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Cicadas creaked in the late afternoon of Shinjuku- covered by the urban sounds of chattering people, advertisements, and the quiet rumbles of the vehicles. The sun beamed harshly onto the unfortunate victims who chose to walk outside with no towels or fans- targeting the two high school girls directly. Even stores with air conditioning couldn’t save their poor overheated souls. The brown haired girl held ice cream in one of her hands that melted on her forearm and fingers, leaving a drippy and sticky mess.
“Ah- I knew I should’ve grabbed a napkin!!!” Minori scrambled, awkwardly moving her arm to eat the cone and lick herself clean whilst walking, careful not to bump into anyone. The damage was done though to her own personal dignity, but it didn’t show on her determined face.
Shiho, who walked next to her carrying three full shopping bags, held her shoulder and assisted her through the walking crowd with a slight smile on her face, amused at the clumsy sight.
“You look ridiculous,” Shiho pulled them to the side of the street near the front of a bright pink store with an overhang providing shade. Minori knew Shiho didn’t mean the comment in a mean way, only that she was trying to be helpful to her. Shiho set down the bags and out of her shorts pocket, she pulled out a light blue handkerchief with a rabbit embroidered on the bottom corner, wiping it on Minori’s messy arm with the same tough-love kind of care from a mother.
“Here…”
Minori’s face turned a darker shade of pink, a mix of her flusteredness and warmth. Smiling, she giggled,
“Thank you, Shii-chan!!!”
Looking to the side, Shiho nodded with the same slight smile on her face, carefully folding the handkerchief to safely insert it into her pocket mess free. The grey haired girl leaned against the wall of the building, closing her eyes and taking in the shade with a content sigh.
“Just wait a few minutes, the shade is nice.”
Minori leaned back with her, but looked right at her face like she was staring at a goddess. Shiho truly was so mysterious to the girl in all of the best ways, luring her in more like a lamb to the wolf- but Minori wouldn’t mind falling into this beast’s trap. Content with seeing her sharp teeth and deadly claws- enthusiastic to see the true Shiho she knows she still hasn’t seen.
A gentle beast is what Minori compared her to. Seen as scary, but others close enough to the beast know it's true, kind and selfless nature. How lucky everyone who knew this fantastic human being. Under the protective shade, Minori summoned up her courage to speak to herself in total truth without denial.
She loved Shiho, truly.
... But did Shiho have those feelings for her?
“Minori?” Shiho raised an eyebrow, noticing that the girl had been gazing at her for a minute straight.
“Ah!” She scrambled about in place, jerking her head away while trying to pick up the shopping bags- only for Shiho to beat her to it. “Sorry…! I didn’t mean to scare you or anything!”
Shiho softened her gaze and chuckled, “No no, you’re fine. The music shop is just a block away now, so we should start walking again- otherwise you’ll melt like your ice cream”
“Of course!” The brown haired girl nodded, thankful her sweat and red hot face weren’t questionable for the conditions they were in currently.
Standing next to each other, they walked off, though their hearts were now stuck standing at a fork in the road.