(Listening to 'Time Machine' while writing this felt very fitting, everyone should try it ୧ ⍢ ⃝ ୨)
"You said you liked me again… Is his 'like' the same emotion as my 'like'?"
Shinobu urgently wanted to know the answer, so her soft voice was full of inquiry.
"Yoizumi's 'like', what kind of 'like' is it?"
"Like"… Are there different kinds?
This question stumped Yoizumi, and he lowered his gaze in thought.
Everything returned to the initial question.
What exactly is 'like'?
As if seeing Yoizumi's confusion, Shinobu guided him little by little.
"Yoizumi, did you say you hated Douma last time because of me?"
"Hmm…"
"Then, would Yoizumi dislike being in contact with me?" Shinobu shook their clasped hands.
"No."
"If Yoizumi didn't see me for a very, very long time… would he miss me?" Suppressing the shyness in her heart, Shinobu gazed steadily at Yoizumi, unwilling to miss a single expression on his face.
"…He would."
At this point, Shinobu was certain.
Yoizumi also liked her.
He loved what she loved, and hated what she hated.
So, we both harbored the same feelings… It's just that this blockhead couldn't figure out what exactly it was.
Shinobu didn't want to wait any longer.
Waiting for this wooden-headed person to catch on would probably take until the end of time; she didn't want to wait even a second now.
She wanted to be his exception.
She wanted him to only look at her.
She wanted to be with him forever.
So… Shinobu gently pulled her hand free from Yoizumi's, and with a faint smile, untied the ugly knot on Yoizumi's waist, her voice very soft.
"Idiot, you still haven't learned how to tie a sash?"
"Because Shinobu didn't teach me…" Yoizumi didn't understand why the topic changed so quickly, but he still answered honestly.
"Then I'll teach you again." Her slender fingers intertwined with the thin sash. Yoizumi lowered his head, studying intently. A beautiful knot quickly appeared. While Yoizumi was still thinking about the steps… the hands that should have been on his sash suddenly cupped his face. He stared blankly at Shinobu's face, which was so close, her dark purple eyes looking directly at him.
Yoizumi instinctively leaned back but was forcefully pulled back by Shinobu, unable even to avert his gaze. The girl's palms, warmed by his touch, pressed tightly against his face, a softness Yoizumi couldn't ignore.
The moonlight fell on her fair, delicate face. Yoizumi clearly saw the fine hairs on her face, her subtly trembling eyelashes, casting a shadow beneath her eyes.
Why is she so close… Yoizumi thought, his scorching heart beating even more intensely, as if it was about to burst out.
"Yoizumi."
Shinobu softly called the name of the person in front of her. Once his gaze was fully focused on her, she tilted her head slightly, slowly closed her eyes, and pulled Yoizumi's head closer.
Under Yoizumi's gaze, she kissed his cool lips.
"…"
A few seconds later, with ears so red they looked like they might drip blood, Shinobu retreated but stubbornly didn't let go of his hands.
"I…"
"I like Yoizumi…"
"It's the kind of liking that wants to be with you always."
"Is Yoizumi's liking also like that?"
So,
Her purple eyes, as if veiled by mist, surged with affection, directly crashing into Yoizumi's eyes.
"Hey… Yoizumi, please stay with me, always and forever."
…What was that?
Yoizumi completely froze. Why did Shinobu put her lips on his lips?
Shinobu said she liked him… Ah… his heart was so noisy… Yoizumi felt a sudden dryness in his throat. He swallowed, his voice slightly hoarse.
"What was that?"
"Aren't we together now?"
Tucking the wind-blown strands of hair behind her ear, Shinobu smiled helplessly.
What is this… Do I have to teach him from here?
But it wasn't impossible.
This precisely indicated one thing.
She would be his first and also his last.
"That's a way to express affection, and I will only do it to Yoizumi."
"Similarly, Yoizumi can only do it to me, understand?" Shinobu was guiding Yoizumi little by little.
Expressing affection… "I understand." Yoizumi nodded. So that's what it was.
"Regarding the other question…"
"What I mean is, I want Yoizumi and me to be together forever, never apart."
"As… lovers."
Shinobu was nearing her limit. The heat rising on her face was so intense it made her eyes almost unable to open, and her voice became lower and lower. The last phrase, "as lovers," she mumbled with her head down.
A nervous feeling filled her mind, as she had often been outmaneuvered by Yoizumi.
"Okay…"
"I understand."
Is that all? What did he mean by "I understand"?
That single sentence made her suddenly look up, only to see Yoizumi's face drawing near.
His hand pressed by her side, and under Shinobu's stunned expression, he kissed her.
Her hand, hanging by her side, tightly clutched his rainbow-colored haori. The idiotic Yoizumi kissed her, mimicking Shinobu's earlier actions, even matching the duration of the kiss.
"I like Shinobu."
He stated his affection directly.
Just one sentence, and Shinobu was so happy that tears welled up. The glistening tears, to Yoizumi's eyes, took on a different meaning.
He frantically raised his hand and gently brushed away Shinobu's tears.
Did he do something wrong?
Why was Shinobu crying?
Crying, Shinobu spread her hands, making a gesture for a hug. Yoizumi thought for a moment and then pulled her into his embrace.
His embrace was a bit cold, but Shinobu didn't mind it at all; on the contrary, she loved it very much.
Because this was her right as Yoizumi's lover.
Shinobu sniffled, burying her face tightly against Yoizumi's chest, listening to the heartbeat that thumped for her.
"Say it again."
"…I like Shinobu?"
"Say it again."
"I like Shinobu."
Yoizumi indulged Shinobu's capriciousness, resting his chin on her head, gradually soothing his lover's emotions.
After an unknown number of repetitions, Shinobu finally stopped, her voice muffled from within his embrace.
"I like you too."
Yoizumi looked up at the bright moon in the sky.
What was the first step Shinobu used to tie his sash just now?
He couldn't quite remember…
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