The concert concluded with a sky full of long gone lights.
The throngs of people slowly moved out into the Tokyo night as they could hear the sounds of many excited voices.
Sohow Kuro Kurogane only noticed one single thing.
Rika Saionji’s hand still holding his own.
Warm. Soft. Gentle.
Both had not let it go.
Outside of Comiket, the city streets were alive with the glow of neon lights and late-night traffic.
People milled about with their new rchandise bags, folded posters, and busy conversations about ani and concerts.
But Kuro and Rika walked quietly side by side through the crowd.
Still connected. Still both pretending that they were not noticing it all too much which was honestly an impossible task.
Rika looked straight ahead calmly.
At least, on the outside.
But on the inside her heart had completely failed to have any stability 20 minutes ago.
Because sohow holding Kuro’s hand felt perfectly natural.
Not dramatic. Not forced.
Just right.
An extrely dangerous thought.
"Are your hands always this warm?"
Kuro blinked once.
"Was that your opening line?"
"I’m trying to survive emotionally," Rika said. "So, yes."
Which was a fair answer.
Kuro laughed quietly with her.
And right away Rika’s chest swelled with a warm tightness again.
Because hearing him laugh with her has been getting to be an addiction lately.
A large group of convention goers crowded the nearby train station.
They were very crowded and very loud.
Rika took a natural step closer to Kuro.
Their shoulders brushed against each other.
Neither moved away from the other.
Then, all of a sudden, there was another rush of people who ca through the entrance of the train station.
Rika stumbled again.
And this ti, because of his protective instincts, Kuro instinctively tightened his grip on Rika’s hand.
What seed like a small motion created a huge impact for Rika.
For that split second, Rika feeling as if she belonged with Kuro.
The train ride back ho was unexpectedly quiet.
The late-night riders on the train were all sitting quietly while the lights of the city flashed by outside.
Rika was sitting next to Kuro without a word being spoken between them.
They were close enough that they touched knees, occasionally. They leaned against one another on the turns, and the space between their hands was small enough for a tiny hand.
And sohow, no one in the whole world seed to question this anymore.
Not even themselves!
Then, when the lights were passing outside of the windows, she quietly said to Kuro,
"Today was unbelievable!"
Kuro leaned back a little against the seat.
"Good unbelievable?"
"Definitely too unbelievable!"
They sat there in silence without saying anything for a long ti.
Then, she softly says, "This has been one of the most fun days of my life in such a long ti!"
Boom! . Another emotional hit.
When Kuro looked over at her, he noticed that Rika looked completely relaxed while being next to him.
Rika had removed all of her masks and all of the "perfect honor student" persona.
It was just Rika.
So pure and sweet, free of all loneliness, and so full of passion.
And sohow, he preferred this version of her above all else. What a terrifying thought.
Then, all of a sudden, Rika spoke again.
"Can I ask sothing that isn’t really about you?"
"Sure, go ahead."
"Would you co with next ti again?"
A simple question, but for whatever reason, her voice still had so type of nervousness in it.
Before today, going to conventions was sothing we did for fun with our friends, but now it was about wanting more monts with each other.
And they both knew it!
Honestly, "Of course!"
An imdiate response from him, and Rika suddenly froze.
There was no hesitation in his voice, no obligation to say yes, or politeness because he said it.
He genuinely wanted to go!
And that answer was the most exciting thing for her today, and it made her even happier than going to a convention!
Eventually, the train had finally reached Rika’s stop.
Still, neither had moved.
Then, finally, both looked down to see that they were holding hands.
No sound.
It hit both of them like a ton of bricks at the sa ti!
The mont Rika had that realization she turned as red as a tomato!
"We’ve held hands forever!"
"I know!"
Neither released their grip.
So much danger!
So much!
Then Rika began to giggle softly, almost a shy laugh.
"And this felt so much cooler than I thought it would."
"Did it?"
She took so ti to contemplate the question.
And then slowly looked at him...
"Not really."
Such a huge emotional scar on both of them!
In all honesty Kuro had agreed. Not that it felt awkward, but rather it felt comforting. Warm. Like sothing he’d subconsciously desired to prolong.
Eventually, the two had stepped off the train together, into the cool night air.
The streets surrounding Rika’s apartnt were sowhat more serene now. Exactly soft streetlights illuminating the sidewalks while faraway city sounds started to wash away.
Equally, the two matched with one another while they were still outside on the streets, except the silence had felt more intimate between both of them than awkward.
Rika had suddenly halted her walk, causing Kuro to look at her. As he did though, for a brief period of ti she hesitated . Rarely does this happen.
She softly said "Kuro-kun".
Kuro responded; "...Hm?".
Then Rika had tightened her grip on Kuro’s hand one last ti before confessing unto him,
"...I’m so glad that you were with today."
Kuro had felt imdiate emotional destruction like so many tis before it had been heartbreaking .
One could’ve only imagined Rika’s feelings were more than just teasing from Akari, or saying bold things like Mina.
No , Rika’s feelings were absolutely terrifiedly true.
Rika’s feelings were quiet ,careful and real, and in turn had an impact on Kuro very strongly.
Kuro had verbally responded before he had completely thought," too".
The two then stood in total silence while the air was still eerily quiet .
After eting with Kuro, Rika Saionji had now allowed herself to have hopes for sothing dangerous that Kuro might possibly be developing feelings for her also.
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