Work Text:
“Ya know, Ibuki-senpai,” Junko starts, “it seems like you’re really popular with your classmates. You’re way too cute to not have a boyfriend! Why are you still single?”
Ibuki grins proudly. “Ibuki would break everyone’s lovesick hearts if she settled down! That’s why she’ll stay a free bird forever. It’s her duty to society!”
“Do you even want a boyfriend?”
“Ibuki plans on staying loyal to the fair maidens of this world forever! Why, does Junko-chan want a piece of her?” She winks coyly.
“I don’t think just a piece would do.”
“Oh my!” Ibuki giggles, hand to her mouth like a proper lady. “Junko-chan is so forward, wanting Ibuki all to herself. Ibuki hates to say it, but she’s not available.”
“I wasn’t asking if you were.”
Ibuki looks her up and down, and she’s not making a face nearly as scary as what she just said. She looks friendly, even—so much so that if Ibuki didn’t have perfect hearing, she'd think she misheard her.
“Um,” her laugh comes out staggered this time, “Does... does Junko-chan need something from Ibuki...?”
“I’d like to hear a straight answer, for one,” she says. “You’re dodging the question.”
“I-Ibuki doesn’t dodge at all!” Ibuki retorts, taking a step back. “If she were a fighting game character, the whole playerbase would beg the developers to buff her!”
“Then answer me,” Junko demands, closing in on Ibuki as she backs herself into the wall. “I know this isn’t what you want. You’re lonely.”
“You must be thinking of someone else, Ibuki doesn’t—”
“I’m lonely, too. That’s how I can tell.”
“I-Ibuki is sorry, but Junko-chan is wrong, really—”
“If you keep lying to me, I’ll leave.” Her eyes flicker towards the door.
Ibuki’s tongue slips. “Don’t.”
Junko glares at her expectantly, and Ibuki feels so small.
“...You won’t tell?” Ibuki asks.
“I swear.”
“...Ibuki’s not good at keeping her friends around,” she says.
Judging from her expression, Junko isn’t satisfied.
“When... when Ibuki loves someone, they...” Ibuki trails off.
“They leave?” Or die, Ibuki thinks.
“And Ibuki started to think... maybe it’s better to have never loved at all. Do... do you understand that?”
Junko hums, leaning in so close Ibuki can smell the cigarette smoke on her breath. “Of course I do,” she murmurs. “And it kills me. Does it kill you, too?”
Ibuki nods, eyes darting to the ground like she has something to be ashamed of.
“Can we be alone together?” Junko asks, wearing an expression that makes Ibuki wonder if she’s looking in a mirror. “I promise I won’t leave.”
Before Ibuki can reply, Junko kisses her. The kiss is messy and violent, and it steals all the breath out of Ibuki’s lungs. When Junko releases her, she’s crying. She doesn’t answer, because the answer has been said for her.
Junko turns towards the door, and Ibuki begs like a dog for her to stay.