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Sakurako walked irritated into her house after school and tossed her bag down by the door.
"Dumb Himawari. Dumb homework. Can't help me when your helping someone else". Sakurako fell onto the couch, looking at the ground, glaring at her backpack. Her younger sister walked into the room and saw the irritated look on her sisters face, and continued walking through, passing her eldest sister who was writing in her notebook.
"Dumb Himawari. Dumb boobs." Nadeshiko stopped and looked over at her sister, twitched her eye, and went back to doing her homework, noting Himawari didnt even take her book out.
“Stupid Himawari. Stupid titty monster.” Sakurako crossed her arms and sulked on the couch while her older sister gazed at her with an exhausted and perturbed expression.
"Stuuupid..."
“Sakurako! As your sister I care about you so I’m not going to tell you why you’re so upset. It’s better that you figure it out yourself. But please, shut up. I'm working.” Nadeshiko sighed, the events of today catching up with her. Her sister and sister’s best friend had gone through yet another pointless rival’s quarrel. Nadeshiko was well aware of how close the two used to be and how close they still were when the iron curtains weren’t up. The two were best friends and really did care for each other – that much was evident to anyone who spent more than twenty minutes with the two. But having a hard day at school and an upcoming test had maxxed out the elder Oomuro sister’s patience today to continue waiting for the two to discover this. She opened her eyes and looked over at her sister who stuck her tongue out.
“Fine, be mean! You’re as bad as booby monster!”
"Sakurako, please. I've got work to do, something you should consider. And on your own you can figure out..."
"Boob-meanine!"
“I said I would let you figure this out on your own…” Nadeshiko drolled as her eyelids closed.
“Booby booby booby!” Nadeshiko’s eye twitched and she scowled.
“BUT, as the most annoying girl on earth I’m going to tell you! You like Himawari. I think you're actually in love her.” Sakurako looked abhorred at her sister while Nadeshiko feintly smirked.
“I hate her!”
“Sure you do. You’re jealous that she’s with anyone else at any time.” Nadeshiko smiled when Sakurako’s face turned red.
“What?”
“And you’re jealous of her breasts too.”
“What?!”
“And I’d bet you my new sweater you like so much if I’m wrong. If you ask her nicely, she'll even let you touch them” Nadeshiko grinned. Sakurako turned totally red now. I knew it.
“Aaa, go away!” In spite of her words, Sakurako herself jumped off the couch and ran into her room, slamming the door. She tossed off her jacked and plopped onto her bed, grabbing a stuffed animal of hers, a habit she denied but indulged only when she was upset, and sure she was alone.
Sakurako laid there, that thought repeated through her head. ‘If you ask her nicely, she'll let you touch them.’ “Ahh! Dumb brain. Dumb Himawariiii!” Sakurako threw her clock at the wall. It bounced off a blanket and landed on the ground, next to another round object. She huffed into her pillow, glancing over at the two circles on the ground, which reminded her of… “Titty monster!!” The girl thrashed her arms around on the bed. “Why! What is going on? Can’t we just be friends? Why do I feel so sick again? Why can’t I stop thinking about Himawari! Why won’t this girl leave my every thought?!” Sakurako continued to sulk in her room, tears running down her face, images of the bluenette burning into her mind through her closed eyes.
In the family room of the Oomuro brood, Nadeshiko heard a knock at the door. The bluenette in question was pulling at the hem of her skirt as the door opened.
“Hi Hima-ko.”
“Nadeshiko-san, good day.”
“You’re too formal.” She closed the door and walked in. “I’ll be brief. Whatever you and Sakurako are fighting about is getting exceptionally annoying this time. Tell me what I can do, or I'll tell you what I think can help.” Nadeshiko waved her hand, guiding the girl to the couch. She sat there for a while trying to think of how to phrase what she wanted to say. Thinking about the old marriage form, she smiled and told Sakurako’s best friend everything she had just said to her sister.
“Oh. I see. Well what if Sakurako is too young to understand?” Nadeshiko raised her eyebrow at the apparent lack of math.
“You do.”
“Well, that’s because…” Himawari blushed.
“I get it. She’s in there.” Nadeshiko smiled, standing up and squeezing Himawari’s knee before going into the kitchen. Himawari swallowed, stood up and walked toward her best friend’s door. Hearing the door knock, Sakurako sat up from her pillow.
“What is it?”
“Sakurako, it’s me, Himawari. May I come in?”
“Fine! Stupid monster…” The blunette opened the door and turned to close it quietly.
“Sorry if I upset you and broke out normal homework time. I know how you feel, Sakurako.”
“I do not!” Himawari rolled her eyes.
“I said…nevermind. Okay, maybe you don’t know how you feel.”
“I’m not a child! Stupid.”
Himawari balled her fists holding them up to her face in frustration. “Sakurako...ugh.” She looked at her friend, glaring at her as if she were daring her. “Okay fine.” Himawari smiled. “I’ll just leave here and we’ll never be friends again. I’ll never speak to you again. Goodbye.” She turned and walked steadily toward the door. When she got to the handle, she turned it slowly and then turned her head. She saw Sakurako with a white face and her eyes wide open. Sliding the door open, she smiled internally. “Sakurako?” The girl looked at her intently, for once actually focusing on her. “Um, I think that feeling you feel right now?" Sakurako blankly nodded her head. "Well, I think it’s called yearning.”
