped against her, she felt peace for the first time in the evening.
‘So this is what it feels like to finally meet your soulmate and fall in love.’ Nene smiled as she took another sip of her chocolate.
‘I want a taste too.’ she could hear Amane pout as he tightened his grip around her.
‘How about this?’ Nene leaned into his lips and kissed him again, her tongue slid towards his.
‘Mmmm, better,’ He responded quietly. ‘I can taste the chocolate from here.’
‘Silly boy’ Nene giggled to herself as she let him lead her in it.
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Nene, now a young adult, was sitting by the golden bar counter, smiling at her fiancé as he mixed various alcohols in the gold coated cocktail shaker in a uniform momentum.
She loves watching him work for his customers, from the way he measures the vodka and the peach schnapps in a shot glass precisely to shaking them up at a steady speed up to as long as 20 minutes. A slice of orange and cherry is added at the end for garnish.
‘One Sex on the Beach for my bright moon,’ he interrupted her thoughts, grinning at her as he placed the highball glass in front of her ‘Why don’t we try that, eh?’
‘Try what?’ she hummed as she tipped the glass into her lips.
‘Having sex on the beach.’
‘MMMPRGHHG!!’ Nene almost spat her orange cocktail onto his grinning face.
‘I’m just kidding, my moon,’ He chuckled at her expression. ‘Unless…..’ He raised a eyebrow suggestively at her, that stupid grin of his creeped up to him again.
Nene whacked his head playfully and he faked cry in pain.
‘Nene doesn’t love me anymore, sob sob sob..’ Amane put his hands on his face, trying to lure her into comforting him.
His engagement ring, made out of meteorite stone, winked at her under the lighting, she felt the similar round object around her finger.
‘Silly man’ She laughed as she took his hands and squeezed them.
By the time she finished her drink, Amane suddenly appeared next to her, his face now solemn and serious.
‘Nene, I have something to tell you.’ he grimly looked at her.
‘W-What is it?’ Nene stammered nervously.
Oh no, what’s happening? Is he breaking up with me?? What if he doesn’t love me anymore? Nene fearfully looked at him, her heart pounding against her chest loudly.
‘I don’t want to be your fiancé anymore.’ He looked away from her eyes, his hands on the golden countertop.
Fear swallowed Nene whole. She felt tears dripping down her face as she thought of all the memories they’ve shared. ‘W-Why would you want to do this?’ She choked at him.
She stood up to make a run, but Amane caught her arm firmly.
‘I want to be your husband instead.’ he finished, his amber eyes now radiating with love.
‘W-Wha-? Nene breathed out, trying to comprehend his words as if they were another language. What is happening? Why can’t I understand what is going on?
‘Yashiro Nene,’ Amane said, her name loud and clear, it sounds like ringing bells in her head. Goodness, the way she said her name, the way it rolls off his tongue, it sounds so beautiful.
Amane suddenly put one leg on the clean tiled floor and one bending upright, smiled at her as he pulled out a small red box.
No no no no no you can’t be serious, Amane-! Nene felt tears welling up again as she closed her mouth with her two hands.
‘I’ve always loved you, your imperfections, your jagged corners, everything and all of you,’ He recited, it sounded like he had been practicing for a long time.
‘I don’t want to live without you,’ he continued, the customers in the bar are now wide-opened and smiling so wide, some was recordIng, some started crying at the fact that they're single with happiness.
‘Nene, will you marry me?’
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The bell chimes and it indicates a newly wed couple.
A girl with shining cherry eyes wearing a wedding dress, white as snow, was gripping onto the arms of a young man with amber eyes.
‘Congratulations senpai!!’ Minamoto Kou cried as he hugged his two best friends, ‘I’m so happy for the both of you!!’ the best man sobbed.
‘Quit crying like a baby, you lame ass earring!’ a pink haired man with his hair pulled back into a bun hissed at him. ‘You’re making a fool out of yourself! How old are you? 7 years old??’
‘STOP CRITICIZING ABOUT MY EARRING!’ The blonde man yelled, his red earring swinging madly as he shook his head wildly.
‘THEN STOP CALLING ME A CRYBABY!’ Mitsuba screamed, causing Tsukasa and Sakura to shake their heads while Natsuhiko facepalms in pain.
‘Ahh, youth..’ Kako drank his tea at the distance with Aoi, the maid of honour, and Akane, another wedded couple. ‘Such energy…. Such activeness….’
Aoi smiled at Akane, who was cradling a sleeping child, Mirai, in his arms. Akane kissed her forehead lovingly in response. ‘You look so pretty, Ao-chan.’
‘Hmmmm….10 points!.’ Aoi joked and giggled at his hurt reaction that was repeated for many years.
Not far from them, Shijima Mei was painting a portrait of the newly wed couple.
‘And...there!’ She smiled with satisfaction as she turned the easel towards them. ‘What do you think?’
‘Oh goodness, Mei! How do you draw so fast and detailed?’ Nene gasped at the newly painted wet canvas.
‘You’ll get used to catching poses when you draw in the long run.’ Mei giggled as she lifted the canvas gingery and folded her easel. ‘I’ll inform you when the paint is all dried up.’
‘Thank you Mei, for your hard work.’ Amane slightly bowed at her and she returned the gesture.
Tsuchigomori and Yako sat at the distance, smiling at the chaotic lively youths at the moment.
‘Hear Ye! Hear Ye!’ a gentle voice sounded throughout the wedding, Sumire and Shinigami with microphones in their hands onstage. ‘It’s time for a picture! May I know where the certain pink photographer is?’
‘HeRE!! I’M ON MY WAY!’ Mitsuba screeched in the crowd waving his hands crazily with an expensive looking camera hung around his neck.
‘Everyone, smile for the camera!’ Mitsuba triumphantly announced as he clicked the timer button and ran back to the crowd.
The red light blinked rapidly, showing signs of the moment to click for the picture.
‘FASTER MITSUBA!’
‘SHUT THE HELL UP LAME EARRING!!’
‘SHUSHHHH!’ the crowd hissed.
Click.
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Nene puts down the picture frame of her wedding with Amane. Her right hand held her stomach to support her baby bump.
She felt gentle arms wrapped around her, landing on the bump as well, a blur of messy brown hair tickled her cheek. Nene smiled at herself as she lifted a hand up to his hair and combed it back.
‘How are you feeling?’ Amanel whispered as his hands rubbed soothingly on her bump. He smells like various types of sweet alcohol. The smell of an experienced bartender for many years.
‘Mmmm, just thinking about the past for awhile.’ Nene turned and kissed his temple. Her ring finger now shone a bright stone that matches with her husband’s now; the very same stone she has for her engagement ring.
‘Amane?’
‘Mmmmm?’
‘I love you.’
‘I love you too.’
With that their smiling lips came together for a millionth time, their hands still on the baby bump, patiently waiting for the little one soon.