AN: Hello once again everyone! Hope everyone is having a good start to their week, and hopefully this chapter will add to that! This one did end up a bit longer than the other ones so hopefully you guys all enjoy! Any who, on with the fic!
As Naoto climbed the stairs to his bedroom he heard Hayase giggling from the living room. She was still enjoying the successful teasing assault she'd just launched. Naoto could tell from spending so much time around the girl, that she was in a great mood. The thought brought a smile to Naoto's face, it made his heart pound to know that the girl reciprocated his feelings for her.
Once Naoto had grabbed his sketchbook and a few art supplies from his room, he walked out of his bedroom and back downstairs towards his awaiting Kohai. As Naoto reached the landing of the staircase he noticed that Hayase had moved back to her chair at the kitchen table.
Naoto went and took the seat across from Hayase, setting his sketchbook down on the table. The two of them sat quietly at the table for a few moments before Hayase couldn't help herself anymore, and said, "Well?" catching Naoto's attention. "How are you going to use me this time, Senpai~?"
Naoto flushed at her words, that was the second time she'd used that particular line to get a reaction out of him. He responded with, "W-Why do you keep saying it that way?" his embarrassment leaking into his words.
Hayase giggled and, contrary to before Naoto went upstairs, acted clueless. "What do you mean Senpai? Saying it in what way?" said Hayase.
"Saying it like… Actually nevermind." Naoto said, not willing to fall for Hayase's trap. Hayase giggled at his response, and allowed him to retreat from her verbal landmine. The two of them sat in silence for a few moments as Naoto gathered his thoughts and courage for what he was going to ask. He knew exactly what he wanted to sketch to illustrate that she was his goal. He started slowly:
"Hayase?" Naoto asked, causing butterflies to appear in the girl's stomach. She loved it when he said her name.
"Hmm?" Hayase responded, curious to see where he was going with this.
"You know how I said you're the goal I'd like to accomplish for this art project right?" Naoto said, his face lightly blushing from embarrassment.
Hayase blushed at Naoto's words, then said, "You mean when you said it like twenty minutes ago? No, I hadn't forgotten silly Senpai~."
Naoto, ignoring her jab, continued with, "Well… I know how I'd like to portray that, at least for the first art piece." He paused, despite the fact he'd already confessed his love for the girl in front of him, he couldn't help but struggle with what he was going to ask.
"Would you be okay… If I drew…" Naoto paused again, "Dammit why is this so hard?" he thought to himself. Hayase, however, jumping to a conclusion, inferred what he was going to say.
"You want to draw me naked?!" Hayase said, surprised by the gumption of her Senpai. She immediately went on the offensive, not giving the boy the chance to respond.
"Holy cow Senpai! If I knew telling you I loved you would make you this brave, I would've done it sooner!" Hayase said, having officially begun her assault, "I have to say though, going straight for nude modelling not even an hour afterwards is a pretty virgin move even for you!" Her face in the expression of full teasing mode, a look she'd sported when she teased Naoto for the first time in the library. She was about to continue, however, Naoto not being the same Senpai as the one who cried in the library, quickly interjected.
"No! That's not what I was going to say! I just want to draw us holding hands!" Naoto almost yelled, not out of anger but desperation to halt the assault. After Naoto finished his sentence it took a second for Hayase to process what he said.
If Naoto was more like Nagatoro in personality, the look on her face would've cracked him up for the rest of the night. That being said, he couldn't help but crack a grin. Hayase looked mortified, her face beat red after realising she'd jumped the gun with the teasing.
Hayase brought a hand up to her head and scratched it awkwardly. "O-Oh.". That put Naoto over the edge and he couldn't help but laugh at his Kohai. Naoto, after having his quick laugh at Hayase's expense, decided to drive one last nail into that coffin. "Who jumped to pervy conclusions that time Huh?" Which caused Hayase to light up like a stoplight. She quickly said, "Shut it."
Naoto cracked another grin at her response, but quickly dropped it. After a few moments, and once most of Hayase's embarrassment had passed, Naoto said, "So… Would you be okay with that?"
Hayase sheepishly said, "Y-Yeah, that would be fine with me." Hoping to buy a little more time to forget her blunder, Hayase asked, "Can you run the full idea by me? Just so I get it?".
