Disclaimer: I do not own anything.
"Aaah!"
As she stood up, Toujo's natural clumsiness kicked in, causing her to trip over the chair and fall.
Without hesitation, Manaka jumped up and grabbed onto her, but it was too late to stop her fall, and instead, the both of them went tumbling down onto the floor.
They ended up sitting on the ground, with Manaka's hands wrapped tightly around her waist.
He sat there for a moment, unmoving. Then, he grabbed her closer and tighter to him.
After a few moments of silence, she responded to his strange actions.
"Um... you... could let go of me now... I'm fine, Manaka-kun..."
She wasn't looking at him, but she could feel his head , which has been resting on her shoulder, turning towards her.
She could feel his breath on her ear, and it suddenly made her feel uncomfortably warm.
"Manaka-"
"What would you do... if I tell you that I want to stay like this and not let go?"
His actions made it very hard for her to concentrate on his words, but her body went rigid as she took in what he said.
He's... he's acting so...bold... I... what exactly do I want?
She turned towards him, and while she was still rather disorientated by what he was doing and what he had said, she beamed at him.
"I'll... say that... I'll like that too..."
His smile wavered. It looked as though it was very difficult for him to say it.
"Aya... I love you."
"I... I love you too, Manaka-kun..."
He let go of her and stood up, before extending a hand to her. She grabbed on and he pulled her up.
He suddenly looked painfully shy.
"I-I-I'm s-s-sorry I did that... but I just couldn't pass up that chance... I'm sorry..."
She put a finger to his lips.
"There's nothing to be sorry for... at least now... we both know, right?"
He looked right into her eyes, thanking her silently, and smiled gratefully.
"Yeah."
A/N: Man, it's bloody hard to write when you haven't been in love before.