AN: Hey everyone! Hope your week is going okay! My area just got hit with it's first batch of snow so I had some extra free time to work on the story. Hope you guys enjoy! Let me know what you think in the comments!
Hayase and Naoto sat quietly for a few minutes, still embarrassed over what had just transpired. Naoto, still sitting on the grass, looked up at his standing Kohai. Hayase had a warm glow on her face. Naoto, worried about what could be going on in her head, asked, "Are… are you okay?"
Hayase shook her head like she was snapping out of a trance, and looked down at her Senpai and replied, "Yeah? Why?"
Naoto sheepishly looked away from Hayase, and then said, "Y-you've just been quiet for a while… I wanted to make sure you weren't… upset."
Hayase blushed a little at his concern, she was far from upset. In fact she'd been in a buzz for the last few minutes. The feeling of flattery she'd felt from Naoto's reaction to her had left her mind in a fog for longer than she'd known. Realizing she'd been quiet for a few moments, she quickly said, "N-No I'm not upset Senpai."
Naoto still had a worried look on his face, despite Hayase's reassurance. Noticing this, Hayase decided to make it clear that she was fine and in a way that they were both very used to, by teasing. "I was just stunned by how gross you are, Senpai~!" Naoto blushed embarrassedly, and Hayase continued, "Kissing me with your tongue AND getting hard against my butt? How creepy~!"
Naoto, trying to defend himself, stuttered out, "H-Hey! You're the one that started the tongue stuff! I… I was just trying to follow your lead!"
Hayase grinned, he was right of course but she wasn't going to say that, "What about the other thing then huh? Was that my fault too?"
Naoto's blush reddened and he said, still stuttering, "W-Well, I mean… k-kind of… You're the one who jumped on me…"
Hayase's glow quickly turned into a blush as she thought back to the interaction, she giggled a little and said, "Are you saying I'm responsible for YOUR actions Senpai~?" Hayase leaned down and put her face close to the sitting Naoto, causing the boy to blush wildly.
Naoto, realizing how bad that sounded, quickly rephrased. "N-No! Th-That's not what I meant!" Naoto did his best to suppress the flush that was coming to his face from Hayase's sudden proximity. "I just meant… I don't have full control… of that part of me."
Hayase, still leaning close to the boy, said, "Does that mean you didn't like it then Senpai~?" She feigned an innocent look at the boy. He'd been backed into a corner now with no easy way out. Naoto, now a nervous wreck, managed to say, "I… I didn't say that…"
Hayase was still grinning at her sitting Senpai, his expression tempting the girl to jump on him again. Showing restraint, she asked, "Did you like it then?"
Naoto hesitated for a moment, he thought back to the kiss, the feeling of being so close to Hayase. It was a simple answer, "Y-Yes."
Hayase's blush brightened again with Naoto's verbal affirmation and she leaned back from the boy, standing straight. "Good, because I did too~." said Hayase, causing Naoto's stomach to fill with butterflies.
The couple sat quietly for a moment, Naoto opened his mouth to say something, but before he got the chance he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Deciding it'd probably be better not to ignore it, he sighed, and pulled out the phone. Looking at his phone he saw a message from his mother.
"Hey it's getting pretty late and it's a school night. You two planning on wrapping things up soon?"
Naoto quickly sent back, "Yeah sorry, we just finished the sketch. I'll be home soon." Naoto sported a slightly upset expression. He wasn't ready to say goodbye to Hayase yet. Hayase took notice of Naoto's expression after he put his phone away and asked, "Is everything okay Senpai?"
Naoto stood from the blanket, and said, "Yeah everything is fine, my parents are just wondering when I'll be home."
Hayase frowned at the news, but quickly resumed her upbeat attitude and said, "That's okay Senpai, we'll just have to do this again~."
Naoto blushed and softly said with a smile, "I'd… I'd like that."
Hayase nudged Naoto with her elbow and said, "I'm sure you would creepy Senpai~."
