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Kiana poked her head out the doorway leading to the rooftop. “Are you here alone again?” she called out. No voice answered her, but she decided to look around anyway. In the shade, around the corner—she found her sitting there. Her lunch was half-eaten in her lap, and she was spaced out staring into the distance.
Kiana rushed up to her, stepping into her field of view, “Yahallo!”
“Ah?!” she jumped: the pretty girl hadn’t heard Kiana at all, clearly. Kiana gave her biggest smile.
“Hey again, ohime-senpai.”
“Ah, it’s you… please don’t call me that, Kaslana-san.”
“Then… will you call me Kiana-chan?”
“Uh…” she hesitated, unsure of herself.
“I’ll use Mei-senpai!”
Mei blushed and looked away. “Just please stop calling me ohime-senpai.”
“Okay, Mei-senpai,” Kiana slid down to sit beside her, “even if you’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen, I’ll stop calling you ohime-senpai.”
“…you are mistaken, but as long as you address me properly—“
Kiana took the girl’s hand with both of hers, grasping it and shaking it, “I’m not mistaken! It’s the truth, or my name isn’t Kiana Kaslana!”
“Uh… Kiana-chan…” Mei looked to her eyes and at the hands being shaken between them.
“What’s up Mei-senpai?” Kiana beamed at her.
“May I have my hand back?”
“Of course!” Kiana let go with one hand, exposing the back of Mei’s hand, still holding her palm—it was like this, that she bent forward a bit and brought Mei’s hand to her lips, only releasing it after delivering a kiss.
“My lady, just say the word.”
Mei barely registered what she had done. She really couldn’t keep up with this girl. A complete airhead that could only flatter her… she looked to see if she could find an opening or escape. She saw that Kiana hadn’t brought anything with her.
“Are you going to eat lunch?”
‘Maybe she’ll leave to go eat.’ She thought to herself.
“Hmm… I didn’t bring anything, maybe I’ll hit up the vending machine when we head back to class.”
“That’s not lunch, and you’re not supposed to eat during class.” Mei felt her stress increase by just a little bit, wondering how this girl lived so freely.
“It’s fine then, if I skip class and eat?”
“No, that’s definitely not good either.” Mei felt worse now, having been made into an accomplice somehow.
Mei looked down at her bento. She hadn’t the appetite to finish it.
“I can’t finish this… so… if you’re fine with my leftovers.” She set the bento between them, scooting over.
“Really? You didn’t even eat half of it!” Kiana eyed it hungrily, only cementing her decision.
“Yes, I just don’t have an appetite today.” Mei looked away, back into the distance. She let out a long breath—she felt a little calmer now that she had put some distance between her and the girl.
It felt like just an instant later, but she heard the girl exclaim, “Wow! This was really good.”
‘Was? There’s no way she already finished it.’
She turned her head to see Kiana licking the rim of the bento, now empty.
“Did you even chew?” Mei was astonished.
“It was too yummy! I ate it so fast… where did you get this?” Kiana placed the bento back between them, and Mei packed it back into its bag. She couldn’t help but notice that Kiana scooted closer again as soon as she had looked away.
“Get it? Oh. I didn’t buy it anywhere, I made it.”
“REALLY?” Kiana was awestruck for reasons that were unclear to her, and used both of her hands to grab Mei’s hand again.
“Uhm… yes…” she looked away shyly, “it was nothing special.”
“It was so yummy! Better than anything my papa used to make for sure. Except maybe pizza toast. But pizza toast is different, I can’t eat pizza toast every day. I wanna eat this again!” Kiana seemed to have ascended to a level of liveliness that Mei hadn’t ever seen before. It was exceedingly clear that she meant every word, likely not thinking through them at all.
Mei blushed and tried to pull away, but Kiana didn’t notice. “Wait, you’re super pretty, you make super yummy food… you’re the perfect wife!”
Mei sighed, she really didn’t like this way of thinking of herself serving a man.
“Hey, Mei-senpai, will you marry me?”