"Um, yeah." Naoto responded, obliging his Kohai's request. "I figured that a good way to portray you as a goal in the… romantic sense… would be maybe to draw us holding hands?" Naoto phrased it like a question even though he knew the girl's answer, he couldn't help the embarrassment that was leaking into his words.
Once Naoto finished, Hayase nodded her head in understanding, she was sporting a light blush at the thought of holding hands with Naoto. She had a few questions though. "So should we get a mirror or something? So you can see yourself?". Naoto quickly shook his head, "No, I really don't like doing self portraits. I'd end up overthinking it and messing up the piece." Hayase pursed her mouth a little bit, she didn't like the implications behind him not liking self portraits. Deciding not to push him on it, she asked, "Okay, then how are we going to make this work?"
"Well, I'm right handed. So you'll have to hold my left hand." Naoto said. Hayase rolled her eyes at his matter of fact statement, giggling a little bit to herself. "Well yeah duh, silly Senpai~. I meant where should I sit and pose?." Hayase said. "O-Oh, yeah duh." Naoto replied.
Hayase sat on the end of Naoto's living room couch, her right arm resting on the arm of the couch, supporting her head. Hayase watched as Naoto set a chair next to the couch and set up his easel. He had the look of determination he got when he focused on something, the look that made her fall for Naoto in the first place. After he'd finished setting up the easel he took his seat, and set the sketchbook onto it. Now that everything was set up, another expression appeared on his face that Hayase loved almost as much.
Naoto nervously fiddled with his pencil as he sat on his chair, the next step was to take Hayase's hand. Naoto wracked himself, he'd just told the girl he loves her and he's struggling to ask for her hand to hold? Naoto continued with this internal strife until Hayase spoke up, "Okay Senpai~. Are you ready?"
Naoto gulped and sheepishly said, "Y-Yeah, I think so." and then asked, "How would you like to… hold hands?". Hayase readjusted the hand supporting her head to her chin, a look of consideration on her face. Naoto couldn't help but think how cute the pose was, this time he did his best to hide the 'grossness' of his appreciation of the pose.
"Well… if it's supposed to indicate something romantic, then it probably should be more than just a handshake looking handhold." Hayase finally said, her face supporting a light blush. "O-Okay, that's a good point." replied Naoto, his own face still rosey. However, he hadn't moved an inch. Unlike Hayase, actions were difficult for Naoto. Noticing this, Hayase decided to give her Senpai a little bit of a break and said, "Here. Like this silly Senpai~."
Hayase reached over and gently grabbed Naoto's wrist with her left hand, and pulled it towards the couch arm. Once she'd gotten his wrist onto the arm of the couch, she lined up his left hand with her right and interlaced her fingers with his own. Despite the confidence of her actions, the finale of locking fingers with Naoto made butterflies explode in her stomach. Looking over at Naoto, she could tell he was in a similar state as her own. His expression gave her the confidence to say, "Okay gross Senpai~. You're the artist, you do the rest." and released her left hand's grip on Naoto's wrist.
Naoto again gulped nervously but the boost Hayase had given him by taking the first move was enough for him to continue. Naoto gently pulled Hayase's hand down on top of his own, resting both of them on the couch arm. Once he had finished his adjustments, he asked, "Is… that okay?" Hayase looked at the position Naoto had finally left their hands in. Naoto's hand and arm were on bottom, and Hayase's rested on top of his own, their fingers still interlocked with one another. Hayase couldn't help but note how pale his white skin was in comparison to the tan of her own.
Hayase had to admit, Naoto had done a good job of making the position look romantic. Their hands were interlaced in a way that was indicative of a couple. Realising she hadn't responded to his question, Hayase said, "Yeah, I think it looks good. I think it gets your pervy goal across Senpai~." causing Naoto's blush to deepen a little. Ignoring her teasing, Naoto clarified what he meant, "N-No, I meant is this comfortable for you? We'll probably have to hold this pose for a while and I don't want you to be uncomfortable.". Hayase's blush was now also reddened as she was pleasantly surprised by his commitment to her comfort. Quickly gauging how comfortable she felt in the position, Hayase said, "O-Oh, yeah this is comfortable Senpai~."
