Ch2 - Romance in the Library

Summary: Hanamaru knows the definition of love and have read many romance books, but she's not entirely sure she understands and wants to confirm if what she's feeling for You is love.

Author Notes

Italics are stories that Maru read and she's remembering them, or they are thoughts. :)

May you enjoy~ :D


The princess who was finally free from the stiff traditions and restrictions of the royal family skips through her town smiling, waving to citizens who returns the wave as energetically. She stops mid skip when she notices a familiar and warm silhouette two metres ahead, a grin pulls high as her heart begins to race faster.

"You-kun!" The princess jumps the unexpecting knight who simply smiles gently to her; causing her heart to skip and a blush to cover her cheeks and ears. "What are you smiling at?"

The knight's smile broadens, his pearly whites so pure as his love for the princess. His strong hands guided the princess from behind to the front in his arms – a protective hold. "My kingdom, my love, my princess."

The princess rings her hand around the knight's neck. "Show me you love me."

The knight gladly obliged as he leaned in, meeting the princess halfway. Their lips met and their hearts beat in sync. "I love you, princess."

"I love you, You-kun."

Hanamaru closes the book to another romance novel she picked up from the selection of recommendations she got from the school's library and her senior, Riko who suggested some romance manga/doujin for her to read and reference.

"This was a heart-warming story where a princess shackled by her kingdom's laws is saved by her loyal knight so that the two can do their best to re-establish their kingdom to one of upright laws and healthy towns, while they fall in love in the process…and be together…affirmed with a kiss…zura…" The avid book reader releases a soft sigh of satisfaction she felt from the good read, but her hand lingered above the book as she wore a lonely and thoughtful expression.

I wonder what love really feels like, zura. And why did I think of You-chan as I read the story…

Hanamaru glances over to a thin manga titled "Kiss and Love" that a certain auburn haired pianist passed to her with heart-filled eyes and told Hanamaru that this book was a good, straightforward telling of true and sweet love. And not disappointing, Hanamaru turned red in the face many times while reading and have come to a conclusion that it is through kisses that love is understood and conveyed.

The characters in "Kiss and Love" really don't hold back in getting intimate…

The brunette flips the book open to a random page as she remembered the scene.

"You-chan! Do you really love me?" Maru shouts, tears at the brim of her eyes as she clutched her skirt tightly.

You blinks her own set of tears away, though futile as more filled her eyes. "Of course, I do!"

Maru moves to turn away but is swiftly stopped in the next panel in which You cups Maru's face with one hand and the other pulling Maru from the waist, closer to her. Maru's eyes widens, the tears glistening and falling from her eyes as You kisses her.

Separating in the next page, You rests her head on Maru's, a tearful smile on her face. "I love you, Maru. Don't ever think otherwise."

"You-chan…I love you too!" Maru rubs her tears away haphazardly before leaning in to nuzzle their noses as they always do. You reciprocating.

Hanamaru sighs forlornly. "Their love really is sweet…but why did I imagine myself and You-chan again, zura..!"

The book lover that was red in the face was about to shut the book when the sound of the door opening and closing caught her attention. She looks up to see You grinning sheepishly at her. "You-chan?"

Ah, I can't stop looking at her lips, zura.

"Hey, Hanamaru-chan. Sorry to intrude. But I'm a little exhausted from being stopped by many girls." The ash-brunette gave a short laugh as she lifted a bag containing the many chocolates she received this Valentine's Day.

The librarian shakes her head and gave her senior an understanding smile. "You're not intruding at all. Feel free to rest here."

You-chan really is popular…I only received chocolates from Ruby-chan, Dia-chan and Yoshiko-chan… And I know they are obligatory chocolates, while Yoshiko-chan's are for her rituals…

Hanamaru could not help but giggle as she imagined Yoshiko all dressed in her black robe and magic circle drawn, starts chanting something to the bags of chocolates bought before she gives them out.

"What's got you laughing, Hanamaru-chan?" The second year makes herself comfortable at a table close to the counter the first year was behind.

Yellow eyes focused onto the ash-brunette smiling at her, and again, she found it hard to not look away from those lips. The smile was calming somehow.

You-chan has a beautiful smile…zura.

"Ah, well…I was thinking that Yoshiko-chan probably "cursed" the chocolates before she gave them to me." Hanamaru stands from her seat and goes over to where You is, preferring to sit closer.

You chuckles. "Oh, I can see that happening. I received some too. I think I ate it already though."

"Already?" Hanamaru was surprised to say the least, perhaps her senior felt that she had to begin early or the chocolates would be too much to bring home.

