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“Tonight the night,” Amane said to himself in the mirror, “I'm finally going to do it.” He looked at a list in his hand of how he is going to approach things. It's not a new thing; the boy practiced for a speech or presentation in front of the bathroom mirror but today was different.
Yugi Amane was not one for having crushes he was a nerdy slightly athletic boy. He does a bit of sports but is more passionate about astronomy and RC club. Never really romance.
“Amaneeee” Tsukasa swings in. As his brother comes into the room
“Are you ready? You can't stay on the toilet forever!”
“I'm not on the toilet! And I'm in the middle of something!”
“Is it rehearsing kissing Nene chan again? You already have enough practice with your pillow!”
Amane gets red-faced with embarrassment, “I do not-”
“Yeah ya do! You don't even check to see if I am actually sleeping! It's so funny that you are straight-faced at erotic stuff but the moment you think about Nene chan you turn into a raspberry- it's a funny facial expression. Tell me have you ever-”
“I-I do not think like that!" He blurts out.
"I was going to say, wonder what her kisses taste like?" he smirks.
"I knew that…"
"Oh? And you say I'm the pervert out of the both of us. Yet here you are thinking about stuff, aren't you? I bet you think about how her lips would feel~"
Amane turns red, "I do not!"
“Her dainty hands in yours- because they are nice hands aren't they~?"
“W-why would I think of that kind of thing?” he looks away crossing his arms.
"Oh but I know you have a thing for hands perhaps that's not all! I bet you wonder about her ankles- you know, I heard that Mei chan measured them out of curiosity and Nene chan let her. I could tell you the measurements~"
"Tsu no I-I don't think about that!" He whips around to face his brother. His face burns.
"But you do~ I know you"
Amane sighs in defeat. His twin even knows his darkest secrets or thoughts.
"Perhaps- maybe farther? Do you sometimes think about her cup size-" A hand is slammed on his mouth.
"Ok, that's enough. You really shouldn't be talking about Yashiro san like that"
"I'm not thinking of her that way Im just mimicking what you think."
Amane glares at him.
"Don't worry brother- I only think of her like my sister you have nothing to worry about- though it would be better if she does eventually become my sister."
"Yeah like that could happen," Amane ruffles his hair in frustration then pulls his bangs off his forehead turning to the mirror to see what he looks like with a slick back look. he frowns then shakes his head pushing the choppy bangs back down. He sighs, "Tsu I don't know…if I can do this" he looks in the mirror trying to smooth down his hair.
"Come on Amane, you need to chill. Just be your self I'm sure Nene chan won't mind." he went behind his twin scruffing his hair back to a mess.
"Tsukasa- this is- Yashiro we're talking about- she likes princely and handsome guys a knight in shining armor- how could she like me?"
"Well… honestly I don't know myself- but I know many others who seem to like your charms- yet you turn them down. Honestly, you're such a nerd."
Amane elbowed his brother.
"But I think you should give it a chance and", Tsukasa takes his paper list from off the counter, “throw this thing away.”
“Tsukasa! That- you- no- you can't take that! “ Amane chases after his twin down the hall to their bedrooms.
The younger twin snickers at his tongue-twisted brother, and the older tackles the younger on the bed like they were little kids again. He managed to snag back his paper folding it back up and putting it in his pocket. He brushes off his shirt.
"Geez I'm telling you, you don't need a piece of paper to confess just be straightforward for once- you were never afraid to tease Nene chan ." He says as he picks up an RC car off the desk, and spins the newly fixed wheels.
Amane snatches the car back, "Well this is different we'll be in college by next year- I'm losing the right chances but based on what I've gathered from her, this should be perfect tonight we'll have fun with everyone. I tell her a few facts then I’ll walk with her where it's just us then at the right moment when it's just the 2 of us. I’ll finally get everything I want to say off my chest.”
"Still sounds dumb what if something goes wrong, if some guy interrupts you and steals her away before you get the chance.. you know, like the last time." he leans over his older brother.
"That's- that's not going to happen- just get out" Amane shoves him, "I need to finish getting ready."
"It's still a dumb piece of paper!" Tsukasa holds the paper up still folded taunting the older.
Amane snatches it back before closing the door.