After the couple finished cleaning up the containers and other picnic items, placing them into the basket, Naoto reached over and picked up the sketchbook that was still laying where Hayase had left it before pouncing on him. Naoto couldn't help but smile at the completed piece, the smile the sketched Hayase had was contagious. Naoto then looked over to his Kohai as she finished placing the blanket into the picnic basket, the sunset casting an orange glow to the girl. Despite how good the piece was, it couldn't hold a candle to the real thing.
Hayase felt Naoto's gaze on her and looked over to see him supporting a soft smile as he looked at her, causing her to flush. She quickly asked, "Whatcha looking at Senpai?"
Naoto, without missing a beat, answered honestly, "I'm just admiring how pretty you are."
Hayase flushed wildly with the compliment and felt butterflies in her stomach, she quickly said, "You're Gross Senpai~."
Naoto blushed, realizing his slip. Instead of saying anything, he quickly placed the sketchbook into his bag, and slung it over his shoulder, he then picked up the basket. Hayase watched Naoto and let out a sigh once he finished, realizing it was time to say goodbye. Naoto and Hayase stood silently for a moment, neither willing to say anything yet.
Naoto looked at Hayase, about to say his goodbye when he paused, he really wasn't ready to say goodbye yet. Naoto hesitated for a second and came to a decision, reaching his free hand to Hayase, he said, "Can… Can I walk you home?"
Hayase, not expecting the question, took a second to respond but once she'd fully registered Naoto's words, eagerly accepted his hand. Hayase nodded her head and said "I'd really like that Senpai~."
Hayase and Naoto walked hand in hand towards her house. A little bit of banter between them. Both were happy to have the extra time with each other, even if it was only a little bit.
As they approached Hayase home, which slowly came into view, the couple quieted. There wasn't a way out of this goodbye unfortunately. The couple finally stopped once they got to the gate of Hayase's house. They continued to hold hands, both staring at the home like a monster of some sort. Naoto looked at Hayase who had a sad expression on her face, a sight that wrenched his heart. Naoto instinctively squeezed the girl's hand three times, attempting to raise her spirits.
Hayase felt the squeezes and felt butterflies in her stomach as she realized his meaning. She looked over at the boy and smiled, squeezing back four times. Naoto returned the smile and said, "I'll see you at school tomorrow okay?"
Hayase nodded and said "Okay Senpai~." She was still a little sad at having to say goodbye, but definitely felt better. Slowly, they released each other's hands and Hayase opened the gate to her house, slowly walking to the front door.
Naoto watched as Hayase approached the door to her house, making sure she made it inside safely. Just as Hayase got to the front door, she paused. Hayase stood in front of the door for a few moments, not opening it. Naoto's face flashed with worry for a second before switching to surprise as he saw Hayase quickly turn around and run at the boy.
As Hayase approached Naoto dropped the basket from surprise, then Hayase wrapped her arms around Naoto, placing them just under his own, and grasped the boy in a warm hug. Naoto, stunned at first, realized what was happening and slowly but surely reciprocated, wrapping his arms around the girl, placing them around her shoulders and upper back, and squeezed gently. The couple held the position for a few seconds, enjoying each other's warmth. Just as the hug was nearing its end, Naoto heard Hayase quietly say, "I love you Naoto." it was barely more than a whisper. Naoto, feeling his heart flutter with the words, squeezed ever so slightly more, and said back, "I-I love you too Hayase."
Still holding the hug, Hayase looked up at Naoto, and teasingly said, "Prove it~."
Naoto flushed at her request, realizing what she wanted from him. Hayase had initiated plenty of kisses by this point, but that's not what she wanted, she wanted HIM to kiss HER. Hayase continued to look at her Senpai, and Naoto to his credit held eye contact. Naoto remained still for a second, not sure if he had the courage to take the lead. However, in the eyes of this girl, who he loved more than anything else, he found the courage he needed. Naoto slowly, but firmly, leaned in while closing his eyes, and kissed the girl.
