Work Text:
1
Naoto's sketching pencil ran across the paper, and his eyes flitted towards the door.
Huh, he thought, heart sinking a little. I guess Nagatoro isn't coming in today.
The younger girl always made his days interesting, and, after a while of her coming into the art room and attacking him with insults and jokes, he'd come to expect—and even enjoy—Nagatoro's company.
The silence was now almost unbearable, and Naoto sighed, looking at his sketch of the vase of roses on the table in front of him.
It had been almost a week since Nagatoro had kissed Naoto's cheek, and he hadn't seen her since.
He glanced down at his phone. No messages from her, either.
He looked back to his art, to the vase of roses, and sighed, faceplanting into the easel.
He just...couldn't concentrate today.
The couch in which Nagatoro usually sat on to model for Naoto's drawings was empty, and Naoto didn't know how to feel about it.
...Maybe I should end this a little early today.
At that moment, the clubroom's door flew open, causing Naoto to shriek for a second.
There, in the doorway, was Nagatoro.
"Senpai~!" Nagatoro sang, twirling around childishly. "How are youuu?"
Naoto's face turned bright red, but he smiled, relieved. "I-I'm doing well. What about you?"
Nagatoro hummed, then walked up behind Naoto. "Whatcha drawing?"
"W-Well, I've been waiting for you to show up for the past week, so I've...went back to drawing inanimate objects," Naoto explained. "Why were you gone so long, though?"
Nagatoro blinked, then grinned. "Why? Did you miss me, Senpai~?"
Naoto's face burned even more. I have to beat her at her own game. "Um...yes?"
Nagatoro froze, eyes going wide. Then, she smirked. "Ah, I get it now~ You just want me to kiss your virgin face again, huh?"
Naoto's own eyes bugged out of his head as he blubbered, "Wh—I—But—"
Nagatoro put her face really close to Naoto's, smirk widening. "You do! You want me to kiss you! Or...maybe..."
Nagatoro reached up and unbuttoned a single button on her shirt. "Senpai wants something else?"
"N-No!" Naoto exclaimed, averting his eyes. "I-I-I-I just like your company, that's all! Y-You're fun to be around!"
Nagatoro went silent, and Naoto stared at the ground, heart pounding in his chest. You creep, why did you say that!? Now she'll tease you relentlessly and without mercy—not that she shows any mercy anyway, but—
"...Thanks," Nagatoro murmured.
Naoto looked up, unable to believe what he was hearing. "Huh?"
Nagatoro's expression was almost...shy. "I said, thanks. If it helps...you're fun to be around, too."
Naoto felt himself smile, his heart slowing down and beginning to swell up in affection. "That...does help. Thank you."
Nagatoro's eyes looked away, but then she smirked, looking back at Naoto. "Anyway! Senpai~ Close your eyes! It's time for your reward!"
Naoto sighed and closed his eyes, used to Nagatoro's antics. There's no way it'll be like last time.
A little hum was heard, and Naoto felt warm breath on his lips.
He almost shrieked, squeezing his eyes shut. W-Wait, is she actually gonna—!
He felt something soft and fuzzy on his lips, and he opened his eyes.
It was a plushie of the weird cat thing Nagatoro was obsessed with.
Nagatoro seemed as though she was close to laughing. "Well? Aren't you gonna take it?"
At first, Naoto felt a tad disappointed, but then he took it, looked at it, and smiled. "I-It's...cute."
Nagatoro raised an eyebrow, then smirked. "Oh, really, Senpai? We all know what you actually wanted~"
Naoto swallowed sharply, face burning. "W-Well, I-I didn't exactly plan for that, b—"
Nagatoro let out a loud guffaw. "Oh my God, Senpai! You are too desperate!"
Naoto's face turned even redder. "C-Can you stop?"
Nagatoro grinned, putting her face less than an inch from Naoto's. "Awww, is Senpai getting embarrassed~?"
