AN: Hey everyone! Hope you all had a good week! Sorry about the longer wait for this chapter, I had a lot of exams and quizzes this week for school. Hopefully this chapter will make up for it. If you have any thoughts, suggestions, or ideas please comment down below! I'd love to hear them! On with the fic!
Hayase slowly awoke from her position on the couch. She heard the sounds of pots and pans coming from the kitchen. There was a delicious aroma emanating from there as well. Despite this, Hayase wasn't willing to pull away from her position. She didn't want to separate from Naoto. However, as she gathered her bearings, she realised that wouldn't be an issue. Naoto was gone, he'd somehow managed to sneak off the couch without waking her.
Sitting up, Hayase looked towards the kitchen and saw it was in fact Naoto who was the cause of the sounds and smell. He quickly noticed his Kohai was now awake. Flushing a little he said sheepishly, "Oh, sorry Nagatoro. I wasn't trying to wake you."
Hayase stretched her arms over her head, letting out a groan, she said "That's okay, Senpai. What are you making? It smells amazing." Naoto smiled a little with the compliment and said, "Just a recipe I saw online, admittedly I've only tried it once or twice so hopefully it tastes okay."
Hayase rested her chin against the couch and watched Naoto cook. While his expressions weren't quite as good as when he did his art work, this was pretty good. Hayase, having woken up a bit more, realised she had no idea how long she'd slept. She grabbed her phone from her pocket and looked at the time. She'd been asleep longer than she'd intended. After quickly sending a text to her parents to let them know where she was, she put her phone away and continued watching the boy in the kitchen.
While watching Naoto, Hayase decided now would be an excellent time to catch up on some overdue teasing. "Senpai, do you just not like me very much?"
"W-What?!" Naoto said, stopping all work he was doing. "What gave you that idea?"
Hayase grinned a little, "Well, I mean. Here we were, cuddling on the couch, happy as can be. And then you left." giggling a little she then continued with, "I can only assume you just don't like me that much after all."
Naoto sat stunned by her words. Here he stood, toiling away to make this girl a meal, and she said he didn't like her? Naoto was about to say just that, when he realised the food was beginning to get a little too singed, panicking he quickly resumed his work.
Hayase laughed at his panicked expression, then said, "See! Now you're burning the food too!". Naoto remained silent for a few seconds, focusing on making sure the meal wouldn't be ruined. However, after the crises had been averted he said, "It's not burned. Plus it only happened because you distracted me." Hayase giggled and said, "Okay, but what about the other stuff?"
Naoto sighed, "I-I only left because you said you were hungry. Otherwise…" his voice trailed off, peaking Hayase's cat like curiosity. "Otherwise?" Hayase said, mimicking his voice. Naoto sat quietly for a moment and then said, "Otherwise I would've stayed."
Hayase grinned from his words and stood up from the couch, catching Naoto's attention. She sauntered over to Naoto, causing him to blush as she stepped closer and closer. "Well, if that's true, and you do like me." She was now within a foot of Naoto. "Why don't you show me? The way you did yesterday?" her face a bright red, betraying her nervousness, despite her confident tone.
Naoto looked away from Hayase, pretending to focus on the meal being cooked in front of him. Naoto wanted to fulfill her request. However, wanting to do something and actually doing it were two different things. Unable to find the confidence he stayed focused on the meal.
Hayase stood there for a few moments, hoping he'd make a move. However, after he hadn't moved for about ten seconds she decided that his moment had passed. "Oh well. I should've guessed you'd be too much of a virgin to make a move." A little harsher than she meant, but her frustration had bled into her words as she said them. She turned away to go back and sit on the couch, but just as she began to walk away she felt Naoto's hand on her shoulder, a gentle but firm grip on her shirt.
"Please don't go. I'm sorry." Hayase flushed with his touch and turned back towards Naoto. He retracted his hand and was facing her now, his body language all indicating that he was one-hundred percent focused on her. Naoto continued, "I… I really like you. I like drawing you, I like your teasing, I like everything about you." Naoto paused, Hayase's heart was pounding so hard she was convinced it would burst from her chest. "I'm just terrified of saying the wrong thing and messing this up." he finished.
