Chapter 2
A Nice Smell
After classes are over, Akane and Tomoko decide to walk home together and probably sleep over. Tomoko has been in Akane's home one time and she was thrilled to be in her friend's room. The two had talked about their sisters for a little bit before they slept together. It was the greatest experience Tomoko has ever had. And now, Tomoko is doing it again and she's very excited about it.
"Akari told me she's going to a friend's house to study," Akane says as she unlocks the door. "So, that gives us time to talk and get things ready for dinner."
"That's okay!" Tomoko says, clasping her hands together. "I'll be glad to help!"
"Great! Then, let's get started!"
From that moment on, Akane and Tomoko work together getting the house cleaned up and dinner ready, for they are having some steak and rice. Akane did most of the cooking while Tomoko set up the table for them and probably for Akari as well if she ever comes back. While Tomoko waits for Akane to be done, she glances at her friend and blushes deeply. Wow! she thinks to herself. She cooks so well in this house, especially when she's wearing her apron! That's so professional of her! She puts her hands on her cheeks upon thinking about this, feeling her cheek getting warmer and warmer.
"Tomoko?"
"Ah, y-yes?" The pink haired girl quickly snaps back to reality and turns to her friend.
"Would you like something to drink while this cools down?"
"Oh, um, tea would be nice," Tomoko replies.
"Alright. I'll get it started right now."
Akane gets out a tea pot and starts boiling the water while Tomoko sits down on the couch. Akane follows soon after and sits next to her. Both of them are silent for a brief moment until Tomoko speaks up.
"So . . . wasn't it weird when Yuki-chan had asked us that silly question?"
"Yes, that was weird," Akane replies, laughing.
"I mean, we don't have love interests, right?"
Silence fills the room again as the two stare at each other. Their faces turn bright red again as they think about an answer to the question, but nothing comes to their mind. Instead, they try to laugh it off.
"Nah, that wouldn't be possible," Akane says, waving her hand dismissively.
"What were they thinking?" Tomoko adds. "They would find out soon enough?"
"Not a chance."
Both of them laugh again, but it seems a little soft and quiet on that part. For them, they really do have love interests, but is too shy to even tell it to each other. They stare at each other for about a minute. Tomoko starts to lean in closer to Akane, looking into her closed eyes. I wonder what her eyes would look like if they were to open. Tomoko thinks to herself. Akanes raises an eyebrow as she sees her friend start to lean in towards her and starts to back away a bit.
"T-Tomoko?" Akane says. "What are you doing?"
The pink haired girl quickly catches herself and sits up. "Oh, my! I'm so sorry! I just, uh, was wondering what perfume you have, so I decided to have a whiff!"
Akane takes a sniff on her shoulder. "Well, I didn't put anything special on except for the shampoo I've been using for a week."
"Oh, I see." Tomoko turns away to hide her embarrassment she just did.
Just then, the tea starts to screech very loudly, meaning that the water is boiled. Akane immediately stands up to go check on it.
"Oh, my!" she says. "The tea must be ready!"
She hurriedly pours some into two little cups and goes into the cupboard to pick out some tea packs. She takes out two green tea packs and puts them in the tea cups, walks over to Tomoko and hands her the tea. The two then sit in silence for a bit as they wait for the tea to cool off for just a bit. Suddenly, Tomoko feels that waiting in the living room might be too spacy for them to be in, so she turns to her friend.
"Um, Akane-chan?"
"Yes?"
"Can we . . . have some tea in your room?" Tomoko asks, shyly.
"Sure, we can. Just give me a moment." Akane stands up and rushes to her room to make sure she didn't leave out anything, like her doujins or things that are Akari related. She shoves a bunch in her closet and closes the door so that it doesn't pop out. After making some final adjustments, she runs back downstairs and calls her friend over. Tomoko brings up both of their tea and heads to Akane's room. Akane closes the door and sits down with Tomoko at a small table set up for them. There is silence again, only this time, it feels like minutes have gone by. None of them wanted to look at each other in the eye. Either they had nothing to talk about or they are too shy to talk about anything love related. Akane glances at the closet to make sure that nothing else in their would stick out and nods when she knows that it's all good for now. She then turns to Tomoko, who then looks at her with a blush on her face.
"Akane-chan?"
"Tomoko . . ."
The pink haired girl doesn't know why, but as if she's in a trance, her body is telling her to get closer to Akane. So she starts scooting herself closer to her again, only this time, having lovestruck eyes without even realizing it. Akane backs away again, but stops when she bumps into the edge of her bed. Tomoko keeps on going until she is fully close to Akane. Both of them stare at each other, not even sure what to say. Tomoko thinks that this is her big chance, but is pondering on whether she should do it or not. But, like a demon possessing her body, she slowly leans forward and right when she's about to reach Akane's lips . . .
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Akane's cell phone begins to ring, making both of them jump in surprise. Tomoko backs away from what she was about to do to her friend while Akane scrambles around, searching for her phone. What am I doing!? Tomoko thinks to herself. I've never done anything like that before! Could it be that Akane-chan wasn't even ready for it? I mean, I really, really wanted to do it, but . . . I just . . . couldn't. Why? Maybe even worse, what if she was revealing her well kept secret to Akane without even realizing it? She should've pulled back when she had the chance.
Akane gets off the phone and walks back to sit with her friend. "That was my sister on the phone. She told me that she's sleeping over tonight, so . . . do you want to stay?"
Tomoko blushes bright red. "Oh, y-yes! I'd be more than happy to! Chinatsu wouldn't mind at all!"
"Good," Akane says as she stands up. "Well then, I think it's time for dinner, don't you think?"
"Okay," Tomoko says. But before Akane got a chance to leave, the pink haired girl quickly grabs the red haired girl's shirt. "Wait, Akane-chan!"
"What is it, Tomoko?" Akane says, turning to her friend in worry.
"I'm sorry about . . . what I did earlier."
Akane raises and eyebrow, but then giggles. "Oh, did you want to take a whiff on me again? It's fine, but like I said, I didn't put anything special on me."
Eh? Tomoko did not expect her to say that. She didn't notice that I was trying to kiss her at all? Maybe it was her imagination, but she could've sworn she just was about to kiss her. Either that or Akane pretended not to notice.
"Oh, okay."
"Now then, shall we go and eat dinner?"
"S-sure."
While following her friend, Tomoko couldn't help but think about what she had done earlier. She can't believe that she would think that Tomoko liked the smell on her from earlier. Still, went with Akane had said and stood up to follow her into the kitchen for dinner.