He sighs as his head hits against the wooden surface.
Amane had a big crush on one of the popular cheerleaders. As popular as she is, no one has confessed to her and stuck with it. Guys mostly used her and Amane was there to listen to all her woes. As much as he teased her- he never refused to listen to her venting when her other friend wasn't around.
He can't pinpoint when it happened but feelings started creeping in.
As time went by, he grew more into him and his twin brother grew into lengthy bodies and decent builds they inherited from their father. Which resulted in- getting quite a few confessions, but he turned them all down.
He takes rc cars he was tinkering with and sets it on a desk taking the left over bolts and tiny screws and wiping them into the desk drawer for now. His head turns in the direction of his bed. His eyes squint at something underneath. He pulls something from under his bed.
A telescope. Very expensive and something prized.
Still in the dust-covered box never taken out in complete pristine condition. It was never held-only put under a bed for safekeeping. He was going to take it out tonight. He was going to show it off.
He once again, from memory, looks in the mirror practicing his lines.
Tsukasa was snickering in another room with a phone to his ear.
"Hello?"
"Hiiii Sakura…."
"Hi."
" As a member of the broadcast club, I need to ask you a tiny favor."
"And what would that be?" the voice sighs
"I need you to send a school-wide message for me…" he grins.
"at this time of day?"
"just trust me. I believe I found a better viewing spot"
…
Aoi was with Nene getting ready for the night.
Aoi was currently on the phone nodding with a big grin on her face before Nene came out of her room after changing.
Her high pigtails were in 2 cute buns on her head. Her dress was a simple bright color with puffy sleeves
"Does this look good? maybe too childish…"
"You look good Nene chan you always do! Why are you asking- unless… you're trying to impress someone?..."
Nene turns shaking her head no- absolutely not.
"Could you be trying to look good for Yugi san?"
"No- why would I think about someone like Amane kun like that." She crosses her arms.
"I didn't mention which one~ you just gave yourself away Ne-ne chan~."
"Well, it's not like what you're thinking."
"So why dress up then?" Her friend raised a brow.
"Oy because he invited me as a friend…Cant I just…dress up?" She turns pink in embarrassment.
Aoi gives her friend a look.
Aoi knows her best friend. "You look great Nene chan, I'm sure of it. I gotta get ready myself- I already put the location on your phone so don't worry about checking the address. Anyway, I gotta go- see you there. Good luck with your date~"
Nene felt her face warm, "It's not a date it's a club event we've been invited to. nothing more."
"That's what you think~," Aoi says quietly as she leaves the apartment.
Nene puts her head in her hands. Trying to convince her herself this was just a hang out for her friend's club activities. They were only friends- be it close friends but he's been nothing more-
But more and more recently though…
She looks in the mirror smacking her cheeks,
"No I will not think of anything like that- he's denied many girls because he already likes someone. You will not ruin this friendship Yashiro Nene."
The cheerleader was usually confident in her cute appearance- except…when it came to guys. Her hope for a date began to dull because the farthest she ever made it- was the first date.
It was always the same-
" sorry Yashiro san you're not my type- your ankles are a little…swollen"
"Look your a nice girl but-…it just isnt going to work out…"
"Look- your ankles are too thick"
" I barely know you… and your ankles look like Daikon radishes."
That last one being one of the worst responses. it happened before she even met Amane but it still stings to this day.
Despite her physically maturing through her upper school years- she just couldn't seem to outgrow her ankles…
But she decides to push those thoughts away- this was Yugi Amane- he teased her enough about her legs as it is. He probably thought about her the same way it's better that way.
Nene looks at the location Aoi set before sighing.
…….
When Amane arrives with his telescope in a wagon behind his bike- he is puzzled to see no one else there.
They chose to set up at the very edge of the city so they could see the sky with their eyes easier.
He knows this is the place- after all, he is president of the astronomy club. He helped plan what area would be best. So he's certain this is the place.
For the meanwhile, he starts setting stuff up folding out a blanket.
He checks his watch. Maybe he's just early…
Minutes go by…
No one is still there. Amane's anxiousness about his confession is long gone. He now feels frustrated and puzzled.
Was it canceled?
The sun had now completely set; it was pitch black. White tiny specks glow in the cloudless sky.