Naoto averted his eyes, leaning back. "W-Well, I—"
Nagatoro got even closer. "Hmmm?"
"C-Could you back away, please?" Naoto sputtered.
Nagatoro's expression went blank, and she pulled away. Then, with a small smile, she chuckled. "See you tomorrow, then, Senpai!"
Nagatoro raced away, and Naoto breathed a sigh of relief. He brought the plushie closer to his face and smiled, burying his face in the soft material.
It...kind of smells like Nagatoro.
Then, Naoto shrieked, realizing what he just thought and dropping it to the ground. Nonono! Naoto, y-you just—you just thought that—
Suddenly, his notifications on his phone went off. Picking up his phone, he groaned.
Nagatoro: Perv!
2
Naoto hummed to himself. Today, he decided to do a watercolor painting, and Nagatoro sat on the model's bench a few feet away.
"Hey, Senpai? Can I ask you a question?" Nagatoro's voice was quiet.
"Yeah, sure."
Nagatoro looked away, blushing lightly. "It's just...I've been wondering..."
Naoto's mind wandered. Does she...? No, you—but—?
Nagatoro grinned. "I've been wondering why you're such a hermit loser!"
Naoto's eyes widened, and he blinked. "H-Hey! That's mean! I'm not—well, I'm not a complete hermit, nor am I a loser!"
"Well, think about it!" Nagatoro snorted. "You rarely get out of the clubroom after school unless it's with me dragging you around, and that usually takes convincing. Don't you have other friends?"
Naoto pushed up his glasses, a habit he does before lying. "W-Well...there's the previous Club President..."
Nagatoro rolled her eyes. "That fraud? I don't think you two were very close, per se."
Naoto bit the inside of his cheek. "Well, we aren't, but..."
Nagatoro sighed. "You are a loser without me. I'll tell you what: once you're done with the painting, maybe we could do something together later."
Naoto gave Nagatoro a small smile. "What did you have in mind?"
Nagatoro's eyes shimmered. "Well, we could go get ice cream! Or we could go to my house and play video games for a while! Or—" Nagatoro paused, then sighed, averting her eyes. "Well, never mind. You're not a girl."
"So?"
"So, that means you probably wouldn't want to go clothes shopping."
Naoto looked away, playing with his bangs for a moment. "That's not—well, I..."
Nagatoro shrugged. "It's fine, Senpai. I already know you don't care about fashion. I mean, look at yourself!"
"I-I care about looking nice!" Naoto defended.
Nagatoro rolled her eyes, then looked down. "Whatever. I already know most people don't care what—"
"I care."
Nagatoro stopped, slowly turning her head to look at Naoto. "H-Huh?"
Naoto swallowed. "I care. If you want to go clothes shopping with me...we can."
Nagatoro gasped. "Seriously!?"
Naoto smiled at her childishness. "Yeah."
"Yes!" Nagatoro beamed, hopping up. "We'll go shopping tomorrow! And you'll be paying for everything~"
Naoto sighed. Of course there's a catch.
Nagatoro waved her fingers. "Anyway, close your eyes~"
Naoto closed them, and he felt something light in his hand. He opened his eyes to see a lollipop in his favorite flavor.
Nagatoro narrowed her eyes. "The painting is pretty good, but you didn't get anything more because it's not good enough. Also, I just hate that flavor of lolly."
Naoto whimpered. "I don't agree..."
"Of course you don't!" Nagatoro laughed. "You're a loser!"
Naoto shook his head. "In your opinion."
"Yes, in my opinion," Nagatoro agreed. "Wow, is Senpai actually growing a pair~?" she teased.
"H-Hey!" Naoto exclaimed. "I-I've always had a pair!"
"Mhm~" Nagatoro hummed. "Could I see?"
"No!" Naoto screeched.
Nagatoro let out a shriek of laughter, doubling over before looking up.
"Y'know, Senpai..." Nagatoro swayed, smiling genuinely. "I'm glad we met. You're cool, for a loser."