Naoto nodded, and said "Okay good, I guess we'll get started then…"
Hayase watched Naoto as he drew, infatuated with his determined look as he focused on drawing their interlaced fingers. It didn't matter how many times she saw it, she loved it every single time. It was like she was looking at the real Naoto, all of his personality and quirks that he hid from almost everyone were allowed free reign as he focused on his passion. This time was different in a sense though. Hayase had watched him sketch many times, and none had elicited the focus and determination Naoto expressed right now. It seemed, where the sketch was the only passion Naoto had in the past, that here the drawing and the subject was the passion. The subject of course being a relationship with Hayase. Hayase blushed wildly at the thoughts her overactive imagination had produced.
Hayase continued to sit quietly as Naoto drew. While sitting there holding hands with the boy, she decided to mess with her Senpai a little bit. "Se-n-pa-i." said Hayase, squeezing his hand gently with each syllable.
Naoto blushed and said, "Y-Yeah?". Hayase, giggling at his response, said, "I want to play a game.". Naoto flashed back to the last time he played a game with Hayase and how he'd been beaten by a bean bun. "D-Do we have to?" Naoto nervously said, already knowing her answer. "Yup!" Hayase said enthusiastically. Naoto sighed, he put down his pencil and was about to pull his hand away from Hayase's to prepare himself for whatever she had planned, when Hayase quickly tightened her grip on his hand, keeping him from pulling away.
Naoto, surprised by the reaction, looked at his Kohai confusedly. While only for a second, she had a look on her face that said 'don't you dare, this is mine now.', but the look quickly disappeared and Hayase stammered out, "We have to keep holding hands.". Naoto raised his eyebrow at Hayase's statement and after Hayase realised her emotions were showing, said, "F-For the game of course! Creepy Senpai!". Naoto smiled a little bit and said, "Right, of course."
Hayase quickly recovered and continued with, "So here's how the game works, I'm going to squeeze your hand and you have to guess what words I'm trying to say.". Hayase noticed the confused look on Naoto's face and a smirk grew on her face. "Here I'll give you an example." Hayase proceeded to squeeze his hand four times, and then looked up at Naoto who looked no less confused. "How am I supposed to guess what you're saying with just squeezes? You could be saying anything!" Naoto said, causing Hayase to giggle fiendishly. "That's the fun of the game Senpai! You have to use context clues! For example, that time I said 'Virgin Senpai'" finished Hayase, a big grin across her face.
Naoto brought his other hand to his head and sighed, admittedly he probably could've guessed that one. "Okay, so the squeezes represent syllables?" Naoto asked his Kohai, who in turn nodded her head and said, "Ding ding ding! Virgin Senpai figured it out! Here let's go again!". Hayase then squeezed his hand five times, and Naoto of course had no idea what she meant.
"Well, I know it has five syllables." Naoto said, breaking it down. Hayase nodded her head and said "Uh-huh!" Naoto sat and thought for a minute, not thinking of anything. Hayase, noticing his struggle, spoke up, "Here let me give you a hint." and then said, "Gamo, Yoshi, and I called you it when we went to the beach.". Naoto mulled over the hint, thinking back to his memory of the beach. What had they called him while he was there? There was virgin, creepy, Senpai, Paisen, loner louse, and a few other things. A light bulb went off in Naoto's mind and he said "Loner louse?" Which made Hayase grin widely, she then said "You're close! But there's five syllables!". Naoto rolled his eyes at his mistake and said "Oh right, duh." and thought a little more on it. Deciding on an answer he said, "Loner Louse Senpai?"
Hayase laughed and said "Hooray! Loner Louse Senpai got it!". Naoto shook his head disapprovingly and said, "Can I keep working on the sketch now?"
Hayase giggled a little at his attempt to get out of the predicament he was in and said, "After this, I have one more for you! It's a good one I promise!".
Naoto shrugged and relented to Kohai's request. "O-Okay, fine." which got a cheer from Hayase. She then said, "Alright here I go!" and then squeezed his hand three times.
The first thing that came to Naoto's mind was his own name, making him flush a little. "I-Is it my name?" Naoto asked. Hayase shook her head, and said "Nope! That's a good one though!" Naoto continued pondering what she could possibly be saying. Taking a guess based on the other answers he said, "Gross Senpai?" Which made Hayase giggle, but again she shook her head saying "Nope!"
