So this chapter was actually super hard to get out. I kept fighting over how I wanted it to go and when I wrote it I didn't feel like it was just right. I still don't feel that even after rereading and editing. Idk…
So basically... I just gave them permission to do... whatever they want with him. I frowned as I hugged my pillow. I knew from personal experience that if there's true love between people that it's wrong to get in the way of it. I knew that I would be torn up if anyone told me that my love couldn't be realized because of whatever reason. I also knew that these girls had these feelings long before me and that I would feel terrible if I were the one to stop them from getting their chance. I knew all that.
But then why did it hurt so much...?
*Poom Poom* A resounding knock on my door startled me as I lay there. Getting up, I only then realized my sore eyes and snotty nose. I tried to conserve a more dignified look, but it was ultimately in vain so I just let it go. Their opinions aren't going to change anyway.
I opened my door and peek through it, being given a view of two of the girls bent low towards me. Opening it all the way, it stopped short after hitting something with a hard *thoom* and bringing out a low, "ow..."
More carefully this time, I slipped out the door to see the third girl, the most upfront of the three, rubbing the top of her head, apparently having been leaning forward as well.
"That's what you get Rika-chan for jumping on him like that." The chestnut haired one scolded.
Um... I stood at them in that position, unable to see their faces and thoroughly befuddled.
"We're sorry for what we did to you, Suguha-chan." The tallest one spoke again, this time to me. "We were unaware of your relationship with Kirito-kun. We hope our actions did not hurt you too much."
I couldn't help but wonder what had transpired between my leaving his room and now for her to say, 'our actions.'
"It's okay," I put on a mostly genuine smile, hints of my weeping still leaking through. "I know how you all feel about him; I didn't want to reject your hope of that. It wouldn't be right..." I took this time to realize that the one our conversation dealt with was nowhere to be seen, which meant he was probably still in his room. Maybe the shock broke him... I mused to myself, picturing him sitting there with a blank face and drool dripping down his chin.
Now rising from their bowed positions, the one on my right still rubbing her head in pain, they looked at me fervently, the shortest one being absolutely adorable with that look.
Without speaking, they continued to look at me and, after a moment too long, I finally responded with a, "what is it?"
This time it was the pig-tailed girl who spoke up. "Aren't you going to go to Kirito-san?" She asked.
I was kind of taken off guard, although I should have seen it coming, the implications of her words making my face hot. "Oh, no no. That would be rude of me, especially with guests around. I'll...go to him later."
Seeming disappointed, the short girl looked down and frowned.
"Come on girl, show us your magic!" Came from my right, followed by a, "Ow ow ow ow," as her taller compatriot smiled sweetly while pulling the girls hair nonchalantly. How can a 'happy expression' look so... ominous?
"Please excuse our outspoken friend. She has yet to learn that her words have consequences."
"Um... it's okay. I just... I don't want to step on anyone's toes. Please, you have my...blessing." These words are so hard to get out. "You should take advantage of it while you can." I kept my hard smile on my face.
"But we..." The reprimanding girl stopped short at the sound of the door opening behind her.
"Sugu... This isn't going anywhere." Kazuto stepped out into the now cramped hallway, squeezing through the girls to get to me. Taking my hands, he looked deep into my eyes. "I love you, and you're the one who made me realize how much I've hurt those around me with my actions." He spoke stronger than usual as he referenced the girls now standing behind him. "I will always regret that but I can't turn around and hurt you to make it up to them. I'll never be able to look myself in the mirror again if I were to cause you any more pain..."
Standing there, I found myself being moved to tears, wishing to not cry in front of these people. To strengthen my resolve, I rubbed his wrist affectionately, the symbol of his torture now something we shared together, and I leaned forward and kissed him, barely touching his lips.
"Uwah..." I heard from all around me.
"So bold..." The smallest voice whispered out.
Now slightly sheepish, though glad I had done it, I looked around at the other girls, their jaws slightly lower than before. Closing her eyes while she coughed, the one who seemed to be the party leader of this small brigade looked at me and smiled. "We are not here to judge. We are just glad to have cleared things up with Kirito-kun. Now, we should probably get going." She finished by eyeing the other two girls.
Fixing to leave, they turned to walk down the hallway to leave us alone, which only made me stop them faster, "Wait." All turning to me, I avoided their gazes, preferring my fidgeting hands. "You are our guests. I can't be so rude as to... not allow you the same chance." My words burned, but I knew they were what I felt in my heart, only slightly worried they might steal him away from me.
"Are you... sure?" Their stares beat down on me, needing affirmation of my offer before they did something considered belligerent towards me.
My answer, however, was in the form of me getting behind Kazuto's back and shoving him forward, this distraction allowing me chance to take a breath and calm my nerves. What did I just offer them...?
'Them,' however, had already started without me.
"Kirito-kun," the first one up started. "I always regretted making you do that horrible thing for me. I...wasn't strong enough." She laughed tensely. "I was a front liner and I wasn't strong enough. But you were..." Her voice quieted. "I've always wanted to thank you, to repay you, to show you how much it..." She shook her head in denial. "How much You meant to me."
The teen she was speaking to swallowed nervously, trying to look behind himself at me, but was met with a pair of lips on his. Slowly he understood that I was truly okay with this and allowed himself to be moved by the kiss, caressing her and deepening it, apparently forgetting where he was.
I couldn't help but laugh as I saw her pull away as his lips were left hanging in the air, reaching for a kiss that was already over.
The next one to step up was the one who had her chance to kiss him earlier, although that one was a surprise. "Hey...stud." Her voice lacked all the confidence and abruptness from earlier, leaving her appearing shaky. "I just wanted to say... thank you. You love your sister, but you're giving us a chance at what we thought was lost." She smiled at him, a hint of her strength appearing before she pushed her lips on his like the girl before. As before, he accepted the kiss and pressed into it, wrapping his arms around her. I took this moment to check out the other two girls, the long haired one smiling contently with her eyes closed and hands over her chest while the pig-tailed one stared up at the two in their engagement earnestly.
Again, the kiss appeared to end before Kazuto was finished, the goofy look on his face lightening my mood even more.
Finally, he turned towards the smallest of the group and when she realized it was her turn, her face burned red and she held out her arms. "No no no. It's okay. I can't... I can't do that in front... I can't... kiss you." She tried to fend him off with her words, her embarrassment as evident as her desire to do what her words said she couldn't. He responded by taking her petite hands in his and rubbing her knuckles. It took her a minute, but eventually, she was able to look up at his face, realizing that she wanted this more than she was flustered by it. "I...I..." She tried to come up with something similar to the other girls, but could only slip out a squeaky, "Kirito-san..." before he met her lips. Compared to the other girls, this kiss was more entertaining to watch, somehow actually distracting me from the fact that they were kissing My boyfriend. The tiny girl froze up when their faces touched, then slowly melded into it. Surprisingly, though, she began to assault him with more vigor, only being stopped after someone else cleared their throat towards her.
Sheepish, she let him go immediately and lowered her head, covering her face with her hair. "Gomen..."
Placing a hand on her shoulder, the second kisser laughed heartily before making the girl even more uncomfortable by saying, "at least wait until we're in the bedroom."
EHHHH!?
