Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Do you want to…go out with me…?”

Shikiya’s whispers tickle my ear, and for some reason it’s the only thing I can hear in this gymnasium full of people.

Her white pupils are staring straight at me and I start to squirm under her gaze.

The right thing to say now would be no. But I can’t.

The scene from Christmas Eve pops into my mind.

The dim lights of the cafe. A strange atmosphere. That awkward, uncomfortable silence between two people who weren’t supposed to be there. Still, I didn’t want that moment to end.

Until now, I can’t name the feelings that bubbled up at that time.

“T-two to three years!”

Shikiya looks at me surprised. Even I don’t really know what I’m saying myself.

“P-people need to hang out for two to three years first! Then, they visit a place that’s vivid in their memories and- and they, um...”

I lose my words midway. The awkward silence that follows lets me drown in my own embarrassment.

In front of me, Shikiya tilts her head to the side.

This silence from her that I’m supposed to be used to now feels suffocating. That unnamed feeling I felt now feels a little more turbulent than before.

Suddenly, she straightens herself and looks at me with a strange conviction.

“I see... a trial... period...”

Eh? Didn’t this girl just say something really absurd?

Before I can react, Shikiya pulls at my neck to bring her lips next to my ear. For some reason she becomes really strong at times like this.

“Then I’ll be... in your care...”

Shikiya mumbles to me sweetly. It’s like I’m being softly caressed.

She lets go and slowly stumbles back upright before staggering out of the gymnasium. Her steps feel even lighter than usual.

I can’t help but stare at her retreating figure. It’s only until she leaves the doors that I realize the whole space is filled with excited mumbling.

Looking around, I can see the entire student body staring at me.

For some reason I can hear a bunch of squeals about a new couple being formed. Aren’t they going a little overboard?!

I scan the crowd for help, spotting a few familiar faces.

Yanami looks shocked, like she just found out her favorite buffet restaurant got closed down. Meanwhile, Hakamada is giving me a thumbs up while flashing a bright main character-like grin.

Please stop. Use that MC energy at a more appropriate time.

“Nukumizu!”

A sharp voice cuts the chatter. Teiara is pushing through the crowd with an angry but flustered expression.

Why do I feel like I’m in trouble even though I haven’t done anything?

Chapter Text

The start of my 16 year old life was already a pain in the ass.

After the incident with Shikiya yesterday, there was a nonstop line of people who kept questioning me about what happened.

“N-Nukumizu! Aren’t you two being too bold doing this in public!?”

“As your teacher and club advisor, I couldn’t be prouder. If you need to lay bare your bodies to each other, the school clinic is always open.”

“Nukumizu! Are you really going out with that girl from the student council even though you have Anna?”

“I don’t know what Karen is saying, but aren’t you forgetting the Literature Club’s no-dating policy!?”

“Good going Nukumizu! I knew you were close to that senior in the student council, but I didn’t know you two went that far.”

“I know I already told you this back at school but relationships between boys and girls must remain honest and pure! I still don’t approve of your relationship with Shikiya!”

The rest of my day was a barrage of stuff like that. I feel like a lot of people are misunderstanding something here. Basori even lectured me twice.

Well, I can’t blame them too much. Even I’m a little confused at Shikiya’s actions.

A trial period... she couldn’t have meant it like that, right?.

“Oi, Nukumizu, are you listening? Don’t tell me you’re daydreaming about Shikiya again?!”

Right, the nonstop line of pain in the asses was still going on.

The day right after the closing ceremony, I got called by Yanami to meet at the family restaurant near school. When I arrived, Komari and Yakishio were sitting right beside her.

Right now the three of them are sitting across me. There’s a large plate of fries between us that’s already been half-eaten by Yanami.

“I can’t believe you Nukumizu! What happened yesterday at the gymnasium? Was one Christmas date really all it took for you to be all smitten over her?”

She points a fry at me in an accusatory gesture.

Komari eagerly nods in agreement. These two have been teaming up against me recently.

“First of all, there wasn’t a Christmas date-”

Before I could defend myself, I got interrupted.

“I-I asked Koto and Shintaro a-about C-Christmas Eve. T-They said they l-left the two of you a-alone at a cafe.”

“So it was a date after all!”

My seniors sold me out. Maybe I shouldn’t have helped them after all.

While Komari and Yanami are glaring at me, Yakishio claps her hands together with a playful smile.

“Ehehe, good job Nukkun. So you really took her down huh.”

