Hello! Hornswoggler here! I'd like to warn you all about the future of this fanfic. It's not dying or anything, but starting with this chapter, Kyoko's gonna become a tad more emotional. In fact, the chapter title says everything. So I'm gonna go and let you guys read now that way you can see for yourselves.
Chapter 7: Teenage Aaaaaaaangst!
Riiing riiing riiing
I listened to the ringing on the other end of the phone call while looking off the terrace of Homura's apartment. I was feeling anxious, and my hand was shaking a little bit as it held my phone against my ear. To calm myself, I preoccupied my mind with the overwhelming view of Mitakihara. From where I stood I could see the tops of the buildings around me, making me feel a bit more confident.
Why did I need to be confident you ask. That's because this was to be the phone call that determined everything, and I mean EVERYTHING. If my campaign of romance is to venture any farther than it has, I'm gonna have to be persuasive. Very persuasive.
Allow me to catch you up.
So me and Homura finished our short jog and made our ways over to her apartment. She invited me in and started making some tea while I got comfy on her couch. At first I was biding my time by staring at Homura's back, but then my eyes started roaming around the apartment. It's kinda bland, actually. No TV, cheap sofa, used kitchen equipment off to the back of the room, and one bedroom with a small bed in it. Oddly enough, it suits Homura perfectly.
Homes joined me on her couch while the water for the tea was heating up. Neither of us said anything at first – we just kept inspecting the tinier details of the apartment living room. It's actually nice, the apartment. Apart from looking dull, it is a pretty cozy little pad, even if it doesn't have a TV.
I think my favorite thing about it, though, is the terrace that overlooks Mitakihara's streets. Did I mention that we're ten stories high? because we're ten stories high. That's, like, a million feet in the sky! The people below us look as small as my attention span in school, which is freakin' tiny! It's so cooool!... Wow, didn't realize how easily impressed I am.
"So," Homura said, interrupting my fascination with our altitude, "what does a one do during sleepover?"
"Well, normally people... uh..." In my time as a teenage girl, I can only claim to have stayed over at Sayaka's house once on her birthday with Madoka. To state the obvious, I'm in experienced. Nevertheless, I am determined to pull this off! "We could gossip!" I said after a moments hesitation.
Homura raised an eyebrow. "About what?"
Good question, I thought to myself. In case you aren't aware, Homes isn't really the gossiping type, and neither am I for that matter. Even if I was, what would me and Homura talk about? Limp Dick? Not a chance!
Instead of giving her a straight answer, I quickly blurted out the next idea that came to my head. "Play games!"
"Without a TV?" Homura retaliated.
"Card games!" I shouted. No matter what, I shall not lose this battle! If Homes shoots down one idea, I'll propose another until we've got a weeks worth of activities planned.
She nodded in response to the cards idea. "What else?"
Now in order for me to win this battle, I'm gonna have to rapid fire ideas from my gut. In my mind, stating a ridiculous number of ideas in one go will make it seem like I'm not as lost as Homura is. Will that work, pfft, I don't know, but it sounds like a good tactic in theory. I took a deep breath and then, with a quick exhale, I said everything I could think of:
"Braid hair prank call draw pictures dress-up paint nails karaoke pillow fights scary stories pilates yoga bathe board games da—"
"Eh!?" Homura shrieked. I don't think I've ever been cut off by her before, and for her to have done it with such a surprisingly high tone surely was unexpect... ed...
What the heck did I just say?
I said bathe. I said BATHE. And now Homes' face is as red as a chili pepper! Oh man, Ive said some stupid things in my time, but that was probably the dumbest! Quick, think of an excuse. Excuse. EXCUSE!
Wait! I don't need an excuse! Public baths are all over Mitakihara, and bathing with friends isn't unheard of. Heck, Saya probably bathes with Madoka all the time! So if I make up an excuse, it might make me look sketchy, but if I stand by my words, I might just get to... bathe...
My mind is starting to trespass in restricted waters.
In order to calm the situation, I played it cool. "You've never taken a bath with a friend before, Homes?"
"No," she replied, still blushing heavily, "Is that unusual?"
"N-no, it's not unusual. It's just something some people do for fun, ya know." I don't understand the appeal of bathing with other girls, but bathing with Homura... I-I really shouldn't be thinking of that right now. Right now I just need to convince Homes that this sleepover is a good idea... and maybe the b-bath idea too, but only as a bonus!
