The entire day, Kagura kept looking at Ayumu, hoping that the girl would give her a glance back. Nope. She was dead-set on focusing on school, which was probably for the best. But for Kagura, such focus was in short supply. She kept seeing her dressed up and her hair done, running her fingers through that hair, teaching her the true meaning of love...
"OY! KAGURA!" came Yukari's voice, which could cut through daydreams like a hot knife through warm butter. "Stop daydreaming and pay attention!" She sheepishly returned to her English textbook, not before noticing Ayumu looking back at her. She swore she smiled at her. Kagura smiled lazily back, and she started to drift back into Dreamland. She was very rudely jarred out of it by Tomo snickering at her.
"What're you laughing at?" she mouthed angrily.
Tomo stuck her tongue out in response. Typical.
Well, no return to Dreamland for her. She looked glumly down at the textbook, but her mind couldn't be farther from diagramming sentence structure, or Yukari's lecture on articles or participles or whatever the hell. Her mind was on tonight. And as excited as she was, she felt her heart thrumming nervously, her blood feeling alive and electrified. How was tonight going to go? Was it going to go well? Alright? Poorly? She had no idea, which was part of the fun, but she'd also been on bad dates before, and she didn't want a bad date with Osaka. She wanted to be the best for Osaka. She didn't know why she felt that way, but she did.
The end of the day really couldn't come soon enough.
For Ayumu, she was compartmentalizing the anxiety, as she usually did. This was a date. Her first date. Well, her first actual date, with someone who actually wanted to go on a date with her. It was just like hanging out with a friend. Kind of. Sort of. A glorified friend. Friend Deluxe. Friend Deluxe that could hold her hand, kiss her, even-no, this wasn't helping. She refocused on her book, and amazingly it worked. She just focused on what Yukari was saying, filling her head with English lessons instead of fear.
Her chest hurt. She winced through the pain. PE was going to be extra painful today. But it'd be worth it in the end.
Later that day, the two of them found their way into the main group. "It's such a nice day out, I think I'll go to the park later," said Tomo.
"I'll come with and make sure you don't burn down the neighborhood," Yomi replied.
"We'll be walking Mr. Tadakichi then, so we might see you guys!" Chiyo said, Sakaki nodding in agreement.
"What about you two?" Tomo said to Kagura and Ayumu.
"Me? Oh, I might just stay home tonight. Been out a lot recently."
"And you, Osaka?"
"Huh? Oh," she said suddenly, realizing she was on the spot. "I'm...uh...doing something. Tonight."
"Well, yes, but-"
"Just...something, okay?!" And she hurried off home alone before she said something she would regret, either revealing her true intentions for the night or a rude comment to Tomo out of spite.
"What's her problem?" Tomo snorted.
"I didn't even know Osaka had problems," said Yomi.
"Of course she does!"
Everyone looked at Kagura.
"Stop treating her like that! It's wrong and you know it! I expected something crass from Tomo, but I thought you were above that, Yomi!"
And she stamped home angrily, leaving her bewildered friends behind.
What do I have that I can wear to this thing? she muttered to herself. Do I still have that stupid suit from the dance last year? Then she looked outside.
Oh. Right. It's winter. Ayumu will probably be bundled up, too. But I should still wear *something* decent, right? She would be, too. She looks cute in everything she touches...okay, um, how 'bout...uh...er...a dress? Would she like that? I don't wanna intimidate her...but she's so caring, she probably wouldn't mind...Yeah, okay, I'm gonna do a dress.
Hmmm. How 'bout orange? She held it up. Yeah, okay. Orange it is. Her dad always said how orange brought out her hair more. Hopefully, Ayumu would like it, too. She thought back to what Tomo and Yomi were saying, and what they would say to her now. "Look at you, this concerned about looking good for *Osaka*!" That made her mad. Why shouldn't she want to look good for Ayumu? Doesn't she deserve Kagura's best? She resented how mean her classmates were to her. It made her more determined to make this date the best it could be, regardless of outcome.