The couple held the kiss for a long moment, but finally they pulled apart and looked each other in the eyes again. Hayase giggled and said, "Good job, Senpai~."
Naoto opened the front door to his house and stepped inside, despite the goopy mess that was his brain, he managed to call out, "Mom, Dad I'm home!"
"We're in here bud!" Called his father from the living room. Naoto walked into the room and saw them sitting on the couch together, watching a movie. "How'd it go hun?" Asked Naoto's mother.
"Um, really good." Naoto said, doing his best to hide his blush. Both of Naoto's parents grinned at his response, and his father said, "Not too good I hope?"
Naoto embarrassedly said, "N-No, not that good."
Naoto's parents nodded their heads, pleased. Taking a slightly more serious tone, Naoto's father asked, "How'd the rest of the day go? Those guys give you any more trouble?"
Naoto, who'd completely forgotten about the earlier interaction, said, "Actually, they apologized." which caught Naoto's parents off guard. "Really?" Asked Naoto's parents in unison. Naoto then proceeded to explain the day's events, telling them about how he'd discovered the fate of the original ringleader, the video that got spread around and how the rest of the entourage had all apologized.
Naoto's parents had puzzled looks on their faces before Naoto's father said, "Well, I'm not positive those guys weren't just apologizing to cover their asses, but I'm proud of you for being the bigger person." Naoto's mother nodded her head, agreeing with the sentiment. Naoto blushed a little and said, "T-Thanks."
Naoto then said, "If it's okay, I'm gonna head upstairs and call it night. It's kind of been a long day." to which Naoto's parents nodded and his mother said "Go get some rest Hun, we love you." Naoto nodded and walked out of the room saying, "Love you too."
Naoto opened the door to his bedroom and walked in. He set his bag and phone onto his desk and flopped down onto his bed, letting out a tired sigh as he did. Naoto replayed the events of the day in his mind as he lay on the bed. His interactions with Hayase brought a grin to his face. He admittedly still couldn't wrap his head around it. Not just the events of that day, but of the last week in general. Naoto never thought he'd find someone, romantically that is. Not for a lack of wanting, he was just convinced that no one would ever be interested. Then with the force of a bullet train, Hayase appeared in his life.
Naoto had a glow about him as he thought of the girl. Even from the beginning he'd found the girl attractive, but never in a million years did he think that would be reciprocated. Yet time and time again Hayase went out of her way to spend time with him. Early on Naoto was convinced it was only because she enjoyed torturing him, and while he wasn't ruling out that she probably still does, their interactions had certainly changed over the course of their… relationship.
Naoto admittedly wasn't sure what to call their 'relationship'. They were more than friends that was made evident from the confessions they'd made. They weren't officially dating either though.
"Should I ask her out? Or would that be weird by this point? If I ask, doesn't that imply that I didn't think of her that way until I asked?" Naoto thought aloud to himself. Naoto sighed, he was overthinking it for sure but he still wasn't sure what to do.
Naoto would've sat and overthought the situation for the rest of the night if he hadn't heard his phone vibrate. Naoto eagerly grabbed his phone and checked it. Hayase had sent a message, "Are you okay Senpai?"
Naoto wracked himself for not sending the girl a message when he'd gotten home, and quickly typed up a response. "Yeah I'm fine, sorry I didn't say anything sooner."
"You're okay, silly Senpai~." Hayase sent back. A second later another message from the girl appeared, "Are you busy right now?"
Naoto, curious to where this was going, replied, "No not really, just laying on my bed, why?"
A few moments later Naoto got his answer as Hayase called him. Naoto panicked briefly and nearly dropped his phone, startled by the sudden phone call. Quickly recovering he answered the call and said, "H-Hello?"
"Senpai~!" Hayase said excitedly through the phone, following up with "I'm surprised you answered you pervert!"
Naoto, confused, said, "Why wouldn't I answer? And how am I a pervert!?"