He decides to check his phone. He sees an email. It was just sent to the whole school.
The location was changed. Someone changed the event location. Amane fights the urge to throw his phone into the soil. Even without his telescope, it would take him a while just get to the new location. whoever at school was in charge of this change he definitely has some strong words with them later
He'd miss it for sure.
He curses to himself and just plops to the ground.
It's a pretty nice night he guesses. it wouldn't hurt just to stay here and watch the stars pass by himself.
"So much for tonight…" he sighs he stares up. arms crossed behind his head.
"Hello is anyone here yet?" A familiar voice rings in the distance. It causes the boy to freeze in place.
Amane sits back up looking in the direction of the trees. He knows that voice. And he soon sees a flashlight in the distance closing in from behind the trees.
He checks his shirt collar and smooths out wrinkles once again combing his hair.
"Hello? Maybe I misread the directions…"
' It's now or never.' He thought. Taking a deep breath he opens his mouth to speak.
"Yashiro san over here!" He waves only to get a flashlight shining in his eyes- he squints as his eyes adjust.
“Yugi kun?”
"Yep over here-" Nene shines the light back on the grass and runs over.
She apologizes for the light in the face. He waves it off.
"Amane kun are you the only one here? Where is everybody?"
"Well- I just got a message that the location changed."
"It did?" She frowns.
She takes out her phone going through her messages.
"It did."
Even though it's dark and he can't completely see her expression he can hear the disappointment in her voice.
" Sorry about that Yashiro. I know invited you to join us. But even if we started moving we would miss it. It’s all the way across the city." He rubs the back of his head. As he turns on his lantern on where he is before lying back down. Nene carefully approaches keeping her light pointed at the ground before settling down on the blanket and folding her dress behind her.
Nothing seemed to be going his way despite the plans tonight. But maybe this can still work with just them- he was planning to have it just be the 2 of them at some point of the night anyway.
Nene leans to see a wagon behind him.
"Whats that?"
Amane looks over at her. "Oh, it's just a telescope I brought. Nothing much." He tries to act casual.
"Why are you just lying here after finding out the location changed?" She bends over above him, blocking his view of the sky taking him by suprise.
Shoot- he's the one who gets close to fluster her not the other way around.
"Well I just thought this place is nice what's the point of going anywhere if I'm going to miss it anyway."
"Well what if I stay with you then
He sits up facing away to hide the little red that can be seen from the lantern.
"A-are you sure? I- I mean if you're comfortable with it." He clears his throat.
So he scoots off the blanket pulling out the box from the wagon and opening it. Nene assists him in setting up the telescope.
"Like this?" She says with the stand positioned.
"Yeah just like that- try not to move it." He mounts it to its stand tightening the bolts and screws.
It was an awkward silence as they set up.
"So- what kind of telescope is this?..." Nene is surprised to see such an odd-shaped telescope it was like a cylinder shape then a gradually widening one.
"Oh this? It's a Celestron Astromaster 114EQ, it has a refractor on the inside, rust-proof components and it can spin 360 degrees- I mean- its nothing much…" he scratches his head awkwardly. He got a little too carried away.
“When did you get it?” Nene asks.
“Promise not to tell?” he smirks.
Nene nods.
“I got it for my birthday from the old man, Tsuchimogori-”
“You know Tsuchimagori sensei outside of school?!” she exclaims.
“Keep it down,” he shushes her, “you’re going to ruin my street cred” he whispers with a smile
“Pfft like you had any to begin with. The most fame you had was for the incident in the first year.”
“Wh-what incident, I don't know what you speak of.” he looks away.
“I know what you did…Ha-na-ko san~”
“...”
“...did Minamoto tell you?” Amane looks away fidgeting with his fingers.
No one else at that school could have known except their underclassmen. let's just say he was caught in an awkward situation after a dare. Not even his old school uniform disguise could save him from that.
And Kou SWORE not to tell anyone else
“Yes, he did, honestly I think I will call you Hanako Kun from now on.” she smiles.
“Yashiro you wound me, taunting me for a simple misunderstanding so long ago.” he says dramatically. Was he internally embarrassed? Yes.
Was he going to show that to his crush? No. Absolutely not.
