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“Okarun!”
The black haired boy’s head snapped up. He was almost done tidying his desk, but it was quickly forgotten as a big smile broke out on his face, garnering a few strange looks from his classmates, which he didn’t even notice. Momo Ayase was standing at the entrance of the class, and as far as Ken was concerned, everything else ceased to exist.
“Miss Ayase,” he answered, and in a few quick steps, he was following her down the hallway.
“How are you holding up?” The girl questioned.
Okarun shrugged. Even engrossed as he was with his friend he could recognise the hallways were full of other students and while he didn’t really care if they heard him speaking about ghosts or aliens, he was horribly aware what it would mean if Momo was seen humoring him.
A tug on his hand made him pause, and suddenly he was aware of the annoyed look in Momo’s eyes and her hand gripping his.
“Stop whatever you’re thinking,” The girl demanded, looking straight into his eyes as she got closer to his face.
“S-sorry, I-”
“Nope,” Momo got even closer, their noses almost touching, Okarun felt the blush crawling over his cheeks. “Get it into your head: I care about you, not about everyone else.”
Okarun knew his face was now bright red, but that only meant he couldn’t flush more as Momo grabbed his hand again, pulling them through the crowd.
The outside air felt nice over his heated cheeks, but as Momo pushed him to sit and stood before him, her arms crossed and face set in a frown, he couldn’t let himself enjoy the nice sensation as he felt like he had ruined one of his most treasured friendships.
“Now, tell me the truth,” Momo sighed, “How are you holding up?”
“I’m fine, really.” He shrugged again, his eyes planted firmly to the side, as staring at Momo’s legs would surely make him feel even more awkward.
“I hate liars,” Momo growled.
At that, the boy’s eyes snapped up.
“I’m not lying!” He defended himself.
“Really?” She drawled and leaned over to stare directly into his eyes. “The bags under your eyes and the fact your shrug is wonky say something different.” Okarun swallowed.
“I couldn’t really say that in the hallway, could I?” He mumbled, Momo seemed to grow angrier at his words.
“Why not?” She demanded.
“Because!” He stopped himself from yelling further after seeing the spark of shock in Momo’s eyes, took a breath and continued, “I know how people will look at you if they hear what we're talking about.” he explained, barely saying the end of his sentence loud enough for the other to hear.
Momo took a moment to compose herself, yet her next words were still full of annoyance.
“I don't care if everyone looks at me like I just escaped the mental hospital. Okarun, I care about you. ”
“Oh…” he breathed.
“So next time ,” she continued, “Tell me the truth, even if we’re surrounded by other people.”
For a moment, neither dared to speak. Okarun finally nodded with a shaky smile, the ire melting out of Momo’s eyes, yet he couldn’t really see that as his gaze dropped back to the ground as he steeled himself before speaking.
“I wasn’t lying though,” he promised, his cheeks heating up as the words left his mouth, “I managed to protect you, so I’m really fine.”
“Oh..” Momo breathed, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
-0-
‘Miss Ayase!”
The girl looked up from her desk, with a quick wave to her friends, she sped out of the classroom, falling into step with the boy next to her. Her friend just shared a look, not bothering to even comment on Momo’s behavior.
“So I was thinking about those aliens last week,” Okarun started his eyes full of excitement, “The fact they had the ability to teleport so fast in battle was-”
Momo stopped listening and just watched as he talked, his voice washing over her. The fight they had won a few days back had taken a lot out of her, she was still dealing with the sheer exhaustion that plagued her mind. Okarun’s voice had a calming effect on her, every word soothing to her.
She wasn’t really worried about Okarun being angry that she didn’t listen. Momo knew that when she had a bit more brain power she would gladly listen to his sci-fi ramblings. but right now, she wanted him to pay attention to her for just one moment, and the way he was talking made it clear he would continue to forge ahead until he was done.
Calling his name wouldn't work, she knew that from experience, so she did the next thing that popped into her head and poked him in his cheek.
“Wha-” he looked at her and she gave him a smile.
“You’re really cute you know.”