"Senpai…" said Hayase, she felt bad for her previous frustration. Here this boy was, making her food, bearing his heart to her, and she was mad he didn't kiss her exactly when she wanted. "No, Senpai. I'm sorry." The comment took Naoto off guard. Hayase continued, "I… I really like you too. I like you so much I end up pushing things farther than I should. I tease you, and spend so much time around you because ever since I met you I could tell you were different." Naoto furrowed his brow at her words, his heart was now also beating harder than he thought possible, her last words had confused him though. "Different how, Hayase?" he asked her. She remained silent, trying to find the right words to say. "You're not like other guys. You're not constantly trying to get into my pants, you're genuine with your emotions… and you like me… for me."
The two of them sat silently together. The ball was now in Naoto's court. Naoto admittedly couldn't believe his ears. He never in a million years thought he'd hear the girl of his dreams confess so profusely to liking him, liking him in the same way he'd liked her. Naoto looked up at his Kohai and realised he needed to say something, or he'd risk everything. He decided it was time for the truth.
"Hayase… when I told you that you were my goal. I lied." Hayase looked up, confused and hurt by his words. Naoto, noticing her hurt expression, quickly clarified, "I mean in the terms of why I wanted you to be the focus of my art project.". Naoto took a breath, not sure if he was ready for what he was about to say, but he took the leap. "While your focus and determination is something I admire and want to emulate. That's not how you're my goal. You're my goal in the sense… that I want to be with you. I… I love you Hayase." Naoto finished. He admitted the deepest want of his heart. All to the one person who could make it true.
Hayase was stunned. Despite the fact that on some level, she already knew what Naoto had said. She couldn't help but become giddy with happiness from the words. In the past her pride would never have let her admit it, but she felt the same, and had for a long time. However, Hayase's strength had never been in words, she always said the wrong thing, or had to backtrack to teasing. Her strength came in actions, whether it be the swim club, jogging, or judo. In this situation, she was going to take advantage of that fact.
Hayase grabbed Naoto by the collar of his T-shirt with both hands, catching the nervous wreck of a boy by surprise. She then firmly pulled Naoto towards her and kissed him with all the emotion and meaning that she wanted to express in words. The couple held the kiss, forgetting about the world around them. The only thing that mattered at that moment was each other. Once the couple finally separated Hayase said, "I'm only going to say this once, so you better not forget it. But… I love you too, Naoto."
The couple stood silently, holding each other. Their arms had drifted while they kissed, wrapping each other in a warm embrace. They would've held it longer if they both hadn't noticed the smell of burning food. Naoto swore, separating quickly to try and save the meal. Hayase laughed at his reaction and watched him try his best to recover the meal. After watching her Senpai struggle for half a minute Hayase finally said, "Here, let your cute Kohai help."
Much like the first time the couple cooked together, they made a great team. Because of that fact, despite the fact that Naoto had been distracted from the meal more than once, it still turned out really good. Hayase reached over and turned off the stove, she'd be damned if the thing interrupted her moment again. She looked over at her Senpai and said "Alright, now that's taken care of, I think we were in the middle of something~." Hayase leaned in to continue the moment that had been interrupted, Naoto, shyly receptive to the idea, also leaned in. However, just before they could reconnect, the front door of Naoto's house opened. Startling the couple and causing them to quickly put some distance between them.
Naoto's mother walked into the living room, her purse still slung over her shoulder. She then noticed the two of them in the kitchen. "Oh hi again, Nagatoro!" Hayase blushed and said "Hello again Mrs Hachiouji. Sorry to drop by unannounced."
Naoto's mother waved her hand dismissively, "Nonsense, after what you did for Naoto, as far as I'm concerned you're always welcome." Naoto's mother then looked to her son and said, "How are you feeling hun?" Naoto shrugged and said, "I'm still pretty sore but otherwise I'm good." Naoto's mother nodded her head and said, "Okay, I'm glad we kept you home then." Naoto looked at Hayase, considering the last event wouldn't have happened if he hadn't, he said, "Yeah. Me too." Hayase blushed a little, getting his meaning. She gently elbowed him and said "Gross.~" Naoto's mother, being nowhere near blind, grinned at the interaction. However, changing the subject, she said, "What did you guys make? It smells great."