Thankfully, however, Homura's expression became a little less flustered. "Oh," she said as though embarrassed for not considering that from the get-go.
"So... you think you're up for that?" I asked, trying to suppress my blush. My only wish now is that Homura doesn't suspect my hidden intentions by asking. Actually, that's not true. I totally wish I could see Homura in her birthday suit... man, I really have become a pervert.
Homura pushed her glasses up on her nose. "I-I'd rather not, if that's ok with you."
I waved her off. "Y-yeah, of course. You don't have to if you don't want to." So even Homes is shy when it comes to things like that. That'll be good to know for future reference. Just then the tea kettle Homura had left on the stove starting screaming. Not literally, but figuratively. She rushed over to it and turned the stove off.
She brought over the kettle and set it on the table in front of me, then went back into the kitchen to retrieve two cups. I stared at the tea kettle as she did this. For some reason it made me feel uncomfortable with the way steam rose from the top. I almost lost my appetite for tea just watching the steam evaporate into the air. Almost.
Homura returned with two porcelains cups. She placed one in front of me and the other next to her, then lifted the kettle off the table and began to pour the burning hot liquids into my cup. I watched with burning cheeks as the steam dispersed upwards into Homura's face, causing small beads of sweat to form and her glasses to fog up. The sight repeated for me when Homes moved to fixing her own cup of tea, except this time I could see the water vapor
Something about the image made my heat start beating uncontrollably. It made Homura look hot, and I mean that literally. Hot, steaming, sweaty, sexy, and pure.
I darted my eyes from Homura to my cup of burning tea. The surface of the liquid was a murky brown with its own small trail of steam stemming out of it. Even though the steam was nowhere near me, I could still feel it's warmth from where I sat.
I instantly felt uncomfortable when I felt Homura take her seat on the other side of the couch. Knowing she was settling down next to me made my heart beat even faster than it had been before, and now sweat's forming on my forehead.
I want to go home.
I know I can't do that, but I really want to, even if it's only for a few minutes of breathing. The urge to do so is killing me, though. I feel desperate, claustrophobic even.
Then without thinking, I sprang off the couch. Homura didn't seem alarmed by it, which means I don't look panicked. Even so, I need an explanation for why I suddenly jumped up without warning. Ugh, think Kyoko, think!
I brushed my hand against my pocket and felt the outline of my phone. My phone! That's it, I can use my phone as an excuse.
I pointed at the glass door that led to Homura's terrace. "Is it ok if I call my dad out there while the tea cools down?"
Homura nodded, and I wasted no time escaping the confines of her apartment. When I walked outside and closed the sliding door behind me, I felt scared knowing that Homura could still see me through the door. I should've asked to go into the hallway, or something, damnit!
I took my cell phone out of my pocket and speed dialed Papa, then pressed it against my ear. From the speakers of my phone I listened to the ringing sound as I glanced around the massive city before me.
Riiing
I looked down and saw a seven cars rush down the streets, and oddly enough they were all black.
Riiing
I looked up at the clouds and watched a flock of birds fly by, and oddly enough they flew in the shape of a V.
Riiing
I looked to the right and saw an advertisement for Boku no Hero Academia, an anime currently being produced by studio Bones, who, oddly enough, is the neighboring studio to the people who produced my favorite anime that me and Momo watched for three months straight on Tuesday nights a few years ago when we lived in Kazamino... odd.
Riii—
There was a click signaling that my father had picked up the call. Hey Tiger. What's up? It felt kinda relieving to hear his voice over the phone. He sounded as cheery as he always does, setting my heart at relative ease.
"Hey Papa," I said into the receiver, nervousness returning, "I have a, uh, question I wanted to ask you."
Oh yeah? Whatcha' need to ask your old man?
"W-well," here goes nothing, "I was wondering if it'd be ok if I spent the night at Homura's place tonight."
Hmm. I could practically see him scratching his beard, a habit of his that I find enjoyable pointing out. You know that tomorrow is Sunday, don't you?
I knew that would be the first thing he'd want to address. "Yeah, I know. I was thinking that, you know, since it's not a long walk, I could get up early and change at home." Fingers crossed guys. Fingers crossed.
Yet some part of me prayed he'd say no.
Hmm, he said again, how about this, Honey. If you're mother says yes, then I'll say yes.