Or does You-chan like Yoshiko-chan…so she proved her point by eating them first…

"Yeah. Yoshiko-chan said to try them at let her know if it tasted good. So I did. She shouted something along the lines of 'I didn't mean now!' and 'It's not like I'm glad you think it's nice!' before she ran off though." The ash-brunette shrugs to show that she didn't really understand the Fallen Angel's uproar.

Oh…You-chan just ate them because of what Yoshiko-chan said to everyone she gives the chocolate to, zura… That's a relief.

Hanamaru blinks as she felt her palms get slightly sweaty.

Why did I find it a relief, zura?

"…maru-chan. Hanamaru-chan."

"Eh? Yes?" The brunette breaks out of her thoughts, looking back at You's bright blue eyes and then resting on the swimmer's pink lips.

Will I find out if I kiss You-chan, zura?

Hanamaru's cheeks turns a shade of red at that thought, the books she has been reading lately is really influencing her.

"Want some chocolate? I've got a lot." You starts taking out various chocolates that came in wrappers and some not for the first year to take her pick.

I do want to know the reason why my palms get sweaty and nervous when You-chan is around, zura…And why my heart seems to quicken when I hear You-chan's voice…And why…why I can't stop looking at You-chan's lips, zura…

"Mm…" Hanamaru eyes a rectangular box of chocolates, or more specifically chocolate sticks which bring another manga called "The Science of Love" and a particular scene involving pocky to appear in the brunette's mind.

"By our research, when our heart beat accelerates and our focus narrows to that of only that other person. It would indicate that what we are feeling is love." Maru explains the theory.

You holds up the pocky stick in her hand. "Let's try it then. And we'll know if we are really in love with each other."

Maru nods, and they bring one end each of the chocolate stick into their mouth. Slowly but surely, biting closer and closer; blushes illuminating their nearing faces, the SFX in bubbly text read "Doki Doki Doki Doki" all about as Maru and You's heart raced.

"Ah…All I can see is You…and her beautiful eyes…"

"Ah…All I can see is Maru…and her alluring lips…"

And as their lips met, everything seems to fall into place and made sense. Maru and You are indeed in love with one another.

"Let's play the pocky game, zura." Hanamaru surprises herself from the conviction in her voice.

I want to confirm my love for You-chan, zura.

"Sure, you can have the pocky- Wait, what?!" You jumps a little when the request clicks in her head, the ash-brunette blushes. "T-T-The pocky game..? That pocky game?"

You-chan is cute when she's embarrassed, zura.

Hanamaru nods, yellow eyes not looking away from her senior's blue eyes.

You looks to the side, a hand on her neck. "Um…You sure it's okay to break the no eating in library rule?"

Hanamaru takes a pocky stick out and holds it between them, determination not faltering. "I tend to eat here during lunch break too."

The ash-brunette chuckles nervously and attempts to tease. "I didn't know Hanamaru-chan was a rule breaker."

"Please, zura." Hanamaru speaks in a soft whisper, though the need and desire to carry through with the pocky game reached her senior as You stopped looking away.

I really want to know if you love me too, zura…

"Okay…" You murmurs, she was really embarrassed at how forward the first year was being. And she's supposed to be the older one.

I definitely can't tear my eyes away from You-chan, zura…

Hanamaru notes as they each take bites of the pocky stick connected from each end in their mouths. They were soon nose to nose, but before the ash-brunette can break the pocky stick, Hanamaru pushes forth to close the gap between their lips.

You-chan's lips are shaking…but they are so soft and warm, zura…

The red on the swimmer's ears got darker as steam threatened to pour out of her head, despite the loud and crazily fast pounding of her heart, You moves her head slightly so that her lips pressed closer to Hanamaru's. This caught the first year off guard, not that Hanamaru minds.

You-chan…

When their lips finally separate, You buried her burning face in her hands, while Hanamaru pulls the chair closer to sit.

"You-chan…" Hanamaru began.

I love you, zura…

"Y-Yeah?" You peeks from behind her hands, hands that are sweaty from nervousness too.

Do you?

"I understand now." Hanamaru brings both hands clasped together close to where her racing heart is.

You was a blushing and stuttering mess and found it hard to look in the first year's direction without wanting to stare at those plump lips she just kissed with, and wanting to kiss her again. "W-What do you understand, H-Hanamaru-chan?"

"That I'm in love with you, zura." Hanamaru smiles to the girl she knows she's in love with; a look of pure happiness.


Author Notes

~w~ I think the library's air conditioning has stopped…

L-Leave a comment if you l-like…And again, there's an array of chocolates to choose from. Feel free to take your pick. =v=

I hope I wrote them well. I never written Hanamaru, so I hope I did okay. :)