Limitless

Chapter 27: Being More Open

"Gonta, could you pass me up that last balloon."

"Here Ryoma."

"Lights are working perfectly."

"Himiko, Angie and I just finished wrapping the presents."

"All the candles are lit."

"Shuichi? How much time do we have left?"

"They're just down the street."

"Everyone out! Quickly!"

"Everyone out?"

"Okay. Now stay quiet. We don't want to ruin everything."

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The street was barely lit by time Kaito and Maki started heading down it. The street lamps that were still working were barely lit and all the lights in the others buildings were out, signalling that everyone was asleep. The night had gotten much colder now, making the two walk a little faster to get back into the warm. The snow still continued to fall, and since it hadn't been swept up yet, Kaito and Maki's feet were almost submerged in it. They had to be careful with where they were going since the snow constricted their view a bit. As the apartment building came into view, Maki was hesitant to go inside. The world was so much bigger than she remembered. After being locked away for so long, she forgot how small she truly was. She was almost scared to go back into the basement. She didn't want to feel like she was locked away again. Not after all that had happened tonight. However, when she looked up at Kaito, that fear melted away. She kept reminding herself that she could always walk about outside again at any time she wanted. And she wasn't alone anymore. She had Kaito, and since the girls helped her get ready, she felt like, they were starting to be friends with her too. However, it was Kaito that she felt the closet with. Why did she feel like that?

"Hey, Kaito?" Maki suddenly said, abruptly halting in her walking. Kaito turned to look at her, a little surprised that she finally called him by his first name. Maki suddenly felt like a deer in headlights. She knew what she wanted to say, but suddenly forgot how to say it. She took a deep breath, wanting to get this done and out of the way. "I...you...it's just that...no one has ever done anything like this for me before. I can't even remember the last time that I celebrated my birthday. This has been the best night of my life." Maki fought hard to suppress the blush rising in her cheeks as she said that. She couldn't help but wonder if Kaito thought that she was stupid for saying all of that. However, the smile on his face told her otherwise. He didn't say anything, but he didn't really need to at that moment. He was happy to see that Maki was being open finally. He can see her real self. He finally took down the mask that people forced to put on her.

"Look...what I mean is...I..." Maki kept talking, determined to get out what she wanted to get out. She felt like she crumbled again as she tried to look at Kaito in the eye. He kept waiting silently as he continued to smile at her. Maki squeezed the dog and cheetah plushies that she held. Feeling like she couldn't do anything else, she rose up onto her toes, her lips making contact with Kaito's cheek. Maki put her weight back on her feet, looking up at Kaito's now stunned face. "Thank you." Feeling her cheeks heating up again, Maki swiftly spun on her heels and walked as fast as she could to get inside. Kaito stood still, still stunned by the sudden kiss that Maki gave him. He brushed his cold fingers on his cheek, still feeling the warmth that her lips had given him. A smile returned to his face as he watched Maki going inside. He felt happy once again as Maki suddenly opened up a little more to him. This felt like the best night of his life too in a way.

Feeling the cold wrap around him cruelly again, Kaito hurredily followed Maki inside. He sighed in relief as he stepped into the warm building, gently closing the door behind him. If the others were asleep, he didn't want to risk waking them up.