Naoto, remembering the meal he'd just cooked, said, "Oh, just something I saw online." Naoto's mother nodded and then said, "Oh! That reminds me." And began digging through her purse, once she found what she was looking for she pulled out Naoto's phone. "I ran by and got this repaired.". Naoto, eager to have his phone back, walked up and accepted the phone from his mother's outstretched hand. Then he said, "Thanks Mom! I really appreciate that." Naoto's mother smiled and then clapped her hands together, saying, "Alright, let's eat huh? I'm starving."
Despite a few parts that were a little extra crispy, the meal had turned out really well. Hayase, having not eaten that day, eagerly devoured the meal. Naoto and his mother also enjoyed it. Once they'd finished their meals, having a little back and forth dialogue amongst the three of them, Naoto's mother said, "So how's that art project going hun?" Which caused Naoto to blush nervously, remembering the confession to Hayase not that long ago. "It… had a few setbacks. But," Naoto glanced at Hayase, "I think I finally know what I want to do with it." Naoto finished, the comment making Hayase blush.
An idea sprouted in Hayase's head, and acting on it immediately she said, "Senpai, didn't you say you wanted to work on your project after we ate?" Naoto looked confusedly at his Kohai and said, "What? When did I-", but stopped when Hayase kicked him under the table. "O-Oh! Yeah that's right." Naoto said. He wasn't sure what Hayase was planning but figured he'd go along with it. Naoto's mother, happy to hear her son was taking his schoolwork seriously, said, "Oh good! In that case." She stood from her chair, "I have some errands I need to run anyways, so I'll leave you two here to work on the art project in peace."
Naoto, surprised by the convenience of the situation, said, "Really? What do you still need to do?" Naoto's mother replied with, "Oh just groceries and your Dad wanted to go out tonight, see a movie or something. We were gonna cancel since you got hurt, but since Nagatoro is here, I'm sure you'll be in good hands." She gave the two of them a wink. Naoto, not willing to tempt fate, said nothing and just nodded his head in understanding.
After Naoto's mother had left the house, Naoto began to tidy up the kitchen table, gathering up dishes and utensils. Hayase was watching him from the couch again. Despite the silence between them, they were both still riding the adrenaline rush of their earlier confessions.
Once Naoto finished cleaning the table, he looked over at Hayase and they both flushed. They weren't sure what to say. Hayase being who she was, defaulted to teasing. "Wow Senpai. What was that gross look you just gave me? Your mom leaves and you immediately start thinking about pervy stuff again?" said Hayase playfully.
"W-What?!" said Naoto, a little taken aback, he continued with, "I wasn't thinking of anything pervy!". Hayase laughed and responded with, "Oh really? Is that so Senpai? What were you thinking about then?". Naoto's face went a little red and he remained quiet for a few moments before responding. "Um… well… just that… I need to go to my room to grab my sketchbook." said Naoto, blushing.
Hayase laughed, a blush on her face from realizing where his thoughts had probably wondered too. "Ohh I see Senpai~, were you hoping I'd follow you up? Get us alone in your bedroom? Maybe, have things get a little… sexy?" Despite Hayase's confident tone, she was slightly trembling with her own 'pervy' thoughts that had come to mind.
Naoto raised his hands up defensively, saying, "N-N-No! O-Of course not! What kind of guy would think that?!" Hayase giggled at Naoto's response and said, "Oh I don't know… maybe a certain creepy Senpai~?" Naoto said nothing, he'd been caught red handed. Knowing that she'd won, Hayase said, "You're so gross Senpai~!"
Despite the flirtation, neither of them were ready to take that leap, they weren't even officially a couple, not to mention lovers. Naoto ignored Hayase's last teasing remark and said, "I'm gonna go grab my sketchbook." And quickly departed the room to avoid any possibility of more teasing from his Kohai.
That's chapter 7! Sorry for the shorter chapter length this time. I'll try to make chapter 8 a little longer, within reason of course. Any who let me know how you felt about it, and I hope you guys have a good rest of your day/night!