Work Text:
"Miss Ayase," Okarun said, hand shaking a bit. "Are you sure this is the right color for me?"
"Of course it is," she responded and made the next brush stroke of paint across his fingernail.
"Oh, okay."
The silence resumed, and Okarun did his best not to think about the way Momo's hand cradled his wrist or the way she stuck her tongue out when she was focused. She's so cute, he thought and immediately felt his face flush.
"Hold still!" Momo commanded, and Okarun realized he'd flinched.
"Yes, of course. Sorry." He used his free hand to adjust his glasses, careful not to disturb any of the still drying polish.
"Almost done…" Momo mumbled, eyes laser focused on her work. "Finished!"
"Wow," Okarun said as he splayed out his fingers to admire her work.
"I told you it was your color," Momo said as she screwed the cap back onto the tiny bottle. Their knees knocked as she shifted on her bed, and Okarun jumped.
"Careful, careful!" Momo said as she grabbed his wrists to keep him from ruining her masterpiece.
Their eyes met, and Okarun felt his heart jump into his throat.
Momo quickly dropped his wrists and looked away as she mumbled, "careful with your nails. I worked hard on those."
"Thank you. They are amazing," Okarun assured her as he looked at them again. "They look like- they're the same color as your spectral hands."
"I told you it was the right color for you," Momo grumbled as she tucked her knees to her chest and looked away.
"Yeah, I agree."
They shared another look, and although Momo seemed angry, there was a splash of color across her cheeks.
"I like it better than when I transform and they're black," Okarun continued. "Black is so depressing…"
"Ugh, don't be such a downer." Momo sighed and fell backwards onto the comforter.
"I'm sorry…" Okarun stared at his nails and wished they would stay this color no matter what form he was in.
"It's okay," Momo said as she stared at the ceiling. "I just wish you didn't have to feel so bad when you used your powers…"
"It's okay! It's not trouble at all, really! Anything to help you, Miss Ayase."
"Hang out with me more."
"What?" Okarun said as a puzzled look crossed his face.
Momo sat up again and looked him dead in the eyes.
"Hang out with me more," she repeated.
"Okay, but we already spend almost every moment together," Okarun replied.
"Not like that!" Momo argued, "not fighting aliens and yokai or planning out next move. Just like this… just us."
"Oh." The urge to fidget with his hands was strong, but his desire to protect Momo's work was stronger.
"If you don't want to, just say so!" Momo said as she stood up and put her nail polish away.
"No, of course I want to! I'd love to spend more time with you, Miss Ayase!"
"Momo."
"What?"
"Call me Momo," she whispered as she stared at her feet.
Okarun hesitated. He respected Miss Ayase so much; how could he be so casual with her?
"Momo… I'd love to spend more time with you. Like this."
Her face flashed more scarlet than he'd ever seen it, and she inhaled sharply.
"Whatever!"
Okarun could never quite get a handle on Momo's emotions.
"It's not like we have any time for this anyway," she said as she strode back towards her bed.
"But you said-"
"Come on," she demanded as she grabbed his wrist. "We have to go downstairs and help Granny."
Okarun let himself be dragged towards the door, and as Momo dropped his wrist, her fingers slid over his palm. A warm feeling lodged itself into his chest
With his chest feeling warm and fuzzy, Okarun realized that regardless of if it was fighting aliens or painting their nails, he was really looking forward to spending more time together.