The night was still young when we arrived at her neighborhood. Like I previously observed, it’s not as quiet as ours but there’s also not much socializing going around. And at this ti of the night, most people would already be inside their house, cooking dinner or watching TV as a family.
Next to , Hana silently trudged along, her hand remained interlocked with mine. There was a small hint of satisfaction on her lips as she stared straight ahead. Despite the dim street, her path to the future was probably being illuminated by her bright prospect of it.
“What? Can’t get enough of my face?”
Upon noticing my gaze on her, Hana teasingly asked. The girl then drew her face closer, giving a better angle to admire her beauty that could make anyone’s heart skip a beat.
I cupped her cheek and gently caressed her silky skin with my thumb.
“Mhm. But more than that, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you this delighted. You keep on frowning ever since you returned. You might’ve been acting triumphant at tis but you’ll always fall back to default whenever I’m not looking.”
“I’m not always frowning. I have my angelic smile, rember”
“Ah. You’re right. But did you forget that I can see through that?”
“Yes. I’ve just rembered. It never worked on you. You see for who I am ever since I caught your attention… Say, if I asked you to stay with back then, would you at least consider it?”
She already knew the answer to that question and yet, she still brought it up. If I had to guess, she just wanted to confirm it again. That the events of our separation wouldn’t change at all, no matter the circumstances.
“No. I don’t think so. I cut off all of you. No exceptions. But I’m glad to find the three of you again. The clumsy Chii, the studious Hifumi, and lastly, the pretentious Hana.”
“Excuse . Pretentious? I’m only acting according to what people expect of . Also, why is Hifumi the only one with a positive trait?”
“Well, I can’t find fault with her, can I? Chii has changed though. She completely overhauled her image – though still clumsy at tis. As for you… What can I say? You’ve grown more beautiful.
“Stop with an empty flattery. Are you saying I haven’t changed too?”
“Yes. You do not. But it doesn’t an you need to. I love you as you are already.”
“This guy… I like you more when you’re quiet. Not this guy who keeps on throwing so cheesy lines like that.”
“Alright then, I will keep my thoughts to myself. Instead, I’ll convert it to action.”
“What do you–”
Before she could finish her question, I already dragged her sowhere. Not so corner or anything but inside the nearby convenience store. She looked confused but followed inside, nonetheless.
When the part-tir at the counter greeted us, we both nodded at her before continuing our stride inside.
Passing through the aisles of goods and other custors picking their items, we arrived at the back where a row of coolers displaying different beverages were located.
If she was confused earlier why I brought her in, it imdiately dissipated upon noticing where we stopped.
“You rembered.”
“Of course, I do. How can I forget what you always drink?” I pulled on the door of the cooler and reached in for a certain beverage. It’s not a popular one but it seems to still be in production today. Although not sothing I preferred, I often drink it with her. Since our allowance wasn’t that high, we sotis shared a bottle.
Back then, it was her go-to beverage whenever she was tired or just feeling under the weather. She tried hiding it from at first by letting pick our drink. But after a while, I noticed how she kept glancing at it, deliberating whether to ask to pick that one.
And when I did pick it, I could still vividly rember her bright round eyes rejoicing
“Here. Should I get more? Let’s stock your fridge with this.”
I handed the drink to her and the girl instantly pressed it against her cheek, her lips stretching into a fulfilled smile. Her cheek must’ve been ward up enough despite the cool night breeze outside.
“... Idiot. That’s enough. I’ll go to a supermarket to stock up. Not in a convenience store.”
“Ah. Right. It’s impractical.”
I closed the cooler door and we walked back to the aisles. I picked so snacks and a bar of chocolate on the way to the counter.
Hana rolled her eyes at it but didn’t stop from doing so. Like the beverage, they’re her favorite.
Even without saying anything, she already realized my ssage for her… I haven’t forgotten or… in my case, I rembered every little thing about her.
After paying for it at the counter and walking out of the convenience store with the bag in hand, we continued on our way to her house.