Before she realized it, Kiana was down on one knee in front of her, holding her hand out in front of her as if she held a ring.
“Huh?”
Mei’s brain exploded at that moment, and she went red.
“I said, Mei-senpai, will you marry me!” Kiana repeated herself and held her cheekiest smile.
“Err… that’s… you don’t even have a ring in your hand!” Mei felt herself raising her voice, but she couldn’t help it. What was this idiot doing?
“So if I get a ring, it’s fine?” Kiana batted her lashes, and Mei looked away again.
“Um! No! It’s not. First of all, two girls can’t even be married.”
“Nuh-uh! We can go to Hawaii and get married!” Kiana giggled, having clearly thought at least a few steps more than she normally did.
“How can you just say whatever you want so shamelessly?!” Mei steamed.
“Mhm! Mei-senpai, let’s be together forever!”
“Forget about forever, I don’t know if I want to meet you here again tomorrow.” Mei let loose a few more words than she had intended and she braced herself as if Kiana might react poorly.
“Hehe! Let’s start there! Wanna eat lunch here together tomorrow?” Kiana didn’t display any notion of having even heard her.
“I don’t really have anywhere else to go, so…”
“I’ll see you then!” Kiana jumped up and dashed away back down through the rooftop entry and towards the classrooms.
Mei finally breathed easily, and spoke aloud to herself. “This idiot! I could even see your panties while you were kneeling in front of me, at least don’t flash me while you’re proposing...”
—
Kiana stopped at the bottom of the stairwell, leaning against the wall.
‘DAMN!’ She thought to herself.
‘That… Mei-senpai…’ She felt her heart beating heavily in her ears, in her chest, even in her fingertips.
‘I can’t believe I said all those things. I totally meant it too. She took it as a joke. I guess we did meet just a few days ago.’ Kiana kicked the bottom step of the stairs, letting some of her nervous energy out.
“Ow.” She winced, but that pain brought her back closer to Earth, and a bell rang from the speaker above her.
‘Now I have to run back up to the classroom floor…’ she sighed and started climbing upwards again. The wind at her back, her heart lifted by these feelings, had carried her way, way past her destination.
—
Mei was preparing the bento she normally did, one for herself and one for her father. She looked into the fridge and noticed a note. “Not coming back ‘til Thursday.”
“Why would you put this note in the fridge…!” Mei sighed, exasperated. It was in the spot where she would place her father’s bento, so she was sure to see it and the location was well thought out.
She now had an extra lunch, and a certain silver-haired girl pushed her way into her thoughts. She sighed and shook her head. ‘Maybe I’ll think about it tomorrow.’
—
Mei found herself on the rooftop again, this time with an additional bento in tow. She told herself that she wasn’t looking forward to seeing the girl again, but it would be a waste if the bento wasn’t eaten. With a thought like this, she sighed to herself.
“Yahallo!” Her thoughts were interrupted as a silver-haired idiot slid right in next to her.
“Ah?!” Mei was still surprised by her entry. “Won’t you get your skirt all dirty if you do that all the time…?”
“It’s fine… mostly.” She brushed off her skirt, then held up something in her hand.
“Look, I brought something today!” Mei looked at the melon pan in her hand, clearly from the vending machine.
“That’s still not a proper lunch… but if you’d prefer that…” Mei didn’t know how to say it, so she didn’t, really.
“Prefer it? Huh? Wait, do you have something for me?” Kiana looked at Mei hungrily, and at her bag, and back to Mei. The conspicuous second bento was in sight and Kiana looked as if she might explode.
“Calm down, or I won’t.” Kiana obediently adjusted her sitting posture, now sitting on her knees, giving Mei more space and taking a deep breath while closing her eyes.
Mei sighed. What was she, a feral animal? She carefully took the bento and placed it in front of herself.
