The Aoba Johsai Chronicles

longing

the morning light streamed in through the window, delicately filtering through the curtains and casting a warm, golden glow that danced across the cluttered room.

as iwaizumi gradually stirred from his slumber, the gentle caress of the sun's rays brushed against his eyelids, coaxing them open. with a sleepy blink, he surveyed his surroundings, momentarily disoriented by the unfamiliar ceiling above him.

a soft gasp escaped his lips as he became fully aware of the weight resting upon him, anchoring him to the present moment.

his gaze lowered to behold kamine, nestled comfortably on top of him, her form peaceful in sleep. her hand lay softly over his heart, a reminder of the passionate connection they had shared the night before.

feeling her warmth against his skin, iwaizumi couldn't help but marvel at the serenity of the moment. kamine's rhythmic breaths brushed lightly against his chest, sending a pleasant tingle down his spine. tentatively, his fingers hovered over hers, hesitant to disturb her slumber yet yearning for the reassurance of her touch.

in the quiet stillness of the morning, uncertainty lingered in the air. the events of the previous night hung between them, a silent question mark waiting to be addressed.

'maybe she hates me for what i did last night...' slowly but surely, he begins to doubt himself, the negative thoughts snowballing until he was finally slipping out of the bed.

as quietly as he could, he dressed himself again, his heart heavy as he turns to leave. he hesitates in the doorway, unable to stop himself from turning back to press one last, lingering kiss against her soft, parted lips before he leaves.

•

kamine slowly emerges from her sleep, her eyes fluttering open, greeted by the soft glow of morning light filtering through the curtains. for a moment, everything seemed fine until she reached out, realizing that the warmth she'd been clinging to the whole night was gone.

'iwaizumi... did he... leave?' confusion flooded her mind as she sat up, her heart pounding with a mixture of slight disappointment and disbelief.

she looks around the room, spotting her clothes on the floor and their finished history project on her desk. everything was in place, except for iwaizumi.

tears welled up in her eyes, trying desperately to hold them back as she aches with the sting of rejection.

'ah, it was nothing more than just a fleeting moment. we were both acting on instinct, after all. so why... why does it hurt so much?'

in the midst of her turmoil, she couldn't help but wonder what she'd done wrong, what flaw in her being had driven him away.

'stop thinking about him. stop it. it felt good for a moment but that was it. there was nothing going on between us in the first place. it shouldn't be bothering me this much... it still hurts though...'

•

upon entering the meeting room, matsukawa immediately sensed an unfamiliar atmosphere. normally, the student council president would greet him with a clever remark or a playful jab, setting the tone for their interactions. yet, today, there was a palpable tension in the air, a silence that felt heavy and oppressive.

his gaze fell upon the president, who stood by the window, her back turned to him. instead of her usual commanding presence, she seemed lost in thought, her gaze fixed on some distant point outside. leaning against the wooden window sill, she appeared almost vulnerable, her usually sharp wit replaced by an air of introspection.

matsukawa couldn't help but feel a sense of concern gnawing at him as he approached her. Something was clearly amiss.

he walked towards her slowly, careful not to startle her too much as he pressed himself against her back, his arms wrapping around her middle as he rests his chin on her shoulder.

he could feel her flinch and tense up in his hold before she slowly relaxes against him. "hey, princess. i missed you." no answer. "you didn't even call me after i left for the away games."

"i don't have your number."

"is that the only reason?"

"...why are you here, matsukawa?"

he pulls away from her and turns her around to face him, keeping her back pressed against the glass of the window. "i told you, i missed you."

kamine rolls her eyes and crosses her arms, trying to act nonchalant. but he could see the tips of her ears turning red as she looks away from him.

with a coy smile, he leans in closer and tucks a stray strand of her black hair behind her ear, watching her breath hitch. "i heard it, y'know? your call with makki. i've to say... i'm quite jealous."

"y-you were listening? i thought he was... alone"

"he was. i was eavesdropping." he chuckled as she suddenly narrows her eyes in a glare.

"does makki know?"

"nope. he doesn't."

"would he be... angry, if he knew?"

"nah, makki isn't like that. i can't say the same about me though."

kamine gulps softly as she watched matsukawa's eyes slowly darken with just, his pupils blown wide. "wh-what do you mean?"

he steps even closer, until her chest was squished against his and her back was now flush against the window. dipping his head down, he nips at her earlobe before whispering. "it means i'm fucking mad at you, princess."