"Are you home right now, Papa?" I asked.
Yes, yes I am.
"Then do you think you could ask her for me?" Mama was more strict than Papa most of the time, as evidenced by the food limitation she put me on during Mami-senpai's baptism. Papa on the other hand was more lenient when it came to things like this, probably because me, him and Momo share a love for crappy jokes.
Sure, just hang on one second! I heard Papa ruffle himself off what I presume was the couch. The good thing about Saturdays was that both Mama and Papa didn't have to go to work, meaning me and Momo didn't have to wait till afternoon to see them.
While I waited for Papa, I turned around and checked to see what Homura was doing. What she was doing was the refreshingly cute action of blowing on her tea. All day I've been fantasizing about her inappropriately, but seeing her do that brought back the feelings of innocent attraction I had for Homes at the start of the Infatuation Situation.
You know, I kind of miss those earlier days of affection when I only saw Homura as beautiful and delightful rather than hot and lustful. Those days were much less complicated, and significantly less emotional.
I heard movement from Papa's side of the phone, then an unexpected little surprise presented itself to me. Hey Nee-san!
"Momo? How'd you get Pops' phone?"
He just left it here on the table. So whatcha' doin'? If hearing Papa's voice made me feel at ease, then Momo's made me feel Apollonian.
Wait a minute.
"Apollonian!" I yelled out, strangely proud of myself.
Apol-what now? Momo asked, reasonably confused.
"Apollonian! It's another word for serene." In case you had forgotten, Sayaka was looking for a good word to replace serene, and I think I just found it. Success!
Oh no... Sayaka! I completely forgot about her and Limp Dick smooching it up with Seaweed Head. And just like that, I feel sad again. "Hey Momo." I asked, tone a bit lower than it was previously.
Yeeees Nee-san.
"Do you think, I don't know, we could talk privately later?"
Her voice changed to a worrisome one. Sure. Did something happen. Wait, you didn't have a falling out with Homura-nee did you!?
"Nononono! We're still bff's. In fact I may be spending the night at her apartment tonight."
Eh. For a brief second, I forgot that Momo was aware of my crush. You're doing what!?
"D-don't get the wrong idea sis! It's not like—"
Then who's gonna watch Hunter X Hunter with me tonight!?
"... So that's what you're worried about?"
Of course! What did you think I was worried about?
"Some sister you are! Here I am trying to open up to you and you're worried about anime!"
There was a slight chuckle on the other end of the phone. Relax Nee-chan, I'm just messing with you. Hunter X Hunter comes on Mondays.
No matter what, talking with Momo always brings a little smile to my face. "Either way," I continued, "could we talk later?"
Yep! You can count on me! Also Pops is back so I'ma give him the phone. Bye Nee-san!
"See ya, sis." While I waited for Papa to return to the phone, I could faintly hear him and Momo chatting about something. All I could make out was 'Who," 'round table,' 'Sir Cumference,' 'Bwhahahaha.'
*Ruffle ruffle* I'm back, Papa said, now back at the phone, and you'll never guess who invented the round table!
"Sir Cumference."
Darn it, you heard us didn't you! Papa is the only person I know that takes bad jokes so seriously. He almost sounded angry.
"Um, a-anyways Papa, what did Mama say?"
Was I supposed to ask her something?
"Papa~!"
Ok, ok, ok, I'm just messing with you. It's fine by us if you want to spend the night with Homura-chan, as long as you are on time for church.
"Wah! Thank you Daddy!" Papa is a sucker when it comes to being called daddy. "Oh, hey Papa, why are vampires really gullible?"
I don't know. Why are vampires gullible?
"Because they're a bunch of suckers!" There's nothing like a good bad joke to get me and my pops laughing. Actually, it wasn't the joke that I was laughing at. It was the loud 'Bwhahahaha' on the other end of the line that got me giggling. How my pops finds these jokes genuinely hilarious is beyond me.
Papa let out a few more 'bwhahas' before finally settling down. Welp, he said enthusiastically, anything else you need to run by your old man?
"One more thing, I'll probably stop by the house to get some stuff. That's all."
Ok then! I'll see you soon then, Tiger.
"'Kay, bye Papa!" There was a click signaling the end of the call. I held my phone tightly and stared back off into the streets of Mitakihara. It was simply amazing to see such a huge city be reduced to such a tiny view. I watched a bunch of cars drive by and thought to myself I could get used to this.
