shout out your love! now, hero!

[bilocation]

[It wasn't entirely for his sake that she did it. After all, she did have an image to upkeep, and any unwanted attention was bound to hurt both of them. 'Dating.' Right. That's not what this is.

Whatever it is.

After shaking off the last of her friends, B-ko rounded the corner and snapped open her cellphone.]

I told you I'd do it. You owe me for this one.

[The sky was darkening. She made up some excuse to her parents that she'd be out late, studying. She didn't feel like going home quite yet. Not until she shook him down on this.]

Comments

[bilocation]

Shut up! I'll sock you in the stomach!!! [SHAKES HARDER BECAUSE THAT SOLVES IT RIGHT?]

[unconfirmed]

[Oh my god he's too weak for this he's going to get whiplash.]

It's not like I care what you're into so you don't have to do it to me.

[bilocation]

[She stops shaking because. She's just proving his point isn't she?! What a jerk. A goddamn jerk she really shouldn't have invited him over in the first place?!]

Who says I'm doing anything for you?

[unconfirmed]

[A-ya happens to be rubbing his head from all that shaking, so it's hard to see what expression he has when he speaks.]

...I wonder why you invited me here then. Didn't you say I owe you?

[bilocation]

[... that's right. She told him to come here because she wanted to get something from him. But after he riled her up like that, she isn't sure if she wants to go ahead with it. B-ko squares her shoulders, folds her arms across her chest.]

You do. I wanted you remember that.

[unconfirmed]

[He tips his head slightly, watching her closely.]

I remember. I have a debt to B-ko's work. So...?

[bilocation]

[It's so stupid. It's just A-ya.]

I don't like you. [As if that answers everything, she slides a little closer, glancing at him from the corner of her eyes.]

[unconfirmed]

[A-ya blinks once. That's a strange move. 'I don't like you' followed by moving close and looking at him like that?]

We're not friends.

[bilocation]

Of course we aren't! [He gets what she's trying to hint at, right? Does she have to put her hand close to his or something...? Fine, she'll do that.] I didn't say that, did I?

[unconfirmed]

[He glances down at her hand and his confused expression remains, though it's obvious he's thinking on it. Is she... trying to...?

It seems so impossible but there's no harm in asking. Anyway, her reaction would be funny.]

Is the famous B-ko coming onto me?

[bilocation]

[It's said so bluntly that she can't help but blush a little. Even so, she tries to cover it up by snatching her hand back and shouting.]

Don't put it that way!

[unconfirmed]

[Wait what just happened??]

So what way would you put it?

1/2

[bilocation]

[THIS IS REALLY STUPID GOD SO STUPID IT'S DUMB AND HER FEELINGS ARE DUMB EVERYTHING SUCKS SHE DOESN'T EVEN GET WHY SHE'S TRYING?]

i lied 2/3

[bilocation]

[Calm down. She's in control. He isn't that oblivious, is he? He's not going to make her spell it out... right? C'mon, that's just.

Look, if she just...]

[bilocation]

[... kind of leaned in close to him to make her point that works right?? If she scowls enough it offsets what he said earlier. Right?!] I'm not flirting with you. It's not like that at all.

[There. Good. Nailed it.]

[unconfirmed]

[Oh, she's very close. And she keeps saying things like that but they doesn't match her actions. So...

A-ya has very, very obviously never had a girl want to kiss him.]

...Should I kiss you now?

[bilocation]

[Finally he got it.]

... with how long you've been making me wait, maybe you should let me wait some more. No duh.

[A little quieter, as if she's worried that someone'll hear:] Of course you should.

[unconfirmed]

Oh.

[For once, he doesn't have his smirk or his disinterested look. In fact, his expression is one a normal, very confused and possibly a little shy teenage boy might wear if a very beautiful girl who they like suddenly wanted them to kiss them.

So does he just... lean in and put his lips on hers? Is that how it works? He's pale enough that the thought shades his cheeks the lightest pink.

What is he supposed to do...?

A-ya glances down, licking his lips a little. A dry kiss seems unfortunate so it'll help, right? Then he looks back up at her. Those perfect, soft-looking cherry blossom petals that are her lips still look the same now.

His hand rests on hers as he leans forward and softly presses his mouth against those lips.]

[bilocation]

[Her own heart's beating too loudly and too fast for her to bear. Even though she repeats to herself--it's only A-ya, A-ya's a jerk, he doesn't even know how to kiss a girl--it doesn't steady her nerves one bit. She hasn't kissed anyone before, either. She's seen enough TV to figure out how it should go, though. Some part of her is protesting, shouting, ahh, is she really going to give her first kiss to a guy like this?! But it's quieter than it normally would be with their faces close.

It's that look that catches her off guard. B-ko's never seen it on his face before and... is he blushing, too? Like this, he... actually doesn't look too bad despite his pasty complexion. That shade suits him.

She doesn't pull her hand away when he puts his on top. Surprisingly, despite their chapped texture, his lips are softer than she thought. It's not like she's thought about this sort of scenario before--! But it's remarkably different from what she expected.

B-ko doesn't move her mouth. She holds the kiss, closing her eyes to focus on the sensation. Silently, she counts in her head.

One... two... three...

After five, she leans back, face flushed.]

... well?

[unconfirmed]

[A-ya blinks a few times after she pulls away to get his bearings back. It was just a kiss but he's never had one and it was...strangely pleasant. Is that the reason people do it so much? It was chaste but still so appealing.

Ah. Wait, no, she wants an opinion? He forces his mind back into its usual state of analysis and tilts his head slightly.]

...Your lips are even nicer than they look. [No one knows the evaluations of their personal appearance that go on in his head. He forgets that for just a moment.] It felt like being caressed by something just a little silky but more natural.

[bilocation]

[It's a nice compliment? It's wrapped up in his usual analytical bullshit so it's hard to tell... or is he making fun of her again?! He wouldn't make fun of her after a kiss like that, would he? Especially not a first kiss!

'Silky but more natural?' It sounds so stupid. It shouldn't make her face color like this. She shouldn't be so flustered at such a dumb line. It's lame.]

Don't put it in such a weird way! Just say if you want another one or not!

[unconfirmed]

[Lucky for her, A-ya goes back to looking dumbfounded.]

...I can have another one?

[So. She wants to kiss him multiple times? Then, doesn't that mean the first one was good to her? He didn't think it would reach her standard but if she hasn't kissed before, then maybe she has no standard. That makes sense.]

[bilocation]

[She doesn't get it. How did the jerk she was talking to earlier transform into... into whatever this is? It makes no sense. Did this guy really live under a rock? After all the hints she tried dropping--

Or maybe she was terrible at this. Maybe she wasn't being direct enough. Was that it? This was horrible.

--no, why is she trying to give herself a pep talk over some almost hikiNEET virgin?!]

I-I'm giving you the option, aren't I?!

[unconfirmed]

I suppose so.

[So, she doesn't like him. They aren't friends. She isn't flirting with him. But he owes her this...? Did he miss something? Why would she want to kiss him in that case?

His confusion overwhelms him because there isn't an answer that makes sense. So he blurts it out.]

I'm not attractive. I know that. I look tired constantly with circles under my eyes and I'm too pale. Even if I didn't, I would be ordinary and nothing more.

[bilocation]

... you're irritating.

[If he wants the truth, she'll give him the truth. Does he want her to justify a kiss to him? Even thinking about her feelings gives her a headache. She doesn't want to focus on the tangled mess pounding in her heart.

It's so stupid.]

I want to be 'ordinary' for a bit. I don't have to explain anything to you.