VIOLET SKY, takigawa chris yuu

━ chapter twenty-three

act ii

how do we do this?
( carefully. )

chapter twenty-three

❛don't get carried away❜

━━━━━━

A sense of normalcy returns in the following two weeks. Amara and Chris' friend groups merge once again with little trouble; she thinks they were banking on the best-case scenario where she and Chris ultimately did make up, rather than the worst-case one where they ended the year alienated.

At some point in the week, the jacket and sweater he asked for reappears in her dorm, hanging over the back of her desk chair. Silly as it may be, it's the truest indication that everything is okay.

Their friends cut them some slack, too, allowing them to monopolize each other's time, like a sort of catch-up for the time they lost that one week, as well as settling into the roles of an official relationship.

By Saturday, however, two weeks after the dance, Chiyo and Hiro are adamant to get Amara to themselves and quite honestly, she is in agreement, but they make a stop by his dorm so she can see him for a moment.

"Don't get carried away," Chiyo says vaguely when Amara tries the knob for the door and finds it's unlocked.

"Sure, sure," she replies noncommittally before opening the door. Isashiki and Kominato are packing up their things, dressed in their street clothes, while Chris is sitting at his desk, still in a t-shirt and sweats.

"Mara," Isashiki greets. Chris turns in his chair and she quickly slips off her shoes in the entryway.

"Where are you two going?" She asks, going over to Chris. He pulls her onto his lap and she drapes an arm over his shoulders. He tugs a little at his sweater on her frame — the thick, maroon one, over a white long-sleeved fleece — smiling faintly.

Isashiki makes a gagging noise. Kominato ignores him. "Touring Meiji."

She glances at Chris. "You're not going?"

He shakes his head minutely. "Not interested in Meiji."

She looks back at them. "Well, have fun."

"Thanks, Mara," Isashiki says gruffly, pulling on his shoes, Kominato close behind.

Chris turns the chair away from them but she still hears the door open and Isashiki's surprised yelp at seeing Chiyo and Hiro.

"What's up with that reaction?" She hears Chiyo ask, too amused to be genuine, but the door closes before she can hear the reply.

"So, where are you going?" He asks, arms tightening around her hips.

She smiles winningly. "Chiyo and Hiro feel neglected. I think they want to go get our nails done or something. It'll be good for us. Some separation."

"The week where we didn't talk to each other wasn't enough for you?" He asks teasingly.

"That doesn't count because we weren't together. Why, are you going to miss me?"

He rolls his eyes and she reaches out to pinch his nose, not giving him time to reply. "You know, I remember you saying people rolling their eyes at you was a pet peeve. What's up with that, huh?"

He pulls one of his hands from her to bat away her hand. "You're just a terrible influence on me."

"Oh, me?"