🌟Reach for the stars 🌟|| Kaimaki || Danganronpa

Chapter 60 - A Romantic Realization

Maki's POV:

My breath hitched, and suddenly I had forgotten how to breathe. Did he hear me? Was that a response? My mind was racing and I could feel myself shaking as my heart beat at the speed of light. I couldn't bring myself to speak, I began to feel lightheaded as we continued to sway back and forth. 

"Maki-Roll, what's got you so worked up? Are you feeling alright?" Kaito had stopped and we broke apart slightly so he could get a good look at me.

I exhaled, finally breathing again. It must've been my imagination, it had to. "Y-Yeah, just fine. We should get back, I'm pretty sure leaving school campus at this hour is breaking a rule anyway.." I mumbled, fully breaking apart from him, or at least trying to before he grabbed my hand. "Well if you wanna go Maki-Roll then we can leave." He replied, but a sensed a feel of regret in his tone. 

"I do wanna leave...here at least. Could we just stargaze together in the courtyard or something..?" I asked, beginning to feel bashful as I constantly replayed the moments in my head. His eyes lit up, "You, asking me to stargaze? Well, I suppose if you insist..." I nudged his arm playfully, "Oh shut up." At this he held his arm and chuckled, and I couldn't help but admire him. God, he was too irresistible for his own damn good. We both began to walk back to Hope's Peak while talking only just a bit. Once we made it to the courtyard, we both laid down on the grass and stared at the stars.

Did he really say that earlier? "I know, me too" . But that would mean... "I know you love me, and I love you too." I shook my head to rid of my stupid romanticizing of something he most likely didn't even say. "Maki-Roll, do you see the constellations just yet?" Kaito asked, I'd almost forgotten about that. I studied the stars carefully before replying, "Actually, I kind of do." I smiled to myself, that one is...the Big Dipper. I could see it, most of it, I could actually kind of see it!

Kaito's POV:

I looked back over to Maki-Roll in surprise, she can see them-

...

Woah, I forgot  how absolutely breathtaking this woman's smile truly is. I mean literally. I had sucked in a breath and held it, unable to speak as I stared with awe. I even felt my face heat up ever so slightly at the sight, she literally has no right being so effortlessly perfect.

 After a while I finally let go of that breath, panting. I looked away from her, I didn't want her to see my red face. I had been staring for wayyy too long. "Good....I'm...I'm glad." I was able to muster between breaths, feeling embarrassed and hoping she didn't notice my obvious admiration. "Why are you breathing like that?" She turned to me, so I finally mustered up the courage to face her again. Her smile was gone now.

 "No reason" I shrugged, hoping that would be a good enough answer. She narrowed her eyes in suspicion before turning back to the starry night sky. "I won't push it," she sighed. We laid there for what felt like forever, I felt my tense body relax as I enveloped her presence as much as possible. "Hey what time is it anyway? I think the sun is beginning to rise..." She sat up to try and get a closer look. I shrugged before sitting up as well, "I dunno, I didn't think of bringing my phone. I'm guessing you didn't bring yours either, since you asked." She sighed, "You're right I didn't." 

"...You wanna watch it rise together?" I rubbed the back of my neck out of habit, she smiled ever so slightly before nodding. So I stood up, and held up my hand for her. She took it without hesitation, and we walked to the very front of the school before sitting down right next to each other. As the sun slowly made its way into the sky, I could tell Maki-Roll began to get a little sleepy. Yawning as we waited and her head tipping over as she closed her eyes before getting right back up. 

I let go of her hand and boldly put it on her shoulder, bringing her closer with my slightly red face. She instinctively laid her head on my shoulder before snapping back up, not allowing herself to. At this I chuckled, "You can lay your head on my Maki-Roll, I don't mind!" She slowly and reluctantly laid her head on my shoulder, fitting perfectly into the crook of my neck. As if we were two puzzle pieces meant to be connected like this. I laid my head on hers, still surprised I had the guts to do something like this. Considering that we weren't dating or anything, but this sure felt like it. Honestly, I feel nothing platonic in our relationship and I think she feels it too. I think we always have, but I guess it's a big step to tell someone how you feel. Especially if they don't feel the same way. I mean come on, typical friends don't lay their heads on one another while watching the sunrise. That's something I'd see in a romance movie or book when the two are already a couple.

I guess what I'm trying to say is there there's nothing, nothing at all that's platonic between us when we're literally always doing couple things despite not being one. So why do we continue to say we're just friends?

The sun finished rising, the warm colors reminded me of Maki-Roll. Although unfortunately for the sunrise, it can't beat Maki-Rolls beauty. Once it finished, I nudged her and she got up first. This time her hand was outstretched for mine, and I took it. We continued to hold hands as we walked back to the dormitories. And we stopped and stared once we made it to hers, it's selfish of me to say I wish we could just stay together like this forever. But unfortunately humans do need sleep, and I value both of our healths.

She unlocked the door and opened it, beginning to walk inside before turning back to me with a noticeable red face as she looked to the side. She then speed walked her way back to me, I raised an eyebrow. She went on her tippy toes and then pressed her lips against my cheek before quickly pulling away. I felt my face heat up as my hand ghosted over my cheek in surprise.  We both stared into each other's eyes, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't get lost in hers. She then turned back around and dashed into her dorm, practically slamming the door behind her.

...Woah..

Maki's POV:

I practically had slammed the door behind me. Leaning back onto it and sliding down it onto my butt. I can't believe I just did that. I don't know what came over me, it just felt so right in the moment. But now I'm wondering if it was, the way he looked at me after in shock and awe made my heart do a sumar salt. He's always looked at me as if I mattered, and it always hit me in just the right ways. And that look just sent shivers down my spine, I  know if it was my body warning me or what. But it felt nice.

I sighed heavily as I sat there, a blushing mess. Trying to still process the night. Akamstsu emerged from her room, looking like she had just woken up. "Harukawa? Where were you at 6 in the morning?!" She questioned, I buried my face into my knees. So it had been five hours. "N-Nowhere. Just go back to sleep..." I mumbled, now embarrassed I got up and went into my room. Locking my door and flopping onto my bed. Replaying the night's events in my head I wasn't able to fall back asleep.

I can't pretend anymore, this isn't platonic. Maybe there's a chance...that somehow, by the grace of Atua, that maybe even a small part of Kaito feels about me the way I feel about him.

Word count: 1375

AN: You think Maki? Also me posting two chapters in a row??? Wowzers!