If we weren’t on opposite sides of the table, she probably would have smacked my back right now.

“I didn’t take her down or anything at all. We just had desserts and drinks after Tamaki left, then we parted ways.”

“Eh? Isn’t that a date though?”

Yanami stares at me with a blank expression. It might’ve been a little scary if she wasn’t also reaching out for another handful of fries at the same time.

“A-and on Christmas Eve too...”

“You really need to understand romance better, Nukkun. You’re going out with Shikiya now after all.”

These three aren’t listening to me at all-

Wait... what did Yakishio just say?

“Me going out with Shikiya!? Since when?”

My voice is a little louder than intended.

In response to my confusion, she tilts her head to the side.

“You’re not? Everyone at school kept saying so.”

Tsuwabaki High really is full of nosy people.

“A lot of people from the sports clubs saw you ask Shikiya out in the storage room right? So when you two were close together in the gymnasium, they kept saying your Christmas Eve date went well and you two got together.”

“I-it’s true. I-I heard p-people in my class talk about it.”

If Komari heard about it, it must have spread a lot.

This is really troubling. I can’t help but remember the last time I was subjected to something like this.

I subconsciously turn to Yanami. Despite her not being the target this time, she seems the most angry at the rumors out of all of us.

“That’s right Nukumizu. They were even talking about it at the Christmas party you left me alone in.”

Ah, that’s right. After receiving Teiara’s gift I went straight home instead of heading to the class’s Christmas party. Too many people kept badgering me after the closing ceremony, so I didn’t want to deal with more of that.

Actually, I don’t think I messaged her about that.

“They were talking about that all night at the party. There were even some weird rumors that got mixed in too...”

There’s a dark shadow over Yanami’s face. She looks at me with narrowed eyes, urging me to ask about it.

“A-and what kind of rumors are those?”

Yanami suddenly slams her fist on the table and stands up, pointing a finger at me. Even Komari and Yakishio are surprised by her actions.

“They were saying I was rejected! By you Nukumizu! Isn’t there something wrong with that!? Wasn’t it me that rejected you back then?”

This girl really gets on my nerves.

“There wasn’t a rejection at all. In fact, there wasn’t even a confession. Besides, aren’t you taking this too seriously? The rumors will only spread if you deny it too much.”

“You don’t get it Nukumizu! The entire Christmas party suddenly turned into a pity party for me! For some reason everyone kept giving me food and telling me to cheer up the entire night! Even Karen and Sosuke avoided signing any love songs the entire night! Those two! I kept seeing them hover over duet songs only to look at me all sad and pick something else! The atmosphere was too weird and I couldn’t do anything but go with the flow until we all had to leave.”

Eh, that does sound bad. Thank god I wasn’t there.

Yanami plopped down onto the seat with a huff. Komari and Yakishio were both patting her back comforting her.

“This is all your fault Nukumizu. First you start flirting with Shikiya in front of everyone, then you leave me to fend for myself. I was going to give you your birthday present tomorrow, but now I don’t think so.”

She grabs the last fries from the plate and guzzles them down. Right after, she reaches for the tablet to order even more food.

At this rate, your birthday present is going to be even more debt.

I straighten myself up and cough into my hand to bring the conversation back on track.

“I keep saying. We weren’t flirting and nothing happened during Christmas Eve. We just had Shikiya and Tsukinoki mend their relationship according to the agreement with Teiara.”

This must’ve been the third or fourth time I’ve said it, but these three still don’t look convinced.

“Really? If nothing happened, then why did Shikiya get all close to you and whisper into your ear all sweet and cozy?”

That’s true. Even though she usually gets close, I don’t think Shikiya has ever done something like that before. I can still feel a tingling at the spot where she whispered to me.

At the same time, it’s foolish to expect too much from that. Even to Tsukinoki, the person who’s closest to her, she’s a bit weird.

“How should I know? It’s Shikiya after all.”

It’s short, but it’s a sufficient explanation.

Yanami and Yakishio don’t seem to take my word for it. They’ve never had to deal with the student council all that much.

Meanwhile, Komari nods with an understanding look.

“I-I guess it’s S-Shikiya a-after all...”

The two of us share looks of camaraderie. Those random club invasions have been hell for us both.

Yanami looks at the two of us weirdly before shrugging.

“I don’t really get it, but if Komari says so then I guess I’ll let it slide.”

Hey, what about when I said it?

I let out a sigh. These girls really are trouble.