Knock at the door. Here it comes.
Her grandma got there first.
"Oh, you must be Gura's date! You're so cute! Please, come in."
"Thank you, miss."
"And so polite, too! Gura always has the best taste."
God, please, Grandma, stop embarrassing me, Kagura pleaded. She looked herself up and down. She didn't look too...promiscuous, did she? Aw, who cares. It's a date. Plus she's going to be wearing a coat over top. "You have the body of a goddess, Gura, don't be afraid to flaunt it!" her grandmother would say.
She emerged from her room to see Ayumu sitting neatly in a chair. Or at least, she presumed it was Ayumu, because although the person sounded like Ayumu, she didn't look like Ayumu. Her brown hair was lightly curled at the end, shiny, thoroughly detangled. She wore a very cute white dress underneath a winter coat, a pair of black leggings like Yomi wore, and long arm-length gloves. She smiled when she saw Kagura.
"You look very pretty tonight, Kagura."
The other girl was dumbfounded, Blushy Mode activated. "Ayumu...you look gorgeous."
"Aw, shucks," she said, turning pink herself.
"Have fun, you two," said Kagura's grandmother, adding with a wink, "As much fun as you want."
The girls turned a lively shade of red. Ayumu stood up and offered Kagura her arm.
"Shall we be off, my sweet?"
Oh my God, she's *perfect*.
"Yes, Ayumu. We shall."
"So, uh, what did you have in mind?"
Kagura stared blankly. "Uh, I don't know. I didn't think I'd get this far." Ayumu laughed, but not how Kagura had ever heard her laugh before. This was soft, like a breeze. "Then I have a perfect spot for us. Walk with me. First, let's grab something to go. I'll buy."
They went to the convenience store, and picked up some snacks and drinks. "Follow me. I know a place."
There was a spot on the water that Ayumu knew would give them plenty of privacy, especially at night, as well as really good views of the night sky. "You don't get a great night sky here, obviously, but it's something, and at least it's pretty," she told Kagura as she sat herself on a rock, wincing slightly.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Just...sore."
Kagura sat right next to Ayumu. They let the natural ambience set the mood first. The water was gently lapping a few feet from them, with the sound of frogs croaking and cicadas screaming bloody murder setting an incredibly romantic mood. And of course the huge full moon, illuminating the entire area. Away from the prying eyes of others, Kagura noticed Ayumu becoming considerably looser. Her face became less tense, her body became less rigid, and she just seemed like she wanted to relax with someone special. And speak of the devil...
"You know, of all the people I expected to date, you're kind of unexpected."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Hmm. Well, actually, you're not completely unexpected. Yomi would be unexpected. Sakaki would be unexpected. At least our personalities compliment each other. But I never took you for the asking-on-dates type."
"And I never took you for the would-go-on-a-date type."
"Fair."
"Like, I'm surprised you said yes."
"So am I, honestly."
"Why did you?"
Ayumu gave her a look. "Because I like you, dumbass."
"Oh. Right."
"As I said, our personalities compliment each other. I like how kind you are. And soft, despite the boisterous exterior you put on around others. Beneath the slightly Tomo-like exterior I see someone who has an immense capability for love and care, and doesn't like to hurt others."
Kagura sat in silence a minute. "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"If I was ever mean to you."
"I don't really recall if you were, and if you were, I'd remember."
"Well, that's nice to know." Another pause. "I hate how mean the others are to you."
"I...yeah. It's really hard being around them some days. At best, I feel like a nuisance. At worst, I feel like a punching bag."
"They're not normally like that. It's wrong for them to treat you that way."
Ayumu shrugged. "It is wrong, but I don't know how to fix it. I've been bullied for so long it just feels normal now."
"I'll stand up for you. From now on."
"Well, if I have you in my corner, I can sleep well at night." Ayumu smiled, in a way that didn't suggest she was joking. "You really are as kind as I thought."