“My dad is out of town, and I made an extra lunch… so… it would be a waste if you didn’t eat it. Try sitting in front of me this time.” As soon as Mei finished speaking, Kiana jumped up, opening her eyes and seating herself in front of Mei with the bento. She offered an exaggerated prayer before the unopened bento, bowing to Mei. “Oh, thank you for gracing this—“ Mei covered her mouth with a hand.
“Please just eat it normally.”
Kiana complied, calmly helping herself to the bento. Mei couldn’t take her eyes off of her as she ate it, wondering where all the feelings she was displaying yesterday were. When she finished, she wordlessly tidied it back into the bag for her, then sat next to her again.
“Uh… I’m sorry if it wasn’t to your taste.” Mei bit her tongue, already regretting everything. A tear came to her eye.
“Huh? It was super yummy! It was the best thing I’ve eaten in months, maybe even years!” Kiana’s demeanor shifted entirely, catching Mei by surprise. “What? Huh? Why did you eat it so quietly, then, after yesterday?” Mei’s head swirled and she quickly wiped away the tears that had formed.
“You asked me to eat it normally! So I did. I held it in.”
Mei was speechless. This idiot.
“You’re going to cause misunderstandings if you hold things in!” Mei sputtered. She felt that saying this was especially cruel, considering her own habits in that regard.
“Mmm. I just wanted to make sure I listened.” Kiana’s response came with a bright smile, even if the tone wasn’t quite right.
“Kiana-chan. I’m sorry. Don’t hold your feelings in, it’s alright. I just had a hard time keeping up, that’s all.” Mei held her head low, offering her apology.
“Ehe, it’s nothing…” Kiana shook her head, as if this was a normal occurrence for her.
“Mei-senpai!” Kiana stood up, and reached a hand down to her. “Get up with me for a moment!”
“Uh… sure.” Mei pulled herself up with Kiana’s hand, but wasn’t prepared for what came next. Kiana swept her legs out from beneath her, catching and holding her, supporting her back and thighs with her arms.
“Wha?!” Mei shrieked in surprise, and Kiana laughed heartily. She looked around and realized that Kiana had really picked her up into a bridal carry.
“Put me down?!” Mei panicked a little bit.
“Ah? You’re holding onto me so tightly though?” Kiana teased, and it was true—Mei was clinging onto her for dear life.
“I don’t wanna be dropped!” Kiana responded by swinging her around in her arms and spinning, prompting another shriek and a tighter hold from Mei. “What are you doing?!?”
Kiana laughed in the most care-free way imaginable. “I’m pretty strong, Mei-senpai. I wouldn’t ever let go or drop you. As for what I’m doing… you said not to hold my feelings in, right?”
“Ah?!” Mei loosened her grip a bit—it was true, she was being held quite securely all things considered.
“My heart feels so light that I just… can’t help it!” Kiana giggled, swinging Mei around again.
“That’s…!” Mei didn’t know what to do with this idiot.
“It was also lovely, having your arms around me.” Kiana lifted her and rubbed her cheek against Mei’s. Mei let go of her and covered her face with both hands. “Please just put me down.” She could feel her entire body heating up and the sweat of the shock and terror stuck to her. Yet this girl was blissfully dancing around…
She was gently lowered back to where she was sitting, and Kiana made her way back to her side. “I should’ve asked first, Mei-senpai, but I was so happy… I got to eat a bento made by you and I held in how yummy it was and just wanted to make sure you knew and how happy I am!”
Kiana gushed affection for her, and Mei didn’t know how to deal with any of it.
“That’s overboard no matter what… but… I’m glad you enjoyed it.” Mei murmured and shook her head.
“Hmm?”
“Maybe you can communicate these feelings in a way that doesn’t involve picking me up and swinging me around?” Mei wasn’t sure if this was asking too much of this idiot.
Kiana put her own chin into her hand as if thinking deeply. “Hmm. I thought you might prefer that way, but I’ve got something else.”
