lipstick || ushijima wakatoshi

5

They started seeing each other to drinks at least twice a month (Ushijima now looked after his alcohol intake and made sure to only have one to two drinks). It was Kanai who asked him to join her when Ushijima found her drinking alone in the same restobar.  The next time they drank together, it was him who asked her out as drinking buddies.

There was a pattern with their dates. When there was a need for a drinking buddy, either one would ask the other out.

It's the third month they've been drinking together and three months since they've kissed, and this time felt different.

"You know there was this guy approaching me outside campus. Of course it's nothing new, but the guy was a pervert! He touched my butt!" Kanai was telling him an event that happened a day ago with exaggerated expressions and gestures, something that came along with her drunkenness.

His expression turned a little dark. He wanted to spike a ball to the face of the person who thought that Kanai was unworthy of decency and respect.

"What was his name?"

"Oh no need looking like murdering someone Ushijima-kun. I beat him up myself!" And then Kanai laughed loudly like a sadistic maniac.

Ushijima became confused.

"I never told you about it?" She asked him.

He raised a brow at her and ask, "Tell me what?"

"I am a mixed martial artist! Jiujitsu's my thing! Hell if you only met my mother, who taught me how to box first, then would you feel the creeps from the kind of glare she gives you. Back to the story, he even held me close to him! So I stumped the stilettos I was wearing on his converse and kicked his knees. Ah did you know that a woman's core of balance is at her lower abdomen? That makes our kicks really strong. At first I wanted to kick his balls, but I don't really want to indirectly touch a stranger's thingy." He takes note the stranger part. He mentally slapped himself for this. Other than that, she was pretty talkative for someone who's drunk.

The reason why he kept agreeing to meet up with her  was because that he really liked to listen to her stories or to whatever she had to tell.

He liked the comfort he felt with her presence.

"I didn't know that."

"Yeah right. You're a flat-earther!"

"I am not. Don't change the topic. Did you get this pervert in jail or did they file something against you? Self-defense isn't a thing here, its laws are messed up."

"I am lucky to be wearing my mask that day. Trust me. He won't recognize me and he'll make sure he won't. So how about you? How's your week?"

"I wasn't busy and I spent my freetime training." He said then took a sip.

Kanai pouted, "That's it? Man you're a great listener but certainly not a storyteller."

"I rather listen to you."

Kanai looks down to avoid getting to flustered from his gaze when she says, "It's fine, no one listens to me the way you do anyway." Upon saying this, Ushijima felt special to her and she felt special to him. It was his turn to turn pink.

"It's only fair that I tell you something that's not volleyball. Do you want to know anything?" He asks.

"Maybe we should stick with volleyball first. I mean when's the next season starting? I am kind of excited to see you play. I bet it's near and if that's the case then I am telling you that I already miss you!" Oh how she hates the things that slip on her tongue when she gets a taste of alcohol. He smiles at this one though.

"I'll be gone starting the third week of next month."

"Next month? That's so soon." He doesn't like it when she looks sad.

"Then pray we win it easy. We'd get more free time without worrying for matches we have to make up for when we lose."

"Well I am praying that you better! If you do then, then I'll probably see you more often." She doesn't know how their conversation started becoming a little sentimental, and she totally feels that she's already warm and red. She hopes that he would think it's because of the whisky. His heart on the other hand felt like exploding inside his ribcage.

"Do you have anything planned on the third Saturday of next month?"

"If there's one thing to know about me, then it's never making plans. So yeah I'm free. Why?"

"I can give you two tickets to watch my game. You can bring a friend if you want to." It was her turn to have her heart explode.

"Why not? I'd love to."

The two kept talking, mostly Kanai. Their topics ranged from volleyball to her badass mother, to mysteries about Earth, and to shitty professors in their university. They kept talking and talking until Kanai reached her limit and passed out. This was another part of their drinking routine.

Ushijima would carry her and drive her to her own home. When he already had her sitting down on her bed, he would help her remove her own make-up. He doesn't even know why he bothers with it. He can just leave her alone for all he cares, but one thing forsure is that he wants her to be comfortable in her sleep. He even puts a glass of water on her bedside table before he leaves.

Yet before he could even do all that while entering her home with Kanai on his back, they were greeted by a woman who seemed to look in her 40s due to her great physique.

"Oh my Kami! Is that Asami?" The woman asks.

"Yes, who are you?" Ushijima asks before putting her down on her sofa.

"Jeez, my daughter never told her boyfriend about her mother?" He turned red yet again.

"I am not her boyfriend." He says, trying to keep a stoic face.

"Really? Well it seems like its headed there anyway." Ushijima didn't know how to respond so he kept quiet instead.

"Cat got your tongue kid? I was only joking! Sorry if I made you uncomfortable with such embarrassing comment." This woman infront of him looked nothing like Kanai, but they talked the same way even with the intonations.

"It's fine."

"Ah, can you help me with something?"

"Sure. What is it?"

"Carry her to her bed while I prepare a sponge bath and pajamas for her. You can leave afterwards." He carries her and carefully puts her down. He leaves the room and sees Kanai's mother.

"Excuse me Kanai-san, I'll be heading out now."

"Oh sure. Get home safely and thanks for bringing my daughter home safe!" And before heading out, Ushijima bows down and finally leave the house.