Things seem to have settled down now at least. I can finally have some time to think without those three interrupting my thoughts.

I haven’t actually had time to process what Shikiya said yesterday. After that everything was one big whirlwind.

Back then in the gymnasium, I felt that strange atmosphere again.

My heart grows a little restless thinking about it again. I don’t think I’ve ever been that close to a girl before, a mature older girl no less.

The smell of her perfume and makeup lingers even now. Not just that, I don’t think she’s ever stared at me so intensely before.

Compared to the cafe, it’s a little more turbulent. If Christmas Eve was a fragile yet serene silence, then yesterday was more of a rush I still haven’t gotten over yet.

Are these the same feelings? Or maybe they’re different. Either way, I can’t figure it out.

I recall that time Shikiya tried to smile at me. She said she had trouble expressing herself. Maybe I have some similar problems.

It’s a little weird thinking we’re alike in that way.

But.

It’s not bad.

I wonder why.

“Oi, Nukumizu.”

A stern voice brings me out of my head. Yanami is glaring at me, with Komari following and Yakishio giving me a wide grin.

She looks like she’s about to say something, but for some reason she is speechless while glancing over to the side.

A chill runs up my spine. There’s a familiar presence here.

There are only two people I know who seem to radiate their own auras, and I can’t hear Himemiya’s bgm. That only leaves one option.

“Eek!”

The way Komari quickly ducks down under the table confirms it. Even Yanami and Yakishio start to huddle up together with wide eyes.

All three of them are looking over behind me.

It almost feels redundant to check, but I move my head slowly to the side anyway.

“Literature club... meeting... outside...?”

...Shikiya is there. She’s staring at us without blinking.

What was it again? Speak of the devil and she shall appear? Did I accidentally summon her here with my thoughts?

Her slow footsteps can be heard echoing throughout the restaurant. A low groan escapes her lips like one of those zombies from a video game or movie.

The others are slowly bunching up into a corner. I steel my resolve to take a peek and- wait.

Isn’t she a little more wobbly than usual?

“Are you okay? You don’t look so good.”

“Can I... sit...?”

“Eh? Sure.”

Shikiya slowly stumbles close. Isn’t it a little dangerous how much she’s swaying around?

First the speaker and now this. This girl really makes others look out for her.

Before she can trip or hit anything, I stand up and hold on to her. She starts clinging to me for support. It’s still embarrassing for me even now.

“You must have walked a long way right? I’ll help you sit down. Slowly. Just take your time.”

“Thank... you...”

Shikiya is safely seated beside me. I take a heavy sigh from all the effort.

For some reason the three girls across the table are staring at me funny, but I ignore them.

Looking back at Shikiya, she seems a little better now that she can rest a bit.

“So Shikiya, why are you here? It’s the first day of winter break.”

“Student council work... have to finish before the year ends.”

Right. Even though she looks like a gal, she’s still responsible to her duties and studies.

This place is near the school, so she must have went there earlier. I’m guessing she came here to take a break and eat.

“So you’re done then?”

“Mhm...”

I see. That’s good to hear.

Before I can follow up, I notice Shikiya holding something to the side. In one of her hands is a bag of different small board games.

“After that... I bought more games... the store nearby...”

She picks one of them up. Her slender fingers wrap gently around the edges of the box.

“You liked board games... last time, right...? That’s why...”

Her white pupils look at me. She must be talking about that time we visited the board game cafe before with Yanami.

I look again at the bag of board games she was carrying. They must be the reason she was all wobbly earlier. The weight probably shifted her balance to one side.

It’s a lot of effort for her to do this. Did she like playing with us that much?

“Ahh, that’s right Shikiya! Did you want us all to play with you?”

Yanami suddenly cuts in from the other side. I almost forgot she was there.

“Why don’t we all go, you and everyone in the Literature club. Komari and Lemon are free during the break right? Just think of it as our way of paying you back for helping us.”

She seems a little too passionate about this. I understand really getting into board games, but was I actually not as interested as these two?

Komari and Yakishio keep looking at Yanami and Shikiya. Their eyes are switching between the two rapidly.

I sneak a peek at the girl beside me. She seems as listless as ever.

“...two players...”

“Eh?”

“These games are... only for two players...”

Yanami’s mouth is agape.

“Ehh??? You mean all of them?”

Shikiya nods, glancing at me. She brings the box closer to her face, covering her mouth. Are her eyes sparkling a bit?

“So... will you play with me... Nukumizu...?”

“Let’s... date?”