Work Text:
Rustling leaves.
Chirping birds.
A bright, cloudy sky.
And a worn swing set, currently being occupied by two teenagers.
"Ahh, Bocchi-chan..." A yellow haired girl sighs contentedly, grinning as she pushes her friend on the swing. Not strong enough to give them real momentum, but enough to quell the would-be stillness between them. "It was a great idea to get out like this, don't you think?"
"Ah, yes..."
Another girl, this time with pink hair, and a perpetually shadowed expression. She sits on the swing, legs swaying slightly with each gentle push. "I l-like hanging out with N-Nijika-chan... It's.. Nice." The girl, Hitori, or Bocchi, admits, looking over her shoulder with a soft smile directed at the girl behind her, Nijika.
Badump.
"I'm glad to hear that!..." Nijika chirps, emphasizing her words with another soft push, more of a nudge. Hitori doesn't speak.
"...Say, Bo..." A pause. "Hitori-chan?"
This gets a response, and Hitori looks back, sky blue eyes wider beneath her messy bangs. "Ah, y-yes?" She's quick to speak, attention drawn by the usage of her given name. "Nijika-chan..?" Hitori's eyes are wide open now, and her words are slightly breathless.
Drip. Drip.
Tears fall from Nijika's eyes. Slow, rhythmic, like a beat on a tempo too low. Her lips quiver slightly, and she steps back from Hitori's back, quickly reaching up to rub her eyes. "Wha..? I'm- I'm sorry, Bocchi-chan.. I... I don't- Why am I crying..?"
Hitori immediately springs up from the swing, walking over with brisk, frantic steps. She reaches out, hesitating for just a moment before steeling herself and wrapping her arms around Nijika. "D-Don't be sorry, Nijika-chan..." She responds, voice soft, but her hold is softer. "I.. I'm s-sorry? I d-don't know w-what I did b-but... You s-started crying after s-saying my name..."
"N-No!" Nijika immediately stops that line of thought, voice a bit too loud. She notices this when Hitori flinches slightly. "S-Sorry..." She immediately mutters, before pulling back and looking deep into Hitori's eyes.
Red meets Blue.
Glimmering tears meet wide confusion.
Affection meets...
Badump. Badump.
"You didn't do anything, Bocchi-chan! It's just..." Nijika sighs, looking away as she shifts her feet awkwardly, hesitating.
"..?" Hitori blinks, oblivious evident.
"I just wanted to try it, I guess..? Calling you by your name? I'm s-sorry..." Nijika laughs it off shyly, clearly slightly embarrassed at her outburst. "For that little... Episode. Gosh, I'm supposed to be the older one too-" Another nervous laugh is cut off as Hitori hugs Nijika once again.
"Don't be." Hitori says, tightening her grip ever so slightly on Nijika. "P-Please don't be s-sorry. It's okay to f-feel... Down? I d-don't really know. J-Just..." Hitori pulls back, looking at Nijika's wide crimson eyes with her own blue ones. Piercing. Calming. "Don't be sorry."
Badump. Badump. Badump.
There it is again. Nijika didn't draw attention to it before, but every time Hitori looks at her, it's like... Her heart beats. Louder than usual. Like a drum getting a solo.
"..." Nijika doesn't respond to that, simply sighing, wiping her tears, and laughing. Genuine this time. Gosh, she was stupid. She places her hands on Hitori's shoulders, guiding her to the swing to sit back down. Hitori complies, but not before giving one more concerned glance over her shoulder. "Let me try again, okay... Hitori-chan?" Hitori doesn't respond.
"Y'know, Hitori-chan." Nijika starts, saying her name. Confident. Present.
"Hm..?" Hitori doesn't look back this time, as if afraid Nijika will see her own expression, which is nervous, like usual.
Nijika thought there was something wrong with her.
"I thought there was something off with me recently."
Badump.
Nijika had been feeling things almost since she met Hitori-chan.
"I had been... Feeling weird things. Recently."
Badump. Badump.
Nijika knows what it is now.
"I think I figured it out, Hitori-chan."
Badump. Badump. Badump.
I'm in love with you, Hitori Gotoh.
"I'm in love, Hitori-chan."
...
...
"...Really? With who?"