It then dawned on me that I was still at Homura's apartment and that she was still waiting for me to go back inside to drink the tea she had made me.
I turned around and pushed the glass door to the side. Homura was sipping on her cup when I walked in. The steam I had been so fixated with had by now disappeared, leaving me to feel oddly relieved. I strolled over to Homes' couch and plopped myself back into the place I had previously occupied.
Homura looked at me with the cup in her hand. "How did the call go?" She asked.
"Apollonian," I answered, picking up my cup of tea.
"Is that a yes?"
"Mhm. *slurp* Hey, this tea's pretty good."
"So what now?"
"What now?" ...
"Kyoko—"
"I'm gonna go home, take a shower, grab some stuff and come back here after I drink my tea. Sound good?"
"Sounds good."
"Sweet! *slurp* Wow Homes, this is some serious gormet stuff here."
"That's because when I buy tea, I want to taste it."
"Ah~ isn't it nice to reference things together?" Homes smiled lightly and continued to sip on her tea. I did the same. Then, without much else to do, I brought my phone back out from my pocket and texted Apollonian to Sayaka. She was quick to reply with a thx kyoyo! ;D... so that's good.
I took another sip of my homemade tea, and you know what, I don't feel so bad anymore.
I feel quite Apollonian actually.
I slid the door of my shower open and turned the warm water knob. Cold water sprayed out of the shower head and splashed into the tub below. I ran my hand under the water to check its temperature. It was cold. Still cold. Getting warmer. Warmer. Warm. Hot. Scathing!
I quickly jerked my hand back and started blowing on it desperately. Using my other unburnt hand, I turned the cold water knob. I waited for the water to cool down before placing my hand under it again. Hot. Warm. Still warm. Perfect!
I released the towel around my waist and stepped into the shower (fanservice!). The water collided with my skin and trailed down my body soothingly. It felt almost therapeutic. Just what I needed after a good jog.
I brushed the dry hair out of my face and allowed it to soak up water. Tiny water droplets trickled off of the ends of my red locks. Each drop created a splash that melded into the river of hot liquid being swept away by the drain.
Steam rose up to the ceiling from the shower floor, causing condensation to form on the shower door, just like the steam from the tea did on Homura's glasses.
Homura, the girl whose house I'm about to stay at for an entire night. What would the two of us do for so many hours? I said play cards and karaoke among other things, but that didn't seem like enough. Maybe we could workout some more with yoga and what not.
Workout, huh. That reminds me of earlier today. You know, when Homes started stretching and I could see the flesh of her back a little bit. I imagined being on the other side of her while she stretching, paying witness to an exposed stomach – a stomach I would glide my hand over as I moved both hands to her waist.
Water flowed down the nape of my neck as the steam rose to my head. I allowed my eyes to close themselves so I could see my fantasy more vividly in my mind.
Both of my hands are positioned on her waist, and we lean into a kiss. A long, passionate kiss. In between kisses, I use my hands to lift Homura's shirt over her head, revealing her... her—
"Mmm!"
I let a muffled moan escape from my mouth. My eyes shot open and my breathing became heavy, as well as my heartbeat. An alien sensation appeared in between my legs, and the urge to do something confounded my mind. That's when it became clear to me:
I'm turned on.
Again, I felt fear invade my chest. If I didn't long for my genuine attraction to Homura before, I definitely do now. I used to image Homura so innocently, but now I'm imagining these impure things and g-getting off to them.
The water didn't stop falling down my person. It felt relaxing. The steam however made me feel uncomfortably sweaty, despite being drenched.
The steam! That's what it is! I'm not turned on, I'm just not thinking right because of the steam... that must be it...
I kinda want to cry.
But I can't. I'm too old for crap like that. I just have to deal with it, like Momo dealt with her cold not too long ago. Everything will be alright, I just have to endure it... endure this feeling of sadness...
Drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip drip
I... I should finish bathing...
I dried my hair off with my towel. When that method of hair drying became inefficient, I started shaking my head back and forth like a dog. That seemed to do the trick, though the bathroom walls said otherwise.
I exited the bathroom with a trail of steam following me to my bedroom. Inside I found Momo reading a book on her bed, you know, cause that's what smart people do.
