Blue Spring Tragedy | Kou Mabuchi x Reader

16: Touch

( F / n )

"Is your arm getting better?"

My fingers gently traced over bruised skin.

"Yeah, it is."

"That's good."

We were left sitting in silence. The only other company we had apart from each other was the wind passing by us, caressing the leaves and cherry blossoms as it passed by. Shaded under a large tree, Touma and I sat on a wooden bench, our bento boxes already packed away in our bags.

Both Uchimiya and Tachibana left, saying that they needed to use the bathroom (truth was, Tachibana was the only one who needed to use to bathroom. Uchimiya was dragged along with him), leaving Touma and I alone with each other.

"Does it still hurt?" I asked, hand still grazing the blue-black mark on his pale skin.

"Not as much as before," he answered, watching me. "But it'll heal soon, don't worry."

"How can I not worry?" I questioned, looking up at him. "You're an important person to me, of course I'd worry."

"Eh?"

I stopped for a moment, realising what I'd just said.

"Ah—by that, I mean that—that you're my closest friend so of course you're important to me." I laughed awkwardly, removing my hand from his arm. I could already feel the heat rising to my cheeks.

Turning away so that he couldn't see, I focused my attention on what was sprouting from the ground—weeds. How lovely.

"Oh. Yeah, don't worry, I understand." Touma sounded somewhat disappointed, but maybe he was just confused as to why I spun away from him. His tone lightened. "You're important to me too, just so you know."

"Thanks," I muttered quietly.

Silence enveloped us.

"You still haven't called me yet."

"Hm?"

"I gave you my phone number." Touma reminded me. "You still haven't called me for anything yet."

That's because I don't know what to say. I get too embarrassed to try and talk to you.

"I'm beginning to wonder whether you didn't want my number at all..."

"No, you're wrong—I'm happy that I got your number!" I suddenly exclaimed. "I just... don't know what to talk about if I call you."

"You can talk to me about anything. We've been talking about a lot of things ever since we met. What makes phone calls different?"

It'd be strange to hear your voice so close to my ear. I wouldn't be able to speak.

"Well, I haven't had many phone calls before, so I wouldn't know what to say."

"I don't mind what you say, I'll listen to you." he noted, his voice diminishing into a quiet one, almost like a whisper of the wind. "I just want to hear your voice."

My heart rocketed up to my throat.

I glanced to my side and saw that Touma—kind, caring, funny Touma—was the one looking away now. The only evidence that proved he was blushing was the tips of his ears, which were burning bright red. He tried burying his face in the collar of his shirt, but it didn't work as well as he hoped it would.

First, I thought that he was going to say something to clear up his statement. After finding nothing but silence to answer me, I stayed quiet, happiness firing up my heart.