She can't help but laugh, “Well that's what you get for peeping, pervert.”
“I-I wasn’t peeping it was a dare! I thought that the bathroom was no longer in use because of the Hanako san rumor. And if I am not mistaken, didn't YOU try to summon her?” he recalls.
“Well- its- it was none of your business I was just curious is all. How would you even know?” she turns away.
“I sat behind you in first year don't you remember? I bet you were going to make a wish about your legs.”
“You don't know that” she pushed him as he leans towards her, “oh, but you always groan about your daikon legs, complaining about how you would never find true love because of your legs,” he quotes.
“Well, it's true, they are still here, and it's probably why I’ll be single for the rest of my life, no guy wants thick ugly ankles, like these.” she slumps
“Well, I think they’re cute.”
There was a pause as Nene looked towards him with only the dulled lantern light reflecting in her eyes.
Amane realizes what he said his face tinges red, “I-I mean, that's what some guy will say I’m sure of it. You’re a cheerleader who has a great personality and stuff Yashiro. I'm sure someone is bound to see it."
Nene smiles glad to have a friend like him. "Thanks, Amane kun," she smiles as she lays down to look at the sky, he takes a deep breath and follows her gaze.
"So why do you know Tsuchigomori sensei more personally? I thought he doesn't even talk or like anyone outside of teaching." She looks towards the raven head.
"Oh- well…he helped me during a hard time in my life…" he stares into the black void as if remembering something. Nene looks at his face. She opens her mouth to as further but-
They are interrupted by a stomach growl from one of them.
Nene looked at the boy who clearly was embarrassed, "Are you hungry Amane kun?"
"No. Maybe a bit,"
"I am too- I thought there was going to be a picnic under the stars tonight according to the event."
"Well there was but I wasn't in charge of bringing the food we planned with the culinary club I think Minamoto was supposed to bring some snacks.
"I didn't bring anything either. But I do have money, there's some vending machines in the park nearby."
"You shouldn't go alone though," Amane implies.
"Relax it's not that far away. anything you want?"
"I don't really mind. I doubt there are donuts nearby" he shrugs.
"Well I'll have to see never say never. anyway, I'll be back in a bit"She then takes off with her flashlight.
Amane already feels antsy, but now he's digging into his pocket as he pulls out a folded-up paper.
"At least I can practice the lines before she comes back." He unfolds the paper and squints to see
"I took your paper because it's stupid and you don't need it. Good luck!" With little Godzilla and UFO doodles adorning the edges .
It wasn't signed but it didn't need to be because he knew who it was from.
"Tsukasa…" the boy growls. He loves his brother dearly- but if he fumbles this, he might just murder him.
Now what is he supposed to do? Unsure he flops down closing his eyes for a moment. A few minutes later he takes a deep breath, and then tries to look at his watch but it's too dark now; instead, he looks at his phone to check the time.
'Yashiro's been gone for a while." he taps his finger a bit anxiously. "Maybe I should go check on her" He stands up and picks up his lantern to see where she is.
"Amane kun! I'm back!" She waves her flashlight in the distance. He sighs in relief sitting back down. "It took you a little long."
"Sorry, they only had one soda left.'
"What is it?"
"Salty tangerine."
Amane squinches up his face, "that's the only one?"
"That or black coffee"
"I'm not much of a straight coffee drinker but coffee probably would of been better."
"Well they didn't have that either. They didn't do a refill on the machines yet. But I did get something else." she holds up a can.
"Uh…what is that?"
"Strawberry cheesecake its so good! But I only had enough for 1."
"I see thanks for the soda Yashiro. I'll pay you back later."
"I uh may have seen a donut but I underestimated how much money I had in hand I was one coin short and I spent so long looking for some change someone could have dropped but found nothing...so it wasn't enough sorry Amane kun" "Its alright, I prefer homemade donuts anyway so you can just enjoy your snack for now I don't mind" he pops open the soda can taking a sip. " but I want you to enjoy this with me too." She pops open the cake can as air escapes.
She scoops up some in a tiny spoon, before taking a bite, she hums in delight. 'she seems to be enjoying herself. couldn't hurt to make a joke. I think I wrote that on the paper I just can't remember what number it was...' Amane thinks to himself.