Naoto was stumped, he had no idea what she could mean. Just as he was about to give up, Hayase spoke up. "I'll give you another hint Senpai. Since you're struggling today." Naoto's face went a little red and he said, "O-Okay." Hayase, straightened a little, preparing for the hint and with a deeper red than he'd expected on her face she said, "You said it to me today."
Naoto pondered the hint. It didn't really narrow it down, he'd said a lot to Hayase that day. What had he said that day that she'd want to say to him? The realisation hit Naoto like a sack of bricks, causing him to turn a deep red as he realised what she was likely referring to. Naoto broke out into a cold sweat and he looked over at Hayase to see if her body language could give him any hints. Hayase herself was also a rosey shade of red, waiting for his answer. Thinking back to the interaction, Naoto gave her his answer.
"I… I love you?" Naoto asked, hoping he wasn't making a fool of himself.
Hayase's face grew into a wide grin and a rosey blush appeared on her face as she enthusiastically squeezed his hand out of joy, "That's right Senpai! You got it!" Hayase said. Naoto blushed wildly at her words and the meaning of the message. Which caused Hayase to laugh at his embarrassed expression. After a few moments Naoto looked back at Hayase, noticing a look on her face that said 'Well? I'm waiting?'. Which caused him to blush more.
Naoto opened his mouth to reciprocate Hayase's message, but then an idea came to his mind and Naoto closed his mouth. Hayase got a nervous look on her face seeing his hesitance, her overactive imagination scaring her into thinking maybe he somehow changed his mind on his feelings. However, her worries were quickly dismissed as she felt Naoto squeeze her hand four times. Instead of making Hayase guess the meaning, Naoto now said what he'd opted not to just before.
"I love you too."
Both Naoto and Hayase were a deep scarlet red from the interaction. It hadn't been that long since the first confession, but all the same it was still nice to hear, or more accurately feel, the words. The couple enjoyed the feeling of holding each other's hand for a few moments before Hayase finally said, "You better. Gross Senpai~." Which caused Naoto to smile sheepishly. Hayase giggled and continued. "Now get back to work!"
Naoto looked at the completed sketch of their held hands, while Hayase wasn't directly in the sketch itself, a keen eye could quickly verify it was her hand holding Naoto's. Naoto smiled happily at the sketch and nodded his head, satisfied with the piece.
Naoto looked up and noticed Hayase returning to the living room. Once he'd finished the sketch, Hayase had got up to use the restroom. Now that she was back, she asked, "So? How'd it turn out?" Naoto grabbed the sketchbook off of the Easel and handed it to Hayase as she approached him. Accepting the sketchbook she began to examine the piece.
Simply put, Hayase loved it. The piece really seemed to have received all of Naoto's focus and effort, he'd spared nothing in recreating their holding hands. Hayase thought back to what the previous art club president had said to Naoto and Hayase during the cultural festival, how his art possessed love. Looking over the piece one more time, Hayase concluded that this was the most love Naoto had put into a drawing to date.
"Wow Senpai. This is really, really good." said Hayase, her voice serious and genuine. Naoto blushed at her words and said, "T-Thanks. It makes me happy you like it." Hayase grinned at him and said, "I love it, Senpai~." which caused Naoto to blush a deeper red. Naoto's reaction sparked Hayase's teasing instinct and she immediately acted on it.
"Well Senpai. I think you deserve another SUPER good reward for this one." Hayase said, approaching Naoto, setting the sketchbook aside.
Naoto's blush immediately turned a fiery red as he remembered the last 'SUPER good reward' he'd received. Naoto quickly stammered out, "W-Wait! You're not going to bite me again are you?!". Hayase giggled mischievously at his words and replied with, "Not this time pervy Senpai… Unless you want me too~."
Naoto said nothing, in part due to the fact Hayase was still approaching his seat, and because he admittedly wasn't sure if he wanted her to bite him or not.
Like last time, Hayase pushed Naoto back into the chair and straightened him out, making room on his lap for her. Once again Hayase sat on his lap, straddling the nervous Naoto. This time however, their chests were noticeably closer to each other. While before, Hayase had rested on his lap, this time her posterior rested firmly above his pelvis, causing Naoto's eyes to bulge.