“Huh?”
“Wanting.” She swallowed and closed her eyes for a moment to prepare herself. “It’s cause you actually do care about me.”
“I do not!” Sakurako folded her arms, looking away trying to hide her pink cheeks. “Stupid monster.”
The blue haired girl closed the door again and walked over toward the bed. As Himawari sat down, she looked out the window, knowing full well that she can’t continue on like this. I’ve got to tell her, no matter what.
“Sakurako.” Himawari closed her eyes and sighed heavily. “Um, there’s something I want to tell you.” I’m so nervous already. I hope this plan goes well. “You’re my um, best friend, you see.”
“I am not!”
“Right. Well we used to be.” She stood up and walked over to the clock on the floor, bent over and picked it up. She walked over to the door, locked it and walked back over to her best friend. “This is a ‘doesn’t count’ clock, alright? Here, I set it to 20 minutes and after I start it, it doesn’t count. You can say or do anything you’d like, and afterwards, it doesn’t have to count, okay?”
“O-kay?”
“Okay. So if there’s anything you want to say or ask, you can. We don’t have to argue or fight because there’s no point. Now.” Himawari closed her eyes and cleared her throat. “Sakurako, I care about you.” Sakurako leaned back confused, raising her eyebrow. Before starting the clock, Himawari walked forward, leaned down and hugged Sakurako briefly.
“The heck are you doing, booby monster Himawari!” Himawari released her grip and stood up, walking to the desk and clicking the start button on the clock. She turned the lights off, crawled over and embraced Sakurako. "I’m going to hold you until you figure it out.”
“What? Why? What are you doing stupid!?”
“It’s important that you figure this out on your own.”
“Himawari get off me! You’re choking me with those monster boobs! I don’t understand!”
“It doesn’t matter, remember? This doesn’t count so you don’t need to get upset.” Sakurako froze there, frustrated and confused for a moment before relenting.
“Oh. I guess I get it… Um, but why are you doing this? Why are you touching me!”
“What do you mean? Do you feel anything for me? As your closest friend?”
“I um...” she blushed. “Wait you’re not my closest friend!” She tried thrashing but knew very well she couldn’t overpower the girl. In cases like this, she has to wait for Himawari to let her go.
“Then who is? Come on Sakurako it doesn’t count.”
“Um. Well…Akari is…and Chinatsu… maybe…you’re not so bad. As a um, a rival. I guess you’re…” Sakurako turned to the side, her face turning pink. “Okay I suppose.”
“I care about you. I like you Sakurako. And I’m secretly glad we went to school so long. And I hope we go to college together cause I want to always be with you.” Sakurako pushes herself back a little bit from her friend, blushing furiously.
“Stupid! S-s-stupid Himawari! Titty monster! Titty monster! Titty monster...” Sakurako breaks down into tears, her voice shaking as she tries to push herself away.
“What’s wrong Sakurako?” Man I hope this works.
“I don’t know! Why are you saying this? Why are you making me feel this way?”
“Because I care. Because...I like you Sakurako.”
“What?!?!” Sakurako turns beet red, screaming and crying, shoves the girl off of herself, backing into a corner. “Why are you saying these awful things!”
“Because I want you to admit that you like me too!” Sakurako froze, eyes as wide as saucers. “I want you to like me more than a friend Sakurako.” Himawari’s voice cracks as she weeps and cries, falling to the ground on her knees as Sakurako sits there speechless. “I just…I just!” On her knees, Himawari clutches her fingers, feeling her body wracking itself. “Sakurako!” Himawari screams looking at the girl. “I was hoping you felt it too! I really thought you did! I’m sick of this feuding!” Sakurako’s face turned beet red as she balled her fists, a mix of anger and fear overcame her. “No more games Sakurako! Please be honest!” Himawari sobbed over and over, wiping her eyes and trying to look right at her oldest friend. “I don’t want to fight anymore! We’ve known each other for years, we’re best friends!” She wiped the tears from her face and looked at her best friend who was staring intently at her, nearly shaking. “Please, please say you love me too! Sakurako! Please say it! It doesn’t count! So please!!” The blonde gritted her teeth, glared at her best friend and balled her fists, closing her eyes and screaming.
“Alright you damn titty monster, I love you Himawari!” Sakurako screamed with her eyes shut tightly. Silence lingered in the room as both girls stopped crying and Sakurako opened her eyes. She slapped both hands over her mouth.
“Sakurako? Do you really?”