"I try. I try to be a person worth loving."
"And you are. You're absolutely worth loving."
"Really? I feel...like a burden."
"Absolutely not." Ayumu was not having it. "I won't stand for that kind of talk, and whoever is making you feel that way needs to not."
"Can I ask you something kind of weird?"
"Anything."
"Have you noticed the others treating me...differently?"
Ayumu though for a minute. "Yes."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. They treat you differently. And it has a lot to do with that." She touched Kagura's dark skin. "I think they care a lot about you, but are prone to treating you like a loud tropical girl stereotype."
"Yeah, I get that sometimes."
"We all have our prejudices. We're not born blank slates. Our culture, upbringings, surroundings shape us from even before we're born. I've been treated differently for being autistic my whole life, and not in a good way. I presume you've face a lot of prejudice in your life. And it's on us to unlearn those prejudices, because as long as we keep them, we hinder our ability to move forward and build a better society for ourselves and our children."
"Wow, yeah," Kagura responded. "You're very thoughtful."
"Not like I have a lot of other things to do. Plus, philosophy's always been my interest."
Kagura laughed a little. "You know the saying, though. Philosophers observe the world..."
"...and the point is to change it, yes, I know the quote. I just observe a lot. It's what I do. And if I can change the world, so be it."
"Well put."
The two sat for a minute, nursing milk teas. Then Kagura decided to ask a question. "What do you think of immortality?"
"Hmm. I don't think we're capable of ever achieving it, if that's the question."
"Kind of."
"But maybe it's for the better," she said, picking up a muffin. "Do we trust ourselves with a creation that allows us to live forever? What if we continue going down the route we're going, and ruin the planet's ability to support life? We would still have to live on it. We are, realistically, generations away from developing interplanetary space travel, let alone intergalactic space travel, if such a thing is even possible." She picked off the top separately and handed it to Kagura.
"So if we ruin our ecosystems, and continue to live by the maxim of extraction of profit is the ultimate goal rather than from each according to their ability, to each according to their need, what worth is immortality if our eternal existence is one of suffering and pain? Shouldn't we focus on collectively uplifting each other and revolving Fortune's Wheel to bring down those who own and exploit and uplift the exploited and oppressed?" And with that, she started eating the muffin wrapper.
Kagura smiled. "I love the way you think."
"Yeah? My parents think I'm kinda nuts."
"Nah, you're not. You're pretty on the money. The only caveat is that immortality would give us the ability to correct course."
"True. I guess it depends on whether you see our current path as reversible or not."
"I don't necessarily think it's reversible, but I don't think it's irreversible either. We'll have to adapt our strategy to the changes the world goes through. But I agree that if we fuck over the planet, immortality isn't worth it. But if we can set a course for change, then that'd be super cool."
"I didn't think of it that way. Adapting to material conditions. I should've thought of that."
"My dad would love you."
"Oh? What does he do?"
"He's an itinerate janitor back on Naha. He also helps run programs that give clothes and food to other poor people in our city."
"Wow. That's amazing."
"Really? I got made fun of first year for it."
Ayumu made a scoffing sound. "They just don't know true heroes."
"That...means a lot to me. My dad is probably the most important person in my life. He taught me so much. About caring for others, and putting others first."
"We need more like him."
"Yeah," Kagura chuckled. "Yeah, we really do."
Another pause.
"You know, I think sometimes about not going to college. Going back home and helping my dad instead."
"That'd certainly be a choice. One I'd support you doing."
"Really? I think if I said something like that to Yomi, she'd faint."
"I really need Yomi to get over herself and just eat Tomo out at this point. Get her to loosen up."
That made Kagura laugh hard. "Jesus, Ayumu!"
"Am I wrong?"
"Shit, no."
"So much of that girl's problems would dissolve if she just let Tomo into her life like she wants, but..." She shook her head. "So...your dad..."
"Right. Well, he taught me and my sister pretty young in all that stuff."
