Growing Feelings -Io X Tsumiki FanFic -

Chapter 8 - Everything feels Hot.

To say that this walk was a bit awkward would be an understatement. Neither of them said a single word, unsure of what to say or talk about. Tsumiki mentally scolded herself, and decided at that very moment that it was now or never. This had to be the moment where she gave him his scarf.

"Uhm--" "Tsu--" they both started, as both Io and Tsumiki turned to face each other. Well. Turned out Io wanted to say something too. The two blushed in slight embarrassment from stopping each other's sentences. As if the atmosphere wasn't awkward enough.

"Y-you can go first, Tsumiki." said Io.

"A-ah..you can speak first." Tsumiki insisted shyly.

"I insist." Io looked into her eyes, showing that his decision was set.

Tsumiki's face warmed at a dangerous temperature. She was afraid, but she had to. She must. She had to say it.

"U-um..." she fumbled around in her school bag, pulling out the dreaded paper bag that she had been holding onto for nearly a week. She held it out, looking anywhere but at him.

"H-here...i-it's your...scarf." she mumbled quietly. "I'm sorry that I kept it for so long.."

Tsumiki held her breath. She hadn't the foggiest idea how Io would react. Given the silence, he was probably upset at her for keeping it for a while. She couldn't bear to look at him.

Io was speechless. He had no idea why, but he was. Io never thought that Tsumiki would give it back to her, for he didn't mind if she really kept it. But this simple kind gesture that she did for him..he couldn't refuse. He slowly took the small bag from her hands, and pulled the scarf out. It was even cleaned and ironed, and it seemed like it was taken in such care even though it was a plain old scarf. He couldn't help but blush at how cute it was. How darn cute she was.

He chuckled, smiling gently at her. Io suddenly did something that he'd never though he would ever do, especially towards Tsumiki. He pulled her into a small hug, wrapping his arm around the small of her back, and another around her shoulder. Tsumiki's heart skyrocketed. She was rendered absolutely speechless. Even more than Io, obviously.

"Thank you Tsumiki," said Io as he pulled away. He suddenly noticed Tsumiki was unresponsive. He realised the recklessness of what he just did. Crap. He blushed in embarrassment. That was...a very bold and brash move. Was it too far? Definitely too far. 

Tsumiki was flabbergasted. Dumbfounded. Speechless. Any other word that  meant shock, surprise; complete and utter joy. It was as if her body was in complete shut down. Her cheeks felt so damn hot. Everything felt hot. It was as if someone had poured a full bucket of molten lava all over her body. But it wasn't an unpleasant feeling in the least. Io Otonashi, one of the most thick-headed, dense, oblivious people she had ever known, had hugged her. Hugged. Her. She knew, that this gesture wasn't a gesture of friendliness. Out of all the times she saw or hung out with him, Io never hugged as a friendly gesture. Well, at least she thought it wasn't. But..there was a possibility that this gesture wasn't friendly but..something more perhaps? The thought of that sent her heart to the flipping moon. But she didn't want to assume on just something that Io had did once. And by the look on his face, it seemed like he regretted that action. 

"I-I'm sorry," Io mumbled, trying to keep his composure and refrain from melting into a blubbering pile of embarrassment and shame. "I shouldn't have done that..you must have..not liked it. It was very brash of me. Sorry." 

Tsumiki was shocked. So...the reason Io being that way..was not because of her, but because of him? He thought SHE didn't like it? So that meant that...Io wanted to do that? Tsumiki couldn't hold it in. She let out a small chuckle. So that was the reason Io felt bad. She gave Io a small, warm smile, finally able to look up into his brown eyes. 

"Io, you dummy. Of course I liked it." 

She didn't have to say anything more as she went to hug him once more. 

Now Io was the one who was rendered speechless. Knowing Tsumiki, she wasn't at all the type to do such actions either. She was like a cat: reserved, shy, quiet, has the tendency to lash out when annoyed. But this was definitely out of her character. And knowing the fact that he was the reason for it, made him a bit happier. But then again, Io thought, they were really both freaking out over a simple hug, so anything more that Io imagined would be...no. He shouldn't think about that. Tsumiki was too fragile, too cute to break. He didn't want to hurt her with such desires...such as...kissing. The mere thought of it made Io blush tenfold. This was very bad of him to think about. He'd think about such things..later. Well, more like never again. Tsumiki couldn't possibly like him in..that way. Could she?

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Aaaaaaa finallyyyyyy I update at last QWQ I'm sorry for keeping ya guys waiting for so long! School and stuff has me busy... And I tend to be forgetful sometimes ehee.. But I'm grateful that you guys enjoy this fan fic, and not to be self promoting or anything, but I'd really appreciate if you read my (crappy) original works as well! I'd love to see what you guys think, and what I should do to improve! ^^

TheKawaiiAlyssa