Naoto's jaw almost dropped open as Nagatoro rushed out of the clubroom without another word.
Taking a moment to breathe, Naoto looked back at the watercolor painting and gave a small smile.
It was probably the best he'd ever done, no matter what Nagatoro said.
3
Naoto was headed for the clubroom when Nagatoro skidded to a stop in front of him, grinning widely.
"C'mon, Senpai!" Nagatoro cheered, gripping Naoto's wrist. "We're meeting Gamo-chan, Yoshi, and Sakura outside!"
As Nagatoro took off running, Naoto could barely keep up, stumbling thanks to Nagatoro being faster than him. "B-But, Nagatoro—!"
Before long, the two of them were in front of the school.
"Heyyy, Senpai!" Gamo-chan waved with a grin. She then froze, glanced down, then back up, grinning even wider.
Nagatoro and Naoto looked down in unison, then pulled away with a shout.
"I-It's not what it looks like!" Naoto shouted.
"Ewww, Senpai is a perv!" Nagatoro yelled.
Yoshi tilted her head to the side. "What's going on?"
Sakura gave a kind smile. "Awww, they were holding hands!"
"Were not!" Nagatoro snapped, hands curling into fists with a bright red face.
Naoto blinked. Wow, she's...awfully defensive about all of this.
"Anyway, can we just go now?" Nagatoro huffed, crossing her arms.
"Sure, sure," Gamo-chan agreed, turning away. "Let's go, then."
* * *
It had been almost an hour, and Naoto was already a little bored.
The four girls had began chattering amongst themselves, occasionally asking Naoto to judge a few outfits. He always said that they looked fairly good, even saying that Gamo-chan looked especially nice in this one leather jacket, or Sakura looked rather pleasant in the beautiful red dress with sakura blossoms on the trim.
Suddenly, the girls went silent as Gamo-chan walked up to Naoto, putting a hand on her hip.
"It's your turn, Senpai," Gamo-chan grinned.
Naoto's eyes widened. "H-Huh!? What!? I-I thought this was—"
"Here!" Gamo-chan dropped a pile of clothes in Naoto's lap. "Try some of these on! We have to see you, though."
Naoto almost shrieked. "I-I-I can't—"
"Do it, Senpai." Gamo-chan's voice was cold.
Naoto swallowed, looking to Nagatoro for help.
Nagatoro only smirked. "Yeah, Senpai~ You should try wearing a dress."
Senpai looked to Yoshi and Sakura who only nodded.
Letting out a sigh, Naoto nodded and went into the male's dressing room, ignoring the snickers and stares of the sadistic girls behind him.
Once he got inside, he placed the outfits on the bench. He picked up some of the dresses, trying to look for the least girly and least frilly.
He almost died when he saw the maid dress within the pile.
Naoto froze, hearing Gamo-chan and Nagatoro's voice outside.
"It's obvious you're madly in love with him," Gamo-chan was saying.
"Pfft! As if," Nagatoro snarled. "I would never like a loser like him."
"Okay, prove it," Gamo-chan said proudly. "Once he gets out of there, if you truly don't have feelings for him...kiss him. On the lips."
"What!?" Nagatoro screamed at the same time Naoto almost yelped the same word.
"Yep. You heard me," Gamo-chan replied. "Kiss Senpai on the mouth, and I'll believe you. After all, a kiss wouldn't matter if you didn't like him."
Naoto turned away from the door, face burning. He couldn't go out there now! If Nagatoro didn't kiss him, he'd feel devastated, but—
Naoto paused. ...Devastated? Shouldn't her not kissing me be a good thing?
Naoto sat on some of the dresses, thinking. He couldn't deny that she was cute and funny and friendly (when she wanted to be) and a good model and—
Naoto almost fainted when he realized.
I have feelings for Nagatoro.
"Hey, Senpai! What're ya doing, touching yourself in there? Get out here!"
Gamo-chan's crude words brought Naoto back from shock.
"I-I'm not doing anything like that!" Naoto stammered. "I'll be out in a minute!"
