The Swimming Butterfly (Giyushino Fanfic)

Chapter 16

𝚃𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚘𝚔𝚊 𝙶𝚒𝚢𝚞

I brought my arms to the floor, dog Kocho only inches away from my fingertips. 'Just one more inch and I'll have her.' Extending my right arm, I was able to get a grasp of her coat, slowing her down enough to bring up to my chest. Unfortunately, the act of reaching out my right arm threw me off balance, causing me to stumble forward. Socks on the hardwood floor didn't help as well, not allowing me to create any traction. 

Accepting my fate, I dropped the dog off to the side as to not crush her with my body. Using the minimal time I had left, I extended my arms, trying to stop myself from crashing into the floor or wall face-first. 

My hands collided with the wall, creating a massive thud. Instead of resting in the air untouched, my face was leaning against something boney with a soft thin exterior. I tilted my head forward, only to find a red Kocho. 'Another blushing Kocho. I wonder when I'll see a new side to her.' 

"What...what do you think you are doing?" Suppressing her blush, she raised a fist in the air, smiling sinisterly. 

"I lost balance and fell into your chest. I'm sorry. I promise I had no exterior motive." I responded earnestly into her chest. 

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𝙺𝚘𝚌𝚑𝚘 𝚂𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚘𝚋𝚞

'This man...this idiot really apologized while his face is buried in my chest.' Just as he finished apologizing, Mitsuri walked in, completely blind to the situation. "Shinobu! You were just assigned to a mission today. Guess who your partner is! It's Tomioka! Can you believe your luck! I hope you guys get even closer today!" Finally done speaking, she looked around the room, noticing Tomioka laying on my chest. Upon seeing him rest on my breasts, she quickly spun around and walked out of the room. She whispered a quick apology before running out and giving me the thumbs-up sign. 

"It seems we have a mission together tonight." He lifted himself up, brushing the dust off of his legs and hands. "Let's work well together." He bowed before leaving me alone, his dog trailing closely behind. 

Sighing, I curled up against my knees, sinking my face into them. 'Didn't he say he loved me? Why does he still treat me as usual? Shouldn't we be getting closer than before? Is he tired of me?' Thoughts of insecurity and self-doubt flooded my mind, forcing everything else out. 

After a few minutes of dark, brooding thoughts, I snapped out of it, clapping my cheeks to cheer myself up. "Today will be the day where we will act like lovers! There's nothing wrong with that right? He already confessed to me. It's all fine." Patting my cheeks one last time, I got up and made my way to my bedroom, humming as I strolled through the halls. 

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The sun had begun to set, no longer protecting Japan from the beasts that roamed the country. I walked out to the courtyard to meet up with Tomioka, who was standing stiffly against a wall. His signature frown rested on his face, his brows slightly furrowed. He stared at the floor, refusing to look up as I approached. His fists were clenched, his nails digging into his skin. 'I wonder what he's so nervous about?'

"Ara ara, Tomioka, you know you have to look at people when they approach you right?" I laughed and pat him on the back. "It's common courtesy. You must have never learned this because you are always alone. You should be grateful that there's someone as kind and compassionate as me teaching you these basic things."

Silently, he began to walk without me, forcing me to jog to catch up. Quiet was the only word to describe our trek, neither of us uttering a word. Tomioka was the one to break the stillness unlike usual. He brushed his hand against mine, eventually lacing his fingers in between mine. Shocked at his boldness, I looked up at him. 'A blushing and assertive Tomioka... a rare sight to see. I should engrave this into my mind.' I gazed at his face before looking down at our intertwined hands, taking in the pleasant sight an sensation.