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Kissing was not something Mayoi was well versed in.
Truly, all of the things that came with being in a romantic relationship were foreign to him. He'd had physical contact before (despite how much he tried to avoid it), but with Mika it felt different. He'd never been touched by someone with the caring caress of love.
Mika wasn't the most experienced with it either — something he'd kept repeating to Mayoi earlier in an attempt to keep his expectations low for when this moment came. He'd kissed someone once before, but the outcome had been less than ideal, a moment of shame scarred into his mind. It was a situation that he prayed wouldn't repeat itself if he ever kissed Mayoi.
Though logic would say he needn't be so worried, the crow and the phantom were both terribly anxious creatures. They were like mistreated animals who approached even the kindest humans with a weary look in their eyes, only allowing petting once trust had been earned.
Mayoi's mind was abruptly brought back to the present as Mika spoke up.
"Ya alright…?" A pause, and then reassurance. "We don't gotta do anythin', y'know? Not until yer ready."
For many couples, something like a simple kiss would be no big deal, but Mayoi and Mika's relationship had been unfolding at a snail's pace. Both of them took things slow, approaching new developments with hesitance. Mika's mind filled with thoughts of "What if he ain't ready? What if I scare 'him off…?" as Mayoi's was flooded with worries that as soon as they kissed the spell would be broken. Mika would finally come to his senses and realize that Mayoi was a being lower than the filth at the bottom of a dumpster, something disgusting that should never be treated kindly, and then Mika would hate him, and—!
"...Mayoi kun?"
Ah, he'd gotten carried away again… Mayoi swallows thickly, meeting Mika's worried gaze.
"...S-Sorry, I'm terribly sorry for making things difficult…!"
Mika shook his head firmly.
"Don't worry 'bout it. I can wait as long as ya need, a'ight?"
But it was Mayoi who didn't want to wait any longer. Not just because he felt guilty, but because he wanted to kiss Mika. He wanted to shower the boy with affection in every way possible, give him so much proof of his love that Mika could never again doubt Mayoi's feelings!
"N-No! No…."
Mayoi scooted closer to Mika. With anyone else, this closeness would make him tremble with fear. Mika was different, though. Mika would never raise a hand at him, never raise his voice over something small…
"I want to… I-I want to do it! Please…."
Mika still seemed hesitant. Mayoi worried for a moment that he'd somehow messed things up before they'd even gotten to do anything. But eventually Mika nodded, a relief to Mayoi's nerves. It was his turn to shuffle closer, scooting towards Mayoi's end of the seating until they were nearly touching.
"...'kay. Can ya close yer eyes fer me…?"
For Mika, it's easier to do things without the feeling of being watched. Mayoi complies, squeezing his eyes shut much tighter than necessary in his attempt to follow instructions properly.
Mika places his hand on top of Mayoi's, a gentle touch to test the waters. For once, that doesn't result in Mayoi instantly flinching away out of instinct. Relieved by that fact, Mika leans in.
…
For one of the first times in his life, Mayoi felt… warm.
Physically, sure — his cheeks were warm with a tint of pink that creeped further across his face and spread to the tips of his ears with every passing second that their lips were touching and his hands were clammy as they intertwined with Mika's. But he'd been physically warm plenty of times before. The foreign feeling was the warmth inside of him… A fuzzy, soft heat spreading from his chest to his stomach, waking the butterflies from their rest.
The kiss on its own would be nothing notable. It's chaste and gentle, lasting only a few moments before Mika pulled away, anxious to learn how Mayoi had handled it. It wasn't an explosion of fireworks and sparks like Mayoi had read about in the romance novels he sometimes picked up. There were no explosions. But it was warm. He was warm. The grin that spread across Mika's face when he saw how happy Mayoi looked after the kiss was the warmest of all.
Is this what it's like to truly experience joy?
"...Y-Ya liked it?"
The nerves were still evident in Mika's voice, but this time they were mixed with a giddy excitement that Mayoi found downright adorable. Yes, he'd liked it. He tried to formulate a way to describe all of the thoughts and feelings that such a simple, quick action had aroused in him, but he was unable to piece it together properly.
Instead, he lifted a hand to caress Mika's cheek, carefully leaning in to give him a kiss of his own, hoping his actions could communicate his feelings.
…Well, there was something he could say. As he pulled away, breath shaky, he gave Mika a sharp-toothed smile.
"I-I… I love you…."
"Nnhaa…?" Mika's eyes blinked with confusion, opening wide as he processed the words. He never thought he'd hear Mayoi say it… He certainly never thought Mayoi would say it first! "I love ya too! I love ya so much I could die~!"
"P-Please don't die…?!" Mayoi laughed softly. "I can't kiss you if you're dead, Mika-san…."
The heat of the summer sun's rays peeking through the window of the handicraft's clubroom on that afternoon couldn't hold a candle to the warmth radiating inside of the lovers. Both of them were eternally grateful for the other, grateful for their patience, for their acceptance. It was a beautiful scene — a secret one, a special moment only for the two of them.