Naoto quickly scanned the pile again and threw on the dress shirt and black miniskirt, then stepped out with his eyes squeezed shut.
Each of the girls were quiet. Suddenly, a whistle sounded.
"Damn, Senpai," Gamo-chan grinned. "You're pretty hot."
Naoto opened one eye, shooketh. "H-Huh?"
"Yeah, Senpai!" Yoshi's smile was wide. "You look hot!"
Sakura giggled, cheeks turning pink. "You look amazing, Senpai!"
Naoto looked over at Nagatoro, whose face was redder than a tomato.
"U-Um...Nagatoro...?" Naoto stuttered.
Nagatoro breathed out a puff of air, rolling her eyes. "You look...okay, I guess."
Naoto chuckled, but then stiffened as Nagatoro came closer, trembling and extremely embarrassed.
Oh. Naoto's heart fell, and he swallowed. She...has to kiss me.
Nagatoro's face somehow became even redder. "Don't think anything of this, perv."
Nagatoro got on her tiptoes, placing her hands on Naoto's shoulders. Her face got really close to Naoto's.
Naoto struggled to breathe, both close to tears and heart pounding wildly in his chest. He closed his eyes, and—
SMACK!
Naoto stumbled back into the dressing room.
"Frickin' virgin thinks I'll kiss him!" Nagatoro laughed, obviously fake. "What kind of weirdo—!? Haha!"
Gamo-chan, Yoshi, and Sakura joined in with their own laughter, and Naoto's heart seemed to squeeze.
She...likes me.
Naoto smiled as well and chuckled.
Nagatoro stopped fake-laughing, glaring at Naoto. "What're you laughing about, creep!?"
Naoto stopped laughing, then became flustered. "W-Well, I—"
"Whatever," Nagatoro spat, turning away. "Get out of that weird outfit. You look ridiculous."
Naoto nodded and scrambled into the dressing room, unable to stop smiling.
Nagatoro likes me.
4
Naoto braced for impact as Nagatoro ran into the room towards him.
"Senpaiii~!" Nagatoro sang, placing her hands on Naoto's shoulders from behind. "What're ya doing~?"
"I was waiting for you," Naoto replied honestly, the back of his mind remembering what had happened the day before. "You?"
"What does it seem like?" Nagatoro snorted. "I wanted to see your recent art, of course!"
Naoto walked over to one of the closets and pulled out four canvases, humming lightly to himself. He displayed them on the model's chair, smiling proudly to himself.
"Hm..." Nagatoro hummed, studying each one. "Well, they've definitely improved from the beginning of the year."
Naoto breathed a sigh of relief.
"But...what the hell is this!?" Nagatoro exclaimed, holding up a random sketch that was somehow attached to one of the canvases.
Naoto almost fainted. "W-Well—! That can b-be explained—"
"Can it?" Nagatoro snickered. "I can't believe you'd draw me in a maid dress!"
"H-Hey!" Naoto defended. "I just wanted t-to practice drawing the human figure by using the imagination! Look, i-it's not even showing much skin!"
Nagatoro waved the sketch in front of Naoto, seemingly trying to hide a smirk. "Awww, is Senpai embarrassed~? He doesn't wanna admit that this is one of his perverted and gross fantasies!"
Naoto looked down, trying not to cry whilst blushing madly. "L-Look, I-I had no creepy fantasies, it was really just so I could—"
"Yeah, yeah, suuure!" Nagatoro sneered, putting her face closer to Naoto's. "You're just too afraid to admit that you like to think of me in this really creepy way~" Nagatoro hugged herself, feigning mock fear. Bringing her voice up to a higher pitch, she whimpered, "Oh, Senpai is such a creeeeeep! He's going to try to do things!"
Naoto's brain once again "came to the rescue." Beat her at her own game.
"Then...why don't you leave?" Naoto asked, his voice suddenly becoming monotone.
"...Huh?" Nagatoro froze, eyes wide.