“I’d watch how much you eat Yashiro, you know if you keep eating it will go straight to your ank-” he is interrupted something shoved in his mouth. It was a spongy overly sweet, overly saturated taste. The strong flavor of strawberry syrup overloads his senses. He's not one for something this rich and sweet. He tries not to make a puckered face.
'Well, that backfired.' he thought as he swallows.
“Say one more thing about my ankles Hanako kun.” she puffs her cheeks holding an empty spoon.
"Yashiro, can you not call me that?" He frowns.
Nene looks at him surprisingly smug, "nope!" Before popping a spoonful of cheesecake into her mouth only to slowly remove it for all the leftover flavor.
It had just occurred to him that that spoon had made contact in his mouth, which was in her mouth… he put the two together. 'Was that?...'
That's when it hit him.
'Oh.'
His cheeks burn again, as he tries to keep his composer but somehow he becomes so aware he forgets the overly sweet taste lingering in his mouth. “Eh, Yashiro- I don't mean to be rude but is it sanitary to use the same spoon.” he says quietly
Nene stops chewing.
Her cheeks burn before she quickly swallows. “Ah- what was I thinking! I'm so sorry Yugi kun I wasn’t thinking did I make you feel uncomfortable?!” she freaks out.
“No it's ok I- I don’t mind.” he stutters.
Another awkward sense of tension lingered. Amane is trying to remember some small talk he wrote down on the paper but unfortunately, his mind drew a blank.
How can he think, his closest friend, as well as biggest crush, was sitting right next to him- and they just used the same spoon.
Nene also scrambles for something to grasp, it's very awkward to share a spoon with a friend. Who happens to be close- and a guy at that. whom maybe she has feelings for-
Oh no- no. Out of the question- he has never been her type- plus he still likes that person he never talks about. he even rejected yet another confession. Maybe she can ask him about that. yeah, that could work! It could even be a great distraction to forget what just happened! So she uses that to try to break the ice this time. “So I heard you had another confession.”
“Aw that? It was no big deal,” he shrugs, as he takes another sip from the salty citrus soda can to wash out the lingering syrup taste in his mouth.
“Who is it?” she opens her can.
“What?” he questions as he takes another sip.
“Who do you have a crush on Amane kun?” she looks at him.
At that moment he spits out his drink caught off guard. He is in a slight coughing fit.
Nene tries to assist him but he shakes his head still coughing with a hand over his mouth. In these moments he looks around.
he finally catches his breath and wipes his mouth, "wh-where did that come from so suddenly?"
"I was just curious."
" I uh-Eh… oh hey... how about I show you my telescope there's something cool I want to show you." He gets up turning turning the lamp knob to make it dim. He then puts his eye into the lens. All the while he shifted its pose by the handles and adjusted the knob to focus. "There. Here take a look." he motions to her
Nene interested gets up peaking into the lens herself. It was a bright light with slight color a spiral.
"That's Andromeda- it's far away but one day it and our galaxy will collide.”
“Really?!”
“Don't worry it won't happen any time soon we’ll be long gone.”
After that sudden scare and relief, Nene shifts the lens a little to the left
“So what about those stars?” Nene questions
“Oh those well…”
Amane ends up going on and on about the stars…. Nene finds herself listening, making the occasional question here and there. Finally, something he's good at. Amane felt at ease all the awkwardness leaving his system.
For now .
All is well until Nene looks away from the lens letting out a gasp. Amane looks at her confused and worried.
"Oh! A shooting star!" She sits up pointing out.
"Oh," he sighs in relief.
"Oh?" she looks at him puzzled, "It's a shooting star, you don't often see those, we have to make a wish before it goes away!"
Amane begins laughing at what she just said before explaining, "Yashiro that's a meteor technically. And that means the shower has begun."
"A shower? I didn't know." Nene felt confused.
"Yeah! Silly daikon why did you think I invited you-I mean we invited the whole school to join us tonight? It's not just to do a normal kind of star gaze."
"I guess I didn't realize," she plays with the hem of her skirt. She surprisingly didn't smack him for the radish remark.
the light was gone, "well there goes that chance to make a wish you wanted" Amane shrugs. Nene's spirit didn't dull though in fact she seemed a bit more excited now.