Hana never said a word again but she opened one of the snacks, a vegetable-flavored rice cracker shaped in a short stick. It’s quite salty though but Hana loves munching on it, especially when she’s in a good mood.
Of course, she kept it hidden from our classmates back then. Furthermore, while she had a usual lunchbox, she had a hidden compartnt in her bag, containing her snack of the day. And more often than not, it’s this one.
I once caught her eating it and to keep from leaking it to our classmates, she pushed the cracker to my mouth, making her accomplice. Now that I think about it, that’s quite adorable of her, no?
Anyway, just like back then, she shared it with , feeding it to my mouth as we walked.
Soon enough, we arrived at her house. Without any people inside, the house felt lonely because of the darkness. But I guess, she’s already used to it as Hana just continued on her steps until we got stopped at the front door.
With the residue of the snack remaining on her fingers, the girl looked up at and conveyed what she wanted to do.
“Alright. Where’s the key?”
“There. Beneath the plant.” The girl pointed at the window closest to the door where a potted plant was on display.
It’s probably a flower but it’s only a small stack at the mont. Possibly sothing she bought recently.
In any case, I moved there, lifted the plant, and grabbed the key.
When I returned Hana had a aningful smile on her lips before clinging to again.
I slotted the key to the door and turned the knob.
As soon as it opened, Hana walked in, dragging with her inside.
Well, even if I only planned to walk her ho, I couldn’t help but feel the urge to check on her living conditions again now that I’m here.
The house was well-maintained just like Rumi’s house but with the lack of house slippers inside or just the presence of other people, it’s just as lonely.
After taking our shoes off and walking inside with just our socks on, we arrived at the living room. The sa living room where I did things with Chii and Hifumi.
Hana grabbed the convenience store bag from , placed it down on the coffee table in the middle, and pulled with her to the sa long sofa we used back then.
“Ruki… Won’t you stay here with ?” Without warning, the girl dropped that question as she cupped my cheeks in between her palms. Her eyes burned with her desire to prolong this night with .
“I can do that. But you know that I have to go ho at so point, right?”
I only told Akane that I’d walk Hana ho. Even if she expects to have another mont with the girl here, it’s not to the point that I’ll be staying the night here.
Besides, who knows when her Aunt will show up? She won’t be amused to see Hana bringing a guy a few weeks after returning from overseas.
“... Yes. Though I am tempted to suggest that you stay the night and sleep with in the sa bed.”
“Only tempted?”
“Un. I know you’ll reject it anyway. Spare the heartbreak.”
“Girl, I keep saying I love you. Why will I pass up that golden chance to be with you?”
“Because you’re Ruki… You won’t simply co into my bed when Akane is waiting for you at ho. I know at least that much…” Hana clicked her tongue and squeezed my face before sliding her hand down to my neck.
“That’s fair. And thank you for understanding , Hana.”
I started stroking her back and her long, lustrous hair. Then with a push of my head, I caught her lips.
Hana closed her eyes, accepting the kiss. And gradually our desire for each other that was already brimming since earlier had started to overflow.
As we savored every mont of it, we couldn’t help but continue conversing in between our kisses.
“Hmph. It’s our misfortune to fall for you. But it’s too late to regret being drawn to you.”
“You know you could’ve t more guys better than if you stayed in that country.”
“Guys better than you? I don’t think so. Most are still childish and only out there to boost their ego. You, however…”
“I may be mature but still filled with flaws.”
“Who’s without flaw anyway? I’m also imperfect.”
“There’s the stubborn girl that I love.”
“That’s just being real, you flawed guy…”
Upon delivering that, Hana blocked my lips again, preventing from replying to her. Then, as if on cue, she climbed on my lap, straddling .
At this point, we’re already drawing close to a more intimate mont.
Unfortunately, our mont was cut short when we suddenly heard a gasp by the doorway. Standing there was a woman with her hands on her mouth staring at us in shock.
I never heard the door opening nor footsteps coming in… So where did she co in from?
In any case… there’s only one identity for this woman… Talk about timing…
“Aunt…” Hana muttered softly.
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