“What’s tha—“
Mei had turned to Kiana, but she was stopped mid-sentence. Quicker than a blink of the eye, the hyperactive girl at her side had turned to her completely and put a hand under her chin while leaning into her. Her lips were sealed by the silver-haired girl’s own, and she was so surprised that the precarious leaning balance she had having turned instead lead them both crashing into the ground. “Mmm!” Mei tried to cry out in surprise, but Kiana’s lips were kept pressed to her own—on one hand, Kiana had caught her in the fall and she didn’t hit her head against the ground. On the other hand, she was caught in a kiss, and she was surprised by the soft lips and tongue that found their way into her mouth. Before she could properly parse any of it, it was over and Kiana was holding herself over her, now on all fours looking down at her.
“I love you, Mei-senpai.” Kiana smiled, but even as she did so, a tear fell onto Mei’s face. As the second tear fell, Kiana got up and before Mei could react, had run back down from the rooftop.
Mei was in a daze. Her first kiss had been so abrupt, so surprising. She put a hand to her lips and turned to her side.
‘What was any of that…’ she thought to herself.
‘Why did it feel so good…?’ Despite the fact that it had barely registered in the moment, the sensation had burned itself into her mind.
—
Mei didn’t see Kiana in class that day, nor the day after. The end of the week came around, and she hadn’t seen Kiana even once since. Mei was in a daze during dinner, and her father spoke up.
“Mei, did something happen? It’s rare for you to be so quiet.” He tried to give her a kind smile. He extended his concern clumsily in this way.
“Ah, sorry father. I’m just a little distracted by my studies.” A common excuse, but her father didn’t pry.
“Alright. But if you need me to listen, I’m always here.”
‘You really haven’t been…’ Mei thought to herself. He had disappeared without warning for 3 days, though she knew that this was somewhat unavoidable with his dedication to work.
“Thanks, I’ll let you know.” Mei instead smiled and moved to clean things up.
Given the new awareness that it was bothering her enough for her father to notice, she thought back to the moment when she met Kiana, and thought to herself, “if I were a silver-haired idiot, where would I go to let off steam…?”
The object in her memory that Kiana had carried at the time was suddenly an inspiration, and she quickly finished the dishes and prepared herself to go out. “Going somewhere, Mei?”
“Ah… yes, I’ll be back before the last train. I’m checking up on a friend that has worried me.”
“Uh. Ok. Make sure you get back safe. Call me if you need anything, alright?” Ryouma didn’t pry. Whatever the truth, he had made up his mind to allow Mei her independence and to support her whenever he could.
“Thank you, father.” Mei bowed to him and ran out the door.
‘Was I too strict on her growing up?’ Her father thought along these lines as he headed to his home office—Mei was always so formal and well-behaved, and he felt as if he might’ve done something wrong. Nevertheless, he had work to do, and Mei would handle herself well, he had no doubts about that.
—
Mei got off at her stop and ran. It was a wild shot in the dark, but if she remembered correctly, the only place for that girl would be on Friday night, where it was half-off…
“Kiana-chan?” She ran into the establishment and called out for her, and a handful of patrons turned to look at her. She realized what a scene she must be, and was quickly embarrassed enough to run away. But she didn’t, and her eyes scanned the place and she found a spot where she could see the door. A few minutes later, something poked her arm from behind. She turned and there she was, the silver-haired idiot that she hadn’t seen in a few days. She felt as if she had been missing her for weeks already, and she unconsciously sighed with relief.
“Ah, I found you…” Mei slumped over a bit in her relief, and Kiana caught her in her arms upright. “Ah! Mei-senpai, are you ok? Did you run all the way here?”
“I… didn’t know… this place’s hours… but I knew you’d be here… at the batting cages.” she breathed between words as Kiana led her back outside. “Mm. The front desk guy came and told me a pretty girl had run in and called for me… I couldn’t believe it.”
“You! Idiot!” Mei held onto her, now putting her arms around her instead of limply leaning on her.
“Huh?” Kiana wasn’t sure what was going on, being called an idiot while being hugged.