"Yeah? What about your mom?"
Silence.
"I'm sorry."
"No, I should be past it by now...but..."
"Past the death of a parent? I'd find it stranger if you were past it."
"She was murdered. Technically manslaughter, but..."
"Yeah. We know how 'accidents' go."
"Yeah. I've seen a lot of shit. I've been beaten up by cops and soldiers a lot."
"Lord..."
"Yeah."
"My parents...I mean, I think they mean well, just...anyway-"
"Ayumu..."
Her date's mouth tightened. "If I told you..."
"What? If you told me what?"
"Well, they're not exactly supportive. I think they think they are. But they're not."
"What do you mean?"
"They do...things to me. Because they're worried about me."
"What...kind of things?"
Ayumu winced.
"Where does it hurt?" No response.
"Ayumu...where does it hurt?"
She clutched her chest.
Very gingerly, she put a hand on Ayumu's chest. She felt something strange. There wasn't a bra there, instead what felt like...
"What the..." she muttered.
"They make me bind my chest with tape whenever I leave the house. And straighten my hair."
"Why?"
"They think I'm easy to take advantage of. So they make me as hideous as possible."
"That's horrible! And you're not hideous, you're...you're so beautiful, and gorgeous, and stunning, and-"
"Kagura, those all mean the same thing."
"I know, numbnut, I'm complimenting you."
"Oh."
"Well, we'll get that fixed from now on. I'm not going to let them forcibly make you look like Chiyo's weird, slightly older sister. I want you to be you."
Ayumu turned to look Kagura in the face. Their eyes met, and neither of them had really met someone so breathtakingly beautiful as the other before.
"Hey, uh, Kagura?"
"Mhm?"
"Are you having fun?"
"Yeah. A lot." She smiled.
Silence fell again, and Ayumu decided to make her move. She took her left hand and slowly started to intwine it with Kagura's right. She noticed what she was trying to do, and chuckled lightly.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Ayumu turned magenta and quickly withdrew her hand. Kagura laughed loudly. "I'm fucking with you, silly goose." She stopped laughing, but didn't stop smiling as she turned towards her.
"My darling-"
She took one of her hands into hers.
"-sweet-"
She put her other hand on her cheek.
"-beautiful, silly goose." And then she kissed her.
It felt natural, easy. Maybe because the ice had already been broken? Ayumu felt warm, with soft pulses of electricity throbbing through her nervous system as she reached out and started moving her hand up Kagura's body, from her thigh to her hips to her waist before settling on her back, just below her bra line. For her part, Kagura had no idea what she was doing. She just knew she had feelings that she needed to express as passionately as possible. As Ayumu was slowly ascertaining what position she wanted to make out in, Kagura held her tighter and closer, prompting a small mmf from the smaller girl.
"How does it feel to kiss a girl?" Kagura grinned.
"Pretty good. I wanna do it more."
"That can be arranged." And they kissed again.
"Kagura..." Ayumu said softly.
"Yes, dear?"
"I feel..." She put her hand on her heart and fluttered it slightly.
"Yeah, I do too."
"This is everything I was hoping it would be."
"Likewise."
"I'm feeling...wow...like..."
"Mmm?"
Ayumu leaned in close and whispered, "I feel...a different kind of electric."
Oh. OH. "Well, for that, we'll need to go back to my place."
"Sure your grandparents won't mind?"
"You kidding? We probably have to worry about them cheering from the living room."
"Is that...what you want?"
"Is what?"
"You know..." She blushed.
Kagura chuckled. "I'd love to."
"Then what are we waiting for?"
"Hasty, are we?"
"N-no! Just...excited...is all..."
"It's adorable."
"You're adorable."
"Smooth," Kagura said as she picked Ayumu up in her arms, who let out a small cry of surprise.
"What? I'm not gonna let a lady walk back to my place."
"You have me swooning."
"Good. And I'll have you doing other things before too long."