Author Notes

RubyMaru for you, Magiclapras! :D (And for the pairing I love but don't really write for – gomen ne!)

May you enjoy~ :D

Hanamaru x Ruby

Our First Kiss

"M-Maru-chan..." Ruby blinks a number of times to the library's carpeting and her fingers twisted in and out of each other.

Hanamaru observes her best friend's unusual behaviour with curiosity and concern. "What is it, Ruby-chan?"

"Um...Well...M-Maru-chan is really k-knowledgeable right?" The overtly shy twin-tailed girl meets Maru's eyes once before going back to staring at her fidgeting hands.

The book lover puts a hand over her best friend's; surprised by the flinch but presses firmly anyway. "I don't boast about it, but I'll search all of my memories and archive of information through my years of reading just to help you, Ruby-chan." Hanamaru smiles as she falls a little more in love with Ruby's emerald eyes that shone at her. "So tell me what's wrong, zura."

Ruby lowers her head as she remembers what she wants to ask. A nervous swallow later, "M-Maru-chan would know what a kiss is like...right?"

Hanamaru's entirety froze as her mind tries to catch up with reality. Attempts to process the question her innocent best friend just posted to her. "K-K-Kiss, zura?" The brunette immediately regrets tripping over the topic as she saw Ruby's face turn to pure horror; no doubt that her friend was thinking that she has troubled her. Hanamaru doesn't want Ruby to ask someone else this question.

"It's o-okay if you don't know…Or d-don't want to tell me…" Ruby moves to run away but Hanamaru's eyes widen and hurriedly takes hold of Ruby's hand.

"W-Wait! Ruby-chan!"

The timid first-year dares to turn to her best friend. Hanamaru takes a deep breath through her nose. "Would you like to find out with me, zura?"

Emerald eyes widen in trepidation and Ruby's tightening grip tells Maru her thoughts. "Will it be scary?"

Hanamaru's lips twitch; Ruby's vulnerable tone makes the brunette want to pull her best friend into a tight hug to simply give the girl reassurance that no matter how scary anything can be. If together, she believes they can get through it. "I think so, zura."

Ruby takes a step towards Hanamaru and half a step back; confused yet her desires show. Hanamaru closes the distance and wraps another hand on Ruby's, hoping her warmth calms both of them. "I'll do my rubesty…"

That makes Ruby smile and squeeze her best friend's hand. "M-Me too…"

Hanamaru leans in slowly and just as Ruby was about to close her eyes – their noses bump against each other.

Ruby's face flushes more than it already was from their closeness and Hanamaru reflected a similar shade of bright red. She was supposed to lead yet she messed up on their first attempt. "I-I'm sorry, zura."

Ruby shakes her head, her twin-tails fluttering side to side. "L-Let's try again…"

Maru nods and they both take a deep breath at the same time before closing in towards each other once more. The silence of the library made Hanamaru think that her heartbeat can be heard by Ruby. While Ruby thinks her racing thoughts might be heard by Hanamaru.

As their uneven, nervous breathing could be felt on each other's tingling skin, shaking lips slowly but surely meet each other halfway. Ruby freezes but Maru presses closer. The softness of her best friend's lips was addictive, alluring, scarily good. Was kissing supposed to be this impossibly vivid?

Hanamaru pulls away with her eyes kept closed as she worries about the expression her best friend might be making – relieved? Happy? Upset? Confused? What kind of expression was Hanamaru making?

Ruby kept her eyes closed too and she found so much comfort in the way Hanamaru's hands held onto hers gently yet firmly – like the kiss – reassuring and not forceful. Was the kiss scary? Ruby thinks it was. Does she want to kiss Maru again? Ruby thinks she does.

The two girls open their eyes at almost the same moment and they look away shyly when their eyes met.

"Um-" "Um-"

"Ah-" "Ah-"

"Sorry!" "Sorry!"

"Ow!" "Ow!"

Their heads collide as they both bowed their apologies for speaking at the same time in succession. They look at each other with an apologetic smile before breaking into laughter. They shouldn't make so much noise in the library, but it's just them around so it's okay.

"I…I liked it." Ruby's lips played a shy but genuinely happy smile.

Hanamaru blushes for thinking that Ruby is so beautiful. "Will you kiss me again, zura?"

Ruby's cheeks rivalled her hair's red. "Only because M-Maru-chan is my s-special person…"

Hanamaru took a second but her eyes widened as the words clicked in her. "Does that mean-"

Ruby presses her lips to Hanamaru's to stop the girl from saying we're girlfriends.

Author Notes

Is this like my first RubyMaru story? OwO

I hope y'all like it! These two are so precious. :')

Leave a comment if you like! ^w^