Clusterhug

8

Her world didn't stop, per say.

It would've been rather poetic to say it did, but like in most situations, Teruhashi was calm and composed. At least, on the outside. Her straight face and oddly casual chuckle wasn't to say that a little part of her died and she was extremely conflicted in both belief and what decision to make— on the inside, of course.

Nothing would've given her away, if not for the fifteen straight seconds of stagnant air.

"You can just say no!" It came out of her as more of a squeak than intended.

She could've said no just fine. After all, since it wasn't her initial proposition, declining it would be perfectly natural, and maybe even somewhat expected.

If she won, it would be her first kiss. Was it a good time for a first kiss? A good age? A good choice? A good story to tell? Well, for one, Aiura was a girl, and a girl was not a boy, and a first kiss not being a straight one is a strange story to tell.

One thing would be "I kissed a girl once, and it was kinda weird," but this— if she chose to go through with it— would be a full-on "I dated a girl and after a while we kissed," which is much more proper, if you can call it that, as well as unconventional.

And Aiura was absolutely dying. No one can say a little part of her didn't die a bit as well, knowing that somehow, Teruhashi had dragged it out of her enough for it to be up for discussion. And now all was quiet.

And now all was quiet.

Aiura's mind was filled with curses and confusion, all of which were repeating over and over and over again, telling her the same thing she'd told herself before even mentioning the penalty.

How much of a punishment would it be?

It was quite strange to think things like that, after years of not much more than a second thought.

It couldn't exactly be a terrible experience.

Maybe it'd been there somewhere...? A curiosity, at most. Not enough to act on.

I have to say something before she implodes, geez.

Not enough to act on but hell, they were dating. Dating? Dating! Good? Bad? Too late at this point, to think about these things.

I mean, a kiss on the cheek...? Or...?

It was supposed to end sooner.

Maybe this was too far... It's already been over two weeks... Isn't that a normal length of time for a high school relationship?

Was a kiss-free relationship convincing? Convincing enough?

"Kokomi...?" Her voice was soft.

Then the voice in Teruhashi's head spoke, not softly, but bold and sharp.

Fuck it.

"Okay."

"What?"

"Okay. We'll do it." She positioned her hands and looked Aiura straight in the eyes, which was not helping her in the slightest. "Best out of seven," she deadpanned.

Too bold maybe...? I mean, she did say...

"No shit?"

"I... Don't think so." Teruhashi smiled. That was enough to ground the both of them.

"Alllllllrighty then." Aiura nodded and tapped her hands on her lap. "Do we... Do we start... now?"

Teruhashi shrugged. "Sure."