She looked up from the book's word-filled pages to see me rummaging through my drawer for clothes. "Lookin' good Nee-san," she said jokingly.
"Don't I always?" I said, removing a white underwear from the drawer. I walked over to the corner of our room and behind a room divider, which I pulled to the side so that it shielded me from the outside world.
Allow me to explain the rules of mine and Momo's room.
We share the only upstairs room in the house. It's quite roomy, but we've made a mess of it, though the mess is organized. See, when me and Momo shared a smaller room back in Kazamino, Mama thought we'd want a room divider for boundary and privacy reasons. We used it at first, but stopped cause we kept moving it out of the way. When we moved to Mitakihara, the room divider was just kinda there, so we just threw it into the corner and deemed it our "changing station."
So I entered the changing station and equipped my panties and my bra, then stepped out to retrieve more clothing to wear outside my room (more fanservice!). Of course when I did, Momo whistled and said "Looking even better Nee-san."
"I know I am. Jealous?" We both giggled a little bit at our own immaturity as I grabbed a blue skirt and a red Vagabond's top. I didn't bother returning to the changing station, but instead just slide into my skirt and shirt. Last but not least I picked out one of my four identical bows and tied it in my hair.
Upon inspection via mirror reflectory powers, I looked gorgeous. Not just saying that either. Or am I? You be the judge.
I looked at Momo, who had gone back to her book. "Whatcha' reading sis?" I asked.
"Moby Dick."
"Isn't that that book about the clown fish?"
"No, that's Finding Nemo, a movie. This is about a man trying to get revenge on a giant whale that took his leg."
"Is it any good?"
"Omg yes!" I'll spare you all the spoilers that Momo blurted out in a fit of passion about an old book. Though I admit, it sounded pretty good. "And then they go out to sea to try and catch it! Anyways, didn't you want to talk to me about something, Nee-chan?"
"U-uh, yes. Yes I did," I said, cheeks turning red.
"So, what'd you want to talk about?" Momo asked.
Now I have two options here: talk about Sayaka and Limp Dick, or confess to my little sister the problems I'm currently having with my sexuality... I went with the former. "I, uh, at the park saw Kamigo—"
"—Kamijou—"
"—Gazuntite, smooching Seaweed Head—"
"—HitomiiiOMAIGOSH!"
"You see the issue?" I said, taking a seat beside her on her bed.
"What about Saya-nee!? She must be devastated!"
"Well you see, about that, I don't think she knows."
"Oh, so you want to know if you should tell her or not?"
"No, I'm gonna tell her. I was just wondering if you knew how to tell her."
"Ah, let me think." You can tell when Momo's gears are turning when she starts humming her favorite songs. When I recognized the tune she was humming, I joined along. Next thing I know we're doing an impressive duet to Indiana Jones.
Momo clapped her fist into her palm. "Ok, this is what I've got!"
"Lay it on me sis."
"Alright! So Saya-nee is tough, right. Which means you just have to have a nice, long chat with her about cheerful things, then spring the news on her gently."
"That's the best idea you've got!?" I exclaimed, truly underwhelmed by Momo's answer.
"W-what? I'm not as good at this stuff as you are!"
"Well I suck at this stuff, so I'll take what I can get!"
"Ok, ok. Why not just invite her out to lunch and tell her. Your treat."
"Nah, food only works on me." It's true. Once Saya bribed me with a box of taiyaki to help clean her room.
"Well that's the best I got. Sorry Nee-san."
"I-it's fine. To be honest, I don't think there is a good way of telling Sayaka." Seriously, how do you drop a bombshell like that on someone? It's impossible I say!
"I guess you're right," Momo said, "that would be like telling you Homura-nee got a boyfriend."
"Heh. Heh. Heh." The very thought of such a development made my eye twitch.
Momo gulped. "Or even worse, telling Mom and Dad you want a girlfriend."
"Yep, that's gonna be a crappy day." No matter how I imagine that scenario going down, it ends with my rejection. "Would you help me if I wanted to tell them?"
It was then that Momo flung herself onto me. I was kinda used to her hugging me out of nowhere, but I wasn't expecting this one, not that I'm complaining or anything. I wrapped my arms around her and started running one hand through her short, red hair.
After about a minute of embracing, we separated. She had a concerned expression on her face, but I smiled warmly at her. "You're a good little sister, ya know that."