"Why don't you leave if you're so scared? Or...do you actually want me to do things?"
Nagatoro seemed to sputter, and she dropped the sketch before racing out of the clubroom, thoroughly defeated.
Naoto sighed, then almost freaked out when he realized what he'd just done.
Th-That—shoot, Naoto! That was uncalled for and unnecessary!
Quickly picking up as many canvases he could handle, he shoved them all back into the closet before shutting it and locking it. Then, he went over to the sketch and turned even redder at how detailed the drawing was.
No wonder Nagatoro thinks you're a creep...
5
It was Friday, the day before the weekend, and Naoto decided he'd not go to the club that day.
It wasn't that he didn't want to paint or draw—it was just that he wanted to have an early start to his weekend for once. Well, not only that, but it had been a pretty bad day. He'd failed a math quiz that was twenty percent of his grade this semester.
He looked in his bag in the middle of the hallway, searching for his phone so he could text Nagatoro. When he didn't find it, he froze.
Huh? I could've sworn...
Naoto got on his knees and dug through his bag, eyebrows furrowed.
"Heyyy, Senpai!"
Naoto internally flinched. Not right now, Nagatoro...
"Senpaiiiiiiiiiiii!"
Naoto whirled around, glaring. "What" Nagatoro!? Can't you see I'm busy!?"
Nagatoro stopped, then narrowed her eyes. "What are you doing that's oh-so important?"
"I'm looking for my phone," Naoto replied, closing his bag and standing. "Have you seen it?"
"Hm...no, I don't think so," Nagatoro murmured.
"Great. Okay. Well, while you're here, i guess I should tell you."
"Tell me what?"
Naoto averted his eyes. "I-I'm...going into the weekend a little earlier today. No Art Club today."
Nagatoro's face fell. "Oh. Are you feeling okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, I just—" Naoto sighed. "Look, I just want to find my phone and go home. Okay?"
"Wh-What?" Nagatoro stammered. "W-Wait, is there anything that would convince you to stay?"
Naoto pulled the strap of his bag over his shoulder and walked through the halls, headed for each classroom he'd been in that day. "No, Nagatoro. I just don't feel like it today."
Nagatoro's voice seeped with panic. "I-I'll be quiet today! I-I'll kiss you! Whatever you—"
Naoto stopped and snapped, "No. Go away."
Time stood still. Nagatoro's eyes began to tear up, and Naoto instantly felt shame.
"N-Nagatoro, I—"
Nagatoro ran through the halls past Naoto, and Naoto tried to call for her. However, when he opened his mouth to speak...she was gone.
Naoto swallowed the lump in this throat, trying not to cry as well.
What have I done...?
+1
Naoto opened his eyes the next day feeling like absolute crap.
The sun waa shining on him from his window, and—
Naoto's heart almost stopped.
He'd slept the whole day!?
Naoto scrambled out of bed, unplugging his phone (turned out he left it at home all day yesterday) and running downstairs. He glanced at the clock and groaned.
7:27 P.M.
The evening light seeped into the house through the blinds, and Naoto sighed, going over to the freezer and pulling out a microwavable meal. Chicken fried rice.
He unboxed it, pulled back the film a little, and stuck it in the microwave and turned it on, letting out a long sigh and slumping to the floor.
Not only did his body ache from sleeping in all day and really having to pee, but he felt horrible for the way he treated Nagatoro the day before.
He glanced down at his phone.
No new messages.
That was to be expected, of course. Occasionally, his parents would text him, but they were especially busy today; and he had treated Nagatoro with disrespect yesterday.
As the timer went off, Naoto stood and went up to his room, pulling on a loose hoodie and slipping on his sneakers.
Today, he'd set things right.
* * *
Naoto knocked on Nagatoro's door, trying to swallow any kind of embarrassment.
The door opened, revealing a twenty-year-old dude. "Hey." Then, he narrowed his eyes. "You're Naoto, aren't you? Nagatoro's said a few things about you."