"Well, when will it start raining?" she asks
"Who can say, it could be 5 minutes to 30 minutes from now for all we know"
As if the universe heard their conversation, it immediately begins to rain shooting stars in the night sky. Nene looks in awe. She gasps at the view above.
"care to make your wish now?" he smiles.
“Well yeah, but you could make a wish as many wishes as you want honestly." She smiles, “They still count and there are so many!”
"well aren't you greedy" he teases
"says you! But I think there's never a limit to how many wishes you should be able to make. I mean everyone has at least one wish right that's possible right?" Nene beams standing up reaching at the streams of light raining.
Amane gives an empty laugh, as he looks back at the blanket under him with his arms on his knees.
"Eh, I'm sure you have one. My wish isn't possible."
Nene looks down getting on her knees facing him, "Your wish?"
"yeah."
"Well, what is it?" She leans closer he can see the reflection in her curious eyes. Thank God it was dark he didn't know what kind of face he was making.
Nene isn't aware of herself either. she backs up giving him space again. He decides to lie down on the blanket arms crossed. Nene follows after.
"Well- it's kinda dumb. I already made this wish several times. But I realized it's literally not possible." he finally says.
"Well if it really isn't possible then it wouldn't change if you told me then."
"Alright… I wanted to go to the moon." He looks at the sky as the metors continue to fly through.
“How’s that not possible? You could be an astronaut” Nene inquires sitting up on her elbows.
“Well- the space program is not easy, plus I never had perfect grades nor am I the most athletic. I've just decided… Im not going anywhere…”
nene is silent for a moment
He is surprised when she feels something grab his face.
“Well, don't say that because I think you could!" She says boldly
There they are face to face the closest they have ever been. suddenly the anxious thud in his chest seemed louder and faster. "Y-Yashiro..." She quickly backs up again after realizing she got too close in his personal space.
" I-.... I just believe you could do it…. I mean you're super smart and decently athletic " She looks at him, and he faces her with wide eyes at her declaration. dint mean to make you uncomftorble I just think that it is possible. "th-thank you..."
After his heart rate goes back down he recomposes himself.
"Well, now that I said mine you say yours."
" But I can't say my wishes allowed they won't come true.” she protests
he chuckles at her.
“Fine then let me guess, you wish for smaller ankles and a blond hair blue eyed prince on a white horse to sweep you off your feet”
“NO it's not", she faces away.
“You are such a terrible liar”, Amane says in a teasing manner he leans in now flustering her. Finally, another thing he finds easy to do.
“W-well it probably isn't. Not necessarily" She denies red-faced.
"Oh? Then what is it? Dai-kon -chan~" he gets an elbow to the stomach and curls up.
"I admit...I deserved that one..." he holds his side.
Nene sighs in defeat admitting the truth" Guess your right. But unlike yours-its probably not true nor realistic. Regardless of what you say Amane kun Im probably going to be single for the rest of my life." She hugs her knees
"No you’re not-" Amane sits back up and blurts out.
Nene looks at him confused.
He wants to curse he so desperately wished for the paper to be in his pocket right now.
' It's now or never..'
"Yashiro there's something I want to tell you." He sits up.
"What is it?" She questions setting her can of cheesecake down.
"I- the reason I invited you tonight is-" he manages to get out. he struggles to untangle the words.
"I like…"
‘What was he even on about? This was starting to feel like a confession…’ Nene thinks to herself.
"I like-"
She watched as he fumbled around with his hands to try and make the words come out quicker and she started to get more and more hopeful. He only does this if he's embarrassed or trying to say something personal. "I-I like-" 'this really sounds like- could it be? is he confessing to me?!' "I-" 'No- that can't be possible he likes someone else right?" "I-I..."
'but what if... maybe he does mean it towards me- why wont he just say it already?!' Nene thinks in her head as she picks at every little thing he's doing. the stuttering, the fidgeting of the hands, and it just being the two of them, alone, under the night sky- you wouldn't do that unless...
He takes one more deep breath facing her.
"I like-"
He is met a hand grabbing him by the collar and yanking him with a sudden and quick sensation on his cheek.
they froze for a second try to process what the other just did.
