Wish their friendship will last forever and ever.

[My Sweet Roomies] Chapter 23 - A Happy Day

Aki Momohara's Route

It's the day our date. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Natsume." Aki arrived. Our meeting spot is the entrance to a large shopping mall, a short distance from the local train. It's a famous date . 'Don't forget, this is just to help her create her character. There's no deeper meaning..' I said to myself. But I can't help wondering why she would pick this place on purpose.
"Natsume! What are you woolgathering about!" Aki said. Aki is holding my hand. When we went to the amusement park, she so taken a back by that. I'm still suprised as Aki pulls me along. "We're going into that store! They have really cute stuffed animals." Aki said. 'Somehow Aki seems really gleeful today!?' I said to myself.

The first store we go into has rows of stuffed animals as display. Aki pulls me toward one particularly large one in the middle. "Look, look! Isn't that one cute?" Aki said. "It's cute, I guess, but what is it? Some kind of monster?" I said to her. "What are you saying? It's a cat, of course." Aki answer me. "A..a cat!?" I open-wide my eyes. So this is what Aki thinks is cute.. suddenly I realized that Aki is starung at my face. "There!" Suddenly she pushes my face into the face of the giant stuffed cat(?). "Phft! Wh..what are you doing!." I said to her. "Hahaha!? That will teach you not to pay attention!" Aki said. Urgh, it feels like I've kissed a stuffed animal. I look away from Aki for a second. When I look back, her face is buried in the stuffed cat, and she's squeezing it tightly. "Aki? What is it?" I ask her. Aki raises her face buriedly from the stuffed animal to the animal. Her face suprisingly red. "It's n.. nothing! I didn't do anything!" Aki said. Aki returns the giant stuffed animal to the shelf and grabs my hand again. 'What the heck was that..?' I said to my mind. After that, we walk around the shopping mall for awhile. "H..hey, now that I think of it..." suddenly Aki speaks to me. "Hmm? What?" I ask her. "Do.. you.." 'Hmm? Huh? Aki's face is red again..?' I said to my mind. "Natsume.. Is there anyone you like?"

At her unexpected question, my voice shakes. "Wh..Wha.. What do you want to know so suddenly!?" I said . "No particular reason. I just wondered.. well..?" She siaid to me. 'What do you mean by!?' I said to myself. Up until now, Aki and I have never talked about things like that. 'Is there someone that I like..? Maybe?' My thought. But I can't say that to her. "Well, do you have a type?" She asked. "Oh! I don't know.. I don't have a type, I guess .. if I like someone, she is my type.." I stammed out an answer. "H-hmph.. I see.." Aki turns red and looks down, seemingly deep in thought. Something draws me closer to her fragile-seeming face.. 'somehow Aki seems very impulsive, and even cuter! What's going on here..?' My thought.

After that, we comtinue walking around the shopping mall. My heart is still beating faster than usual. Suddenly it's evening, we end the day sitting on a bench in a nearby park. "Whew! I had a lot of fun today!" Aki said. "Hahaha.., it makes me happy to hear you say that." I said to her. "I just pulled you around all around - I hope you didn't mind?" Aki laugh happily. 'Wait.. she wouldn't ask me if I minded, wouldn't she?' My thought. Aki really is acting differently than usual. 'What is going on here..? I want ask her, but what would I say...? ' I said to myself. The two of us just sit there in companionable silence. Just then .. 'what?!' I hold my breath without thinking. "A..Aki!?" I feel a weight on my shoulder. When I look Aki is resting her head on my shoulder.

Chapter 24 - world-changing day

"What's wrong..!?" I asked her. "Aki.." I look at her. "I feel so happy.. You go along with me even when I'm being Selfish, you treat me as though I'm important to you.. I didn't know that, that was all you needed to be happy." She said. 'What is she saying' I said to myself. But as she murmurs under her breath, Aki seems very happy. But just as I think this, her eyes narrow in loneliness. "I'd be OK with you wouldn't I, Natsume?" She said. "What?" I'm confused when she say like that. "You wouldn't leave me like that other person did." Before I can ask what she means, Aki lifts her head, and looks directly at me. Her face is red, but she seems to have resolved herself to say something.
"Natsume.."

Aki and I look at each other silently. Finally, her face ia red, Aki speaks "I.. there's something that I have to tell you, Natsume." She said. "What ..?" I said to her. "Natsume, I.. Natsume, I..!? Like you.." I can't breathe. Looking straigght into my eyes, Aki continue.. "I don't know when it hapoened. But when I think you, my heart hurts.." Aki looks down in embarrasment. The atmosphere alone tells me that she's not joking. "So, I want you to tell me.. what do you feel about me?" She asked me.
"A.." My hearts is beating so fast, I really do think it might explode. "I.. I.." My voice is full of emotion. "I.. I like you, too!?" I really say it to her. "Really..? She ask. "Y..Yes..!?" I answer her. "I'm so happy.." Aki's face blossoms into a smile. I feel as though I might drown in her joyful eyes. We both call our names each other and for a few seconds, we just stare into each other's eyes. Slowly, I place my hands on her shoulders. She starts a little but doesn't pull away. "..OK..?" Aki slowly closes her eyes. "A..Aki.." I can hear my heart pounding, as though it has a life its own. I slowly lower my faces to Aki's.

"A.. Aki.." Aki closes her eyes tightly. My lips draw closer to Aki's .. And then, I kiss .. "..!? Wai.. wait just a minute! Stop!"
Just as I'm about to kiss her, Aki pulls back abruptly. "Wh.. what?" Red-faced, Aki looks at me with a troubled expression. Then she looks away, seeming apologethic. "S.. sorry.. I just.. I'm not ready for that!?" She said. "What..Why?" I ask. " I .. I have to prepare myself mentally first.
... ...
"Whaaaaaat!?"

To be continue ..