Naoto averted his eyes, flinching. "Y-Yeah, that would be me. But, um...well, do you know where she is? I...want to talk to her."
The guy clicked his tongue. "And why should I do that? She came home crying, you know."
Naoto took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "I-I know. I wanted to apologize."
"...Fine," he mumbled. "But if you hurt her... Anyway, she's probably at the beach. She usually goes there to relax."
"Thank you," Naoto muttered, and he sprinted in the direction of the beach.
* * *
Upon arriving, Naoto saw Nagatoro sitting on the beach, quietly looking out towards the sunset.
Naoto carefully made his way up to her and sat beside her, not saying a word. Nagatoro didn't look at Naoto, either.
Finally, Naoto spoke up. "U-Um...look, I...I'm sorry."
Nagatoro didn't say anything, so Naoto continued. "I'm...really sorry for snapping at you yesterday. I was just...really stressed out, y'know?"
Nagatoro didn't say anything.
Naoto's heart sank. "Look, I-I know that us hanging out in the Art Club means a lot to you, but—"
"Hell yes it means a lot to me!" Nagatoro cried suddenly, and Naoto looked up to see Nagatoro's eyes shimmering with tears. "It's the highlight of my day! It's the only way I know I'm not—I'm not—" Nagatoro stopped, choking on tears.
"Not...what?" Naoto inquired softly.
"...N-Not..." Nagatoro's voice trailed off, but then she whispered, "a burden."
Naoto pulled the crying girl close to him, and she stayed there, gripping Naoto's hoodie and sobbing.
"I...didn't realize that meant so much to you. That I...meant so much to you," Naoto lied, running his fingers through Nagatoro's hair cautiously. "I just figured that it would be good for the two of us to relax for a while, and that it wasn't such a huge deal."
Nagatoro looked up at Naoto, and Naoto's heart broke at the vulnerable look on Nagatoro's face. "You mean a lot to me. That's why I don't...want to be a burden."
Naoto sighed. "Nagatoro...maybe at first you were a little...odd, but...now, I look forward to seeing you every day." Naoto's face burned with embarrassment, and he saw that Nagatoro's face was red as well. "Y-You're smart and charming and funny and sweet and fun and beautiful—wh-what is there for me not to love about you?"
Nagatoro's breathing stopped for a moment. Then, she whispered, "...You...love things about me?"
Naoto swallowed, not believing that he was about to do this. "I love...you. E-Everything about you."
Nagatoro's eyes were as wide as saucers, and Naoto gripped Nagatoro's hands, facing her.
"You're absolutely amazing, Nagatoro. I don't know what I would have done if you didn't come into my life."
Nagatoro sniffed, wiping snot on her shirt collar. "...You'd probably still be some creepy loser."
Naoto let out a small chuckle, and Nagatoro smiled at him.
It was...the most beautiful and genuine smile Naoto had ever seen.
"S-So, um..." Naoto cast his glance away, heart pounding in his chest. "I-I..."
There was only one thing he wanted to do, so he did it.
He looked down at Nagatoro, cupped her face, and placed his lips to hers.
At first, a surprised squeak came from Nagatoro, but, squeezing his eyes shut, Naoto didn't run away for once. Soon, he felt Nagatoro melt into the kiss, and Naoto pulled away for air, eyes still closed.
Once he opened his eyes, he almost shrieked at the sight of Nagatoro sitting on his legs, face extremely close.
"Wow, Senpai~" Nagatoro teased, grinning widely. "I knew you were a perv, but this?"
Naoto looked away, fiddling with his glasses. "I-I'm so sorry if I—"
Naoto was silenced with Nagatoro's lips on his for a moment. When Nagatoro pulled away, Naoto could've sworn he was having a heart attack.
"I love you too, Senpai," Nagatoro smiled, flopping onto the sand beside him.
Naoto couldn't refrain from smiling, and he laid back in the sand, too.
The stars that were shining above them were so beautiful.