"Only because you're a good big sister." This sentence warranted me to pulled Momo back into a hug. I won't lie, even Momo's support wasn't enough to decrease my fear overall, but it did make me feel better about telling my parents. No matter what, now I'll have one family member that'll always support me.
"Um, Kyoko-nee?" Uh-oh, she used my name. This means something important is about to be said. "Can you do me a favor before you leave?"
I tightened our embrace to make Momo feel more comfortable. "Sure, anything."
Momo gulped. "W-would it be ok if, I don't know, you r-role play as Soma-kun for me?"
Eh?
"R-role play?" Two words I never thought I'd use in a sentence now coming out of my sister's mouth. Not sure how I feel about this.
Momo pulled away from me. The redness of her face was more intense than molten rock. "J-just to help me rehearse my confession! Nothing weird! Nothing weird at all!"
It's weird. Totally weird. But hey, who am I to deny my sister's strange wish? After all, she's been nothing but kind to me since she found out I was gay... I'm still not used to using that word. Baby steps.
I clapped both my hands on Momo's shoulders. "Let's do this!" I won't lie, I feel kinda awkward agreeing to this, but what's the worst that could happen?
My sister looked up at me nervously. "O-ok. Here I go." She took one very, VERY deep breath. "S-Soma-kun, we've known each other for a long time now."
I'm having trouble containing my grin. "What is it you want to tell me, Momo-chan?" I asked with a deep voice, pretending to be a man.
Somehow, Momo's blush became even redder. "I-I just wanted to t-tell you that... I, uh, I... I think you're... you are..."
"Yes~?" I take back my previous statement. This is fun.
"I-I think you're... you're... YOU'RE A BAKA!"
I face palmed. "Dang it Momo, do you know who never gets the guy in real life!?"
"Who?"
"THE TSUNDERE!"
"Well I can't help it!" She yelled. "Whenever I think about him, I think of long, tan and handsome, but I also think childish, immature and wild!"
"Well I'm not gonna stand for that! Take two! Go!" Momo at first questioned a second attempt, but conceded without argument.
She coughed into her fist. "Soma-kun, we've been friends for a very long time now, and I cherish our friendship."
"Me too, Momo-chan!" Every time I referred to her as 'Momo-chan,' she flinched.
"T-that's great. Which is why I have a confession to make."
"Ok."
"To you. Right now. At this very moment."
"Mhm."
"A confession... I have to make... to you... Now."
"I'm waitin—"
"YOU'RE A BAKA!"
I face palmed. Again. "Momo, you suck at this."
She sighed. "I know." Then, when I thought Momo was really upset, she started giggling, chuckling, then all out laughing. "I bet— HAHA— you're even worse!"
Now I'm laughing. "Is that a challenge?"
"That's a fact!" She shouted, obviously trying to ruffle me up.
"Alright then! You pretend to be Homura, and we'll see who's worse!"
"Game on!" Momo whipped her arm over her face, revealing a completely different expression from her gleefully red face. Now she was imitating Homes by acting unemotional. Quite impressive actually.
"Ok, here goes nothing!" I cheered, immediately losing all the energy I had built up two seconds ago. Now it felt like I was actually talking directly to Homura. "Uh, H-Homes, you're my best friend," Momo nodded at me, "and I, uh, really enjoy hanging out with you."
Momo blinked at me and pretended to push up a pair of glasses on her nose. "Is something wrong Kyoko-san."
Holy crap she sounds like Homura! "Well, you see... I, uh..." Despite her monotonous expression, I could tell Momo was enjoying this, which is why I have to turn the tides. "Hey Homura."
"Yes?"
"Give me a kiss—"
"NEE-SAN!?" I pouted my lips and closed my eyes while making a muh muh muh sound. This proved to be too much though as Momo impulsively slugged me in the face with her foot.
At least she wasn't wearing shoes.
I toppled over on her bed. It took me a second of squirming to sit back up. "What the heck was that for!?" I shouted.
"You shouldn't tease me like that!" She yelled defensively.
"You act like I was actually going to kiss you!"
"How do I know you weren't?"
That... hurts. It really does. My sister is a less comfortable with my sexuality than I believed her to be. "Momo," I said, sounding hurt, "you don't feel weird around me, do you?"
My question caused her to look away from me. "A little bit."
I guess that's to be understood. After all, we were both taught that homosexuality was a choice and a sin. Can't really expect her to be completely open to all of this overnight.
