Love caught up in my throat(Nagisa x Kaede)

19

A/n: this is gonna be a Karma x Asano scene, we're gonna take the spotlight away from Kayano x Nagisa for just a moment ;)

Karma

I didn't want to go home yet. I knew full well nobody is expecting me anyway, my parents are oversees and the housekeeper is sick so that leaves me alone.

I rejected my friends offer of hanging out with them, I just wanted to be alone with my thoughts. My thoughts are of three things, Asano, my Hanahaki, and when I should tell him about my stupid feelings.

The chances of him reciprocating my feelings are pretty low I know. I mean we barely talk, and when we do, I'm always annoying him and pranking him. He's probably still angry at me because of the water balloon prank

I walked the streets of downtown, one hand in my pocket while the other held the box of strawberry milk that I love so much. I soon reached a bridge.

I leaned against the railing and looked down at the river, behind me, the cars and other vehicles served as white noise.

I thought over when I first realized I liked Gakushu. What was it about him that made me fall for him? I guess, it's him being a hard working person. Despite what others think, nothing is handed to him on a silver platter. He has to work for what he wants. I know becoming the student council president wasn't an easy feat

And I know he's not completely admired and loved by his peers. There are others who are jealous of him, who talk shit about him behind his back. But he doesn't let that get to him, instead he holds his chin high and walk with pride

I love his rare genuine smiles too. Once, I caught him feeding stray cats behind the school, he looked so soft, it was cute. If only he looked at me the same way he looked at those cats, with tenderness and longing.

Wouldn't it be nice if we're together?

I coughed in my hand and when I removed it I saw a few flower petals. I sighed and threw them in the river.

"A penny for your thoughts?"

I whipped my head to the voice and saw Gakushu Asano standing two feet away from me, his bag over his shoulder and a look of rare peacefulness on his handsome face. I smirked, but not in a teasing way because I wanted to preserve that peaceful expression for a while longer.

"Hey, Asano" I acknowledged

"Akabane" he acknowledged back

"Shouldn't you be at home by now? Daddy's gotta be worried" I said nonchalantly. "He doesn't expect me to be home until later because I excused to him that I'll be working in the student council for a few more hours. But I finished early and I don't feel like going home yet" he told me

"Oh? You're being a little rebel" I chuckled. He shrugged and went to stand beside me "No, just don't want to deal with my father's shit" he said. I was surprised to hear him curse, because I've never heard him curse before, I always thought of him as the kind of person to snap "language!" At someone for cursing

"What about you? Why aren't you home yet? And why are you alone? I thought you'd be with friends" he asked me

" 'Home' is just an empty building with no one waiting for me. And I didn't feel like hanging out with my friends" I explained to him. I'm a little surprised we're having such a pleasant conversation.

We were silent for a while, just looking down at the river below us. Then I brought up "Man I'm famished" I said rubbing my stomach, I turned to Gakushu with a smile "Say student council prez you wouldn't happen to have a snack with you or anything?" I batted my eyes and leaned forward. Gakushu rolled his eyes at me and pushed my face away "No, Akabane, I don't have anything on me"

"Aww" I said disappointedly. "But I do know a good restaurant not far from here, come on" he grabbed my hand and started leading me to the restaurant

I looked down at our hands. Does it not bother him we're holding hands? Not that it bothers me though.

I'll enjoy this moment while it lasts

*****************

We got to the restaurant and Gakushu said he was feeling generous so I can order whatever I wanted, he's treating me.

I grinned and ordered beef steak and Pepsi

He ordered a similar one

When our food arrived I didn't bother with table manners and instead wolfed down my food. I heard Gakushu released a scoff and when I looked up, he was smiling at me....fondly. I felt confused but nevertheless happy that he didn't mind my messy eating.

He and I made small talk, he asked me why I pranked him with the water balloons and I told him the reason. "You looked so constipated I wanted to get your mind off of whatever was bothering you"

"And you decided splashing me with water balloons was a good idea?" He looked amused. "All my ideas are good" I defended. Gakushu laughed. I love his laughter

*****************

After dinner we wandered around town. We went to the arcade and played games there. It was like I was on a date with Gakushu. I know I know I shouldn't kid myself but hey, a guy can dream

Next we went to the skate park and watched the teenagers there skating

We didn't realized it was already eight thirty. We were lying on the grass in the park looking up on the night sky. "I had fun" he said to me

"Me too" I said barely above a whisper

I looked at him and saw that he was looking at me. I blushed and turned my head away. Maybe this is it. Should I tell him I like him? Or rather, than I'm in love with him? What if it pushes him away? And we had a really good time together.

I sighed. There's no turning back now

"Asano I have to tell you something" I said seriously. "Hmm? Go on" he said.

"I have the hanahaki disease" I dropped. I saw his eyes widened. "For you. I'm in love with you, I feel this so strongly I ended up getting the disease. At first I thought about getting rid of it, but then I accepted my feelings and...it makes me happy. Thinking about you, dreaming about you, I don't expect you to reciprocate, cows would sooner fly than you feeling the same way"

"In that case cows would be flying soon" he said with a smirk. I was confused "Huh?"

He sat up and loomed over me, his smirk still on his lips "I love you too. Idiot"

He leaned down and captured my lips in his.