Naoto heard Hayase giggling a little on the other end of the phone, and then she said, "Well, considering how much of a gross virgin you are, I can only assume what you were up to before I called! The gall you have to answer while doing that is truly shocking!"
Hayase couldn't see the blush on Naoto's face but she could almost feel it through the phone as he said, "What!? I wasn't doing anything!"
Hayase couldn't hold back her laughter as she heard Naoto's exasperated reaction. Pushing his buttons a little more she said, "Are you telling me, after what happened at the park, I'm supposed to believe that you're not doing something gross right now?"
Naoto, still exasperated from Hayase's initial statement, said, "Yes! Is that so hard to believe?"
Hayase giggled again and said, "Damn Senpai, you might be a herbivore afterall." Referring back to what Gamo and Yoshi had called him in the art room.
Naoto, having recovered a little bit more, fired back, "You didn't seem to think that at the park earlier…"
Now it was Hayase's turn to flush, however, she already had a killer move in mind. "Hmm… I guess I can see your point there."
Naoto, surprised by how easily the girl relented, said, "Y-You can?"
"Well I guess more accurately... I felt it, Senpai~." Hayase said seductively, causing Naoto's face to light up like a stoplight. Little to Naoto's knowledge, Hayase's face was also a bright red.
Naoto sat stunned for a moment, not knowing how to respond. After a few moments of silence Hayase giggled, taking his silence as a victory, and said, "You still there Senpai~?"
"Y-Yeah" Naoto muttered sheepishly, "I… I don't know what to say to that."
Hayase couldn't help but laugh at his words. Once she'd finished laughing, Hayase wiped a tear from her eye and said "You're so much fun Senpai!"
Naoto didn't say anything but couldn't help but smile to himself, despite Hayase's teasing, he was glad to be talking to her. After a few moments Hayase said, "Thank you for today Senpai~."
"Y-you're welcome," Naoto paused for a moment then said "and thank you too. For uh… for everything."
Hayase, puzzled by Naoto's words, said, "What do you mean Senpai?"
Naoto mulled over what he wanted to say, anxious about how it might sound, but decided to say it anyway. "Well… what I mean is… before I met you I never thought I'd find someone that likes me. R-Romantically I mean."
Naoto's words saddened Hayase a little, she felt bad for the loner boy she'd met in that library last year, her Senpai had changed quite a bit since then. Softening a little, Hayase said, "How couldn't I Senpai? You're amazing."
Naoto was quiet, he wasn't good with compliments in general, much less one of such high praise. After a moment Naoto sheepishly said, "That's… kind of you to say."
Hayase took a second to respond, but she then said, "I'm not just saying it, Senpai, I mean it."
Naoto sat quietly for a moment before saying, "Th-Thank you Hayase."
Hayase smiled and said back, "You're welcome Naoto~."
The couple remained quiet for a few moments before Naoto said, "Will I get to see you at lunch tomorrow?"
Hayase giggled and quickly said, "You better believe it, Senpai~."
Naoto smiled to himself and said, "Good."
After a few more moments of silence, Hayase said, "Well we should both probably go to bed now, Senpai. Or else we'll both be too tired for anything tomorrow."
Naoto nodded, forgetting he was on the phone, and said, "Yeah that's probably a good idea. I'll see you tomorrow Hayase."
"Goodnight Senpai~."
"Goodnight." Just as Naoto and Hayase were about to hang up, Naoto realized he had one more thing he needed to tell the girl.
"Hayase wait!" Naoto said, hoping the girl would hear. Hayase quickly put the phone back to her ear and said, "What is it?"
Naoto struggled for a second, but remembering the courage he had found when he'd kissed the girl he said, "I… I love you."
Naoto heard Hayase giggle with delight on the other side of the phone. To his own joy he heard Hayase softly say, "I love you too Naoto."
That's a wrap on Chapter 12! Hope you guys have a good rest of your day and I hope you'll all be back for chapter 13!