It is during the first semester of secondary school that Kiriko and Hirota first make the decision to date one another.
It is Kiriko's decision. Most everything in their relationship is.
They sit opposite one another in a small cafe in Shibuya. Hirota stares at the light brown latte in front of him. It is broken up by floral patterns of stark pale creamer.
"Have you never seen latte art before?" Kiriko asks, chuckling and smiling.
"I haven't."
"Well, just try the coffee," she says. "It's good."
Hirota tries it. It tastes just like any other coffee he's ever had. He doesn't tell Kiriko that, though. She would stab one of her kunai straight through him if he did.
"How is it?"
"It's good."
"You don't have to lie, you know."
"I'm not lying…"
"I know when you're lying, Hirota," she says. "I—"
"Always do," he finishes. They've been doing that a lot lately. Finishing each other's sentences.
Kiriko's phone pings in her pocket. She pulls it out— her face sours— popping it open, and picking up the phone.
"Hi, Mom." A pause. "No, I'm not." Another pause. "Really, I'm not!" Another, longer pause. Kiriko glances out the window. "Yes. Yes, I will." Again, a pause. "Goodbye. Love y—"
The line goes dead.
Kiriko bites her lip. "Not. A. Word."
Hirota pretends to not know what they were talking about. But they both know better. They both know much better.
This is how their relationship proceeds for months.
Kiriko keeps her Hirota in the shadows, shrouding their relationship in lily-white lies, misdirecting mysteries, blindingly blatant truths.
She promises Hirota that there will come a time when they won't have to do this anymore— when they won't be forced to keep their love hidden from the rest of the world.
She promises so much. She promises her entire life to Hirota, that she will love him and cherish him as she always has so long as he stays here. Stays with her. Stays on the ground. Stays so that she can fly with him.
Kiriko loves him so much.
So, so much.
The love that she gives him is beautiful. Her love is fiery warmth; it is feet dangling just above cool water and the ocean breeze tickling their skin; it is honey-sweet and silk-soft; it is flowing, freeing, and energizing.
The first time that they have sex, Kiriko is insatiable. She ravishes him. She showers him in love and affection and so much more. They fuck for hours and hours on end, losing themselves in one another as they have always wanted. As Kiriko has always wanted.
But Hirota…
Hirota is afraid.
Hirota fears her so much.
So, so much.
His fear is paralyzing; it electrocutes him; it sends lightning through his veins, pumping his heart into a painful overdrive; it jolts his body; it reminds him that despite his powers there is so much left to fear in the world.
For Kiriko and Hirota, this is what love is.