I placed both my hands on her shoulders again and looked her in the eyes. They seemed scared almost. "Momo," I started, "I want you to disregard everything you've been taught about gay people in church, or by Mom and Dad. People like me didn't choose to be like this. We just are.
"And I don't know what you believe, but gay people aren't sex crazed maniacs or anything like that. We— I'm no different than anyone else. The only difference is that I like Homura, and only Homura. Ok?"
Momo stared at me. The look in her eyes told me that she was at war with her religious teachings and my philosophies. Her eyes slowly drifted downwards to her legs. Then she told me a story.
"One time," she began, "back in Kazamino, Dad took me to the convenience store to get some groceries. When we got to the frozen stuff, we saw these two guys holding hands and walking down the aisle. Then they stopped where we were standing and asked if we could scoot over so they could reach a tub of ice cream, or something. The guy who asked Dad's voice was really high for a guy, almost stereotypical, you know.
"Either way, Dad obliged and stepped to the side, then they got their ice cream, said thanks, and left. Then Dad told me that they those two were mongrels. At the time I didn't really get what he meant. I just figured that those two guys were old acquaintances or something, but... when I asked him about it later, he told me that they were gay, so they were going to burn in hell."
Momo's eyes weld up with tears. "And *sniff* I don't want you to burn in hell Nee-san." She was crying now, and there isn't anything I can do to set her conscience at ease. Instead of using worthless words, I pulled her back into another hug. A tight one. As tight as I could hold her.
That's when Mama knocked on the door and came inside. She saw me holding Momo in between my arms, then saw Momo bawling. "Momo, what's wrong?" She asked, unaware of the truth.
Damn it! This is the worst possible time Mom! Without even forming a lie, I tried saying something. "M-Momo just—" I stopped talking when she pulling on the collar of my shirt.
I looked down to see her wiping her eyes. "It's ok Mama," she said, "my *sniff* favorite Death Note character died *sniff*."
Mama's face didn't change, yet I could tell she wasn't very worried anymore. "Kyoko, you can handle this, right?"
"Uh, yeah. I got it." And with that, Mama exited the room with a small smirk, leaving me and Momo alone again, huddled together on her bed. "You ok?" I asked.
She wiped her eyes one last time. "Yeah. Are you?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
Momo gently released herself from my grasp and hung her legs over the bedside. "I don't know," she replied, "sorry about all that."
I positioned myself next to her and ran my hand through her short, red hair. "I'm sorry your favorite Death Note character died." Momo let out one tiny, awkward laugh. Then, out of nowhere, I planted a kiss on her head. In response, Momo laid her head on my shoulder and closed her eyes.
In this tender moment, all I could honesty think of was how Momo was so good at lying to Mama and Papa. First it was with that bad joke in the confessional, and just now she played off a breakdown as an overreaction to an anime.
Probably cause Momo is smart, I told myself, what other reason could there be?
Momo raised her head to look at me. "Isn't Homura-new waiting for you?"
"Bah! You're right!" I jumped off the bed and started grabbing a bunch of junk I thought I'd need for my sleepover. Items included: cards, Monopoly, book bag, tooth brush, etcetera, etcetera.
Finally, to top it all off, I equipped my signature apparel – my green hoodie. It's got holes and loose threads all over it, but I'm too stubborn to let Mama buy me a new one, despite her constant whining about it being filthy and ragged.
Before I left, however, I saw Momo sitting upright on her bed, staring at the cover of Moby Dick. I set my book bag on the floor and called her name. She looked at me and held the book up so that I could see the cover. "The whale looks like Whamon."
Guess he does, except... "But Whamon is a lot darker."
Momo shrugged. "Same difference."
Well, this was a whirlwind of a chapter. From here on, Kyoko is gonna be experiencing the more rigorous parts of her emotional developments, so expect more drama, mood altercations, and kinda dark comedy. Also if you were wondering, Kyoko was referencing Pulp Fiction with Homura. Why? Because I couldn't help myself, that's why. And Whamon that is mentioned at the end is a Digimon.
Anyways, I enjoyed writing this chapter, and I hope you all enjoyed reading it. Next chapter will be, you guessed it, the sleepover! Hope you're excited for that.
And with that, I apologize for any spelling/grammar errors you may have noticed while reading, and I'll see ye all laters.