“I don’t know Himawari! It just feels funny and… and...." Sakurako's voice fell from a shout to a near whisper. "I don’t know. Sometimes I don’t want to share you or be away from you either alright!” Himawari felt her heart race as she looked at Sakurako, feeling a deep soreness in her chest as the girl in front of her continued to shed tears. “Please stop crying, Himawari. I don’t like doing this either.” The girl continued to sob harder as Sakurako just stood there watching her. “Please Hima-chan, please. I’ll do anything for you. ‘cause I care about you a lot too.” Himawari stopped and looked up at Sakurako as her face glazed over. “Huh.” Her body went limp. “What did I say? O-ohhhh. Is…that what this feeling is?” She looks up; the two freeze and gaze at each other. “I...love Himawari?” Himawari stood up and ran, crashing into the blonde and wrapped her arms as tightly as she could around her best friend. “Do I love you Himawari?” Himawari looked over toward the clock, seeing just under a minute left. Her heart pounding in her ears, and her hands sweaty, she swallows, hard.
“Well um. Here’s...how we can know for sure.” Himawari grabs the girl and pulls her right into a kiss before the blonde could object. She wrapped her arms around the girl, trying her best to mimic what she had seen in movies and tv shows. Sakurako’s eyes flew wide open as she flailed her arms and pushed the girl’s shoulders, failing to actually push her away. All she could do was cry and let her oldest friend take her first kiss. But when Sakurako’s eyes closed, the feeling changed for the both of them. Sakurako felt suddenly very light-headed but oddly relaxed, her body registering the soft feeling on her lips. At the smallest movement of the blonde’s lips, Himawari went from a desperate attempt at trying to convey her feelings to something new. Sakurako’s tears continued but she relaxed, she let this new feeling come over her as well. As Himawari’s best luck would have it, Sakurako tried to kiss back. She felt the girl leaning into her and it went from a clumsy kiss to a Himawari giving all of herself to Sakurako while the blonde’s mind blurred further. She grabbed the girl tighter as she felt lightheaded, wanting to explore this new feeling. Sakurako felt the shock, fear overtaking her for a second as she wrapped her arms tightly around her best friend, nails practically digging into her back for fear of letting go. Her mind reeled from the initial fear to somewhat enjoying the feeling of experiencing her first real kiss. Himawari’s arms clumsily clawed at her best friend’s back, shakily wrapping them around the blonde. The two heard a click from the clock and their heads back, arms still wrapped tightly. The two stood glassy eyed at each other, both inhaling sharp breaths.
"Hima..."
"Ah."
“Wow. I didn’t expect…”
“Yeah.”
“The heck was THAT Himawari?” Before she could answer, the door swung open, as her sister was about to say something, spying the two in a tight embrace. And then the alarm then went off. Her sister backed slowly out the door.
“Sorry, Hima-ko. Sakurako, dinner’s ready.” Their faces simultaneously blushed a tomato red.
“Ah, wait onee-chan!”
“Hold on!” She closed the door quickly and latched it slowly before tiptoeing down the hall. The two broke apart as Himawari hit the snooze on the clock. Redfaced she immediately looked at her best friend. The two looked back at each other, both totally red in the face, Sakurako’s eyes wide as can be. “Himawari, its all…it doesn’t count...r-r-right?”
“Do you want it to count Sakurako?” The blonde's breath hitched and her heart skipped a beat.
“I don’t know.”
“Do you still feel the same Sakurako?” Looking down, she blinked her eyes quickly.”
“Mmm. Maybe.”
“Good me too.” Himawari smiled and laid her head down on the blonde’s shoulder, hugging her lightly. “No matter what, I love you.”
“Ah!” The blonde turned red yet again, her mind swirling as fast as it could. “You…you…”
“You love me too Sakurako. It’s okay. You don't have to say it. We could, you know, go slow. Or do it again sometime.” Himawari smiled at Sakurako, releasing her as the blonde unceremoniously fell back down on her bed, eyes blurred and still breathing heavily.
“Yeah? Maybe so?”
“Of course we can.” Himawari sat next to the girl, basking in the elation, her mind still on a high so great the big sister break in didn’t register yet. “Sakurako…I…I like you and I want to be friends again. Whatever you want, it’s yours. Could we be best friends and not rivals? Er, well, more than best friends? I-I mean! If you don’t want to.” She looked at the blonde, who looked at the ground, stone faced. “ I can, you know. Leave for now.” Before she could think of standing up, Sakurako’s hand grabbed for hers.
“Just. Stay here for now. Please?” Himawari’s other hand reached for the blonde’s face, cupping it gently and sliding to her chin, lifting her face to meet her own, and whispering to the girl.
“Anything for you.” Sakurako looked right into her best friend’s eyes, her mind not coming down yet, and she just sat there, as if she was memorizing the girl’s face all over again.
"Wh-what are we doing?"
"Just..nothing is all."
“Hima-chan, you’re pretty.” Himawari’s face flared up, letting go of Sakurako, both hands on her knees as she tried to keep calm.
“Uhm. Th-thank you.” Hearing a giggle, she looked up to see Sakurako smiling.
“The great and powerful Sakurako-sama would like to be best friends again.” Himawari mentally facepalmed, as she knew this was the girl’s way of reciprocating.
“I love you Sakurako.”
“Urg.” The blonde faced down and swallowed the lump in her throat. “F-fine. I l-love you too." Sakurako smiled, redfaced and red eyed, swallowing before speaking again. "Titty monster.”