Kiss aftermath || Ayanokouji X Ichinose

Chapter 15: (Fake)Feelings blossoming

[Like I said I skipped the Island arc, and the ship arc is where most of the romance and *ahem* sexual tension takes place]

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The island exam went fairly well. Class B finished second, while Class D finished first. When I contacted Kiyotaka about it via text, he said that it was all due to Horikita's secret plan. Wow. We are extremely fortunate to have her as an ally.

However just as we returned back to the cruise ship thinking the exam was over, a brand new special exam bombarded us without warning.

Each student is assigned to a room with four roommates; mine included myself, Mako, Yume, and Sayo. We were sitting on the floor in a circle, playing cards and eating muffins and lemon bars that I had quickly baked using one of those internet tutorials.

While everyone else was too busy on their game, my mind was occupied with a certain someone. Kiyotaka Ayanokouji.

I did text him to come over today to say hi and leave. Only so my friends finally meet the guy I'm supposed to be in love with.

Nothing too complicated, it's simple. Simple is good.

And just as I was thinking about him, there was a knock on the door. I stood up right away to open the door. Maybe a bit too excited. But I haven't seen much of him since the Island exam, so I'm going to give myself a pass.

And right there...right there standing with the most uncomfortable look on his face was Kiyotaka Ayanokouji. I didn't think I'd ever been that happy to see him before, but him just being there... The smile that broke out on my face was embarrassing.

"Kiyotaka, what a surprise," I managed to say softly, his gaze dropped to my lips.

Before he could walk in farther, I noticed the armful of Roses he was holding. My breath hitched and my smile brightened up a bit, taking it from embarrassing to a touch closer to manic. Kiyotaka's expression, however, didn't change.

Were they for me?

I begged my heart to stay calm as he walked toward me.

"It was supposed to be hand delivered by the store, but there was a mix-up at the flower shop, and they couldn't bring these themselves," he said, and my smile faltered.

"I don't understand. They're from the flower shop?" I asked, my eyes going from the roses to Kiyotaka's face in confusion.

His lips tightened and his brows drew together. "No."

I waited. I could feel Mako standing just behind me, on my right, too.

Kiyotaka released an annoyed sigh. "They're from me. It just felt appropriate to do. That's all." He leaned forward and thrust the bouquet into my hands. Tsundere, much?

Feeling something weird and very much unexpected in my chest, I took them. There were maybe a dozen long stemmed roses in every color-pink, white, yellow, peach- and they were all wrapped up in slightly shimmery brown paper. They were gorgeous, way more than anyone had ever bought me.

I was still looking at the roses, taking them all in one by one, not sure what to say or how to say it. His visit today involved nothing related to flowers which means-

"These are just for me," I mumbled, almost to myself. "And they're so beautiful, Kiyotaka. Thank you." For some reason, I felt myself choke up, and my chest constricted. Hugging the bouquet with one arm, I pressed my palm against my chest where my heart was truly losing it.