“I was worried… because you just went and disappeared… especially after doing that.” Mei let go of her and shyly looked at the ground.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t think things through and just did whatever, I hurt you—“
“Idiot! Listen to me! You didn’t hurt me…!” Mei weakly batted her fist against Kiana’s arm in exasperation.
“Huh?”
“I was… surprised… and startled… but you didn’t hurt me.” Mei could feel her face growing red.
“Mmm.” Kiana was looking down at the ground.
“In no time at all, you’ve completely destroyed the life I had at school. You scared away bullies, and you kept me company, and did so many crazy things in such a short amount of time that I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”
“Mmm.” Kiana wasn’t sure what to take from any of this, other than that Mei was raising her voice in distress.
Mei realized this, and quieted herself into a calmer state. “Kiana-chan… you can’t just stop coming to school and disappear…”
“Ok, I’ll go to school on Monday, Mei-senpai.”
“You can eat lunch with me on the roof again. And I’ll have a bento for you. But you have to go to class too.”
“Mmm. I get it. You just want me to study hard and all, so I’ll do as you say.”
“…” Mei didn’t answer her. Why was she going through all this? Was it just because she was compelled to see her classmates through to graduating?
“I… don’t know what’s going on. I just want you to be there.”
Kiana looked up and tilted her head.
Mei sputtered.
“Why are you… you’re always smiling normally, so you’re making me nervous right now.”
“Ah… I thought Mei-senpai was just tolerating me as the TA of the class…”
“Kiana, I’m not the TA.”
“Huh???!” Kiana recoiled at this information. She was confused, as if some amount of her understanding was built upon a small detail.
“That was our class last year. Someone else is TA now.”
“Oh…!” Kiana wasn’t sure what to think anymore.
“You’re such an idiot…” Mei was exasperated, but her tone wasn’t a demeaning one. Kiana wasn’t quite sure, but at this point, was that… endearing?
“Mei-senpai, I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”
Mei shook her head. “I… will try to help you get it.”
Kiana felt Mei’s hand on her cheek, and she looked up. Instinctively, she felt Mei close and closed her eyes. She felt Mei’s lips on her cheek and opened her eyes. Mei was looking away immediately, and Kiana noticed her ear was bright red.
“Mei-senpai…” seeing her in this way, Kiana was feeling a bit embarrassed. “Will you turn around for me?”
“No.” Mei’s answer was a quiet murmur.
“Please?” Kiana nudged her with her words just a little bit, and found Mei turning towards her. Kiana put a hand to her cheek and their eyes met.
“Mei-senpai… may I kiss you?”
Mei looked away, red in the face, and she didn’t answer. She also didn’t pull away from Kiana’s hand on her cheek. After a few moments, she nodded. Kiana used her hand to gently turn her towards her, and Mei kept her eyes closed. Kiana pressed herself forward, taking one of Mei’s hands and locking their fingers together, the other on her cheek, and brought their lips together. She gently opened her lips, and was welcomed by Mei’s own, so she softly poked at her tongue for the second time. This time, Mei poked back, and they lost themselves for just a few moments in the kiss, exploring the sensations together. Mei felt her back against the wall, the side of the building they had ducked out of a few minutes prior—and Kiana was pressed up against her on her toes, leaning into the kiss as Mei barely kept herself upright against the wall. After a minute of this, they both gasped for air and looked away. Their heads were spinning, their feelings taking root… Kiana clasped her hand a bit tighter. “Mei-senpai…”
“Kiana-chan…”
“I love you, Mei-senpai.”
“Ah. I don’t know. I kinda like you. I think.” Mei was fumbling with her words in embarrassment.
“Mei-senpai kissed me like that when she only kinda liked me?” Kiana teased her a little bit, and Mei hid her face in her shoulder.
“I…” Mei tried to speak, but no words came out. Kiana put a finger to her lips.
“It’s okay, Mei-senpai. Even if you don’t say it… you still told me everything.” Kiana grinned and Mei just wordlessly shook her head. “I… will figure out what to say. Just wait a little bit, alright, Kiana-chan?”
“Mhm!” Kiana smiled and hugged her.