Nene doesn't know why she did that. She just thought…maybe just it was the hopeless romantic in her talking.
"Y-Yashiro?" Once again thankfully the night hid the boy's red face. yet he remained a sputtering mess
She messed up their friendship now. She wants to scold herself for doing so. What will it be like tomorrow when they see each other? Could she truly face him after this? NO. Absolutely not. She could pretend to be sick for a week. Yes! That would work.
now its best to make a run for it and completely forget this ever happened.
"Ah sorry- I didn't mean to I just thought- that you were going to- Im so sorry Yugi kun! I-I must not be feeling well Please let's forget about that!" She gets up to leave and run away
Only for him to catch her by the wrist.
"I dont want to." He says.
Nene turns back with glossy eyes.
"What? But I- why do you have your crush still. And I just crossed a line as your friend!" she continues to try to pull away.
" Because-... I like you!" he says aloud.
She freezes.
"I like you Yashiro…you were the person I liked this entire time…" he takes hold of her hand.
He finally did it. It was a clumsy confession but it's still one nonetheless.
Nene was speechless… she finds herself pulling, her hand back to her side, and Amane let her hand go thinking he may have crossed the line as well.
After all the denial she held all the poems she kept locked in a box. Those confused feelings surfaced. She can't deny it now. Now it's her turn to give a piece of her mind.
"You know Yugi kun…" she walks back towards him smoothing the skirt of her dress as she squares her shoulders.
He waits anticipating her response.
"You can be a huge pain…"
Amane felt himself break into 2. "I see..."
"But- even if you are annoying or clingy maybe even perverted, and originally not my type. I'm friends with you because you are witty, caring, and smart. You stayed with me when I needed it most. Besides Ao chan and Kou kun, you are one of my closest friends." she looks down picks at the hem of her dress skirt.
He listens silently.
"You always teased me- about my ankles and I thought you were just a bully and harasser at first. But you were always quiet before we met. But then I actually got to know more about the elusive one of a kind Yugi Amane and I think it changed.” she looks back up with confidence picking up again as shuffled her shoes in the grass as she gathered the courage to look at him straight on.
"So…I think," she takes him by the hand while that other clenches her skirt. I like you too Amane kun!” she meets his eyes.
“A-as in a friend kind of way?” he asks unsure.
“No dummy! I like like you… I think…I always have… but I just didn't want to get in the way or ruin our friendship. So yes I like you more then just my friend” she takes both his hands into hers with the confident sound of her tone.
Amane sits there mouth agape as he processes what just came out of his hopeless romantic friend's mouth.
Yashiro Nene...
THE Yashiro Nene who likes princely guys...just confessed her feelings back to him?...
‘She likes me back?... SHE LIKES ME TOO! SHE ACTUALLY LIKES ME!’
To say the boy was overjoyed was an understatement, He was practically OVER THE MOON.
even if it wasn't dark, he doesn't care. he is certain he has the stupidest and goofiest grin right now. and he wouldn't even care about hiding it.
Should he make a funny quip? No. In fact, he’s almost speechless. No paper no plan. He finds himself almost stuck in place.
As if the words weren't enough, the atmosphere felt like something from one of her sappy romance novels he teased her about. Not only did the stars shine above but they fell from the sky and they mirrored in her eyes framing her silhouette and the cicadas somehow singing in the distance.
for once, her romantic fantasies were right. Maybe she may not get a lot of guys, but she certainly put him under a spell. he should've given her more credit.
as he looks from their intertwined hands and then to her he cant help but wonder.
How could such a usual impure boy like him find such a pure and innocent white love like this?
Nene squeezes the boy's hand pulling him back to Earth, “Amane kun.”
.....
Falling for her best friend was not on the agenda for this girl, yet here she is. The one guy she decided was not her type, she can't remember why at this moment. Sure he’s not a prince by any means, but he’s got some qualities, he’s had quite a growth spurt, always has been sharp and witty, and was quite the heartbreaker. But here that cocky, nerdy boy stands, anxious and excited maybe even scared, shaking with cold clammy hands hers on this warm summer night. It's not everything like a fairy tale but… it's a sweet pure side to him.