After fully resting upon Naoto, Hayase looked upon the nervous car wreck that was Naoto, her quick actions had caused the boy's brain to start to short circuit. Hayase giggled evilly at what she was doing to the poor boy, and then asked, "Well Senpai? Are you ready~?" placing her hands gently around his face, holding him still. Naoto gulped, and nervously said, "I-I-I g-guess so?" barely managing the words. After hearing Naoto's words of affirmation, Hayase slowly leaned in to kiss the nervous boy. Naoto closed his eyes in an attempt to keep his brain from short circuiting anymore than it had already. Hayase however kept her eyes open, an evil glint in them. She was going to drink up every expression and emotion Naoto had.
Milliseconds before their lips made contact, the front door to Naoto's house opened loudly. "Naoto! We're home!" yelled Naoto's mother. Naoto and Hayase jumped a mile into the air, Hayase quickly hopping off of Naoto and taking her seat back on the couch, grabbing the sketch book as if she'd been staring at it the whole time.
Naoto's parents walked into the living room and immediately noticed the fiery blushes on both Naoto and Hayase. Naoto's father speaking up said, "Sorry guys, we interrupt something?" a grin on both of Naoto's parents. Naoto spoke up and said, "N-No! I just finished the sketch actually!" Naoto and Hayase both internally facepalmed at the stupid explanation for their looks. Naoto's father chuckled a little and said "Okay bud, whatever you say." giving him a wink. Naoto's mother looked over to Hayase and said, "I'm surprised to still see you here Nagatoro! I hope your parents don't mind you being over so late."
A confused look spread across Hayase's face and she pulled out her phone to check the time. Hayase's eyes bulged almost as wide as Naoto's had just a few moments ago and said "Uh oh.". Naoto looked at his Kohai and asked "Is everything okay?". Hayase quickly stood from her seat on the couch and began packing up her things. "It will be, I just need to leave like right now.". Naoto's father spoke up and said, "We're happy to give you a ride home if you'd like Nagatoro?"
Hayase quickly shook her head and said, "That's very kind Mr. Hachiouji, but I'll be okay.". Naoto's father nodded his head and said, "Alright, if you change your mind though it's really not an issue." Naoto's father then looked over to his wife and said, "I'm going to get changed out of these work clothes and we can watch that movie.". Naoto's mother nodded her head and said, "I'll follow you up, I'm sure these two would appreciate the privacy." Giving Naoto and Hayase a wink.
After Naoto's parents had left the room and Hayase finished gathering up her belongings, she began walking towards the front door to leave. However, after taking a few steps she turned and looked at Naoto expectantly and said teasingly, "Well? Are you going to walk me out?" Naoto shook his head, snapping back to reality, he was still recovering from their previous interaction.
"Y-Yeah I'll be right there." Naoto replied.
Naoto stood from his chair and walked over to Hayase. Much to his surprise once he got close enough, she reached over and gently gripped his hand, Intertwining her fingers with his. Naoto wasn't sure how much more his brain could take that day.
Naoto and Hayase walked together out of the house, and up to the gate of Naoto's house. Once they passed the threshold, Hayse stopped and took in a breath. She wasn't ready for this day to be over yet. Knowing however, that she didn't have much time to waste, she turned and stood in front of Naoto.
"Senpai… thanks for letting me come over today…" Hayase said, her tone nervous.
Naoto blushed at her words, and said, "Thanks for coming over today." giving the girl a warm smile.
Hayase's heart melted at his words and she couldn't help but smile in return. Leaning into her strengths Hayase reached over and planted a kiss on the boy's lips. Which despite an initial bit of surprise from Naoto, was quickly reciprocated. After the couple separated, Hayase said, "Well, I should really get going. Goodnight Naoto~."
Naoto would've reacted more to the words if his mind hadn't already been essentially a liquid by this point. Instead, just as Hayase began to pull her hand away from his own, he gently tightened his grip on her hand and said, "Hayase wait…". Hayase froze, waiting to see what her Senpai had to say. However, to her surprise he didn't say anything. Instead, she felt three squeezes from the boy's hand. Hayase blushed wildly and felt butterflies in her stomach. Looking her Senpai in the eyes, she quickly squeezed his hand back four times. Naoto blushed and finally let go of her hand.
Hayase turned and quickly began walking away from Naoto's home, despite knowing how late she was, she couldn't help but feel overjoyed.
And that's chapter 8! Let me know what you guys thought in the comments and I'll see you guys in the next chapter!