Fool's Choice | Alice In Borderland | Chishiya x Oc x Niragi

16♦️

I don't know if you guys are into music while reading but I suggest you listen to
Can We Kiss Forever by Kina. I think it perfectly fits the underwater scene. I'm actually listening to it right now as I write this chapter.

---------

For how many days, he waited. He was as patient as he could be. All for her. Just for her. Just for one moment.

Niragi cupped her cheek with one hand while the other held her waist. Akane automatically closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around Niragi's neck. He couldn't understand the feeling, it wasn't like all the other times they shared together. That's what she felt too.

Everything was so peaceful under the lake. She wanted to stay like that forever but of course that would mean that they would die.

Niragi pulled away first and stared at her. Akane had opened her eyes by then and stared back. It never crossed their minds that they would end up in this situation. Eventually, they had to come up for air.

They were breathless and it wasn't just because they had just been underwater. Akane realized that they were still so close to each other and backed away by a few inches.

She couldn't believe what happened. It was something that only happened in books yet she felt it with every fiber of her soul. Akane wasn't the sentimental type but she can't help but take it to heart.

A flash of light temporarily blinded her, it was Haru who was sent out to go looking for them. Before he could call out to them, Akane had taken a deep breath and pushed Niragi down with her.

Once again, they were underwater. Akane kissed Niragi, giving him air. She didn't even know these things worked in real life. She only saw it in movies. Niragi placed a hand on the back of her head and pulled her closer and she had snaked her arms around his neck in response.

With their eyes closed, they reveled each second of the moment. The feeling was unfamiliar to both of them. Niragi couldn't imagine himself like this with anyone else and Akane, she didn't know if she could either.

Just one...

Niragi thought in his mind. He wanted to feel her kiss purely just once. No alcohol, no lust and no jealousy involved. Who knew they'd turn out like this?

Just one more...

After coming back up for air, they got back down again. Just for that one last kiss. One kiss followed by another and another.

Soon enough, it was already one too many. They weren't keeping count, they were simply living the moment. Enjoying each other's touch.

They swam back up, Akane holding on to Niragi. At the surface, they were still quiet. The deafening silence didn't bother them at all as they stared in each other's eyes. They were in too deep and they didn't even fully realized it yet.

Akane gave him a smile, one that he wouldn't be able to see through. She was sad inside. It was hard for her but she already knew that one of these days she'd be brave enough to leave The Beach. That would make her a traitor but she felt as if that was the right thing to do. Akane knew that staying in that place would only make her worse than she is now. That fake utopia. She'd leave even if it meant leaving the people she made a connection with. She couldn't string people along anymore, she wanted to change. Be a better person or some shit. If she dies, then that's that.

A week ago, she would've laughed at the thought of her changing for the better. She always thought that the world didn't deserve a better Akane. But all that seemed to have changed. There were some people that were able to make her feel like she was alive. The people back at The Beach that she considered her friends.

Akane couldn't help but let a tear slide down her cheek. She prayed that Niragi wouldn't notice it, given the fact that they were already wet.

After a few more minutes they got out of the lake, put on their clothes and dried themselves by the fire. The two were silent.Aguni and Haru were already sleeping by the time they got back, obviously giving them space. They didn't look like they were the type of people who were supportive but they were.

Akane felt Niragi grab her hand and intertwined their fingers together without a word said. By now, it was impossible to keep her heart from going wild. She couldn't help but look at their hands together. Niragi held unto her hand tightly as he lightly rubbed his thumb against it.

She looked at Niragi, he was looking at the sky. There weren't a lot of stars but the moon was visible and the sky was still beautiful. She copied Niragi and stared at the sky, trying to calm herself.

Akane felt like a giddy teenager. A feeling that she didn't get to feel when she was an actual teenager. If only the world wasn't so fucked up, she'd never let go of his hand.

Niragi, the guy that wouldn't think twice of killing people. The guy who had hundreds of blood on his hands. The guy with a psychotic mind.

The guy beside her now at this very moment, this is Niragi. The real Niragi. The Niragi that the world doesn't deserve. Certain people fucked him up so bad and turned him into someone else. She couldn't remember everything back then but she knew how good he was, how he was so innocent and the world had corrupted him.

Akane smiled to herself. Certain people fucked her up so bad too. They were both screwed so bad that they turned out the way they are now.

She yawned, catching his attention. Niragi slowly pulled her in front of him and laid his chin on her shoulder, his arms now wrapped around her.

Akane was afraid that he could feel her heartbeat. She was nervous but she also felt safe. Her feelings were all over the place and she didn't feel like trying to understand them at the moment.

Niragi felt warm and surprisingly comfortable. She unconsciously leaned against him more, not that there was even any space left.

An hour ago, they were bickering and annoying each other. She didn't know how they ended up like this. She couldn't even believe he's acting like this.

Niragi had always been very sexual, everyone knows that. He made it a point that everyone knew. No one but her knew this side of him. The complete opposite of what he's usually like.

A light touch on her cheek made her lose her train of thoughts. Niragi held her cheek lightly and slowly turned her head to face him. Her eyes automatically closed as Niragi kissed her forehead.

The kiss was so light like a feather. It felt like he was afraid a kiss would break her, make her fall apart. But in a way, it did. She did feel like she was shattering to pieces. The more he did things like this, the harder it was going to be for her to leave.

"Niragi...." She whispered as a tear fell down her cheek, followed by another and another. Akane silently cried, discreetly wiping her tears. She wasn't really sure if he noticed but she was glad that he didn't bring it up.

She cleared her throat when Niragi pulled back. His hands were still holding her cheek but she turned away, making it fall back beside him.

Akane felt like she couldn't get a wink of sleep that night. She stood up and walked over to where she was supposed to sleep and laid down. The sleeping bag wasn't as comfortable as Niragi's arms but it was bearable. She forced herself to close her eyes and clear her thoughts. But that was impossible.

She laid there with her eyes closed for probably an hour. Akane couldn't sleep but she didn't want to be awake either. She felt someone lie behind her and soon enough an arm had appeared on her waist. She could feel Niragi's chest against her back as she breathed in his scent. As if Niragi wasn't comfortable enough, he had made one of his arms her pillow. His chin on her head.

Akane felt so comfortable that she was slowly losing herself to sleep. Niragi was already fast asleep by the time she closed her eyes. She smiled. She wanted to remember this forever. Even after they part ways. But she didn't want to think of that now. All she just wanted at that moment was to take it all in.