Maybe it even feels a little nice to finally listen to that voice in her head.
she squeezes his hand, "Amane kun?..."
"y-yeah" he chokes finally stops spacing out as he looks at her.
Nene looks into his eyes which also reflect the falling stars. She waits for him to move but he is stone still.
"Do you wanna sit back down?..." she suggests.
The boy nods.
They are back to an awkward tension even weirder than before. As they now watch the stars above trying to figure out what comes next.
“So uh Yashiro I’m not going to lie… I was expecting a rejection.
“But why?”
“You said it yourself. I'm not your type.”
“Well even if it was originally true. That's not the case. I only had a specific type when we were 15 then... I started to see things a bit differently. ” she reopens the cheesecake to distract her mind and act casual.
"Just admit it I started to hit the checks on your criteria, taller, handsome, polite" he teases.
"yeah I don't know entirely about the princely part but deep down you already hit many checks on my list long ago" she nudges him.
somehow Amane's face was red again Nene's cheeks burned at what she just outright admitted and the jokes went quiet again.
a beat and then another passes by as the show in the sky continues.
“Eh.. just out of curiosity… does that make us- do we consider… are we a-” Amane stumbles to outright say it.
“I think so.” Nene answers
“I can't believe I actually have a chance with you Yashiro...was honestly prepared for the worst. I even mapped anything and everything that could go wrong.”
"And yet, it didn't" Nene smiles.
"I guess you're right."
“By the way Amane kun, why do you still call me by my surname even though we’ve been friends for a while now”
“W-well it's kind of weird to call someone by their given first name unless you really close to them…”
“So then why did you let me call you “Amane kun” instead of "Yugi kun".”
“W-well that's a bit different because of Tsu and I- that's why we told people to refer to our first names.”
“Then I think you should stop just calling me Yashiro all the time.”
“Well then how about- Daikon~” he gained his courage
Nene resists the urge, to smack him, and she finds herself smirking, “Only if I get to call you Hanako kun then~”
“Please don't…” he droops.
the girl lets out a laugh.
“Fine only on 2 conditions. One you call me Nene- and two you properly ask this time, and take me on another date.”
The boy almost spits out his drink, “Another?!”
He didn't think that this girl could be this straightforward after a confession, usually, she let the guy take the lead
“I mean this is technically one right?…”
“i - guess but it wasn't supposed to be us the whole night….”
He’s got to think of how to best approach this. He clears his throat.
“Yashiro Nene, would you like to go with me to the movies next week?”
Nene laughs, “You know I think I wouldn't mind that .”
He sighs in relief. .
“Hey, Amane?”
“Yes Yash- I mean Nene,”
“Lets make those wishes still,” she points up to the meteors soaring by far up above them.
“Ok- well I wish-” Nene shushes him.
“Nope we can't say it aloud- or else it won't come true.”
Amane sighs, “Alright I won't. But all of my wishes are probably impossible.” they close their eyes as they make all their wishes.
Nene sits back up, “Hey uh Amane kun.”
“Yeah?” he turns his head toward her as he sits up, to turn on the light
“Do mind if I…” she looks the pattern of the blanket,
“Sure what-”
A quick peck interrupts him.
Amane for a brief second tasted strawberry syrup on his lips.
When it hit him… he almost stopped working. It's a funny sight to see the boy in such a state of disarray when he usually kept a cool demeanor around people.
“Sorry was that too much?” Nene smiles
“N-no. its- I'm ok. I just didn't expect it.”
It was silent again after that.
Out of possible words, they lay back down and intertwine hands.
….
When Amane feels a buzz in his pocket he turns on the lock screen.
From Tsu: “Your welcome:)”
Amane grumbles at how much of a mess his brother almost cost him, and he promptly turns it off
“What was that?”
“Oh, nothing to worry about just junk -”
Now they lay, in the comfort of each other, not another soul in sight, only the night sky bears witness to such a clumsy yet sweet relationship as the strings of fate intertwined with a new and innocent love.
"wanna make another wish?" Nene questions.
"Sure, but this time no saying them aloud"
Many wishes were made in silence. Their wishes that only they and the heavens knew.
“I wish for Amane’s seemingly impossible wishes to come true one day."
"I wish to never leave Nene's side ever again"
The End.