Oh, how she delighted seeing the blush overtake his face from a few simple words, his eyes darting around the hallway.
“You-you’re cute too.” He mumbled in a panic.
Momo laughed as she grabbed his hand, pulling them both outside as fast as she could, the want to be alone with Okarun as big as ever.
She laughed once more as the boy plopped down on the nearest bench and buried his face in his hands, the tips of his ears still red.
“People saw that…” he whined.
“They can watch all they want, I don't care.”
“I saw Miss Shiratori staring at us…” he whimpered. Momo scowled.
“That skank better stay away from you,” she mumbled as she sat down, leaning her head on his shoulder. “You’re mine.”
Okarun raised his head, a stupid grin on his face, Momo let herself smile too as she continued studying his face.
“You’re so cute,” she said again, causing him to groan.
“Please stop saying that in public,” he pleaded.
“Why should I?” she raised an eyebrow, “You’re my boyfriend after all, I can call you cute when I want.”
“My heart can’t take it,” he groaned again, looking up at the sky, “And contrary to your belief, I don’t enjoy being a mess in front of other people.”
“So come over to mine after school then,” she said as he looked at her, “That way I can call you cute when I want.”
“Fine,” he quickly agreed, the blush all but painted on his cheeks.
“Great,” she smiled and pressed her cheek down on his shoulder..
“Amazing.”
“Spectacular.”
“Splendid.”
“How much longer are you gonna do that?” Momo questioned with a chuckle.
“Till the end of time,” he joked, a soft look in his eyes.
“That’s a long time to be with me,” she mumbled, her slow blinks betraying the exhaustion that was dragging her down.
“I know,” he softly whispered as Momo fell asleep.
-0-
“Grandma, I’m home.” Momo yelled as she took her shoes off.
“Ah,” Seiko popped her head out of the kitchen, her eyes falling on the two in her entryway,, “You said ‘ i’ , almost thought you let four-eyes go home.”
“Ha ha,” Momo mocked, Okarun nodding to Seiko in greeting, “We’re going to my room.”
“To rest, I hope,” Seiko leaned in the doorway, her arms crossed, “Don’t think I haven’t noticed you’re not back at full steam young lady.”
“Okarun has a new edition of the alien magazine, we’re gonna go read that.”
Seiko looked the pair up and down skeptically before she shrugged.
“Don’t do something I wouldn’t do.” She said after a moment.
“That’s a very short list,” Momo stated with a mock serious look on her face.
“Get out of my sight,” Seiko yelled with anger, her smile betraying she was joking.
The two raced upstairs, Seiko shook her head before going back to continue prepping for dinner.
In her room, Momo tossed Okarun some clothes he had taken to keeping in the house so they both could change out of their uniforms, it didn’t take long before they were both changed and ready to relax.
“C’mon,” Momo said as she pulled her boyfriend next to her on the bed, he went without a fight, a lovestruck smile on his lips. “You can tell me about the alien stuff now, I promise to listen.”
He hummed as he let Momo arrange him to her liking, his arm over her shoulders, her face turned to him on his shoulder. He looked down, and hesitantly intertwined their fingers atop his stomach.
“I’ve been meaning to ask, does your grandma know about us?” He looked down at Momo as she thought for a moment and then shrugged.
“I haven’t told her, but I think she knows,” the girl admitted, “she hasn’t said anything though.”
“Isn’t it weird she lets us be alone in your room if she does?” he wondered.
“Nah,” she shook her head, “She knows you wouldn’t do anything I wouldn't want.”
“That’s good,” he nodded. After a moment, he hesitantly added, “She scares me a bit.”
Momo burst out laughing, Okarun tried to be offended, but he couldn’t, not with the pure amusement on her face. To him, there was no better sight in the universe than the girl he loved being happy. It went on for a moment, but his eyes didn’t leave her face even as she snuggled back up to him.
“You’re cute,” he softly admitted.
“Oh, shut up,” she buried her face deeper into his shoulder, “That’s my line.”
This time, it was his turn to laugh.