=.
a/n: Don't own any of these characters. Haruka's a cutie; I like him better than Konoha/Kuroha, honestly. Yandere males aren't really my thing.
=.
Her thoughts were the ones holding her back the entire time.
His brown eyes close, but when they open again, she swears she sees a thin shimmer of tears. Happy tears, she hopes, because he lunges for her and pulls her into a bone-crushing hug. A hug that feels too strong to be Haruka.
"O-oi!" Takane blushes, the tips of her ears reddening as the blush spreads to her cheeks. "Y-you're squeezing...t-too hard!"
"A-ah," Haruka quickly lets go and scratches his head, his eyes downcast as a furious blush lights his pale face red. "S-sorry, I was just...really happy when you said…" He doesn't continue and if even possible, blushes harder.
Takane heaves a sigh as she feels the blood leave her face. Honestly, she wonders how she has fallen for such a dork. "When I said…?" She just wants him to say it out loud, the secretly shy boy that normally didn't care about what others thought. She wants him to say he likes her, is all. Behind her back, the black-haired girl crosses her fingers and hides a gleeful smile.
"W-when you said…you liked me.." His feet shift and he seems off-balance somehow. Takane gives him a small smile and stretches out her hand.
"I have to know your answer too. Don't leave me hanging," she tilts her head to the side and Haruka glances up with a mixed expression. His mouth opens, then closes, but opens again, like a fish out of water. Blinking, vacant eyes and a fish-mouth. This is what she's fallen in love with.
In her mind, she hits her face with her palm. What an idiot.
"It's not that hard…" Takane starts and takes a step back, her hand dropping. "I said it too… If you don't say anything, I'll take it as a no-"
"W-wait!" Haruka finally speaks up, loud and as a yell of desperation. His brown eyes are wide and he grabs her hand and moves closer, pressing her limp fingers to his chest. Underneath, Takane feels the erratic beating of his heart, very much alive and not the weak thumping of when he was sick.
"I...I like you too...T-Takane…"
In that instant, his courage evaporates and all of a sudden, he regresses back into his shyer state, refusing to meet Takane's eyes. His arms drop to his sides and he's not sure where to look anymore. Blushing. Demure. Suddenly a lady and is she supposed to be the gentleman?
So be it. She steps closer and with a confident hand, cups his cheek and brings his face up. Surprise flashes in his eyes and before he can react, hers have closed and her lips are on his. Warm, slightly chapped, lips molding to hers like puzzle pieces finding their pairs. Takane pulls away before anything more serious happens, because she isn't emotionally prepared for it.
Her lips are still warm from his and when she looks up, she finds Haruka close to her face, his eyes not surprised, but glittering with mirth.
"It wasn't long enough, Takane," he grins and kisses her again, his arms pulling her close to him. Puzzle pieces again. She feels his tongue brush against her lower lip, experimenting. This is new, almost surreal.
When they break apart, they take just a heartbeat's moment to breathe, then they're back at it again.
She took the dive at first and he followed, but before they hit the ground, their wings finally burst from their back.
The sky is the limit.
But there is no sky, Takane smiles happily, genuinely, hugging Haruka close.
Outside the window, two birds flutter, their wings flapping higher and higher, together, their paths crossing so closely, they look like one. Into the sky, into the horizon, they disappear. . .